Chapter 7: Artemis’ room

A week had passed since Kang Arin entered the training center.

I was a little….

No, very.

Extremely worried.

I couldn’t see inside the training center, thanks to some special barrier.

So, I peeked around, trying to somehow watch her through the windows, but….

In the end, I gave up, unable to find even the smallest gap.

“Damn it… Well, it’ll be fine since Ham Yui is there.”

After letting out a light curse in frustration, I turned my attention to Cheok Chaerin, whom I had marked as my next Incarnation candidate.

A woman with fiery red eyes and hair.

A glamorous figure that wasn’t inferior to Kang Arin’s.

And on top of that, incredibly strong and well-rounded.

She looked like a woman perfectly crafted by a god.

“I don’t understand. Why hasn’t she been chosen as an Incarnation?”

After observing her for a week, I noticed one peculiar thing.

Everyone seemed to be afraid of Cheok Chaerin, avoiding even simple conversations with her.

“It doesn’t seem like she’s mute.”

Unlike inside the training center, I could see the Incarnation candidates at any time.

Even when they were showering, although it was a bit awkward.

During those times, she would hum or mutter to herself.

I even tried sending a chat message, just in case….

[Atheist Human greets you.]

“…I’m sorry.”

She just bowed her head slightly and ignored me.

I wondered if she was being looked down upon because of my name, but….

“She’s very polite. And she also seems to be full of worries.”

There seemed to be a serious reason.

And no other Constellation was bothering her.

Strange….

“Hmm….”

I tapped my fingers on the table, lost in thought.

In times like this, it’s best to ask a ‘more experienced senior.’

I learned how to use the front door from Artemis the day we met, so I can go to her place anytime.

She connected it so I could access her domain.

“What should I do? Asking a god for help… truly, the worst.”

If it were any other god, what would I have done?

Of course, asking them wouldn’t even be an option.

But this older sister helped Kang Arin through Ham Yui and even showered me with coins?

Then it’s worth considering.

“This is troubling.”

I sat cross-legged and stroked my chin, thinking.

I ended up floating in the air and flipping over, but anyway.

After landing on the floor, I organized my thoughts.

“Let’s go.”

First, not all gods in this world are bad.

It was the same in my original world… but at least the gods here haven’t harmed me.

I need to separate business and personal feelings.

Second, Artemis seems to have taken a liking to me.

Not romantic interest, but she’s being nice, probably to get the most out of me.

So, I should get the most out of Artemis as well.

Third, I’m practically a rookie here.

I’m only 24 years old, and compared to the gods who have lived in this world for over 3,000 years, I lack experience.

So it’s better to get advice and build connections for my Incarnations.

Fourth, what if something goes wrong and I end up at war with the gods?

Even without using the seven divine abilities, I can win.

All the gods here combined are probably weaker than Yahweh, whom I fought last.

“Yahweh isn’t here, right…?”

After firmly organizing my thoughts, I approached the front door.

I grabbed the doorknob, thought of Artemis, and opened the door….

With a slight mechanical sound, a fragrant grassy scent tickled my nose.

“…What is this place?”

Blinding sunlight, like stepping outdoors from indoors.

As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw a lush green meadow and forest.

And beautiful maidens as well….

“Ah… Aaah… Lady Artemis!!”

How did I know?

They advertised it themselves as they ran away.

“You’re… you’re going to r*pe us again!! Lady Artemis, help us!!”

“Well…”

Before I could say anything, the women fled into the bushes.

By the way, “again“?

“What’s that about?”

I filed the slightly concerning information away in my mind.

A Greek-style white marble temple stood in the center of the vast meadow.

It was magnificent enough for any god to reside in, so I walked towards it.

Some women looked at me in surprise, while others showed curiosity as I passed by.

One thing bothered me….

“They all seem to be human.”

Why were they afraid of me?

And how did humans enter a Constellation’s domain?

I made a mental note to ask Artemis later and entered the temple.

There were female warriors guarding the entrance with spears, but….

“The Constellation is waiting inside.”

“Oh… yeah. Thanks.”

They didn’t show any hostility towards me.

The female warriors opened the temple entrance.

As I stepped inside, a beautiful woman sat at a table.

The Hunter of the Moon, smiling confidently.

“Welcome.”

“I have some questions.”

“Ask away.”

She gestured to the chair opposite her with a smile.

I sat down as she indicated, facing her across the table.

I went straight to the point.

“I have a question…”

“It’s simple, it’s Zeus’s fault.”

“Huh?”

“Zeus is the cause.”

Artemis took a sip of tea leisurely.

Then, she answered my question as if she had already anticipated it.

“You’re curious about Cheok Chaerin, right?”

“How did you….”

