Love was a wonderful thing.
Artemis had never understood what those words meant.
The Moon Goddess presided over [Chastity]. If love ever tainted her, she was certain she would no longer be herself.
Artemis had always believed that without question.
Yet no matter how sturdy and seamless that iron wall was, ripples still stirred in her heart, spreading and seeping deeper until they finally became a tide of love she could no longer resist.
That truth would not change, even if she set aside the unforgettable Ruins incident.
Every movement when their bodies touched tugged at Artemis's heartstrings.
A single passionate look was enough to make her heart race.
At times, Artemis would retreat in embarrassment. At others, she would take the boy's hand on her own. For her, this battle had no end.
Her pounding heart was the drumbeat, and the unforgettable kiss from that day recorded everything.
In this dance of love, even the cold moonlight she had bathed in countless times gradually began to hold warmth.
"Now the smell is completely gone. This feels much fresher."
Artemis panted lightly, a satisfied smile on her face.
"That's because Artemis kept bumping into me on purpose. Is the goddess actually a puppy in a past life?"
Bell smiled as he sat down on the grass.
At first, he had been the one guiding the dance, his movements as gentle as a breeze.
But Artemis gradually grew more enthusiastic, as if revealing that unique nature of hers, both wild and gentle, and the steps became more intense, more passionate.
Their skin touched, their foreheads pressed together, and the number of times they embraced slowly increased.
There was clearly nothing more excessive than that, yet their figures kept blending together beneath the moonlight.
As a result, Bell was naturally soaked in the goddess's fragrant sweat.
"Orion, be careful. I might bite you like a puppy."
Artemis leaned against Bell's shoulder once again.
She blinked, then added, "You're not allowed to smell me right now. Otherwise, I really will bite you."
"Got it. I'll definitely remember Artemis's scent."
Bell answered quickly.
Artemis must have been very conscious of the sweat on her body. It was the complete opposite of her passionate dance, adding a delicate contrast to the goddess.
"I didn't tell you to remember it. Mm..."
Artemis complained softly.
She had done all that because she did not like the boy carrying another scent. Now that she had achieved her goal, the goddess belatedly felt embarrassed.
Artemis wanted very badly to flee into the bath, but the fluttering in her heart stopped her.
"Orion, you're collecting girls' hair, right? I want to give you mine now."
"Mm."
Bell gave a brief answer.
Just like during the Haruhime incident, the two of them were always simple and in sync when it came to matters like this.
Bell took Artemis's blue strand of hair, opened his pouch, and carefully sealed it inside a glass container.
Moonlight poured down, and the irregularly shaped gemstone gave off a faint blue glow.
"Orion, let me see that glowing stone."
Artemis spoke softly.
She had unconsciously placed herself in the role of the woman of the house, and her wording was not a request.
Bell noticed, but he did not point it out. Instead, he took out the gemstone and placed it in the goddess's palm.
"[Lunatic Light]... This is quite a rare thing. How did Orion get it?"
Artemis recognized the type of gemstone.
"I found it by chance in the Dungeon while exploring with a woman from the Loki Familia."
Bell answered honestly.
Given its moonlight-related properties, Orario's adventurers should not have chosen this kind of gemstone.
How had someone lost a Lunatic Light in the waterfall on Floor 25?
"Artemis, do you know anything about it?"
Bell had always felt there was something suspicious about the matter.
If [Luck] had guided him to it, then there had to be some secret hidden in this gemstone.
"Lunatic Light is so scarce that rare doesn't begin to describe it. Why would one be left behind in the Dungeon? And the way it's shattered..."
Artemis murmured to herself in thought.
A moment later, a glimmer suddenly flashed through her eyes. "Orion, this is only my personal guess."
Artemis took a deep breath, then explained slowly.
"If the owner of the Lunatic Light didn't lose it, but destroyed it, then that would explain everything."
