Musk filled the air.
Bell paid no mind to the Amazoness's crude words and nodded thoughtfully.
Just as Aisha had said, things had not taken the worst possible turn.
What he needed to do now was gain enough strength in the remaining twenty-odd days to stand against the entire Ishtar Familia.
"This money is yours. If Haruhime-san's situation changes, I don't want anyone touching her."
Bell gathered his thoughts and hinted at what he wanted.
"Understood. If she starts taking clients again, I'll let you know right away. I absolutely won't let any other man lay a hand on Haruhime."
The Amazoness pocketed the money, her face full of greedy smiles.
She had earned such a generous reward just by saying a few words. How could she possibly let this walking fortune slip away?
The Amazoness made a few more flattering promises, including some rather explicit ones.
She said she would take good care of Haruhime and even give her some illustrated books on the subject, so the two of them could enjoy themselves more the next time they met.
"Sounds good."
Since he was playing the role of a customer, Bell pretended to be interested and agreed.
Only after the conversation ended and he left the brothel did Bell remove his mask.
With the collar involved, Haruhime's matter would definitely drag the entire Familia into it. He could not rush things.
As for Haruhime's golden strands of hair...
Giving up on them now probably would not have too much of an impact.
But this was still one of his encounters, and it would surely help with the matter of forging the blade.
Bell decided to wait until tomorrow before making his next move.
The moonlight was cool and clear. After leaving the bustling district, the atmosphere around him became much calmer.
From the direction of Welf's luxurious workshop, he could faintly hear the crisp clang of metal.
Bell did not disturb the passionate blacksmith and instead returned straight to the mansion.
A goddess sat in the courtyard, her beautiful face blending into the moonlight.
When she saw Bell return, she stood up happily and trotted over to him.
"Orion, welcome back. You went out fooling around with girls again, didn't you?"
Artemis hid the smile on her face and complained softly.
"That's a little harsh, but it's more or less true?"
Bell answered honestly.
"Really, at a time like this, even for your lover's sake, you should say you didn't."
Artemis hesitated for a moment, then took Bell's hand and walked toward the central courtyard.
She only had a rough understanding of the abnormal events in the Dungeon, but judging from the fact that the divine dagger had broken, the boy must have gone through something unimaginable.
"I didn't expect the tavern girl to keep her promise. She didn't force you to stay."
Artemis held Bell's hand and led him all the way to the undisturbed central courtyard.
"So, what did you agree on with Syr?"
Bell asked curiously.
"That's a secret."
Artemis imitated Syr's tone.
"You've gotten pretty close to her."
Bell murmured softly.
It had only been two short days, but for some reason, Artemis and Syr's relationship had become much more harmonious.
They had clearly been at odds during the Holy War. Had the goddess changed her mind at Denatus?
"Orion, let's not talk about that girl right now."
Artemis interrupted Bell's thoughts, and the two of them sat down on the grass.
The stars glittered overhead, and the moonlight traced a pale blue veil over the goddess.
Artemis leaned against Bell's shoulder, then furrowed her brow. "Orion, this smell is..."
It was a sweet, cloying scent.
It was the first time Artemis had ever smelled it since meeting Bell.
There was something lewd about it...
"Musk?!"
Artemis sniffed the pungent fragrance and reached her conclusion.
"There's a reason for this."
Bell had just returned from a brothel, so it was inevitable that he would have picked up that sensual scent.
However, his explanation did not go smoothly.
Artemis glared at him fiercely, cutting him off.
"I can't believe it. Orion actually did something like that?!"
This was something only the Pleasure District used. Bell must have just come back from there.
"Filthy, lecherous demon, idiot... pervert!"
Artemis kept hurling accusations at him.
Unexpectedly, even though her face was bright red, she did not raise her voice.
Those accusations burst out and faded away in the spacious courtyard, as though they were a secret shared only between the two of them.
Artemis must not have wanted anyone else to hear, so she was doing her best to keep her voice down.
When Bell noticed that, he found the goddess before him rather adorable and gave a soft laugh.
"As the lover of the Goddess of Chastity, you still have the nerve to laugh after being caught doing something so lewd. You're prepared to be punished, aren't you, Orion?"
Artemis stood up and looked down at the boy from the front.
Her graceful figure blocked the moonlight, adding a touch of divinity to her presence.
Her blue hair danced in the night breeze. Perhaps the cool air had swept away her embarrassment, leaving only a faint blush behind.
"..."
Bell was so captivated by her peerless beauty that he momentarily forgot to argue.
Her white dress fluttered lightly.
The one standing before him now, was she the chaste goddess of Tenkai, or a young girl intoxicated by him?
Even Bell could not tell.
"If you don't say anything, that means you admit it. Prepare to receive the goddess's wrath."
Artemis raised her right hand high, as if holding a sword of judgment.
"Orion has committed a grave sin. He went behind his lover's back to seek out prostitutes. It is the unforgivable act of a perverted scoundrel! No excuses will be accepted, and no objections will be allowed. After I finish Orion off, I will follow you into the afterlife."
In Bell's silence, Artemis delivered her judgment.
She swung her right hand down hard, only for the result to be completely unexpected.
Bell did not dodge.
Artemis did not strike him with a heavy blow either. She merely flicked the boy lightly on the forehead.
"Really, why didn't Orion dodge? Now it looks like I was putting on a one-woman show."
Artemis complained.
"Because Artemis wouldn't actually hit me."
Bell answered truthfully.
Although Syr had described the Moon Goddess as someone who used violence as a weapon, in front of the boy, she was always a delicate girl.
Compared to Ryuu and Ais, Artemis was actually much gentler...
"Orion saw right through me again."
Artemis smiled, her eyes seeming to hold the gentle glow of moonlight.
"I know Orion must have had something important to do if he went to a place like that, so you don't need to explain it to me."
Artemis did not sit back down beside the boy. Instead, she placed both hands behind her back.
Then she slowly bent forward and held out her left hand.
"But that smell is really unpleasant, so..."
"Let's dance, Orion."
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