Rewinding slightly to a few hours before the tea party commenced. Within the Land of Death in the Northern Demon Realm, inside Isis’s fortress, one of her subordinates, Polaris, was fretfully checking her appearance in a full-length mirror.
“...How do I look, Head-dono? Are there any wrinkles anywhere?”
“I say, you... how many times do you intend to ask the same thing? Between standing in front of that mirror and asking that question, this is already your eighth time. What has gotten into you? Don’t tell me you’re actually nervous?”
Polaris had been acting this way since morning, fussing over her grooming at every opportunity. Watching her, Iris let out a sigh of exasperation as she spoke. Polaris was usually the aloof, composed type who didn't seem prone to nerves, but today she was clearly on edge.
“To put it simply, I am. I’m nervous, my heart is pounding, and my hands won’t stop shaking.”
“But why? This tea party isn’t particularly large, is it? The White God Festival was a far greater ordeal...”
“No, this is different... because I will be meeting Kaito-sama face-to-face.”
“...Why are you so worked up over meeting Miyama Kaito? He’s a perfectly pleasant fellow.”
Polaris made no attempt to hide her anxiety. Iris tilted her head, looking genuinely perplexed.
“...Kaito-sama is the one who saved Isis-sama. I respect him, and more than that, I admire him... If I were to greet him in an unseemly fashion, it would be an insult. I simply cannot calm down.”
“I-I see... Well, if you say so. However, there’s no point in being so stiff.”
“Intellectually, I know that, but...”
Iris sighed again, clearly at a loss, while Polaris remained unable to settle her nerves despite knowing better. A short distance away from them, the other two subordinates, Sirius and Rasal, were deep in conversation.
“In the end, are you really staying behind, Rasal?”
“Don’t be an IdioT. By the time I became a subordinatE, the response to the invitations had already been finisheD. One should not make their King retract their statemenT. BesideS, I have no interest in things like tea partieS.”
“I see...”
Rasal had only joined their ranks a few days ago, making it impossible to suddenly add another person to the guest list at this stage.
In truth, Isis had tried to bring her along. Since the host was Lilliwood, a close friend of Isis, the addition would have likely been accepted without issue, but Rasal had firmly declined. Arguing for the sake of appearances, she insisted that the Death King shouldn't act in a way that made it look like she was incurring a debt to the World King. She had eventually persuaded Isis to agree to her absence.
“HoweveR, that is one thinG, but leaving me ‘in charge of the housE’ is quite anotheR!”
“Why? What’s the problem?”
“Use your common sense, you Rotten Muscle-braiN. Don’t leave the castle to someone who has only been a subordinate for a few dayS...”
“Isis-sama decided it. Therefore, there is no problem... Though I appreciate your self-awareness regarding your status as a suspicious existence reeking of death.”
“...WhuT?”
“...Excuse me?”
The two glared at each other, effectively entering a state of battle readiness. However, with the departure for the tea party imminent, they refrained from actually starting a fight.
A moment later, the door to the room opened and Isis entered.
“...Everyone... it’s almost time to go...”
“Isis-sama, may I have a momenT?”
“...Mm? ...Rasal... did you change your mind about going?”
“N O, that’s not iT. ReallY, shouldn't you reconsider leaving the castle in my hands alonE? At the very least, you should apply a Surveillance FormulA, or a Restriction FormulA...”
“...Even if something happens... it will be fine if it’s Rasal... because Rasal is amazing...”
Isis spoke with a gentle, serene smile. Rasal couldn't help but look up toward the ceiling.
“N O, that isn’t the poinT. I mean you should take precautions against mE...”
“...Why... would I take precautions against Rasal?”
“...I’m a newcomer who has only been here for a few dayS, you knoW? If you leave me alone in your homE, who knows what I might dO?”
“...It’s okay... because I trust... Rasal.”
“...N O, that’S why, I’ve only been here for a few dayS...”
“...I’m leaving the castle... in your hands.”
“...YeS.”
Completely disarmed by Isis’s bright smile, Rasal looked like someone who had given up on everything.
Once Isis and the others had departed, Rasal clutched her head and shouted into the empty halls.
“What is wrong with that persoN!! Her power may be absolutE, but her personality is far too naivE!?”
She looked genuinely irritated, unable to comprehend why Isis would place absolute trust in someone who had only just joined her service.
“To begin witH, the security of this fortress is far too lax overall. CertainlY, Isis-sama’s power is absolutE, and given the location and environment, it’s unlikely that anyone would visiT. BuT, while Isis-sama is absenT, you cannot guarantee that no one will sneak in to steaL. In that casE, at the very leasT, one or two Intruder Formulas should be prepareD. Even if they are never useD, one should still make the minimum preparationS.”
The castle was filled with countless books—Forbidden Books and out-of-print editions whose monetary value was incalculable. Beyond that, the residence held many other treasures of great price.
“It would be better to have something to detect an intrusioN. If I were to construct a Magic Formula based on the castle’s scalE...”
Rasal continued to mutter to herself until she suddenly froze, shaking her head violently.
“...What am I doinG, acting like a proper subordinatE... Joining her service was merely a temporary measurE. It’s not as if I’ve sworn true loyaltY. I’m only staying here because of the wealth of research materialS... How ridiculoS. I’ll just get back to my work.”
Despite her words, her feet wouldn't move toward the Great Library. With a look like she’d chewed on a bitter bug, the conversation she’d just had with Isis replayed in her mind.
—...Because I trust... Rasal.
She remembered Isis’s smile—an expression of genuine, heartfelt trust.
“...Oh, to hell with it!!”
Rasal scratched her head aggressively through her hood, let out a massive sigh, and began walking in the opposite direction of the library.
“...Maintaining the research environment is also part of a researcher’s dutY.”
Muttering the excuse to herself, Rasal began constructing a complex Magic Formula in her mind to safeguard Isis’s castle.
Serious-senpai: “There it is. In the end, Rasal is just like all the other Named Characters—following the law that everyone is fundamentally a good person at heart.”
???: “Well, Isis-san actually has a fairly keen eye for people. She’s particularly sensitive to negative emotions, so she likely saw through to Rasal-san’s true nature and decided she could be trusted with the house.”