78 Chapter 75: Comfort

Lars absorbed Artemis' arcanum that was going haywire. Having it much easier this time due to Antares' powers.

Though it still strained his soul because he wasn't using Typhon. Or else Hermes would discover him.

'It must've been using her arcanum to create those monsters.' Lars concluded.

Antares of course can't contain all the power of a god. So it was using it continuously.

And he'll know that was truly the case when they arrive back at Orario, learning about the second moon due to Artemis' arcanum being used to destroy the world.

"Don't look!" Ryuu covered his eyes and she blushed at their contact, but if it was to preserve the goddess' dignity, she won't hesitate.

"Ryuu! Just cover her up. I won't peek, I swear. Airmid, heal her up too, please." Lars requested of her.

Airmid checked up on the goddess, but she was fine now. Physically that is.

Her fragment was the crystallization of her last desire. That is, to avenge her familia and receive Orion's love.

But her real body is more complicated than that. And the Astraea familia members how hard it is to lose your family.

Lars took out some clothes from his inventory and they clothed her.

"How are we going to explain this to Hermes and Hestia?" Tione frowned.

As his most stalwart supporter, she was being eaten by paranoia at the thought of them being discovered.

"Let's just say that Antares used Artemis' arcanum..." Lars decided immediately.

"But wouldn't they think that it's suspicious?" Kaguya raised a brow.

"Antares used Artemis' arcanum to block that attack, I'm pretty sure of it. And the other gods can feel the use of arcanum. They won't be able to tell it apart."

They looked at each other and they nodded. "How about when they question us?" Lyra raised.

"Let's wait for Artemis to wake up. I have a theory." Lars looked at her and he lied her down on a bed.

Airmid checked up on her from time to time and she stirred after a few minutes.

"Hngh... Lars?" Artemis saw him and she blinked, patting all over her body.

"You, you're finally awake." Lars sighed and Artemis was dumbfounded.

"What happened?" Artemis furrowed her brows. She thought that the surroundings doesn't look like tenkai.

"You're in heaven and we just made sweet, sweet love." Lars tried his theory.

"Huh? You're... Not lying." Artemis went as red as an apple and her cheeks heated up so much that steam almost came out of her head.

"It's a success." Lars looked at the others and they nodded.

"Huh? Wha?" Artemis was confused. "It's nothing, welcome back to the world of the living Artemis." Lars patted her head.

"Orion... Did you do all this?" Artemis looked around and she saw the destruction.

"Yes, I told you, I'd win." Lars snorted and her breath hitched.

"You could've died! If arcanum kills you, your soul will get torn apart! Idiot! Bad man!" Artemis hit his chest as she cried.

"I promised... It was also for your familia." Lars frowned.

They went quiet. "Let's regroup with the others for now, look at how they held up due to that massive explosion." Alise sighed as she looked at Lars.

They don't know how to feel about that. Knowing he could level Orario if he loses himself to his rage.

"Come on, let's go." Lars carried Artemis and she blushed like a tomato.

She then fell asleep again due to exhaustion.

The expedition team regrouped and they found that Hestia and Hermes were caked with dirt.

Most likely due to the shockwave. It was fortunate that they were far away. Belnas and Elnea were with them too.

"W-what in the world happened!?" Hestia ran towards them and she was relieved to see Artemis.

"Antares used her arcanum, what a nasty monster that thing was. Good thing we all managed to evade." Lars shrugged.

Hermes looked at him for any lies, because he was suspicious. Artemis' arcanum doesn't manifest like that. But he was telling the truth.

'It must be because Antares was powering itself up with her arcanum.' Hermes concluded.

No mortal can do that after all, except Alfia who is long gone now.

"We've completed our quest, let's return." Lars looked at the prize and Artemis was sleeping soundly.

__Dungeon__

At the 49th floor. Ley was missing its tail and wings. Fighting the beast of a monster rex, Balor.

A dragon that has poisonous flames and could spawn spikes of bone like the Udaeus.

