After I handed over the gift, we got down to business, but my consultation with Lilliwood-san ended quite quickly. Since it was mostly just a confirmation, I suppose that was only to be expected. For the record, she told me that transplanting the World Tree sapling wouldn't be an issue at all.
Furthermore, Lilliwood-san had already modified the World Tree I owned so that no spirits would reside in it and its growth would cap at a manageable size, which was a huge relief for several reasons.
Since Lilliwood-san seemed to have some time to spare today, we spent the rest of the visit enjoying some light conversation. During our talk about the housewarming party, the topic shifted to the executives serving the Six Kings.
"Come to think of it, the executives in your camp are called the Seven Princesses, right?"
『Yes, that is correct. They are all quite capable, and I rely on them heavily.』
"I see. Now that I think about it, the Seven Princesses are the only group of executives I haven't met yet. I'd love to meet them if I ever get the chance."
Looking back, I had met all of Megiddo-san's Five War Generals, Fafnir-san from Magnawell-san's Four Great Magic Dragons, and both Pandora-san and Catastro-san from Alice's Ten Demons. I had crossed paths with a fair number of the people known as the Six Kings' Executives, but I had yet to meet a single person from Lilliwood-san's camp.
Lilliwood-san was busy with her duties as one of the Six Kings, so perhaps her subordinates were just as swamped. I had been hoping to properly thank the executives for their help during the incident in the God Realm, so I was eager to get to know them.
『……Eh?』
"Eh?"
Hearing my words, which I had spoken with complete sincerity, Lilliwood-san wore a look of utter confusion. I tilted my head, mirroring her bewilderment.
Lilliwood-san fell into a brief silence, her expression thoughtful, before letting out a soft sigh.
『……I see. It’s that usual problem. Kaito-san, could you wait here for just a moment?』
"Eh? Oh, sure."
I nodded as Lilliwood-san spoke with a strained smile. After waiting for a short while, there was a knock at the door, and Camellia-san, who had left earlier, stepped back into the room.
"Lilliwood-sama, you called for me?"
『Yes. I am sorry to interrupt your cleaning.』
"Oh, not at all. If anything, I'm grateful for the excuse to avoid certain sparring partners."
『Hmm?』
Seeing Camellia-san’s somewhat weary expression, Lilliwood-san tilted her head for a second before turning her attention back to me.
『……Let's try this again, Kaito-san.』
"Ah, okay."
『Allow me to introduce her properly. This is one of my executives, a member of the Seven Princesses…… Camellia, the Floral Princess.』
"Huh? Ah, yes, I'm Camellia."
Wait, what did she just say? One of the executives? Camellia-san?
"Wha—Whaaaaaat!? Is that true!?"
『So you really hadn't noticed. This child has always struggled with being recognized as an executive…… She is brilliant, of course, but her presence is a bit…… faint, shall we say.』
"A-Ahaha……"
To be perfectly honest, Lilliwood-san’s reveal left me stunned. I had spoken with Camellia-san many times and considered her a friend, but I had never felt that kind of aura from her.
She didn't radiate the typical presence of a powerhouse; she just felt incredibly approachable and friendly. Among the people I knew, her vibe was most similar to Lilia-san's.
"I’m so inconspicuous that I can walk through town without Recognition Inhibition Magic and almost no one notices me. People tell me all the time that I don't look like an executive."
"N-No, I've never felt like you were inconspicuous, Camellia-san. It's just that we've known each other for a while, so the sudden new information caught me off guard."
Since Lilliwood-san had called it "the usual problem," this must happen to Camellia-san frequently. And while she certainly had a modest air about her, I never would have called her presence faint.
In fact, I was confident I could pick her out of a crowd in an instant—though that might just be my Sympathy Magic at work.
"Oh, wait. If you're an executive, that means you were part of the battle in the God Realm, right? I'm sorry it's taken me this long, but thank you so much for your help back then."
