Authors Note1: So this is the first chapter of the Harem route story. Unlike the Ero version, this here is a real story, not only one shots. Of course there will be kind of one shots in here, when Bell goes on a date with a woman he loves. There will be a few lewd moments here and there but no Lemons. All Lemons that are part of this story will be posted in the Ero version. This story will have arcs about a woman, with the others on the side, since Ais and Ryu have their own stories, I will focus on other woman.
Part of Bell´s "Harem" will be: Hestia, Lily, maybe Cassandra, Ais, Astrea, Tiona, Riveria, Ryu, Syr, Ahnya and Eina...and someone else. The biggest Arc will belong to Riveria and it will start at the third chapter, since the first two belong to "someone else".
There won´t be much big fights in this story, it is all about Bell´s life with the women he loves and how their relationship develops.
The starting point is a mixture of "Like a Fairy" and "Spirit Child", which means that Bell is in a relationship with Ais and Ryu at the start, the others will follow one by one.
It is all about love here.
Just a bit warning, despite there wil be no Lemons here, it can happen that there will be unprotected, raw, sweaty handholding in here while they kiss.
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Many things had happened since Bell was trapped on the 37th Floor together with Ryu.
The city got nearly destroyed during the events in Knossos, where Bell had defeated Nidhöggr.
It was a good time since then, Bell and Ais had grown closer together, she had started to develop feelings of love towards Bell. Later he accompanied Ryu on her journey to a far away village, where she wanted to search for her goddess, Astrea.
He had a duell with a strange rabbit like monster there, won in the end and that triggered his level up, his status was high enough to let it make sense. During this journey, Ryu and Bell finally confessed their feelings for each other under the light of a full moon,
blushing and stammering...before they eventually kissed. Like this, Ryu got her goddess back, since Astrea accompanied Bell and Ryu during their return to Orario...and they became a couple.
But his heart was troubled, Bell loved Ryu from the bottom of his heart...but so did he loved Ais. During a heavy thunderstorm it happened, Bell went out of the city to help the Demeter Familia on their fields, he found Ais there who did the same.
For the whole night both helped to secure the fields, when the storm slowly ended and the evening sun filled the fields with golden light, Bell and Ais knelt in the mud and kissed...well Ais kissed Bell since she thought it was a dream. In the end both confessed too...
Bell wanted to make Ryu and Ais happy...and...it didn´t ended there. Ryu felt guilty towards Syr...she knew that Syr was deeply in love with Bell...and during a long talk with Bell, she noticed that the feelings were mutual. So Ryu managed to bring Syr and Bell in a room together and forced them to talk to each other...well "forced" was maybe too much to say.
The three young women loved Bell very much...and he loved them. The new skill he received with level five also gave a hint of Bell´s unique feelings.
"Blood of Zeus"
An ability to make many women happy...
And so...Bell´s journey begun...he wanted to be a hero...wanted to make everyone happy...
Later he would be known under four different names. His own name, Bell Cranel. His alias "Argonaut". And...two names that were given him by gods in the city... "Solomon", since...Bell would wear ten rings on his hands later...each of them for a wife of him...and he didn´t even had a ring for every wife...due to special reasons for some.
The other name was a bit silly...or even mean...depending on the person. He also would be known as "The Rabbit King" or "King Rabbit"...since...Bell would be the father of... more than a dozen children, many years later, well for two of them he was only the biological father, the ones who raised them as their fathers...were two gods. Riveria alone would be the mother of **** of them...
Not every one of his wives would give birth to a child, some just couldn´t. Like..Syr...Hestia...and...someone else.
But every story has a beginning...every woman that Bell got in a relationship with...he would treat her like the love of his life...his queen...and so started his journey.
Two of his wives were very special in a certain way...since no one except Bell and themself knew about their relationship...the relationship to one of them would become known later, due to a special reason that she wouldn´t be able to hide for nine months.
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But the other one...no one else would ever know about her...
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"Sir Bell, more incoming!"
"Understood!"
