Finishing up the recruitment (1)

[5 hours later; ~6pm]

Alright! That completes the initial recruitment! If your name is called, then you may follow Rethusa into the manor. If your name isn't called, then please exit and try again next time! Artemis decided to wrap things up quicker than originally planned. She said she found some talent and that the numbers we recruited would be smaller.

Originally, we planned for about an additional 80, but she decided to go for quality. Thus, only about 20 people would actually join the Familia! Not a bad decision, especially since she picked a majority of men, with the numbers being 11 men and 9 women. The woman with long white hair and blue eyes included. It would be foolish not to accept her, and she gives off a special vibe if I had to say.

'What was her name? I can't keep addressing her by her appearance...' I bent down a little in order to reach Artemis's ear, who was standing in front giving off a dignified aura. As enough time had passed, her pettiness from earlier had vanished!

"Hey, the woman with long white hair and blue eyes, what's her name?" I whispered so only she could hear me. Artemis jumped a little, but it was only visible to me as I was the only one close enough.

"Why do you want to know?!" Artemis became a little angry. I figured that she was jealous, and this would be a good opportunity to tease her, but I'll do that when it's just me, her, and Rethy later!

"I mean she is strong, so it makes sense for me to wonder. She will be an incredible asset for us!"

"...Tch! Fair enough. Anyways, Rethy said her name was Aura and FYI she described her eyes as purple-blue, not just blue."

"Really? They looked like a very strong blue, but I wasn't really paying attention that much to her physical appearance, more towards her physical ability. She's also a good mage; her magic earlier was strong!" I talked up Aura as I really needed Artemis not to make a foolish decision based on jealousy, which I doubt she would actually do but wanted to make sure.

'After I get my weapon, I'll focus on whatever can affect her feelings so much, and if after I discover the truth she still displays the same behavior, I'll make a move. Until then, I'll just make sure any disgusting pest of a god or mortal keeps their hands away!' My thoughts became more twisted, but I'm not sure why. At first, I just intended to help settle the "connection," but for some reason deep down, a sense of disgust welled up in me!

I shook my head and focused back on Artemis instead of my thoughts.

"Yeah, do you think I should make her Rethy's assistant? You know, vice-captain?" Artemis turned to face me fully, and as I was still bent down when she turned, our faces were so close that from any other angle from a distance, it would seem like we were kissing, but I didn't bring that up! I just answered her.

"Not yet. While she is strong, we aren't necessarily sure of her ability in other areas. She may just be good in combat and not necessarily good with people."

"You have a point, so how should we test her?"

"I'll bring her and a few of the first members of the Familia into the dungeon. I'll watch and see how she interacts and handles being with others in a team." My idea was the best course of action, but I shouldn't have said anything.

"No! I'm going to let Rethy go, and you'll stay with me and follow me to go see Hephaestus."

"Bu-"

"No buts!"

'What the hell... Hah~ she's lucky that I consider her a close friend. Otherwise, she would be having a conversation with Cleave!'

I wryly nodded and said, "I'm going to let Rethy know, and I'm going to go practice my ability on the new members as per our original plan."

"Then let's go!" Artemis twirled her body and started heading towards Rethy, and I couldn't help but take a glance at her back view.

'Sukuna, I've thought it a million times, but choosing you first was the best decision of my life. This woman is such a succubus without even trying!'

----

[Artemis POV]

W-why is he looking at me like that? I could feel Enkidu's gaze peering into me from behind. I don't think I did anything but h-his eyes feel so... hot? I could feel my face getting hot so I pinched my hand out of sight from Enkidu. It didn't help that much but at least my mind started focusing on other things!

Thankfully, I kept him away from that vixen of an elf! He's a man I'm sure if I let him interact with her too much he might bed her... ugh?! I can't let that happen. The sheer thought caused my light steps to become stomps and I pushed towards Rethy. I got to make sure she is on the same page as me!

I quickened my pace and reached Rethy who was talking to Aura.

"Rethy come here real quick!"

"Yes? Artemis-sama."

Rethy sensed my urgency and hurried in front of me leaving Aura speechless and her purple-blue eyes staring at us. I didn't care and focused my entire being on explaining things to Rethy!

"Rethy, listen to me, keep her away from Enkidu! I don't care what has to be done but make sure it happens!" I whispered but that didn't take away from the weight of my words. Rethy nodded seriously but she suddenly became silent... it couldn't be. I turned my head to face behind me where Enkidu should still be quite a distance away.

"So that's really why. I considered jealousy but this definitely proves it, hahaha~!" His laughter echoed in my left ear where his face resumed the distance we had earlier, a few millimeters separating us.

'Any closer and we'd be kis-kissing!' This time I couldn't stop the heat reaching my face which just made Enkidu laugh harder. 'T-This bastard-hmph!' I raised my right foot and stomped down, right onto his left.

"Haha-OW! Was that really necessary?!" He winced but it was clear to both me and Rethy that he was being sarcastic, especially me when all I felt right now was a strong resistance.

Did he use that strange ability of his to strengthen foot? What a lame way...

"Ahem! Artemis, I'll have you know it's not lame to use my ability this way."

"H-How did you know?" Can he read minds now?!

"No, I can't read minds it's just when you expose your thoughts with your expressions it makes it easy."

"...screw you."

"Anyways, since you really want to keep me to yourself I'll allow for Rethy to do the thing."

"Why do you act as you had a choice! I've already scheduled an appointment with her already for tomorrow at 11, muhahaha!"

"'...'"

'God, that was embarrassing oh wait... I am one. I'm going to forget that I just did that.'

"Yeah, you can try to forget but me and Rethy aren't, pfft!"

"Hehe~"

Enkidu and Rethy for the first time ever acted in sync.

'It seems I'll have to teach her a lesson also I need to control my expression better or else this bastard will keep reading me like a book!'

---

I'd rate the chapter a 7/10 not the best but it isn't unreadable and I feel its above-average over all but nothing to crazy. 

1. I need to work on descriptions

2. I need to slowing down a tad bit

3. I need to create new means of showing expressions/feelings. 

hah~, pain but practice makes perfect.