Chapter 731.5: My Elf Goddess and Me (Part 1) | [PATREON-EXCLUSIVE CHAPTER] (Patreon)

Hey everyone, I’m going to explain a few quick things, so please give me your full attention for a moment.

I’m posting three chapters today. That’s right, THREE CHAPTERS.

However, only one of them is required to understand the story: Chapter 732. The other two are “.5” chapters, meaning they’re Patreon exclusives. They are canon, but they’ll only be released here on Patreon because, well… you know. I basically have more freedom here to raise the level of intimacy between the characters.

So if that kind of chapter isn’t your thing, no problem at all. Click here to skip straight to what you’re looking for:

CHAPTER 732

Okay. If you stayed to read the exclusive chapters, then this message is for you.

First, I want to sincerely thank everyone who commented saying they wanted me to post the “.5” chapters. Why? Because as a writer, I enjoy writing chapters that deepen the characters, whether emotionally or intimately. Like the chapter where Evangeline opens up to Angie about what she felt after Angelica’s death.

And, well, I understand that not everyone enjoys that. In the same way, I also enjoy writing chapters where certain characters connect on a more intimate level, because that’s human, and it’s part of the story.

So here we go. Thank you for the comments. I promise I’ll reply to them. I’m thanking you now because, as a writer, even when I’ve already written these chapters, I only truly consider them canon once I publish them. So if you had rejected the “.5” chapters, a part of me would’ve felt like they weren’t truly canon anymore, even though I had written them.

Anyway, let’s get to it.

Actually, I kind of lied when I said it was one chapter. It was actually two:

My Elf Goddess and Me — Part 1My Elf Goddess and Me — Part 2

So enjoy these two extra chapters, and don’t forget that you still have the third chapter to read.

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"What do you think the test will be for me to authorize you into my Order?” Artemis asked.

Luke didn’t like the way she said test. He liked even less the way she smiled after it.

“Hopefully something like throwing me into a volcano and making me swim through it to the other side.”

“No.” Her smile brushed his ear. “This test is going to be much more... hands-on.”

The goddess loosened her grip around his waist.

“Am I required to join your Divine Order?”

Artemis tilted her head. “Hm? You don’t want to?”

“I want to know how this works. Can I refuse every Divine Order and keep going on my own?”

Her eyes narrowed, offended in the most theatrical way possible.

“Hey. There is a goddess right here, petting you while you sit in her lap, and you’re thinking about refusing mine?”

“I’m thinking about whether it’s actually worth it.”

“You greedy little boy.”

Artemis squeezed him in a hug, like she was deciding whether to spoil him or crush him.

“Let me think... Yes, Luke, you can keep going on your own. You don’t have to join an Order just because Samael advised you to. You’re free. Technically. But...”

“But?”

“Because once a world is integrated, ignorance gets expensive. The first benefit is inside information.”

“Inside information?”

“You think the system speaks directly to those so-called World Kings? Of course not. The gods they serve are the bridge. That’s why every one of them belongs to a Divine Order. They got plenty of hints just by belonging to one.”

“Hints?”

“Newly integrated mortals like you get access to Advisors inside an Order. They guide you on what to do, what moves to make, and which mistakes will cost you ten years before you even realize you made them. And the higher your position inside the Order, the more privileged system information you can receive.” She smiled. “In my Order, you wouldn’t start as a follower. You’d start as an Apostle.”

“So I’d be getting information from you...”

“Exactly. As your goddess, I could tell you directly about many things in your universe. Your journey through this integrated universe is going to be anything but boring. New civilizations, emerging events, rare titles... You saw that yourself with your [Champion of Earth] title. I’d be your personal answer bank, and I’d keep you pointed in the right direction.” Artemis raised one finger. “You think becoming a god is just about leveling up? Cute. Wrong, but cute. There are requirements, special missions, hidden conditions. Things most people never even learn exist. And you would have access to that.”

Luke stood slowly, processing every word.

“I get it. Being in a Divine Order is extremely valuable. I’d have access to information already broken down by someone who walked that path before.”

“But you, my Luke, wouldn’t be some lost mortal buried among trillions of followers.” Artemis stood as well. “You would be an Apostle. For some gods, you could count their Apostles on one hand. The cream of the crop. The inner circle. Which means the advice you’d get would be aimed at helping you become... take a wild guess.”

