The initial shock of Alice’s arrival was quickly replaced by a sense of dread as Chris, followed shortly by Eris, grasped the sheer gravity of the situation. For the Phantasm King to go out of her way to appear in person meant the news she carried was nothing short of monumental.
Furthermore, Alice’s timing suggested this was information Chris and Eris needed to hear—implying it was a matter that would likely have a profound impact on the state of the nation.
"Alice-sama... given that you have graced us with your presence, may we assume you intend to provide us with information we have yet to uncover?"
"Spot on. You’ve become quite flexible lately, haven't you, Chris-san? At this rate, I’d value you at about three Platinum Coins. Well, there’s no point in dragging this out, so let's get straight to the point. Is everyone prepared for a hole to open in their stomachs?"
While 'preparing' for such a thing was the last thing anyone wanted to do, the dire nature of the situation was already a certainty. Even with their lack of experience, Baron Rich and Marie finally sensed the depth of the crisis, nearly losing consciousness on the spot.
However, realizing this was a matter that deeply involved them, they desperately summoned every ounce of willpower to listen to Alice’s words.
"First, I want to be clear: Marie-san didn't actually do anything wrong. Really, the only way to put it is that she was hit with a bout of exceptionally bad luck. As for the details... Marie-san, you told Kaito-san about the Golden Riple back at the cafe, didn't you?"
"Eh? Ah, yes..."
"A Golden Riple?"
Marie nodded, but Chris, Eris, and the Marquis looked puzzled, having never heard the name before. Seeing their confusion, Baron Rich offered a brief explanation.
"The Golden Riple is a local legend in our territory... or rather, it was a story a previous Lord fabricated to try and boost sales. As your reactions suggest, it never really gained any traction. It only survives as a bit of trivia that pops up occasionally among the locals."
"I see. One of those cases, then. It was a failed marketing strategy that sat for so long that people forgot the source, and eventually, it resurfaced as 'I don't remember where I heard this, but they say...' until it turned into a pseudo-legend."
Chris nodded as if it all made sense now. There were several historical precedents for failed promotions morphing into urban legends after the facts had faded from public memory.
"Exactly. It was just a tall tale, and Marie-san properly explained that to Kaito-san. He didn't misunderstand her, either. It should have remained a harmless bit of small talk... but the problem is that someone was eavesdropping on that conversation and took a genuine interest in the Golden Riple. Someone in the Sanctuary."
The silence that followed was so heavy it felt as if time itself had frozen. Chris, Eris, Marie, the Marquis, and the Baron—everyone stood paralyzed, their eyes wide with shock.
It was only natural. For anyone living in this world, there was only one being who came to mind when the phrase "in the Sanctuary" was used.
As the blood drained from their faces and they began to tremble, Chris managed to squeeze out a few words.
"A-Alice-sama... d-does that mean..."
"It’s Shallow Vernal-sama. And if it ended there, things would still be relatively simple, but she apparently entrusted the creation of that Golden Riple to Life-san. What’s more, she personally told her she has 'high expectations'... and well, as a result, Life-san’s motivation has reached a terrifying level."
No one could speak. It was the very definition of being speechless. Their minds were unnervingly clear, yet the reality of Alice's words refused to sink in. Chris and the others felt as though the information was simply spinning in circles inside their hollowed-out thoughts.
"So, in the near future, the Rich Baron House—specifically, Marie-san herself—will be receiving a 'Golden Riple Tree Created by the Combined Efforts of the God Race.' Oh, and it’ll likely come with an order stating that 'the first Golden Riple harvested must be offered to Shallow Vernal-sama.' So... good luck with that."
At this merciless pronouncement, which sounded like a death sentence to their ears, Marie and Baron Rich lost consciousness instantly, their eyes rolling back as they foamed at the mouth.
A few seconds later, Alice pitilessly jolted them back to the waking world with Awakening Magic.
Serious-senpai: "I see, so it's not just a gift... They have to present the finished Golden Riple to Shiro personally? It's over. Marie's stomach is finished..."