It had been two days since we decided to attend the Treasure Tree Festival, making today the 18th of the Month of Fire.
Lunamaria-san was handling the schedule and arranging for Wyverns, so for now, all I could do was wait.
On a side note, Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san had finally managed to manipulate their magic power yesterday, thanks in large part to the book Kuro had written. They were supposed to start practicing actual spells today. Since they were both Otherworlders, I wondered if they would end up using unique magic like I did.
Musing over this, I walked down the hallway and reached the dining room. I had woken up early, so I didn't expect anyone to be there yet. However, the moment I stepped inside and saw a figure, I bowed my head out of habit.
"Good morning."
"Umu. You are early. A commendable discipline, Miyama. The time granted to mortals is finite; see that you do not squander it in vain."
"..."
I silently closed the door.
That was strange. I felt like I just saw someone who definitely shouldn't be here. Maybe I just didn't open the door right? Yeah, that must be it. Alright, let's try again—this time, with more vigor!
"Just what exactly do you think you are doing?"
"I should be asking you that... Why are you here, Chronoa-san?"
Sitting at the dining table as if it were the most natural thing in the world was a Supreme God who rarely visited the Human Realm outside of the Hero Festival: the Goddess of Time, Chronoa-san. She was calmly sipping black tea.
As another side note, regarding her name, she had been quite firm during our last talk. Since I called the Creator God "Shiro-san," she insisted she would never forgive me if I kept addressing her with a formal "-sama," so I had transitioned to calling her "Chronoa-san."
"Me? I have come at Lilia’s behest. I told her previously to call upon me should trouble arise... though I did not expect it to happen so soon, let alone in such a disastrous form."
"Disastrous? What on earth happened!?"
"..."
"Uh... Chronoa-san?"
Hearing her speak of an emergency, I hurriedly asked what could be serious enough to warrant the personal intervention of a Supreme God. However, Chronoa-san simply wore an expression of profound exasperation, sighing as she turned her red and blue heterochromatic eyes toward me.
"Haaah. I understand Lilia’s hardships all too well now. The reason I have come is because of you. You... it seems you have become acquainted with the Death King?"
"Eh? Ah, yes. I became friends with Isis-san two days ago."
"That knack of yours for attracting trouble—are you certain it isn't some variety of curse? To cross paths with the Death King in such a short span... I truly wonder what is wrong with you."
"N-No, meeting Isis-san was a complete accident..."
"I know that. Even so, becoming acquainted with two of the Six Kings in less than twenty days is beyond extraordinary. Especially regarding the Death King—it wasn't as if the Underworld King pulled the strings for you, was it?"
"...Well, no."
It was a sound argument with no room for rebuttal. Thinking about it, everyone I had met since coming to this world was a top-class figure in terms of power and status. In a way, I was lucky; in another, I was incredibly unlucky. I could understand why she’d want to call it a curse.
Though, if I were allowed to say one thing—you are included among those outrageous individuals as well, Chronoa-san.
"And of all people, the Death King... Had it been the World King or someone of that sort, the matter would have been much simpler."
"Is Isis-san really feared that much?"
"That one is pure, for better or for worse. Thus, she is far harder to handle than the other Six Kings. There are many instances where logic simply does not apply to her."
"..."
Her words left me feeling a bit conflicted. I hadn't exchanged many words with Isis-san yet, but I felt like I understood that she wasn't a bad person.
Isis-san had seemed truly happy while talking to me. Combined with the emotions I had picked up through Sympathy Magic, it made me feel like she had been desperately lonely all this time. To be dreaded as a monster clad in the Magic Power of Death by both the Demon and Human Realms, constantly subjected to gazes of pure terror—I couldn't even imagine how painful those days must have been for her.
Because of that, I couldn't bring myself to nod when Chronoa-san called her "hard to handle." I simply remained silent.
Chronoa-san gave a single nod, looking somewhat impressed for some reason. At that exact moment, a glowing blue bird appeared in front of me.
