It was the twenty-third day of the Month of Wind. On an afternoon when the month’s end was finally coming into view, Aoi-chan, Hina-chan, and I headed to the reception room as Lilia-san had requested.
"I wonder what’s happened? She sounded like it was an emergency..."
"Hmm. Usually, you'd assume it’s a guest... but a guest who has business with all three of us?"
"I can't think of anyone," Hina-chan admitted.
Being called to the reception room almost certainly meant a visitor. If I had been summoned alone, or if only one of the girls had been called, it might have made more sense, but the list of people who would want to see the three of us together was incredibly short.
Hina-chan tilted her head curiously, and Aoi-chan looked just as puzzled. To be honest, I was starting to feel a little anxious about what was waiting for us.
We reached the room quickly. I knocked and stepped inside to find Lilia-san waiting, but she wasn't alone. Lunamaria-san and Sieg-san were there too, along with another woman I didn't recognize—a woman with cat ears.
"Everyone, I’m sorry for calling you here so suddenly," Lilia-san began.
"N-No, it’s fine, Lilia-san... Do we have a guest?"
"Yes. Or more accurately... it seems we have a guest for the six of us, including Luna, Sieg, and myself."
"""Eh?"""
The three of us spoke in unison, our confusion deepening.
Lilia-san, Lunamaria-san, Sieg-san, Aoi-chan, Hina-chan, and me... What on earth could one person want with all of us?
As if sensing our bewilderment, the cat-eared woman spoke up.
"Your confusion is only natural. I’ll explain everything in due course... but first, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Caraway, a Viscount-class High-ranking Demon. I’ve come as a messenger for the Six Kings. It is a pleasure to meet you all."
"Ah, yes. Um... I'm Kaito Miyama."
"I'm Aoi Kusunoki."
"I'm Hina Yuzuki."
After our brief introductions, we took the seats Lunamaria-san had prepared for us.
"Now then, I’ll get straight to the point. I have been entrusted with invitations from the Six Kings for all of you."
"...Invitations?" Lilia-san asked, acting as our representative.
"Yes. For seven days, from the twenty-fourth to the thirtieth of the Month of Light, a festival jointly hosted by the Six Kings will be held in the Demon Realm. It is called the Six Kings Festival."
"T-The Six Kings are hosting a festival together!?"
"That is... truly unprecedented," Lunamaria-san whispered, unable to hide her shock.
The rest of us were just as stunned. The idea of the absolute rulers of the Demon Realm collaborating on a single event was enough to leave anyone speechless. Caraway-san continued her polite explanation.
This year would mark the very first Six Kings Festival. For this inaugural event, attendance was strictly limited to those who received a direct invitation from the Kings. The festival would last a week; for the first six days, each King would host their own individual festivities in sequence. On the seventh and final day, all Six Kings would participate together.
The venue was a massive island in the Demon Realm, and Magnawell-san had even arranged for free transportation via a specialized Wyvern Service.
"Does anyone have any questions so far?"
"N-No, we understand."
"In that case, I shall hand these out..."
Once she was satisfied that we understood the gist of it, Caraway-san produced several beautifully decorated envelopes and handed them to us one by one.
"Those envelopes contain your invitations... but you should know that the invitations are ranked."
"Ranked?"
"Yes. There are six ranks: Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Black. Black is the highest. The ranking is simple; it is determined by how many of the Six Kings extended an invitation to you. The higher the rank, the more perks you receive—and the more luxurious the commemorative gifts become."
"C-Commemorative gifts?"
"Indeed. To celebrate the first festival, the Six Kings have decided to bestow gifts upon their guests. The details are included in your invitations, so please, take a look."
"T-Then, I’ll go first..."
Following Caraway-san’s lead, Lilia-san, as the head of the house, opened her envelope. She pulled out a large, shimmering card that glowed with a platinum light.
"How wonderful. Lilia-sama, yours is a Platinum Rank invitation... It seems you were invited by five of the Six Kings."
