Come, Atalanta, Call Me Dad

The trees on both sides were lush and the shadows swayed. Perhaps because Rovi had described Little En's accurate characteristics, the naive Atalanta easily believed him and talked non-stop the whole way.

To be honest, she herself found it strange.

Having had little contact with outsiders since childhood, she was actually very averse to men, but she did not have this aversion to Rovi.

This is merely a subjective feeling.

The Hunter Girl believed in her own instincts, just as she believed in her ability to hunt wild beasts.

"We've arrived!" Atalanta suddenly stopped mid-sentence and pointed ahead. "Lady Enkidu lies asleep right here."

"Here?" Rovi followed her gaze and saw a huge 'flower'.

Standing tall like a mountain in the very center of the park, its roots and stems seem to be woven from countless giant ropes, reaching towards the sky and supporting a magnificent, cloud-like crown of flowers, lush and verdant, connecting heaven and earth.

Rovi paused and looked up.

The Lock of Heaven... He smiled.

The enormous 'flower' before us is undoubtedly the woven ' Lock of Heaven '.

This is a mutation of Enkidu's power, 'Son of Man, Bound God,' after the dispersal of the gods; its name is—

"Son of man, protect my beloved!"

Rovi gently translated the information he had read into words.

"What are you talking about?" Atalanta looked over in confusion from the side.

"No, it's nothing." Rovi shook his head. Just as he had guessed... this so-called Paradise was indeed spread around Enkidu's power as its core.

However, it seems that Little En has entered some kind of special state...

Sleep.

Or 'evolution'?

"It seems she has gained a lot on her journey." Rovi withdrew his gaze and chose not to disturb her.

The Greek word for 'saint' is a title even the gods acknowledge. To receive such a title, she must have worked incredibly hard during this time.

"Little En... um, how long has Enkidu been asleep?"

Atalanta opened her mouth, but before she could speak, a clear and gentle voice drowned out her words: "Teacher Enkidu, you've been asleep for three days."

"Eh—?! Lady Artemis? When did you arrive?"

Feeling a slight weight on her shoulder, Atalanta quickly turned her head and immediately saw a figure that had appeared beside her at some point.

She immediately tried to bow, but was stopped.

"It's alright, Atalanta, no need to be so serious." A gentle voice echoed as she raised her delicate hand and gently stroked her face.

Then, the newcomer turned his gaze to Rovi.

Rovi eyes met—

"Artemis, the moon goddess?" Rovi instantly recognized the other party's identity.

Artemis, Goddess of the Moon, is, as her reputation suggests, an extremely beautiful goddess.

Her silver hair was like the moon, her face delicate and pretty, and her bright eyes shone with a pure light. Her full figure was covered with only a little red. She crossed her legs and leaned slightly forward, her whole body leaning against Atalanta's back, pressing down her full and deep breasts, her buttocks arched and perky, undulating silently in the wind.

"Ah, teacher, let me introduce you..."

Before Atalanta could finish speaking, the moon goddess interrupted her, "I know him."

"Huh?" Atalanta was a little taken aback.

Then she heard the goddess behind her say to her, "Come, Atalanta, call her Lady Ata."

Rovi: "?"

Atalanta: "?"

"No, why... why should I call this guy Lord Kichi?"

Atalanta instantly flew into a rage.

Although her feelings toward Rovi's have improved considerably over the years.

This doesn't mean she would allow a stranger to ride on her head—if it weren't for the fact that she said this out of respect for the Moon Goddess, this little hunter girl would probably have exploded at this moment.

"Really? Why..." Artemis tilted her head, looked at Rovi, and blinked her pure white eyes, seemingly innocent, but her upturned lips carried a hint of something inexplicable. "I don't know either. This is what Teacher Enkidu said."

"Lady Enkidu? Wait—my love?" Atalanta reacted instantly. "You are the one Lady Enkidu has been looking for?"

Damn it, Artemis must have done it on purpose!

Rovi's eye twitched slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and...

"Yes, I am Rovi."

"Come, Atalanta, call me father."

"?"

Why are you like this too?

Atalanta used to the Moon Goddess's frequent lapses in concentration; that girl...

"You just said that Little En is like family to you, right?"

"Hmm...?" Atalanta's eyes widened; it was the truth, and she couldn't deny it.

"My relationship with Little En..."

"Is it alright to address me like this?!"

There's a problem, a huge problem—

"Stop fooling around, Atalanta." Rovi looked helpless, as if watching a mischievous child.

"Aaaaaah!" Atalanta's agitation intensified.

After learning Rovi's's identity, she found herself unable to take action against him.

All that's left is impotent rage.

"Damn it!" Atalanta clutched her head, gritting her teeth.

Having experienced occasional persecution in the past, Rovi already had a set of coping methods.

Conflict Shifting

They can simply shift the target of persecution onto someone else.

As long as you're not embarrassed, then it's others who will feel awkward.

At that very moment, Rovi met a pair of pure, clear eyes and a delicate, beautiful face.

Artemis, Goddess of the Moon, was watching him.

She left Atalanta's back and came to stand in front of him, staring at him without moving.

"As expected of you... Sage?"

"As expected of me."

Rovi remained unchanged.

This is his consistent attitude towards deities.

Just when he thought Artemis would be as bewildered as the other gods by his arrogance, Artemis suddenly moved closer.

Her delicate face leaned against him, her surging body pressed close, her chest swaying and changing shape as she leaned forward, a fragrant breeze caressing her face, her waist twisting as if to pay homage. The Artemis, Goddess of the Moon leaned against Rovi's.

"On you... indeed, there is the scent of longing that Teacher Enkidu mentioned."

A faint blush appeared on her face.

That's right, this is the feeling of longing that Teacher Enkidu has mentioned countless times.

"..."

Isn't this development a bit off?

Wait, Teacher Enkidu? What did Little En teach her?!

To find out the truth, Rovi subconsciously activated the protection given to him by Athena in order to sort out the information in his mind that was making him somewhat confused.

[Wisdom will forever be like a clear mirror] It protects him, enabling him to trace the source of information from mere fragments of words.

However, this also allowed Athena to instantly sense Rovi's's situation.

"Artemis, that's enough looking. Taking direct action is going too far!" Athena sensed something and suddenly stood up from the temple. The goddess disappeared with gritted teeth, leaving only the Gorgon Sisters looking at each other.

Lady Athena... are you alright?