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My editor couldn't help with this chapter due to a family event. It would be very helpful if you could point out the errors in this chapter.
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Bell froze, unsure whether to move a muscle or stay there forever. Artemis never left him, hugging him tightly, her face buried lightly in his shoulder. The warmth of her body, the softness of her blue hair, the fresh scent she gave off... none of it helped calm the young adventurer's confusion.
Hestia, a few steps behind, simply couldn't process it.
"U-uh…?" was the only thing that came out of her mouth, with one eye twitching and a twitch in his eyebrow.
The scene was so absurd that Hermes remained silent for a moment, one eyebrow raised as he looked between the huntress goddess and the boy, who was still looking stunned. Hermes then muttered something like, "Am I dreaming, or did Artemis just go mad?" while Asfi crossed her arms, as if trying to understand a puzzle whose pieces didn't fit.
"Artemis… you… are you hugging him?" Hestia finally asked, her voice filled with almost childlike disbelief.
Artemis didn't respond immediately. She just raised her face, still with her arms around Bell, and looked directly at Hestia with a bright, unusually warm expression.
"It's him, Hestia. It's my Orion."
Bell blinked.
"Orion…? Who is that?"
"You!" she said, with a genuine smile that in another situation might have melted anyone's heart. "It's you."
Hestia, still in shock, stepped forward, her forehead trembling and her smile strained. No one knew if she was going to scream or cry. Or both.
"Artemis… would you please stop hugging Bell-kun?" she said with such artificial sweetness that it almost sounded like a threat.
Artemis, still clinging, took a second longer to react. Then, as if waking from a trance, she blinked and slowly pulled away from Bell, though her hands reluctantly slipped from his shoulders.
"Sorry… I got carried away," she said, somewhat calmer, but her gaze remained fixed on Bell. She was no longer the cold, distant Artemis. There was a strange gleam in her eyes. A new softness.
Bell gulped, still not understanding what had just happened, as he scratched the back of his neck in discomfort. "Uhh… thank you, Goddess…"
Hestia crossed her arms tightly, standing in front of Bell like a shield. "You're welcome. I'm just making sure no one gets confused around here."
Artemis quickly regained her composure, though the slight blush on her cheeks betrayed her. Even though the moment had passed, it was evident to everyone that something inside her had changed… every time her eyes fell on Bell, her expression softened even more than usual.
And Hestia noticed it. Oh, yes, she noticed it.
Still with her arms crossed and a vein bulging dangerously on her forehead, she took a step forward, placing herself between Bell and Artemis.
"Can someone explain to me what the heck that was? Because I don't know if I'm going crazy or if I just saw Artemis, the same goddess who has rejected every man even in heaven, hugging a boy. And not just any boy. Bell! My Bell!"
Artemis didn't back down. She remained calm, though her eyes still rested curiously—and somewhat softly—on Bell. It was clear she was... different. Not completely, but definitely affected by something.
"The spear you touched," she said in a firm voice, "is a divine weapon. During a previous battle, it was trapped in that crystal as a result of an incident with Antares… that's why its tip was sealed. But it's not a simple magical object."
"And what does that have to do with the hug you gave Bell that lasted more than five seconds?" Hestia replied, still shocked.
Artemis lowered her gaze briefly. Then she spoke again, without a hint of hesitation. "That spear cannot be wielded by just anyone. Only someone with a pure soul can wield it. He who can unleash it… is recognized as my Orion. My destined mate."
Absolute silence.
Hermes let out a low, amused whistle. "Wow… I didn't expect that."
Asfi put a hand to her face. Lulune murmured, "This is going to be good..."
Bell blinked. "F… destined… mate?"
Hestia recoiled, as if she'd been kicked in the stomach. "No... it can't be..."
And Artemis, looking calmly at everyone present, concluded with complete tranquility: "It wasn't something I chose. It was the weapon's design. And now… he's my Orion."
"SINCE WHEN DO DIVINE WEAPONS PLAY MATCHMAKING?!" Hestia shrieked at the heavens, completely out of her mind.
