Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The Hunt (4)
"Where is he? Where is my husband!?" The red-haired Amazon Queen stormed around, her fiery gaze searching the area with a mix of frustration and determination.
"Hippolyta, what nonsense are you talking about?" Atalanta asked, her confusion evident.
"He beat me in the proper duel I asked of him!" Hippolyta declared, her voice serious. "I have acknowledged it! He has defeated me fairly, and now my life belongs to him."
The rest of the huntresses, including Artemis, stared at the Amazon Queen in surprise.
"You swore a Huntress's oath of chastity after Lord Hades brought you back to life, by my request, I might add," Artemis said with a raised eyebrow.
"I remember, Lady Artemis," Hippolyta responded, her tone calm but firm. "But I also swore an oath as an Amazon warrior and Queen, as long as it doesn't clash with my honor. And this doesn't clash."
Artemis groaned, recalling the time she had been desperate to rebuild her hunt. She had needed experienced women, and Hippolyta, with her battle-hardened experience, had been the best choice. But now, it seemed like that decision was coming back to haunt her.
"Unfortunately, he's gone," Artemis said with a resigned sigh. "We don't know where he is or how to track him down."
"So, he beats the whole hunt and just leaves…" Hippolyta muttered in disbelief.
"Yes," Artemis responded bitterly. "A 16-year-old human boy has beaten us all. I think it's time we do something about it."
But Hippolyta's reaction was not what Artemis expected. The Amazon Queen's eyes momentarily softened, turning into heart-shaped symbols.
"He's that good? He crafted that gear when he was only sixteen?" Hippolyta murmured, her voice laced with awe. "Just imagine what he could do when he's twenty… or thirty… Hehehe…"
Her expression shifted into one of admiration mixed with infatuation, and a subtle flush colored her cheeks. The thought of such talent stirred something deep within her.
"Hippolyta… are you okay?" Atalanta asked, her voice tinged with concern. "You look… sick…"
"Hmm? I'm fine," Hippolyta replied, her gaze distant. Then, her tone became more focused. "We need to track him down. Lady Artemis, did you see his face? Is he handsome?"
The huntresses exchanged confused looks, clearly taken aback by the unexpected question.
"Well, he's… hmm… Eastern European, I think," Artemis said, her thoughts still in turmoil. "We should start looking in Eastern Europe."
Atalanta frowned. "The way the world is now, My Lady, someone from Eastern Europe could be anywhere."
Artemis nodded. "He has the accent of someone from Eastern Europe."
The huntresses fell into a thoughtful silence. Even Hippolyta, who was still visibly distracted, was focused on the clues Artemis had given.
"My Lady," Hippolyta said, suddenly serious. "If he's that talented a crafter, we could use that to track him down. If he's making Sacred Gear-level items, someone must know about him. It shouldn't be too hard to find a trail."
Artemis considered the suggestion carefully. "If that's true, and he can craft Sacred Gears, this is no small matter. Whoever he ends up with, whatever pantheon, he's a high-profile individual."
"Indeed," Atalanta agreed, her eyes widening. "Those rifles he used—Sacred Gears? I've never seen any gear that resembles guns before. This is bigger than we thought."
Artemis's face twisted with frustration, her fury bubbling to the surface. "We will track him down and make him pay for what he's done. And then, he will be at my feet, where he belongs!"
Hippolyta couldn't help but smile at the sight of Artemis's frustration. It only confirmed her belief that the human boy she was now obsessed with was extraordinary.
Marcus
I glanced down at my garage, feeling a sense of satisfaction. Being back home felt like a breath of fresh air after spending the night in Siberia.
It was one of those moments when you just sit back and reflect on everything you've done. I was starting to get used to the fact that I could travel thousands of kilometers in a matter of hours.
As I descended into the driveway, the platform lowered, and I could see my workshop waiting below.
Once inside, I approached the platform, and robotic arms emerged from the ground to assist in removing the Freedom Mark II from my body.
"How was it?" Serafall and Grayfia walked over to me, their expressions curious.
"Interesting, to say the least…" I said, pulling out the sword birth core and showing it to them. "I got the gear. And… encountered the hunt."
"What!?" Serafall blurted out in shock.
"The hunt? Which hunt are you talking about?" Serafall asked, more focused now.
"The one with the pair of Goddesses from the Greek Pantheon. Hippolyta even challenged me to a duel."
"You… What kind of luck do you have?" Serafall gasped. "What happened next? I'm assuming nothing serious, since you're standing here, right?"
"I beat them all in less than five minutes," I said, casually. "Got some souvenirs, too."
"Souvenirs?" Serafall raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
I pulled out some strands of hair from my inventory and showed them to the two women. "This is Atalanta's hair, this one is Hippolyta's, and this last one… Artemis's. Quite beautiful, isn't it? Still nearly glows even after being taken some time ago."
Serafall facepalmed, her frustration evident. Grayfia, as usual, remained impassive, though I could tell she was deep in thought.
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