We finished visiting most of the major attractions, and evening was drawing near.
Thanks to Lilliwood-san’s clear and thorough guidance, I was able to fully enjoy the festival despite my lack of botanical knowledge. I was truly grateful.
Now, Lilliwood-san was leading me to a place that could be considered the centerpiece of the second day of the festival.
It was a massive flower field that occupied the entire northern district of the host city, extending from the Central Tower. The vibrant blossoms were arranged in intricate patterns, creating a breathtaking masterpiece of scenery.
Lilliwood-san called it her "work of pride," and in truth, it was magnificent. From one vantage point, it looked like a giant rainbow; from another, it resembled a complex ring of colors.
A small hill had been provided as an overlook, offering a different perspective on its beauty. Every look revealed a new discovery; the field felt like a jewelry box filled with wonders.
Before I knew it, I was sitting beside Lilliwood-san on that hill, losing track of time as we watched the flowers.
As the sky began to turn a deep madder red, giving way to a melancholy beauty that differed from the daytime's brilliance, I turned to her.
"By the way, Lilliwood-san. I’ve been meaning to ask you something for a while... Since we’re here, would you mind if I asked you now?"
『Oh? Yes, of course. I don’t mind.』
Perhaps because other visitors were keeping their distance out of respect for Lilliwood-san’s presence, the hill was currently deserted. It was the perfect moment for a private conversation.
I decided to voice a suspicion that had been on my mind for a long time regarding her and a certain someone else.
"Um, I’m sorry if I’m misreading things, but... do you and Alice—the Phantasm King—get along poorly?"
『...What makes you ask?』
"...Back during the Treasure Tree Festival, when you warned me about her... I got the feeling you were 'afraid' of her."
『...』
I had intended to ask eventually, but given the sensitive nature of the subject, I hadn't found the right opportunity until now.
When Lilliwood-san had spoken of the Phantasm King at the Treasure Tree Festival, her expression made it seem like she was talking about an unknown entity—an enigma she couldn't comprehend.
To me, Alice was a best friend and a precious lover. That was exactly why I wanted to know.
Lilliwood-san fell silent for a moment before letting out a soft sigh.
『...I really am no match for you, Kaito-san.』
"...Then, I was right?"
『Yes, you are. Though I should clarify that I feel this way 'less so now,' I certainly used to fear her... Shaltier. No, perhaps 'fear' isn't quite the right word. It would be more accurate to say that I found her 'eerie.'』
"Eerie?"
Gazing out over the sunset-drenched flowers, Lilliwood-san began to recount the past bit by bit.
『She appeared before us quite suddenly one day. She was a being of immense power who manifested out of nowhere... That in itself wasn't a problem. If Kuromueina was the one who brought her, we didn't hesitate to welcome her as family.』
"..."
『Shaltier was bright and energetic, and she hit it off with everyone immediately. But... even while she was joking and laughing, there was a sense that she was keeping everyone at arm's length. I felt an odd discrepancy, as if a dark flame resided behind her smile.』
I see. Lilliwood-san had been vaguely aware of what Alice was hiding, even if she couldn't quite put her finger on it. That was likely why she had found Alice so unsettling.
『...It felt as if she were looking at 'something' entirely different from us. That feeling was confirmed about a thousand years after her arrival.』
"Did Alice do something?"
『...The Demon Realm was terribly chaotic back then. There were many powerful individuals—what we would now call Count-class demons—and they all rampaged exactly as they pleased. Even though Kuromueina was the strongest existence in the Demon Realm, she respected individual freedom above all else. Consequently, it was a much more violent era than today.』
"..."
『However, that chaos was ended... by a single individual.』
"...Don't tell me that was Alice?"
Lilliwood-san gave a solemn nod to my involuntary question.
『Shaltier began eliminating those among the powerful demons she deemed unnecessary for the world. She did it with such cold calculation and cunning that even we didn't notice at first. By the time we realized what was happening, she had single-handedly disposed of more than seventy percent of the high-ranking demons.』
"..."
『And that wasn't all. She simultaneously expanded her network of subordinates, and in a mere millennium, she had woven a web across the entire Dark Side of the Demon Realm. Using her information manipulation power, she imposed order... establishing the 'Six Kings' and the 'Peerage' system.』
"Wait, hold on. You mean the very terms 'Six Kings' and 'Peerage-class High-ranking Demon' were created by...?"
『Yes, by Shaltier. She claimed she categorized the demons by strength to make information easier to manage... and ultimately, for her own sake.』
"...What a selfish jerk. Shaltier is the absolute worst. There's a limit to how self-centered—Fugyah!?"
Because some idiot interjected into our serious conversation, I instinctively delivered a knuckle sandwich.
Dear Mother, Father—Lilliwood-san’s story was quite a shock. Of course, knowing her circumstances, I realize Alice did it because she needed vast amounts of information to fulfill her promise to Iris-san. Still, it was staggering. In short, it seems Alice was the one who coined the terms Six Kings and Peerage—the one who built the foundation of the modern Demon Realm.
???: "Haaah... to think someone would seize control of the entire world just to find a romantic partner! It's an idiotic idea, truly idiotic! I'm so appalled I can hardly speak. It's the height of selfishness. Honestly, compared to a pure, cute, and adorably transcendentally pretty archangel like Alice-chan, that Shaltier person is the pits! What a terrible stor—Migyah!?"