"No, please, don't mention it. I didn't do anything worth bragging about, but I'm truly happy if I was of even the slightest help to you, Kaito-san."
The smile Camellia-san gave me was so warm that it reinforced my belief in her genuine kindness. She told me not to worry, but I made a mental note to find a way to thank her properly later.
After enjoying a pleasant conversation with Kaito, who quickly regained his composure, Lilliwood watched him depart before speaking to Camellia, who stood by her side.
『……"Nothing worth bragging about," you say? That is quite different from the reports I received.』
"Pardon?"
『I heard you were remarkably active during that battle. Tiltania was particularly ecstatic, saying it was the first time she had ever seen you get serious.』
"U-Um……"
As Lilliwood spoke with a knowing smile, Camellia’s mind drifted back to the battle in the God Realm—an event that, in many ways, was the largest conflict the world had seen since its inception.
The war between the Gods, empowered by Shallow Vernal, and the Human-Demon Allied Forces had spread across the countless floating islands, escalating in ferocity by the hour.
For the most part, the executives of each faction fought in tight-knit groups. It was a matter of necessity; rather than trying to coordinate on the fly with unfamiliar allies, it was more efficient to maintain the refined synergy of their own factions.
On one massive floating island, the Seven Princesses of the World King Faction found themselves squaring off against several High-ranking Gods and a legion of Low-ranking Gods.
"……100%!"
"Guh……"
With a sharp shout, Camellia unleashed a strike of terrifying force. Meeting the blow head-on was Sky God Sky, one of the High-ranking Gods, who had crossed her arms in a defensive stance.
Camellia, known as the Strong Fist of the Earth, possessed a level of pure destructive power that most other Six Kings' Executives would hesitate to challenge directly. Even Sky God Sky, bolstered to a level far beyond her normal capabilities, was forced back two full steps by the impact.
However, she did endure it. This single exchange served as a turning point. The Gods felt a surge of relief, while the Seven Princesses wore looks of frustration.
As their faces showed, this outcome was a boon for the Gods and a setback for the princesses.
The nature of this particular war meant that some factions were at a natural advantage while others struggled. The War King Faction was arguably the most successful on this battlefield; they were masters of combat technique, possessing countless ways to bridge the gap in raw physical ability.
Similarly, the Dragon King Faction was performing admirably, largely thanks to Nizbel. A challenger by nature, she had spent her life overcoming stronger foes to reach the top. She understood exactly how to handle enemies with superior base stats and had taught her fellow dragons and subordinates the same tricks. This allowed the Dragon King Faction to maintain an edge even against the buffed Gods.
Conversely, the Phantasm King Faction was having a harder time. Many of their executives relied on status ailments and underhanded tactics. Since every God present was under the protection of Shallow Vernal's blessing, those subtle arts were effectively neutralized, severely limiting the faction’s overall combat power. While top-tier fighters like Pandora were still overwhelming High-ranking Gods, the faction as a whole was under significant pressure.
The World King Faction also found themselves in an unfavorable position. Led by the Seven Princesses, the faction specialized in high defensive capabilities. They could withstand the empowered Gods' attacks and were skilled in the sealing magic required to deal with Gods who could resurrect indefinitely through the God of Life's power.
On paper, they seemed perfect for this war, but reality told a different story.
Most of the World King's subordinates were counter-attackers. They excelled at reactive combat—waiting for the opponent to strike and then punishing them.
However, the Gods' goal was simply to buy time. They had no reason to proactively attack the World King Faction’s fortress-like defense. Knowing the princesses were masters of the counter, the Gods simply hunkered down and refused to engage, playing a purely defensive game.
In such a scenario, the World King Faction lacked the offensive tools to break through the Gods' fortified lines. While they could have coordinated with other factions, makeshift teamwork would have only disrupted their established rhythm.
