We headed toward the massive World Tree. By the time we reached the square in front of the castle, the place was absolutely packed.
"Goodness... look at all these people."
"Indeed. When the World King herself is singing, the level of anticipation is on a completely different scale," Lilia-san replied with a nod. While the Seven Princesses’ venues had been busy, this square was in a different league entirely.
A massive throng had gathered here, as if for a grand festival. The density of the crowd near the stage where Lilliwood-san was expected to perform was particularly staggering—it looked impossible to get anywhere near it. It was clear just how precious this opportunity was; most of the people attending the Harmonic Symphony had been waiting for this very moment.
"...We might have arrived a little too late for this," Luna-san sighed.
"I agree. We should probably give up on trying to see anything from up close," Sieg-san added.
As they said, we had probably taken our time a bit too much. From where we stood, the stage was barely a speck in the distance. They would likely use amplification magic, so we would still be able to hear her, but it still felt like a bit of a blunder.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, the space directly in front of me split open. Natasha-san’s—or rather, Gluttony-san’s—voice drifted out.
"Please stay exactly where you are for a moment. I will initiate a forced teleportation."
Immediately after she spoke, the world blurred. In a flash, the scenery shifted, and we found ourselves in a spacious area cordoned off by a wooden fence.
"Ah, you made it!"
"Kuro? What is this place?"
Inside the enclosure were Kuro, Raz-san, Funf-san, and Gluttony-san. Kuro waved at us with a bright, welcoming smile.
"I mentioned I’d be attending this time, so Lilliwood prepared a VIP area for me. I figured you all would have a better view from here, so I brought you over!"
"Thanks, that’s a huge help. We can actually relax and watch the show from here."
It appeared this space was reserved specifically for Kuro as one of the Six Kings. The stage was right in front of us, and because the area was fenced off on three sides, we didn't have to worry about the crowd’s eyes on us. There were even wooden benches provided, making it an ideal spot to sit and enjoy the performance.
"It’s surprisingly roomy, too... even with all of us here, it doesn't feel cramped at all."
"Oh, I told Lilliwood that Kaito-kun was coming when I saw her earlier, so she probably made it a bit bigger for us. Honestly, even if we hadn't called you, one of her subordinates probably would have found you and guided you here anyway."
In any case, I had been feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of people, so this really was a lifesaver.
"Aoi-senpai, look at that. He’s a VIP. Kaito-senpai is truly a VIP."
"To be fair, he’s actually being quite modest today since he didn't announce his arrival in advance."
"I wonder what would have happened if he had?"
"Perhaps one of her subordinates who specializes in teleportation magic would have been assigned as his personal guide."
It was a conversation I’d heard several times now, but given the special treatment I seemed to receive at every turn, I couldn't exactly rule out Aoi-chan’s theory. I gave a wry smile as I sat on one of the wooden benches and looked toward the stage.
"Kaito-kun-san, aren't you excited to hear Lilliwood-sama sing?"
"Yeah. Since this is my first Harmonic Symphony, I’m really looking forward to it."
"Lilliwood-sama is very, ve~ry good at singing!"
Raz-san fluttered over and perched daintily on my shoulder, speaking with a cheerful grin. She was incredibly adorable.
"Did you and your group manage to visit all of the Seven Princesses' venues safely, Kaito?"
"Yes, we saw them all. It’s all thanks to Gluttony-san. Thank you very much."
"I am unworthy of such praise," Gluttony-san replied, giving a small bow.
I had truly appreciated her teleportation help all day. Aside from her intense loyalty, she seemed remarkably level-headed. Compared to the likes of Phoenix-san or Tiamat-san, she was a paragon of normalcy.
"Ah, it looks like it’s finally starting."
Following Kuro’s lead, I focused on the stage. A group of people carrying instruments—presumably World King subordinates—emerged and began their preparations.
"Does Lilliwood-san take the stage right away?"
"No, it starts with a chorus by some of the relatively younger members among the World King's subordinates. Since the Harmonic Symphony is such an important event for them, it's tradition to let them experience the atmosphere through a large-scale chorus first."
"I see..."
So it was like an opening act. A large group of people, likely the subordinates Kuro mentioned, came out and lined up in perfect formation.