After spending some time taking in the scenery with Olivia, we returned to the cathedral in an instant using her ability. From there, we set out again, stopping at various shops along the way as we made our way toward Kaori-san’s place.
Because we took our time, the sun had fully dipped below the horizon by the time we arrived. It was right at the peak of the dinner hour.
I checked to make sure the shop was still open before pushing the door. Kaori-san was at the counter washing dishes, and as soon as she noticed our arrival, she greeted us with a radiant smile.
"Welcome, Kaito-kun! Perfect timing. The rush just let up a moment ago... Here, take a seat at the counter."
"Thanks. I was worried we might not get in if it was packed, so this is a relief."
"Ahaha! Well, since this is a diner, the lunch hour is usually the busiest time for tourists. I don't serve much alcohol, so it’s actually pretty quiet in the evenings."
Now that she mentioned it, since this was a diner and not a pub, I supposed it wasn't the kind of place that would be bustling late at night. Given the focus on Otherworld Cuisine, her clientele was likely made up of tourists, and most of them wouldn't be wandering around this late.
With that thought in mind, I sat down at the counter alongside Olivia. Kaori-san immediately shot me a playful, knowing grin.
"I see you've brought an incredible beauty with you. You're quite the smooth operator, aren't you, Kaito-kun? Is she your girlfriend? Though... hmm, I feel like I've seen her somewhere before."
"Ah, no, she’s..."
I trailed off, glancing around the shop. I had mentioned to Kaori-san earlier that I was going to meet the Pope, but I double-checked the room just to be safe. If other customers were around, blurting out her identity might cause a massive scene.
Fortunately, the place was empty. Relieved, I finally answered her question.
"I told you earlier today, didn't I? That I was going to see the Pope... This is Olivia-san, the Pope herself."
"..."
"Oh, so she's the Pope-sama... Wait, her clothes are different so I didn't recognize her—Eeeeeeehhhhh!?!?"
Following my introduction, Olivia offered a polite little nod. Kaori-san's face was a picture of pleasant hospitality for a split second before she suddenly recoiled with a violent start.
Just as I’d suspected, she really had brushed off what I’d said earlier as a joke.
"T-The Pope!? W-W-Why is she here!? Ababababa... Y-You weren't kidding earlier!?"
"I had a feeling you'd react like this. You really didn't believe me, did you?"
"Of course not! She's not the kind of person an ordinary guy just hangs out with!?"
Kaori-san was in a state of total panic for a while, but eventually, she seemed to regain her cool. Catching her breath, she looked at me with an expression that bordered on exasperation.
"...Phew. Okay, I think I get it now."
"Get what?"
"You're a Temple official, aren't you, Kaito-kun! You've got money, so I bet you were favored by a God and given some high-ranking position. And now you've come here to pay your respects to the Pope."
Well, it was a "close enough" sort of guess. In a broad sense, I could be considered an associate, and the part about being favored by Gods was spot on.
As I was processing that, Kaori-san suddenly looked a bit miffed.
"But Kaito-kun, you can't do this! I know Otherworld Cuisine is rare, but you shouldn't bring your boss to a little diner like this for a business dinner! I mean, I'll obviously give it my all, but I don't know if she'll be satisfied. What if this hurts your career?"
"Shopkeeper, if I may?"
"Heeek!? Y-Yes, what is it?"
Olivia spoke up for the first time since we’d entered the shop. Hearing her voice, Kaori-san snapped to attention with an almost comical amount of reverence.
Seeing her so intimidated made me realize that as the leader of this city, Olivia was essentially the equivalent of a King in this Friendly City.
"I am also a person of many shortcomings; I do not consider ignorance a sin," Olivia said. "However, I cannot overlook your last statement. I must offer a correction."
"A-A correction? For what?"
"Listen well... if we are discussing status, then Miyama Kaito-sama is the superior, and I am the subordinate."
"Eeeeeee... W-Why...? Just who are you, Kaito-kun? Are you some kind of fixer? Are you the Shadow Ruler of the World?"
"That assessment is essentially correct," Olivia added calmly.
"No, no, no! That is a massive mistake!" I cut in frantically.
Things were spiraling out of control, so I tried to set the record straight. But then again... if you considered Alice to be the true Ruler of the Shadows... was she actually wrong? Either way, I felt like I needed to explain things properly before this went any further.
Serious-senpai: "If you think of Shallow Vernal as the Ruler of the World's Surface and Alice as the Ruler of the Shadows... then yeah, Kaito being a fixer is pretty much on the money."
???: "The man himself might not actually meddle in politics, but he certainly has the connections to flip the world upside down if the mood ever struck him."