68 The Return Gift of the Goddess of Moon Artemis

[T/N: Double-sized chapter.]

"A small prayer from me to you, who is forever pure, innocent, noble, elegant, and beautiful."

"And this tribute, I hope you liked it..."

Under the moonlight of the full moon illuminating the ground filled with white lilies, representing purity and elegance, and its petals floating statically in the air as if the world has stopped running.

Hearing Jason's soft voice, Artemis finally recovered from her shocked state.

So, at this moment, the scene reflected in Artemis's deep blue eyes is that of Jason dressed in white, holding a bouquet of white lily flowers in his hand, and asking her with a smile.

As for whether Artemis is satisfied with this tribute, at least for those peeping here while hiding, they don't need to hear it from Artemis for knowing it.

At this moment, Persephone, who is clearly showing her envy, has put the thoughts of many peeping here in words.

"Umm... I'm envious, I'm so envious, I want this too, I will definitely ask Jason to give me one too!"

As a matter of fact, not to mention Persephone, who at this moment is feeling very jealous, even Hikkimori Goddess Hecate's eyes looking at Jason are showing strange emotions.

After all, in both modern and ancient times, the word romantic has always and obviously been really attractive to almost every woman and even many men.

Therefore, now, whether it is Hermes, the surrounding Nymphs, or the Gods peeping here are looking at Artemis in surprise or envy or both.

And looking at the sea of ​​white flowers spread out under the suspended and floating rain of flowers and petals as well as at Jason, who has offered this tribute to Artemis.

A similar thought has popped into their mind.

'Can one also play like this?!'

After being silent for a long while, Artemis, who has finally recovered upon hearing Jason's voice, is obviously feeling very overwhelmed.

"Ah, this... this is, is this really dedicated to me?!"

So Artemis asked Jason in such an excited tone full of expectations, that her voice actually sounded like she is panicked.

"Yes, Goddess Artemis."

Therefore, seeing this, Jason finally felt relieved in his heart.

Because, through this reaction, Jason thought that it is safe to conclude that Artemis is very satisfied with this tribute.

So Jason put the bouquet of lilies he has been holding in the hands of Artemis, and said: "This is my tribute to you, Goddess Artemis, I hope you are satisfied with it..."

But Jason didn't get to finish these words for a second time.

"Satisfied!" Artemis hugged Jason and said with an incomparably excited tone: "Satisfied, satisfied! This is definitely the best tribute I have received, among all the gifts I have received in my life, this is the best gift ever!"

After she finished speaking and once again strongly holding him, Artemis let go of Jason.

Then excitedly and cautiously, Artemis stepped into the field of blooming flowers, then began running and playing in it.

So with her happiness and sweet laughter, gradually, small animals began running over from the forest to accompany and play with Artemis, who is running in the field of lowers while still being surrounded by floating flowers and petals dancing around her.

Simultaneously, upon verbally hearing that Artemis is satisfied with the tribute, Jason also couldn't help smiling while thinking.

'Finally, I successfully dealt with one...'

And thinking of this, Jason turned his head to look into the distance.

And soon, in the moonlight, Jason saw Atalanta who is standing on a tree with white lilies blooming on it and is looking over here.

So, when their eyes collided, Jason showed her a thumbs up and smiled brightly at her.

But when Atalanta looked at Jason who is smiling at her, while being slightly stunned, she discovered that, at this moment, her heartbeats have suddenly become a little faster...

However, this reaction is not that strange, after all, it is not only the Gods who are attracted by this tribute, rather for a sixteen-year-old Atalanta, all this has a much greater impact on her and knowing that the blond emerald-eyed handsome boy standing in the field of flowers is the one who has planned all this isn't helping it.

After all, even Hecate, who usually ignores most of the things happening outside of her laboratory, is also attracted by it.

After a while, looking at Artemis playing in the lily flower field, Jason, thinking that it is almost time to end this, lightly clapped his hands.

Therefore, the next second, Hecate dissipated the spell that has been holding the rain of flowers still.

So, while flowers and petals were once again raining, Jason again tapped his Magic Staff on the ground and cast an already prepared spell on Pegasus still flying in the sky, which caused Pegasus to start emitting an obviously bright moonlight.

Then, Pegasus flew very high up in the sky, then a loud neighing reached everyone's ears, which made them subconsciously look at him.

Next, following the plan, Pegasus began flying down and reached the ground along with the rain of flowers and petals, then while still emitting beautiful moonlight he walked to Artemis.

And, Artemis noticed that at some point, a bouquet of silver lilies, that seemed to be picked from the moonlight, has been placed on its back, which Artemis immediately picked up while looking visibly surprised.

Of course, these silver lilies are grown by Jason using potions.

After all, Jason, who is learning the magic of the Age of Gods from Hecate, even after not being too talented can obviously configure a potion to turn the flowers silver without much difficulty.

Looking at the bunch of unremarkable silver lilies that Artemis has accepted with visible happiness on her face, Hermes couldn't help but smile while saying: "This is probably the most inconspicuous tribute of all the tributes ever been dedicated to us."

"Yeah." Hearing this, Persephone, who is standing on the side, nodded, then added: "But it's also the most conspicuous tribute... Ah, I'm feeling really unhappy, why this tribute isn't dedicated to me, obviously I have helped little Jason so many times!"

After Persephone said this while biting her nails and looking at Artemis in jealousy.

"...Not even I have received it."

Hecate muttered in a voice so low that only she can hear, then while looking at Jason's figure in the flower field, her expression at this moment is showing that she is obviously feeling at least a little dissatisfied.