Eating its magic stone and the thousands of fomoires in the floor. Ley was injured, but satisfied.

"Wait... For me..." Ley returned to its cave at the 51st floor and it concentrated.

Thinking of the form it wants to take. Ley formed a cocoon made of pure magic energy as it curled up into a ball.

__Expedition team__

Lars was cooking with a blank look on his face and Airmid noticed it. Being a pretty observant girl.

The others were partying and Hestia was even dead drunk now.

"Lars, is something bothering you?" Airmid walked up to his side and he broke out of his daze.

"Uhh, no, I'm alright." Lars smiled at her, but she notifed that it was hollow.

She hugged him slowly. "Tell me, what is bothering you?" Airmid softly coaxed him.

"It's nothing." He frowned heavily. "Then why aren't you celebrating with us?" Airmid pointed out.

"I told you, it's nothing." He sighed. "It must be due to Artemis' familia, isn't it?" Airmid asked and he went quiet.

Silence reigned and they could only hear the laughter and celebrations nearby.

"Lars... Please, tell me what's wrong. It's one of our duties to help you. Don't bottle it up on your own." Airmid begged him.

"Did you know? That I sent them off to this mission with a smile? Only giving them some earpieces for communication?" Lars gritted his teeth.

Airmid listened intently as her hold over him tightened.

"I kept thinking... What if I gave them a little bit more equipment? Some elixirs that we have tons of?" Lars could imagine hundreds of scenarios inside of his mind.

"It... It wasn't your fault and you know it." Airmid frowned heavily.

"I've seen some of Artemis' memories due to absorbing her arcanum. I saw what happened to them." Lars clenched his hand, compressing the handle of his knife.

"They needed just a bit of time. For Artemis to open up the door. To escape their fates. Lante was just a teen." Lars teared up.

"We had no way of knowing that, Lars." Airmid couldn't help but hurt inside as well, seeing him be wracked with guilt.

As the last one who saw them off before their journey, he was the only one who could've given something to help them.

And it ate at him. "Listen to me. Artemis won't hold it against you. Not her, not her familia, no one." Airmid grabbed his face and made him look at her eyes.

"You might be right. But I was there, I gave them magic tools. Just a bit more and they would be alive right now." Lars furrowed his brows.

"That may be so... But don't beat yourself up for it, please... You've done everything you could." Airmid looked at him sadly.

"I can't help thinking about it. Airmid. Leave me alone for now, please." Lars requested and she respected his wishes.

After their celebration, everybody was drunk as hell. Even Ryuu who didn't drink much, having a low tolerance.

Nobody disturbed Lars as Airmid told them that he was exhausted.

Alone with his thoughts, he couldn't help but think of Artemis' memories that he saw.

Hearing some rustling, he looked at the entrance of his tent and Airmid was there.

"I told you I want to be alone for now, Airmid." Lars sighed, yet he didn't snap at her.

"I know... But I can't do that. Who knows what you'll do?" Airmid walked up to him as she sat down on the side of his bed.

"Suit yourself." Lars turned around. Airmid lied down besides him and she hugged him.

"I'll say it as much as I need to. You're not at fault." Airmid said softly.

"Artemis talked to me earlier. She was so thankful that you helped her. So don't blame yourself." Airmid rubbed her face on his back.

"Give yourself some credit, you're the pillar of our group. You've helped us grow to what we are now. You've saved countless lives, defeating Antares." He nodded a bit.

"Artemis' familia would be overjoyed that you've helped a lot of people by killing that monster. I know I'm thankful." Airmid said softly.

He faced her and his golden eyes stared at her purple ones.

"That's why I love you. And it hurts me to see you like this." Airmid didn't want him to feel guilty for something he had no control over.

She kissed him and Airmid caressed his face softly. "You're my shining beacon of light. The start of it all, stand strong and be proud of what you were able to do."

"Airmid..." Lars hugged her tightly and Airmid sighed in satisfaction.

