Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

Faced with a girl who, despite being an adversary of the main god, kept sighing, expressing dissatisfaction, and making sarcastic remarks, Artemis had no choice but to stop.

Lant, a girl known as a half-elf, forcibly joined the Artemis Trials this morning.

The youngest member of the [Family] is fifteen years old. An abandoned child from the mountains, he has such a past. He picked up Artemis, whom he welcomed as a member of the Familia, and admired her like a mother or sister.

Is this recent overprotection a sign of rebellion or adolescence? It's inevitable that we'd grab Artemis, who's facing a battle, and say something inappropriate.

"Lady Artemis is different from us; even a single monster attack is dangerous for her! To use Goddess's words, that's just paper armor! Even a god!! I know! Carelessness, a dying gear! If that happens, I'll laugh at Lady Artemis!"

Though somewhat impolite, it was probably Lant's advice—Artemis silently raised her bow and arrow.

Ignoring the honest clan members, fire.

The arrows, fired, passed through gaps in the trees, branches, and even leaves, accurately piercing the monster hidden in the tree.

The Dragonfly Monster—'Kumi Liberla'

Note from the cat: Citrus Liberla; let's just call it "Dragonfly Gunner" for now.

It was a sniper who aimed the muzzle of his gun at the back of the clan.

The arrow that accurately pierced the monster without harming the forest's natural environment was truly a "divine skill".

"Did you say anything?"

"...Uh. It's nothing..."

Facing Artemis, who walked past her nonchalantly, the girl, who had been complacent and had finally met her mortal enemy, wore an expression that could only be described as an empty laugh, and listlessly lowered her head.

The people cannot defeat God, and God is still superior to the people.

This is the relationship between the chief deity and the members of the Artemis Familia.

"Ohh ...

As the final scream of the dragon echoed, silence descended upon the forest.

Defeating it would be the end of it, of course not.

The Artemis Familia, having wiped out all the target dragons, split into several groups and began dismantling the monsters' corpses. After removing the much smaller 'magic stones' compared to the individuals born from the underground labyrinth, gray mountains immediately formed. Among these were 'dragon claws,' 'dragon teeth,' or 'dragon skin,' collected as 'drop items.'

For the Artemis Familia, whose primary activity is hunting, monster drops are a valuable source of income.

The funds are specifically used for replenishing and repairing weapons, or for donating to villages harmed by monsters. This reflects the policy of a god devoid of material desires.

Besides the "Vivan Wyvern," the group members also carefully dealt with monsters such as "Grey Wolf," and Artemis also wanted to help.

"It's alright, Lady Artemis! We'll take care of the monster's remains!"

"Since you're the supreme deity, then please adopt an air of superiority!"

"..."

She was rejected by the girls who centered their lives around fairies.

Perhaps I caused trouble for Lady Artemis in the battle; I could sense this intention in the subtle nuances of her words: "I can't let you handle these corpses."

Artemis, with an indescribable expression on her face, was thus driven away.

"Come, Lady Artemis! As everyone says, please sit on this tree stump and rest!"

"Hunting" continues until the prey that has been shot is dealt with...

"Of course we know! Lady Artemis's teachings are deeply rooted in our hearts, so we, as members of the Familia, should take the lead in doing things that will not bring shame upon our Goddess."

Artemis sighed again at Lant's somewhat excessive behavior. This was nothing more than an extension of her 'grumbling'.

Rather than listening frankly, it's better to see their god not sitting on the tree stump.

"Why does Lady Artemis defeat monsters so easily? No, I understand if it's a goblin or some weak monster, but defeating a dragon and all that..."

"The arrow is very well made. The arrowhead is forged from the same refined mithril metal as the sword. Without this, dragon scales and the like wouldn't be able to pierce it. This is the skill of a craftsman."

"I don't think so."

Picking up the silver arrow, he praised it directly, while Lant rudely denied it in a drawn-out voice. That's the right way to deal with someone who occasionally displays 'naturalness' due to being overly serious.

Artemis frowned gracefully, but did not rebuke her for her disrespect.

