Danmachi: The Focalors Familia — Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Artemis

“I will return.”

A gentle voice sounded beside Noah, carrying a soothing warmth that cut through the morning chill.

Robin had, at some point, draped a loose black hooded cloak over her shoulders, completely concealing her stunning features and flowing lavender hair from the outside world. Beneath the heavy shadow of the fabric, her lake-green eyes remained as clear and perceptive as ever, looking as though they could peer straight into the depths of a person’s soul. She saw the quiet complexity swirling in Noah’s gaze, the lingering reluctance of leaving a place he had called home.

Noah remained silent for a long moment. Then, he slowly shook his head, a faint, relieved smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Thank you, Robin. But it’s alright.”

He reached out and gently pulled the wooden door shut. The sharp click of the iron lock echoed in the quiet air, sounding like a final, definitive farewell to the past.

“I will keep, never looking back, until I achieve my goal.”

“Of course you will!”

Furina’s voice, brimming with boundless energy, shattered the quiet atmosphere. Unlike Robin, she did not need to hide her appearance behind a heavy cloak; her absolute status as a deity served as her ultimate talisman in this world. She puffed out her small chest, planted her hands firmly on her hips, and declared her intentions with the theatrical tone of a commander announcing a grand expedition.

“We will keep. Focalors Familia—set off!”

Watching her lively, youthful demeanor, which seemed practically overflowing with infinite yearning for the bright future ahead, Noah and Robin exchanged a knowing smile. The heavy gloom and quiet sadness that had lingered around the cabin just moments before were instantly dispelled, swept away without leaving a single trace behind.

Yes, he was no longer alone.

As the three of them made their way down the dirt path toward the village entrance, familiar villagers continuously stepped out of their rustic homes to greet them.

“Noah, are you leaving? Take care on the road, you hear?”

“This child is finally going out to make his way in the world. Here, this is some dried meat I smoked myself. Take it to eat on the road.”

“Take this, kid. It’s a waterskin I used back when I was a young Adventurer. It’s sturdy and will last you a lifetime.”

The burly village blacksmith, the cheerful auntie from the corner grocery, the weathered old hunter… familiar faces crowded the path, offering simple words of advice and modest gifts. They were not expensive items, but they were heavy with heartfelt sincerity.

Noah had built a stellar reputation in this remote settlement. Over the past six years, he had always been a taciturn figure, speaking little, yet he never hesitated to extend a helping hand whenever the locals found themselves in need. Whether it was repairing a collapsed roof after a storm, moving heavy crates of supplies, or driving away encroaching wild beasts from the perimeter, he had done it all without ever asking for a single valis in reward. The villagers had watched this precocious, unnaturally strong child grow, and they cherished him deeply in their hearts.

Now, his departure had drawn nearly half the village from their morning routines just to see him off.

When they finally reached the village entrance, Noah laid eyes on the escorts hired for their long journey—the Artemis Familia.

Twenty female Adventurers stood at the ready. They were dressed in mobility-friendly leather armor and carried an assortment of longbows, quivers, and short swords. They moved with quiet efficiency as they prepared the wooden carriages, their actions perfectly synchronized. Every one of them exuded the sharp, disciplined aura of battle-hardened warriors.

Standing at the very front of the formation was a goddess of truly stunning beauty.

She possessed long, flowing blue hair that shimmered like captured moonlight, and her striking green eyes were so impossibly pure they seemed devoid of any mortal impurities. Her posture was perfectly dignified, her temperament cool, distant, and aloof. She was none other than the Moon Goddess, Artemis.

The moment her gaze landed on Furina, a subtle ripple of recognition broke the tranquil surface of Artemis’s green eyes. A faint, elegant smile touched the corners of her mouth.

“It really is you, Focalors. That brilliant divine light that descended to the Lower Realm the other day… it was you, wasn’t it? I never expected you would choose to descend in such a remote, isolated place.”

Furina tilted her head, carefully sifting through her thoughts for a moment as fuzzy, fragmented memories of crossing paths in the Celestial Realm surfaced in her mind. She immediately straightened her posture, imitating the dignified tone of the divine Focalors from her vague impressions, and offered a reserved, elegant nod.

“Artemis, long time no see. I will have to trouble you for this journey.”

