"Woo-nya?! Someone actually dared to hit Syr, nya?!"
Anya bared her fangs in fury.
"Wait."
Bell stopped the catgirl just as she was about to lose control.
"White-haired guy… why are you holding me back, nya? I'm going to teach that shameless person a lesson, nya!"
Anya raised her tail threateningly.
"Calm down and think about it for a second, nya. If something really serious had happened, Ryuu wouldn't be standing here right now, nya."
Chloe answered in Bell's place.
Ryuu always cared deeply about Syr. The fact that she had already left the scene meant Syr was not in any danger of being hurt.
"Then what does 'they fought' even mean, nya?"
Anya blinked in confusion.
Bell looked at the slightly troubled elf girl and spoke up.
"Ryuu-san, please tell us what happened."
Ryuu nodded gently and began recalling what had taken place at the tavern.
"Yes… it happened like this…"
...
Early that morning.
A tense, oppressive atmosphere hung over the tavern.
The usual mood-maker Anya was nowhere to be seen, and even Chloe, who often got carried away, was absent.
Instead, the ones present were the boy's two lovers.
Syr led Laurier and Airmid to the second floor of the tavern, where the three of them held a private discussion.
Ryuu didn't know the details of what they talked about, but she was certain the topic revolved around Bell and Artemis.
According to Mia, ever since the Crescent Moon and the Bow had vanished, rumors about the Moon Goddess had begun spreading throughout Orario, and Syr had been lost in thought ever since.
When Ryuu learned of this, she immediately told Syr that the goddess and the boy had already become lovers.
Syr only smiled softly, as if she had expected this outcome all along.
That sense of looming confrontation reached its peak today.
"Something is about to happen…"
Standing guard at the entrance of the tavern, Ryuu could clearly feel the abnormal atmosphere.
Feelings of love surged and converged, as though dark storm clouds were gathering overhead, signaling an approaching downpour.
"This tavern is temporarily closed today, ma'am."
Ryuu stopped a woman who was about to enter.
"Thank you for taking care of me during our journey."
The woman lifted her hood, revealing azure-blue hair and a breathtakingly beautiful face.
"Goddess Artemis… what brings you here?"
A flicker of suspicion and concern passed through Ryuu's eyes.
Outside, the sky was clear and bright, but in her view, the storm of love that had been brewing for so long had already begun to howl with fierce winds.
"Ryuu, I was the one who invited Artemis-sama. Please let her in."
Syr appeared at the top of the staircase, a gentle smile on her face.
Behind her, Laurier and Airmid exchanged a glance, then stared blankly at the goddess.
Rumors about the Moon Goddess had once circulated throughout Orario, many of them far from flattering.
Perhaps it was jealousy from other goddesses, or resentment from frivolous male gods who had once suffered judgment at the hands of her arrows.
They claimed that Artemis was nothing more than an ordinary-looking, violent, combat-oriented goddess.
That rumor fell apart the moment one laid eyes on her.
Standing before them, the so-called violence attributed to Artemis only served as a contrast, a subtle accent to her presence.
Even women could clearly feel it—the beauty and purity that belonged solely to the Moon Goddess.
"Why are you two just standing there? Shouldn't you be happy to have more [friends]?"
Syr urged the two girls as she led them down the stairs.
Perhaps it was the influence of her position.
Unlike the dazed Laurier and Airmid, Syr's eyes carried a faint, condescending pride.
She looked like a queen seated at the summit, welcoming others into her own castle.
"Artemis-sama really is punctual."
Syr descended the stairs slowly, every step calm and elegant.
"You specifically summoned me here. You must be Orion's lovers, correct?"
Artemis showed no hesitation as she strode into the tavern.
Before coming to Orario, she had suggested changing how Bell was addressed, so as not to expose the boy's identity.
After some discussion, however, everyone agreed that Bell already stood out enough. For a feat like saving a goddess, there was no real need to hide it.
The boy had broken through divine intent and created a miracle.
Once his identity was revealed, it would surely draw the attention, devotion, and even offerings of other goddesses.
But Artemis had already made her decision.
She would call him Orion and remain by the boy's side.
Before that, however, she had to face the most troublesome opponents standing before her now.
"As expected of my Orion. You really do have good taste."
Artemis openly examined the girls.
Even in Tenkai, their beauty would have drawn the admiration of countless gods.
"Artemis-sama, you're too kind. For Bell to become the lover of the famous Moon Goddess is an honor even for us."
Syr's smile never faltered.
As her sweet voice carried through the air, the distance between them gradually closed.
When Syr reached the bottom of the stairs and stood at the same height as the goddess, Artemis suddenly frowned.
"...?!"
The Moon Goddess fixed her gaze tightly on Syr.
Then, without warning, she quickened her steps and strode straight up to her.
"You… you're one of Orion's lovers?!"
Artemis's voice came out hurriedly.
"..."
Everyone present sensed something off about the goddess.
Laurier and Airmid had no idea what was going on and fell silent.
Ryuu quickly stepped forward and spoke in a low voice.
"Artemis-sama, Syr is not an adventurer. Please don't resort to force."
"...My apologies. I lost my composure for a moment."
Artemis slowly took a step back, making it clear she had no intention of fighting.
Sensing her friend's confusion and concern, Syr spoke up to explain.
"Ryuu, there's no need to be so nervous. I've actually met Artemis-sama before. I didn't expect her to remember me."
Ryuu nodded thoughtfully.
Going by Syr's explanation, the unusual reactions from both her and Artemis now made sense.
"Artemis-sama, would you accompany me upstairs so we can catch up? You really took care of me back then."
Syr blinked her large gray eyes as she extended the invitation to the goddess.
"Of course. I was hoping for the same."
Artemis replied without hesitation.
The two of them walked toward the stairs together.
As if recalling something, Syr leaned closer to her friend and spoke softly.
"Ryuu, please make sure no one listens in."
"Leave it to me. I'll stay here and won't let anyone come near."
Ryuu gave a firm promise.
"Thank you."
Syr smiled lightly and went upstairs with Artemis.
The wait that followed felt unbearably long.
Ryuu stood at the foot of the stairs, quietly chatting with the boy's two lovers.
Laurier already knew that Ryuu and the boy were only pretending to be lovers to deal with Hestia.
"But something happened between Syr and Goddess Hestia, and she was also once taken care of by Goddess Artemis… she really is mysterious…"
Laurier couldn't help but sigh.
"That's because Syr is different from us. She interacts with many gods."
Ryuu recalled the various gods who had visited the tavern and offered an explanation.
As they chatted idly—
An abrupt change occurred.
An intense surge of divine pressure descended from above, overwhelming everything like a violent storm.
Ryuu's expression tightened as she rushed toward the second floor.
"Syr!"