Chapter 95 : Exchange Meeting (2)

“Artorius, what are you doing?! Say something already!”

Bliss’s voice broke through the suffocating silence that filled the room.

Could you just stay quiet, please?

I shot Bliss a glare, silently pleading for her to stop.

I couldn’t say anything out loud—not with everyone’s eyes on me.

It felt like I was sitting on a bed of nails, like I’d been dragged into a talent show without warning.

If I were someone with bright social skills, I might have navigated the situation with ease.

Unfortunately, the world also has people who freeze up and turn into statues in moments like these.

I was undeniably the latter.

Desperate to escape, I started scanning my surroundings for a way out.

The only small mercy was that while everyone’s attention was on me, no one had spoken yet.

This meant I still had a chance to slip into a chair and make this awkward situation disappear.

But if someone broke the silence and started talking…

I shuddered at the thought.

No, I didn’t even want to imagine it.

I moved carefully toward a chair, hoping to sit down unnoticed.

But then…

“No!!!! This cannot!!!!! Be!!!!!”

Artorius suddenly leapt to his feet, clutching his head in disbelief like a melodramatic foreign actor.

“Ah! So dazzling! Is this the very definition of beauty?! Such righteousness, such justice! I feel blinded by the brightness of your radiance! 

“Righteous, righteous, righteous beauty!!! That smile! So pure it could absolve even the gravest of sins! Even in a nun’s robe, your form cannot be hidden!!! How can someone shine so brightly in the most modest of clothing?! “

“Truly, this is a visage worthy of one who serves as the hands of the divine! Oh, this must be the true power of the Origin Church!!! I, Artorius, am so proud to be a Paladin!!!”

What the…

I stared at him in utter disbelief. Unlike me, Bliss stood with her arms crossed, nodding in satisfaction. Reina was mimicking her, nodding in agreement.

But Artorius wasn’t done.

“One cannot see such beauty and do nothing!!! I shall now offer my gratitude to the heavens!!!”

And with that, Artorius dropped to his knees and began to pray fervently.

“Oh, Lord!!! I offer my thanks for the blessing you have bestowed upon us this day!!! May Your glory be eternal!!!!”

I turned away, unable to look at him any longer.

The more I watched, the more drained I felt.

Another second of this, and I was sure my sanity would snap.

But, as they say, there is no paradise to be found in escape.

The moment I looked away from Artorius, I was met with the reactions of the other party members, who had finally found their voices thanks to his outburst.

“I thought you’d look prettier, but this transformation… it’s remarkable. Truly otherworldly,” Olivia said, her voice tinged with awe. Her eyes sparkled with genuine surprise.

“You’ve become quite beautiful,” Agnes commented with a calm smile. Her tone suggested she wasn’t surprised at all, as if she’d expected this outcome.

Their words, while far less dramatic than Artorius’s, made me feel strangely uncomfortable. It was as if I were wearing clothes that didn’t fit me.

Was it because I wasn’t used to being judged like this?

Still, their comments were far less mortifying than Artorius’s absurd monologue.

But even so, the damage was done.

The phrase “death by a thousand cuts” came to mind.

And then, I turned to the hero.

When I met his eyes, he smiled warmly and said, “You’re beautiful.”

I forced the corners of my lips upward in response, my smile trembling. “Thank you,” I replied stiffly.

His smile widened into a soft, almost dazzling grin.

And at that moment, I thought to myself, Damn it.

Chills ran down my spine.

It wasn’t that his smile was strange. It was the same polite, practiced smile he showed everyone.

A formal expression devoid of any real emotion—a smile meant to leave a good impression.

There was nothing unusual about it.

But somehow, it left me deeply unsettled.

If I were a woman through and through, perhaps my heart would have raced at the sight of his smile.

But I wasn’t.

Deep down, I was still very much a man—a proud and stubborn one at that.

How could I possibly find joy in receiving such a suave smile from another man? Even forcing myself to smile back was a herculean effort.

The only emotion his smile evoked in me was nausea.

Damn it all.

I let out a quiet, invisible sigh, ensuring no one could hear or see it.

As I exhaled, it felt like my soul was escaping along with my breath.

I felt utterly drained, as if all the energy had left my body. A deep sense of despair began to creep into my heart, whispering that maybe I should just give up and let go of everything.

I was completely out of it.

I forced a smile onto my face, hoping it would hide my inner turmoil.

As I stood there, desperately holding myself together, the hero rose from his seat and said, “Now that everyone’s here, let’s head out.”

With a confident stride, he walked toward the door.

I watched him go in a daze until Bliss and Reina each grabbed one of my arms.

“Come on, let’s go too,” they said cheerfully.

Damn it…

In the end, I let Bliss and Reina practically drag me out of the room.

We soon arrived at the doors of the venue where the exchange meeting was taking place.

From behind the closed doors, the muffled hum of lively chatter spilled out, indicating the event was already in full swing.

Standing before the tightly shut doors, we took a moment to make one last check of our appearances. Even with our small numbers, our influence was significant enough that appearances mattered greatly.

After a few seconds of silent adjustments, the hero nodded, signaling to the attendant.

The attendant grasped the door handle, and my throat involuntarily tightened as I swallowed hard.

When was the last time I was in such a crowded place?

I tried to remember, searching for an excuse to rationalize my growing nerves.

But then it hit me—I had gone to the market in Villon with Reina just a few weeks ago.

So not that long ago after all…

Of course, I knew the real reason for my tension.

How many will try to cling to us?

It was inevitable.

In this world, where connections equated to power, people were bound to swarm us, eager to establish relationships with individuals of our stature.

