Chapter 3.

Hmm, I can see them and hear them just fine from quite far away. This really tells me that I am in a different world and in a different body. Thank goodness Mother always kept my ears plugged with mufflers, otherwise I would have been bombarded with all kinds of sound all the time.

I think because I never went out or was not taken out by my parents often, I haven't realized how far I can see. Seeing the details of the ceiling for the first time did startle me, but I had attributed that to being in a fantasy world with magic and gods roaming around us mortals.

That lady in the lead must be the goddess of my mother's familia—Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and care of children. Personally, I don't know much about her other than my father getting his ass kicked by her as a test to see his worth. Other than that, Mother and Father don't talk much about their adventuring days.

To be honest, I don't remember much about Danmachi other than some odd bits of information. Like, I know this whole familia is going to die to some ancient monster who was unsealed—or did that monster break the seal itself? Anyway, the point is I know they would die, but when and where are completely unknown to me.

Heck, I don't even know where I am in the timeline exactly. But if I had to guess, I'm a year or two after the one-eyed black dragon defeated the Zeus and Hera familias. I should be the same age as Bell, the hero and protagonist of this world—or somewhat near his age.

Anyway, it doesn't matter much to me. I neither want to save the world, nor is my family in any danger. As for the Artemis familia, it's still many years later that they face that monster, and even if I wanted to do something about it right now, I can't. I don't know the details about the monster nor its whereabouts. And even if I did, what should I even say to them? "Pretty please don't go over to XXXX and fight XXXX or you will all die."

Even I wouldn't believe that myself if a kid still wet behind the ears came to me and told me this. There is also the risk of potentially accelerating their death too. So I think the best course of action is to just learn, grow, and become strong enough to handle everything myself. That way, I can have fun and nobody else gets implicated.

Yep, that's the plan, and I should stick to it until the plan doesn't work and is in need of modifications or new additions.

POV Change

"Lady Artemis, how have you been?" Callisto asked with a little nervousness, as she was filled with both happiness at seeing her mother figure and equal dread about her reaction when seeing Arcas.

Goddess Artemis was one of the three virgin goddesses of heaven, together with Goddess Hestia and Goddess Athena. While the other two goddesses had their own reasons to remain virgins, Goddess Artemis's reason was the oath of chastity she had taken. That's why Callisto felt that she had somehow disappointed her by falling in love with Agar. She already knew that by showing his worth, Agar and her relationship had been approved by Artemis, but there were some complicated feelings left unattended while leaving behind her familia and her mother to start a new family.

"Yeah, it's really been a while," Artemis said before coming closer to hug her dear daughter. Callisto was surprised by the sudden hug but returned it immediately while feeling a huge weight lift from her heart. It seems she was overthinking, and Artemis really has approved her relationship and was not disappointed in her in any way.

"You seem to have been slacking off with all this fat being accumulated in your stomach, huh?" Well, that was one way she was disappointed in her.

"No, I have not. It's just something that happens to all women after they give birth. It will go away on its own," Callisto randomly made an excuse like she used to in the past when Artemis caught her slacking.

"It better be that, or else you are in for the 'extensive training' I had planned for you these past few months." Artemis said with a slight smirk, knowing full well that her daughters caught the meaning behind the words 'extensive training.' And indeed they did. Every single one of them had gone through this 'extensive training,' including Rethusa. So now they just prayed they would not be dragged into it.

"Come on, Lady Artemis, surely you jest. I am really keeping up with my training. There's no need for me to go through that tort—I mean extensive training. Haha," Callisto quickly tried to convince Artemis while suppressing the chill in her spine just remembering what she had to go through in the name of 'extensive training.'

"We will see. Anyway, tell me what name you have decided for the child?" Artemis asked, looking at the small child who was also looking back at her.

"Arcas. Her name is Arcas. Isn't it lovely? Oh, you can also call her Arc—she responds to it too." Callisto excitedly showed her daughter to everyone in the familia like how a cat shows her kittens to everyone.

"Hmm, what an odd name for a girl. Who came up with it? No, wait, let me guess—it must be Agar, right? Only he would think of a name like this. Knowing him, it must be the name of some old unknown hero, right? Seriously. Anyway, you said she can respond to her name this early on? Looking at her, she hardly seems a month old. Impressive." Artemis expressed her surprise over a child this young being able to respond to their own name. Normally, it takes at least six months for a child to do that.

"Right! My Arc is such a smart kid. She is also able to say some words with some difficulty, but I am sure she will be able to speak next month," Callisto said, sounding more and more excited and exaggerated as if wanting to show off her daughter like any Asian mother from Arcas's previous world.

"Wait, what? She started to say words at just a month old? That's—that's absurd. In all my years I haven't heard of any child being capable of that," Iphigenia said, sharing everyone's surprise.

"Don't believe it? Here, let me show you. Arcas, baby, say 'Mama,'" Callisto said, looking expectantly at her daughter. Everyone else was also looking at Arcas expectantly.

'To be or not to be, that is the question,' is all Arcas could think of in this moment.