“It’s simple. She’s the only one in the Incarnation Academy worth being curious about.”

She had already anticipated my actions.

No matter how smart I am, I seem to be outmatched by her experience.

I adjusted my posture and asked Artemis again why Zeus was the cause.

“Then why…”

“That’s a long story, so later.”

She interrupted me.

After taking another sip of tea, she explained the thing I was curious about.

Why are there humans in a Constellation’s domain?

“It’s simple. When your chosen Incarnation dies, you can bring them into your domain.”

“Really?”

“Of course. You can also expand your domain with coins.”

As the goddess of the hunt, she expanded her domain into a lush meadow.

Then she brought her deceased Incarnations here and took care of them….

Did she bring them here so they could hunt freely and kill time when she was bored?

“Why do you bring them here?”

“Because I grew fond of them.”

“Hmm…”

It wasn’t a very god-like reason.

A god showing a very human side.

I slightly increased her likeability score in my mind and asked:

“I don’t have any more questions now. About Cheok Chaerin…”

“I should tell you the story.”

Artemis smiled wryly.

She stirred her tea with a teaspoon and began to explain why Cheok Chaerin hadn’t been chosen.

“When was it… yes, it was only three years ago.”

Three years is “only”? But she’s a god.

I shouldn’t apply my sense of time to her.

“Back then, a beautiful talent named Cheok Chaerin appeared. And she was a virgin.”

“You’re quite the unicorn, aren’t you?”

“Well, I am the goddess of the moon, the hunt, and maidens.”

Artemis chuckled and accepted my remark.

So the women who ran away from me outside were also virgins.

“But there’s someone who loves virgins… no, women, even more than me, right? The worst womanizer…”

“Zeus?”

“Yes.”

So Zeus had his eye on Cheok Chaerin.

But why didn’t she accept a contract from such a big shot?

“It’s simple. Zeus has a terrible reputation.”

“…….”

“Sometimes he’s incredibly cool and magnanimous… but other times he’s petty and narrow-minded like a little girl. And he doesn’t take responsibility. Contracting with Zeus is a huge gamble.”

And Cheok Chaerin didn’t want to take that risk, so she refused the contract.

“But unfortunately… Zeus was being a little girl that day.”

“Is he retaliating because she refused the contract?”

“I told you, it’s a gamble.”

Zeus, his pride hurt, took petty revenge on Cheok Chaerin.

First, he made it so that no other Constellation could contract with her.

Since she was targeted by the highest god of Greece, everyone was afraid and she became socially isolated.

Then, when Cheok Chaerin dies… he’ll probably drag her to his domain, like Artemis does.

“But the other gods don’t have any objections?”

“It would take all the Olympian gods combined to maybe defeat Zeus.”

“He was strong, that’s for sure.”

“Huh?”

Artemis asked back suspiciously.

I quickly turned my head and mumbled something to avoid the question.

She stared at me intently, as if suspicious, before continuing her story.

“But powerful bastards like Heracles, Poseidon, and Ares are on Zeus’s side.”

“Forming an alliance with other gods…”

“You want a war over just one Incarnation?”

So they just gave up, even though it was a waste.

Cheok Chaerin was just isolated.

And the reason she rejected my chat and politely refused me was….

She was worried that I would be targeted by Zeus’s group.

“She’s looking for a sliver of hope. A strong god who will save her from Zeus’s grasp….”

Artemis came closer and poked my nose with her finger.

“A strong god.”

She grinned playfully.

Then she got up from the table, stretched, and said:

“I’m a weak god, so I can’t do it… but you’re different, right?”

“Why me….”

I was about to ask if she had some ulterior motive, but Artemis cut me off again and said with a laugh:

“Because you’re the ‘Atheist Human’.”

“…….”

At her words, I calmly drank the tea on the table.

I had completely fallen into the trap laid by the Goddess of the Hunt.

She created the reason for my current predicament.

Artemis, who visited me after I contracted with Kang Arin.

The meaning of ‘investor’ she introduced herself as at the door.

She assessed my strength and character by subtly threatening me.

Her plan was to shower me with coins, seeing that I seemed strong enough to defy Zeus.

Having received the coins, I looked for other Incarnation candidates when I went to the Incarnation Academy.

Of course, I found the eye-catching Cheok Chaerin, and lacking information and experience, I wandered around and went to Artemis….

As a result, she made me act on my own.

“You’re very kind.”

“Of course, I’m the goddess of maidens, hunters… and the moon. I have to take care of them, even if they aren’t my Incarnations.”

I realized one thing.

Artemis isn’t a bad god.

And there are still plenty of gods I want to kill.

“So, what are you going to do?”

Artemis asked.

I smiled and replied:

“First, I’ll teach them a lesson.”

Killing them won’t be enough.