The campfire outside the tents had gone out completely. Only a few wisps of smoke remained, curling upward on the night breeze before disappearing into the dark sky.
Insects called in the distance, their overlapping chirps forming a little serenade with no particular rhythm.
The moon emerged from behind the clouds, spilling silver light over the ground and turning the scattered tents into small, pale hills.
A breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and trees, along with a nighttime chill that made a warm sleeping bag sound especially inviting.
Genichi ducked through the tent's low entrance and straightened up inside.
He had expanded the interior with an Undetectable Extension Charm, making it far larger than its modest exterior suggested.
What had originally been a cramped space with just enough room for two or three people to lie down was now a spacious room covering several hundred square feet.
A thick carpet covered the floor, soft and warm underfoot.
Several simple beds stood in one corner, furnished with clean sheets and blankets.
On the other side sat a small table and a few chairs, with a teapot and cups arranged on the tabletop.
There was even a separate bathroom with a shower, all made possible by magic.
He had anticipated that they might have to spend the night outdoors and prepared accordingly.
Demeter followed him inside, ducking through the entrance before straightening up. She surveyed the room with a small smile.
"That spell amazes me every time I see it. Such a tiny tent, with all this space inside. You could sell this alone for a fortune in Orario."
Genichi shook his head.
"You're the one who thinks it's worth a fortune. Adventurers aren't going to spend that much on a tent just because it's bigger inside. They have more important things to spend their money on."
Demeter smiled without arguing.
She walked over to a bed and sat down, pressing a hand against the mattress to test its softness.
"So we're spending the night here?"
Genichi nodded.
"We'll head back to Orario first thing tomorrow. Everyone's exhausted."
Her gaze softened as she looked at him.
"You are, too. You did more than anyone today. You fought Antares on your own and still had to protect everyone else."
He waved it off.
"It's fine. I'm used to it."
Walking over to the table, he poured himself a cup of water and took a drink.
It was cool and faintly sweet, easing some of his fatigue as it went down.
Astraea had originally been supposed to join them, but her Familia members had refused to let her go.
"It's been ages since you spent the night with us, Lady Astraea," Kaguya had said.
"It's been ages since I last gave Lady Astraea's figure a proper measuring, too," Alise had added.
Ryu hadn't said anything, but she had pressed her lips together and watched Astraea expectantly.
Astraea had given Genichi a helpless look. He had nodded, encouraging her to go.
And so her children had pulled her away to their tent.
Now only Genichi and Demeter remained.
He walked over and gathered her into his arms.
She was soft and warm against his chest.
Her long hair tickled his chin, carrying a faint fragrance.
He lowered his head, buried his face in her hair, and drew in a deep breath of that familiar scent.
Demeter gently patted his back, her touch tender and soothing, as though she were comforting a hurt child.
"That bitch Ishtar is far too lucky."
His voice came muffled through her hair, thick with frustration and resentment.
"I went through all that trouble thinking I could kill her once I had Artemis's authority. But of course nothing ever goes the way I want. Hunting doesn't do a damn thing against charm. All that work for nothing."
Demeter continued patting his back without speaking.
She knew how frustrated he was. He had put so much into this and still failed to get what he needed.
He needed to let it out.
So she simply held him, letting him lean against her while he worked through those feelings.
"It's all right."
Her voice was soft and gentle.
"Ishtar might get lucky once or twice, but she can't escape forever. If nothing else works, you could try winning Freya over. That goddess of beauty might prove more useful than Ishtar."
Genichi lifted his head and rolled his eyes.
"Even if I wanted to, why would Freya be interested in me?"
There was a note of self-mockery in his voice, mixed with resignation.
Of course he knew who Freya was.
The goddess of beauty who could see souls, who had always sought souls worthy of her attention.
She had seen countless souls, countless heroes, countless ordinary people.
She could see a person's true nature, their potential, and their worth.
And what color was his soul?
Probably black.
A dazzling, multicolored black.
His soul was full of filth, bloodshed, and ambition. Hardly the sort of thing he imagined would catch her eye.
"I wouldn't be so sure."
Demeter looked at him seriously.
"You might not qualify as a good person in the strictest sense, but you're certainly not some irredeemable monster. And you do have your good points."
Genichi watched her in silence for a moment, then smiled.
It was a faint smile, carrying resignation, gratitude, and a warmth he couldn't quite express.
"All right. Let's leave that for now and get some rest. We have a journey ahead of us tomorrow."
Demeter nodded, slipped out of his arms, and stood.
"Then go take a bath first. You've been fighting all day. You're covered in blood and dust, and you're not getting into bed like that."
He blinked.
"I can just clean myself with magic. There's no need to..."
"No."
She cut him off, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"Magic can get rid of the dirt, but it won't wash away your exhaustion. You need a proper hot shower to relax. Go on."
She put her hands against his back and ushered him into the bathroom.
Genichi sighed, but didn't argue.
He went inside, closed the door, and turned on the shower.
Hot water poured over him, washing away the day's grime and weariness.
It streamed down his hair, face, chest, and arms, gathering into a shallow rivulet before flowing into the drain.
He closed his eyes and let the water wash over him, replaying everything that had happened that day: the battle with Antares, Artemis's imprisonment, the kiss beside the lake, obtaining her authority, and the cutting look in her eyes afterward.
He sighed.
He still hadn't obtained an authority that could protect him from charm.
He still couldn't confront Ishtar head-on.
He still had to swallow his anger.
It felt like swallowing a fly: revolting, with no way to spit it back out.
He was washing his hair, working his fingers through it as suds slipped away beneath the water, when he heard the bathroom door open.
Without opening his eyes, he spoke.
"Demeter, could you help me..."
Before he could finish, someone pressed against his back.
Genichi went rigid.
The body against him was warm, soft, and trembling slightly.
It wasn't Demeter.
Demeter had considerably more armor up front.
Whoever this was felt almost flat by comparison, like a pair of thin planks pressed against his back.
His fingers stopped in his hair. Water continued rushing over him, carrying away the foam.
A name flashed through his mind.
Artemis.
"Artemis?"
His voice came out a little strained, edged with uncertainty.
She didn't answer.
Instead, her arms wrapped around his waist and tightened, as though she were afraid he might run away.
Her face rested against his back. He could feel the heat in her cheeks, the unsteadiness of her breathing, and her racing heartbeat.
"Artemis, what are you..."
He started to turn, but she held him tighter.
"Don't move."
Her voice was barely above a whisper, trembling with embarrassment and a stubbornness she didn't seem to recognize.
"Just let me stay like this for a little while."
Genichi's hands hovered awkwardly in the air.
Water dripped from his hair. Suds still slid down his face, and the shower continued running.
He stood there and let Artemis hold him, unsure what he was supposed to say.
(End of Chapter)
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