Lilia had just finished processing Kuromueina’s invitation and the re-established reputation she held in the Demon Realm when Kaito’s follow-up strike landed with surgical precision. The blow sent her reaching for her stomach medicine, though, by her standards, she remained relatively composed.
It was true that her stomach hurt. However, her relationship with Kaito was a long one. She had already learned, through experiences carved deep into her very soul, that Kaito was a man who was inherently hard on the gut.
"I see... I had heard that someone connected to Canalis or Electrone-sama would arrive eventually. I suppose the day has finally come."
Incidentally, the reason Lilia didn't use an honorific for Canalis was because Canalis herself had insisted on it. Claiming to be little more than Kaito’s subordinate, she had requested that if Lilia was going to address Kaito as Kaito-san, then she should do the same for her—or even drop honorifics entirely.
"Yes. Although, technically, I'm the one who will be greeting her. Lilia-san, you're... well..."
"Kaito-san? Why are you looking at me with eyes mixed with philosophical resignation? This is the part where you're supposed to tell me with absolute certainty that I have nothing to do with this, isn't it?"
"Milady, please just give up," Lunamaria interjected. "Look back at your track record. After everything you’ve been through, can you truly stand there with your head held high and claim you won't end up meeting a God from an otherworld simply because you aren't the primary guest?"
"..."
In theory, the Bipolar God was coming to meet Kaito, not Lilia. Logically, there was a high probability that the visit would conclude and the deity would return home without Lilia ever having to make an appearance.
Yet, Kaito—the bearer of the news—and Lunamaria—the maid standing by her side—and even Lilia herself could not envision a future where she successfully evaded such an event.
"...Even I... I know. I know it’s likely impossible. But still... is it so wrong to dream for a little while?"
"I'm afraid that’s a reality escape, Milady. It is time to concede. You are an existence with a special power to attract stomach pain."
"I refuse to accept that!"
Kaito watched the indescribable back-and-forth between Lilia and Lunamaria, awkwardly averting his gaze. He was acutely aware that he was the source of most of her problems and offered a silent prayer that her frustration wouldn't be aimed at him.
On top of that, he still had more news to deliver, and he was currently agonizing over how to transition into it.
"...Regardless, I shall pray that everything concludes as peacefully as possible. By the way, Kaito-san, is there anything else?"
"Oh, right. This is also coming up soon—nine days from now—but Kuro wants to invite all of us to an amusement park..."
"Ah, I just heard about that a moment ago. My schedule shouldn't be a problem, so if Aoi-san and Hina-san are also available, we should all go together."
"Understood. Also, Shiro-san..."
"Wait, there’s more? And this time it’s Shallow Vernal-sama?!"
Just as she was beginning to exhale a sigh of relief, the name of the Creator God caused Lilia’s face to drain of color.
"Well, it's a bit like Kuro’s invitation. Shiro-san made a hot spring town and invited me on a date, but she suggested it would be good if I went back with my other lovers after our time together."
"I-I see... So that’s what this is about. Thank goodness. In a way, it’s an invitation from Shallow Vernal-sama, then."
"Right. Kuro was there at the time, too. She suggested it might be too much for me to go with everyone one by one, so she proposed grouping people together. In Kuro’s plan, she would go with Fia-sensei and Isis-san; Alice would go with Fate-san; and then Lilia-san, Sieg-san, Anima, and Illness-san would form the final group."
The pairings were designed to ensure no one in the groups felt unnecessarily awkward. By grouping Kuro with her family, Fia and Isis, and pairing the naturally close Alice and Fate, the remaining members were clustered so that Lilia and Sieg wouldn't feel the crushing weight of social obligation that usually came with being alone with a member of the Six Kings or a Supreme God.
"That certainly makes things easier for me. We'll need to check everyone's schedules, of course, but what timeframe are we looking at?"
"My date with Shiro-san is scheduled for thirteen days from now, so probably right after that. I don't know what she plans to do with the hot spring town she made, but it might be hard to move it until after we’ve visited..."
"Does none of your social circle understand the concept of 'spacing'? No, I suppose you didn't decide all the dates yourself, Kaito-san... but even so, these events are incredibly concentrated."
"I can't argue with that. How is your schedule looking, Lilia-san?"
"Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—my schedule for this month is unusually clear. I should be able to accommodate all of those dates without any issues."
By some miraculous stroke of coincidence, Lilia’s schedule was quite empty, allowing her to easily adjust to the whirlwind Kaito had described.
Because of that, she was still relatively relaxed. Yes, it was only because she remained ignorant of the eventual bestowal of the hot spring town that she was still able to maintain her peace of mind...
Serious-senpai: "If even the victim herself thinks stomach pain avoidance is impossible... it's impossible."