Chapter 234

Chapter 237: A Man Can’t Say No! (Please Subscribe!)

After experiencing some stories… no, “accidents,” Izay came to understand a principle.

—Always moderate your teasing of goddesses in daily life!

Otherwise, who knows which part of your body might get hit.

Such was the painful realization.

However, after this little episode, Izay and Artemis gradually relaxed, creating a wonderful atmosphere.

In the sparsely populated park, listening to the rustling sounds of leaves carried by the gentle breeze, the two leaned on each other, indulging in tranquil times.

“Someone seems to be watching us, Izay, can you feel it?”

Artemis’s head, resting on Izay’s shoulder, suddenly moved. Such an obvious gaze was hard to ignore.

“Just some nosy people, Lady Artemis, don’t mind them.” Izay chuckled with surprise.

“I suddenly care so much after you said that.”

“Just ignore it, ignore it~”

Not wanting anything to disturb their current two-person time, Izay edged closer, getting nearer to the goddess.

Even though she knew someone was there, Artemis blushed, her eyes darting left and right, looking somewhat suspicious.

But while her gaze drifted, she caught sight of a few figures at the edge of the square and the street corner.

There really were people peeking!

Izay must have noticed this but didn’t react.

The result wasn’t hard to guess — acquaintances!?

And in Orario, apart from his faction mates, who else could Izay know?

Referring to what was said before, the worst possibility is that Loki might be among them!

—It’s over!

Artemis could already foresee Loki spreading rumors among familiar deities.

Now they would be gossiped about…

Suddenly, as if trying to hide, Artemis buried her face into Izay’s chest, refusing to see anyone.

“—Puha!?!”

“L-Loki!?”

A certain deity spat blood on the spot.

At the street corner near the square, Loki, who had been hiding in the shadows observing the relationship between Izay and Artemis, suddenly collapsed, scaring Refia beside her into screaming.

“Pwah~ Refia, I… I can’t take it anymore. I never expected Izay and Artemis to have come this far. It was such a foolish decision to watch them flaunt their affection like nobody’s around…”

“How dare… just one Izay managed to do something I’ve always wanted to do but couldn’t. How envious!… Refia, you must carry on my legacy… Fainting~”

“Lo-ki~? Loki, what’s wrong with you, Loki!? You can’t die here! Wake up!!”

“Loki, you guy! Don’t try to distract me and take advantage of me!! Move aside—!”

With different identities but the same dream as Izay, Loki fell straight down upon seeing the two successfully stick together and radiate warmth.

Compared to the commotion nearby, Ais, who was squatting at the street corner, remained unchanged.

Holding a warm pumpkin-flavored fried potato ball, she stared intently at Izay’s actions, expressing all her emotions through her actions.

Whenever she saw something that shook her, she would unconsciously eat faster.

Like a diligent and studious good student, she never took her eyes off.

Thanks to Ais’s guidance earlier, this group successfully found Izay and Artemis not too far away and proceeded to observe them continuously.

They were actually enjoying the festival while sneaking peeks.

Evidence? Loki still had unfinished teppanyaki and potato pancakes in her hand, Refia had a croissant bread… even Riviria held a bag of snowflake cakes.

As for Ais… let’s not talk about her…

But this situation didn’t last long. The initial forging ceremony began at the Central Square.

At this most spacious plaza within the city, the crowd was more packed than ever.

In the center of the square, there was a specially constructed large stage, equipped with all the tools needed for forging, from tongs to furnaces, making it a complete open-air workshop.

The top blacksmiths from the [Hephaestus Familia] and [Gubernue Familia] were performing the “Initial Forging Ceremony” up there.

Under the towering platform, despite the sea of people, not a single person made a sound.

The noisy crowd from moments ago had now completely quieted down.

Reverberating through the Central Square was only the intense clanging of metal. Hammer strikes echoed thunderously, leaving trails as the hammers struck with high-pitched calls.

There were only two people on the high platform, each representing the faction leaders of [Hephaestus Familia] and [Gubernue Familia].

They weren’t working separately but collaborated in forging a weapon!

Clearly, the former was the dominant one, while the latter assisted.

This was inevitable.

Because the leader of [Hephaestus Familia] was the only Lv.5 craftsman in Orario, known as the “One-Eyed Master,” a top-tier adventurer, Tsubaki Cobrand.

It is said that those who are skilled become teachers.

Although the leader of the Gubernue Familia was slightly overshadowed in this setting, there was no trace of gloom on their face, only complete focus.

Where are there so many twists and turns for blacksmiths?

Pouring their spirit into the hammer in their hands, everything was for the refinement of their craft, even willing to give their lives for a weapon.

This was the truth of blacksmiths.

Under the collaboration of these two top blacksmiths, the rhythm of hammering became more melodious and powerful than ever.

“It seems… different from what I imagined?” In a place that was at the edge of the crowd but still offered a clear view of the platform, Artemis lowered her voice.

It was more solemn. The goddess continued.

“Since it’s a traditional ceremony, there’s a kind of tension unlike the Dungeon.” Izay replied after a moment of thought.

Intense sparks flew everywhere, the clang of metal striking against metal. Every time the hammer met the material, it felt like the heartbeat skipped a beat.

Not just them, everyone present had this feeling. Just watching made one tremble all over.

……

As time passed, after the “Initial Forging Ceremony” ended, no one moved from where they stood, as if still savoring the scene from earlier.

“Ironworkers… watching makes me want to take a swing myself.”

Though Izay also had lingering thoughts, he quickly led Artemis away from the Central Square.

His intuition told him that if he didn’t leave now, it would be harder later.

Thus, Izay chose to follow his heart.

“You want to take a swing? Aren’t you always saying your head and hands don’t work together, Izay? Can you even do it? Hehehe—”

As soon as the words were spoken, Artemis covered her mouth and laughed, teasing Izay with his usual excuse.

“?!”

For some reason, Izay felt challenged.

“A man can’t say no! Lady Artemis… it seems we need to go home and seriously discuss this matter!!”

“Ah, huh…? Ehhhhhhhhh!?!”

……… Bonus Scene ……

On the day of the New Year market, Izay did not return to Twilight Manor.

This wasn’t a big deal, because according to Loki, the goddess with Izay was harmless, and furthermore, given their intimate demeanor, Riviria didn’t think anything would happen to Izay.

What she should worry about was herself.

Loki was acting up again…

—by Riviria Bonus Scene ①