This tactical disadvantage plagued the Seven Princesses, and it was here that Camellia, who boasted the greatest raw attack power in the faction, became the linchpin.
The logic was simple: if Camellia could shatter the Gods' defense, the others could pivot to support her. But if even Camellia’s strikes couldn't break them, the faction would remain deadlocked. The Gods also understood this and focused all their attention on her, resulting in a stalemate when Camellia’s 100% strike was blocked by Sky God Sky.
As Sky God Sky let out a smirk of triumph, Camellia looked down at her right fist and spoke in a soft murmur.
"……I do not enjoy fighting."
"Hmm?"
"If I had my way, I would spend my days in peace, tending to my home and avoiding conflict entirely."
Sky God Sky tilted her head, confused by the sudden change in tone, as Camellia allowed her combat stance to relax.
"……However, I have lived a long life. I understand that there are times when one must fight—to remain true to oneself, and to protect those one holds dear."
As she spoke, a gentle, fond smile touched Camellia's lips.
"……He is such a kind person."
"……"
"He always drinks the tea I brew and tells me how delicious it is. He is a gentle soul who looks wonderful when he smiles."
Then, Camellia quietly tightened her left fist and stepped forward with her right foot. Half of the princesses behind her looked on in confusion.
The truth of the matter was a secret known to only a few even among the Seven Princesses. While those in the dark tilted their heads, the ones who knew the truth immediately began preparing a Sealing Formula.
"If it is for his sake, then swinging this fist is a small price to pay."
"……What are you—"
"It is nothing grand. I am simply left-handed."
"Wha—!?"
"……120%."
With a whisper, Camellia lunged. Her first step was so powerful it seemed to shatter the very space around her. A split second after her left fist flashed with a brilliant light, Sky God Sky’s consciousness vanished. The next thing the God knew, time was being rewound by Chronoa’s Judgment of Spacetime.
After a moment of nostalgic reflection, Camellia turned back to Lilliwood and smiled.
"……I believe we achieved such a good result because everyone worked so hard, Kaito-san included. Compared to all of you, what I did was plain and insignificant…… but that is as it should be."
『I see…… If you are satisfied, then I will say no more.』
"Yes. If I was even slightly helpful to Kaito-san, that is enough for me. I’m still not entirely sure how much of a difference I actually made."
『……You truly have no desire for recognition. I believe you could be far more famous if you put your mind to it.』
Camellia considered Lilliwood’s words for a moment before giving a small, wry laugh.
"……As you know, Lilliwood-sama, I am not the type to bloom like a vibrant flower and decorate the landscape. I am perfectly content to be a small splash of color at the edge of the vision of the kind people I want to protect."
Watching Camellia laugh, Lilliwood thought to herself that the girl hadn't changed a bit over the centuries.
She might look timid and easily led, but her heart possessed an unshakeable core. She had wanted to protect kind souls from the moment she first entered Lilliwood's service, and that beautiful heart remained untainted.
Camellia was a Grass Spirit. She might never bloom with vibrant petals, but Lilliwood believed she was truly beautiful.
And she was certain she wasn't the only one who felt that way.
No matter how faint her presence or how inconspicuous she claimed to be, her beauty was clear to those who truly looked.
The title she had eventually earned as an executive…… the Floral Princess.
The inclusion of the word "Flower" in that title surely referred to the beauty of Camellia’s soul.
Even without traditional blossoms, she was undoubtedly a flower that added beauty to the earth.
Sky God Sky
A High-ranking God directly under Life. She holds a relatively high position within the hierarchy, though this time she was relegated to the role of being the victim. She assists Life alongside the Earth God and, as one might expect, she has a very hard time of it.
She is envious of the Gods under Chronoa’s direct command and would gladly trade places with them if given the chance—though she would never, ever want to trade with the Goddess of Calamity. That position seems much more miserable than her own.
On a side note, while Life and the Earth God are quite well-endowed, Sky's own chest is extremely modest.