Type-Moon: The Human Love Simulator [104] [30 PS]

Bonus Chapter!

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"My dear Suren, I'm back…"

Cynthia's voice was faint, tinged with a sadness that was impossible to miss. She hadn't even appeared yet, but Suren could already sense her melancholy in the air.

This doe could never hide her emotions. She was the very embodiment of simplicity—completely transparent, easy to read. Her thoughts lay bare for anyone to see.

"Cynthia, what's wrong?" Suren asked, eyeing the forlorn creature before him. Despite her divine and dignified bearing, her pure and graceful form, she now carried herself with the air of someone utterly defeated.

Suren couldn't help but feel concerned as he watched her, this proud, majestic spirit, looking as if her whole world had crumbled.

"Cynthia, what happened?"

Though he had resolved to venture beyond the forest, to see the world of the gods and the splendor of the godly age, that didn't mean he was going to abandon Cynthia. After all, she was no ordinary creature. Even if he were gone for decades, he'd likely still find her here, waiting for him.

Seeing her so troubled, of course, he'd be concerned.

"It's nothing…"

Cynthia slumped to the ground, seemingly lost in thought. Suren, though hesitant, nodded, signaling that he understood her wish not to speak.

After a few moments, Cynthia let out a gentle sigh. "Suren, have I ever told you… of the vow that Artemis, our great goddess, once swore upon the thunder of Father Zeus?"

"Of course, you've told me about it before."

Suren nodded. "There are only three virgin goddesses in Greece—Hestia, goddess of the hearth; Athena, goddess of wisdom, war, and victory; and finally, Artemis, goddess of the moon and the hunt. But compared to the first two…"

At this, Suren wisely stopped talking.

The first two maintained their purity with sheer strength; no god dared approach them. Hestia had even turned down a proposal from Zeus himself. But for Artemis, it seemed that her purity was preserved only by the protection of Zeus's thunder—quite the difference.

Cynthia sighed, nodding slightly. "You're right. Even among the Twelve, there are differences in power. Compared to Hestia and Athena, Artemis's strength indeed falls a bit short."

On any other day, anyone daring to question the power of Artemis, one of the three virgin goddesses, would surely face divine wrath. Those who spoke ill of the gods had been turned into beasts or subjected to calamities countless times before. Greek gods weren't exactly forgiving—and they could hear everything.

But now, Artemis was at a low point, her spirit dampened after a harsh scolding from Apollo, and even a reprimand from Zeus. She was hardly in a position to be angry…

Instead, Artemis—through Cynthia—actually acknowledged Suren's words.

Cynthia went on, voice heavy with worry, "Suren, what if… the goddess of the moon and the hunt were to fall in love? Bound by her vow to Zeus, should she defy it, she'd be consumed by his thunderbolt."

"!"

Suren's heart stirred. Was this the story of Orion? The story of the sea god's son, the boastful hero who won the love of the huntress herself, Artemis—a goddess who knew nothing of love.

If so, then Suren couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. In every version of Orion's tale, any man who fell in love with Artemis would face a tragic end.

Apollo would see to that, without fail. Either through a deadly scorpion's sting, or by tricking Artemis into shooting him down.

Cynthia's clear eyes fixed upon him, seeming to await his response. He realized, with a small pang of understanding, that Cynthia must be truly distressed. After all, Artemis was her mistress.

It wouldn't do to be in good spirits while her goddess was suffering, right?

The gods of Olympus were petty creatures, and they punished harshly—so much as making them think you'd wronged them could lead to one's ruin.

"So… Cynthia, you mean to say that the moon goddess intends to leave her… her beloved?"

Suren ventured cautiously. "Was this Apollo's advice?"

Cynthia nodded, remaining silent for a long while. "You could say that. Apollo suggested that they separate. If not, he promised he'd kill the man."

That sounded about right.

Suren could only sigh. Typical Apollo—decisive and unwavering. But with his sister, he'd shown unusual patience, offering her a chance to walk away. Had Artemis refused, Apollo would have taken matters into his own hands, making the "right choice" on her behalf.

"Seems this is just a small ripple… a more reasonable Artemis."

He mulled it over, then paused, thinking. "No, not quite. She's hesitating. If she's uncertain, she might still defy her oath, even if it means giving up her godhood for him."

The heart of a young girl in love burned bright, heedless of consequence. If not for family to guide her, she'd make choices she'd regret forever.

But Apollo wouldn't allow her to risk her life, even if it meant bearing his sister's resentment.

"No, I have to talk to Cynthia. She could convince Artemis to make the right decision."

Suren felt a rush of urgency. Somehow, he'd become a part of this myth, involved in a scene recorded by history itself.

