Setting aside their curiosity about Charlie, the attention of Bell, Welf, Hestia, and Astraea now shifted entirely to the magnificent building towering before them.
It was an ancient temple long forgotten by time. Structures from a vanished era surrounded them from all sides, swallowed by the wild nature that grew over every crack and crevice of the fragile stone. However, those sturdy stones still stood supporting the building, though old, cracked, and covered with moss and roots.
Its architecture was designed in a style very foreign to the aesthetic sensibilities of current Orario times, giving a thick mysterious impression.
Despite signs of damage around it, the atmosphere there felt very calm—a calmness that felt awkward instead.
Only Artemis gazed at that temple with a very complex expression. Deep sadness, restrained anger, piercing regret—all mixed into one in her eyes.
This was where all her Familia members met their end, and here too her original body was being devoured by Antares.
The figure of Artemis walking with them now was merely a projection of her original body's will, struggling hard to seal Antares inside the temple to prevent it from bringing disaster to the world.
"This is so huge..." Welf was amazed at the scale of the partially buried building.
"Never expected ruins like this were hidden in this forest..." Lili added, her eyes scanning warily.
Astraea smiled thinly, providing special explanation for the Hestia Familia adventurers she still considered beginners.
"Orario may seem large, but it's just a drop of water in the vast world. Outside its walls, many secrets and wonders like this are hidden."
Meanwhile, although Charlie was technically also a 'beginner' as an adventurer, he had shown power and mindset equivalent to veterans. Astraea showed no concern for him.
"No time to ponder! The seal I mentioned is inside. We must hurry." Artemis urged with an urgent tone.
Led by Artemis who knew the ins and outs of this temple, and guarded by Charlie who stood ready beside her holding the Holy Sword at the front lines, they began traversing the old corridors.
Though there were no torches, the corridor wasn't completely dark; the temple walls emitted strange light that glowed faintly.
"Where is this light coming from?" Bell asked while looking left and right.
"That's light from the seal's remnants." Artemis answered with a trembling voice from guilt. "That seal was installed by ancient elves with the help of spirits, at that time they were our only connection to mortal humans... My earliest followers."
Along the walls, there were ancient carvings telling of the first battle against Antares and how Artemis Familia members sacrificed themselves to seal it.
However, due to time constraints, they were forced to pass by until they arrived before a stone door with a smooth surface without decoration or locks.
The only prominent object was a small plaque in its center adorned with the symbol of a crescent moon and arrow.
"Here. This seal prevents anyone from passing through this door."
The door Artemis mentioned seemed nothing special. Made of stone, its surface smooth, without decoration, without handles or locks to open it. The only thing that stood out was a small plaque in its center, adorned with a crescent moon and arrow, the symbol of the Moon Goddess.
Artemis stepped forward, placing her palm on the plaque. Her remaining Divine Authority radiated, touching the remnants of her power embedded there.
*CLICK!*
The plaque slowly rotated. With a heavy rumbling sound, the stone door opened inward, opening the way to deeper darkness.
Once the door fully opened, led by Artemis, they entered the temple's inner chamber. And the sight that greeted them immediately created a sense of horror and disturbance.
The temple's interior had transformed into a disgusting organic nest. Pulsating pod-shaped plants grew everywhere, accompanied by the sound of thick liquid dripping along the walls and ceiling. The rotten smell and disturbing sight instantly made everyone freeze in horror.
The first person to break the suffocating silence was Hestia.
"Ugh! Gross! Bell, I'm scared!~"
With a deliberately cutesy voice, Hestia immediately hugged Bell's arm tightly, pretending to be frightened to get closer. Her jealousy toward Artemis hadn't subsided.
"Hestia-sama! Mind your behavior! You're making Bell-sama uncomfortable!" Lili immediately tried to separate them, only to hug Bell's other arm for herself.
"How dare you say that, you thieving cat!" Hestia was offended, immediately trying to break Lili's grip.
"Goddess... Lili..."
Bell was trapped between them, his face reddening from embarrassment and confusion.
Astraea let out a long sigh seeing Hestia's ridiculous behavior in such a situation. "Haaah... You all... Stop making trouble. We don't know what dangers could appear at any time in this place."
On the other side, Hermes just silently watched with a small smile full of interest on his lips, as if enjoying this show.
Artemis only glanced briefly at that small commotion, but this time she didn't show a spoiled or possessive attitude toward Bell like before. Her expression remained focused and sad.
Aishia, standing at the rear with Welf to watch for possible attacks from behind, paid no attention to that drama at all.
Unable to bear seeing that chaos, Charlie glanced sharply at Bell who didn't know what to do. "Bell, you are a man. Act decisively! Control your people."
"Yes!" Bell answered with a start. He finally managed to calm Hestia and Lili who kept quarreling.
After order was restored, they continued their journey very carefully in that horrifying environment.
Although Bell held Orion's Spear—the key to defeating Antares—fundamentally he was only a Level 2 adventurer. The main combat power to face all obstacles until reaching Antares remained Charlie who was Level 6.
At the rear, Aishia calmly carried out her role as protector for the gods and goddesses who were practically helpless and burdensome without Arcanum.
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