After entrusting the temple to Apollo and Athena, we descended to the City Luna.
As always, Artemis went to the carriage storage to retrieve her carriage.
I waited for her in the square, glancing over my casual attire.
Anxiety crept in, wondering if I was too unprepared, so I hastened my steps toward Liam’s shop.
As I entered, the pleasant ringing of the bell sounded as always.
“Wow! Our Priest!”
“Hello, you’re doing well as ever, I see.”
Without even asking how he’s been, Liam, still rubbing his potbelly, greeted me with his usual smile.
“Kehehehe! Like I’d have any troubles? All the trouble’s coming from you!”
“Me? What do you mean?”
“Yep, you know! Last time, you bought tons of ingredients saying you were going on a date, right? So, did my terrifying story work?”
Liam poked me with his elbow and chuckled mischievously.
Today, Liam’s plump face seemed especially annoying.
“It worked? Not at all! My counterpart ended up countering me with an even scarier story! Do you know how terrifying it was?!”
“What, what? Counter with a story? Kehehehe! This is a masterpiece! Whoever this girl is that you’ve fallen for, it’s a real laugh riot!!”
“Laugh riot, my foot… I ended up at my counterpart’s quarters in the middle of the night because I was scared…”
“Kehehehe! Ooh… Ark… Stop, stop, man! You’re killing me with laughter! Kehe, Kehehehehe~!!!”
Liam, who never anticipated such a counter with a scarier tale, smacked his forehead, laughing heartily.
His eyes even brimmed with tears from how hilarious he found it.
Thinking back, all those overly optimistic thoughts in my mind that sounded plausible probably came from this uncle.
Damn it.
I’ll never consult him about love again.
“We’ll talk about the details later. I’m about to go on a business trip.”
“Ugh… Ah… My stomach hurts too much… Kehehee… Today, your story gets to be my drinks on this round.”
“Uncle!!”
“Ah, alright, alright. What’s the matter? Get me what you need.”
I told him we were heading to a newly discovered dungeon that looked like an anthill,
and Liam clapped his hands, telling me he had just the right gear in his private storage, not the shop’s inventory. He began rummaging through it.
Click!
On the counter sat a thick bag, covered in dust.
“My adventures as a child were dreams of an adventurer. Everything necessary for survival and exploration is in there.”
“Wow, that’s great! How much?”
“It’s free! Your brilliant episode is worth far more! Kehehehe…”
“Anyways, I’ll make good use of the exploration gear.”
I looked at Liam, imagining the night drinking session, and left the store with a glance of axe-eyed resentment mixed with annoyance.
At the street corner, I brushed off the dust from the heavy bag and headed to the square, where Artemis had already brought the carriage.
She appeared to be looking around, searching for me.
Sigh, I’m about to get another lecture.
“I’m here.”
“What!? Where did you go? My legs are killing me! Waiting for you!”
“Still, we’re dungeon diving, so we need supplies.”
I slightly turned my waist to show the bag strapped on my back.
With that, Artemis lost her reason to scold me. She pouted and snorted, sharply turning her head away.
Still, dealing with her temper.
But from another angle, it’s progress.
In the past, Artemis would have simply turned away if I wasn’t at the meeting spot.
Now, she’s learned to wait for people.
Though, only up to five minutes is the catch.
“Anyway, are you fully ready? Let’s go.”
“Okay~ Count on me today, Artemis.”
I went to place the bag in the luggage bay and turned back to get to the front seat, only to find Artemis had already claimed it.
“Excuse me?”
“You dare repeat that narcissistic speech again, and you’ll meet Hades.”
“Sorry.”
We can’t afford meeting Hades, and I for one don’t wish to.
“Listen, Artemis, you need to steer the carriage, move to the driver’s seat, will you?”
Even after my request, Artemis remained steadfast.
She just stared at me and kept nodding her head towards the driver’s seat.
“Surely… You’re telling me to drive? I’ve never done it before.”
“Who starts off as an expert? If you’ve never tried, then try once! How long must I, a goddess, keep driving?”
Ah…
As much as it irks me, she’s right.
I’ve lost the moral argument.
I took a deep breath and reluctantly climbed up to the driver’s seat.
Even though it’s at the same height as the front seat, the feeling of looking down was utterly different and daunting.
Artemis tapped my shoulder and came closer.
“Don’t be afraid. It’s really easy.”
She handed me the reins.
Then she instructed me, indicating the appropriate grip,
“The horse looks forward while running. To turn the carriage left, pull your left hand back slightly; for a right turn, pull your right hand back. Easy, right?”
“The theory’s simple, but…”
“I did this when I was ten! If someone your age can’t handle it, that’s not right.”
