The place Elis-san led me to was, in a word, a restaurant with the atmosphere of a popular diner. It was clean and tidy throughout, though the ambiance felt perhaps a touch more sophisticated than a typical establishment.
To put it in perspective, it was a step above a chain restaurant but not quite a luxury establishment—the kind of place with just the right atmosphere for a casual meal.
She had apparently made a reservation in advance, as a staff member guided us to our seats as soon as we stepped inside.
"By the way, what kind of cuisine do they serve here?"
"I suppose you could call it a restaurant with a fairly diverse menu... They specialize in dishes made with ingredients sourced strictly from within the Arclesia Empire."
"I see..."
I had heard of restaurants like that before—places that took pride in using local produce. Looking at the menu, it didn't seem to focus on course meals, but rather offered various sets based on specific concepts. In terms of style, it was very similar to a diner.
The Hamburg Steak caught my eye, so I placed my order. Once Elis-san had finished hers, we engaged in small talk while waiting for the food to arrive.
"I’m not sure if you’re familiar with it, Elis-san, but Kaori-san's Shop is actually quite similar to this place. The atmosphere is more like the world we came from, though..."
"Is that so? If I recall, Kaori-san runs a business in the Friendly City. I would love to visit if given the chance. I surprisingly rarely have the opportunity to travel to the Friendly City myself..."
"Ah, that’s true. It’s quite a distance from the Arclesia Empire Capital."
"Yes. However, one can reach it in an instant with Teleportation Magic, so it’s easy enough to visit if one is determined. In truth, Friendly City Hikari has a very unique political structure; it’s practically a Religious City centered around Shenism. The atmosphere is entirely different from places like the Arclesia Empire, which makes it refreshing and quite enjoyable to visit."
Just as Elis-san said, Friendly City Hikari was quite a distance from the Arclesia Empire Capital. Geographically speaking, it was located at the Westernmost edge of the Time Realm, making it a bit of a challenge in terms of general accessibility.
If I remembered correctly, that was the land Fia-sensei had first invaded, the place where she had built her Demon King's Castle... It was where Noin-san had defeated Fia-sensei to end the war, and where the Friendship Treaty had been signed nine years later.
Despite its location, the number of annual tourists was apparently incredible. I suppose the First Hero's Name Value, combined with being the world's only General Headquarters for a major religion in a world full of devout believers, carried a lot of weight.
Kaori-san had mentioned that her business was thriving... Since the lunch rush was over by now, she was likely taking a breather and enjoying a moment of hard-earned peace.
Around the time Kaito was enjoying his meal with Elis, over at the Suiren in the Friendly City... the door creaked open, and Megiddo and Magnawell stepped inside.
"Yo, sorry for the intrusion. I'm back, Kaori."
"...Huh? ...Eh? Ah, ugh... W-Welcome!"
The moment Megiddo announced his arrival in that booming voice, Kaori’s eyes bugged out of her head. She rubbed them vigorously and looked at Megiddo again, then frantically scanned the area. Once she confirmed that Kaito wasn't with him, her face began to twitch.
(The War King-sama!? Why is he here so suddenly!? Kaito-kun, where is Kaito-kun!?)
It would have been one thing if Kaito had been with him. Her stomach would have still hurt, of course, but his presence would have provided a safety net. Megiddo showing up on his own was pure terror; she was gripped by the crushing fear that she might be killed if she made even the slightest mistake.
In reality, Kaori was exceptionally strong even by the standards of historical otherworlders, placing her firmly among the people Megiddo liked, so there was no danger at all... but she didn't know that.
"...U-Um, War King-sama. Is Kaito-kun not with you today?"
"Nah, Kaito ain't here today. Not that he’s a replacement or anything, but I brought someone else along. Let me introduce you... this is Magnawell."
"......???"
"Now then, Megiddo. Moving things along so abruptly will only cause the lady confusion... You likely saw me during the party, but I am Magnawell Baskus Lard Kartzbald. I look forward to your service."
"......H-Hieee!? I-I am Kaori Mizuhara. T-The both of you, um, ah... p-please, feel free to take any empty seat you like..."
The moment she heard Magnawell's name, Kaori’s consciousness almost drifted into the void. However, driven by her professional pride as a Diner Owner, she refused to leave customers standing at the entrance and managed to guide them to a table.
Magnawell watched her with an impressed expression, admiring her quick recovery and professionalism, but Kaori was in no state to appreciate the praise.
Just when the flow of customers had finally died down and she was thinking of closing up for the afternoon to rest, two of the Six Kings had raided her shop.
(What is even happening!? Kaito-kun! Help me! Help meeeee!?)
Unfortunately, no matter how loudly she screamed in her heart, her voice could not reach him. Clutching her aching stomach, Kaori went to take the orders of Megiddo and Magnawell.
Serious-senpai: "Ah, I see. From Kaori's perspective, this is nothing short of a tragedy... but because she's strong, Megiddo has taken a liking to her. That's why he decided to invite Magnawell along... How truly pitiable."