Chapter 373: Goddesses Gossip Too

Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for just $7 to get early access to all upcoming chapters and skip the wait! For Advance Chapters, visit:

• Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations

As of now, there are 600 chapters of this book available on my Patreon.

──────── ⋆⋅❖⋅⋆ ────────

Having said their piece, both friends simultaneously turned their gazes to Artemis.

Artemis's hand paused on her teacup. She hesitated for a long time before softly asking, "Hestia... do you think the beliefs I've always held on to are actually wrong?"

The smiles vanished from Hestia and Hephaestus's faces instantly. They exchanged a look, both sensing the gravity of the question.

"Artemis," Hestia sat up straight, her expression more serious than ever. "Are you... falling for someone?"

Artemis's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly shook her head. "No. It's just that some ideas from the children in my Familia have left me feeling confused and lost. I'm wondering if I should make some changes."

"Liar!" Hestia jumped up from the sofa, pointing a finger at her. "If it were just about your Familia children, a stubborn blockhead like you would never consider changing! A god doesn't change so easily. Someone has definitely made your heart skip a beat, and you just haven't realized it yet."

Artemis froze. Subconsciously, the image of a white-haired, blue-eyed figure surfaced in her mind, so clear he could have been standing right there. She immediately brushed the thought away, refusing to admit it.

Seeing her reaction, Hestia was even more convinced and relentlessly pestered her. "Who is it? Tell me! What blind fool dared to flirt with you?"

Artemis, nursing a headache from the badgering, simply looked away and refused to speak.

Hephaestus, who had been quietly sipping her tea and listening, suddenly spoke up thoughtfully. "If we're talking about the male Artemis has interacted with the most, someone she actually gets along with... it would have to be that child from the Focalors Familia, wouldn't it?"

"The Focalors Familia?" Artemis visibly stiffened at the name.

Hestia's eyes lit up, and she jumped again. "The Focalors Familia?! You mean that boy?" She recalled the handsome young man she had teased at the Jagamarukun stand earlier. "Is his name Aiden? The really handsome one with white hair and blue eyes?" She leaned close to Artemis, her face flush with gossip and excitement.

Hephaestus set down her cup, looking at Artemis with a half-smile that practically said, I knew it.

Under the intense scrutiny of her two best friends, Artemis realized she could no longer hide it. She let out a resigned sigh, a very faint blush coloring her cheeks. "I certainly... don't dislike him. In fact, I find his company quite pleasant."

"It's him!" Hestia slammed her hands on the table and stood up, her eyes sparkling like she had just discovered a new continent. "If a man can make you, Artemis, say you don't dislike him, you're definitely in love with him!"

"Love is... an exaggeration," Artemis mumbled, rubbing her temples helplessly, her voice barely a whisper.

Just as Hestia was loudly declaring her absolute certainty about Artemis's feelings, the crisp clatter of clashing weapons and the excited shouts of girls rang out from the courtyard outside.

"What's going on? It's so lively," Hestia's curiosity was instantly piqued. She hopped over to the window like a little bunny and peeked out.

On the Familia's training ground, a figure in white darted gracefully among a dozen attacking girls. Every swing of his wooden sword perfectly blocked or struck his opponents' weapons with effortless ease.

"Artemis, Hephaestus, come look! Speak of the devil! That boy Aiden is here!" Hestia waved excitedly.

Artemis tensed, massaged her forehead in defeat, and slowly walked over to the window.

"My children invited him over to help with their training," she explained, a hint of defensiveness in her tone that she herself didn't notice.

She knew perfectly well what those girls were up to. They hadn't given up, using "training" as a thinly veiled excuse to force her and Aiden into more situations together.

As for Aiden, he happened to be free today. Jeanne and Tifa had taken Firefly and Cassandra to the Dungeon to level up, while Robin, Hyacine, and Daphne stayed behind to guard Palais Mermonia. So, he happily accepted the invitation.

Down on the training ground, the spar was in full swing. Aiden wielded a blunted wooden sword and relied purely on his physical stats and swordsmanship, without using any magic or skills.

He left afterimages as he moved through the crowd. Facing wooden swords thrusting from all directions, he neutralized them one by one with minimal movement and precise angles. Instead of just defending, he would follow up each block by lightly tapping the flat of his blade against a girl's wrist or shoulder. It was just enough to break their stance and drain their force without causing them any pain.

It was an absolute teaching session. Only Rethusa, the Level 3 Captain of the Artemis Familia, could last a few extra exchanges against him. Even then, her all-out attacks were casually redirected into thin air, leaving her frustrated, as if she were punching cotton.

Despite this, not a single girl complained of exhaustion; instead, they fought with increasing vigor. Compared to the strict, nearly brutal training regimes of their own Goddess, Aiden's guidance was as gentle as a spring breeze.

From the second-floor window, the three goddesses watched the spectacle.

"Wow, that kid is really strong," Hestia praised sincerely. Even though she wasn't a god of combat, she could tell from Aiden's fluid movements that his true strength far surpassed his level.

"Yes, he's created many miracles. He's even known as the Legend of the City's Fastest Level-Up," Hephaestus added calmly, arms crossed. "He only recently reached Level 4, but if he goes all out, many veteran First-Class adventurers wouldn't be his match." As the head of one of Orario's top Familias, her intelligence network was far more comprehensive than most.

Hearing her two dear friends openly praise Aiden, an inexplicable sense of secret joy swelled in Artemis's chest, and the corners of her mouth twitched upward into an almost imperceptible smile.

Hephaestus sharply caught the micro-expression and offered a meaningful grin.

Hestia missed these subtleties entirely. Cupping her face in her hands, her eyes filled with longing. "I wonder when I'll ever get a child like that..."

──────── ⋆⋅❖⋅⋆ ────────

Enjoying the story so far? Support this fanfict with Power Stones! Every Power Stone helps this book reach more readers. For Advance Chapters, visit:

• Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations

Your support means the world and keeps the chapters coming!