Chapter 86

Chapter Eighty-Seven: About Rumors and Cabbages～ (Third Update)

“Artemis?”

Just as Artemis was washing away the alcohol-induced haze from her body, gradually revealing a relaxed expression, a gentle and soft voice called out from beside her.

Recognizing the familiar voice, Artemis slightly tilted her head.

“Demeter, it’s you…”

There were actually very few goddesses who chose to bathe in the morning. The number of goddesses currently in the Sacred Bathhouse could be counted on two hands.

Most goddesses preferred to come here during the twilight hours when the day was drawing to a close.

Seeing this friend now, Artemis was somewhat surprised.

Wrapped in a thick bath towel, a goddess with orange hair entered her field of vision.

Her smooth long hair was tied up for bathing, yet it fully exposed her voluptuous figure, her chest being two or three times larger than Artemis’.

The orange-haired goddess submerged her body into the bath next to Artemis, naturally floating due to the great buoyancy.

“…”

The cruel disparity in class caused Artemis’ eyes to twitch as she looked away from the newcomer.

She inexplicably felt mocked!

Demeter, the main deity of Orario’s largest agricultural faction, had been an acquaintance of Artemis since their time in Heaven, and they were quite good friends.

Of course, even back in Heaven, Demeter hadn’t spared many opportunities to tease her about her figure.

“It’s truly rare, meeting you here, Artemis.”

Demeter adjusted the bath towel that had loosened from soaking in the water. Despite not having much nostalgia to reminisce with Artemis after such a long time apart, she couldn’t help but let a uniquely feminine gossiping smile form on her lips at the thought of the news her faction’s children brought back this morning.

“Hey hey, Artemis, have you heard the latest rumor circulating in Orario?”

“Rumor? What is it?”

Artemis furrowed her brows lightly, her delicate face showing a look of confusion.

“It seems to be a rumor that just started spreading yesterday~”

The mature face took on an anticipatory expression like a child about to pull off a prank, and Demeter’s mischievous smile gradually blossomed.

For some reason, Artemis felt a bad premonition rising in her heart…

“It’s said that last night at The Bountiful Mistress tavern, Goddess Artemis and Goddess Loki got into a huge fight over a man!”

“Huh???”

Her premonition came true, and several big question marks appeared above Artemis’ head.

What kind of absurd rumor is this?

She didn’t do anything like that!

It was just drinking with Loki; what does Izay have to do with it?

“You’re not denying it immediately, are you? My my, so it really happened?”

“Nonsense! It didn’t happen!”

“Artemis, your reaction right now is so suspicious. I originally thought it was just some unreliable god spreading rumors, but your reaction makes me doubt otherwise~”

“Shut up!”

Having her thoughts disrupted by the sudden appearance of an old friend, Artemis no longer wanted to continue bathing. She quickly wrapped herself in her towel and left the bath.

Staying here would only mean being teased endlessly.

Explaining would be useless; Demeter clearly knew the credibility of this matter was low. She was just using this to tease her.

And Artemis couldn’t find any suitable excuse to counter.

“My my…”

Gently touching her cheek and looking at the retreating back that seemed to be fleeing from her, Demeter smiled faintly.

…

Walking aimlessly on the northwest street bustling with adventurers, Izay wandered without purpose.

“That Loki, she went too far… seriously trying to cut me down…”

Recalling the situation earlier when he tried to take refuge in the library but ended up bumping into Loki, Izay sighed deeply with mixed feelings.

But he could also understand Loki’s feelings.

After all, if someone wanted to pluck the tender cabbage from one’s own garden, wouldn’t anyone explode?

The worst part was, it was even from within the family.

However…

“Because it’s within the family, the chance of getting the cabbage is higher~”

Izay nodded in agreement with his own statement, looking as if he had seen through all truths.

And as a member of the family, after eating the cabbage, Loki could only rage impotently.

Both palms and backs are flesh; what could Loki ultimately do?

This move, this move is called “a thief in the house!”

“Hm? Oh, isn’t that Izay!”

“Ahh, Mihe-sama.”

After walking for a while on the stone brick road, a figure suddenly appeared at the corner and called out to Izay.

Dressed in a gray robe, the tall youth exuded a gentle and elegant demeanor.

If it weren’t for the robe being overly… plain, many people would believe he was a prince straight out of a book.

As an adventurer who frequently visited the Azure Medicine Shop, Izay was very familiar with the deity before him.

Likewise, because Izay often came to buy medicine, Mihe had a strong impression of him and held him in high regard.

“Good day, Mihe-sama, are you going shopping?”

“No, I’m promoting our products (potions) to the adventurers coming out of the shop.”

A routine exchange of greetings, Mihe gestured to the paper bag in his hand.

Inside were some newly developed spiritual medicines.

Mihe’s faction operated a small item shop (Azure Medicine Shop). Although its scale was very small, it couldn’t compare with the Cadiante Healing Clinic also located on the northwest street.

But it was a genuine specialty store selling spiritual medicines to adventurers.

In terms of ordinary spiritual medicine quality, the two could be considered evenly matched.

Of course, when it came to advanced spiritual medicines… the Cadiante Healing Clinic dominated the market alone.

However, it wasn’t that Mihe’s faction couldn’t produce advanced spiritual medicines; rather, they rarely had enough money to purchase materials.

Speaking of which, it might be a bit rude, but currently, Mihe’s faction, Takemikazuchi’s faction, and Hestia’s faction, which will rise to prominence in the future, were known as the three major poor households in Orario.

To the point where the main deity themselves had to personally promote their goods.

Moreover…

“By the way, Izay, since we met on the street, here, this is for you. It’s something Nazah and I recently made, a dual-attribute spiritual medicine~ Please continue to support my faction in the future.”

Supporting the paper bag with one hand, Mihe retrieved two glass bottles from inside and handed them over generously.

Appeared! The legendary “Mihe-sama’s Compassion”!

Mihe-sama had a well-known hobby among adventurers—giving away spiritual medicines for free to rookie adventurers.

Regardless of the value of the spiritual medicine, if Mihe was in a good mood, there was a possibility he would give it away!

Although relatively speaking, the frequency of giving to acquaintances was higher.

In Mihe’s own words, this was called extending kindness to future customers.

“Thank you, Mihe-sama. I will definitely continue to patronize the Azure Medicine Shop in the future.”

Not being coy about it, already accustomed to such matters, Izay accepted the spiritual medicine and gave a promise accordingly.

And at this moment, simultaneously, at the same street corner, Artemis, who had left the Sacred Bathhouse and was wandering aimlessly within the city, discovered Izay.