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[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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Chapter 60
In Greek mythology, Artemis is revered as a virgin goddess, symbolizing chastity alongside Athena and Hestia.
As such, all of Artemis’s handmaidens had sworn oaths of purity.
Even the gods could not approach those under her divine protection.
There was only one exception: the king of the gods, Zeus.
No matter how powerful a goddess Artemis was, she could not shield her own from Zeus’s reach.
Zeus had already taken Callisto, one of Artemis’s handmaidens, and now he had his sights set on Taygete.
The only thing Artemis could do for Taygete was to hide her from Zeus, confronting him directly was impossible, even for Artemis.
So, she disguised Taygete as a deer, affixed golden antlers to her head, and made her appear male…
“But Zeus already knows the golden-horned deer is Taygete.”
“……”
Artemis fell silent at my words.
It was the sort of situation that left her with no choice but to ponder deeply.
And that, in turn, was the very opening I needed an opportunity to make use of the goddess.
“However, I doubt he’s certain. He’s still in the suspicion phase, I’d say.”
Zeus does not claim Taygete until well after the completion of the Twelve Labors.
Right now, he is likely still unsure or perhaps even unaware that the golden-horned stag is Taygete.
If he did know for certain, he’d have no reason to leave her be.
Even so, I spoke as though Zeus already knew.
Because that would make Artemis anxious enough to depend on me.
And sure enough.
“The fact that you’ve told me this… it means you must also know a way to avoid that fate.”
“Yes, I do.”
Her sky-colored blue eyes locked onto mine.
“Then tell me what it is.”
“Before that, there’s something I’d like to ask of you, Lady Artemis.”
“To make a request of a god first…?”
A curious smile tugged at the corner of Artemis’s lips.
“So the one who tricked the Moirai to get what he truly wanted is just as the rumors say.”
“Oh? You’ve heard of that?”
“How could I not? Someone who overturned the will of Zeus himself, your name is quite the topic among the gods lately.”
When I fell silent, Artemis chuckled with amusement.
“Even Priapus, who lives in the most remote of rural corners, has heard of you.”
“……”
I’ve gotten that famous…?
I had deceived the Moirai and pulled Jeanne and Vanessa into the Labors, yes but I hadn’t expected the consequences to spread this far.
If Artemis was right, there might not be a single god in the Greek world who hasn’t heard of me.
If even Priapus the rustic god of fertility knows, then yeah, I guess it’s safe to say everyone does.
He was, after all, a god of the most backwater of all backwaters.
Seeing my startled expression at this unexpected revelation, Artemis let out another amused laugh.
“You didn’t know, did you? Rumors travel fast among the gods.”
“Do they have some sort of messenger?”
“Messenger? If you mean a herald, then yes something like that. There are many gods who carry news. I’m sure you’ve met at least one.”
“You mean Lord Hermes.”
“Yes, Hermes. That boy saw you and told the others.”
No wonder Hermes looked so cheerful as he walked away.
His steps had been light with excitement, thrilled at the thought of spreading stories about me far and wide.
Chirp—
A skylark flew in from somewhere and gently landed on Artemis’s hand.
Stroking the bird’s head with a benevolent smile, Artemis asked softly,
“Speak your wish. If it is within reason, I shall grant it.”
“It’s not an unreasonable request.”
What I wanted from Artemis wasn’t anything too extravagant.
“Please tell me how I can capture Taygete.”
“You’re asking me to give you a way to capture one of my own?”
In that instant, the gentle goddess’s face turned bitterly cold.
As night fell, the bright sky darkened, and moonlight poured over the field like a flood.
Chirrrip—
The skylark flew away as if fleeing, and the deer vanished into the forest. A chilling stillness swept over everything.
Under the silver rain of moonlight, her icy blue eyes bore into me.
She loathed nothing more than someone touching what was hers.
Once someone entered the sanctuary she had defined as her own, she would protect them no matter the cost.
