"Alright."
Seeing her best friend in this state, Hestia could only nod.
Ying Ping observed Artemis while flipping the skewers.
Seeing that she remained unenthusiastic, Ying Ping handed the skewers he was grilling to Chisato and went to sit beside Artemis and Hestia.
"Lady Artemis, are you feeling unwell?"
Ying Ping asked softly.
Artemis shook her head, her blue short hair shimmering in the sunlight: "No... I just..."
Her gaze drifted into the distance, as if she wanted to speak but held back.
Ying Ping didn't press, but instead took out a small bottle from his person: "This is a type of lavender unique to the area near Orario. Smelling it can help one relax. Would you like to try it?"
Artemis paused, then took the bottle and sniffed it gently.
A sweet, not cloying, floral scent spread at her nostrils, and her tense expression finally softened a little.
"It's for you."
Ying Ping said with a smile.
"Thank you..."
Artemis finally managed a smile: "Are you always so considerate to girls?"
Ying Ping smiled: "Of course not. I just don't want to see a beautiful goddess looking so troubled right now."
Hestia watched their conversation.
Hestia frowned, struggling internally.
Because Artemis's behavior was too abnormal, it seemed that this time, it was definitely not as simple as just a monster riot.
But as a close friend, she was unwilling to speculate in a bad direction.
Hermes sat by the bonfire, silently gnawing on roasted meat, his hat brim pulled low, obscuring his expression.
Only an occasional glance flashing from the shadows showed that he was closely observing everything, constantly calculating in his mind.
"Master, the meat is ready! Come and eat!"
Chisato's cheerful voice broke the subtle atmosphere.
Everyone immediately gathered around the bonfire to enjoy lunch.
Elaina elegantly took small bites of roasted meat, occasionally stealing glances at Ying Ping and Artemis.
KKR thoughtfully poured flower tea for everyone, while Chisato and Takina discussed various topics, looking incredibly happy.
Although Artemis still hadn't eaten anything, her expression had visibly relaxed a lot with Ying Ping's company.
She even proactively asked Hestia about her life in Orario.
"Hestia, the children of your Familia... they are all very good people."
Artemis said softly, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes.
Hestia puffed out her chest proudly: "Of course! These excellent good children were all brought back by Lord Ying Ping! Isn't he amazing?"
She paused, then hesitated to ask: "Artemis... speaking of which, are you really okay? You're not hiding something from me, are you?"
Artemis forced a smile: "Just tired from the journey, don't worry~."
Seeing this, Hestia took Artemis's hand: "Then come and try Chisato's grilled meat! Her cooking is excellent!"
Artemis forced a smile: "Mm..."
But she just sat there, not reaching for it.
Ying Ping noticed her abnormality and proactively picked up a freshly grilled skewer, walking over to sit beside her.
"Does the grilled meat not suit your taste?"
Ying Ping asked softly.
Artemis shook her head, her blue short hair gently fluttering in the morning breeze: "No... I just don't feel like eating right now."
Her voice was very soft, carrying a hint of melancholy.
Ying Ping nodded thoughtfully: "Are you still worried about your Familia?"
Artemis was silent for a moment, then whispered: "Yes... I wonder how they are doing now."
Ying Ping nodded: "I understand how you feel, but worrying here won't solve the problem."
"Only by seizing this time to rest and recuperate now, will you be better able to help them when we get there, right?"
Artemis paused slightly, then showed a gentle smile: "You're right, as expected of my Orion..."
She reached out her slender fingers to touch Ying Ping's face again.
Not far away, Hestia watched the two talking so happily, and the grilled meat in her hand suddenly lost its flavor.
"Artemis and Lord Ying Ping... when did they become so close?"
"Honestly... is this really Artemis? She doesn't seem like herself at all."
She frowned and muttered softly, a complex emotion welling up inside her.
Soon, three days passed.
Over these three days, Artemis's attitude towards Ying Ping underwent a more subtle change.
She began to intentionally or unintentionally look for opportunities to get close to Ying Ping, actively sitting beside him during breaks, and inviting him to watch the stars and chat at night.
And Ying Ping always gently responded to her closeness.
Their relationship progressed by leaps and bounds, becoming quite ambiguous in the eyes of outsiders.
