Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 81: Affair

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"What are you doing? Why are you all... looking at me!?"

Artemis blushed slightly under the gaze of her children. Pouting her cherry-colored lips, she lifted her head in an attempt to appear serious.

"Nothing... Nothing!"

"Yes! We're just very happy; we don't have any other thoughts~!"

"Long live Lady Artemis!!"

Hearing her words, the dazed girls quickly snapped out of their stupor and erupted into cheerful noise, expressing their joy once more.

Amidst the laughter, only Lante sat clutching her stomach, her face twisted in discomfort and bitterness.

After all, she hadn't done anything wrong. Yet, due to her cooperation with two others, she ended up on the receiving end of the punishment.

Who could possibly be happy when the team leader used a "special method" that caused a stomachache?

As she realized that everyone else was enjoying themselves while she alone suffered, Lante became even more dejected.

"Blue thin mushroom..."

Meanwhile, Artemis turned her gaze to Izzy, an inexplicable look flickering in her eyes.

"It's about time you let go of my hand, don't you think? It's not proper to keep holding it like this..."

After making her announcement to the girls, Artemis looked back at Izzy, her voice calm but firm.

"Huh? We've already hugged, but holding hands is suddenly inappropriate?" Izzy teased, feigning confusion.

"T-That was different back then!"

Artemis retorted quickly, her cheeks growing warm as the memory of the incident came rushing back.

---

At the same time, outside on West Street:

"Divine wine~ Divine wine~ Soma's divine wine~!"

A scarlet-haired goddess skipped along the street, holding a sealed ceramic jar like a gleeful child.

"Don't get carried away! We're still on the street, and if you spill it, I'm not buying you another one," said the green-haired elf walking beside her, sighing in exasperation.

"How could I spill something so precious? I'll take good care of it!"

Despite her confident words, Loki held the jar with exaggerated caution, cradling it like a fragile treasure.

"With this much wine, we're going to have a great feast tonight! Let's hurry back, Riveria!"

"...What about Izzy?"

Riveria, ever responsible, hadn't forgotten the other reason for their outing.

"He'll come back when he's done having fun. Drinking is more important now~"

"..."

Riveria fell silent, her lips twitching slightly in disapproval.

If Izzy were here, he might have cried.

---

As they passed the Hostess of Fertility, Loki tilted her head slightly, her eyes catching the sight of the bustling tavern.

"Mama Mia's place... Still as lively as ever," she murmured, casting a nostalgic glance at the familiar establishment.

Although tempted, Loki had no intention of stopping—her mind was set on getting back to enjoy her wine.

At least, that had been the plan.

But the moment she glanced through the tavern window, she froze in her tracks.

Her squinted eyes widened slightly, revealing a rare flicker of surprise.

"Artemis?"

"Hmm? What about Artemis?"

Riveria, following close behind, noticed Loki's sudden halt and repeated the name in confusion.

Immediately, she turned to follow Loki's gaze into the tavern.

"Izzy?"

Though they focused on different people, the goddess and the elf shared the same sense of disbelief.

"What's going on between Izzy and Artemis?"

"The blue-haired goddess Raul mentioned before... The one who kidnapped Izzy... She's Artemis!?"

Thanks to his seat by the window, Izzy was clearly visible, sitting next to Artemis.

When Loki saw Artemis and Izzy sitting so close, both blushing, she was so stunned that she couldn't speak.

This was Artemis, the goddess famously in charge of "chastity" and one of the most renowned figures in the heavens. Loki had a certain level of friendship with her, which made this even more shocking.

Because of their friendship, Loki couldn't fathom what she was seeing.

Artemis, the chairwoman of the Impure Heterosexual Friendship Extermination Committee and a goddess who revered chastity above all else—when had she ever been close to the opposite sex?

In all her years, Loki had never heard of such a thing.

And yet, here she was, sitting so intimately with Izzy. And Izzy, her child, no less.

These two things together felt so unreal, so magical, that Loki began to wonder if he was dreaming.

How long had Izzy even been in Orario? How on earth had he managed to "hook up" with Artemis?

It didn't make any sense.

Curiosity, surprise, and disbelief swirled in Loki's heart, overwhelming any other thoughts.

For now, she decided against returning home. Forget the wine—this needed to be sorted out.

Riveria blinked in confusion but still followed Loki as she strode into the Hostess of Fertility.

---

"Lady Artemis, would you like some more wine? Let me pour it for you."

Sitting by the window, Rethusa held a bottle of wine, her smile bright and deliberate.

Beside her, Izzy raised an eyebrow and gave her a quick wink.

"Sister, you can't do that—it's way too obvious. Your intentions are written all over your face!"

Izzy fully understood Rethusa's eagerness to help him. After all, most of Artemis's followers were already on his side, so there was little reason to worry about winning over the goddess.

However, everything had to be done step by step. Rushing things could easily backfire.

Rethusa's current attempts, pouring wine for Artemis so conspicuously, were clearly over the top.

Wasn't this practically shouting, "I have ulterior motives"?

Izzy glanced at Rethusa again, his expression shifting slightly.

What now? Are you planning to double down?

Rethusa's eyes sparkled as if she'd understood his look perfectly.

No, what do you think you understand?

Before Izzy could process her response, Artemis's calm voice broke the moment.

"Rethusa..."

"Yes, Lady Artemis?"

"I can't help but feel you've been forcing me to drink for less-than-honest reasons. And you keep throwing flirtatious glances at Izzy… Are you two trying to get me drunk?"

Artemis narrowed her eyes, her tone calm but sharp enough to make sweat bead on Rethusa's forehead.

Ah, the novice driver, led by an experienced one, had just crashed the car...

Izzy sighed, holding his forehead with a bitter smile. He'd seen this coming.

"Rethusa, your approach is way too transparent. Next time, follow my cues."

"What?! What? This is my first time doing something like this!"

"I know. That's why I've been winking at you this whole time."

"...I thought you wanted me to step it up!"

Now that the jig was up, Izzy stopped trying to hide anything. Instead, he openly critiqued Rethusa's missteps and discussed improvements as if Artemis wasn't sitting right there.

"???"

Artemis tilted her head slightly, metaphorical question marks floating above her.

What was going on here?

After being caught red-handed, these two not only showed no remorse but had the audacity to discuss their next steps in front of her?

Did they not take her, the goddess, seriously at all?

It was outrageous! Simply too much!

Just as Artemis was about to speak up and express her indignation, a third voice suddenly interrupted.

"Izzy! How dare you hide your affair with Artemis from me!?"