"Rethusa! Cover me!"
"Lante and the others! Take the rear and the sides!"
In a forest somewhere on the continent, a group of female hunters sprinted through the trees, surrounded on all sides by scorpion-like monsters.
They were the Artemis Familia.
"Roger!"
The women responded to their goddess' commands without hesitation, their voices filled with unwavering loyalty.
As a familia composed of skilled huntresses, their coordination and teamwork rivaled even that of Orario's finest.
Artemis drew her bow and released an arrow.
It pierced straight through a scorpion monster's skull before the creature dissolved into ash.
"Goddess! Up ahead... I see the kids by that rock over there."
Rethusa spoke, her expression turning grim.
"There are too many... it looks like we have no choice but to use a magic sword, Rethusa."
Artemis assessed the situation in an instant.
"On it!"
Rethusa responded as she pulled a small magic sword from her waist.
Without hesitation, she swung it down, unleashing a surging wave of ice that froze the scorpion monsters in place.
However, not all of them were caught... three managed to escape just beyond the attack's reach.
"Goddess, I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it, Rethusa."
Artemis narrowed her eyes and nocked three arrows at once before releasing them.
With flawless precision, the arrows flew in unison, striking their targets dead on.
When they reached the children, Artemis crouched and gently patted their heads.
"Don't worry, kids. You're safe now."
Her calm voice soothed them, and the children clung to her legs, crying uncontrollably.
"Waaah!"
"I was so scared!"
The members of the Artemis Familia exchanged glances before letting out quiet sighs of relief.
...
"Oh, thank you... thank you very much, Artemis Familia..."
A mother spoke through tears as she clutched her child tightly in her arms.
"Artemis Familia, I can't thank you enough for saving these children."
An elderly man approached them with a relieved smile... the village chief who had requested their help.
"Ever since these monsters appeared out of nowhere, our village has been under constant attack... at this point, I don't know how long we would last."
"I see... you've done well to hold out this long."
Artemis replied as she glanced at the village walls, which bore clear signs of damage.
...
"Goddess! We found where the monsters are coming from."
Rethusa said, holding a map in her hands.
"They seem to be originating from the Elsos Ruins..."
"Should we go there and investigate further?"
She looked to Artemis, awaiting her decision.
'This village is too close in proximity to the source...'
'If we don't act, they'll be destroyed.'
Artemis frowned.
Then, Judas' warning surfaced in her mind.
"You are going to die."
"Not just you. Your familia as well."
Her fist tightened.
'I'm being forced to choose between the villagers... and my familia... how cruel.'
She closed her eyes and took a slow, steady breath.
When she opened them again, her decision had been made.
"No... I have a bad feeling about this. We'll go to Orario and request assistance from the adventurers there."
Artemis spoke calmly, masking her true thoughts.
"Artemis-sama?"
Lante raised a brow, sensing something was off.
But none of them questioned her decision.
...
Night fell, and the Artemis Familia set up camp as usual.
Yet within one of the tents, a lone figure quietly emerged.
She paused, glancing at the other tents for a moment... before turning away.
'I lied.'
Her thoughts were steady as she moved through the forest.
'Even if we ask Orario for help... it will be too late.'
She ran toward the Elsos Ruins.
The choice she had made was not between the villagers and her familia...
But herself.
'Of course... I'm not going there just to die. I have no intention of doing that.'
She carried several magic swords, fully prepared.
"You'll fight for me... right?"
She glanced to the side.
A bird made of shadows flew beside her.
It chirped softly, as if answering her.
A small smile formed on Artemis' lips, and Judas' face suddenly crossed her mind.
'I'll resolve this myself... protect my familia... and save the villagers.'
Her eyes burned with determination.
...
Back in the present...
Inside the halls of the Twilight Manor, Judas walked with a backpack slung over his shoulder.
"I see you're heading out already, huh?"
Turning, he saw Loki leaning against the wall, arms folded.
"Yeah... Hermes said the trip outside Orario will take a week or two."
Judas replied, stopping to face her.
"Alright... good luck out there."
Loki said as she walked past him, hands in her pockets.
"Oh, right. After Tiona ranked up to Level 6, she's been looking all over for you. Said she's going to challenge you to a match to finally confirm her love."
She added with a cheeky grin.
Judas nearly stumbled.
"Is that so?"
He coughed lightly.
"JUDAAAAAAAAAAAS!"
A loud voice echoed through the halls.
'This is...'
They both recognized it instantly.
'Tiona!'
Loki turned just in time to see Tiona charging down the hallway like a speeding truck.
"Loki! Where's Judas? Have you seen him anywhere?"
She skidded to a stop, the carpet bunching beneath her feet.
"Hmm?"
Loki glanced back...
Judas had already disappeared, leaving behind a comical outline of his figure where he had been standing just a second ago.
"Pfft... hahaha!"
Loki burst out laughing, slapping her thigh.
"Eh? Did I say something funny?"
Tiona tilted her head in confusion.
...
After making his escape, Judas met up with Hermes and the others.
"So, what do you think? These outfits are custom-made by the renowned specialist traveler... me, Hermes himself."
"Carefully selected materials make them light yet flexible. The fibers contain a fair amount of rare materials."
"They're now 30% more durable than the previous models."
"Not only are they fashionable, but they're as tough as armor... and they don't restrict movement."
Hermes spoke proudly, striking a dramatic pose.
Judas blinked as he examined the outfit he'd been given.
A white coat with red trims draped over him, the fabric smooth and perfectly tailored to his frame.
The inner lining was a deep crimson, only visible when the coat shifted.
Beneath it, he wore a fitted black shirt and dark trousers tucked neatly into well-crafted boots... both practical and refined.
He glanced toward Rethusa, noticing she too wore a new outfit.
After hearing the full story from Hermes, Judas learned that the rest of the Artemis Familia had already reached the Elsos Ruins... where Antares was sealed... and had established a base nearby alongside the Hermes Familia.
When Hermes finished, he turned toward Judas once more.
"Oh, great adventurer chosen by fate... are you ready for the journey you are about to undertake?"
He asked dramatically.
Judas shifted his gaze to Artemis, who looked back at him with a gentle smile.
"Yeah... I'm ready."
He answered, his voice steady.
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