As Artemis's follower, he couldn't stand by and watch his patron goddess pine away. He'd be a laughingstock among the followers of other gods! No, he'd have to intervene to help her avoid sorrow.

"Cynthia, Artemis can't be with her beloved just yet."

He spoke gravely, his face solemn. "If they continue, Apollo will kill him, and they'll be separated forever."

"But if they part ways for now, searching for a way to lift the oath, then maybe one day they'll meet again."

Suren's words were earnest. "As long as he's alive, there's hope. Even the strictest oaths and laws have loopholes."

Hearing this, Cynthia's entire demeanor brightened. She began to prance joyfully, circling him in little hops of delight.

"Oh, Suren, my wise Suren… you're absolutely right," she cried, her movements animated with joy. "As long as there's life, there's hope. An oath may be unbreakable, but it can still be undone or surpassed. And if he dies, then everything ends."

"Yes, you're absolutely right!"

Cynthia's delight went beyond simply saving Suren's life; she was clearly overjoyed by his wisdom, his calm demeanor, and his clever solution. To her, his insight was a confirmation of his love.

He's thinking about us! He's planning our future!

Of course, Cynthia conveniently ignored the fact that Suren still hadn't a clue about her true identity.

Watching the ecstatic, doe-eyed Cynthia twirl around him, Suren sighed and raised a hand to his forehead. "Cynthia, understanding is one thing, but shouldn't you go and tell Artemis already?"

Cynthia's wide, innocent eyes blinked up at him, her lashes fluttering as she considered her options.

"Hmm… should I tell Suren that I am, in fact, his goddess, Artemis?"

Her eyes shone with mischief. "Since I'll be leaving soon, it might be fine to reveal it at last."

Suren, meanwhile, had no idea what was running through her mind. He was too busy wondering if he'd done the right thing.

In essence, Suren had done the same thing as Apollo—he'd advised that Artemis separate from her beloved.

The goddess's situation truly seemed unfortunate. To be cursed to die for love… a little excessive, wasn't it?

But unlike Apollo, who left no hope, Suren offered Artemis a faint glimmer of it. With even a slim chance, she wouldn't lose all hope.

No matter if her dream would be realized or not, at least she had something to cling to.

"It's best to stabilize things with Artemis for now. She's been good to me, watching over me in the hunt all these years…"

He'd done all he could for her. And the vow she'd sworn to Zeus was ironclad; no one, not even Zeus himself, could break it.

"Hm… seems like my patron goddess Artemis isn't too reliable. Wonder if I should add a few more gods to my list when I leave the forest."

The idea struck him as sound, so he asked aloud, "Cynthia, is it acceptable to worship multiple gods?"

Cynthia nodded. "Of course! Unless you've made an oath to serve only one god, you can honor as many gods as you please."

The Olympian pantheon didn't insist on exclusive worship. Every city-state had its patron deity, but temples to other gods were just as welcome.

For example, Athena was the patron of Athens, Apollo of Sparta, but both cities hosted temples for other gods like Zeus.

Hearing this, Cynthia grew visibly anxious, her doe-like eyes narrowing as she asked, "Suren, what are you planning? Isn't Artemis alone enough for you?"

She couldn't bear the thought of the child she'd raised for fifteen years suddenly worshiping someone else.

"Er… Cynthia, ever heard of the saying, 'The more allies, the better'?"

Suren attempted to reason. "Think about it. Artemis only grants me blessings for the hunt. I can't spend my entire life hunting; I'll need the protection of a powerful god out there in the world."

"You're leaving the forest? Why, Suren? Am I not good enough?" Cynthia's voice held a tinge of panic. She had already steeled herself to leave him, but she hadn't expected him to reach this decision so soon…

Apollo had given her a year to figure things out, but Suren seemed set on leaving now?

"Could he have discovered who I really am?"

"No, that can't be…"

Anxiously, Cynthia stood there, gaze fixed on him, waiting for his answer.

Suren let out a slow breath, then nodded. "Yes, Cynthia. I planned to tell you after tonight, but since we're on the subject already, I may as well just come out with it."

Regardless of when he announced his decision to leave, it would be difficult for Cynthia to accept. So, taking this opportunity felt right.

"I'm fifteen now, Cynthia. It's time for me to return to human society," he said, watching her closely. "I can't stay in this forest forever, living with a talking deer. I'm human—a creature meant to live among my own kind."

Humans, after all, were social beings. Unlike other creatures of this world, humans needed connection and interaction to maintain their sense of self and humanity.

In truth, Suren's resilience and Cynthia's companionship had been the only things keeping him from being twisted by loneliness.