There was also a sense of shrewdness that came with descending to the lower realms, but compared to that, the current distance between her and her fellow clansmen was something that the serious Artemis found very comfortable.

It absolutely cannot be expressed in words.

"Speaking of which, it's rare to see a [Family] fighting alongside the main god, no, it's strange~. Why are they targeting a dragon?"

"A god capable of fighting is unexpected. It's just that I don't want to fight. As I said before, I simply cannot be a god who only puts you in danger."

"Although I felt very happy..."

The goddess Artemis was a germaphobe.

It can be described as noble.

Do not force others to bleed. Do not be unreasonable or forgiving. Help the weak and defeat the strong.

Over a thousand years ago, in the 'ancient times' before the gods descended, the goddess worshipped by the inhabitants of the lower realm was an object that was infinitely close to a divine being. Because of this, there was a constant stream of people applying to be listed as the last member of the Familia, led by fairies—it was also true that many people gave up joining due to the strict discipline of the Familia.

(...Although I don't understand how Lant and the others feel)

The half-demon in front of her pouted like a daughter or younger sister.

Indeed, if God were to be the first to enter a dangerous situation and then be sent back, He would be unable to see the true nature of things.

Given the factional nature of the "familia," it would indeed be heresy for the main god to dedicate himself to the battlefield.

But if... Artemis protects her family when they are exposed to a "crisis".

Whether it's approaching flames or the claws of a hideous monster.

But no matter what, we should stand up for ourselves.

Even if she suffers a fatal wound, she will only be sent back. This is by no means 'death.' Although it does mean an eternal separation from her familia, Artemis, back in the heavens, can always protect Lant and the others from above. So when that time comes, Artemis will surely protect the girls regardless of her own safety.

Just as I thought, Artemis loved the kin who followed her.

No, it's not just the family.

Artemis deeply loved the lower realm itself.

"..."

"...What are you looking at, Lady Artemis?"

"The Lower Realm"

"ha?"

"A clear blue sky, verdant forests, the gentle murmur of a brook...gazing upon this beautiful world below."

"Is this world beautiful? But compared to the lower realm where we live, isn't the place where Lady Artemis lives... the 'Heavenly Realm' known as Paradise, even more beautiful?"

"The celestial realm is indeed complete. Because of this, there is no change there. There is no birth or death. The seasons remain unchanged, for they never existed in the first place. Completion is synonymous with 'cessation.' Therefore, I believe that this lower realm, which repeatedly prospers and declines, quietly flowing by, is more precious than anything else."

That was Artemis's true feeling.

Beautiful nature, inhabited by animals. They draw nourishment from the earth, flowers and grasses grow, and the beasts that devour them will one day turn to dust, nourishing the earth once more. Though incomplete, life in the lower realms is mutually complementary, a cycle of existence. Human life is no exception; in this imperfect world, the days of the 'unknown' constantly arrive. Artemis, transcending existence (Deus Dare), experiences love in this lower realm, a realm of miraculous harmony.

Therefore, the first priority is to hunt down the monsters that bring destruction and chaos to such a world.

Because she knew that those who started from the roots of 'hatred' and 'domination' would only leave scars on the lower realm.

"Most importantly... you are here in this lower realm. Our children possess noble wills and a brilliance that shines brighter than any jewel. That is something to be very proud of and cherish."

"...Ah, hahaha. What are you saying so suddenly? Really, Lady Artemis, you always say such embarrassing things with such a serious face!"

"Really? I didn't intend to..."

Looking back, Lant blushed and smiled shyly.

Artemis considered her words very seriously.

The goddess's profile, telling stories of the lower realm and children, is so beautiful that it seems impossible to convey the true feelings of the young girl, Lant.

"Lady Artemis, are there no more dragons in the nearby forest?"

"Ah, Commander!"

As Lant was speaking, a human approached.

Her name is Letsa.

The oldest of the twenty-five factions, and of human race.

One of Artemis' most trusted family members, and also the strongest hunter in the Familia.