Bell whirled around, blocked the sword of a Spartoi with Hakugen, before thrusting the Hestia Knife into the chest of the monster, dissolving it to ash. Welf fought on Bell´s left side,
Ouka on his right, they formed the vanguard together. Mikoto was a few steps behind them, she used her "Black Crow" skill to scan the area for new monsters. The whole combined party of the Hestia,
Takemikazuchi and Miach Familia were down on the 37th Floor, except for Nahza. Over time, they had become stronger together, Bell had even reached level five, gained a new skill and was raising his stats again.
The Hestia Familia also had a new member, the amazoness Lena Tally. She had joined the Hestia Familia, wanting to get much, much stronger, her goal was to reach level six and that as fast as possible...she told them that Bete Loga would finally impregnate her then...With a group so big, it was much easier to move around down here.
Chigusa and Daphne accompanied Mikoto in the middle, Lily was behind them and acted as their commander, while Bell was the leader, Lily was their "grand strategist", she even bought glasses for herself, according to her it...made her...smarter? Sometimes she raised her glasses with a finger, they flashed and she smiled as if all happened according to her plans.
Behind Lily came Cassandra, Haruhime and Asuka, the last one was Lena. Lena´s job was the rear guard, where she could watch over "Her adorable, cute Haru-Haru". On some days it happened that Ryu accompanied them, or Ais, sometimes even a small group from the Loki Familia. Loki and Hestia were still on rival terms, but they couldn´t do much since Bell was in love with Ais...and was friends with quite a few Loki Familia members...but all of them didn´t knew...that three more Familia members would fall in love with Bell later...well...for Tiona it was quite obvious already.
A new wave of monsters rushed to their position, they were between the third and fourth ring. Bell was on this Floor quite a few times by now, but he still sometimes got flashbacks of his time with Ryu here. That an adventurer developed a trauma for a special Floor or the whole dungeon wasn´t unusual, but Bell got very beautiful help in dealing with it.
At first it was sleeping side by side with Ryu, or she in his arms...later he noticed that with Ais too...or Syr...it was the presence of a loved one that helped him. The party had one thing in mind all the time, never underestimate the dungeon, basically everything was possible, all of the time.
But even when they expected everything...some things just couldn´t be expected.
Orion...
Bell stopped for a tiny moment in his movement.
Huh?!
"Bell!"
Welf´s sword came down and blocked the spear of a Spartoi in front of Bell, that snapped Bell out of his surprise.
"Wha-?! Ah Welf, thank you!"
"You good?"
"Yes!"
Was it just his imagination...he could have sworn he heard a voice...a very familiar voice. They defeated the last monsters and started to collect the magic stones, that were still on the ground. Bell glanced to the Hestia Knife in his hand, he had the strong feeling...that the voice came from his Knife.
Am I...hearing things?
"Master Bell?"
He looked over his shoulder, Haruhime walked to him, with a mug in her hands.
"Do you want some water?"
"Ah, thank you."
He smiled and when their finger tips touched, Haruhime smiled shyly, both blushing. A few weeks ago, Bell had confessed his love to Haruhime, she had started to cry, at first he was in panic...but she had cried out of happiness. Their first kiss was a bit awkward, since Haruhime fainted...but when she woke up again, they took their time and kissed again.
Taking short breaks and drink something was important in the dungeon. Bell sheathed Hakugen and moved the Hestia Knife in his other hand, opening and closing his fingers to relax them.
Orion...that tickles...
"Kya!"
Haruhime shreeked and staggered back, Bell had spat out his water in surprise...and hit her.
"Ah! H-Haruhime! I-I´m sorry!"
"Mmmmmh..."
The Renard looked really unhappy, she took a handkerchief out of her pocket and wiped her face.
"I´m really sorry..."
"I-It´s okay.."
"Oy Boss, what are you doing? Already practicing "that" with Haru-Haru?"
Lena walked to them and looked what he did to Haruhime, grinning lewd.
""That"?"
"Hehe...you know th-"
"Lalalalalala!"
Lily rushed forward and stopped Lena from saying anything indecent. They had a hard time to teach Lena that most of the women of the party were way too innocent and had problems to deal with the frankness of amazons.
Bell didn´t heard the voice anymore for the rest of the time in the dungeon, but he was confused...he was absolutely certain that he had heard something. Hours later they returned to the surface, all too happy since they had found some really valuable dropp items. Welf wanted to go into his forge right away, since he got his hands on two "Obsidian Soldier´s Body Stone".