"...Eh?"
"...A Hummingbird. Good grief, speak of the devil."
"Um, what is this?"
"It is a simple long-distance transmission made of magic power. Think of it as a short letter. Touch it, and the message shall appear."
As I stared in surprise at the sudden bird, Chronoa-san gave me a brief explanation. Wait, Hummingbird... I felt like I’d heard that somewhere before. Had Kuro mentioned it?
Tilting my head at the familiar name, I reached out. The blue bird vanished, and bluish-white glowing characters made of magic power manifested in the air.
『...Today... after noon... going... to see you』
That’s terrifying! It looks like a cursed letter!
Anyway, it was apparently a message from Isis-san, saying she was coming over to visit today. Chronoa-san watched the message fade and muttered, "I suppose I was right to come," before standing up and leaving the room to go speak with Lilia-san.
Once the afternoon arrived, Lilia-san, Lunamaria-san, Chronoa-san, and I gathered at the mansion's entrance to welcome our guest.
Unlike the large reception we had for Kuro, this was a small group. Under Chronoa-san's orders, anyone faint-hearted or with low magic power had been told to stay in their rooms, meaning Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san were currently tucked away.
Lilia-san and Lunamaria-san were visibly trembling. They were pale as ghosts as they stood perfectly straight, waiting for Isis-san’s arrival at any second.
"...Fear not, Lilia. I am with thee."
"C-Chronoa-sama..."
Chronoa-san spoke with a dashing, heroic air, and Lilia-san looked at her with pleading, grateful eyes. It seemed they had found some common ground during their previous talk—likely over being the types who were always burdened with hard work—and Lilia-san now relied on her immensely.
As we waited in the tense atmosphere, a bluish-white light appeared near the gate, and Isis-san showed herself.
She was dressed in the same gothic lolita dress as before, floating softly in the air as she slowly approached us. Perhaps my body had fully adapted to the Magic Power of Death since our last meeting, because I didn't feel the oppressive sensation I had before. However, seeing Lilia-san and Lunamaria-san shaking like leaves, it was clear the magic power was reaching us.
Chronoa-san moved naturally, placing herself between Lilia-san and the source of the pressure. She really was incredibly cool.
Isis-san’s expression brightened the moment she noticed me, and she picked up speed until she was standing right in front of me.
"...Kaito... hello... coming so suddenly... I'm sorry... was it a nuisance?"
"Hello. It's not a nuisance at all. I'm happy to see you again, Isis-san."
"...Ah... un."
When she asked her hesitant question, I gave her a warm smile. Isis-san’s face lit up like a blooming flower and she nodded happily. I really couldn't see her as a "difficult" person.
"It has been a while, Death King."
"...Chronoa? ...Why... are you here?"
"I am acquainted with the master of this house. Regardless, you have actually come at a sensible hour for once."
"...Liliwood said... visiting at lunchtime is rude... so I should wait until after."
"I see. The World King’s advice, then. She truly earns her title as the Conscience of the Six Kings."
Chronoa-san spoke with a guarded tone, but Isis-san didn't seem to mind at all.
"So then, for what purpose have you visited today?"
"...I came... to see Kaito... Ah, Kaito... this... a souvenir."
"Eh? Thank you. You didn't have to go to such trouble."
Isis-san seemed to suddenly remember something and held out a basket filled with fruit. I hesitated for a second about accepting it when the homeowner, Lilia-san, was standing right there... but since she was currently a trembling, pale mess, I decided it was best if I took it and thanked her.
Isis-san smiled happily again, her cheeks flushing a faint red.
"...If you are pleased... I am... happy too."
"...Who is this? Is that really her?"
Watching Isis-san fidgeting her fingers together shyly and smiling with such bashfulness, Chronoa-san stood there with a look of utter bewilderment.
Dear Mother, Father—Chronoa-san is here, Isis-san is here, and... well. It seems today will be another noisy day.