I could already picture the polished smiles they would flash as they approached.

The mere thought made me shudder.

“Are you nervous?”

I glanced at Bliss, who looked at me with a smile reminiscent of a mother sending her child to their first day of kindergarten.

“Yes, a little. I’m nervous,” I replied with an awkward smile.

“It’ll be fine,” she said reassuringly. “If nothing else, enjoy the moment. Tonight, we’re the stars of the show. Bask in those admiring gazes!”

That’s exactly what I hate, I thought, forcing a bitter smile.

At that moment, the attendant opened the doors.

The noise from the hall dampened slightly as heads turned our way.

For a few seconds, we stood at the entrance, taking in the scene.

People near the door had stopped talking and were staring at us.

I quickly lowered my head, unable to bear the weight of so many eyes.

Keep your head down 30 degrees… Just look at the floor.

As I repeated this mantra in my head, the hero took his first step into the brightly lit, bustling hall.

And just like that, the noise level dropped a little more.

We followed behind him, moving as a group.

I am a rock. I am a rock. I am a rock, I repeated silently, clutching Reina’s hand tightly as I walked.

My eyes remained fixed on the floor, unwilling to meet anyone’s gaze. I didn’t need to look up to know that every eye in the hall was on us.

This was the first time I realized that you could feel people’s gazes pressing on you.

Keeping my eyes glued to the ground, I focused on following the hero’s footsteps.

Though I couldn’t see what was happening around me, the atmosphere of the hall was palpable.

Because with each step we took, the large hall grew quieter.

The silence that began at the entrance rippled outward, spreading quickly.

By the time we reached the center of the hall and stopped walking, the entire venue had fallen silent.

And then, after a few moments, quiet whispers began to fill the void.

At first, they were faint and indistinct, but as the seconds passed, they grew louder and more numerous.

A few minutes later, the soft murmurs had transformed into a low hum of conversation.

“Ruina, lift your head,” Bliss said softly.

Reluctantly, I forced my stiff neck to obey, raising my head with difficulty.

Taking a deep breath, I surveyed my surroundings.

What I saw was a sea of people, all looking at us while murmuring to those beside them.

Around us, however, there was a noticeable void—no one dared to approach. It was as if an invisible circle had been drawn around our group, leaving us isolated in the center of the crowd.

I glanced at my companions.

With the exception of Agnes, everyone else was smiling.

Artorius had a grin that radiated delight. Olivia’s smile seemed to say that this reaction was to be expected.

Bliss’s expression brimmed with pride.

And the hero wore his signature serene smile.

They all looked completely at ease, as if this was just another trivial moment in their daily lives.

Agnes was the only one who maintained a neutral expression, though her relaxed posture betrayed her calm confidence.

It seemed that I was the only one struggling with the oppressive atmosphere of this gathering.

“Ruina, there are so many delicious-looking things here!” Reina exclaimed, tugging at my sleeve.

Even young Reina was gleefully turning her head from side to side, taking in the sights with pure delight.

“Ruina, are you feeling unwell? Your expression…” Bliss asked, her face filled with concern as she noticed my discomfort.

It seemed my unease had been written all over my face.

I forced a wry smile and replied in a voice barely above a whisper, “No, it’s not that. It’s just… this is my first time in a place like this.”

“This is your first time at an event like this?” Bliss’s expression shifted immediately from concern to delight. Her tone turned excited as she continued, “How do you feel now? Isn’t it incredible?! Everyone here is looking at us!”

“Yes… it’s incredible,” I muttered.

Incredible, indeed. But not in a good way.

“Their attention is electrifying, isn’t it? Ruina! Isn’t it thrilling?!”

“Yes, thrilling…” I replied, forcing a strained smile as Bliss beamed at me.

As soon as her attention shifted, I hung my head and let out a deep sigh.

I want to go home.

For the first time in ages, I found myself longing for the Demon Realm.

After creating a ripple of attention in the grand hall, we stood in the center, waiting for someone to approach us.

But no matter how much time passed, no one came closer.

Instead, they kept their distance, whispering amongst themselves while keeping their eyes locked on us.

Minutes crawled by until, finally, a man with a cheerful smile approached.

“Oh, my friend Artorius! What brings you here?”

With a bright grin, he extended a hand toward Artorius, who responded with equal enthusiasm.

“Taylor! It’s been ages, my friend! Why else would I be here but to participate in the North’s grandest festival, the Hunting Festival?”

“Hahaha, is that so? Then I’ll have to stay on my toes! This year’s festival is going to be fierce! But… who are these people? I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of meeting them before.”

Taylor’s gaze shifted curiously to us as he subtly questioned Artorius.

With a hearty laugh, Artorius replied, “Hahaha! Come now, my friend! Who do you think these people are? You’ve said countless times how much you wanted to meet them!”

“What are you talking about…? Wait, could it be? Are they…?”

Taylor’s expression shifted from puzzlement to shock as he pieced together Artorius’s implication.

At that moment, I realized the purpose behind their conversation.

After glancing around the room, Artorius grinned broadly and raised his voice for all to hear.

“Yes! These are none other than the legendary hero and their esteemed companions!”

His voice echoed throughout the hall, capturing everyone’s attention.

The murmurs and stares around us multiplied exponentially.

Damn it.

I sighed heavily, though it was barely audible amidst the growing commotion.

And thus, with our dramatic introduction complete and my identity firmly imprinted on everyone’s minds, my personal nightmare began.

“Oh, what a heavenly voice you have, Sister. I must invite you to my estate someday!”

“Thank you, but…” I laughed awkwardly.

Please, just leave me alone!

Hell had officially begun.