"In this way, I think it won't cause any harm to the nearby villages for the time being..."

"No... still, there is fear among birds and beasts. The mountain next door, or the other side of the valley... unless all the dragons living in this mountainous region are defeated, the original peace cannot be restored."

Chirping sounds scattered as a small bird with blue feathers landed on Artemis's finger.

Sensing the birds' frequent twisting of their bodies, the goddess looked around with a sincere expression.

The Artemis are now conducting a "dragon hunt".

That began when they were attacked by the dragons living in the forest because they had accepted the commission.

【Artemis Familia】The main activity, 'Hunting,' primarily refers to defeating monsters. Eliminating monsters that cause sorrow is one of the divine wishes prayed for by Artemis, who loves the lower realms.

Surprisingly, there were many factions, like Artemis and her ilk, whose primary goal was to expel the monsters that roamed the land.

For example, there's the Poseidon Familia, who are said to be involved in maritime activities. Although their battle environments differ, they are also said to do their utmost to protect the peace of the ocean. The special agency "School District," under the jurisdiction of the Labyrinth City, is similarly dedicated to contributing to humanity. In particular, the "Knights"—those hailed as "modern heroes"—are incredibly active, and songs praising their names can be heard everywhere.

Built atop the "Great Cave" at the edge of the labyrinthine city continent, the "Cover" was placed there approximately a thousand years ago. Monsters continue to threaten the peace of the land, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it is maintained by powerful factions like Artemis and her companions.

No more gossip.

In short, the Artemis Familia, responsible for expelling monsters, operates over a wide area, moving across the continent to hunt. While they do have strongholds—the Familia's bases—they are mostly empty.

This time, Artemis and her companions accepted the petition regarding the appearance of a dragon that was otherwise impossible, which had caused disasters to many villages, and headed to this mountainous region.

"This dragon is also a powerful monster that descended from 'Dragon Valley'... There have been so many monsters appearing from that place lately."

Artemis, who had been muttering to herself, immediately looked up.

"Let's head down to the village at the foot of the mountain for now, as we've been constantly consuming equipment during these battles."

""yes! ""

Letsa and Lant received instructions from the Lord God.

In order to prepare and procure weapons, Artemis decided to go down to the village.

The village of Prebrika made the request to Artemis.

The village is located at the beginning of a rugged mountainous region, built along the foot of the mountains and the river.

In addition, there were treacherous mountain paths. To bypass the mountains inhabited by many monsters, it was used as a route for merchants. As a result, the movement of people and goods was exceptionally prosperous, and the roads were paved with stone slabs due to the passage of carriages.

The buildings are made of stone, and there are many hotels.

The windmill is also there, turning comfortably in the wind coming down from the mountain.

It's called a village, but it's actually quite large; it's called a town, but it's very small.

The most fitting description of this place is "Prebrica village".

"Ah, look!"

“That’s…!”

"Ah, Lady Artemis!"

Artemis and her companions descended the mountain and entered the village, where they were immediately surrounded by a cacophony of noise.

The Artemis Familia has been active near the village of Prebrika for a week now. Their bravery in defeating the terrifying dragon and their charity in rescuing those attacked and killed have quickly become the talk of the town, garnering the villagers' concern and respect.

With Artemis and Letsa leading the way, they walked along the newly paved stone path, naturally forming human walls on both sides. This was already a small festival, or perhaps the triumphant return of heroes.

The men were captivated by the beauty of the [Family] members, including the chief deity, while the women sighed with longing at the pure and noble maidens. Young children peeked out from between the adults' feet, mesmerized by the goddess's divine aura. Artemis, noticing their gaze, gave them a rare smile, and the children beamed with delight. Even the adults witnessing this couldn't help but feel a little dizzy.

Under the eager gaze of the villagers, the group members were also overjoyed—no such thing had happened.

It's not just a pretty face; it's a monster-hunting star who moves across the continent.

Such expressions of gratitude and homosexual admiration from those who have been helped have become commonplace.

Most importantly, the chief goddess Artemis has strict discipline.