“Having accepted the mission from the Guild and received the reward, I shall naturally do my utmost to ensure your safety.”

Artemis nodded in response. Her attitude was strictly professional, yet not entirely distant. Immediately after, her gaze shifted toward Noah and Robin, a flicker of curiosity breaking her stoic facade.

“Are these your Familia members? You only just arrived in the Lower Realm, did you not? You certainly work quickly.”

“Heehee, impressive, right? I am a goddess, after all.”

The moment she was praised, Furina instantly broke character. The dignified aura vanished in a flash, and she reverted to that easily flattered, theatrical little girl, proudly puffing out her chest for all to see.

“You have changed, too.”

Artemis looked at her, her green eyes reflecting a complex mixture of emotions. The Lower Realm was like a massive vat of dye; even the purest, most stoic deity would eventually change after spending day and night living alongside their mortal children. Only she seemed determined to remain exactly the same forever, frozen as the untouchable moon she had always been.

“Lady Artemis, the preparations are complete. It is time for us to set off.”

Just then, a beautiful young woman with short, practical red hair walked over, respectfully interrupting the divine reunion. She was the captain of the Artemis Familia, a Level 3 Adventurer named Letesha.

“I understand, Captain Letesha. Prepare the vanguard to depart.”

Artemis nodded gracefully, then extended an open invitation for Furina to ride alongside her in the lead carriage. As for Noah and Robin, they were directed to a separate, slightly smaller carriage near the middle of the caravan.

The members of the Artemis Familia, highly conscious of their patron deity’s presence, subconsciously maintained a strict physical distance from Noah. The absolute rule of ‘no contact with males’ had long been carved into their very bones. Yet, their natural curiosity proved difficult to suppress. Curious gazes flickered like hidden sparks, sweeping over his seated form from time to time when they thought he wasn’t looking.

After all, this white-haired, blue-eyed youth was undeniably handsome. He possessed a calm, grounded temperament that was not at all inferior to certain male gods in the Celestial Realm who were famous solely for their looks.

The caravan slowly lurched into motion, the wooden wheels groaning against the dirt path as they began the long, arduous journey toward the labyrinth city of Orario.

Once the carriage drove well past the village’s perimeter and the scouts confirmed the surrounding forest was safe from monsters, Robin finally reached up and pulled back her heavy black hood. Her flowing, soft lavender hair cascaded down her shoulders like a silken waterfall. That flawless, gentle face bloomed within the confines of the carriage, instantly drawing the wide-eyed attention of several Artemis Familia members riding nearby.

Without the strict taboo of interacting with men holding them back, the girls’ natural, friendly tendencies quickly bubbled to the surface. Coupled with the fact that Robin was naturally gentle, loved to smile, and spoke with an elegant, soothing cadence, she very quickly got along famously with her escorts.

“Focalors, you have found a very good child.”

Sitting in the lead carriage, even Artemis couldn’t help but whisper a quiet compliment as she listened to the cheerful chatter drifting from the back.

Hearing her child being praised by another deity, Furina was so overjoyed she looked ready to burst. She practically vibrated in her seat, humming a cheerful little tune as she basked in the reflected glory of her Familia.

Meanwhile, as the girls chatted away, a half-elf young woman named Lenti smoothly steered the topic of conversation toward the quiet boy sitting beside them.

Robin noticed the shift and introduced him with a warm smile.

“Noah is our captain. He is a very reliable and trustworthy person.”

“Captain?”

Lenti blinked her large, curious eyes, leaning forward slightly. “But, the Focalors Familia only has the two of you right now, right? Then… are you two a couple?”

The question was entirely too direct. Even for someone as poised and capable of handling various social situations as Robin, a slight, rosy blush couldn’t help but creep onto her pale cheeks. She quickly raised her hands, waving them in graceful denial.

“No, no, that is not it at all. We are simply companions.”

“Oh, it is only a matter of time.”

Lenti, however, wore a knowing smirk, her expression practically screaming ‘I get it’. She sighed dramatically, her voice tinged with playful envy. “A Familia is a family. Robin, if you want to find a lover in the future, you will definitely only be able to find one within your own Familia. As the only male member, and the captain at that, Mr. Noah is obviously the prime candidate.”