"I-Is that so?"
"Yes. Please open the card. It will list the Kings who invited you and the gifts they have prepared."
"R-Right... wait, what?"
Lilia-san opened the card and immediately froze. A moment later, beads of sweat began to pour down her face.
The rest of us couldn't help but peek over her shoulder to see what had caused such a reaction. As Caraway-san had said, the Platinum card listed the names of five Kings and their respective "commemorative gifts."
Death King: Isis Remnant — Gift: A Whole Mining Mountain in the Northern Demon Realm World King: Lilliwood Yggdrasil — Gift: Fruit of the World Tree War King: Megiddo Argetes Borgness — Gift: One Cask of Demon God's Wine Phantasm King: No Face — Gift: One Holy Sword Excalibur Underworld King: Kuromueina — Gift: One Latest Model Teleportation Magic Tool
Every single item was absurd. They weren't "commemorative gifts"—they were national treasures or geographic landmarks. It was far more than Lilia-san could handle. Her eyes rolled back into her head, and she slumped over, dead to the world.
"Milady!?"
While the maids tended to her, Sieg-san opened hers next. Her invitation was Bronze Rank, meaning she had been invited by two Kings.
War King: Megiddo Argetes Borgness — Gift: High-quality Liquor Set Phantasm King: No Face — Gift: Wyvern Leather Wallet
These seemed a bit more reasonable. Megiddo-san had praised Sieg-san before, so that made sense, and Alice probably invited her because they had fought together. Lunamaria-san, Aoi-chan, and Hina-chan all seemed to have been invited by Kuro, much to Lunamaria-san’s delight.
Lilia-san eventually regained consciousness, and soon everyone was staring at me—or rather, the envelope in my hand.
"I-I’m almost afraid to see Kaito-san’s invitation..."
"Lilia-san’s was already terrifying. If Kaito-san’s is even higher..."
"K-Kaito-senpai, just open it already!"
"O-Okay."
Under the weight of their combined stares, I opened my envelope. Out slid an invitation of deep, polished jet-black.
"I... I am stunned," Caraway-san whispered. "To think it really is a Black Rank... That is proof of an invitation from all Six Kings. I was told that only one Black Rank invitation was prepared for the entire Human Realm..."
"E-Ehh..."
Things were getting out of hand. I was just being invited to a festival! Sure, I knew all the Kings personally, but this was crazy.
With Lilia-san, the girls, and even Caraway-san peering over my shoulder, I nervously opened the card.
Death King: Isis Remnant — Gift: 10 Forbidden-level Ultra-ancient Grimoires
Wait a minute, Isis-san!? These sound incredibly dangerous! What am I even supposed to do with ten of them!?
World King: Lilliwood Yggdrasil — Gift: World Tree Sapling
A sapling!? You want me to grow a World Tree in the backyard!?
War King: Megiddo Argetes Borgness — Gift: Nectar
What even is that!? The name alone sounds like something I shouldn't be touching! What kind of alcohol is this!?
Dragon King: Magnawell Baskus Lald Katzbalger — Gift: Dragon King’s Fang and Dragon King’s Claw
Hold on! Magnawell-san’s actual fang and claw? Just one of those is probably the size of a skyscraper! Where am I supposed to put them!?
Phantasm King: No Face — Gift: Divine Sword Laevateinn and Magic Sword Calamity
What is that idiot thinking, giving me legendary swords!? Does she want me to go out and save the world or something? Noin-san already did that!
Underworld King: Kuromueina — Gift: One State-of-the-art Magic Ship with Auto-pilot Function
A ship!? That doesn't count as a gift anymore! Who gives away entire ships as party favors!? ...This world does, apparently. And that's terrifying.
It wasn't just "outrageous" anymore. I didn't even have a word for it. How did my life end up like this?
Dear Mother, Father——I received an invitation to the Six Kings Festival, the first joint event held by the rulers of the Demon Realm. But the things written inside——were a collection of gifts that made me doubt my very eyes.