"I love you so much that it hurts. Seeing you flirt with Artemis and the others. It fills me with jealousy." Airmid straddled him.

"Tonight, why don't I make you forget about your problems?" Airmid looked at him passionately.

She slowly took off her pajamas and her breath started to get faster.

Her body heated up, filled with a bit of liquid courage.

"You're cheating." Lars sighed at her approach. Trying to comfort him.

"I can't possibly send you out there naked." Lars grabbed her waist and she leaned forwards as her breasts squished on his chest.

"Lars, let me comfort you. As your paladin, I am in charge of your well being." She started to kiss his neck.

"I'll let you work your magic." Lars replied as he reached out to her jaw and leaned her head to the side.

Lips smacking and tongues wrapping around each other, they started their night of passion and comfort.

__Daybreak__

"Hmm~ Hngh~" The sound of their wet kissing resounded in his tent and Airmid reached for his trousers.

Rubbing her chest, his hand massaged her breast and Airmid hummed at the warmth of his palm.

"Yes, I'm yours. Let me make you feel better." Airmid sighed hotly as their bodies' warmth radiated at each other.

Taking off his pants, Airmid quickly ripped off her panties.

Rubbing his rod with her warm and slightly wet slit, Airmid rocked back and forth slowly as she put her weight on his dick.

"I'm wet enough, I'll give you the love that you need." Airmid licked his chest as she pointed his cockhead at her entrance.

Moving her waist, she groaned as he entered her.

Stopping for a bit, Airmid grabbed his face and she kissed him passionately.

Their warm tongues creating wet slurps. "Don't move, leave everything to me." Airmid panted as she slowly bounced in a rhythm.

"Yeah, just like that Airmid." Lars sighed at her wet and warm insides that felt like a snug hug.

"Hngh! So hard and big!" Airmid moaned at the sensation of being spread open.

"I can feel your cock hit my cervix. It feels great." Airmid supported herself, putting her hands on his chest.

She then bucked her hips faster and faster, seeking more and more pleasure as her pussy got wetter.

"That's it, Airmid. Move faster, bounce for me." Lars ordered and she used the recoil of her butt hitting his hips to go up and down faster.

Turning into a panting mess, she couldn't help but moan loudly.

"Shh, they'll hear you." Lars shushed her as he put his fingers inside of her mouth.

She sucked and licked his fingers as she bounced on his cock, her lewd vagina releasing tons of juices.

Their bed squeaking, Airmid furiously bucked her hips. Feeling herself get closer.

"I'm cumming, Lars. Are you close? Cum inside of me! Fill me up nicely!" Airmid groaned at the delightful sensations.

Her folds being rubbed by his glans deliciously.

"I'm close too, clench your tight pussy, make it even tighter." He gritted his teeth and Airmid controlled her muscles.

"Ahn!~" She could feel his dick pulsate inside of her as hot, thick, semen entered her womb.

"So hot! Your seed is entering me, it's so much!" Airmid collapsed on top of him and she panted.

"The night is still young, Airmid." Lars caressed her butt and she kissed him.

"I'll comfort you as much as you want." Airmid smiled and they continued on.

__Morning__

"Lars, wake up. We have to return to Orario!" Tiona opened up his tent.

"Ahh! Airmid got us good! You made us drink a lot so you could do a night crawl, huh!? It's always the quiet ones." Tiona squinted her eyes.

"Huh?" Airmid rubbed her eyes, her face was glowing and Tiona confirmed it.

"What!? Airmid! Tch, I can let it go, she was with him earlier. But we're definitely next!" Tione huffed.

"This isn't first come first serve, girls." Lars sighed at their antics.

"Any chance I could go next?" Kaguya licked her lips.

"Kaguya! Marriage comes first!" Ryuu smacked her.

"Such a sinful guy, corrupting the saintess." Alise shook her head with a shrug.

"Come on let's return." Lars groaned at their nosiness.

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Thanks for reading everyone, ciao.