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After they sat down and shared so useful information, August and Liliruca Arde made their way to the Blue Pharmacy. As they walked, August used his smartphone to record what they had learned.
When they reached the pharmacy, a loud, frustrated voice rang out from inside before they could even go in.
"Hah? Miach, didn't we have a deal? You promised to have my recovery potions ready!"
"Why is your stock completely empty??"
The voice belonged to a woman who sounded sharp and in charge. She was clearly frustrated that Miach hadn't delivered.
August and Lili stepped inside and saw a stunning Goddess with bright blue hair. Her commanding presence and the way she spoke to Miach made it obvious she was divine. She wore light armor made in Orario and carried a special weapon, giving off the vibe of an experienced warrior.
Miach sat behind the counter, rubbing his temples and letting out a heavy sigh. He obviously hadn't expected her to arrive so soon.
"Artemis, if you want a bulk order of potions, you're looking at a three-week wait. My entire stock is back-ordered for the next fourteen days." Miach pleaded his case. "I literally don't have the inventory. Even if my Familia worked around the clock, we couldn't et your quota."
Artemis was a regular at the Blue Pharmacy. Miach relied on steady contracts with mid-to-lower-tier Familias, offering them steep discounts in exchange for loyalty and consistent business.
"Three weeks? Do you have any idea what you're saying?" Artemis snapped. "We just accepted a Guild subjugation quest. It's a long-range expedition to a remote border region where a massive monster riot just broke out. I need those potions now. We need priority supply!"
Hearing she would have to wait three weeks was too much for her. Was she supposed to cancel the mission? They were heading into a warzone.
"I literally do not have them." Miach threw his hands up in defeat. "You could kill right here, and I still wouldn't magically produce a crate of potions."
On top of that, the Loki Familia was preparing for a deep-strata expedition and had nearly emptied the city's dical supplies. Potions were hard to co by at the mont.
"Oh, August. You're here." Miach looked up, relieved by the distraction.
"Lord Miach." August gave a polite nod.
"And who is this?" Miach noticed the beaming Pallum girl standing beside him. It was a rare sight.
August patted Lili's shoulder, giving her the floor. She caught the cue instantly.
"Liliruca Arde. As of today, I am officially a mber of the Hestia Familia," Lili announced, offering a deep, respectful bow. "It is a pleasure to see you, Lord Miach."
She recognized the God right away. The Blue Pharmacy was well-known among lower-tier Adventurers for its good prices, and she had been a regular custor herself.
"A new mber?" Miach smiled warmly. "Looks like your Familia is growing."
He turned toward the back room. "Naaza! August is here. Bring out the order."
Hearing the call, Naaza Erisuis practically sprinted out of the stockroom. The Chienthrope carried several heavy crates of custom-brewed recovery potions, setting the massive, prepaid shipnt down on the floor.
"Much appreciated," August said, acknowledging her hard work.
"..." But a certain Goddess was not happy.
"Hold on a second. You do have potions ready!" Artemis glared at Miach. "Why can't you split so of that batch for ??"
She was furious. Another God had a huge stockpile and wouldn't share it with her.
"Because August pre-ordered two hundred million Valis worth of specialized potions," Miach countered calmly. "And he already dropped a twenty-million Valis down paynt."
August's order was huge—two hundred million Valis. He had already paid a twenty-million deposit, so Miach's Familia had been working nonstop to fill it. After his last two Dungeon dives, August was spending tens of millions at their shop. Miach would be foolish not to put this order first.
Artemis blinked, her erald eyes shifting to the human man.
"The Hestia Familia..." Artemis murmured. "Wait. Are you the rookie who triggered that massive pillar of light during your initial Falna contract?"
Artemis kept up with the news. She usually worked outside Orario, but her information network was strong, so she knew all the big rumors.
"I am..." August nodded. "A pleasure to et you, Lady Artemis."
August waved his hand, and the heavy crates of potions disappeared into his [Spatial Backpack].
Artemis stared at the empty floor, instantly recognizing the tactical value of the ability.
"A spatial dinsion?" Artemis noted. "Not even the Gods possess a utility like that."
She had to take another look at the man in front of her. With a skill like that, he would be valuable to any group, whether as a Vanguard or a Supporter.
"You're a strange human, though," Artemis remarked bluntly.
She noticed him looking at her. He had sized her up as soon as he entered, but his eyes didn't have the usual hunger she saw from mortal n. He just seed a little surprised to see her, nothing more.
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"Ahem." Miach coughed, redirecting the conversation before Artemis derailed it further. He noticed soone was missing. "August, where is Hestia today?"
Normally, Hestia would be parading around, bragging loudly about her new recruits.
"She ate a massive lunch and passed out on my bed. She refused to move," August replied deadpan.
"Ah. I see..."