"But…"

The sight of Suren, whose beauty was enough to stir the heart of any god, made Cynthia hesitate. She wanted to keep this rare beauty for herself, to let no other being—god or mortal—lay claim to him.

And yet, his divine allure struck at her heart in a way that stirred a rare sense of reason. If she didn't let her treasure go, he would be lost to her forever.

Just imagining that unbearable outcome made Artemis shudder, filling her with a dread that she couldn't ignore.

This was beauty at its highest level—the kind that made even divine beings abandon their pride and reason just to keep it.

Artemis was capricious, bold, and spirited, like a young girl untouched by care. If she had fallen for anyone else, Apollo's warnings would have gone unheard, her heart dismissing them as needless worry, choosing instead to revel in her newfound love.

Perhaps one day she would mourn a lover's death at Apollo's hands and grow to resent her brother's cold heart. But never, in her heart, would she see herself as the one responsible.

Artemis was, and always would be, a little girl at heart.

But this time, the thought of risking Suren's life made her hesitate. She couldn't bring herself to test her brother's patience or gamble with his mercy.

Asking a headstrong, young goddess to part from her beloved… could anything be more difficult?

And when that goddess was a major deity, that difficulty became nearly insurmountable.

But Suren's beauty had accomplished the impossible.

The mood of his birthday celebration was somber. Knowing that he planned to leave the next day cast an unavoidable shadow over Cynthia's spirits.

Suren sighed to himself. "I'd hoped not to ruin the mood, but it seems it was unavoidable in the end."

He presented her with his gift, handing it over with a quiet smile. "Cynthia, this is for you. I know a birthday is supposed to be for receiving gifts, but I wanted to give you something as well."

Suren held out two small statues—a lifelike carving of a deer and a finely detailed figure of the goddess Artemis.

"I noticed before that your statue of Lady Artemis was a bit worn," he explained. "I thought it might detract from her dignity, so I carved a new one."

He gestured to the deer statue. "And this one is for you, Cynthia. I modeled it after you, based on all the little details I've observed. Do you like it?"

In Greece, statues were central to their culture. Greece's tradition of sculpture had spread around the world, influencing religions far and wide. Originally, neither Buddhism nor Christianity had statues, and idol worship was considered heretical.

But over time, depictions of saints, the Virgin, and countless Buddha statues became accepted.

Suren was confident Cynthia would be pleased with the sculptures.

Cynthia was indeed overjoyed, her joy spilling over as she accepted the gift. But as soon as she held them, her expression changed, a shadow clouding her face.

Suren noticed her sudden shift, and, true to their easy relationship, asked without hesitation, "What's wrong, Cynthia? Don't you like the gift?"

He truly enjoyed being around her; her simple honesty made everything between them clear and straightforward. When she was unhappy, she showed it openly, with no hidden motives.

Cynthia shook her head, her tone sullen. "You made a statue for me, and you made one for Lady Artemis, too. She'll be thrilled… but why isn't mine the only one?"

I'm jealous of myself!

Suren… who gives the same gift to two people?

Even if I'm both of those people… I'm not happy about it!

Suren chuckled softly. "Cynthia, you're not just 'anyone' to me."

He continued, "And these statues aren't offerings. They're both gifts for you, not something to be presented to Lady Artemis."

Cynthia froze for a moment. Sculpting a deity's image wasn't something one did lightly. If the god or goddess was displeased by the effort, it could be seen as an insult.

Usually, only a highly esteemed artist would dare to craft a god's likeness.

Yet here was Suren, boldly giving a goddess's statue as a gift to another person. If she weren't Artemis herself, she might have considered this offensive.

Instead, Artemis felt a warmth spread through her. Suren was willing to risk angering a goddess just to offer her a unique, precious gift. Surely, this meant that she held a special place in his heart?

His heart holds me close—he must love me!

Cynthia's mood lifted immediately, and it took only a few words for Suren to bring her back to her lively, spirited self.

Still, she didn't forget to warn him. "My Suren, remember: gods are sensitive beings. If you ever decide to sculpt an image, it must feel exclusive to that god."

"If a god feels you've disrespected them, they may curse you or punish you for it. They really are insufferable that way!"

Growing indignant, Cynthia's hooves pawed at the ground, momentarily forgetting that she, too, was a deity.

She wasn't angry about anything in particular, but just thinking of a god cursing her beloved Suren…

How dare a god threaten him like that!

Cynthia was furious, but Suren gently stroked her smooth coat beneath her chin, coaxing her calm. "Easy there, little doe… don't worry. I'll be respectful of the gods. They won't have any reason to punish me."

