Four days had passed since Artemis rejected the rice punch that had been her favorite.
Though she displayed confidence and authority in front of me,
It was all bluff—hope was nowhere to be found in the results.
Overconfidence in modern food had backfired.
Thus, all I could do during these four days was sit in the office, tapping the desk with a pen, stuck in a rut.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
“…”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
“…”
With no clear strategy in mind, my mounting frustration filled the room with an irritating noise, growing more oppressive by the moment.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
“Uh, Ark?”
Unable to endure the sound of me tapping like a woodpecker any longer,
Maia set down the petition she was reviewing and called out to me.
Though her expression was calm, I sensed a fearsome goblin-like figure looming behind her,
And like a thief startled by their own footsteps, I immediately stashed the pen back in the drawer.
At this, Maia covered her mouth and stifled a chuckle.
“Puhuhuhu. Ark, there’s no need to hide things like a naughty child, you know?”
We had grown quite close due to the Artemis incident.
Human relationships often begin with walls between people that come down through pivotal moments,
And this universal truth applied equally to gods and humans.
Because of this, Maia now felt comfortable addressing me even in formal settings.
In fact, she once suggested I call her “sister,”
But I found it awkward and haven’t grown used to it yet.
As a result, she has started to smile more genuinely than before.
If this progress continues to heal her Hera-related PTSD, it would truly be a blessing.
“Still, I’ve dumped all the temple duties to focus on this labor. It wouldn’t be right if I couldn’t assist, let alone hinder.”
“Hmm hmm hmm. Nothing is difficult, honestly. Thanks to Ark’s meticulous standard protocols, all I have to do is follow the relevant guidelines.”
“Thankfully. If you encounter any difficulties, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Hmm~ No, I’m actually amazed every day while working. The more I observe the systems Ark has put in place, the more I realize how disorganized Olympus truly is.”
“Simply categorizing and analyzing the complaints statistically, then processing them according to the established algorithms.”
“Hmm hmm hmm. That’s right. So, why is this great Ark so restless lately?”
With a teasing grin, even though she clearly already knew the reason, she asked me.
Coming from her, I sensed a genuine admiration for how I had cleverly resolved my awkward relationship with Artemis instead of focusing on the daunting labors.
“It’s nothing…”
I tried to brush her off with a vague response, resting my chin in my hand and avoiding her gaze, but soon closed my mouth.
Who is Maia, after all?
In just a short time, she had cut to the heart of the subtle relationship between Artemis and me.
Should I consult her about this labor?
Yes, let’s do it.
There’s no reason not to.
“As you might know, I’m in the middle of a labor, but I can’t think of any suitable beverages.”
“Why… so you’ve been frowning and brooding over this? There aren’t any good drinks, huh?”
“Wait? You mean there are?”
She responded matter-of-factly, as if it were no big deal.
Hope kindled within me as I questioned her enthusiastically.
Maia then clasped her hands as if in prayer, looked skyward, and sparkled her eyes.
“There’s nectar, the drink of the heavens. Why not add walnuts to it and call it ‘walnut nectar’? Presto! A new heavenly beverage!”
“…”
“What do you think? Create a new drink by adding something extra to the greatest beverage of all.”
“Aaaahahahaha. Wow, genius idea!”
Maia beamed, her gaze full of stars, expectant.
Why?
Why not just dilute nectar with water and call it ‘watered-down nectar’?
Even that would be better than this.
Though I refrained from voicing such thoughts, gave a lukewarm “thanks, that helps,” and slipped out of the office.
Click.
“Living in a cave for so long and now leading a stable life—it seems my playful side is coming out, huh? Haha. Hermes and Maia with their antics remind me of cartoon characters.”
Turning my head after closing the door, I smiled softly at Maia through the door and muttered to myself.
Maia isn’t a cat who can magically produce solutions from her bag.
But a smirk worked as my mood switch.
“Alright. I shouldn’t just stay cooped up in the office; let’s visit Luna for a real change of pace.”
Let me stop by Liam’s shop to greet him after such a long time, and observe the drinks he sells.
Maybe a new idea might strike me while I’m there.
After grabbing some extra cash at my quarters and slinging my bag, I came out.
An endless clear sky stretched above the ridges of the mountains and the horizon.
I looked up at the sky.
“Come to think of it… I haven’t gazed at the sky for quite some time.”
Regret washed over me like a tide, reminiscing how I’d been consumed by work and neglected such a beautiful landscape for four days.
Just then,
KANG!
Near my quarters, a door slammed with an immense crash.