Of course, Jason has no way of knowing all this, at least for now.

Because Jason has obviously underestimated the charm of the word 'romantic'.

After all, in Jason's view, this 'romantic' offering is really nothing much.

Jason has lived in the age of the internet and information explosion, so for Jason, in this era, where so many types of powers and abilities exist, what he has just done is nothing more than a very rough attempt that he managed to implement in just one day.

Therefore, Jason honestly believes that presenting such a tribute isn't much of a deal, rather he feels like he got off quite easily compared to what other heroes had done to make a God feel satisfied.

But Jason didn't even think that exactly because this is an ancient era where so many powers and abilities exist and consequently people worship strength, although there is also art, it hasn't gotten as much time as the modern era to develop.

This is an ancient era, where there are only a few people who know how to create a romantic atmosphere on purpose or know about the importance of doing so.

But obviously, although Jason didn't look for anything special, he obviously did his best to use all the resources available to him while also keeping in mind to not waste too much time on it.

After all, in Jason's law of survival, Jason has written that upon encountering a god that cannot be avoided, he must do his best to please the other party, and then obviously get away as soon as possible.

It's just that, except for the time constraint, Jason tried a little too hard this time.

However, the quote equivalent effort gives the equivalent return isn't just for saying.

So, when Artemis took the silver lily bouquet from Pegasus and then looked at Jason in front of her, she naturally remembered what has happened two days ago, when Athena has come to her to show off Jason's tribute in front of her.

'Don't worry, when he arrives here, he will naturally make a tribute to you, and at that time, I hope you will not be parsimonious in giving rewards.'

'So after he offers you a tribute, give him a corresponding gift in return. "

These are words Athena had spoken to Artemis two days ago before leaving.

After all, 'twelve tributes to the gods and twelve gifts from the gods' is what Athena has named her game with Jason.

So, Artemis walked to Jason with a silver lily bouquet and while showing the most dazzling smile, she softly said to Jason: "This is the best gift I have ever received, so..."

While saying this, Artemis stepped forward and left a light kiss on Jason's forehead, then she raised her hand at the full moon in the sky.

And took out a silver arrow from the moonlight.

"From this day forward, this belongs to you."

While smiling, Artemis gave her silver arrow to Jason.

But while Jason just looked at the arrow without knowing anything much, he naturally didn't know just how surprised Hermes, Persephone, Hecate, and even other Gods peeping here have become.

"She actually...she actually gave her natal artifact to Jason? Moreover, it is actually her arrow?!"

Hermes pointed at the scene in front of him with extreme surprise while saying this.

Persephone was also very surprised, but soon she laughed and said: "It's indeed very surprising, but... if it was me, I would have probably also given such a gift in return."

"No, you haven't understood the actual... All in all, it will be getting more and more interesting." Hermes shook his head at Persephone with a wry smile, then looked at Hecate while sighing with emotion.

Hecate also nodded with a serious expression on his face.

"Huh?... what do you mean?"

Persephone tilted her head and looked at Hecate in confusion.

"...This is his first tribute." Hecate, after being silent for a while, finally replied: "At the same time, this is also the first gift he has received in return."

Hearing this, Persephone also understood.

'Indeed, the first tribute, the first return gift.

'But this also represents something, after all, Jason still has to give many more tributes.'

'So from now on, Jason's tribute cannot appear weaker compared to what he has given to Artemis.'

'But at the same time, the gifts given to Jason will not be weaker than what Artemis has given him!'

After all, it is not just Artemis, even Persephone and other Gods also don't want to look like they are not as good as others.

*****

At this moment,

Inside the Temple of Athena on Mount Olympus.

'clank, cling--!'

The tribute that Athena has been showing off till now, the silver harp in her hands, showed a slight crack with a few of its strings broken.

After another snapping sound, Athena placed the broken silver harp on the table in front of her.

'This is not a tribute!... I absolutely won't count this as a tribute!'

*****

On Mount Olympus, in the Temple of the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite.

Aphrodite looked at the pure white flower field in the distance, and her eyes could not help revealing a hint of yearning and envy.

*****

On Mount Olympus, in the Temple of God-King Zeus.

"This child... Maybe I can get his help, then no woman will refuse me... and this child also seems to be getting cuter."

*****

And on the side of the Queen of Gods, Hera.

This time many Gods have actively made effort to hide the traces of Jason, so she obviously doesn't know yet...

*****

Meanwhile, outside Mount Olympus.

Deep in the ancient forest, Apollo, who was playing a beautiful melody of the golden harp under the moonlight, suddenly sensed the changes in the authority of Artemis and stopped playing.

Then his golden eyes looked in Jason's direction.

*****

In a brightly lit kingdom, in the Temple of Goddess Hestia.

At this moment, Hestia is rolling up her long dark brown hair and puffing out her cheeks while looking in Jason's direction.

*****

In the Temple of Demeter, Goddess of Harvest.

Envy is clearly written in the eyes of Demeter...

*****

'Twelve tributes from the gods, twelve gifts from the gods, and Typhon in the Tartarus in the abyss of Underworld...'

Hecate thought this silently in her heart.

Then looking in front of her at Jason, who has just received the gift in the form of the natal artifact of Artemis, in other words, the divine tool connected to the life of Artemis and born with her.

Now, Hecate gradually concluded.

'I understand why exactly I have seen the possibility of him, a mortal, accomplishing such a miracle.'

'The miracle of killing the gods, and even fighting against God-King Zeus.'

'As I have expected and seen, the path of being favored by the gods and the path of destruction of the gods... are only separated by a thin line.'