He wanted to forge a shield out of it for Ouka and maybe something for Bell. When he got his hands on new dropp items, Bell was like a boy who got a new toy. But he had to wait for the next day, since he was really tired too.
Before he went to bed, Bell apologized to Haruhime for accidentely spitting at her again. She blushed fiercly and told him it was okay...but she would absolutely forgive him...for a good night kiss. Haruhime felt enormous shame for demanding a kiss from Bell...it felt really lewd...maybe Aisha was right about her being a perverted fox.
He gently took Haruhime´s hands, she closed her eyes and he kissed her softly.
Bell lay on top of his blanket and looked at the Knife in his hands. Was he just tired? He was sure that he heard a voice...the voice of a very beautiful woman...that he didn´t heard in a while.
It can´t be...
After a while, Bell fell asleep, the Hestia Knife was on his chest, his fingers were on the handle of the Knife. Unnoticed by him since he was asleep, the runes that were carved into the blade started to glow a bit, unseen since it was inside it´s sheath. And they didn´t glew white like always...but blue.
Bell dreamed that night, he dreamed often about various things. Saving one of the woman he loved from a monster, getting a kiss as reward...sometimes holding hands while doing that...or other things. But this dream...felt strange.
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Where...am I?
Bell sat on a tree stump inside a forest, a forest that looked somewhat familiar...but well most forests looked the same for him. Ryu could probably tell him the differences, since elves saw more things in a forest than just trees. The sky above him was dark, but not like it was fully night, it was more of a dark blue, a few stars could be seen...and a full moon that had at least four times the size of the normal one.
He heard water gurgling and only the few noises of animals at night. Like in many of his dreams, Bell wore a different outfit than usual, high leather boots in a reddish brown. Dark pants and a green shirt, over that a grey jacked with white sleeves. He had worn this outfit before...but his armor parts were missing. On the back of his hip was the sheath of the Hestia Knife, but it was empty. He looked around while he got up to his feet, a few silvery light orbs...maybe fireflies drifted through the air.
A bigger light orb slowly drifted out of the forest...then it seemed to "notice" Bell. The light orb came closer to him and drifted up and down, from left to right and back again.
"Hello."
Bell smiled, the orb backed away a little...then it came back, moved around him. After it "mustered" Bell for a while, it moved up and down in front of him as if to get his attention. The orb moved into the direction of the gurgling water, stopped and moved up and down again.
"Do you want me to follow you?"
The orb moved faster and drifted into the direction of the sound again. Since it was a dream and he had nothing else to do, Bell followed the orb. The foliage of the trees looked more blue than green, but that might be because it was dark around here. It looked like the orb turned around from time to time, making sure that Bell was still following.
Maybe he should try to run, but when he did that in dreams, Bell always felt as if he was walking through honey. The gurgling of the water got a bit louder, he seemed to come closer. The light was strange in this forest, except from the fireflies, it seemed like there was a gentle light coming from the direction he was walking into. Bell had no idea how far he walked or how long...it felt like minutes.
The temperature in the forest was perfect, not too cold and not too warm. He really felt at ease and calm, it was a nice place. Slowly he saw a small lake appearing between the trees, due to the enormous full moon, the water shone in a gentle, white light.
"It is really nice here."
The orb pulsed and swirled up and down...it seemed to be...happy?
"Hmmm...hmmm...hmmm..."
Bell´s steps got slower and slower, right when he passed the last trees, he stopped. It was indeed a lake, a rather small one, only about thirty meters in diameter. The area around the lake was a glade...maybe, since it was actually too big for a glade.
The ground was a big meadow, only at the edge to the water, it turned into sand. No animals were on the glade, only a few fireflies.
And...a person.
A woman...
Surrounded by nineteen big orbs like the one that was guiding Bell, a woman with long blue hair sat in the middle of the meadow. She wore a long, white dress and had beautiful skin. Bell couldn´t see her face...but he heard her voice. She had one hand raised and a few orbs circled slowly around it.
