Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 2: Artemis Familia

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In the heart of the woods, a small, clear waterfall cascaded gracefully from the rocky heights, resembling a shimmering ribbon of white silk. The falling water splashed into a fine spray, scattering beads of foam that filled the air, creating a misty veil over the mountain stream and forest.

Below the waterfall lay a tranquil lake, its surface tinted green by the reflection of the surrounding trees. The mist rising from the water wrapped the area in an ethereal haze. The gentle sound of the waterfall mingled with the rhythmic lapping of the water against the lake's edge.

Adding to this serene scene were the cheerful voices of girls playing in the water.

Ripples spread across the lake's blue surface, creating a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow. It was a breathtaking tableau, but there was no one here to admire its beauty.

After a grueling battle, it was tradition for the huntresses to gather at this spot, washing away the grime and exhaustion with the cool, clear water. For them, this ritual was a welcome reprieve, a time of both relaxation and camaraderie.

Often, they would mix the practical task of cleaning themselves with lighthearted chatter, gossiping about the day's events or musing over what to prepare for dinner.

But today was different.

There was a new topic on everyone's mind.

"Ugh, my whole body's sticky and gross! I can't stand it!"

A half-elf girl with light blue hair and pointed ears groaned dramatically, her face scrunched up in discomfort.

Around her, several other elven girls voiced their agreement.

For elves, who held cleanliness in high regard, being drenched in sweat and grime after prolonged combat was intolerable.

"Lante, don't phrase it like that. If the goddess hears you, she'll scold you," a red-haired human girl in the center of the group admonished sharply.

"Ehehe~"

The half-elf, Lante, stuck out her tongue and gave an awkward grin, scratching the back of her head as if to deflect the reprimand.

At just thirteen years old, Lante was the youngest member of the clan. She had been an abandoned child, left to fend for herself in a desolate mountain, until the goddess found her and brought her into their fold.

Years of care and nurturing under the goddess's guidance had shaped her into a lively, cheerful girl. Lante's playful nature often added levity to the group, though lately, her antics had grown bolder, likely a result of adolescence or a budding rebellious streak.

"It's all that human's fault!" Lante pouted, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "We were doing fine with the dragon hunt, and then he had to show up out of nowhere, scare everyone, and bring a whole pack of Grey Wolves with him! Unbelievable!"

She punched the water with her small fists, sending droplets splashing into the air. In her mind, if Izzy were standing before her now, she wouldn't hesitate to give him a piece of her mind—and maybe her fists, too.

Of course, knowing Lante, after venting her frustration, she'd probably end up kneeling down and begging Izzy not to die from the scolding.

Despite her youthful appearance, Lante was no ordinary girl. As a recipient of divine Falna and a seasoned adventurer who had reached the lofty heights of LV2, her physical capabilities far exceeded those of normal humans.

Even though Izzy's strength was exceptional for someone without divine Falna, he was still no match for Lante.

In this world, Falna acted as a gift from the gods, empowering its bearers to grow stronger by defeating monsters and unlocking their latent potential.

It was, in every sense, a cheat code bestowed by the divine.

Still, Lante's annoyance with Izzy wasn't truly born from his accidental disruption of their hunt or the chaos he'd caused with the wolves.

What frustrated her most was his sheer recklessness.

He had no real strength or preparation, yet he had the audacity to venture aimlessly into the deep forest.

When Izzy had fallen unconscious earlier, the goddess had confirmed that he bore no trace of Falna, meaning he had never joined a clan. He was just an ordinary person.

For someone like that to be wandering in a dense forest teeming with monsters was no different from an old man hanging himself out of sheer boredom with life.

"Maybe the boy simply got lost in the forest and had the bad luck of being hunted by a pack of gray wolves. Besides, didn't Vivan's wyvern hunt end successfully in the end? Lante, stop complaining already," Rethusa , the red-haired human woman, said with a sigh as she tried to console the half-elf girl.

As the leader and most senior member of the clan, Rethusa often took on a maternal role alongside the goddess.

After all, the other girls were younger than her, with many still being minors.

"That may be true, but it still feels like I went through that monster attack for no reason. I can't help feeling a little annoyed…" Lante pouted, her face tinged with lingering resentment.

At thirteen, Lante was still too young to see things from other people's perspectives or to take their feelings into account the way Rethusa did.

It wasn't a matter of strength but rather one of experience and maturity.

The other girls in the clan understood this and wisely chose not to involve themselves in the conversation. Instead, they turned to chatting quietly among themselves.

"Speaking of which, that boy is so handsome! He's totally my type!"

"Oh, I thought the same! He looked so dashing when he charged at the flying dragon with all he had!"

"Like one of those heroes in adventure stories, right? I completely get it~"

Around the lake, the girls blushed and giggled as they shared their thoughts, each more enthusiastic than the last.

When it came to love and romance, their excitement was almost uncontrollable.

This was particularly true because their goddess, Artemis, was one of the three most famous virgin goddesses in the world and the divine symbol of chastity.

Under her strict rule, the clan had strict prohibitions against dating or showing interest in men—even something as simple as shaking hands was forbidden.

The natural romantic inclinations of these girls, all in the bloom of youth, had been forcibly suppressed for so long that they couldn't help but indulge in their fantasies whenever the opportunity arose.

If Artemis ever relented and allowed them to pursue love, they would probably throw themselves into romance like birds released from their cages.

When that day came, some of them joked that the first thing they'd do would be to parade their boyfriends in front of the goddess just to bask in the "sour aroma of love" under her watchful eye.

As the girls' chatter grew increasingly animated, Rethusa found herself stepping in once again, this time with a note of exasperation.

"Enough, all of you. The goddess isn't far away. Do you want her to scold the whole group?"

It was the second time in quick succession that she had invoked the name of their goddess, and for good reason.

The mere mention of Artemis carried more weight than any authority she could wield as the team leader. When love became the topic of discussion, only the specter of divine rebuke could rein in their enthusiasm.

"What's the big deal…? The goddess is far away. There's no way she can hear us~" one of the girls, a brown-haired elf, murmured with faint defiance.

"Unfortunately for you," a clear, melodic voice interrupted, "while I may be farther than usual, I did hear everything."