Artemis, seeing how the vein in Hestia's forehead seemed about to pop and how the goddess was literally trembling with anger, raised both hands in a peaceful gesture. Her voice, though calm, had a strange warmth she rarely displayed.
"Hestia, it's not what it seems. It's not that I… romantically chose it, nor am I here to take it away from you. This isn't a competition."
"OF COURSE IT IS!" Hestia shouted. "You! The goddess who was against love and men! You always lectured me for dreaming of a boyfriend! And now you have an Orion?! And it's Bell?!"
Artemis narrowed her eyes for a moment, exhaling slowly. "I know how it sounds, but believe me… this surprised me too. I wasn't looking for this. It just… happened. He pulled the spear free; not just anyone can do that. It's a fact. I'm not going to deny what it means, but I didn't come here with the intention of claiming it as my own, either."
As the two goddesses glared at each other, Bell stood motionless to one side, completely still. His face was blank, his eyes slightly open, staring into space. He said nothing. He didn't move. He didn't blink.
Falgar looked at him sideways. "Did he just freeze?"
Lulune nodded. "Yeah… it looks like he collapsed from emotional overload."
Hermes walked over and snapped his fingers in front of Bell. Nothing. Not a reaction. "Yeah… definitely an emotional blue screen."
Asfi crossed her arms. "He's a teenager, Hermes-sama. What did you expect? Two goddesses are discussing their romantic destiny as if it were part of a heavenly treaty."
Meanwhile, Bell stood there, still as a statue, thinking the same thing over and over again:
What is an Orion? Why did she hug me? Why did she look at me like that? Why is everyone staring at me now? Am I going to have to marry a goddess? WHAT IS HAPPENING?
And inside, his only conclusion:
...I want to go back to the tunnel.
The whole atmosphere gradually lowered its intensity. Artemis looked down, and Hestia let out a long sigh, rubbing her temple with one hand.
"We'll talk about this later," Hestia muttered under her breath, pointing her finger at Artemis as if marking her for a future duel. She then quickly turned to Bell, who was still completely out of his mind, staring off into space with an expression as if he'd witnessed the creation and destruction of the universe at the same time.
"Bell… Bell, are you okay? Bell?"
Nothing. Not a blink.
"Oh, please!" Hestia exclaimed, shaking his arm. "Wake up! You can't stay like this!"
Hermes, who until then had been standing on the sidelines with an overly amused smile on his face, sauntered over. Without saying anything, he pulled out a half-dusty bottle of liquor from who knows where, uncorked it, and without a second thought, emptied the contents all over Bell.
"HERMES?!" Hestia yelled, jumping back. "What are you doing?!"
The liquid soaked Bell's hair and dripped down his forehead and cheeks, a strong alcoholic scent filling the air… and then, as if by magic, Bell blinked. Once. Then again.
"W-what…? Why do I smell like a tavern cellar?" he muttered, staggering slightly.
Hermes snapped his fingers. "There! You're back from paradise. Welcome, champion."
Bell looked around in confusion... then at his wet clothes... then at Artemis, who was still looking at him with a certain tenderness... and finally at Hestia, who looked like she was about to murder someone.
"…I don't want to be here," he said very, very quietly.
Hestia hurried to wrap him in a towel she pulled from her backpack. "There, there, you're okay, Bell. It's over now. It's all over now…"
Hermes, still with his half-mocking smile but now much more subdued, turned to Artemis while wiping his hand with a handkerchief.
"So, Artemis… how serious is this matter with Antares? Because if you're carrying around a sealed divine spear, calling for help, and hugging kids, that doesn't sound like an everyday occurrence."
Artemis looked up. Her expression, which had previously shown a certain warmth toward Bell, changed to a cold seriousness, tempered like the edge of a sword.
"It's serious, Hermes," he said bluntly. "Very serious."
There was a brief silence. The breeze barely stirred her blue hair.
"Antares is growing… and if we don't stop it soon, it could become a calamity. A true calamity, like the One-Eyed Black Dragon."
That name struck a chord in the group. Even Hestia, who was still protecting Bell with the towel, raised her head, her eyes wide open. Asfi frowned sharply. Lulune gulped. And Falgar… even he straightened his posture.
