Devouring World Dragon

Chapter 347 Goddess in the Garden
When Apollo returned to Mount Olympus, he encountered the Queen of the Hunt with her bow drawn.

On the sacred mountain, the beautiful and tall goddess gazed intently down below, her white arms steady and unwavering, her golden arrows aimed at the mortal realm below.

"Gah..."

The bow was slowly pulled open, making a slight sound.

When the golden arrow of the goddess of the hunt is shot down upon the mortal realm, it signifies the onset of a wild hunt. The golden arrow, blessed by the goddess, will strike the most powerful beast on earth, and that beast will become the goddess's chosen prey, the hunters' trophy.

The heroes on earth would chase after the beasts struck by the invisible golden arrow, proving their strength and courage to the Queen of the Hunt, and sincerely praying to her for the skill of hitting the bullseye every time.

However, there is one hero who probably wouldn't do that, because he has already conquered the "hunt" itself.

Every arrow he shoots hits its mark.

His prey has nowhere to escape.

There is no need to pray to God, for he has already made even God fearful.

"Artemis, did you help those three mortals?"

Upon hearing this, the goddess did not move her wrist, her gaze remained fixed on the distant horizon, and her lips moved slightly as she spoke.

“My brother, this seems to have nothing to do with you.”

The voice was calm, yet too calm.

Artemis is a proud and spirited goddess, always incredibly active, and she would never speak so quietly.

“Artemis is merely a demigod, you…”

"Zheng!"

Before Apollo could finish speaking, a sudden explosion rang out. The bowstring vibrated, and the golden arrow flew out like a rainbow, disappearing into the horizon.

The Hunting Queen turned around, her beautiful face now grim.

"Apollo, are you here to mock me? I don't care if you don't want to help me, but I want that mortal to die, and you're going to stop me?"

The goddess shouted angrily.

The handsome god had to explain to his sister.

"Of course not, I'm naturally on your side..."

"In that case, don't mention that guy to me again."

With that, the Hunting Queen vanished from the spot.

The goddess's resentment towards the demigod was beyond words. Never before had a great goddess been so humiliated; her affair with the demigod had become a laughingstock among the gods.

However, taking action personally would only bring further humiliation, so the Hunting Queen turned her attention to the three mortals.

Apollo watched his sister's disappearing figure and couldn't help but sigh.

For some reason, he always had a vague sense of unease, as if something was happening, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

Meanwhile, on another part of the sacred mountain, in a garden, the goddess of the hunt, having removed her hunting attire, sits on the grass.

Only in the presence of a very few female companions would this usually lively and spirited goddess reveal a rare tranquility and elegance. Her companions would comb her hair and talk to her as they did so.

"Artemis, is your anger still not subsiding?"

Athena combed the goddess's hair as she softly inquired.

Athena had always maintained a friendly relationship with the other goddesses, and it was Athena who told her about the three mortals.

The goddess, her brows furrowed yet still beautiful and spirited, bit her lip and hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.

“Father treated that demigod better than he treated us, his own children. If I hadn’t been afraid to use my divine power and disturb Father again, how could I have lost to that mortal? Pallas, what is so special about that demigod? Why does Father value him so much?”

Athena's eyes flickered slightly, as if she were thinking about something, but in the end she smiled and shook her head.

"I don't know what my father is thinking, but everyone can see that he values ​​that demigod very much."

As Athena spoke, she quietly combed Artemis's hair. The goddess of the hunt loved hunting and was usually dressed in hunting attire, appearing as lively as a boy. But when she quieted down, one could see her naivety and innocence.

She was a pampered goddess, carefree, and remained as pure as a young girl even after living for many years.

Her long, golden hair was smooth, like the finest silk. It was so beautiful that it felt as soft as flowing water to the touch, and would easily slip from one's palm.

Athena put away the comb and used the flowers beside her to weave a crown for the goddess.

"Look, isn't it beautiful?"

Then, Athena conjured a round mirror in her hand, reflecting the Hunting Queen's bewildered eyes, her fluttering eyelashes evoking feelings of pity.

But the Hunting Queen didn't like seeing her overly frail reflection in the round mirror.

"Looks so weak."

He wrinkled his nose, showing a look of disgust.

She disliked this image of herself as weak and fragile, like a delicate flower. In the heart of this goddess, she should be powerful, proud, and confident, no less than any god in the world. That's why she was so resentful of losing to that demigod twice.

As she spoke, Artemis looked at Athena with a hint of envy.

“Palas, sometimes I really envy you. The gods respect you, mortals worship you, and those mortal heroes regard you as an idol… Oh, it seems that guy also respects you quite a bit, hmph.”

