"I'm back."
Bell had returned to the main hall with the soul in hand, his gaze fixed entirely on the floating form of Goddess Artemis.
He dispelled the barrier surrounding her and immediately noticed the sluggish flow of divine power around her Divine Core. Seeing Artemis still unconscious, Bell knew that unless her soul was restored, this state would persist indefinitely.
There was no more time to hesitate—he had to act.
"...Alright."
"Next, I'll attempt to repair the missing part of Artemis's soul. Hestia, everyone, please step back."
Since there was no telling whether the dormant soul might turn violent, the only precaution was to minimize that risk.
"Understood."
Though clearly worried, Hestia obediently took a few steps back.
The other goddesses followed her lead, retreating a short distance as well. Only the fragment of Artemis's consciousness remained close by.
Once everything was ready, Bell began guiding the slumbering soul into Artemis's body. This complete soul would fill the gap within her own, allowing her divine power to flow back into the Divine Core and, with luck, awaken her original spirit.
"I'm awake."
Bell, whose nerves had been taut the entire time, snapped his gaze toward her.
Artemis's eyelids fluttered open. Her emerald-green eyes gleamed vividly as they locked onto Bell standing before her.
"Orion!"
The true Artemis had awakened—and her lingering will had now returned to her body.
Clarity rushed through her mind, along with fragments of her memories, allowing her to grasp what had transpired.
Though the last thing she had seen before falling unconscious was a child from the Loki Familia, her lingering consciousness had witnessed the entirety of her rescue. Now she understood that the one before her—the boy named Bell—had been the key to her salvation.
And yet... there was another reason her heart stirred.
"Ahem."
Bell coughed lightly and stepped back a few paces, regaining his composure.
He needed to keep some distance. With four goddesses already gathered around him, one more might just push his home to the brink of chaos.
"Artemis-sama, please rest for the night and let your condition stabilize."
"I'm sure you all have much to discuss with her. I'll be taking my leave."
Before Artemis could even speak, Bell turned and disappeared in an instant.
"Eh…"
Watching him vanish so abruptly, Artemis couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment.
"Artemis!"
Before she could dwell on it, a voice full of relief called out—and a figure came charging straight toward her.
"Wait—"
Just as Artemis was about to catch the oncoming Hestia, Freya reached out and grabbed Hestia by the back of her neck, stopping her in place.
"Ah! What are you doing, Freya?"
"I said wait."
Dealing with Hestia's impulsiveness was always exhausting. Freya pulled her back and stepped forward herself, standing between Artemis and the others.
"Artemis, are you truly still yourself?"
"!?"
The question shocked the three other goddesses present.
But Artemis alone wasn't surprised that Freya would ask it.
"So you can see it after all, Freya."
"Artemis, this isn't about whether I can see it."
As Freya spoke, her gaze shifted to Artemis's right rear, where another conscious divine soul stood.
That goddess had long silver hair, blue eyes, and an even more voluptuous figure than hers. A faint smile hovered on her lips, but the jealousy, sourness, and killing intent in her eyes were blatant.
She looked like a little girl drowning in jealousy.
Such naked emotion made it easy for Freya to read this soul's character.
"Another god's soul is residing in you. Do you think that's a good thing? Even if Bell had to do it to wake you up, what about now?"
Freya preemptively cleared Bell of blame.
No matter where he dug up this unfamiliar divine soul, all she needed to know was that he did it for Hestia. Otherwise, given Bell's nature, he would never have taken such a risk. So the responsibility wasn't his.
Artemis, of course, knew the soul attached to her was also a deity, and she knew exactly who it was.
"If it were any other god, this possession might affect me greatly. But with her, I don't need to worry."
"She's Artemis, just like me."
"But she's also different—she's Artemis from another world."
...
What!?
That revelation stunned all four goddesses present.
Freya was by far the most shocked. Another-world "Artemis" with big breasts, long legs, and a sultry face—was that really the standard for a virgin goddess? That made no sense.
"Wait, another world? How could there be another world?"
Hestia couldn't wrap her head around it, and then another question hit her.
"Where did Bell find a god from another world?"
Hephaestus shot the flustered Hestia an exasperated look and tapped her on the head.
"Are you an idiot? Do you just shout that out? If this weren't the 'Beyond World,' every god in Orario would have heard you."
Though Hephaestus was also shocked, she kept her composure.
"It's one thing for the five of us to know. If outsiders learn Bell found a god from another world, do you think he can keep hiding in the shadows?"
"Besides, you know exactly what our colleagues are like."
In the past, Hephaestus would've been fascinated by the idea of another world.
Now, she cared far more about Bell's safety.