“A god...”

“Yes, my young padawan. By raising you to Apostle, I’d become your Darth Plagueis and help you complete your transformation into Darth Sidious.”

She stepped off the bed.

“Of course, you’re free to choose whatever you want. But sooner or later, you’ll want to spread your wings and travel through other universes. And when that moment comes, why not have someone advising you?” Artemis stopped in front of the door. “I also know about your bloodline. I’ll let you decide, Luke. When you’re ready to take that step, I’ll be here.”

Artemis left the room. Surprisingly, without doing anything else. The goddess simply took the bottle of wine with her and vanished, drinking from it as if that entire conversation had been nothing more than a casual meeting between old friends.

Luke threw himself onto the bed. Her scent was still there.

He stared at the ceiling for a while, half drunk, maybe sleepy. Rank D had wrecked his body clock, but the last few days were finally catching up to him. The strain left behind by [Spectral Fusion] still weighed on his body, even with all the new endurance he had gained.

A few hours ago, I was chasing towers and almost got swallowed by a whale.

That was his last thought before he passed out.

When he opened his eyes, he could tell a few hours had gone by. Not many. Night pressed against the bedroom window, cold and quiet.

“Artemis?” he called, leaving the room.

One of the doors was locked.

Guess she went to sleep.

Luke stopped in the middle of the hallway.

She’s a goddess. She probably doesn’t even get sleepy.

His apartment, which the hotel technically considered a room, felt way too big when it was silent. Luke went out to the restaurant area. He didn’t look for Samael. Or his mother. That one still hurt.

At the restaurant, he ordered the closest thing he could find to dinner from Earth. While he ate, he kept thinking about what Artemis had said. Not the part where she made everything sexual, but the part that actually mattered.

A Divine Order, huh...

If he was going to join one, the truth was that he wouldn’t join any of them. Except, ironically, Artemis’s. Not out of devotion. Not faith. Definitely not because he felt like kneeling to anyone. But because, as absurd as it sounded, Luke secretly considered her a friend. He didn’t want to be anyone’s slave, and Divine Orders sounded exactly like the kind of structure full of obligations, hidden rules, and debts that only showed up later.

Artemis’s Order, though... it wasn’t even big. In practice, he would be the only member. That made it weirdly comfortable. The spoiled goddess didn’t seem to have much of a hierarchy to impose on him, or rituals where he would have to wear special clothes, kneel, or swear loyalty in front of a crowd. In fact, there seemed to be almost no ceremony at all.

The only real obligation he could imagine was keeping the goddess supplied with sweets. Honestly... that didn’t sound half bad.

She would be a kind of friendly advisor. And aside from her constant attempts to mess with him, Artemis gave good advice. She had trained Luke with a bow, helped him use the power of the [Eye of Sariel] during the labyrinth hunt, and among all the gods connected to the Order of Azazel, she was the friendliest toward him. Chaotic, yes. Unbearable too. But at least she talked to him like a person.

I bet if I joined Samael’s Order, the test would be something boring. Like when he made me read piles of books just so I could guess the right profession, and in the end it could’ve been any damn profession I wanted.

The Luke from the past never would have accepted joining a Divine Order. Santa Claus had never brought him presents, and the gods had never helped him either. But there was that chaotic voice in the necklace. Somehow, Artemis had become good company.

All the World Kings are in a Divine Order.

Erza and Anne’s grandmother was in the Divine Order of the God of Assassination. The same god who, as a gift, had given her the chance to have descendants with a powerful bloodline. And then there was that bizarre story involving Pinocchio.

Luke stopped chewing for a second.

No, I don’t think it was marriage. I think they just had to... produce an heir. I don’t know. That’s weird. She had children with a puppet? What the hell is Pinocchio like?

Either way, it was possible. Erza and Anne existed.

Anne is a doll, and she’s actually pretty. Which was not a thought he needed to be having. Wait, why am I even thinking about this? Oh. Right. Because my life has turned into this kind of joke.

He mentally noted that he needed to find out whether there was some catch to being part of Artemis’s Order. Something involving descendants, bloodlines, pacts, or some pretty little clause that only turned ugly after he agreed.

