Lush trees flanked them on both sides, shadows flickering gently. Perhaps because Rovi had accurately described En's features, Atalanta, still inexperienced with the world, quickly believed him. Along the way, she opened up completely, chattering nonstop.
To be honest, even she found it strange.
She'd had little contact with outsiders since childhood and was naturally wary of males—but oddly, she felt no aversion toward Rovi.
It was just instinct.
The huntress girl trusted her instincts deeply—like a beast relying purely on intuition to hunt.
"We're here!" Midway through a sentence, Atalanta abruptly stopped and pointed forward. "Lady Enkidu sleeps here."
"Here?" Rovi followed her gaze, his eyes falling upon a gigantic "flower."
Towering like a mountain at Paradise's center, countless thick, rope-like roots spiraled upward, holding aloft a cloud-like flower crown, its lush petals connecting heaven and earth.
Rovi paused, looking upward.
Chains of Heaven, huh… A smile formed on his lips.
This immense "flower" was unquestionably formed from the Chains of Heaven.
This was the manifestation of Enkidu's power after scattering the gods—once known as Child of Man, Bind the Divine, it had evolved into—
"Child of Man, shelter my beloved."
Rovi softly translated the information he'd sensed into words.
"What are you mumbling?" Atalanta turned curiously toward him.
"Nothing," Rovi shook his head lightly. As he'd suspected, this so-called Paradise had indeed spread outward, centered on Enkidu's power.
But now, it appeared that En was in some special state…
Slumbering.
Or maybe… "evolving"?
"It seems you gained much on your journey, En." Rovi withdrew his gaze, choosing not to disturb her.
Greece's "Saint"—a title acknowledged even by the gods themselves. To have earned such recognition, En must have worked very hard all this time.
"En… Hmm, how long has Enkidu slept?"
Atalanta opened her mouth, but before she could respond, a gentle, melodious voice answered clearly, drowning out her words: "Teacher Enkidu has slept for three years now."
"Eh—?! Lady Artemis? When did you get here!?"
Feeling sudden weight on her shoulder, Atalanta quickly turned around, surprised to see someone standing quietly beside her.
She hurriedly tried to bow but was stopped.
"Relax, Ata, no need for formalities." The gentle voice soothed, a pale hand softly caressing her cheek.
Then, Artemis turned her gaze toward Rovi.
Their eyes met.
"The Moon Goddess, Artemis?" Rovi instantly understood the other's identity.
Artemis, Moon Goddess, was exactly as her reputation described—an incredibly beautiful goddess.
Her silver hair was moonlit, her features exquisitely lovely. Pure, pale eyes glowed faintly; her full figure was barely covered by thin red fabric. She leaned slightly forward against Atalanta, the curves of her chest softly compressed, lush and full, her hips subtly shifting behind her.
"Ah, Teacher, allow me to introduce—"
Atalanta's words were promptly interrupted by Artemis: "I already know him."
"Huh?" Atalanta blanked, confused.
Then she heard the goddess behind her say softly, "Come now, Ata—call him Father."
Rovi: "?"
Atalanta: "?"
"Wait, no—why must I call this guy 'Father'?!"
Atalanta instantly bristled.
Though her impression of Rovi had improved greatly during their journey, that didn't mean she'd let some stranger lord himself over her. Had these words come from anyone other than the Moon Goddess she respected, this little huntress would've exploded on the spot.
"Hmm? Good question, why indeed…" Artemis tilted her head, eyes blinking innocently as she regarded Rovi. Despite appearing innocent, her gently curved red lips hinted at mischief. "I wonder. Teacher Enkidu said it."
"Lady Enkidu? Wait—Father…?" Atalanta instantly connected the dots. "You're the guy Lady Enkidu's been looking for?!"
Fuck. Artemis definitely did that on purpose!
Rovi's eye twitched slightly, but he swiftly regained calm and even—
"That's right. I'm Rovi."
"Come, Atalanta, call me Daddy."
"???"
Why are you like this too?!
Atalanta was used to Artemis occasionally doing silly things, but this guy…
"Didn't you say En was like a mother to you earlier?"
"Uh…?" Atalanta's eyes widened, but it was true—she couldn't exactly deny it now.
"So, given my relationship with En…"
"Calling me that shouldn't be a problem, right?!"
It was a problem—a huge problem!
"Stop making trouble, Atalanta," Rovi sighed helplessly, as if scolding a mischievous child.
"Ahhhhh—!" Atalanta was practically vibrating with anger now.
But knowing Rovi's identity, she suddenly found herself unable to retaliate.
All she could do was rage uselessly.
"D-damn it all!" Atalanta clutched her head, teeth grinding fiercely.
After facing similar teasing countless times before, Rovi had long developed a coping method:
Redirect the embarrassment—
Just shift the awkwardness to someone else.
As long as you weren't embarrassed, the embarrassment became someone else's problem.
It was just then that Rovi met a pair of clear, pure eyes—an exquisitely beautiful face.
The Moon Goddess, Artemis, stared directly at him.
She stepped out from behind Atalanta, approached him directly, and stared unblinkingly.
"You truly are remarkable…Lord Sage."
"Of course I am."
Rovi responded unflinchingly.
This was his consistent attitude toward the gods.
Just as he expected Artemis would become bewildered like the other gods by his arrogance, she suddenly stepped even closer—
Her delicate features tilted upward toward him, pressing against his body. Her soft curves firmly touched him; her full chest pressed forward, distorting slightly as fragrance drifted close. Her slim waist twisted invitingly; Artemis leaned fully against Rovi.
"From your body…I can sense it. Exactly as Teacher Enkidu described, this feeling called 'longing.'"
A faint blush spread across her lovely face.
Yes, this is exactly the feeling Teacher Enkidu spoke of countless times—longing.
"…"
Wait—isn't this turning weird?
Hold on—Teacher Enkidu? En, what exactly have you been teaching her?!
In order to figure this out, Rovi instinctively activated the blessing granted by Athena, sorting through the confusing information flooding his brain.
'May Wisdom Ever Be Clear' allowed him to trace fragmented clues directly to their source.
However, it also instantly alerted Athena to his situation.
...
"Artemis, looking's one thing, but directly making a move is going way too far!"
In Athens, Athena leaped up from her seat within the temple, teeth grinding angrily. She vanished abruptly, leaving the three Gorgon sisters staring at each other in confusion.
Will Lady Athena…be okay?
---
T/N: LMAOOO call me daddy atalanta
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