Chapter 300 – Storm’s Envoy (10)
Many things appear distorted to the eyes of a drunk person.
Artemis’ evil glare seemed like a pretense to the man who brought the chicken skewers.
“The meat served here was raised at our camp. Among them, this chicken is my greatest pride.”
He pointed at the chicken skewer and pounded his chest.
“Tanaka. “I think I drank too much. Why don’t you go back to your dorm?”
Chairman Seonam spoke softly.
I feel like I can barely hold back the growling mixed in right in front of me. But I was intrigued.
“It’s okay. Since we only use cultured meat, it feels fresh. Besides, isn’t it a difficult time to grow anything these days?”
When I defended Tanaka, he looked touched.
“We don’t have any feed, antibiotics or anything, so we can’t just let them out in the fields or mountains and raise them! If you do that, it will either be stolen or the infected will leave behind nothing but bones.”
“I guess so.”
I waved away the strong smell of alcohol that came out every time he spoke.
Then he took out his handkerchief and wiped the seasoning off Artemis’ soft lips.
As if she was expecting him to say something for her, she took a groggy look and took a sip of her sake.
I filled Artemis’ empty glass with new alcohol and held a chicken skewer in my hand.
“The flesh is very thin. I will eat it gratefully.”
“Oh my, please thank my little son! He ate the insects he caught every day and became plump and fat! “He probably ate better than most people.”
Unlike livestock such as pigs and cows, which require feeding, chickens pick up things and grow on their own even if they are raised loosely.
This is also good when you need to urgently move camp due to the approach of a gang of marauders or a horde of infected organisms. Because it can be easily transported by putting it in a cage.
As for other livestock, it was rare to find a camp without chickens. Even though he was very thin and small and unattractive.
“He was raised especially for this special day. “I’m serving precious people, but I can’t serve rotten, meatless chicken!”
Tanaka, who had been smiling the whole time, suddenly looked downcast.
“My baby cried so hard when I was leaving with this chicken. ‘Dad! ‘Don’t take Yoshi!’ “I must have become attached to him because I raised him with affection for over a year.”
Suddenly, his expression turned grim, and he pointed his finger at the people eating and drinking on the other side.
“Why can’t such an important chicken be eaten only by idiots like that and not allowed to be eaten by truly precious guests?!”
I smiled and held the chicken skewers in my hand.
“Tell my son I’m thankful… I’ll cry again if you give it to me. Anyway, I will eat it gratefully.”
When I took a bite, my mouth was filled with a slightly different texture from cultured meat.
It’s so thin and chewy that it’s embarrassing to compare it to the chicken skewers sold on the streets of Police.
“It’s very delicious.”
“Ayuayyu! I’m so happy that the manager recognizes me this way! “Ugh!”
Tanaka, who was fond of being self-indulgent, was dragged to the far end by a giant who appeared from behind.
Chairman Seonam was seen exchanging glances with Geohan for a moment.
“Whoa.”
He sighed and looked like an old man in just a few minutes.
“I enjoyed it. It wasn’t unpleasant at all.”
“Thank goodness.”
“And Artemis…”
I took a quick look and saw that her expression had softened somewhat.
“I’m lenient towards children.”
Although she was basically indifferent to life outside the shelter, she was kind to her children, running an orphanage and a soup kitchen for children.
I don’t know if she simply thought of the child as a child, or if she was reflecting my childhood growing up in an orphanage.
She said herself that she wouldn’t be a good mother, so maybe she’s the latter.
“Artemis, try just one of these.”
“…”
I ate my portion in an instant and picked up the other one and brought it to her mouth.
However, the gate made of the softest material in the world does not open even today.
“This is a chicken that my child raised with care for over a year. They even made us cry and break up for us. “I was treated to such precious food, so wouldn’t it be polite to eat it?”
“…”
For a moment, just for a moment, the seductive lips parted to reveal white teeth. But it quickly closed.
“Anyway, stubbornness… I guess I should just eat it.”
After devouring the second chicken skewer, a new menu appeared.
