As Kaori-san and I approached the Imperial Castle, it seemed word had already traveled ahead. Alexandra—or rather, Aria-san—was already waiting for us at the gate to serve as our guide.
She led us inside, and as we walked down the castle corridors, Kaori-san murmured with a wistful expression. "Even as outsiders, we're being ushered in without so much as a security screening... That's Kaito-kun for you." "Now that you mention it, normally you'd expect a check for dangerous items before meeting an Emperor. But wouldn't those checks be pointless if someone had a Magic Box?" "Eh? No, that's what Box Lock magic is for." "...Huh?" I'd assumed that physical screenings were useless if items were hidden in a Magic Box, but apparently, there was magic designed specifically to counter that. "It's a form of Special Bestowal Magic called Box Lock. With the owner's consent, it can temporarily disable a Magic Box. It doesn't work without their agreement, but it's standard at events like the Hero Festival Ceremony." "I had no idea magic like that existed... No one has ever tried to cast it on me, though." "I suppose that's just more of your usual VIP Treatment." It certainly made sense for security purposes. If you wanted to ensure safety, you'd need a way to temporarily restrict access to a Magic Box. However, despite having visited the royal castles of all three major nations, I had never once been subjected to Box Lock, nor had anyone even suggested it.
"If I may interject," Aria-san spoke up, explaining why the subject had never been broached with me. "There are two primary reasons. First, such restrictive magic is ineffective against Miyama-sama, given that you have received Shiro-san's Blessing. Second, even putting aside your own capabilities... the Phantasm King-sama who serves as your guard could slaughter everyone in this castle single-handedly in a matter of seconds. Should you ever decide to launch a malicious attack, there would be no way to stop it regardless. Restricting you is, essentially, a meaningless gesture." "...Ah, right. I see." It came down to Shiro-san's Blessing making me immune, and the fact that sealing my Magic Box wouldn't actually make me any less 'dangerous' to them.
"The Blessing of Shallow Vernal-sama really is something else," Kaori remarked. "It is, though I still don't fully understand the scope of its effects." I knew Shiro-san's Blessing stood at the pinnacle of all divine favors, but the specifics remained a mystery. When I'd asked the source herself, she'd simply tilted her head and asked, "Who knows?" so I just categorized it as a catch-all for 'extraordinary power.'
Chatting as we went, we eventually arrived at the Reception Room. Chris-san was already waiting inside. "Miyama-sama, Kaori-san, welcome. Head Maid, thank you for guiding them. Please, prepare black tea for three..." "Certainly." "Both of you, please, make yourselves comfortable." At Chris-san's welcoming invitation, we sat down on the sofas. "Hello, Chris-san. I'm sorry for the sudden visit today." "I hope we aren't interrupting your work?" Kaori added. "Not at all. I happened to be free right as your message arrived, so it's perfectly fine." I didn't have any specific goal in mind for this visit, but Chris-san was a gracious host, engaging in pleasant, relaxed conversation with Kaori-san.
Once there was a natural lull in their talk, I spoke up. "Chris-san, I heard that things have been quite chaotic in Arclesia lately because of me. I'm sorry about that." "Oh, no. While the surprises were certainly... significant, the benefits to the country have been immense. I'm actually quite grateful... though I do wish they had happened one at a time." "Eh?" "No, forgive me. It was nothing." I thought I caught her whispering something extra at the end, but her voice was too soft for me to hear. Regardless, if it was helping the country, then I could at least breathe a sigh of relief. "The truth is," she continued, "I already felt we needed to overhaul logistics in the Western Region eventually. The timing was simply moved forward." "I don't really understand that side of things, but wouldn't a project like that cost a fortune?" "The budget is a concern, certainly. However, thanks to the lands receiving the Divine Protection of the God of Fate-sama and the success of the Founding Anniversary Festival, the economy is booming across the board. The national treasury is well-supplied. The only real issue is that as a large organization, the movement of money and personnel requires endless approvals and committees. I find myself in a few more meetings than I was before." So, she was busy, but it was a situation she had wanted to bring about anyway.
"Oh, Chris-san. This... might not be necessary, but as an apology or a souvenir... this is a special black tea from Canaris-san. It's supposed to be effective for stomach pain brought on by mental stress. Please, take it." "...This is a truly appreciated gift. You have my heartfelt thanks. I shall make good use of it." ...Wait. For a split second, did she look like she was at the end of her rope? Maybe she really is swamped. There wasn't much I could do to help, and if I tried to interfere, I'd probably just stumble into more trouble, so I decided not to pry.
"Ah, speaking of tea, I'm actually planning to host a tea party soon—" "..................What?" "Kaito-kun," Kaori cut in, her voice flat. "Are you trying to make Chris-san drink that tea right away? Do you even know what a 'match-pump' is?"
Serious-senpai: "He's trying to drag her into a Hellish Banquet featuring Shiro, Olivia, Eris, and Lilia—who hasn't been invited yet, but is basically a lock. It’s going to be absolute carnage."