"And you, Cynthia—don't disrespect the gods either. You're only a… uh, a servant of a greater god, after all. You can't afford to make enemies among the Olympians."

He was about to call her a minor spirit of the Titans, cautioning her to keep a low profile in the Olympian age.

But he caught himself, knowing that would only hurt her pride. Instead, he delicately reminded her to be cautious with the gods of Olympus.

In all likelihood, Cynthia didn't even catch his subtle hint.

If he wanted her to understand, he'd have to say it directly, in the simplest terms.

Suren's warm tone filled Cynthia with joy. Her heart was racing—he was concerned for her well-being! She gently rubbed her head against him, her scent carrying the fresh, natural aroma of the forest, with not a trace of the wild musk one might expect from a woodland creature.

Perhaps that was a testament to her favor with the Lady of the Wilderness.

Suren didn't pull away from her affectionate gesture.

But he couldn't help but wonder why she didn't lick him like other animals tended to do. Instead, she simply nuzzled him…

After brushing her head against him, Cynthia's spirits soared. "No, Suren, I can't let this go…"

"I'll ask Lady Artemis to grant you her blessing. That way, no one will be able to harm my Suren."

Turning away, she hesitated, a nervous thought crossing her mind: But, I've never done this before. Should I leave him for a while? What if he's gone when I get back?

And what if he discovers my true identity? Will he think I've been deceiving him?

Lost in her thoughts, Cynthia nearly missed Suren's voice. "Cynthia, if you want to reach out to Lady Artemis, why not use the gift I gave you to show your devotion?"

He laughed softly, adding, "Honestly, that old statue of yours was so crude, it was hard to even tell it was a goddess. I'm surprised Artemis didn't punish you for it…"

If someone else had carved that pitiful statue, Artemis would have been furious. But she couldn't exactly punish herself for poor workmanship.

"Good idea!"

Ignoring his jab at her skills, Cynthia took the new statue and began muttering a few random words, going through the motions. "Alright, Lady Artemis has granted it!"

After all, it was just her blessing herself. No need to overcomplicate it. And Suren would be none the wiser.

Suren blinked, a bit confused. He didn't doubt the ritual, even if it looked a little… odd. What did he know of divine ceremonies, after all?

He did find Artemis's supposed acceptance rather surprising, though.

In terms of friendliness toward humanity, Artemis ranked at the bottom of the Olympians. The goddess of the wilderness didn't much care for city-dwelling humans and preferred the company of children who lived off the land.

Perhaps Cynthia's appeal worked its magic with her goddess…

"So, Cynthia, what blessing did Lady Artemis bestow upon me?"

Suren didn't reject her offer of a blessing. With a divine patron's favor, he'd have an easier time in Greece. The priests would respect him, at the very least.

And for the gods, blessings were a mere trifle.

Cynthia thought for a moment. Her first thought was to grant him immunity from harm, but such a powerful blessing was beyond her. Only the likes of Zeus, Hera, and Athena could bestow protection on that level.

So, she settled for something more manageable. "All those you treat sincerely will never betray you."

"This is Lady Artemis's blessing upon you, the favor of the goddess of the moon and the hunt."

Cynthia believed this blessing was more than enough.

Suren's innate kindness and beauty would protect him from any who didn't truly appreciate him.

Suren, feeling genuinely touched, began stroking her back, his hand running smoothly along her spine. But as his hand neared her waist, Cynthia's whole body tensed. She jerked back, kicking him away with a startled leap.

Fortunately, his thick leather armor absorbed the worst of the blow; had he worn the finer linen or silk favored by city folk, he might have suffered real injury.

Even so, the kick left him winded, though he sensed she hadn't put her full strength into it.

"What kind of noblewoman do you think I am, behaving like that?!"

She shouted, flustered, though a mix of emotions flickered across her face. In Greece, a woman's waist was a deeply private part of her body, not to be touched casually—especially by a suitor.

Let alone anywhere… further down.

Suren looked away, embarrassed. "I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry, Cynthia. It was my mistake. Please forgive my disrespect."

He'd simply been lost in the joy of petting her, forgetting for a moment that she wasn't an ordinary animal but a sentient goddess. As a female, she had boundaries that ought to be respected.

Cynthia's fury faded as she looked into Suren's contrite gaze.

"…Very well. If you're truly sorry, I can forgive you this time," she replied, though still a bit flustered. "But be careful out there, Suren. You may suffer for such behavior one day!"

"Yes, Cynthia. I'll remember."

With his apology accepted, Suren glanced beyond the forest, to the lands he had been barred from all his life.

Tomorrow, at last, he would set foot beyond the trees and begin his journey.

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