The woman giggled and raised her other hand, it looked almost like she was...playing with these orbs. One of the orbs separated from the others and drifted the to face of the woman, moving up and down in front of it.
"Ehehe Rethusa, what is with you?"
Now even more orbs started to circle up and down, until the woman turned her head around.
"Lante, are you ba..."
Bell´s eyes widened...it was her...
This beautiful, long, blue hair...green eyes that he could just fall in love with...and..her face...
"Artemis..."
"Ah, Orion!"
Artemis smiled happily and got up to her feet, the orb that accompanied Bell drifted forward and joined the other orbs. The orbs romped through the air, tumbled on top of each other and whirled around.
"Ehe, my girls...I know you are happy to see Lante again, but please calm down a bit, we have a guest."
To see Artemis again...even if it was only a dream...brought tears to Bell´s eyes.
"Artemis...*Hic*.."
"Orion? What is wrong?"
Artemis came closer, Bell´s feet moved by themself. The orbs remained behind the goddess and waited. It really felt like a dream for Bell, the distance between them shrinked until they stood in front of each other. Bell couldn´t see well, tears dwelled in the corners of his eyes and flew down his cheeks.
The white dress covered her cleavage completely, fitting for a virgin goddess...but Bell noticed a small scar...right above her heart. She looked so pure...so innocent...it hurt Bell´s heart.
"Orion...you don´t need to cry."
"Artemis...*Hic*...I´m sorry...I´m sorry!"
The goddess smiled understanding, she came a step closer and gently hugged Bell. "You don´t need to...Orion. I have to thank you...for freeing me."
Bell´s tears and sobbing came faster and faster, he put his arms around Artemis very gentle and started to cry for real. Artemis kept him company and smiled gently, the orbs slowly circled around the two.
After a while, Bell calmed down a bit...maybe this was a dream he longed to have...so that he could apologize...at least in a dream.
Artemis made a step back and pointed with her hand to the grass below their feet, both sat down.
"You kept me waiting, Orion."
"I´m sorry...even if it just a dream..I´m sorry for making you wait."
"A dream?" Artemis tilted her head, confused...the orbs mimicked the gesture.
"Yes, I dream about seeing you again."
Artemis giggled. "Orion...this isn´t a dream. Well technically it is...and yet isn´t...it is both and none of it."
Bell looked confused. "Eh?"
She raised her hand and the orb that she had called Rethusa circled around her hand. "This isn´t really a dream, Orion. This is my world."
"Your...world?"
"Mhm!" Artemis smiled, nodding.
"So...heaven?"
She shook her head. "No not heaven...I can´t go to heaven...yet."
"What do you mean? I mean...you tell me that...because it is a dream...right?"
Artemis giggled again and gently tapped with her index finger against Bell´s forehead. "I told you Orion...this isn´t a dream. You are dreaming...but you visit my world...where I live with my children."
By her last words, the twenty orbs formed a line...and bowed. Then they circled around the goddess again, one of them sat down on her head...it looked almost like as if the orb had...tiny, pointy ears.
She gently stroked the orb on her head. "You did well, Lante. Thank you my dear."
The orb turned red as if...it was blushing...then it drifted around again.
Bell blinked a few times...it felt really strange here.
"Artemis...are those..."
She smiled lovingly. "The souls of my children."
"Then...am I...dead?"
"Dear heavens, no! Orion as I told you again and again, this is my world, where I live. My children can´t go to heaven...or rather they don´t want to...yet."
"What do you mean?"
"Antares killed my Familia...my children...by using my power. Sometimes a soul can´t or don´t want to leave and go to heaven, especially when they have something to do...and I can´t go to heaven too."
"Why that?"
Artemis raised her right hand and the Hestia Knife appeared in it. "Because of that."
Bell got sad. "Because...I...killed you?"
"Killed? No, you freed me." Artemis smiled again.
"But then...why?"
Artemis moved her free hand and gently took Bell´s main weapon hand. "Because...something of me...remains in here...in your Knife."
"Huh?" Bell blinked when Artemis put the Hestia Knife in Bell´s hand, the runes in the blade flashed blue.
"Remains...in here?"
"Mhm!" She grinned happily...her behaviour was a bit strange.
"Artemis...you seem...ahm...how do I say this..."
