After leaving the embrace of Goddess Tiamat (absolute motherhood), Emiya regained clarity.
Then, through the goddess's explanation, he finally understood what had really happened.
Goddess Artemis had died because of the True Name Release of the [Star of the End, Shining Excalibur (Excalibur · Artemis)]. Normally, it would take hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of years for her to be reborn in the Divine Realm.
But the Underworld Goddess, Ereshkigal, and the Creation Goddess, Tiamat, helped Artemis. The former called back her lost true spirit, while the latter reshaped her body. Because of this, the Moon Goddess revived in Heaven in just three minutes.
Of course, for gods who count their ages in hundreds of millions of years, the difference between ten thousand years and three minutes isn't really that great.
Especially for Tiamat and Ereshkigal: both far older than Artemis and her kind.
The Creation Goddess was one of the earliest deities of Heaven. For her, who had witnessed ages stretching into eternity, ten thousand years was nothing more than the blink of an eye.
After her resurrection, Artemis told Tiamat and the others stories of the Lower World. At first, the Creation Goddess felt indifferent about this round of the "Garden Game." But then, she grew interested in the human world.
So, after a long queue, Goddess Tiamat came down to the Lower World.
As for Artemis, she was dragged along. By rule, once a goddess descended, she could not line up again. But Tiamat found a loophole: The current divine body of Artemis was crafted from Tiamat's divine power. Artemis had yet to reshape it with her own.
Thus, Artemis was no longer considered a "goddess" but rather a "spirit" belonging to Tiamat.
In this way, Tiamat brought Artemis down from Heaven.
Of course, the reason this was even passable was because divine power wasn't forbidden in Heaven. And among the gods, very few had strength greater than Tiamat.
Since she hadn't descended formally, Artemis couldn't use divine power, divinity, or authority, and wasn't allowed to form a Familia. But the Moon Goddess didn't mind.
Being able to return to this world, to see Emiya, that alone was enough for her.
Tiamat: "I also invited Ereshkigal. Unfortunately, she's the type of shut-in who never leaves home."
Though she longed for the radiant soul of mortals, she didn't want to step outside, only intending to lie in the Underworld and wait. Such was Ereshkigal.
The reason the goddesses ended up in this little town was because they landed in the wrong place. Descending to a country far away from Orario. Now they were staying here, saving money for the journey.
"Shirou...", Artemis lowered her head, her voice so faint it was almost inaudible.
She wanted to instinctively say "I'm sorry," but Emiya spoke first.
"Long time no see, Artemis."
"...Mm. Long time no see," The goddess replied softly.
From behind, Tiamat gave Emiya a gentle push. The boy stepped forward, embracing Artemis.
The goddess closed her eyes, resting lightly against his chest.
The next moment... Artemis's eyes suddenly sharpened.
As the "Goddess of Purity," her divine sense was exceptionally sharp in matters of such things.
"Shirou, yo-you...", She stepped back, her voice trembling.
Very soon, Artemis's tone turned tearful, "My Shirou... is no longer pure!"
A year spent in the Divine Realm, and by the time she returned, she had already missed everything.
———
"AH—that Lower World Zeus just now... I mean, that customer just now!", Hestia shouted, her twin tails springing upright in shock.
"...What was this goddess planning to call me, exactly," Emiya thought helplessly.
Traveling with Tiamat and Artemis was another goddess, and Emiya quickly guessed, yes, the potato-ball vendor.
In such a remote small city, running into gods was rare. For three to appear together, that made sense.
Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth, one of the three Virgin Goddesses of Olympus. Back in Heaven, she had been Artemis's dearest friend.
This time, she too had descended under Artemis's influence, wishing to seek encounters in the Lower World.
After finishing her potato-ball part-time shift, Hestia returned to the flower shop where Tiamat worked, and there saw Emiya speaking with Artemis.
Seeing the distance between him and Artemis, Hestia realized something.
Hestia: "Artemis, this 'Zeus-kun'... could it be—" She whispered into Artemis's ear.
Emiya, who heard everything clearly, "...'Zeus-kun'?"
Artemis stared at him seriously, puffing her cheeks in anger.
The Moon Goddess wasn't angry that Emiya had companions. She knew she had no right to demand anything.
Although virgin goddesses, Artemis, Hestia, and Athena did not reject marriage.
What they loathed were "improper relationships between men and women", especially the absurd behaviors typified by Zeus.
Thus, the three Virgin Goddesses were often allies of Hera, goddess of marriage.
So now, Artemis's anger, and Hestia's displeasure, came from this: Emiya's bonds were far too many.
"Far too impure!"
"Completely against morals!"
"Lower World Zeus!"
Emiya more or less understood. Among Olympus's goddesses, "Zeus" was used as a strongly negative insult.
"Truly infamous, Zeus...", He thought helplessly.
"Um, may I ask, what are you angry about?", Tiamat tilted her head, looking at the two sulking virgin goddesses.
The Creation Goddess said, "Could it be, you're upset over Shirou-kun's emotional affairs?"
Hestia: "That's right, Lady Tiamat. Do you think so too?"
"Mm," Tiamat's expression grew solemn, "Yes, regarding this matter, I really must speak with you, Shirou!"
The goddess fixed her eyes on Emiya. Feeling the oppressive aura of the Creation Goddess, Emiya straightened unconsciously.
"That's right! Teach this man a good lesson!", Hestia cheered.
Tiamat slowly spoke, "Shirou, don't you think your number of lovers... is too few?"
Artemis: "Eh?"
Hestia: "Ah?"
Emiya: "What?"
Tiamat spoke earnestly, "That you don't engage in 'procreation,' I already mind. But I can understand, Shirou-kun must have his reasons."
"But even so, Shirou, with your ability, you could clearly establish and sustain a much larger household," Her voice grew sharper, "Why haven't you?"
"As the one blessed by the goddesses of fertility, as the finest father-source of this world, Shirou-kun, you should shoulder the duty of preserving civilization! But until now, what have you been doing?" [T/N: The real question]
Tiamat cried in anguish. Her eyes drooped, her face of motherly love filled with heartbreaking sorrow.
The surroundings fell silent.
Her tone was too serious, her expression so tender, and with the unconscious pressure of her divine might, it was hard not to feel she had a point.
Unlike Ishtar, Tiamat had no trace of lust. What she cared for was only the survival of the world. What she thought of was only her love for life, for children.
Though she had no authority as a goddess of beauty, in that moment, speaking of life's future, she radiated a beauty of motherhood that surpassed all.
Because of the vast difference in divinity, Artemis and Hestia, both virgin goddesses, were overwhelmed by Tiamat for a time.
Emiya froze, not knowing how to respond.
At last, he could only say, "Lady Goddess, you're a bit too extreme..."
After a while, Artemis snapped out of it and cried, "Lady Tiamat, just what are you teaching him?"
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