Unlike Artemis, Miach understood what 'ho' ant here. He guessed Hestia was relaxing in the alternate dinsion. He could also tell August was well-educated and practical, shaped by a world very different from Orario.
"By the way," Miach's tone suddenly shifted, turning dead serious. "August. Unless absolutely necessary, stay out of the Dungeon for the next few days."
August raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because the rumors have reached a boiling point," Miach sighed heavily. "Almost every God in Orario knows Hestia blessed you with Divine Power."
"Tomorrow is the Denatus. The divine council." Miach leaned forward on the counter. "And the other Gods are furious."
Hestia breaking the seal to give an active blessing, even if it was only for language translation, was a clear violation of the lower world's rules. The other Gods were getting ready to bring her in for questioning.
"HAH? A divine blessing? Has Hestia lost her damn mind??" Artemis was stunned.
She had only heard the rumors of the blinding light during the initial contract. She had no idea Hestia actually unsealed her power for a mortal. Was her friend suicidal? Did she forget the absolute laws of the mortal realm?
Artemis studied August. She wasn't an or arrogant like Freya, but this ti she was truly confused. Why would Hestia risk being sent away for him?
"What exactly makes you so special?" Artemis asked, her curiosity bleeding through her stoic facade.
August seed smart and steady, not wild like most Adventurers. His fighting skills were impressive, but was that enough to risk divine punishnt?
"You flatter , Lady Artemis, but I'm just an ordinary guy," August smiled, brushing off her scrutiny. "I don't have any hidden, magnetic charm."
He understood what she was looking for, but he wasn't going to brag. He was practical and knew he wasn't a perfect ani hero. He was just a guy with strong weapons and a calm mind. In a few years, he'd probably start getting a dad bod like anyone else.
"I'll make sure to pass the warning along to Hestia," August told Miach, appreciating the heads-up.
He wasn't worried and had no plans to hide. Even if the Gods tried to control him, he had natural resistance to ti, space, and charm powers. He wasn't about to let anyone turn him into a puppet.
"I figured as much," Miach chuckled. "Besides, Hestia didn't actually break any rules. She didn't violate our pact."
Miach gave August a knowing smile.
August was slightly surprised. Miach had connected the dots incredibly fast. "As expected of Lord Miach..."
August didn't deny it. He had been blessed by Hestia—but it happened on Earth. No Orario rules were broken.
—•——•——•——•——•——•—
"What are you two talking about?" Artemis frowned, annoyed by the cryptic exchange. Even Miach seed to think Hestia was innocent.
She decided to drop the interrogation and focus on her imdiate problem.
"Listen, August. Would you be willing to sell a fraction of those potions?" Artemis asked, shifting to a more diplomatic tone. "I'll pay you in Valis right now."
She needed ergency supplies. Buying out a chunk of his inventory was her best bet.
August looked at her. His smile faded.
"Lady Artemis. If I were you, I would cancel that subjugation quest imdiately..."
"..Because if you march into that territory, you and your entire Familia are going to be slaughtered."
August knew which mission she ant. With the timing, the remote location, and her urgent need for supplies, she was walking right into the Arrow of the Orion story. It was a death trap.
"You—!" Artemis's erald eyes widened in shock.
"..." Even Miach flinched, completely blindsided by the grim declaration.
"That is the only warning I am going to give you," August stated coldly. "If you want to exercise your divine arrogance and pretend you didn't hear , feel free to lead your children to their deaths."
August didn't owe her anything. He told her the truth, and what happened next was up to her.
"Let's go, Lili."
Once he had his supplies, August turned and left. The two Gods stared at him in shock, making it clear the conversation was finished.
"Yes, sir!" Lili nodded, hurrying after him.
The pharmacy fell into silence.
"Was that... a prophecy??" Artemis stared at the empty doorway, a cold knot forming in her stomach. Did he just foresee her actual death?
Miach rubbed his temples and let out a long, tired sigh. He hadn't expected August to give such a grim warning to his best client.
"It sounded like it..." Miach looked at her grimly. "And I think that's exactly why he refused to sell you the potions."
"The boy has a strong sense of right and wrong. If he knows you're heading toward your own death, selling you the supplies would be like giving you the tools to dig your own grave. He couldn't do that."
Miach made his decision right then and there.
"And since August explicitly stated you are going to die out there, I refuse to sell you anything either."
Miach was a businessman, but he wasn't heartless. He wouldn't make money from a suicide mission. If soone like August refused to help her out of basic decency, Miach definitely wasn't going to make things worse. He'd rather risk his reputation than do that.
"Ugh." Artemis gripped her weapon, feeling underestimated.
Still, Artemis felt a heavy doubt in her chest. August had looked her in the eye and told her she would die, and he sounded completely sure. It wasn't a threat—it was a fact. That left her feeling deeply uneasy.
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