"So, did we. . .successfully destroy them this time?" Rethusa raised her head while breathing heavily, looking at the back flank where her familia gathers.
Worn out equipment, body, and exhausted. They laid their body unto the ground for this wonderful achievement.
Artemis Familia combine isn't as strong as Orario's adventurers who are helping them, so this time they decided not to divide their forces and create their own subjugation team under Rethusa, Ilias and Lante's leadership. And after a whole day did they successfully destroy one of many Red Area where this monsters are located...to even destroying the 'lab' where they replicate according to Agwin.
Agwin will help them if something were to happen but they did it nonetheless which made their goddess happy after the former conveyed that they won this time. It's not that they cannot do it, but because the risk of dividing their manpower the last time comparable this time, did the job become harder than what it originally had.
Good thing, this time they successfully defeated monsters and where it replicates. They also encounter some hunter-type familia along the way which made things more easier.
At that time, Agwin returned faster than the others and only Artemis and one of her familia remained in case few monsters happened to invade their camping area, but because Agwin himself told them their current camp is safe, they just prepare the meals before the arrival of others. And this time, Agwin recovered his blind eyes. Looking above as if this is the first time he saw nimbus clouds and vast sky, he then remembers his goddess again.
He wanted to visit Astraea again but Artemis always pestered him. Not in a bad way though but she seemed to like his company just like Astraea did. They have few similarities as he taking a note of the latter's habit.
This time, surprisingly, Artemis opened the topic about the Antares whom Agwin didn't think she would.
"You will tell me?" Agwin asks, whilst she nodded.
"Its not that I wanted to hide this but..." she affirmed again with sigh "To think I heard the name again after descending here in Gekai"
"...Gekai is the surface---this world, while Tenkai is the heaven where deity originally resides, so according to my knowledge...but I don't know what the connection is" Agwin said
"There is, very big. After all, Antares is my strongest arcanum, my strongest arsenal. Even stronger than the minority of the deity of war---which, I subconsciously used and massacred some gods in the process" Agwin open his eyes wide and trembled! Killing multiple of gods?! so he thought. Aren't they immortal?
"Eh...I am of what they called the God Slayer but that happened many eons ago and I promise not to use it again, ever...the Mightiest god, Zeus of the olympian forgive me for my sin so I always live my life solitary after. And many years happen to passed by, and my sin are forgiven by many...it also happens in the process that I am acquainted with the two other virgin goddesses, Hestia and Athena and also another goddess of purity, your Astraea. So I happen to become the part of those two former as one of the three virgin goddess. I don't know who created such a name but I am happy to be hailed as such, yet disgusted. I ain't pure in the first place. For I am a sinner! Killing gods just because of a simple anger and wrath!" Artemis too, trembled just remembering what happened back then but she didn't cry.
Hearing her story, Agwin sighed. Is this disappointment? No, he sure not. If it is a 'simple' wrath, there's no way she did such sin. There's another variable behind her story, but because he's only a listener. All he could do is to lend his ear.
So, even gods have their own flaws even as an omnipotent, huh? So he thought and looked above. Artemis then continued:
"It was then that descending here to the surface that I decided to atone this sin"
"Hmm? Why so?"
"I have my beloved named Orion during my first descent. But he was killed. Trying to find him in this endless cycle of human's transient life in this never ending search for quest, but never did I find him. I'm afraid of Zeus and Hera so I stay out of where they currently lived. And maybe, my Orion is already there making his own adventure" She said so melancholy.
"We talked about the Antares, yes? Also, you can come in the Orario now, Zeus is Hera is afk for a while...I mean they're outside the Orario for months now" Agwin declared so with scratches off his cheek, as he say the term Artemis couldn't understand.
"A.F--what? ah yes I know about them...just that..." Artemis stuttered for a short while then straightened her posture followed with: "Eh? The two old gods isn't there?" surprised, Artemis couldn't believe.
"Just what?" Agwin questioned and take a deep breath "*sigh* and yes, those two gods isn't in the Orario, currently. I don't know what they are up to, or are they still alive? but one thing is for sure...they targeted the remaining 'calamity' and hasn't yet to return"
"Calamity! The One eyed Black Dragon, huh" Artemis fisted after covering her mouth.
"Yes but I believed they failed"
"I...see...so even the mightiest find an insurmountable wall" Artemis seemed a bit worried, but remembering this wasn't the original topic, she shook her head.
"Its alright Artemis-sama. Even if they happen to return...I won't let them touch you or your familia. I'll protect you like how I protecting my goddess!" So Agwin stated. He remembers the declaration of Kanda the last time, so this was his chance to open such topic. If Artemis Familia were to station inside the Orario, it is easy for him to keep an eye of Artemis and Astraea together.
After then that Agwin started to persuade Artemis. He is sure that Astraea will approve of this decision of him.
But then again. After then did Agwin questioned again about this Antares, which Artemis explained: "If what the child of Osiris is correct then it explains everything---"
"---If they really want me. Then what they were after is to use my Antares to end this world. Kicking all of the deity in the surface to create their own rules. If that were to happen, the promise. . .the vow will be broken and the balance of this world will be crumble to pieces. The prime example is all of the monsters inside the dungeon will run amock, liberated from being caged" Artemis explained
This time, it was Agwin who fisted. He didn't seem to be surprised and instead, thinking; 'Kanda, what is your original goal, really? Didn't you know its impossible to conquer the dungeon without using falna?! Did I overlook an important information!' Thinking so, Agwin cannot connect the dots than he anticipated. Remembering his conversation with Kanda, there's still a missing piece that he needs to uncover...
But because thinking such is not his forte. He decided to let it go for now. But take a note of this important plot hole that needs to uncover.