The Rhiannons went through something like that too. I mean, the old King Rhiannon. And Allison came from his bloodline.

The World Kings had made that choice at some point. They had entered Divine Orders, accepted deals, received advantages. Because of that, they had reached Rank C and stayed in power for the last hundred years. They had so much influence they managed to accelerate the [Sunken Realms] event, something that could have killed millions of people.

Those bastards have every advantage.

The stories about heirs tied to gods didn’t sound like love. They sounded like politics wearing a prettier mask. Power in exchange for the future of your own bloodline. Inside the Orders, even descendants became currency.

Luke ate alone for a while, buried in those thoughts.

I’ll see what Artemis has to say about it.

Depending on how his position in her Order worked, and what his obligations would be, he might accept. But not before clearing up every doubt. He needed to know, for example, whether his family or future descendants would be dragged into serving the goddess.

When he returned to the apartment, he even considered going to her room. Halfway there, he gave up.

Tomorrow.

The moment he opened his own bedroom door, he nearly had a heart attack. Artemis was lounging completely naked in a luxurious tub right in the middle of his room.

“Darling, you’re back early. Did you decide?”

Luke spun around instantly, blood rushing to his face. I saw her naked. Fuck. I actually saw everything.

“Artemis, what the hell are you doing?!”

“Hm? Taking a bath.”

“This isn’t the damn bathroom. It’s my room.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. It is literally my room. The paintings are right there.”

Artemis looked around. “Oh, you’re right. My bad. I must’ve teleported the bathtub with me still in it.”

The goddess went right on bathing, because apparently that was his problem now.

“So, Luke? Have you decided to enter me— I mean… my Divine Order?”

“I was thinking about it, but you know what? We should talk later.”

“Come on. Ask what you need to ask. The sooner we settle this, the sooner I finish my bath. Isn’t that better for you?”

Luke kept his eyes glued to the wall. “I want to know if your Order has obligations. Things I’d have to do as a member.”

“Nothing. No obligations, no boring duties, no ceremonies. Just a much closer friendship.” Her voice sounded far too cheerful. “A tempting offer, Luke. I wouldn’t demand that your descendants serve me, or that you fight wars for me, or that you make your world bow in my name.Everything I want is already right here… inside your boxers.”

“What?”

“But I’m not going to demand it. See? I’m your friend. No obligations. See how generous I am?”

If that was true, it was the best possible outcome.

“And do you actually want me in your Divine Order, or is this just some obligation?”

“What a gentleman. Worried about a lady’s consent.”

Luke heard water moving. Then footsteps behind him.

Artemis’s breath brushed close to his ear as she whispered, “Yes, my Luke. I want you. I want you all to myself. I’d be very upset if you joined another Divine Order. I’m jealous. I’ve invested far too much in you to hand you over to someone else. I want you to be mine.”

Luke didn’t turn around. He froze in place, because he knew very well she was right behind him.

"I even shaved everything for you, you know?" she added.

Luke tried to leave, but Artemis caught his arm.

“This is your room,” she said, amused. “I’m the one who needs to leave.”

“R-right...”

He hated being that nervous. The worst part was knowing Artemis noticed and enjoyed it.

A towel hung nearby. Artemis grabbed it, wrapped it around herself, and walked around to face him.

“I can keep a secret, Luke.” She smiled, standing before him. “Like a lawyer and a client. If something happened here, right now, no one would need to know. Just a little secret between us.”

Luke looked away. “I... am going to sleep. Good night.”

When he turned around again, the bathtub was gone. The room had returned to normal. The bed was in place, and so was the furniture. As if nothing had happened.

Damn… this woman knows exactly how dangerous she is.

Luke lay down, turned onto his side, and tried to sleep. In the morning, he woke up refreshed. His body had gotten the sleep it needed, and his Rank D constitution took care of the rest. The Tower exhaustion was gone.

He opened the wardrobe and found several sets of clothes inside, all in his exact size. He picked the nicest set that didn’t look too over-the-top for the occasion and headed to the bathroom. The shower, if it even counted as one, looked like a small waterfall.

A knock came at the door.

“Luke.”