"Weird?"
"Yes..."
"My children told me that too...I have a guess that is because of the Knife...it is bound to Hestia...so maybe some of her personality rubs off on me."
"Then...you are..not the...real Artemis?"
"Oh I am, definetely! But I feel a bit more...relaxed? More free if you want."
Bell looked around the glade. "And...you were here all this time...alone?"
"I am not alone, I have my children with me." She smiled like a loving mother.
"Orion...I wanted to thank you...for freeing me...and my children. Without you...their souls would have been devoured...by Antares. So...thank you...Orion."
She gently squeezed his hand and smiled to him.
A strange feeling came to Bell...the world got blurry...
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When Bell opened his eyes it was early morning, the Hestia Knife was still on his chest.
A...nice dream...
He smiled and gently put his Knife down on the blanket.
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"Mou Orion! Leaving in the middle of a conversation, that´s rude you know?"
"Huh?"
After a long day, Bell went to sleep...and found himself again on the glade. Artemis stood before him, surrounded by the souls of her children.
"You suddenly left...and then you put me down on your bed...y-you can´t d-do that O-Orion...th-that´s..t-too early..."
Never before saw Bell the goddess Artemis blush and fidget like this, the soul orbs also turned slightly red and circled around like crazy. He even thought he heard a faint "Kyaaa...", more then one...
"The same...dream again?"
"Haaah..." Artemis sighed.
She stepped closer and put her hands on his cheeks. "This. Is. No. Dream. Orion."
He blinked a few times surprised. "Then...wait how did you know I put my knife on the bed?"
Artemis smiled and winked. "I told you, I remain in that Knife...it is my body now."
She let go of him and tapped her chin in thoughts. "Since this here is my world...maybe you could say...we are...inside...the Knife?"
For some reason Artemis squeaked loudly and got deep red.
"N-N-No forget that! Please forget thaaaaat!"
"Huh?"
"Don´t make me say it! Don´t make me say I nearly said you are technically inside my body!...Eeeeeeeek!"
The goddess shreeked, crouched down and covered her face with her hands.
"Artemis?!"
"Don´t look at me! Orion you brute! What are you making me say?!"
The soul orbs surrounded Bell, all of them were flustered and they protected their goddess from him.
"Artemis I´m sorry! It was just...I couldn´t believe this is no dream!"
She slightly opened her fingers and glanced up to him. "So..you believe me...now?"
"I believe you...can you explain it to me...please?"
Artemis put her hands away and smiled to him. "Of course."
They sat down in the grass, the soul orbs sat in front of them.
"So Orion...when you used your Knife...to free me..from Antares...something of me...settled down in the Knife. When a god dies on the surface, he or she will return to heaven, as it happened many times by now. The god would maybe be confused for a moment but in the end would start the work again, comforting souls and such. But I didn´t went back to heaven, I woke up here on this glade. I was confused for a while and thought it was my mind that created this image, to help me settle back in, in heaven. But I couldn´t use my Arcana like in heaven...I am still the same as I was on the surface, which meant I never really left. After a few...days?...I met my children. Rethusa was the first one...she was my captain. Believe it or not, I can understand what they tell me and they understand me. Together we wandered around the forest...it seems to have no end, no matter in which direction you go.
But no matter how far I went, I could always return to this glade shortly. Together we found all of us...every child of mine is here."
"So...they can´t go..to heaven? That is sad..."
"Not at all!" Artemis smiled happily.
"Not?"
"What do you say, girls?"
The soul orbs hopped up and down, agreeing with their goddess.
"Ehehe."
To hear Artemis laugh, giggle...it was a blessing for Bell´s heart.
"They don´t want to go to heaven now. We are finally united again and want to spend time together until the day comes where they will move on."
"So you are comforting them until the day comes...and then?"
Artemis smiled. "Maybe I go with them...if that is possible...maybe I remain here...I don´t know. I can just tell you, time flows different here then in the outside world. And we have plans to spend time together for a loooong time...well long for mortals."
"And...you can only live here on the glade?"
"Oh no, of course not. As I said, this is my world."