Even if the one she had to defy was Zeus, king of the gods.
It was precisely because she was such an independent and fiercely protective goddess that Artemis was often depicted as cold in the myths.
Crossing her boundaries was seen as a sacred taboo.
But still…
“Yes.”
I had to cross that boundary.
“And your reason?”
“Because it’s the only way to truly hide Taygete from Zeus.”
“……”
Her frozen gaze slowly thawed, regaining the hue of the open sky.
“I’d like to hear more.”
With the goddess now ready to listen, I explained my plan.
We would help Hercules capture Taygete.
And during that chaos, we would switch her out, create a new golden-horned stag to fool Zeus, and hide the real Taygete away.
It could work because even the king of the gods was not omniscient.
Even Hermes, the god of trickery, had fooled Zeus before.
If we performed the switch while Hercules had Taygete in custody, we could buy time at least for a little while.
Not that it’ll last long.
Zeus, persistent as ever, would eventually track her down and take her.
All I could do was buy Artemis that brief window using Hercules. What came after would be her burden, not mine.
“To begin with, we need to capture Taygete.”
“Hmm. Not a bad idea.”
Seated on a moonlit rock, the goddess of the moon nodded slowly.
“Very well. I will help you capture Taygete. But… she is not the type to let herself be taken so easily.”
Her blue eyes shimmered with a glint of curiosity as they studied me.
“I shall grant you the ability to capture her.”
Rising from her seat, Artemis reached out and gently touched my forehead with her graceful hand.
I was so startled I didn’t have time to dodge.
Her fingertips, soft and cool, pressed against my skin.
────.
A bluish aura trickled from Artemis’s fingertips, flowing into my body.
“Do not resist. Accept it.”
Following her words, I allowed the energy to enter me.
And then…
[Awakening Ability Acquired.]
[You have received the Blessing of the Moon Goddess Artemis.]
A message appeared in my status window, buzzing in my ears.
Soon after, a new awakening ability was added.
==
[Holy Hunt]
[The Moon Goddess Artemis is also the goddess of hunting.
The blessing of Holy Hunt allows you to sense, track, and hunt sacred beings.
When Holy Hunt is activated, additional stat bonuses will be granted only when targeting sacred beings.]
–The moonlight never fades, even in the darkest of nights.
==
“….”
I stared at the status window with surprise, not having expected to gain an awakening ability.
Holy Hunt, huh.
This was, quite literally, a holy attribute buff.
It granted the ability to track sacred beings, and once a target was tracked, I would gain additional stats against them.
This was a rare opportunity.
Among the most difficult attributes were those related to ‘holiness.’
Holy attribute creatures were the kind even churches struggled to handle.
Artemis had granted me the power to deal with such beings.
All for the purpose of ‘tracking’ Taygete.
But there seemed to be more to it than just that.
[Catalog Updated.]
==
◆ Constellation
Moon Goddess Artemis
==
Artemis had become my constellation.
It was as if she had preemptively marked me with her blessing.
==
[Moon Goddess Artemis]
—In the future, you will be able to receive additional powers from the Moon Goddess Artemis.
==
“With that ability, you’ll be able to track Taygete.”
In the once-dark field, the warmth of midday sunlight began to shine through.
Chirp—
The birds and deer, who had vanished, now returned and frolicked in the field.
“Was this helpful?”
“Very much so.”
“I’m glad.”
Artemis, who had spoken in a cold and formal tone earlier, now spoke with a softness that made her words feel warmer.
Her tone was leisurely yet calm.
I felt that this relaxed demeanor was Artemis's true nature.
The goddess Artemis, who showed boundless compassion to those within her protection, was now revealing her genuine side.
"Well then, I'll see you next time."
With that promise, Artemis disappeared.
Before I knew it, I was back at the altar of the temple.
And the following day…
"I'm going to hunt the deer."
Hercules's third task, the capture of the golden-horned deer, was about to begin.
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[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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