Hermes stopped smiling completely.
"…That's not something you say lightly," he muttered. "If you're comparing that bug to the black dragon…"
"I'm doing it because it's the truth," Artemis replied. "Antares isn't just any monster. He's something different. He's… evolving. And if he reaches the next stage, it won't just be the villages that will be in danger. The whole world will be in danger."
Bell, still a little dazed and dripping, looked up. "So… this mission… is to stop him before it's too late?"
Artemis nodded. "Exactly."
Hermes narrowed his eyes. "What a way to start a morning…"
Hermes crossed his arms, his face more serious than usual. The mention of Antares as a potential world-class calamity wasn't something to be taken lightly. Not even he, with all his usual lightheartedness, could joke about something comparable to the one-eyed black dragon.
"This changes everything…" he murmured, then raised his voice. "Asfi."
The light blue haired girl with a sharp face turned to him instantly.
"Set up camp here. I need you to make sure Artemis and Hestia are protected while Bell and I go collect the rest of our family."
Asfi frowned. "Are we going to separate right now?"
Hermes nodded firmly. "There's no other option. If Antares is as dangerous as Artemis says, we need every fighter we can get. And Bell is the only reason we can move so quickly. We'll do it in an instant and be back before too long."
Hearing this, Hestia threw up her hands in alarm. "Wait, wait! I'm coming too!"
"And I" Artemis added, her tone gentle but unyielding. She took a step forward, her eyes fixed on Hermes. "I don't intend to sit back while my responsibility threatens to escalate into a global catastrophe."
Hermes raised both hands, as if trying to calm a pair of agitated wyverns. "Calm down, calm down. I understand how you feel, I really do. But Bell and I will be faster if we go alone. The less personnel, the less trouble."
"But-!"
Hermes turned to Hestia, interrupting her with a slightly warmer smile. "Hestia. Trust me this once. It's not that I want to take you away from your spoiled brat, but he's our key to buying time. And you're too important to take unnecessary risks."
Hestia frowned, but didn't respond immediately.
Hermes then turned his gaze to Artemis.
"And you… I know you hate feeling useless. But we need you sane and clear-headed to face whatever comes. So stay here, help coordinate the camp, and when we return, you'll have a whole group ready to follow you to Hell if necessary."
Artemis looked at him for a long time, as if evaluating his sincerity. Finally, she sighed.
"All right… But come back soon."
"We will," Hermes promised with a confident smile.
Hestia clicked her tongue, crossing her arms.
"Only because I find you tolerable…"
Hermes chuckled.
"An honor, as always."
Asfi had already begun giving orders to the rest of the group. Falgar was unpacking some backpacks while Lulune looked at Bell curiously, taking in every detail of what was happening.
Bell, still with some liquor in his hair, shook himself a little and approached Hermes. "So… do we open the tunnel?"
"That's right, partner," Hermes said, patting him on the back. "Time to travel bunny-style."
Bell sighed, but nodded. He took a couple of steps forward, tapped his foot twice… and the familiar hole opened, gently sucking in the air around it.
Hermes looked over his shoulder one last time.
"Take good care of them," he said, his tone not playful for once, but serious.
And then, with a fluid leap, he disappeared into the tunnel. Bell followed a second later, the echo of the tunnel closing behind them.
The clearing fell silent for a few seconds. Hestia and Artemis stared at each other, wordlessly.
Finally, Asfi sighed.
"Well… does anyone know how to set up a tent?"
…
Twenty-five minutes later, the tunnel opened in a hidden corner of the Hermes Familia headquarters, right next to wine barrels and supply crates.
Bell came out first, still a little wobbly from the journey, followed by Hermes, who stretched his arms with an exaggerated yawn.
"Ah, home sweet home…"
A scream interrupted the tranquility.
"What the hell—?!"
A young-faced adventurer on guard, half-raised and carrying a spear, had just entered the warehouse to search it. Seeing two figures emerging from the ground, he prepared to attack… until his eyes recognized the god.
"Lord Hermes!" he exclaimed, dropping his spear and immediately standing to attention with awkward rigidity. "Pardon me, sir! I didn't recognize you!"
