The audience chamber of the Kingdom of Sinfonia.
While this hall was normally the venue for the King to receive his subjects, the scene currently unfolding was a far cry from its usual state.
The King had descended from his throne, dropping to one knee and bowing his head before his visitor. The Prime Minister and the other highest-ranking officials of the realm had assumed the same submissive posture—a sight that was almost never seen under normal circumstances.
This was solely due to the fact that the person visiting this place possessed an authority that far eclipsed that of the King.
"I apologize for the suddenness of my arrival."
"No, it is an honor beyond words to be granted an audience with your esteemed countenance, World King Lilliwood Yggdrasil-sama."
Indeed, the one currently gracing the Royal Palace with her presence was one of the Six Kings who stood at the absolute pinnacle of the Demon Realm. She was the World King, Lilliwood Yggdrasil, a being who had shared deep ties with the Kingdom of Sinfonia for over a thousand years.
As the source of the natural bounty and prosperity that defined the Kingdom of Sinfonia, she was the realm's most vital benefactor. Even a minor lapse in etiquette toward her was strictly forbidden.
"I shall get straight to the point, King of Sinfonia, Ryze Rea Sinfonia XVIII."
"Y-Yes!"
At the sound of that quietly echoing voice, the King—Ryze—jerked his shoulders in a start.
Lilliwood’s tone was cold and carried a palpable weight of intimidation, a rare departure from her usually mild-mannered temperament.
"You subjected the Otherworlder, Miyama Kaito, to unfair treatment by intentionally excluding him from the invitation list for the evening party, did you not?"
"!? Th-That is..."
At Lilliwood's words, Ryze’s face drained of color, and cold sweat began to bead on his skin.
This particular matter was a blunder that had been causing Ryze immense distress lately. He deeply doted on his younger sister, Lilia, and he had been unable to stomach the idea of a man staying at her home. However, since the guest was an Otherworlder, he couldn't simply threaten or harass him directly.
In a fit of petty spite, he had refrained from sending an invitation. That small act of jealousy had triggered a disaster far beyond his wildest imagination.
Following that incident, the Underworld King, Kuromueina, had begun to display overt hostility toward the Royal Palace. Furthermore, word had somehow spread to the King's own subjects; the numerous devotees of the Underworld King within the palace had begun to view Ryze with open loathing.
He had tried to send messengers to the Underworld King several times to offer an explanation, but they had all been sent back having been beaten half to death by her maid.
Between the domestic unrest and the diplomatic friction, Ryze’s position within the palace had become precarious. He had never dreamed that he would now be interrogated by Lilliwood as well.
Ryze tried to stammer out a defense, but Lilliwood cut him off, her voice growing even more frigid.
"Do not misunderstand. I am not asking a question. I have heard the full account from my kin and speak with absolute certainty. Or are you suggesting that my kin would bring me falsehoods?"
"...N-No, there is no mistake."
"I do not intend to debate the circumstances—whether this was a personal whim or an official act of the state."
The chamber fell into a deathly silence. The King's retainers remained frozen, unable to utter a word. To speak now would be to defy the World King, an act that would result in the immediate ruin of anyone foolish enough to try.
The World King was so essential to the kingdom's survival that if they truly incurred her wrath, the Kingdom of Sinfonia would have no path left but total collapse.
"I shall state my demand. There is only one thing I require. You must offer a clear and sincere apology to the Otherworlder, Miyama Kaito, in a formal, public setting. You understand what this entails, yes?"
"Y-Yes... H-However, such a thing would..."
Lilliwood’s demand essentially forced the King to bow his head in public, a catastrophic blow to his prestige and the dignity of the throne.
As Ryze hesitated, Lilliwood fixed him with a chilling gaze and pressed further.
"If this is not carried out promptly... I will sever all ties with the Kingdom of Sinfonia from this moment forward."
"!!??"
At those words, not only Ryze but every official in the room felt their hearts skip a beat.
It was no exaggeration to say that Lilliwood presided over the very fertility of the land. Not only the Elves, but the vast majority of the farming population worshipped her as a goddess.
If Lilliwood were to abandon the kingdom, the Elves, the Fairies, the Spirits, and the peasantry would all turn against the Royal Palace simultaneously. It was nothing short of a death sentence for the nation.
"Is that understood, King of Sinfonia?"
"Y-Yes. I shall deal with it immediately."
"Very well. However, it would be cruel to leave things on such a note. I shall provide you with a piece of information that you may find beneficial."
"Beneficial information?"
With no choice but to comply, Ryze hung his head in defeat and listened to Lilliwood’s next words.
The sharp, intimidating aura Lilliwood had been projecting softened slightly, and a faint smile touched her lips.
"Deepening your ties with the Otherworlder, Miyama Kaito, is in your best interest. This is because he has forged exceptionally friendly relationships with both the Underworld King and the Death King."
"What!? Not just the Underworld King-sama, but the Death King-sama as well!?"
"Indeed. If you choose to antagonize him, you make enemies of them both. However, if he holds a favorable impression of this country, then the value of this nation increases in the eyes of the Underworld King and the Death King. He is a person you have everything to gain from befriending."
After explaining the merits of treating Kaito with respect, Lilliwood fell silent for a moment.
The officials in the audience chamber buzzed with shock at this revelation. Lilliwood waited for the murmurs to die down before delivering her final word.
"I have concluded my business here. I must depart for Rigforresia now, so I shall take my leave. King of Sinfonia... I expect a swift and sincere resolution to the matter we discussed."
"Yes. I shall ensure a formal and heartfelt apology is made."
"Good. Then, excuse me."
With that, Lilliwood vanished from the audience chamber.
After exiting the Royal Palace, Lilliwood reflected on the meeting as she prepared to travel to Rigforresia.
(That should be sufficient. If I had simply forced an apology, some might have harbored a petty grudge against Miyama Kaito-san. It is better to make them realize that he is someone they should strive to please, even if it means swallowing their pride.)
Feeling a sense of relief that she had likely averted a scenario where Kuromueina or Isis might have razed the palace, Lilliwood was approached by one of her kin.
"World King-sama, I have an urgent report..."
"What is it?"
"We have just received word from your kin stationed in Rigforresia. It appears the Black Bears inhabiting the Elf Forest... have been driven to extinction."
"...What?"
Lilliwood froze at the preposterous report.
"W-Why? Was there a Peerage-class High-ranking Demon among the festival participants who went on a rampage?"
"No, it seems... they were wiped out by the Death King-sama."
"Isis did!?"
"Yes. The details are still being verified, but it appears an Otherworlder man participating in the festival was attacked by a Black Bear. The Death King-sama appeared immediately afterward and exterminated the entire species in an instant..."
"..."
Lilliwood pressed her hand to her forehead.
The extinction of the Black Bears at Isis's hands, the Otherworlder man who was attacked... She could easily piece together what had happened, and the thought of the clean-up ahead made her head spin.
"I am heading to Rigforresia immediately. I must check if the Magic Power of Death has begun to wither the forest. Inform the local authorities."
"At once!"
If things had played out as Lilliwood suspected, Isis must have released her deathly mana in a fit of absolute rage. The environmental fallout would likely be devastating for the trees of the Elf Forest.
Just when she thought she had settled one diplomatic disaster, an even more exhausting crisis had landed in her lap.
Lilliwood slumped her shoulders, looking every bit the weary administrator, and used her teleportation magic to depart for Rigforresia.