The late afternoon hustle and bustle of Preblica’s market was drowned out by the shouts of merchants hawking their wares, the clatter of horse-drawn carriages, and the boisterous laughter of adventurers stopping by for a drink.
For an ordinary human, the sheer noise would have swallowed any conversation taking place within a ten-meter radius.
But Natsu Dragneel was no ordinary human.
Leaning casually against a wooden pillar in front of a fruit stall, Natsu closed his eyes for a moment.
He honed his dragon slayer hearing, filtering out the chaotic market noise, and locked onto the sound waves radiating from two divine entities standing not too far away.
The first voice rang out crisp and resolute, exuding a cold authority.
It was the voice of the Goddess of the Hunt, Artemis.
Natsu half-opened his eyes to observe the goddess.
Artemis possessed an exceptionally graceful physical appearance, flawlessly reflecting both the resilience and untamed beauty of nature.
Her long, blue hair was styled in a very unique fashion; two long bangs framed her face, neat strands cascaded down both sides, while the back was gathered into a ponytail, partially woven into an intricate braid.
Standing at an ideal height of around 164 centimeters, her posture was completely unwavering.
Yet, the most striking feature of the goddess was her crystal-clear green eyes—sharp, vigilant, and unyielding as an arrowhead.
Standing just behind Artemis was a human woman who radiated the aura of a veteran warrior.
This was Rethusa, the Captain of the Artemis Familia.
Around twenty-five years of age, Rethusa bore a tough, ever-alert gaze.
Her appearance was quite distinctive, with reddish-brown eyes perfectly matching her medium-length, neatly cut hair.
The captain stood with her arms crossed, yet her feet were positioned precisely so she could spring forward at a moment’s notice to shield her goddess.
“You’re wasting my time, Aphrodite,” Artemis stated in a flat, icy tone, staring at her counterpart with palpable impatience.
The second voice was then heard—soft, seductive, and flowing like sweet honey.
The Goddess Aphrodite met Artemis’s piercing glare with a dazzling smile.
In stark contrast to the tall and authoritative Artemis, Aphrodite had a rather petite frame, standing only about 152 centimeters tall.
However, her allure was impossible to underestimate.
Her golden hair shimmered under the afternoon sun, framing a beautiful face adorned with mesmerizing green eyes.
Every single movement the Goddess of Beauty made seemed to radiate a charm that made the surrounding air feel noticeably warmer.
Aphrodite had not come alone.
Natsu shifted his gaze to the girl accompanying the petite goddess.
The girl’s name was Harmonia, and her appearance made Natsu furrow his brow slightly.
In the middle of this dusty border town, Harmonia was dressed like a prima donna ready to step onto a grand theater stage.
Harmonia’s beauty was truly captivating.
Her honey-colored hair fell to her shoulders, perfectly complementing her lovely green eyes.
Her outfit was an intricate masterpiece; she wore a layered dress featuring a dark blue interior and a crisp white exterior.
Across her chest was a golden engraving shaped like a treble clef, seamlessly integrated into an elegant mini sheet music motif.
The sheer detail of her clothing was extraordinary—a three-pointed dark blue cloth vest layered with a golden vest adorned with four flowers, and green gems dangling from its tips.
A jewel-studded dark blue collar encircled her neck, connecting to separate white puff sleeves that ended in gold and dark blue blended cuffs.
On her lower half, Harmonia wore semi-transparent black tights, paired with dark blue shoes adorned with tiny golden ribbons, and matching shin guards strapped tightly by a belt.
Her elegant, opera-singer-like appearance was crowned by a white tiara crafted to resemble tree branches, decorated with a cluster of large and small blossoms.
“Of course I’m not wasting your time, dear Artemis,” Aphrodite countered, her tone lightly mocking.
“I am simply trying to save you from that agonizingly dull life of yours.”
Artemis let out a harsh sigh.
“My rules are crystal clear.
My Familia strictly forbids romantic relationships.
Love, lust, and all the ridiculous things you deify will only dull a hunter’s edge.
A heart that yearns will always miss its mark.”
“Ridiculous, you say?” Aphrodite narrowed her green eyes.
The smile on her face slowly faded, replaced by a rare seriousness.
The petite goddess stepped forward, pointing a finger directly at Artemis’s chest.
“You are too blinded by your own principles.
Closing off your heart doesn’t make you a better hunter; it just turns you into a cold stone.”
Rethusa shifted slightly, preparing to intervene, but Artemis raised a single hand, halting her captain in her tracks.
Artemis met Aphrodite’s glare without a shred of hesitation.
Aphrodite lowered her hand, then smiled faintly—a smile that carried the absolute certainty of the Goddess of Love.
“Listen to me closely, Artemis.
You might feel strong in your purity and rigidness now.
But I swear, if you keep this up…
you will spend a thousand years regretting that you never experienced the love of a man.” Aphrodite paused, her eyes softening yet remaining incredibly piercing.
“That is, of course, if you’re lucky enough to find someone capable of melting that frozen heart of yours.”
Those words hung heavily in the air, creating a brief, tense silence between the two goddesses.
Harmonia could only sigh softly from behind Aphrodite, far too accustomed to these endless arguments, while Rethusa shot Aphrodite a look of stern disapproval.
Artemis didn’t respond with anger.
She simply turned her back with profound grace.
“We shall see about that, Aphrodite.
Let’s go, Rethusa.”
From a distance, Natsu, who had listened intently to the entire exchange, slowly pushed himself off the tavern’s wooden pillar.
The evening breeze blew past, kicking up the street dust around his boots.
An argument about love and a thousand-year oath might sound like trivial drama to a casual passerby, but to Natsu, the names he had just heard triggered a rapid chain reaction in his mind.
Artemis.
Rethusa.
Rejecting a man’s love.
A thousand-year oath.
The fragmented memories from his life on Earth, which had been dormant, now exploded and fused together with lightning speed.
He recalled a movie poster from the Danmachi anime franchise, a spin-off story that was deeply etched into his mind.
The title flashed brilliantly within the dark depths of Natsu’s consciousness: Arrow of Orion.
Natsu held his breath.
His heart skipped a beat.
His gaze remained firmly locked on the backs of Artemis and Rethusa as they slowly walked away, disappearing into the crowded Preblica market.
The grim reality struck him mercilessly.
In the plotline he remembered, the Artemis Familia did not have a happy ending.
They were not embarking on a glorious adventure.
That goddess, who appeared so incredibly strong and elegant, along with all her loyal children like Rethusa, were marching straight toward a horrific massacre.
They would be slaughtered without a trace in ancient ruins, and Artemis herself would be devoured—tragically and forcibly assimilated by a legendary, despair-bringing monster named Antares.
Realizing the tragic plot that was about to unfold right before his eyes, Natsu clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.
His gaze sharpened, piercing right through the bustling market crowd, locking onto the trail of the Goddess of the Hunt as she marched steadily toward her destined demise.