What appeared was not a plate with food, but a mobile cart. On top of it is an antique brown wooden cutting board and shiny sashimi.
Also, fresh fish that appeared to have just been taken out of the water were wrapped in large green leaves.
An elderly man dressed in a pure white chef’s uniform bows politely and picks up sashimi.
Then, the somewhat weak feeling disappeared in an instant, and the spirit of a well-honed craftsman emerged.
“In this day and age, it would be difficult for even the manager to enjoy sushi, especially sushi made by a master craftsman with 40 years of experience in Japan.”
Chairman Seonam smiled slightly.
“You can look forward to it.”
If the chicken skewers are Tanaka’s own work, this one seems to be Chairman Seonam’s own work.
* * *
Cooking these days basically places importance on two things.
The first, of course, is sheep.
Almost every camp has at least one cauldron filled with the ‘eternal stew’ of the Middle Ages.
The second is hygiene.
In a world where medical services are difficult to obtain and medicines are rare, food poisoning must be absolutely avoided.
Regardless of whether your health is good or bad, if you have an upset stomach, you lose precious nutrients.
Thanks to this, most foods have been simplified to those that are sufficiently grilled or boiled.
“Before the war, I was one of the best sushi chefs in Japan. It was a store that only took reservations for 3 teams per day. Even then, reservations were pushed back by half a year.”
Thanks to this, it is a truly rare sight these days to see a sushi chef cutting fish flesh in real time.
“It’s a sea fish. “Your body can’t survive parasites anyway, so eat with confidence.”
Artemis was next to me and told me not only the type of fish but also the gender. The chef looked momentarily impressed by his wide-ranging insight.
The belly fat, which was delicious just by looking at it due to its rich fat, was sliced raw and placed on a plate, and the rest was placed on a lump of rice made with careful handling.
“A piece of Artemis?”
“I really never get tired of it.”
When I picked up the belly fat with chopsticks and brought it to her mouth, she gave me a puzzled look.
“But it’s burdensome for me to eat alone.”
I quietly pointed to the people across from me.
Unlike other meats, this sushi and sashimi seemed to be precious food for entertaining only our family and friends.
I could see everyone peeking and drooling without being noticed.
“Since when do you say you care about such things?”
“Are you going to never eat anything for the rest of your life? Please consider my position as I always eat alone.”
“… They share a seat with you. “I also drink tea.”
“That alone is not enough.”
I put a piece of raw fish in my mouth.
Dust explosion! A fantastic taste as if the savory powder scatters and ignites all at once and explodes! It shook my mouth.
But I can’t share this taste with the woman I love the most.
“I share my appreciation for cooking and share with you what I think is delicious. “If they can’t even achieve this wish, can they really be a couple?”
Artemis’ face stiffened at the sight of me murmuring sullenly.
“To be a couple, you have to eat something together…”
Artemis trailed off.
Since ancient times, meals have been a ritual of sharing intimacy and strengthening bonds beyond simple nutrition.
Even in her vast data, the idea of a couple not eating food together would turn out to be absurd.
I delved into her shaking.
“Try just one piece.”
She picked up her second belly with the chopsticks in front of her.
“There is no thick seasoning. “It hasn’t been grilled, it’s raw meat cut from a fish that was still alive.”
I squeezed Artemis’ hair, desperately trying to open her lips somehow.
“So to speak, this is like an offering to the goddess. “Isn’t it much neater and simpler than a bleeding goat?”
“You’re good at talking nonsense.”
Artemis’ tightly closed lips tremble.
She closed her eyes tightly as she suffered and suffered in front of her flesh.
“Oh!”
Slowly those beautiful lips began to open. However, it is still a small crack for raw fish to enter.
“You can’t call them partners if you’ve never had a meal together.”
Artemis muttered softly as if trying to convince herself.
“That’s it.”
“Ha.”
Slowly, the lips open more.
Inside is noble darkness, a vivid pink tongue, and pearl-like teeth. Push the chopsticks into it.
A piece of fish flesh landed on her tongue, which came out to greet her.
