Chapter 78: Pure Love

During our midnight rendezvous, I realized how bad I am at this kind of thing. Suimei and Reiji, two individuals with special fates, could handle everything just fine.

Wait, never mind.

They are simply dense blokes during crucial times.

At least they learned in the end and became more perceptive after some time passed. Meanwhile, I had to suffer from this dissociation due to my experiences. That, and I am not really dense.

I messed up at first, but I think I am getting the hang of it now. Tension could be felt between us now and then, but it's not as often as before.

Lady Artemis, in the truest sense, is as inexperienced as me. It ended up with the two of us fiddling our way.

"Loki Familia… They went to Meren for days, didn't they?"

"Yeah. They took care of the troubles I passed on to them. Sometimes, I wonder if my payment is enough…"

"Don't doubt it. Loki wouldn't have accepted your offer if it wasn't enough."

I gave them their orders, multiplied by ten. Finn-san and Gareth-san received Durandal weapons. The same went for their executives—Tiona-san, Tione-san, Aiz-san, and Bete-san. They are tailor-made should've covered their gaps.

Meanwhile, Lady Riveria and Lefiya-san received the prototype of 'casting assistants' in the form of metallic staves. It has an automated coordinate locker—basically aim assist.

They should've totaled more than three hundred million valis, but I gave them away for two hundred million.

Loki Familia paid ninety million upfront and will pay for installments for the remainder.

Lady Artemis' reminder slapped that silly thought out of my mind.

"You saved Orario from potential trouble. Didn't you say that hundreds died due to Dionysus?"

"Yes…"

Fair enough.

Everyone has contributions. Mine happened to be valis, something I have in abundance.

"Does Lady Artemis want to go somewhere?"

"Not really…"

An air of awkwardness was about to pervade when I brought out my trump card.

"I know a special place. I've only been there once though it remained stuck in my mind."

"Something special..?"

A hint of curiosity appeared on her face.

"Could it be that place?"

We didn't need any words to understand these nuances. Our eyes met. Her emerald pupils shook slightly. It is captivating. Something pulls my attention every time I see it.

I tried to subtly avert my gaze but to no avail.

"Lady Artemis is sharp… That was the only place I could think of…"

My mind nearly blanked out. My pulse is strong enough to be felt in my ear. I can't see them yet I know they should be deep red.

"Let's go..?"

"...Um."

I could already tell how memorable this day would be.

*****

"Hm… Hm..?"

Lante did her usual stroll to their familia home. She likes seeing the bright stars in the night sky. As such, she even gained the 'romanticist' title inside their familia. Of course, it has a double meaning.

"The gate is not locked."

Her mind wandered around the possibilities it entailed.

"Did someone break in… No…"

The deployed magicka barriers would immediately capture the intruder. It would've alarmed everyone in their home.

"Someone must've gone out…" She mumbled. "Who could it be, hm..?"

A thought flew in her mind. It is enough to make her pause.

"Hm… HUM?!"

Lante is the most perceptive inside their familia. Her spatial awareness is what made her a qualified mage. She often used it to capture small details that would've otherwise been missed by most people.

"Artemis-sama showed an unusual look last night… She only went out with Rethusa-nee earlier this afternoon…"

She swiftly rushed to Rethusa's room. Several rapid knocks was all it took for the familia captain to open the door.

She wore an oversized shirt and a short. Rethusa could make a sleepwear out of everything, completely unlike others who has pajamas.

"Did Artemis-sama leave just now?!"

"Why ask..?"

Seeing her completely calm face, Lante jumped in sheer excitement.

"I'm right..! There's really something going on!"

"...You're so sharp when it comes to this."

Rethusa already relented even before Lante's crazy questioning.

"She went out with Nobu-kun."

"...WHAT?!"

From surprise, it turned into squeals of joy.

"YES!!!"

She jumped in air several times before rolling to the floor. Lante kept doing such dumb things until her overflowing emotions calmed down a bit.

Bam-!

She slammed her palm to the floor.

"I have to let everyone know..!"

"Sigh…"

Rethusa massaged her temples at the sight of her antics. She predicted this could've happened. Only, the ship's captain reaction exceeded her expectations.

Everyone in the Artemis Familia is in part of the Artemis x Nobu ship. They were there from the start. Their fateful meeting made it more romantic—like a scene straight out of a novel.

Everyone wouldn't forget the stars' splendor when Nobu made his entrance. Once Lante receives a mangaka's tools, she would've let her imagination run wild and make their story into a series.

Seeing her hurried self, Rethusa thought of her goddess.

"I hope everything's fine…"

*****

Orario is a city with a thousand years of history. Countless revisions were made as time passed. Nevertheless, there remains several places that stood for a thousand years.

One of them is a place dedicated for heroes.

A bridge—though more apt to be called a wide pathway—is located on its West District. The Bridge of Heroes is a place where statues of thirty-one heroes could be seen. Each of them defined Gekai's history in the past.

The ambience made from this place somehow calmed Nobu down.

Even if he does not consider them one, he admires them. Heroes have what it takes to defy the expectations. They are the ones who make impossible things, possible.

"It's different in the night…"

"...It is." Nobu replied.

There are only a few street lamps present in the place. They dimly illuminated the statues of the heroes who faced in the bridge's direction. At the end of the path, the final statue had his back facing backwards to their sight.

His scarf flew backwards with his sword remaining sheathed. It seems he is walking forward somewhere—to the place where his greatest foe exists.

"You do like this place, Nobu."

"Well… Yes. Although I am a far cry from a hero, I witnessed them myself. It… it's interesting to see them, to say the least."

"Just like your friends?" Artemis asked.