Hermes, for once, did not smile.
"Calm down. But listen carefully: Go right now and gather all the family members who aren't rookies. Everyone level two and up. Tell them it's a high-level emergency."
The adventurer paled. "E-emergency…?"
"There's no time for questions. Move."
"Y-yes, sir!"
The young man shot through the halls of the headquarters, his voice echoing with an urgent tone as he began to give orders.
Bell watched him walk away, somewhat uneasy. "Do they always take you this seriously?"
Hermes, still grim-faced, crossed his arms. "There are almost never major emergencies, and when there are… there's no room for jokes. Believe me, if that beast truly awakens, not even Orario will be enough to stop it."
Bell swallowed. His hand unconsciously closed around the handle of the spear now slung across his back. "So… this is serious."
Hermes looked at him sideways. "Much more than you imagine, Orion."
Bell looks back at him. "Don't call me that."
Hermes gives him a mocking smile. "Of course, after all, that name can only be told to you by your destined partner."
Bell just hangs his head. "I'm still not used to it…"
Footsteps echoed throughout the headquarters. Within minutes, the hallway in front of Hermes and Bell was filled with adventurers, all with serious expressions, some still strapping on pieces of armor, others firmly gripping their weapons. They were a diverse mix: battle-hardened youths, scarred veterans, all level two or higher, and all with the same air of determination.
One of them, a short-haired, sharp-eyed swordsman, stepped forward. "Hermes-sama. What is the threat?"
Another, a stern-faced woman in light armor, added, "Is this a dungeon raid? Or is it something worse?"
Hermes raised his hand and waited for everyone to be silent.
"It's not the dungeon. It's something more… specific." His tone was serious, lacking the slightest trace of his usual casualness. "There's a monster that has escaped control. A beast that could become a worldwide calamity if not stopped now. Its name is Antares."
An uneasy murmur ran through the group. Many looked at each other in confusion, others with growing tension.
"We're talking about a creature that could achieve a level of destruction comparable to the One-Eyed Black Dragon," Hermes added, letting the weight of those words sink in. "We don't have time. It's already started destroying villages. We need to move now. Everyone available, prepare your equipment and leave immediately."
For a moment, there was absolute silence.
And then, one of the adventurers raised his fist in the air.
"Then let's hunt him down!"
"Yeah!"
Roars of excitement and courage erupted in unison, echoing through the halls. The Hermes Family, now with a clear and urgent purpose, mobilized with fiery energy.
Hermes, seeing the reaction, finally smiled.
"That's what I wanted to hear."
Bell watched everything in silence, feeling the tension in his chest grow… along with something deeper: responsibility.
"Ready to lead the way, Bell-kun?" Hermes asked, turning to him with a raised eyebrow.
Bell took a deep breath, nodding. "Yes."
Bell then stamped his foot twice. Within seconds, the ground began to shake slightly, and with a sharp sound, a large opening formed right in front of them, revealing the entrance to a wide, dark, and gently curved tunnel, like a polished earth slide. Despite its rudimentary appearance, it was clearly stable… and descending at a speed that no one in their right mind would associate with safe transportation.
The adventurers instinctively retreated.
"What… is that?" one muttered, frowning.
"Are we going to go in there?" another asked, with a mixture of astonishment and skepticism.
Hermes smiled with a confidence completely disproportionate to the situation. "This, my dear children, is a modern marvel courtesy of our young prodigy." He pointed a finger at Bell as he spoke. "He is the one who opens these tunnels at will, and thanks to his skill, we will be able to travel between villages in a matter of minutes. Less walking, more adventure."
The adventurers continued to stare at the tunnel as if it were the mouth of a hungry dragon.
"So… are we just going to throw ourselves out there? Just like that?" asked an archer, crossing her arms suspiciously.
Hermes gave an exaggerated bow, took a step back, and without further ado, launched himself headfirst into the tunnel with a resounding: "FOLLOW ME!"
The sound of his body sliding rapidly through the earth left everyone speechless.
Bell simply stood at the edge of the tunnel, unsure how to react. He was used to Hermes doing unexpected things… but this was still, even by his standards, ridiculous.
