"It feels... pretty okay. Everyone says it's inconvenient to wear this stuff, but I don't feel that way at all."
"Of course not. This is a normal skirt, not a tight one!"
After artificial skin had been implanted, it was almost impossible to tell at a glance that a remote-controlled cyberbody wasn't a real person. Besides, large-scale implantation surgeries were common now, so cracks in the skin were perfectly normal.
Lier said helplessly, "You... why does it feel like you're not getting into character when you work with me?"
"Daaaarling!"
"Did you forget you can't pinch me right now?" Lier immediately shut off his pain receptors and put on a blank expression, pretending nothing had happened.
"Heh. Did you forget I can make up for it later?"
The banquet was very simple. It was just the same old faces-old businesspeople and politicians taking turns talking to Lier. They were curious about why a woman they didn't recognize was following him, and they asked about it, but it wasn't the focus.
Lier also altered the conversation to a certain extent, so V could get used to this kind of setting.
Overall, she did pretty well. When nothing was happening, she smiled behind his chair, served drinks, and gave a light laugh.
Since the task didn't require fooling people at close range, Lier felt she had passed well enough.
There weren't many people to deal with at this banquet. Overall, things progressed smoothly: new industrial technology, rescue plans, or future business collaborations. They took a little effort, but he didn't have to worry about someone pulling a pistol out of their pants and blowing his head off.
As the banquet entered its dead time, V pushed Lier's wheelchair, and the two chatted in the corridor.
"But these people are so friendly. That