Crossover: The Problem Human of [Arcadia]

The next day, before dawn.

The children of the community were still fast asleep when Ryo completed the withdrawal procedures from the Divine War battlefield and returned to Arcadia's headquarters with Artemis in tow.

Waiting for him at the castle wasn't just anyone. It was Kurousagi... and Athena, who had rushed over after hearing the news.

The front doors of the castle had barely opened when Kurousagi's cheerful voice rang out. "Ryo, you're back... Huh? Who's she?"

She eyed Artemis warily. Having spent most of her life out in the "countryside", Kurousagi had never bothered memorizing Artemis's profile.

Instead, she focused entirely on Artemis's appearance.

Timid. Following a step behind Ryo. Walking with a limp. And unable to keep her legs properly together, as if she'd twisted her ankle.

In Kurousagi's eyes... Every single detail looked suspicious AF.

She couldn't help it. That awkward way of walking was far too familiar.

Just a few days ago, she'd walked out of Ryo's room exactly like that. How could she not recognize it?

Combined with Ryo's personality, which occasionally reminded her of her great-grandfather Indra... Kurousagi immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion.

'Unbelievable! He goes out for less than a day, to a battlefield no less, and comes back having picked up another girl?'

'As the main wife, there's no way I can let this slide! I'm going to skin him alive so he understands exactly how heavy the position of first wife is...'

"Artemis?"

Athena's surprised voice instantly snapped Kurousagi out of her simmering rage.

The moon rabbit's furious expression vanished, replaced by overwhelming delight. "So it's Lady Artemis! Please, come in, come in!"

She hurried forward with an eager smile, gently taking Artemis by the arm, completely forgetting that half a second ago she'd been planning to settle accounts with Ryo.

'Wait... He actually brought back a peak four-digit powerhouse. The Greek Hunt Goddess herself. One who holds a Moon Authority. Then what's there to argue about anymore? This isn't Ryo's fault at all. The community's just short on manpower. He had no choice but to sacrifice... himself... to recruit Lady Artemis.'

'Such dedication! He's practically as selfless as a Moon Rabbit!'

'It's just... getting cheated on... I... I really don't want to accept it... But a peak four-digit... The price is just too good...'

Unable to calm herself, Kurousagi desperately rationalized the situation in her head.

At the same time, she tugged enthusiastically on Artemis's arm, trying to pull her inside before the goddess could change her mind.

What if Artemis got scared off because she'd thrown a tantrum? That would be disastrous.

After all, this was a goddess Ryo had gone through such "hardship" to recruit. She absolutely couldn't let her leave.

Artemis staggered forward two steps before planting her feet. Then, somewhat hesitantly... she looked toward Ryo.

Seeing that, Athena's expression froze for the briefest moment before returning to normal.

Still, her gaze quietly drifted between Ryo and Artemis from time to time.

Even Kurousagi, unable to pull Artemis any farther, turned to Ryo expectantly.

He simply nodded, "Go on."

Only then did Artemis let out a quiet sigh and stop resisting, allowing Kurousagi to lead her into the castle.

Athena's expression became even stranger.

'That barbarian... actually has an obedient side?'

This was the woman who had once shot out one of Zeus's eyes just because he'd secretly glanced at her.

The Mistress of the Wilderness wasn't just a title. Athena knew her sister's temper better than anyone.

So what exactly had Ryo done to make someone this wild behave so meekly?

What Apollo had spent countless years trying to achieve, Ryo had apparently accomplished overnight.

Curious as she was, Athena didn't ask.

Artemis was already here. There would be plenty of opportunities to pry information out of her later.

Right now, something else was more important.

The Goddess of Wisdom strolled over to Ryo and spoke bluntly. "When you have time, come to my room. We need to discuss something."

"Sure." Ryo nodded without hesitation.

Nearby, Artemis turned to stare blankly at the two of them.

'...What? She just invited him straight to her room? Isn't that... a little inappropriate?'

She instinctively looked toward Kurousagi, who was still smiling brightly beside her.

Artemis had heard all the rumors.

Ryo and Kurousagi were basically just one marriage certificate away from becoming husband and wife.

And yet... Ryo had barely returned before Athena openly invited him to her room. The Moon Rabbit was still grinning.

'What are you smiling for? Your man is getting stolen!'

"...Wait."

A terrifying possibility suddenly crossed Artemis's mind.

'Don't tell me... This rabbit actually likes that sort of thing?'

After all, who was Kurousagi's ancestor?

Indra.

And everyone in Little Garden knew about Indra's notorious preference for married women.

Maybe Kurousagi had inherited... a similar taste.

Except instead of liking married women... she liked other people's husbands.

At that thought, Artemis felt utterly miserable.

'What kind of hellhole have I walked into?'

There was Ryo. A seemingly carefree playboy who was actually ruthless, terrifyingly cunning, and monstrously strong.

There was Athena. Elegant and refined on the surface, yet the moment she started torturing someone, she'd torment them to death without changing expression.

Then there was Kurousagi. Who apparently had a thing for other women's husbands.

And if she counted Algol. That hopeless narcissist.

'Is Arcadia secretly a gathering place for lunatics? Does Canaria even know what you've all turned her dream into?'

Beside her, the ever-helpful Kurousagi asked softly, "Lady Artemis, are you planning to stay here for a while?"

"...Probably."

Even Artemis herself didn't know what the future held.

Yesterday she'd squeezed herself completely dry before finally giving Ryo enough experimental data to satisfy him.

Logically, he shouldn't need to trouble her again anytime soon.

But she knew this wasn't the end.

She never wanted to experience the Cosmo's terrifying destructive power again. Unfortunately, she also knew better than anyone how broad the concept of an Authority really was.

Ryo had spent the entire night experimenting on her yesterday... and still hadn't figured out the structure of a single natural Authority.

At that pace, analyzing just one Authority could easily take a year or two.

And Artemis was fairly certain she wouldn't survive a month.

Completely unaware of her worries, Kurousagi's eyes lit up the moment she heard probably.

'She's really joining Arcadia!'

Yesterday Ryo had been acknowledged as Greece's Fourth God King. Today the Moon Goddess had personally come to join them. Athena had already been brought back by Lady Algol. And Ryo still had those hidden Machine Gods.

'Whoa. Half the Greek pantheon is practically moving in. How much longer until Arcadia officially becomes a divine pantheon?'

'Lady Canaria... You probably wouldn't believe it, but you've been gone less than a year, and Arcadia's already about to become a godly faction!'

Barely containing her excitement, Kurousagi took several deep breaths before speaking with a bright smile. "If you're staying long-term, then I absolutely have to prepare the finest room for you."

"...All right," Artemis answered with reserved dignity.

At least with Kurousagi saying that, she probably wouldn't be thrown into a prison cell.

Just then, Ryo, who had been quietly talking with Athena, frowned slightly.

"Hm?"

That single sound instantly changed Artemis's expression.

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[TL]

I've updated the auxiliary Images chapter.

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