The border defense between the Laguia Kingdom and the Large Tree Labyrinth stretched for tens of kilometers.
To be honest, if it weren't for the tens of thousands of soldiers the kingdom dispatched to cooperate with the adventurers of Orario, maintaining such a long, narrow defense line would have been nearly impossible.
And, considering that this fantasy world in the current Age of Gods already had the concept of cities, it made sense…
"Prince Marius seems like a good person."
The soldiers without noble titles, those from the lower classes, often said this.
If it weren't for this young man previously going out of his way to cooperate with a certain Neutral God to persuade his father and the head deity to send troops, it was easy to predict… even if the major cities wouldn't immediately face total destruction, any village or town without strong walls would have been utterly destroyed.
So, to this day, the young, golden-haired man, who originally had a strong desire to become an adventurer in Orario, had gained significant prestige within the Laguia Kingdom for a variety of reasons.
Recently, having cooperated with him was Hermes…
"Artemis, I've borrowed a dragon from Prince Marius."
"Shall we depart now?"
"Yes."
The traveler-dressed, golden-haired god approached the calm, blue-haired, blue-eyed goddess, who was resting inside a tent.
She sat upright on a simple wooden chair, holding a dark-toned silver-gray javelin in her arms, her right hand gently stroking its handle.
Seeing her weary expression…
"How much longer can you hold on?"
Hermes' tone was unusually serious, unlike his usual easygoing self.
She replied softly:
"I don't know. But I will keep going."
"Until I find the one who can defeat Antares… my hope (Orion)."
Her gaze fixed entirely on the javelin in her arms, emotions swirling, an uneasy mix of anxiety, regret, pain, and… loneliness.
A few weeks ago, a wrong decision she made had caused the Artemis familia, originally over twenty members, to suffer a catastrophic blow.
None of the children survived.
The captain, Rethusa, Lante (raised by Artemis herself with bear's milk since infancy), and the other girls who constantly pestered the Virgin Goddess about love yet refused to leave her side…
She had once forbidden them from excessive contact with the opposite sex.
And now… from this point forward, they would never have the chance to pursue the love they had longed for.
The gods always say: gods are unchanging.
Yet, in the mortal world, many gods had changed due to interactions with children.
This was the 'unknown' possibility brought by omniscient zero-power.
This was the paradise shared by gods and children.
So…
"I cannot allow Antares to destroy it."
At that thought, Artemis discarded all distractions, her gaze becoming unwavering.
She stood, javelin in hand, ready to depart for the labyrinthine city of Orario in search of her hope, Orion.
Alone, Hermes stood at the tent entrance, lifting the flap and stepping aside like a protective attendant.
He knew the weight of the goddess' burden.
She had been resisting Antares' corruption, but this was never a long-term solution.
It had nothing to do with Artemis' willpower.
No matter how strong her divine resolve, exhaustion would eventually come.
He could only hope that, before that moment…
"Ah~ What is it, swaying like shadows of trees~♪"
"Is it the voice of the heart? Can you hear it~♪"
==========
"Huh?"
Instinctively, Artemis made a small sound, and she and Hermes exchanged a glance, both noticing a trace of curiosity in the other's eyes.
A soft piano melody began, accompanied by a silvery, bell-like voice, reaching their ears.
Strangely, the heavy burdens weighing on their hearts eased.
"Who brings a piano to a frontline military camp?"
Artemis asked, confused.
"Shall we take a look?"
Hermes, clearly intrigued, said:
"If it's only for a few minutes, we can afford a small delay. Besides, your current state could use something beautiful to relax a bit."
He spoke genuinely, but it was obvious the god was drawn to the unknown. Curious by nature, he didn't want to miss any interesting event during his journey.
After Artemis gave a slight nod, the two gods moved toward the source of the music.
Soon…
"This is a tent from the Freya familia."
They had arrived near the origin of the song. The soft, gentle voice continued to flow from inside.
"If it truly is something unknown, should I seek its answer~♪"
"The figure standing there, smiling before me, quietly brings warmth to my heart~♪"
==========
It was indeed a beautiful song.
And the style differed greatly from the many bardic tunes of this world, almost a different school of music.
Even the two gods outside, beings who had existed for eons, had never heard it before.
"Could this be a creation by one of the children?"
Hermes instinctively remarked.
"I didn't expect such special members to exist among Freya's children."
Indeed, it was exceptional.
Most members of the Freya familia, in Hermes' memory, were temperamental brats.
So hearing this soft, comforting melody emanating from a Freya tent… was truly rare.
At that moment…
An even more mysterious and astonishing unknown appeared.
"Wishes unseen, formed through prayer~♪"
"Grant me guidance, so I am no longer lost~♪"
As the rhythm of song and accompaniment quickened, a golden magic shone into the vision of the two gods.
A miracle absent from this world.
It seemed to be drawn by the song…
"Remembrance called hope~♪"
"Lead me onward, aid in healing my wounds~♪"
Even standing outside, exhausted, Artemis felt its effect.
She genuinely felt lighter, as if her hidden pain, chains, and curses were being weakened or removed by the golden magic.
"This is not just a song."
Hermes was certain.
"It is a form of magic."
"A magic… I've never seen before."
In that moment, thoughts swirling, he instinctively fell silent, afraid that even a minor interference from him could disrupt the performer's rhythm.
Finally…
=============
129+ Advance Chapters Available on Patreon! Patreon.com/Veltoria