"What am I, carrying every burden?
The glory of kings, the beggar's plea.
Some fear me and flee, some find themselves in my face and melt.
Take me seriously, and I become truth.
Dismiss me, and I'm deemed a lie. What am I?"
I said it slowly, but I turned off the comments so only Iris von Dragnar could respond.
[Iris von Dragnar: What's this? Could it be a mirror?]
I chuckled lightly and shook my head: "No, the answer is words." I reopened the comments.
-HAHAHAHA Raul's good at everything!
-Please marry me!
-I'm somehow convinced…
[Iris von Dragnar: You're lying! Explain it!!!]
"Words carry every message—the glory of kings, the beggar's request. Some flee from the truth in words; others find themselves in them. When taken seriously, they're the truth; when dismissed, they're lies. That's why the answer is words. But you didn't take my words seriously and saw them as a lie," I said with a condescending expression that explained everything.
-The guy explained it instantly.
-Admit you lost, Empress…I've never seen such a roast.
-He chose to speak facts in every language he could speak.
I laughed a bit. This chat was fun, and the donations were pouring in.
"Alright, folks, I hope I made your night a bit more bearable. This time, I'll leave you not with a song but with a poem," I said.
The comments froze again: "Yet everyone kills the one they love, listen to what I say. Some with their looks, some with their words. Cowards kill with a kiss, the brave with sword strikes. Some kill their love when young, others when old." I paused.
I took a breath and continued: "Some strangle with lustful hands, others with hands of gold. Merciful people use a knife, for death by blade is painless. Some love too little, some too much. Some sell, others buy. Sometimes they shed tears while killing, others feel nothing. For everyone kills the one they love, but not everyone dies with them."
-I think I'm crying.
-Daddy Raul, take me with you!
-You can kill me.
-Ahhh, damn it!
I shut down the stream after that.
I was tired. I stepped out of the cave.
This cave isn't located in any kingdom. Right now, I am on the moon.
The proof? A beautiful, violet-haired woman with blue eyes, her mouth bound, stood outside the cave.
When I first came to this cave, she came to me and tried to fight.
Now she's tied with aether-made ropes, her powers suppressed.
I untied her mouth: "YOU BASTARD! AHHHH, HELP!!! I'LL KILL YOU!"
Before she could say more, I slapped her, sending a shockwave: "SHUT THE FUCK UP! I can hear you just fine. Now, are you going to have a proper conversation, or should I hang you at the entrance of Mount Olympus?"
My voice was terrifying, but Artemis nodded like her life depended on it: "NO, NO! Okay, I'm calm… ugh, I wanted to talk nicely, but I get why the gods hate you…"
I slowly untied her ropes and looked at her.
At the slightest move, I wouldn't hesitate to mop the moon's surface with her.
She knew it too.
We entered the cave's entrance, which had grown into another realm, its walls built up. This goddess was using the internet here, trolling people.
When I found this place, she tried to shoot me with her bow for wanting to "rent" it. I stopped time just for her and tamed her a bit.
"If possible, can I rest a bit? You stole my room," she said, but before she could finish, another door appeared from my room.
We both entered. The room was decked out with things Artemis would love.
Plushies, a top-of-the-line PC, and a phone. Artemis had become a NEET goddess even before I came.
I looked down on her.
The moon's operations were automated, the gods just provided a bit of energy, and voila…
But when they moved the moon, each cycle of day and night increased their divinity.
I understood this because Artemis's energy had grown, though that was normal: "Artemis, where are the other moon Gods? Selene or Tsukuyomi?"
"They're all busy with other stuff. That bastard Tsukuyomi ditched me with the work. I bet he's in some fairy's bed right now. Selene's on vacation—meaning I will be stuck with the moon for about a thousand years…" She gave me a weird look because I knew a lot about gods.
Even the Chinese moon goddess is around, but I don't want to deal with that cultivator nonsense.
Artemis took a spin around the room, jumped on the bed, and bounced back. I caught her: "Wow, this bed is so soft—better than the last one! And is this a top-of-the-line PC? You humans, I only respect you for knowing how to have fun. How'd you get a cutting-edge PC to the moon?"
"Come on, goddess, I can be anywhere, anytime. I can stop time. You're surprised by this?" But Artemis lunged at me, grabbed my collar, and tried to throw me.
All she got was a look from me.
Even a 9th-tier swordmaster or mage would've burned enough energy to travel from the moon to Earth nine times with the effort she put in.
Thank goodness I use aether instead of mana.
Those who use aether are associated with gods—not ordinary ones, but god-kings or primordial forces.
"Artemis, I gotta say, you look pretty cute, and where is your brother Apollo?" I said.
She blushed at that but lightly punched my stomach, sending a shockwave.
I smiled softly, but when I mentioned her brother, she got pissed.
"That bastard abandoned me. He's probably off trying to stick his dick in some male or female god or fairy." Artemis crossed her arms.
Uh, I scratched the back of my neck. That's… gross.
I coughed: "Got it. Do you use the internet, Artemis?"
"Yeah, I said I didn't get the PC just for decoration. I love browsing Eyetube or Instamoment," she said, showing excitement.
It was like two otakus talking about the same stuff: "I released a new song, and I'm the new celebrity among humans. Hope you like it."
Artemis sat in her gaming chair: "You've really brought stuff worthy of gods."
"Hahaha, you'd be shocked if you saw what else I've got," I said, pulling my chair next to hers. We started browsing the internet together.
I followed her on Instamoment—her username was moon-supremacy.
I messed up her hair now and then. We listened to my song through headphones, and she loved it.
But then she did something unexpected.
She jumped on me, and I fell back. Now she was on top of me: "Hey, how about we do a music video together next time? My voice is enchanting, too."
Her face was too close. Damn it.
I lifted her like a ragdoll by her arms and set her back in her chair: "Sure, Artemis, but I'm warning you—I won't go easy."
"OKAY!" she said, giving a thumbs-up.
A headache hit me. I should've left her tied up outside the cave…
But she's so cute. Her charm is on another level, but her behavior is adorable. Still, if I press the wrong button, I'll end up dealing with a goddess hunting me for the rest of my life.
So, we spent the whole day playing games and watching videos with Artemis.