Three consecutive days of forced march allowed the dragon group to traverse thousands of mountains and rivers at an astonishing speed.
With KKR's support magic and Elaina's time acceleration assistance, the journey originally estimated to take ten days was shortened by more than half.
On the morning of the fourth day, a lush green expanse was already faintly visible on the horizon—
That is the Great Tree Sea Secret Realm, and we're almost there.
Artemis suddenly invited Ying Ping in front of everyone, "Orion... would you like to ride a dragon with me today?"
Her voice was gentle, and her green eyes sparkled with anticipation.
This suggestion stunned everyone.
Hestia's eyes widened, and the skewer in her hand almost dropped as she exclaimed in shock, "Wh-what?!"
Ying Ping looked at Artemis, then at the pouting Hestia, and finally smiled and nodded, "Alright."
"No way!"
Hestia immediately protested, "Artemis! Ying Ping-kun is clearly mine! As the goddess of chastity, how can you...?"
Artemis showed an apologetic expression: "I'm sorry, Hestia... I just have something important I want to discuss with Ying Ping-kun alone."
"Hmph, what important matter can't be discussed in front of everyone?!"
Hestia huffed, her blue twin-tails almost standing on end, "Ying Ping-kun is the captain of our Familia!"
Artemis just smiled gently: "I know, I'll just borrow him for a bit, Hestia. We really do have some important things to discuss."
Hestia's small face flushed crimson.
Ilena floated over on her broom, chuckling, "Lady Hestia, you're not getting jealous over something like this, are you?"
"Hmph! Who, who's jealous!"
Hestia reluctantly climbed onto the dragon, muttering, "This is Artemis's fault! She's been getting stranger and stranger lately..."
Ilena, however, teased playfully, "It seems Lady Moon Goddess has developed some special feelings for Master~ As expected of Master."
"Impossible!"
Hestia immediately retorted, "Artemis is... is..."
Her voice gradually trailed off.
Because even she herself wasn't sure what Artemis was thinking right now.
Finally, at Artemis's insistence, the team re-adjusted.
Ying Ping and Artemis shared a dragon.
A sullen Hestia was paired with Kokoro.
Chisato and Takina remained together.
Ilena elegantly flew alone on her magic broom, unwilling to be on the same dragon as Hermes.
"This isn't fair!"
Hermes wailed, "Why do I have to fly alone! I want to cuddle with cute girls too!"
However, no one heeded his protest, and the dragon squad set off again.
Artemis's dragon took the lead, leaving the others far behind.
"Lady Artemis, you've been increasingly preoccupied lately. Can't you even tell me?"
Ying Ping sat in front of Artemis, asking in a calm voice.
Artemis's body stiffened slightly: "Is it that obvious?"
"What do you think? You haven't eaten in days."
Ying Ping replied indifferently.
"Ying Ping-kun..."
Artemis called softly, her gaze gentler than usual, "Thank you for taking care of me these past three days."
Ying Ping turned to look at her: "Why are you suddenly saying this?"
Artemis looked towards the gradually clearer outline of the Great Tree Sea in the distance: "Because the more in sync you and I are, the more powerful the Orion's Spear will become."
"And... once we get there, many things will be different from how they are now."
Her voice carried a hint of sadness that Ying Ping had never heard before.
Ying Ping was about to press for more, but Artemis suddenly hugged him.
Artemis rested her chin on Ying Ping's shoulder, her voice ethereal: "Promise me, no matter what happens, don't hate me. Please make the right decision, okay?"
Complex light flickered in her eyes, like both a plea and a kind of farewell.
Ying Ping fell silent.
He had never seen Artemis with such an expression—
Fragile, uneasy, yet resolute.
"Artemis, perhaps things..."
"Shh."
She gently shook her head, "Now is not the time to confess everything. Let us... enjoy this last flight."
"Please, Orion."
After speaking, she remained hugging Ying Ping, then slowly closed her eyes.
But Ying Ping noticed her body was constantly trembling slightly, and tears were welling up in the corners of her eyes.
The dragon continued forward, and the outline of the Great Tree Sea became increasingly clear.
"Sigh..."
Ying Ping let out a deep sigh.
As a transmigrator, how could he not know what was happening to Artemis...