Chapter 077: A Months Worth of Work in a Week

What an absolutely massive waste of time to everyone involved.

Giving venison to a proud elk like myself?

Stupid.

Even if one brings up the obvious argument of "he had no idea you were an elk" that didn't ignore the very public fact that I was "vegetarian". I never actually publicly announced such a thing. It just so happened that my eating habits were taken note of due to my undeniably world wide fame.

Of course such fame was natural when one considers my widely recognised achievements when combined with my age as well as gender. Mostly due to beauty rather than sexism. Such sexism only really existed within the really really really really old fossils who were barely alive due to medical science.

"I really am hard to ignore." I mumbled as I moved through the corridors of the school before with my destination already decided before that pointless meeting.

The fact that the fool overlooked all the publicly available information on me by blatantly ignoring my apparent dietary "restrictions" after trying to invite me (when trying to convince me of something)... Was something else. Such a level of ignorance reminded me of why hunters like me were needed.

Obviously I was not actually a vegetarian but I had no interest in some soulless husk of fat & muscle hence why I mostly ate candy. Hardly as if I needed to eat anyway. Eating for me was akin to a human reading a good book; something to help pass the time in a pleasant and socially acceptable fashion.

Still didn't make his pitiful attempt any less annoying.

"Are you… Alright, miss?" My ever reliable captain asked from behind his skull-painted helmet so I simply replied to him while also not stopping myself from walking into my door. "A certain fool thought he could invite me to do some pitiful frame job without doing any prior research into even my basic likes."

Shaking my head as the guards who were monitoring my room like usual, although some were currently in full armour while sat at a table playing chess, clearly paused. Looking between one another as if they didn't know how to reply until one eventually did. "Isn't that kind of…"

"Stupid? Of course, such a pitiful attempt at brokering a deal is like a bartender trying to explain the law to a lawyer, he didn't even offer me anything other than his help in getting along with the rest of the staff. I have never received such a crummy proposition since the time I was 5." Clicking my tongue.

Once more silence reigned over the room as the captain asked a simple question that most would not understand (by design) the meaning of. "Clean up level 10?"

"No need to go that far for one simpleton who likely still needs someone to tie his laces." Pausing for a second as I was about to enter the room where my full divine system was. "If that buffoon wants to pick a fight with that monstrous Trunch, to let us get some useful data, let them go ahead and be my guest."

It was a line that caused my men to grow taught with caution & curiosity.

They were there as well, afterall.

We all saw how ridiculously powerful that brutish nun truly was - nothing my guards technically couldn't manage with their suits - but we obviously checked for any exosuits. Yet we came up with nothing which meant that the most obvious answer became… That level of strength was just pure unimpeded strength.

"I don't even want to think about that monster anymore." Shaking my head in hopes to shake out any thoughts revolving around that truly anomalous creature called Trunch. Instead I'd much prefer to appreciate how great my subordinates are at both reading the room as well as performing duties.

With hopes for happier thoughts I headed into the room then once more dove into the supposedly virtual reality that was available to all in a couple hours.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

When the world brightened up once again I found myself to, ironically, be inside a very familiar bar with an even more familiar woman tending the counter.

Although any customers she had refused to be commanding with her.

Couldn't blame them.

"I suppose you want to go ahead and perform the last few touches on that little toy suit that you have been working so hard on?" Her head tilted slightly which resulted in her fringe falling to fail in covering her usually hidden eye to reveal an eyepatch without straps. It almost looked more like a scale.

There was even a family crest upon it; a plant that I didn't actually need to look into after catching sight of it for the first time.

The reason being that it was the "Indigofera Tinctoria" which had a vast array of usage cases when it came to medical use. Truly a panacea of sorts with the long list of ways it helps. It even can help maintain the softness of hair when used during washing.

Though as a society we far passed the need to use the raw materials as well as being aware of the dangers of careless use. As a result the herb is more often known for what it helps to create. A name it received due to its truly vibrant colour that had been used for dye since discovery.

Indigo.

Like many medicines it also has adverse effects with one of the most dangerous being the potential onset of pulmonary arterial hypertension which was incurable for the longest time.

So its benefits are equal to the dangers.

Begs the question of why someone like her would have such a herb proudly emblazoned on the clearly expensive eyepatch. She didn't exactly strike me as someone who was into botany. Yet I also refused to accept her as an ignorant girl who chose it just because it looked pretty.

…

Why is everyone I meet so god damn obnoxiously mysterious?

Either way there was no way I could just ask her straight to her face "why do you have the symbol of a medical plant stuck to your face" like a five year old. Thus, all I could do was answer her question. "Yes, I want it to ensure that it will be fully operational by the time the new players start to join the server."

"Being prepared is how you outlive your foes." She nodded sagely while showing off her own sweet tooth.

She had another lollipop stick rolling between her lips before she continued. "That barely passable master of yours is still in the back making sure you don't get robbed blind; as if anyone could get past me."

Rolling her eyes without even bothering to hide her discontent for the far shorter woman.

Just as I was about to head into the back according to her information; once more that woman that radiated majesty and power spoke up. Commanding everyone to listen to her with the simple act of just speaking out loud. "Have you applied for the right permits to lead that little army of yours?"

Her eye narrowing led to a shiver worming it's way up my spine.

"I-I planned to do that later today after the world opens to the public." Finding the chance to quickly explain myself out of the way of that gaze. "With that I'll be heading to talk to my master about what she wanted to do with my photo-shield technology yesterday."

Throwing her under the bus?

More like sharing the burden!

I didn't hesitate to start heading into the back without bothering to turn my head to look at the peak of mature beauty. Not that my intentions to rush away did anything to stop her from speaking up one last time. "Remember to wear your origins with pride."

A confusing statement to leave me on but… Okay?

Not like I have anything to be ashamed of.

…

…

Half expected that pesky system to argue against that one.

Entering the back meant that the knights didn't even bother to hide their presence as they freely roamed around or guarded their various positions. Doing so in much the same serious manner as the one who mans the outside door. Seemingly not so much as breathing if it should impede their task.

I ignored them and in turn they ignored me - a silent agreement that worked out for both parties. A simple standard practice that many humans do not seem to understand the principles behind. Either Way it meant my journey to the back was quite swift & painless.

Pushing open the door allowed me entry into a setting I was quite used to; the strong smells of lacquer as well as lubricants greeting me as soon as those doors opened.

All along with a strong metallic aroma.

"Ah~ you have arrived." That bright voice brought my attention toward my teacher who was currently completely covered in a bunch of live wires that were currently sparking… Not that I was particularly worried, though, considering she wasn't even flinching at the shocks.

On close inspection it was as if there was an invisible barrier around her.

"Shall we see what true geniuses can create~?" Her smile widened as she tilted her head to look upon a raised piece of tech that was adorned in a simplistic white tarp. Thick wires lead under the tarp connecting to various devices all across the room.

Most obvious of them all being a rather archaic looking computer terminal.

It was easier to upgrade a device like that to my own standards than purposefully making something up that could work in this realm. A lot could be said about human history. What they didn't make mistakes about was the ease of switching parts in their personal computers… At least until money was smelt.

Taking a deep breath I stepped into the room while closing the door behind me. "Lets begin."