The natural city of Yugfressia was built in a sprawling ring around a colossal World Tree. In terms of sheer scale, it was the largest metropolis in the Demon Realm, surpassing even the city ruled by Megiddo and the one housing Kuro’s castle.
However, it didn't feel like a cityscape dominated by towering buildings. Instead, it possessed a unique atmosphere that lived up to its name, with structures like treehouses peppered throughout a lush, verdant landscape.
"This is incredible! It feels more like a fantasy world here than anywhere else we’ve been!"
"It really does. It feels like a city tucked deep inside a forest. And the size of that World Tree... I thought the tree in Rigforresia was huge, but this is on a whole different level."
As we arrived at the entrance to Yugfressia via teleportation magic, Hina-chan shouted in high spirits, her face alight with joy. Aoi-chan murmured in agreement, her eyes wide as she took in the staggering scale of the World Tree.
The tree was truly massive. It wouldn't have been an exaggeration to say that the entire city existed beneath its boughs. Despite that, sunlight reached the ground clearly, suggesting that some form of magical intervention was at work.
"I can already hear music drifting through the air," Luna-san noted.
"Yes. I’ve only heard stories about it from my mother and have never participated myself, so I’m quite looking forward to it," Sieg-san added.
"Oh? That’s surprising. Wasn’t this the perfect chance to see the Seven Princesses?"
"Traveling from the Human Realm to the Demon Realm is quite rare, actually. My father and mother traveled through the Human Realm in the past, so they usually took me to places there instead."
While Luna-san and Sieg-san conversed happily, Lilia-san stood nearby, offering a wry smile.
"The ones Sieg has yet to meet are the Demon Flower Princess Lilie-sama, the Heavenly Flower Princess Erial-sama, the Fairy Princess Tiltania-sama, and the Princess Ouka Blossom-sama. Ordinarily, I would say it’s impossible to run into them all, but... well, since Kaito-san is here, you probably will."
"A-Ahaha..."
I gave a strained laugh as Lilia-san looked at me with somewhat exasperated eyes. Together, we passed through the large wooden gate that served as the entrance to Yugfressia.
Because the festival encompassed the entire city, there were no entrance restrictions. The streets were crowded, but not so much that it made moving around a struggle.
Just as Luna-san had mentioned, music was already audible from every direction, creating a festive, inviting atmosphere.
I felt a surge of excitement, wondering where we should go first. Suddenly, something zipped across my field of vision at incredible speed, only to loop back and return a few seconds later.
"Ayah!? Kaito-kun-san, it’s Kaito-kun-san!!"
It was a lovely fairy with golden hair, dressed in a green outfit identical to the one Raz-san wore. It was Tiltania—Til-san.
"Hello, Til-san."
"Yes! Hello! Til is so, so happy that Kaito-kun-san came to the Harmonic Symphony! Meeting you makes Til very happy!!"
She flew in circles around me to express her joy, looking as adorable as ever.
However, at the edge of this charming scene, Lilia-san placed a hand over her eyes and began to sway. Luna-san hurriedly stepped in to support her.
"Milady!? Please, pull yourself together!"
"Why... why is he always like this? That conversation just now was supposed to be a joke... This is the largest city in the Demon Realm. It’s a massive event. She’s an executive of the Six Kings who should be buried in work... and yet, it was seconds. He ran into her in mere seconds..."
Lilia-san seemed genuinely terrified as she leaned on Luna-san, but in this particular instance, there had been no intention behind it. I hadn't forgotten anything, nor was I looking for her; it was a truly accidental encounter.
I hadn't even told the Seven Princesses that I’d be attending the Harmonic Symphony, so she couldn't have been waiting for me. She really had just happened to be passing by.
"...We were only two steps into the city. Whether I should call it Miyama-sama’s usual luck or not, I can only stand in awe of such a Master's Technique," Luna-san remarked.
"Well, it is Kaito-san, after all," Sieg-san said.
"It’s Kaito-senpai, after all. I knew we'd run into someone eventually; it was just a matter of how soon," Hina-chan added.
I wanted to ask who exactly they were calling a master, but I was currently in the middle of talking to Til-san.
Compared to Lilia-san, my two juniors were incredibly calm—or rather, it felt like they had simply reached the stage of total resignation.
"Did Kaito-kun-san come here with friends?"
"Ah, yes. If you have a moment, I’d like to introduce them..."
"I have a moment! Til can't stay for too long, but a little bit is okay!"
Well, if I looked at it positively, I had unexpectedly managed to fulfill one of Sieg-san’s wishes almost immediately. Sieg-san herself had been watching with sparkling, expectant eyes ever since Til-san appeared, looking quite delighted.