"Yes… Suimei held the method of resolving our biggest crisis. Meanwhile, Satoru-san was the one who dealt with the current problems… They are remarkable individuals."

Nobu didn't have a high limit. His personal power ended somewhere across Rank B. His individual prowess couldn't contribute much to the bigger picture.

Hence, he chose the second best option—to gather individuals.

Utilizing his future knowledge, he rallied allies—be it sorcerers or magicians—and helped them deal with the calamities of that year.

He became the networker of dazzling individuals. Complex feelings brewed as he walked alongside them. He felt relieved at one side. Though, a part of him felt inferior. It was a coincidence Lefiya reminded him of such.

"But it's different now, isn't it?"

"...Yes."

With his growing power, he is no longer hopeless.

The ambience of this place made the two relaxed. They are not as high-strung as before.

"Lady Artemis… I…"

"Orion."

"..!"

Her voice overlapped with his memories. Nobu looked at the woman beside him. She is much taller when they first met. He could already catch up to her.

Their gazes met once more. This time, it didn't elicit any startled response. The pair silently appreciated each other's presence.

Guided by the vague atmosphere between then, their hands met. Artemis took the initiative again by holding Nobu's hand tight.

"I've already failed you once… Orion."

"I was the one who failed Lady Artemis." Nobu smiled wryly. "I even made you look for me in Tenkai."

In the eighth iteration, Artemis swore to find him in Tenkai. A person would be subjected to a world's rule, thus there is a high chance Nobu's soul went to Tenkai for reincarnation.

"This time… I won't let you go."

Her soft whisper sounded extremely strong in his ears. The determination of a goddess is not something to be trifled with.

"I have fallen for you."

Ba-thump.

Nobu's heart leaped as he heard the declaration.

"I want to be with you… for a long time."

That alone was enough to push Nobu's courage to the maximum.

He would define their relationship today.

"...I didn't want to leave you. My… During that time, I wished to be with you longer. I… fell for you."

Their links to empathy told everything that has to be said. Speaking about it verbally is merely a formality. Their emotions intertwined, creating something new. Only a single emotion emerged at this moment—pure love.

Everything after that happened naturally.

Nobu took the first step.

Artemis felt a soft sensation touching her lips. She was momentarily surprised before give in to the moment.

It took half a minute for them to separate. Due to Nobu's dexterity, he didn't make the rookie mistake of ruining the moment.

Thanks to it…

"Mn..?!"

Artemis began the second round. Their kiss is limited to their lips. The mere act of it made her strange feelings peak.

'Love…'

She realized the true meaning of Aphrodite's words. It might have taken her thousands of years, but she finally felt how it is to fall in love.

It felt so intoxicating to the point she found herself not wanting to part from Nobu. They felt a euphoric sensation out of that act.

When the third round came, the two somehow found themselves wanting more. Their vague relationship over almost two months stockpiled enough emotional entanglements. They truly lived this moment.

Kissing while handholding weren't enough.

*****

I don't know what's happening… or not. I am aware of the events that made this happen.

Artemis looks beautiful. She always is. It's just that something feels different. Perhaps it is the mood? Maybe it is the way she kept a composed look while having a red face.

I was pulled out from my intoxicating thoughts.

It is our third kiss. I… no, we are not satisfied yet.

The dim streetlights accentuated the ambiguous air.

I took the initiative. I held her waist with my remaining arm. Her body jolted as I did so.

'Shouldn't I..?'

Thoughts of separating occurred in my mind. In the heat of everything, I forgot the 'distance' we used to have. Why did I do this mistake..!

I felt my hand being shaken. That was enough to let me know I was pardoned—rather, she didn't mind it.

My heart calmed down. In no time, I was drawn to her.

Our lips met. This time, however, it's different. My tongue was welcomed by hers. Our connection worked in a way we understood each other. Even, it became stronger now.

"Mn…"

Sometimes, our tongues intertwined. Sometimes, it missed. The budding tension in our hearts remained. Strangely enough, it didn't feel lewd. If I have to describe it… it's pure love.

A minute had passed before we separated. A string of saliva momentarily connected us.

At the same time, tension left my body. A sense of fatigue swept over my body. I find it hard to believe a level three could be like this.

Pure love is just this strong.

We didn't do anything else afterwards, only cuddling. Our hands separated as well before focusing on the hug.

Artemis is only a few centimeters taller than me. I grew to 162 centimeters during my time in Gekai. Her face remained in my shoulder.

Seeing Artemis like this, I could tell she is also exhausted at this moment. She should've been much worse than me, yet it didn't faze her. It is both cute and adorable coming from her.

"It took us this long, huh?"

"It's my fault…" Her slightly embarrassed voice resounded. "It took my other self your death before it could progress… She's really right. I wasted my time in the forest…"

I fell silent. It is my first time experiencing this side of hers. She always kept a composed expression during our meeting. Rarely had it turned into embarrassment, such as that river incident.

Only now did Artemis completely open herself up.

Click-!

Just then, a resounding click appeared in my mind.

Artemis lifted her face and looked at me.

"Orion… My arcanum…"

"I see…"

I summoned forth my status. Motes of light converged out of nowhere before I examined it. Unsurprisingly, I found a difference.

[Orionids • Moon Hunt]

-A specialized magic calling forth the orion constellation to crush one's enemies and inflict debuffs. Blessed by the goddess of moon and hunt, it contains a trace of Arcanum. It is tacitly allowed by the world to exist.

The improvements reminded me of the Greek heroes blessed by gods. Theseus, Perseus, Achilles, Heracles…

A thought entered my mind,

"This makes me your hero, no?"

"Hm… Are you fine—?"

"I'll gladly take it."

I made another promise today.

"I will become your hero."