Someone had deliberately gone into the Dungeon and thrown the Lunatic Light into a waterfall on the lower floors to eliminate any chance of it being restored.
The reason was that Lunatic Light could fuse with another material and steal a Renard's soul on the night of the full moon.
"A Renard?"
Bell frowned.
"That's right. The [Tamamo Stone] used as the material is made from the remains of a Renard."
Artemis continued, "The [Killing Stone] created from the two can separate a Renard's soul from their body, allowing a third party to use the sacrificed person's Magic."
Someone had deliberately destroyed that malicious magic item to prevent a tragedy from happening.
However, Bell had coincidentally obtained part of the Lunatic Light.
"..."
Bell's thoughts raced.
Judging from the timing, this matter had to be connected to Haruhime.
Aisha had shattered the Killing Stone and was punished by her Familia God.
If that was the case, there was no need to worry about Haruhime's safety for the time being, at least not until the next full moon.
However, the Goddess Ishtar possessed the power of charm. When he came into contact with Aisha afterward, he would have to be even more careful...
"Orion, you've gotten caught up in trouble again, haven't you...?"
Artemis pulled Bell's thoughts back to reality.
She examined the stone for a while, then spoke gently.
"Although the Lunatic Light has already shattered, it can still be useful if it's polished again. Don't worry, this gemstone isn't mixed with anything harmful."
"Polished?"
Bell asked in confusion.
He had planned to use it as material for a weapon, but judging by the goddess's words, it seemed to have another use.
"Mm. [Lunatic Light] reacts to moonlight and produces a faint amount of Magic Power. Generally speaking, even if it were made into a weapon, it wouldn't be useful in the Dungeon."
Artemis smiled softly. "But Orion, have you forgotten what kind of goddess I am?"
One of the three virgin goddesses, Goddess of Chastity, Goddess of the Hunt...
Artemis had many titles, but the most common was still Moon Goddess.
"...?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Bell's eyes.
"Hehe. I got to see Orion looking shocked. I doubt anyone else has seen that, right?"
Artemis placed the [Lunatic Light] in the shadow, and the blue glow gradually dimmed and vanished.
But the goddess simply waved her hand, and that light bloomed again.
"I bestow the blessing of moonlight upon you. This way, the Lunatic Light will always generate a faint amount of Magic Power for you."
Artemis explained.
"Will using [Divine Power] cause any problems?"
Bell asked for details with concern.
"Don't worry. This is merely one of my [Authority], just like how Hestia could summon that temple back then."
Artemis patiently added, "As for moonlight, this is the limit of what I can do."
According to the goddess, this power was quite faint.
Even if the number of Lunatic Lights increased, they would not generate more Magic Power.
Even if she bestowed the blessing on Beast Humans who reacted to moonlight, it would not produce the desired effect.
After all, Artemis's true Authority was [Chastity].
Even so, for Bell, it was enough to improve his combat strength.
Like the Development Ability [Spirit Healing] possessed by a small number of adventurers, Bell could use this to slowly restore his Mind.
"You've helped me a lot. As expected of the Moon Goddess I like."
Bell had already realized during the battle with Goliath that he lacked the ability to keep fighting for long periods.
He could not always rely on potions, and sometimes he did not even have time to drink an elixir.
"It isn't a lie, but somehow, it feels a little half-hearted."
Artemis handed the Lunatic Light back to the boy.
"Mm. Then I'll have to prove my sincerity another way."
Bell put the gemstone away and placed both hands on the goddess's shoulders.
Their eyes met, and the moonlight melted into their warmth.
"Orion, I-I was only joking..."
Artemis's cheeks flushed red. Before she could break away, Bell kissed her on the forehead.
"Mm...?"
Artemis pressed her lips together.
"Hm? Why does Artemis look so disappointed?"
Bell asked deliberately.
"I-I'm not!"
Artemis hurriedly turned away.
She was the goddess who presided over Chastity. Expecting a kiss or anything like that...
She had not thought about it even a little!
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