A long and confusing silence followed, broken by a single deep cry:
"BANZAI!!"
A muscular adventurer, with a scar across his chest, enthusiastically launched himself into the tunnel, arms outstretched as if he were flying. His shout was followed almost immediately by a dozen more voices.
"BANZAI!!"
"BANZAAAI!"
One after another, the members of the Hermes Family began to tumble down the slide like excited children at a fair. Some entered screaming, others laughing, and a couple simply closed their eyes and let themselves fall as if accepting their fate.
Bell watched everything with wide eyes. It was surreal to see a group of seasoned, battle-hardened adventurers shouting as if they were part of a festival.
He sighed. "Will this… always be like this?"
But deep down, a small smile formed on his lips.
Then, without a word, he too took a step toward the edge of the tunnel… and dropped down, beginning the return journey with the rest of the squad that would face Antares.
Inside the tunnel, screams echoed like an uncontrolled chorus. The Hermes family was hurtling down, thrown into the tunnel Bell had opened. The adventurers fell in a line, some with their arms raised, others clinging to their gear as if their lives depended on it.
"Waaaaaaah!" one shouted.
"THIS IS THE BEST THING I'VE EVER DONE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!" another exclaimed, completely thrilled.
Hermes, who had been the first to launch, descended as if gliding in his natural element, laughing as he turned slightly around the curves.
Unlike the frantic screams ahead, Bell descended silently. His face showed resignation and a hint of patience. He'd been through this many times before... and although his stomach still protested every time a curve threw him sideways or the tunnel made a sudden change in level, his body was already getting used to it.
The screams continued to echo in front of him, some of emotion, others of regret, but all alive.
"I should have bought another suit of armor…" Bell muttered as he rounded another sharp turn, letting the air ruffle his hair.
Despite everything, there was something comforting about seeing how her blessing could be used so effectively. And something funny about how everyone reacted to it differently.
And at the end of the tunnel… a growing light announced that the journey was about to end.
The light at the end of the tunnel was growing rapidly, but there was something strange about it… it wasn't the faint white light that usually marked the exit. This one was brighter, warmer… yellow. Bell frowned at the final descent, and as soon as he crossed the threshold, the first thing he felt was heat.
He landed on the ground in an awkward somersault and dusted himself off, only to find a scene completely different from what he had imagined.
A tree, a fairly large one, was engulfed in flames, crackling loudly as smoke rose into the sky. Around them, the adventurers of the Hermes family stared at the blaze with bewildered and resigned expressions. Closer by, Hestia and Artemis stood side by side, arms crossed, faces tense. Hermes stood at the front, hands on his hips and one eyebrow raised, observing everything with the calmness of someone who had already given up trying to understand what had happened.
Bell walked over quickly, looking at everyone with wide eyes.
"W-what happened here? Weren't you supposed to… make a camp?"
Asfi, her expression eternally neutral but visibly irritated, ran a hand over her forehead. "We tried. But they…" she pointed a subtle finger at the two goddesses, "…had creative differences over how a fire should be lit."
Lulune sat nearby, chewing dry bread and shrugging her shoulders. "I just wanted hot soup… and now we don't have a pot."
Falgar simply said: "Only two rocks were needed… two."
Hestia snorted and turned her head away indignantly. "It wasn't my fault! Artemis insisted on using a weird fire technique or something!"
"It's a quick-fire survival method," Artemis replied calmly, though she looked away slightly. "It works… usually. I didn't plan for the branch to be so dry."
Hermes raised a finger philosophically. "In Artemis's defense, it's true that fire is effective. At destroying things."
Bell just stood there, his expression completely bewildered. "And why didn't anyone… turn off the tree?"
Asfi sighed. "We tried. But someone—" now looking at Falgar, "—thought throwing a pot of soup over them was enough. Now we have neither pot nor soup."
Bell blinked. "Oh…"
"Welcome back, Orion," Artemis said, turning to him with a serene smile as if they weren't standing next to a burning tree.
Bell just sighed and muttered to himself, "This can't get any worse…"
[N/A: BANZAI!]