Chapter 15

Observing the area surrounding the Ruyi Staff quickly revealed the [someone] that shot the arrow .

That [someone] turns out to be a girl, and she’s standing right next to the Ruyi Staff…or rather, she seems to be touching the tip of the Ruyi Staff with deep interest .

She even has a bow equipped, so I don’t think I got the wrong person .

Thinking of calling out to the girl, I lowered the altitude of the Nimbus Cloud .

However, at that moment…the girl noticed us and decided to take a stance with her bow aimed at us .

[……Please wait! I do not intend to cause you any harm!] (Varius)

Raising both my hands as a sign of non-aggression, I spoke using voice amplification magic .

However…

[Do not move!] (Girl)

The girl shouted . Seeing the Nimbus Cloud continuing its descent might have touched a nerve .

Left without much choice, I stopped the Nimbus Cloud’s movement .

…Yeah…

Personally, I would like to somehow take the route where we can settle things peacefully but at this rate…it doesn’t seem like she would make it easy for me .

Should I take the plunge and just get right to the point?

With that in mind, I tried saying this to her .

[If it pleases you, I swear that I will never come to collect the Luna Metal ever again . I will dissuade others from coming to gather the Luna Metal as well . That’s why……please tell me why do you attack those after the Luna Metal?] (Varius)

Once I did that…the girl released the stance she took with the bow, and gave the signal to [come down] .

It looks like my decision was not wrong .

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One should give their names first when enquiring about another’s .

Remembering such a saying, I began by introducing myself .

[I am Varius . I look like a Sage at first glance but I am actually a Tamer…Caucasus is my tamed monster and Beelzebub is his partner . ] (Varius)

[Is that so . I am Artemis . A pleasure . ] (Artemis)

This girl…Artemis gave a really succinct introduction .

[You, are you…a Hero?] (Varius)

I tilted my neck and enquired .

Although Artemis’ hair is red…it’s tone is unbelievably darker than that of a Hero’s, so I wasn’t sure .

[Hero? What is that?] (Artemis)

[“What is that” you say… I’m talking about the profession aptitudes for a human . Red-hairs are Heros, blondes are Sages, silver are Holy Knights, those kind of stuff . ] (Varius)

For some reason, she didn’t understand my question, so I supplemented it with some information .

[I am not a human . See?] (Artemis)

Immediately after, Artemis let out a ‘bon’ sound and her figure vanished .

For a moment, I was bewildered as to where she may have disappeared to, however…upon closer inspection on the bow Artemis was using — which grew a size bigger — I understood what had happened .

……eh?

Artemis, the bow was your true form?

When I thought that it couldn’t be possible, the bow let out another sound —— and the figure of the bow wielding girl, Artemis, appeared .

[Are you for real?] (Varius)

[Yeah . I can take on the form of a human but……my true form is that of the bow . ] (Artemis)

As the conversation continued……I thought of a question that would strike at the heart of the problem .

[Hey, could it be…is there some sort of connection between your original form being the bow and not wanting people to collect the Luna Metal?] (Varius)

Upon hearing that, Artemis made a slightly grim expression and began to talk .

[That is correct . I…need to absorb the energy from the Luna Metals, else I am unable to live . ] (Artemis)

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[Once, I lived on the moon . ] (Artemis)

As I asked for a complete explanation, Artemis told me as such .

The talk is suddenly headed in a rather incredible direction…but I did see that irregular phenomenon after all .

For the time being, I’ll take her word for it .

[The moon you see, is made of Luna Metal . Back when I was on the moon, I was much more powerful you know? To the point where the arrow I shot at you would have blown away the entire area . ] (Artemis)

Artemis pointed to the place where I found the Luna Metal .

Although thanks to the overgrown trees, I couldn’t see the area itself .

[But you see, I’m not even sure how long ago was this……one day, a single comet attacked the moon . Following that, I was blown off the moon . ] (Artemis)

I see .

Which explains how she crash-landed here huh…

[When I fell onto this planet, I placed a barrier around myself and the Luna Metal that fell together with me in a desperate attempt to protect them . The Luna Metal would be incinerated when it entered the atmosphere if I didn’t after all . ] (Artemis)

Artemis had a lonely look on her face when she said that .

……I’m starting to understand the situation .

The metal known as Luna Metal, the reason why I have never heard about it even in my past life…is probably because the ore only exists on the moon .

Artemis only crash-landed after my reincarnation .

[Currently, my life is linked to the miniscule amount of Luna Metal that I protected during the crash . If…if others continue to take even those, I will eventually die .

That is why I drive away anyone who comes after the Luna Metal…] (Artemis)

Artemis hung her head as she finished her story .

My head was in turmoil after listening to her story .

At this point, I don’t really care if I am unable to complete the request .

The penalty fee for the failure of the request is cheap compared to Artemis’ life after all .

However, I began to think that something is wrong if I just [return without collecting the Luna Metal] .

Artemis said that she was much stronger when she was on the moon — where there was an abundance of Luna Metal .

Conversely, that would make the current Artemis terribly weak .

In other words, the action of [not taking the Luna Metals] is far from solving the fundamental problem .

I wonder if there’s some way to truly help Artemis .

Before I realised it…I began to seriously consider the possibilities of returning Artemis back to the moon .