Chapter 2 – Artemis Familia
In the midst of a lush forest, past the dense thickets, a small clear waterfall cascaded down from the cliffs above, flowing like a silver veil bathed in morning light.The mist from the fall spread out like a delicate pearl fog, gently covering the surrounding greenery like a soft, sheer curtain.At the base of the waterfall was a small lake, colored green by the reflection of the trees. Its clear waters rippled gently, the sound of water blending harmoniously with the cheerful laughter of young girls playing.It was nature's symphony—a scene so picturesque, it was a pity no one was there to witness it.
After a day of battle, bathing in the cool stream had become a cherished routine for the girls—a time to cleanse their bodies and spirits.Laughter, teasing, and chatting about the day's events had become a sacred ritual among the young adventuresses.Usually, this was the time they'd discuss local gossip from nearby villages or brainstorm dinner menus.But today… was not like the others.Because they had a new topic to talk about.
"Ughhh, I feel all sticky~ It's so gross… I hate it～"A sharp-eared girl with bright blue hair, seemingly a half-elf, pouted and grumbled.Several other nearby elves nodded in agreement.For elves who valued cleanliness to an extreme, sweating from a day of exertion was pure torture.
"Lanti, don't say weird things like that. If the Goddess hears you, you'll get scolded again."The red-haired woman at the center of the group, who appeared to be the oldest, warned with a tired voice.
"Ehh, hehe～"The half-elf called Lanti quickly rubbed her head and stuck out her tongue, trying to act cute to escape blame.Lanti was the youngest member of the Familia—only thirteen years old.She had once been an abandoned child on a mountain before being taken in by the Goddess.Under the care of the Goddess and the warm love of her elder Familia sisters, she had grown into a cheerful girl.Recently, however, she'd entered that rebellious, identity-seeking phase of adolescence.
"All of this is that human's fault! We were hunting a dragon just fine, and suddenly he shows up—bringing a whole pack of Grey Wolves with him! Isn't that infuriating!?"Lanti threw her little fists into the air, as if punching an invisible enemy.If Ise had been standing in front of her at that moment… she'd have pounded him with her tiny fists without holding back!But once he collapsed, she'd probably fall to her knees and beg him not to die...
Even though she was just a young girl, Lanti had received the "Blessing of the Gods" and was a high-level adventurer—LV.2.Her physical strength was far beyond that of an ordinary person.Even if Ise had a tougher body than average due to certain reasons, in Lanti's eyes… he still wasn't enough.In this world, the "Blessing of the Gods" was like a divine buff beyond human limits—it allowed those who received it to grow endlessly, just by slaying monsters and unlocking their potential.You could say it was a kind of fantasy-world cheat system.
Lanti wasn't truly angry that Ise had led monsters toward them.What stunned her was this: a completely ordinary human—no divine blessings, no comrades, no legendary weapons—had dared to enter a monster-infested forest alone!?When Ise had passed out earlier, the Goddess had examined him and confirmed he bore no "divine mark."Which meant… he had never joined a Familia.
Put simply, he was just a normal human.So why was a normal human wandering through such a dangerous forest? Had he grown tired of life or something!?
"Maybe he just got lost and was unlucky enough to run into that wolf pack. Besides... in the end, we still managed to take down the two-legged dragon 'Vivaen', didn't we? Lanti, enough whining."The red-haired woman, Lethesa, the head of the Familia, spoke calmly to console Lanti.She had been with the Goddess the longest and was like a mother to everyone—looking after the younger girls, most of whom were still minors.
"Even so… I'm still mad about those monsters rushing us like that!"Lanti puffed out her cheeks, clearly still annoyed.She was only thirteen, after all. Expecting her to have the same maturity as Lethesa would be unrealistic.It wasn't about strength—it was about life experience.The other girls understood this well and chose not to get involved in the conversation, instead breaking off into small groups and chatting among themselves.
"But seriously… that boy was kinda cute, wasn't he? Totally my type～""Kyaah, yes! When he charged at that dragon… he was so cool!""Like a hero out of an adventure tale~ I totally get it~"
Around the lakeside, the girls—most of whom had never experienced love—blushed as they gushed over the brave young man.When it came to romance, they were all hopeless.Because their goddess was Artemis—the divine virgin goddess renowned for her strictness.Their Familia had strict rules: No romance. No holding hands with men. No flirting. No seduction...
Which only made the girls more curious.At the age when love first blossoms, they found themselves secretly thrilled by such topics.
If the day ever came when Goddess Artemis changed her mind...They would likely rush out of their den in a frenzy to find boyfriends, and proudly bring them back with smiles radiating love pheromones~
But before the shrieking chatter could get out of hand—
"You girls better stop now. The Goddess isn't far from here. Do you want to get called in for a group lecture or something?"Lethesa's voice grew firm—this was her second time today invoking the Goddess's name to quell the growing excitement.Because when it came to love, the only thing that could stop a bunch of excited girls… was a "scolding from a deity."
"Oh come on… she's way over there. How could she possibly hear us～"One girl with brown hair mumbled skeptically.
And then...
A cool, serene voice echoed from the other side.
"Even from afar… I regret to inform you—I heard everything."