She looked at me disdainfully, her words barely withheld, stung worse than any heartbreak.
Alright, I’ll give it a try.
Hestia’s metropolis, Herion, lies to the south of here.
The south of Luna is rich with famous divine cities, so the paved roads are quite neat and straight.
No difficult courses, just head straight.
I can do this.
Let’s turn the horse’s head towards the south gate first.
I pulled back my right hand holding the reins,
-Neighing loudly and painfully, the horse let out a piercing scream.
“Hey, you idiot! Are you an assassin? If you pull so hard, the horse’s neck will snap!”
“Gyaaack!”
Artemis, wanting me to experience it directly, grabbed my cheeks with both hands and turned my head sharply to the right.
As a result, my neck bones made a horrifying creaking sound like a worn-out gear.
Ah, thanks to that, I’m wide awake now!
Amid some complications, we managed to start moving the carriage.
Artemis, tense throughout the journey, occasionally placed her hand on mine to guide me on managing the reins.
That way, we arrived at one of Hestia’s major cities, Herion.
There was a mention before about deducing the nature of gods based on their temple’s location.
I must now add to that point.
The reason being Herion’s city walls.
Herion’s city walls, which are several times the size and area of Luna, were surprisingly short, as if you could touch them by just raising your hand.
Since walls inherently carry the connotation of rejecting outsiders,
these short walls were a reflection of Hestia’s peaceful nature.
“Confirms. You may proceed.”
After verifying our identities, the guard formally saluted and welcomed us in.
“Ah! May I ask, is Lady Hestia here?”
“Unfortunately, she departed for another metropolis for inspection two days ago.”
It seems Hestia isn’t here, unfortunately.
I was planning to build rapport with her before the expedition, but alas!
“So, where can I find the prayer hall of Herion?”
“Ah? That is the holy place where the followers of Lady Hestia serve and pray. In other words, it’s a restricted area for males. So, you cannot… Ah!”
“…”
This guard.
He was clearly mocking me.
Sneering, his lips curling.
In my mind.
It’s absolutely not due to my inferiority complex.
“…Follow this road… Enter the inner city, and you’ll see it immediately. Have a pleasant journey.”
“…Thank you.”
Although it felt like I was belittled and mocked, it doesn’t matter at all.
I am the priest of Artemis, who undertakes the great fate of the Twelve Labors.
Neither a mere romance nor mockery can possibly make me falter.
Because,
I belong to me.
“What are you doing? Let’s go, partner.”
“…”
Upon entering the inner city, a large prayer hall with a pointed spire like those of modern religious buildings appeared on the right side.
We deposited the carriage at a nearby storage and entered the prayer hall.
Two veiled female devotees approached us with measured steps.
“Good day to you, brothers. How may I assist you?”
“We’ve come to inquire about Apollo’s trial and to inspect the tomb of Rios.”
I showed them the voucher written by Apollo.
After verifying the voucher, the devotees exchanged uneasy glances with one another.
“The voucher is indeed from Apollo, but this is a restricted area for men.”
“Apologies for the late introduction. The lady beside me is Artemis, the Goddess of Purity.”
This made the two nuns bow down in respect and greeted Artemis again.
“I am the priest who serves her.”
“Understood. Except for the prayer hall’s inner sanctuary, you may freely visit the premises.”
As the two nuns stepped aside to clear the path, the main gate of the prayer hall opened.
We entered the prayer hall immediately.
The land area of the prayer hall was divided into three large buildings.
The main prayer hall.
And an orphanage that took care of children orphaned by war.
Lastly, the devotees’ quarters.
Arranged in an L-shape, these buildings encircled a large courtyard.
At the end of the courtyard lay the barrier-guarded tomb of Rios on an empty plot of land.
True to Apollo’s description, a great sandy mound stood with a solitary iron gate.
“How could we not notice such a big sandy mound?”
“Originally, it was a playground, but it was discovered during its demolition thirty years ago.”
“Then, it’s understandable that we didn’t know. Shall we go in right away?”
“Ah! Please wait for a moment, give me thirty minutes.”
After asking Artemis to rest, I entered the prayer hall to gather and organize all the information related to Rios and his tomb from the devotees, then came back to the tomb entrance.
We’ve gotten some decently useful information, which might be helpful.
“Shall we enter?”
“Sure! It’s not like a skeleton from 500 years ago could walk, could it?”
“Would you stop saying unlucky things? Someone like me, a stunning beauty, merely walking is a blessing enough.”
“…”
“Why the silence?”
“Ah, nothing much.”
We bickered as usual and opened the iron gate of the tomb.
The adventure begins.
