"Yep! And that's how it all went down! So, how about it? Does everyone understand now?"
The only one smiling—was Artemis. Everyone else stood staring up at Artemis and Orion in sheer, stunned silence.
『She's hopeless. We have to do something about her, fast...』 Every single person shared that exact same thought. They realized, both logically and instinctively, that it was impossible to fathom the mind of this utterly unhinged goddess.
—Um, excuse me, but... making dango yourself to invite everyone, requesting Rayshift permission to turn dango-collecting into an official event, ordering additional supplies in the first place, or consulting the King... Couldn't you have used plenty of other methods before resorting to looting and plunder...?
Even Ea, floating gently beside the King, had no choice but to hold her head in dismay. Because this... without exaggeration or metaphor, was planned strictly with only "the Master, herself, and Orion" in mind. It wasn't a matter of lacking consideration. Other people didn't even enter her line of sight.
All other factors—the summoned Servants, the dango, the people eagerly awaiting them... were not given a moment's thought. She didn't feel even a fraction of guilt for trampling over them.
Causing a massive uproar out of pure, unadulterated goodwill. Utilizing literally everything else solely for the sake of one cherished person.
"That's no good~! Friendship has to be dramatic, effort has to be stoic, and victory has to be romantic! Everyone getting along peacefully is totally un-godlike!"
She answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. And in that moment, Ea understood.
The true meaning of natural phenomena gaining personality. This absurdity, this nuisance, this complete lack of restraint—it was precisely derived from nature itself.
—So this... is divine thought...! Being unable to comprehend it is a true blessing! My heart is firmly, properly human!
Faced with such absurd logic and actions that thoughtlessly trampled over others, she felt an indescribable headache coming on.
(That flashback monologue was way too much of an unhinged wall of text...)
"Indeed, gods are fundamentally, hopelessly terrible. It stands to reason that Heracles fell into vengeance."
As the three remained silent, Orion stepped forward to begin his defense.
"I am so sorry, I am truly, deeply sorry! What am I apologizing for? The fact that acting for someone else's sake out of pure goodwill makes her incomparably more reasonable than in the Greek era, and the fact that even with this ridiculous behavior, she's still on the milder end for the Greek pantheon!! If it were Zeus, he'd say 'a heroine who saved the world is fit to be mine' and force Rikka-chan into ○○○ without a second thought; if it were Poseidon, the moment you got in his way, Chaldea would be half-destroyed; and if it were Athena, Hera, or Aphrodite, they'd curse us saying 'You become friends with Artemis, yet you claim you don't need our power?!' So even with all this, the fact that she worked hard purely for Rikka-chan's sake is genuine! Please, at least recognize that much, I beg of you! Also, please save just me!! I'm seriously begging you!!"
Orion performed a full-body prostration. The desperate plea for life from a man loved by a goddess echoed intensely through the sanctuary.
"Darling? Why are you apologizing? We just want to view the moon, right? The burning gazes of Darling and Rikka are piercing right through me! Eek♥!!"
"Did this woman... really use my dango as an offering...?! Gods really are total trash!!"
Rikka raised a hand to stop the spitting Jeanne and stepped forward.
"—Artemis. First of all, thank you. I've never seen such a beautiful moon before. You did so much... for my sake..."
First, express gratitude. She bowed her head.
"I'm glad I believed in Artemis. Becoming friends with a god made me genuinely happy. Because that's my way of living."
As long as there is willpower, one can become friends even with a god. Artemis was the ideal embodiment of that truth. To Rikka, that would never change.
"No matter what happens, you'll always be my precious friend. Thank you so much, Artemis. I'm really happy. The blessing, and this view, too. I'll never forget them."
Nearly being killed by that ultimate move, being forced through an uncalled-for trial... Above all else, express gratitude first.
...Just like a certain 'Princess' who expressed her thanks even to Goetia...
—Rikka-chan...
"Thank you, Artemis! I love you too, Artemis!"
"Rikka――――♥♥♥!!!"
Artemis literally leaped into the air. She was overjoyed that Rikka appreciated it. After all, she had spent so much time plotting everything just for this. Everything was for Rikka's sake.
...And yet.
"—Which is precisely why."
She smoothly drew and raised the Bow and Arrow of the Moon Goddess.
"Because we are friends, I have to say it clearly. Because we are friends, I have to tell you properly."
Quietly, solemnly, she aimed toward the heavens—
"Inhale—"
She fired the jet-black arrow into the sky, letting it fall back onto herself. What manifested was the Armor of the Evil Dragon. That form was the proof of her resolve.
That appearance—the proof of the Beast of Humanity. Thus... a form before which even true gods fall. Fearing not even a genuine deity, Rikka declared!
[Setting all that aside, it's time for a lecture, Artemis!! By the authority of Humanity's Last Master!! I'm going to administer your punishment!!]
The resolution born from the "Rikka Manual" and "Rikka Logic"—that if a friend is wrong, you beat sense into them—resounded throughout the Temple of Artemis—!
"Yes, that is the way, Rikka! Indulging someone and reaching an understanding are two completely different things!"
Jeanne stood side-by-side with Rikka, practically radiating an "I've been waiting for this, Dark Rikka!" energy.
"As expected of my Master. Be it a god or a friend, an error must be corrected."
"Eh!? Why!? Why am I being scolded?!"
Artemis panicked, genuinely unable to comprehend why she was in trouble. The Kings sharply condemned her utter, shameless confusion.
"Embezzlement and plunder are undeniable crimes, you fool! It simply means you are included among the targets we must subdue!"
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