After we had spent some time touring the district catering to the wealthy, we decided to head toward the plaza where the main stage was set up. Guided by Sky-san, we made our way there as a group.
Various performances were in full swing on the stage, and I was told that dignitaries like the kings of the Human Realm and the Six Kings were likely gathered in the surrounding plaza.
"Speaking of which, Sky-san," I said as the thought occurred to me. "I was just wondering... is Magnawell-san not attending the festival this time?"
"Hmm... I’m certain he received an invitation. However, considering Dragon King Magnawell’s proportions, he often sends one of the Four Great Magic Dragons as his proxy. I suspect that's the case today as well. The Middle Level isn't quite as expansive as the Lower Level, so he likely chose to be considerate."
"Ah, that makes sense..."
Given his colossal frame, he would have been visible from miles away if he were here. Just as Sky-san said, a proxy was probably standing in for him. Alice had mentioned that she occasionally sent Pandora-san as her representative rather than appearing herself, so it seemed to be a common pattern among the Six Kings.
In truth, even though the Middle Level was smaller than the Lower Level, it was still massive—certainly large enough to accommodate Magnawell-san without any real trouble. However, they probably hadn't known exactly how much space the festival would occupy when the invitations were first sent. Sending a proxy was likely a precaution in case things got crowded.
As we walked while discussing such things, an unfamiliar voice suddenly called out to us.
"Oh, if it isn't Miyama Kaito and company? What a coincidence."
Standing there was an elderly man with a well-groomed white beard. He was exceptionally tall—easily over 190 centimeters—and cut a dignified figure in a suit-like shirt under a pale grey overcoat with a matching hat. He looked every bit the distinguished gentleman.
"Eh? Um—!?"
Before I could process the stranger's presence, my four attendants—Anima, Caraway, Eta, and Theta—stepped forward to shield me, their faces hardened with caution.
The air grew thick with tension, as if they were seconds away from a fight. It wasn't exactly hostility, though; it felt more like a pack of hounds bristling at a predator. I could see the intense strain in their expressions and even a faint trace of fear.
I could guess the reason. It was the aura radiating from the old man. While his features were calm and intellectual, his presence was staggering. Even someone like me, who knew next to nothing about combat, could tell at a glance that he was a monster in human skin.
Yes, he was almost certainly stronger than Anima and the others. Not just stronger, but overwhelmingly so.
"Who are you?" Sky-san demanded, her own expression clouding with wariness. "With a presence like that, you must be on par with the Six Kings or the Supreme Gods. even at the lowest estimate, no Count-class could hope to compare... yet I’ve never seen your face before."
The old gentleman simply gave a serene smile in response.
I understood why the girls were so tense. To them, an unknown powerhouse had just materialized out of thin air. But even as I felt that same intimidation, a suspicion took root in my mind.
"...Um, you're Magnawell-san, aren't you? Probably?"
"Hah! Hahaha! I see Shaltier was right about your eyes. To think you'd recognize me in an instant... Aye, that I am."
"To be honest, I was only half-sure myself. Actually, I still find it hard to believe... Magnawell-san, I thought you couldn't take human form with Humanization Magic?"
That was the source of my confusion. Magnawell-san himself had once explained that Humanization Magic had a limit to how much it could shrink or grow a body. For someone whose length spanned 30,000 meters, the magic could only shave off about 5,000 meters. Even in his smallest 'human' form, he should have been a giant 25,000 meters tall.
Since that would still make him taller than he was long—and make it impossible to see the ground—he had said he never bothered with it. Yet here he was, standing at a perfectly normal human height. It was a contradiction of everything I'd been told. Sky-san seemed just as shocked, which meant this was a first for everyone.
"Your confusion is warranted," the Dragon King replied. "This body is not a product of Humanization Magic. Think of it as a special avatar—a vessel I am operating from afar."
"That sounds... a bit complicated."
"Indeed. I obtained this body only recently through a 'trade with Shaltier.' I do not fully grasp the mechanics of it myself. I believe that girl referred to it as a 'program code'... 'Code: Dragnil,' if memory serves."
I didn't need any more details to know Alice had been pulling strings again. Since he called it a trade, she must have squeezed something out of him for the privilege. I couldn't help but sigh, wondering what kind of trouble she was brewing this time.
"I was the one forced to make it," Machina complained.
"I should have known," Serious-senpai sighed. "It would have been more surprising if it was anyone else."
"Alice told me to make it as an apology for the incident at the last festival," Machina continued. "I was so busy explaining the situation to Shallow Vernal just to get the thing through security."
"How did you explain it? Shallow Vernal doesn't know about your connection to Alice, right?"
"Well, she knows that I—or rather, Eden—holds Alice in high regard. So I just framed it as the result of a deal between us. That’s how I got permission to bring the program code into Shallow Vernal’s world. In exchange, she demanded detailed information on yukatas and fireworks, so I handed that over."