Artemis snapped her fingers...and the scenery changed. It turned into a beautiful forest in bright daylight. Conifers and deciduous trees formed the light forest, a river gurgled, fed by a small waterfall. Colorful flowers sprout everywhere, only a few small clouds moved across the sky ... a sky with two moons.
"What is this?"
"Heaven. Or at least an image of one of my favorite places in heaven..my children love it here."
The soul orbs drifted into every direction, some went to the flowers, some played at the river. Two even went inside the waterfall, came out again and shook themself to get the water of them, before diving into the waterfall again.
"Ehehe, we have much fun here."
"How many places are there?"
"Three, the glade, this here and my temple."
"Oh, your temple?"
"Y-Yeah...b-but...you can´t...see it now..."
"I´m just glad you don´t have to stay at the same place all the time."
Artemis sat down between the flowers and glanced up to Bell, smiling. He sat down next to her, while the souls went to play.
"So...Artemis..."
"Yes, Orion?"
"You say...the Knife...is your body?"
"Technically, yes."
"Hah..."
"Orion?"
Bell blushed fiercly. "So...ahm...does that mean...I´m...touching you...all the time?"
"Mmmmh!" Artemis blushed fiercly too. "D-Don´t say it like that...Orion."
"So...you can feel it...when I...touch the Knife?"
She averted her eyes, abashed. "Well...when you...hold the handle...it is like...hauuuuu..."
"You don´t have to say it..."
Both were really embarrassed.
"It is like...you are...holding my hand..."
His eyes widened...an image filled his head, of him holding hands with Artemis while they fought together against monsters.
"So...would you like me to..st-"
"No! Please continue to use me-...Mmmmmh!"
She covered her face again...her voice was almost too low to undertand her when she mumbled. "Pleashe forget I shaid that..."
"No problem."
It needed a few minutes until Artemis could look into Bell´s eyes again.
"What I mean...it is okay for me. It feels like...we are...fighting together."
Bell smiled. "That is a wonderful image...but...aren´t you tired...of fighting?"
"Not when it is on the side of the man I love."
The soul orbs stopped their movements, all of them heard what Artemis just said. She smiled up to Bell, not ashamed of her words one bit. There were always feelings for Artemis in his heart ever since he met her...they had promised to love each other when they would see each other again...even if it would take 10.000 years.
Artemis looked at him, she waited for something.
Bell smiled. "I love you too, Artemis."
The soul orbs exploded into fast movements, circling and flying around in pure happiness. A smile like he had never seen it before bloomed on Artemis´ face.
"Ehe...ehehe...Eheheheheh...I finally heard it! Orion loves me!" She giggled and laughed so happy, it warmed his heart.
Both sat there, Artemis held Bell´s right hand with her left and she smiled lovingly. There was a strange shine in her eyes...a special shine...a shine that Bell knew.
"Artemis..."
Bell leaned a little bit closer.
"Eh...O-Orion...I..."
He just waited if he was allowed to continue, Artemis looked hastily around, but all of the soul orbs of her children hid behind a large rock, not able to see their goddess. Her heart pounded really fast, her hands got wet and she shivered a bit.
But...her heart was ready...she longed for it.
"Artemis..."
Bell gently put his free hand on her shoulder.
"Orion..."
Their bodies came closer and closer...Artemis raised her face a little bit. In the last moment, she closed her eyes and waited...too inexperienced to do the last step. Bell closed his eyes and gently squeezed her hand.
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Bell kissed Artemis.
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A tiny squeal escaped her, but she sighed happily when she felt Bell´s lips on her own.
"Orion...I love you."
"I love you...Artemis."
Both smiled...and kissed again.
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Outside, the runes in the Hestia Knife glew blue again...and they would only glow blue from this point on.
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Auhtors Note2: So I wanted to start with Artemis, I really wanted to write something about her. The next chapter will also be about her, then we move on to Riveria. About the number of rings, it will be ten because Bell won´t wear a ring for Artemis and the elves.
I will remove some of the ideas I had for the Ero version and put it here as a normal version. I just couldn´t bring myself to write a Lemon for Artemis...she is just too pure.
Also there won´t be a chapter every week, I try but can´t promise, since I´m busy with "Spirit Child" and sometimes a chapter for the Ero version.