Chapter 299 – Storm’s Envoy (9)
After shouting that he would leave soon, he stood up, but Artemis was still sitting on the bed.
She cups her cheeks, making cups with both of her hands.
Her appearance was so lovely that anyone could see her heart pounding, but she was not like the usual dignified and confident Artemis.
“Inside and out.”
Her dainty feet danced on her slippers as if to represent her joy.
“Do you like it that much?”
“This is my first time hearing it, and it feels better than I expected.”
“Huh? Is this your first time?”
At the shelter, we lived like a common-law marriage with a bond that was more than that of a couple.
Everyone there knew that Artemis and I were destined mates, but if you think about it, there was no title that bound us together.
To the human inhabitants, Artemis is a being above the clouds. They only receive one-way notification but do not discuss anything.
In the case of AI counselors and nymphs, the relationship between me and Artemis is not judged by human standards.
This is an expression that can only be heard when an external force treats the two of us officially.
“You will hear it often from now on. Not just the inside and the outside, but the variations as well.”
“For example?”
“Something like a wife.”
Dugudugudugu.
The speed at which I stepped on my slippers doubled. You could almost see the black glossy claws drawing an arc.
I wanted to leisurely enjoy this cute sight that is not easily accessible, but I can’t delay any longer.
It’s a bit late even for dinner time. Everyone had already gathered, and it seemed like they were starving while waiting for us, the most important guests.
It’s more than just a meal, it’s more like an event with intertwined interests. Wouldn’t that be rude?
Artemis, you have found me now. I will act as I want without worrying about others, but my nature is such that I cannot do that.
I glanced at the two nymphs, and they quickly approached me. I already have Artemis’ shoes in my hand.
As I was slowly putting them on for departure, they suddenly started chatting as a couple, so I guess I was just watching them.
Dugudugu.
“Over there…”
“Artemis, please step forward…”
But you can’t wear anything if your feet are still.
I felt sorry for the two who were in trouble without daring to stop their owner from being happy, so I went out.
“Wait a minute, it tickles.”
“It’s a blessing to be self-employed. Come on, put them on.”
Ignoring the complaining voice, I firmly grabbed the white foot and held it in place.
“Thank you.”
The two maids were very skilled at putting on shoes.
This is because, like medieval royalty, Artemis is attended to and solves everything, even simple tasks.
She once asked me if I could do it myself because I was wondering, ‘Do I really need to be waited on like this?’ But instead of persuading me, she seemed to want to make me her maid.
Just as she was about to let go of Artemis’s feet, her second knock rang.
“I’m leaving now.”
Looking at the rush, it certainly looks like the people waiting are starving.
* * *
She said that from now on she would hear the couple-related title often, and she could hear it again in no time.
As I passed through the carpeted passage and entered the dining area, a man in a luxurious suit shouted loudly.
“Manager Seo Jin-su and his wife are entering.”
When we arrived in the dining area, all the guests except us were already seated.
The murmur quiets down and dozens of pairs of eyes look at us with curiosity.
“As expected, they are high-ranking people in a society of competition for survival.”
They may all be successful people in their own way, but most people have a strong appearance rather than cute people.
Cuts, small burns, or lacerations to the face are not particularly rare.
This is probably because we live in an age where personal charisma is extremely important, not family, property, or academic background.
At first, everyone’s eyes were focused on me walking half a step ahead.
“Is that the manager?”
“It’s a little different from what you see in the video. “I was muscular back then.”
“Oh, normally all of those things are corrected.”
I can hear it all. And that’s not correction.
“The person next to me…”
“Ah…”
As if drawn by a magnet, my gaze moved to the white hand on my arm, and then reached the face of Artemis, who was walking lightly.
And then there was complete silence.
In this world where poor physical labor is the norm due to a great disaster, beautiful women are more valuable than we think.
From UV protection, makeup, dermatologists and beauty salons, to daily bathing.
Everything has become a luxury, and even if you have wealth, you cannot receive services due to lack of materials and technicians.
However, the young lady standing next to me was showing off her stunning beauty befitting the avatar of a god.
Since humans do not have at least one minor flaw, a body that does not need the distortion of makeup to make up for that flaw.
In some ways, it would be a beauty befitting the purity that symbolizes Artemis in mythology.
Even when several people, led by Chairman Seonam, stood up and paid their respects, there were several men sitting there looking at them as if they were fascinated.
The large dining table was long on the side, so the small space naturally became the head of the table.
Naturally, there were two empty seats at the head of the table, and we were guided there.
The seat across from us was empty as there were no chairs at all. Chairman Seonam was on the left side of us.
“No matter how much they treat you as a VIP, I think they are being too soft on you.”
“Why do you care? It’s just the treatment you deserve. In a way, everyone here indirectly owes their lives to you.”