The birds perched on tree branches were momentarily stunned and fell to the ground, unable to fly away.
The possessor of such colossal strength could only be one person.
Artemis.
“It seems something is bothering her a great deal.”
They say rats leave a ship when a typhoon approaches.
Likewise, a wise man avoids dangerous situations.
And right now, I’m both the rat and the wise man.
I should evade.
If this goddess spots me now, I’ll surely be detained, grilled all day, and never make it to Luna.
In the past, I always ended up being caught despite my clumsy attempts to hide.
But today, I’m different.
Exiting from my quarters, I flattened myself against the temple wall, waiting for the fiery Artemis to pass.
After about two minutes,
She’s gone now, surely.
Peeking around the corner, I checked the situation.
But near the temple’s main gate, she still stood, like an enraged bull looking for its target.
Damn.
Since I have to descend the mountain through the main gate…
I’ll just wait a bit longer.
Suddenly.
Artemis drew her bow.
Raising her right arm high into the sky, a silvery moonlight gathered into a single arrow in her open hand.
The moment it was released, it soared upward.
Physically, an arrow that loses kinetic energy should eventually fall vertically.
But this moonlight arrow, like a reconnaissance drone, began circling the temple,
Pointing its tip towards my location, then shot toward me again.
Poof!
A moonlight arrow landed at my feet.
An ominous red light flashed repeatedly.
“Could this be… a tracking spell?”
Though I tried to reassure myself otherwise, peeking again toward the gate, I was shocked.
The irate Artemis was stamping her feet and heading directly toward my position.
Without a second thought, I turned to run,
But she grabbed my shirt quicker than my escape.
“Hey! Why are you skulking around and causing trouble!”
“…”
“Always dodging your duties using the ‘labor’ excuse! If you keep fooling around, I’ll have you dismissed!”
Here we go.
I was right, wasn’t I?
Lady Artemis left her place to confront me and block my path for no reason but annoyance.
Even using a tracking spell.
Should I commend her for going this far to seek me out? It’s almost making me tear up.
“Haa… What’s happened now? Did the followers tear your clothes again? Or did the burger supplies run out?”
“Who do you think I am, a bug-eater?”
“Then, what is the problem?”
“There are slash-and-burn farmers behind the mountain where I stay! And they’ve been there for two years!!!”
“Whaaaaaat?!”
Before the city of Luna existed, this mountain, where Artemis made her nest, underwent many changes.
Wild animals were no longer hunted by humans,
And cutting down trees was forbidden, making it a sacred place.
But how is there even talk of slash-and-burn farmers?
Are you saying there’s a slash-and-burn village on the other side of this mountain?
And it’s been going on for two years?
“Didn’t you notice earlier? You’re out hunting every day, so how could you not know about the slash-and-burn village?”
“What? There are multiple peaks on this mountain! How am I supposed to know everything!”
The mountain’s protector spoke with an overwhelming sense of responsibility.
With a life consumed by hunting or reading indoors… Ignorance is understandable.
“So…What do you plan to do?”
“Plan? Of course, I’ll hang every last one of those slash-and-burn farmers immediately!”
Most people in this world live comfortable lives within the cities ruled by gods.
However, there are those who live in the mountains like bandits and slash-and-burn farmers,
And these are often people who fled the city after committing crimes.
Moreover, these farmers have burned trees on this sacred mountain, tarnished Artemis’ dignity,
And have evaded taxes for two whole years. Artemis’ anger is, hence, understandable.
“Still, if you didn’t know for two years, how did you find out about the slash-and-burn village now? You haven’t left the temple today.”
“A tip came in. They said the slash-and-burn farmers worship the water of demons. According to the map, they’re right behind the mountain. Ugh… I’m so annoyed!!”
“They worship the ‘water of demons,’ you say…”
To believe in anything other than Artemis under her patronage is heresy.
Though they’ve certainly committed a capital offense, it felt wrong for her to handle it alone.
“Artemis, can I come with you?”
“Uh? Why?”
“Well, this ‘water of demons’ thing… I have a hunch that something might be there.”
“Hmm~ Let me think… Hmm… Alright, I’ll take you with me.”
Artemis, having her arms crossed, pretended to consider it and grinned mischievously, seemingly as if offering a favor.
Though she was clearly waiting outside the gate planning to involve me anyway,
There’s no need to ruin the current atmosphere with such remarks.
“Let’s go. I’m curious to see what this ‘water of demons’ is.”
And thus, we immediately set out over the mountain ridge towards the slash-and-burn village.