As Artemis spoke, the topic inadvertently shifted back to that guy, and a look of disgust appeared on her face.

Athena simply smiled. "The feud between you and Hercules will one day be resolved, and perhaps at that time, you will get along quite well?"

Upon hearing this, Artemis scoffed.

"Reconcile with him? Don't even think about it."

Even if he kneels before you, kisses your toes, and begs for forgiveness, will you still not forgive him?

Athena teased.

"To have a man kiss my toes? That's disgusting."

After imagining it for a moment, the Hunting Queen showed a look of disgust.

She would never let any man in the world touch her.

The goddess of wisdom smiled without saying a word.

The two goddesses were enjoying a pleasant rest in the garden, telling stories about the gods.

"Ares went off to fight in the mortal realm again, and Aphrodite went with him."

Athena said.

Upon hearing this, Artemis was somewhat surprised, but then she put on an indifferent expression.

"Ares is just like that, but Aphrodite hasn't given up yet? This girl's obsession with Ares is really extraordinary."

Since Ares and Aphrodite's affair was exposed, Aphrodite seems to have stopped trying to appease him and spends more time with Ares.

This goddess of love and beauty is only interested in other male gods and men for a short time, but she has shown great enthusiasm, even... infatuation, for Ares. This beautiful goddess, who is considered to have only beauty but no brain, is weak, prone to crying, vain, spoiled, and loves all things beautiful and delicate, but she falls in love with the rough and barbaric Ares.

The most delicate and refined goddess, and the strongest and most rugged god, what a wonderful combination.

However, many gods felt that this goddess had simply found something she liked, and that sooner or later she would end up like many of her past lovers, ultimately leaving the god of war behind.

After discussing Ares and Aphrodite, the two goddesses casually mentioned the moon goddess who had forgotten her duties.

"Since falling in love with Endymion, the moon goddess Selene has not driven her own moon chariot for a long time."

Athena said helplessly.

Selene, the moon goddess, is one of the twelve ancient Titans; she is the original moon.

Since the shift in the pantheon of gods, many ancient deities were forced into slumber, but Selene, the moon goddess, was fortunate enough to survive. Zeus, the king of the gods, did not punish her; instead, he generously allowed her to continue driving the moon chariot and fulfilling her divine duties.

But ever since the moon goddess fell in love with the shepherd Endymion, fearing that Endymion would grow old, she devised a plan. She hid her beloved in a cave, waking only for one day each year.
On that day, the moon goddess would spend time with her lover; that day was a leap day, an extra day. Because of this, she gave birth to fifty daughters who took turns driving her moon chariot. Each daughter drove for her for seven days a year, and thus a year passed.

Immersed in love, the moon goddess no longer cared much about her divine responsibilities; now, it was often her and Endymion's daughters who drove her lunar chariot each day. Although Zeus, the king of the gods, had not yet spoken, the other gods subtly sensed his discontent.

"Perhaps one day, Father will relieve me of my duties as the Moon Goddess."

As Athena spoke, a strange light flashed in her eyes.

Artemis couldn't understand; she disliked being touched by men, so she asked her father to allow her to remain chaste forever. From then on, love was something forbidden to this virgin goddess.

"Is love really that important? Is the Moon Goddess unwilling to shoulder her responsibilities for a mortal?"

The eternally chaste girl doesn't understand.

Why do you have to be with other people when you can enjoy archery and hunting without any worries?

She dislikes being touched by men, fears being touched by men, and doesn't understand or want to understand what love is.

Athena, however, laughed instead of Artemis.

She sat on the grass, the goddess of the hunt resting her head on her lap, her bright eyes blinking as she looked at her.

"Artemis, for many people and gods in the world, love is very important; it is an extremely sacred and great power. Although these things are indeed not easy for us to understand."

Athena also couldn't understand what love was, but she held these feelings in her own respect.

Sincere feelings are noble and great, even if one cannot understand those feelings oneself.

Then, Athena stroked Artemis's hair and suddenly asked a question.

"Artemis, have you ever thought about becoming the goddess of the moon?"

Artemis opened her eyes wide, pointed to herself with her slender fingers in confusion, and said uncertainly.

"I?"

Moon Goddess?

This divine role was far too foreign to Artemis; she had never even considered such a thing, since the moon had little to do with her interests.

A god's divine role is often determined by their nature and origin. Artemis loved hunting, so she was the goddess of the hunt. But the moon goddess? She hadn't really considered such a thing.

"No way? Even if Selene offends Father, he won't bestow the position of Moon Goddess upon me."

Artemis felt that Athena was playing a joke on her.

Athena nodded and smiled.

"Yeah, it was just a joke."

She smiled, as if she had really just made a joke.