Artemis has always had an attitude that she has nothing to regret from outside forces, and it seems that there is an underlying sense that she is doing a favor through the vaccine.
“Hmph.”
Someone caught wind of it.
This is because a squad of stalker guards lined up as if they were following behind us.
He was only armed with a pistol and wore a riding balaclava to hide his ugly face.
Nevertheless, it was not possible to hide the unique sense of intimidation given by the large size, massive artificial muscles, red eyes, and combat weapons.
“I was worried about ruining the good atmosphere, but I guess it wasn’t enough.”
“No. “I feel reassured watching this.”
Chairman Seonam smiled and shook his head.
“I heard that you saved a nearby camp just now, and everyone here needs to be thankful.”
“If that place had been destroyed, everyone in the area would have been in trouble.”
“I heard they replaced hundreds of people in an instant, but seeing it in person makes me understand. “Your arms are bigger than my thighs, hehe.”
As if agreeing with him, those sitting around him also added a word. Since they are close to me, they must be important people.
There were decorations such as flower arrangements in the middle of the tables, making it very rich and bright.
“The two most important people graced the occasion by attending. “I didn’t prepare anything, but please enjoy it.”
The organizer, Chairman Seo Nam, is a quick-witted person.
I knew that neither I nor Artemis were interested in livening up the mood by giving congratulatory speeches and that they were bothered.
Immediately everyone started dinner, holding their silverware in their hands.
At first, the people were cautious and reserved their words, but as one by one they began to make noise, they soon returned to their original, noisy atmosphere.
As if it had been planned in advance, only traditional Japanese tea and fruit wine were placed in front of Artemis.
“What? Those eyes.”
She asked at my disappointed reaction.
“I was looking forward to finally seeing you eat something.”
“No problem.”
Artemis smiled coldly and drank her drink.
Even though it seemed like her drink was quite strong, the gaze of those around her became even more enthusiastic as she poured it out in an instant.
Chairman Seonam said he didn’t have much in store, but that wasn’t the case at all.
The food was varied and luxurious, and there were some that even I, the shelter manager, couldn’t eat.
“Isn’t this a pine nut?”
I was surprised to see pine nuts piled up on a small plate in front of me.
“You’re right. We prepared it in time for the manager’s visit. “I thought about things that would be difficult to eat on a regular basis.”
Chairman Seonam smiled with pride.
Meat can be obtained through cultured meat technology, and vegetables can be obtained from a hydroponic cultivation room, but it is not all-purpose.
In the case of pine nuts, they are grown at the top of a tree about 20 meters high in a rugged mountain with no roads. It is a difficult food to harvest, as it is covered in resin and has to be pricked by a stinging brush and beaten with a stick.
To be honest, she didn’t particularly enjoy nuts, but she put them in her mouth with a smile because she was sincere.
The high-quality liquor that had been saved for today was generously distributed, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.
“Aren’t you all drinking too much?”
Pour it! Drink!
Everyone frantically shoveled food into their mouths, like a death row inmate’s dinner.
It was strange considering that this meeting was more of an event to strengthen solidarity with allies across the sea than a simple meal.
“Say it’s like a poor person at a buffet.”
Artemis said, sipping some new sake.
It was my job to fill the cup whenever she pointed to it.
“The people attending here may be heads of various camps or have high status, but the world is the world. We live in an era where canned food, which cost 5,000 won before the war, is called a company dinner. It is rare to have the opportunity to eat and drink such precious food and alcohol to your heart’s content. “Don’t you have experience too?”
When I was in high school, I remembered going to a buffet for the first time and eating to the point where I felt sick.
“How did you know? There won’t be anything like that in the records.”
“The record is a prediction of the situation that a boy growing up in an orphanage will inevitably face.”
Even though not much time had passed, there were already people who were so drunk that they couldn’t hold their heads up.
“There are some who attended after going through battle just a few days ago. Isn’t this a world where you can’t just sit back and be left behind even if you are in a high position? “It’s stressful, and you could die right away, so you should enjoy it to the fullest when you get the chance.”
Chairman Seonam defended his neighbors and family members with a wry smile.
But even he twitched his eyebrows the moment he saw the drunk man staggering towards Artemis.
Because he was drunk, his movements were so quick and imprecise that there was no time to stop him.
“Wow, such a pretty person drinks well!”
He speaks with a curled tongue and puts the plate he brought on top of Artemis! I placed it.
“Let’s have some snacks here! “If you drink that much, you’re being considerate!”
There were two seasoned chicken skewers on the plate.
While I was drunk, I put it down so hard that red sauce splashed onto the table, and one drop of it ended up flying and sticking to Artemis’ lips.
“…”
Her beautiful eyebrows twitched menacingly.
