Chapter 115
Translator: uly
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Became the Gallery's Only Reptile
Pierce. Thwack.
"Hit again!"
"Incredible skill for such a young age."
"Not just archery—everything she does is top-notch."
"A genius has been born in our village."
The girl who would later be called the Divine Archer had been displaying her innate genius from childhood.
Every shot was a perfect hit.
Swift legs to chase down fleeing prey.
And a brilliant mind to top it all off—no one could escape her grasp.
Innate talent as a hunter.
Combined with her own hard work.
With both talent and effort, her abilities blossomed without much hindrance.
"I want to contract with you, O Constellation."
"I'm the same as you, O Constellation. You like hunting... too, right?"
Innate genius as a hunter.
And the heart of a born hunter who took pleasure in the hunt itself, along with pride in her profession.
The two had much in common.
That was why she formed a contract with Artemis.
"You lot dare? To me?"
The Divine Archer saw in Artemis the same overwhelming hunter's talent she possessed.
Conversely, Artemis saw in the Divine Archer the same immense arrogance and madness that devoured opponents.
"You'll regret those words. I'll hunt you down thoroughly."
"I'll help you..."
"Right now. You're touching my prey?"
"G-Good luck."
If you touch my prey, I won't forgive you either.
At that chilling gaze, the regressor who had just dodged arrows swallowed dryly and quietly backed away, making sure not to interfere with her.
"Good, that's it! Right in the neck! Perfect! As expected of my contractor! My favorite child!"
This was the abode of the constellation Artemis.
A fantastical forest bathed in eternal, soft moonlight, 24/7, 365 days a year.
She was reveling in the sight of her contractor's massacre reflected in the lake.
Crunch.
"Just kill them all!"
A scene of violence like a berserker possessed by moonlight's madness.
Who would look at her and think she was a beautiful, noble, and pure goddess?
"Who's been staring at me annoyingly since earlier?!"
She had been laughing at the Divine Archer's slaughter show just moments ago, but now she suddenly got angry and shot an arrow toward somewhere.
It happened so fast it was godlike, as if there was no casting motion.
Whoosh.
"Stop peeking creepily!"
That divine strike flew toward an intruder who had sneaked into her abode without permission.
Fwoosh.
"My little troublemaker, it's just that you can't control your temper."
"Shut up, stalker."
"Calling your brother a stalker is a bit much, my foul-tempered little sis."
Contrary to her intent, the arrow burst into flames the moment it left her hand and vanished before her eyes.
And the culprit who ignited those flames—the intruder who had come here—smiled at his sister as if to say she hadn't changed, and slowly approached.
Fwoosh.
"Hey! Put out the fire!"
"My mistake."
Every time he took a step, flames rose from his footprints, irritating Artemis once more.
"Then get lost, arsonist."
"You're awfully prickly today."
"What, should I call you [Embodiment of the Sun] then?"
"That's too distant. Just call me brother."
"Yeah, Apollo."
"And that's too close."
Artemis's brother and fellow Olympian constellation.
Apollo had come personally to visit his sister.
"So, why'd you come here suddenly?"
Artemis lowered her bow, turned back to the lake reflecting the Divine Archer, and asked in an emotionless, perfunctory tone.
"I came to tell you about the climber who's with your contractor right now."
"Why is my contractor there? Obviously because I heard about it from Aphrodite in advance."
Artemis responded indifferently to Apollo's words.
That's right—Aphrodite had already visited before Apollo arrived.
"Aphrodite? I came straight here after seeing her, and she's already been?"
Artemis's eyes grew icy at Apollo's words.
Aphrodite had come yesterday, not today, yet he claimed to have rushed here right after meeting her.
Her gaze screamed, What kind of slowpoke is this?
"What's with that, sis? Why the cold stare at your brother?"
"...Never mind. It's just like you."
"That comment offends me."
In any case, Artemis recalled Aphrodite's visit from yesterday.
What was it? Something about raising favor by protecting the climber she cherished?
It was presumptuous of her to tell me what to do.
Normally, she would have refused outright.
No matter what, using her most precious child as mere bodyguard? Ridiculous.
But swayed by Aphrodite's passionate plea, she decided to look the other way just this once, the first and last time.
"If the constellation backing that bodyguard target didn't have immense power, and if Olympus didn't desire his power, I never would have agreed."
"My troublemaker sis, what are you talking about?"
But there was one thing Artemis was mistaken about.
The reason Apollo came here wasn't just Aphrodite's favor scheme.
"What I wanted to say is that this climber might be a Singularity."
"...What?"
At that moment, memories of previous Singularities flashed through Artemis's mind.
They sowed chaos in the Tower.
Tormented the constellations.
Terrorists that instilled such dread they made you think, Ah, we might actually die.
And now, the guy her most cherished contractor was protecting might be one?
"...What's your evidence?"
"You know my Authority, right? I'd be heartbroken if you didn't."
Apollo boldly claimed his ability as proof.
His confident demeanor sparked defiance in her, but unable to deny his power, Artemis seriously stroked her chin.
"So, you're saying not to protect him, but eliminate him?"
"No, the opposite. Absolutely do not touch this Singularity candidate."
"Hah?"
No, wait.
What was that supposed to mean?
They'd ruthlessly killed every suspected Singularity so far, and now suddenly leave him alone?
"No need to reject a peaceful resolution where no one gets hurt."
Unlike previous Singularities that harmed the Tower no matter their path, this one was different, apparently.
But Artemis still wasn't convinced, so Apollo cleared his throat and added more explanation on why to leave this Singularity be.
"I discovered this Singularity has a unique fate unlike the others. If we don't touch him, he'll leave without causing us harm."
Don't mess with him, and he won't mess with us.
A perfect peace where neither side suffers.
"Plus, wouldn't it be good to maintain good relations with the constellation backing the candidate?"
The reason Apollo had visited Aphrodite first was because she had spent the most time—and the longest in Olympus—with the constellation backing the Singularity candidate.
Her words would carry more weight than some unknown entity.
And as Apollo thought, that constellation had received Aphrodite's letter and was still quietly observing without intervening.
"And there are already guys targeting the Singularity candidate."
"Ah, those guys. There were more than a few."
The battle had just ended; the lake reflected the Divine Archer organizing her weapons, the black-clad foes already dead, and the Singularity candidate poking their corpses with a staff from who-knows-where.
"Perfect results again. That's my girl."
"Indeed... this power is awe-inspiring. It feels like seeing you in your youth."
No exaggeration—Apollo genuinely recalled his childhood sister from the Divine Archer's fight.
To see a mortal evoke a constellation's image—what an achievement.
Especially since their resemblance was famous among constellations, and seeing it in person, they seemed even more alike now...
Stab.
"Eek, he's already dead—why shoot his head?"
"Insolence."
Hm.
"They really do look alike."
She didn't need to inherit that trait too.
Apollo inwardly shook his head at the Divine Archer, who seemed to have inherited even the personality he wished she hadn't.