“Yeah?”

“Need help? Maybe Artemis could wash your back?”

“No.”

“I’m kidding. Or not.” She paused briefly. “Anyway, I left the hotel schedule in the living room. Since I’m your Advisor, they’ll send some things through me. Should I mark that you plan to attend the auction?”

“Yes. I want to.”

“Okay. I’ll also buy our outfits for the masquerade.”

Artemis left.

Luke finished his shower, got dressed, and went to the living room. There was a tray with a label bearing his name beside the hotel schedule for the next few days. He picked up the paper and started reading.

The auction would take place right after the masquerade. A few days later, there would be a lecture explaining details about the New Earth. The winners of the event would receive special privileges.

“Explanation about Kingdom Cores...” he read under his breath.

According to the schedule, those cores could be claimed by people with certain types of noble titles. Those were mandatory events where his mother would probably be present. Maybe not the auction, which seemed optional, but the masquerade and the lecture, yes.

“Okay. I need a plan.”

When he went back to the bedroom to get his shoes, he sensed something behind him. Incoming. Luke turned at the last second, but Artemis shoved him onto the bed before he could react.

“Very good,” Artemis said, climbing over him with a satisfied smile.

“Artemis...”

She tried to tug at his shirt. Luke twisted and threw her onto the bed, pinning her before she realized what had happened. Fast. Instinctive.

“I’m serious. I’m not crossing that line.”

Instead of looking annoyed, Artemis hooked her legs around him and wrapped her arms over his shoulders, pulling him closer.

“I can lead from underneath, too.”

Luke realized too late that he was trapped.

“Are you joining my Order?”

“You want to have this conversation like this?”

“Why not?”

He took a deep breath. “I will.”

“Very good, Luke. Then we’ll have to do a few things to get to know each other better. Questions. And you can’t lie.”

“First, let me go.”

Artemis tightened her hold around him a little. Her dress was thin enough to make the situation impossible to ignore.

"First question… why won’t you fuck me?"

“You know exactly why.”

She shook her head. “You need to answer. It’s part of the ceremony.”

“I have a girlfriend. I’m loyal to her.”

Artemis pouted.

“You wouldn’t be betraying your girlfriend. I’m a goddess, Luke. I’m not competing with mortals. Think of it as a divine experience, a force of nature. You would still be her boyfriend. You wouldn’t need to leave her.”

“To me, that’s still cheating.”

Artemis finally let him go. Her smile disappeared, replaced by a thoughtful expression.

“Then we have a problem.”

“Why?”

“Because I really needed you to sleep with me to make you my Apostle, Luke.”

“Wait. Every Apostle has to do that?”

“No.” She sighed. “I was just trying to take the easiest route. Not the only one. You’re mortal, and you have my friendship. A god and an Apostle need a very strong connection. If you’d let me have you and given yourself over completely, I could’ve made you my Apostle in a second.”

This time, Artemis looked genuinely thoughtful.

“Then I’ll settle for being a regular follower in your Divine Order,” Luke said. “It’ll just be me anyway. I won’t have to obey anyone.”

“You could, Luke. But you would lose a lot of advantages. The first one is a limited blessing. It would be almost like a skill. Since you’d be my first follower, I could even give you a decent blessing. But if you were my Apostle, I could grant you something much more powerful.” She crossed her arms. “Besides, I wouldn’t be able to advise you the same way, appear to you, or interfere directly. A follower is someone very low-ranking inside the Order.”

Luke fell silent.

“And there’s another problem,” Artemis continued. “We don’t have other followers to create demand, competition, or merit that would help you rise in position. In other words, in this case, I’d rather not put you in my Order at all. It would limit your growth.”

“So basically, it’s Apostle or it isn’t worth it.”

“That’s about right, Luke. And no, even though I really want to, it’s not just an excuse to sleep with you.” Artemis frowned. “Now I’m irritated by this. I’ll find another way.”

From somewhere impossible, she pulled out a clipboard.

“Questions, then. While I figure out which rules I’m allowed to bend.”

<< Chapter 730 | Index | Chapter 731.5 (Part 2) >>

Don’t forget, you still have Part 2 to read. Just click here.

And by the way, what did you think of the Artemis artwork?