Early morning in Knossos City.
As the huntress clad in a belted short skirt and hunting boots set out with bow and arrow and spear, accompanied by several hounds, heads brimming with smiles peeked out from the streets.
They were waving or shouting cheerfully.
"Cynthia sister, I want to raise a rabbit."
"Could you bring me a pair of antelope horns and a couple of snake gallbladders for medicinal purposes? I'll settle the payment at market price, thank you."
"It's too cold, could you trouble yourself to get some warm fur? My wife is good with her hands, and she can make any style you want. Just leave us some offcuts."
"Here, have some freshly sun-dried figs for the road... no need, no need, I'm too old, can't chew on the mountain meat..."
Artemis accepted the dried figs, smiled faintly as usual, looking at both sides of the street, nodded lightly, and then with her guide following behind, strode towards the outskirts of the city.
Arriving at a deserted path, the Goddess of the Hunt placed her little finger to her lips and blew a crisp whistle, and the golden chariot drawn by two golden-horned deer hurried over from the woods.
Luo En pointed toward Knossos City, bathed in the morning sun, and asked with a teasing smile,
"So, the first stop is to find a rabbit hole?"
It had been a full two months since the huntress took up residence in Knossos City.
She seemed very fond of the atmosphere here. Although Artemis had never publicly revealed her true identity, she maintained a subtle friendliness towards the neighbors in the city.
As long as their requests were not excessive, she would nod and agree,
and any request she nodded to, she pretty much fulfilled.
Even those minor troubles weren't enough for Artemis to slay.
There she was, the Goddess of the Hunt idle out of sheer boredom, starting to undertake the task of hunting pet rabbits for little girls.
To this, the scribe officially in charge of the military and political power on Crete Island couldn't be happier.
After all, with this humanoid artillery stationed there, his workload in law enforcement and control was greatly reduced.
By noon, a nest of snow-white rabbits was captured and placed into a cage on the chariot, and Luo En had collected antelope horns, snake gallbladders, and furs for warmth from those unlucky animals they had passed by.
With the day's requests easily completed, he promptly set up a fire in the clearing, roasting a newly cleaned antelope and stewing up a pot of mushroom soup full of fresh flavor with berries, wild vegetables, and edible mushrooms.
As a guide, besides leading the way, taking care of the Huntress's bow, chariot, and meals was also part of his daily duties.
Previously, these tasks were the responsibility of Artemis's twenty nymph attendants.
But for some reason, the Huntress showed no sign of calling her nymph attendants thus far.
So, the notable scribe, the uncrowned king of Crete Island, could only condescend somewhat to act as half a full-time nanny for Artemis.
"Eating this for lunch? Seems good, give me a bowl of the soup first."
As the rich aroma of meat and the salty freshness of the mushrooms spread, the Huntress arrived beside the fire like a whirlwind, eager to taste the day's wild fare.
Shortly after, a bowl of warm mushroom soup was consumed, with the slight acidity from the berries, the deliciousness of the mushrooms, and the crispness of the wild vegetables bursting on the palate, providing a delightful dining experience.
Soon, the antelope on the grill became perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Artemis took the leg of lamb torn off by the guide and bit eagerly into it, the rich juices exploding in her mouth, with just the right hit of savory flavor and harmoniously balanced seasonings, leaving one craving for more.