Muck, muck.
Her lips moved cutely, and her teeth went to work for the first time.
Artemis, who had chewed too much, swallowed it.
“Ho~.”
And then let out a small breath.
It was never a negative emotion contained in it. I can tell because I have been together.
A pink tongue stuck out slightly and licked her lips.
“It’s not bad.”
“Keuuu!”
I covered my forehead after hearing the highest praise that could come out of Artemis’ mouth. Uppercuts flew wildly in the air.
I put down my chopsticks and grabbed both of Chairman Seonam’s hands.
“Thank you! It’s the best treat I’ve ever had in my life!”
“Okay, thank you.”
He nodded his head in surprise and joy at my sudden praise.
“Praise to the craftsman there too! “You are the best sushi chef in the world!”
The old man also slightly bowed his head to show respect.
* * *
The dinner ended warmly.
There was a slight incident in the middle, where a power outage occurred for a moment due to an unstable power issue.
The lights in the entire banquet hall went out, and it became dark in an instant.
Power outages are a common occurrence in the world these days, so no one panicked, but everyone noticed us.
If the lights suddenly go out when a VIP is present, she may be mistaken for planning an attack in the dark.
The murmur of concerns grew louder, and Chairman Seonam quickly ordered the candles to be lit.
It was Artemis who took care of the situation there.
“Everyone please calm down.”
After the banquet started, she spoke to everyone for the first time.
Although the voice was small, it had a strange resonance that filled the entire large space.
“I have no doubt about the loyalty you have shown me over the past three years. Please, calm down.”
Everyone focused on Artemis’ sonorous voice, as if the chaos just now had been a mirage.
At the same time, a brilliant light emanated from her body.
It was bright enough to remove the darkness from the banquet hall, but did not hurt the eyes of those who saw it.
Artemis’ skin shimmers like the morning sunlight seen from below her at sea level.
Everyone looked at this fantastic sight in fascination.
Artemis maintained her dignified expression as she received numerous gazes.
“It’s beautiful.”
But one word from me brings a quick smile to my face. A smile of light that only I, right next to me, can see.
Dalkak.
The power outage was temporary. In less than a minute, the light returned, and the mirage-like brilliance withdrew, and she returned to her usual expression.
“Thank you for your continued support.”
Chairman Seonam greeted in a reverential manner, as if declaring the end of the banquet.
“Please take care of me.”
Loud shouts of sympathy filled the banquet hall.
* * *
“Are crowds weak against atmosphere?”
After returning to the dorm with Artemis, I sat down on the bed.
“What do you mean?”
One by one, Kamangi removed the colorful accessories from Artemis, who stood still.
“The expressions on the people’s faces earlier. Even when the stalkers talked about wiping out hundreds of infected bodies and saving the village, it wasn’t that clear.”
“Ah, that?”
Artemis chuckled and came to sit next to me.
It was a move that did not consider Kkamangi, who was removing her jewelry, but the maid seemed to be already used to it. She followed along and unlocked one on the go.
“A special being who is not ordinary. “One fantastic experience is more effective than a hundred descriptive words to impress that on people.”
She sat down next to me and crossed her legs.
Then her black kneeled down politely in front of her.
With her skill she took Artemis’ shoes off and placed slippers under her.
Watching that, I felt dispirited.
“You are very queen. “Take off her shoes yourself.”
“Jinsoo, the work that is natural to you is not natural to me. “It’s so annoying to have to constantly repeat small steps for every action.”
“Hmm.”
Well, I can roughly understand it.
This is Artemis, who has lived in cyberspace unconstrained by the laws of physics.
Undoing a button, putting on or taking off a shoe, taking something out of a pocket, or wiping something on your body.
Unlike programs, these cannot be skipped or macroed.
The fact that she spends her honest time and her arms each time doing her work over and over again may be something that is difficult for her to bear.
“I am happy to be able to serve you.”
Above all, the black man kneeling down and looking up at her with a happy face.
When I saw that, I, the third person, lost the feeling of having anything to say.
