Isis-san’s table was, for lack of a better word, incredibly cozy. Spending time with her was always a joy—after all, she was my lover and someone I considered nothing short of an angel—but her subordinates made for great company as well.
I had known Iris-san for a while now, and thanks to the bar in the basement of my house, I was already well aware of what a fantastic listener she was.
Polaris-san seemed a bit tense, but our conversation flowed naturally without any awkwardness. I still found it strange how I could sense such overwhelming waves of reverence coming from her, but unlike the Ten Demons, she wasn't actually causing any trouble, so I didn't let it bother me.
Sirius-san struck me as the epitome of a straightforward knight. Her earnestness was palpable, and since most of her stories revolved around her training, I had a feeling she’d get along famously with the Five War Generals.
In short, everyone was kind and easy to talk to. Between their great personalities and Iris-san’s knack for keeping the conversation moving, I had a wonderful time.
"...Well, I’d love to stay here forever if I could, but I really should go say hello to Lilliwood-san since she invited me. I think I’ll be heading off now."
Part of me wanted to linger, but I also wanted to see the rest of the party. Even though she’d said formal greetings weren't necessary, I still felt like I should go speak with her.
Feeling a slight pang of regret, I excused myself and rose from my seat.
"...Yes... I understand... We will... stay here... for a while longer."
"Thanks. If I have time after I've finished my rounds, I'll come by to see you again."
Isis-san nodded with a smile, and after a quick bow to her and a few parting words to Iris-san, Polaris-san, and Sirius-san, I left the table to explore the rest of the venue.
Now then... I wonder where Lilliwood-san is sitting? I can’t see her from here, so I guess I’ll just have to look for her while I wander. If I bump into any other acquaintances along the way, all the better.
Since Zex-san was here, there was a good chance other people I knew had been invited too. I was actually looking forward to seeing who else might show up... and hey, at least I didn't have to worry about Lilia-san’s stomach today.
After Kaito departed, Isis and her three subordinates continued to enjoy their tea, chatting peacefully together.
From a distance, several others watched their table with expressions that hovered somewhere between confusion and deep thought.
Death King Isis Remnant... throughout the Demon Realm and the world at large, she was a being feared above almost all others, a living Symbol of Death.
As such, being avoided at social gatherings was simply the norm for her. Now that she had Kaito as her lover and several subordinates by her side, she had reached a point where she truly didn't care about the isolation anymore.
That was why she hadn't noticed it yet—the way the eyes of those around her were beginning to change. The fear was still there, but other emotions were starting to take root.
To be fair, Isis had almost never participated in festivals other than the Hero Festival or events like this tea party. Stepping out into public usually only served to remind her of how much the world rejected her.
But that meant the world also had very few opportunities to actually know the real Isis. While she was an object of absolute terror in rumors and due to her Magic Power of Death, the truth was that very few people—even those among the Peerage-class—had ever spoken to her directly.
Of course, her own habit of projecting a heavy Intimidation out of frustration before she met Kaito hadn't helped matters.
However, her salvation at Kaito's hands had changed her, and those changes were beginning to ripple outward. It was as if a massive, frozen gear had finally lurched into motion, dragging all the other gears that had been stuck for centuries along with it.
"...Hey, isn't that Death King Isis-sama?"
"Yeah."
"She doesn't look scary at all. I mean, her magic power is incredible, but look at her smile. She looks so... gentle."
"You're right. She’s nothing like the stories."
Talking at a distance from Isis's table were two Viscount-class Demons from the World King’s camp. They watched Isis enjoying a peaceful conversation with her subordinates, their curiosity piqued by the stark contrast to the legends they’d heard.
They weren't the only ones whose perceptions were shifting. Many who had seen Isis at the Six Kings Festival, the White God Festival, or today’s tea party had come away with a similar impression: she wasn't the monster they’d feared. If anything, she seemed kind.
Slowly, those impressions began to translate into action. The two demons from Lilliwood’s camp looked at each other and nodded. Then, with a fair bit of trepidation, they began to approach the table.
Isis tilted her head in confusion as they drew near. The two demons bowed deeply before speaking.
"U-Um, please excuse our intrusion, Death King-sama... We are subordinates of the World King, and..."
"If it wouldn't be too much of a bother, we were wondering if we might have the honor of speaking with you..."
"...!?"
Isis’s eyes widened in genuine shock. Never once in her long life had a stranger ever approached her like this.
A moment later, however, her surprise was overtaken by pure joy. She offered them a soft, welcoming smile and nodded.
"...Yes... I would like... to talk too... If you like... please, have a seat."
""Thank you so much!""
Seeing Isis accept them so warmly, the two demons sat down with beaming faces. The scene left a lasting impression on everyone watching from the sidelines.
While her Magic Power of Death ensured that not just anyone could walk up to her, there were plenty of Peerage-class individuals with the strength to withstand the aura who were now feeling the same spark of curiosity. They, too, wanted to speak with her.
Everything was moving in sync. Sparked by the single Singularity known as Kaito Miyama, the happiness Isis had spent an eternity wishing for was finally becoming a reality.
Serious-senpai: Since people feared her for reasons other than her actual personality, prejudice was bound to be a major factor. Now that those barriers are coming down, it makes total sense that her reputation is shifting.
???: Isis-san is so overwhelmed with happiness right now that the pressure of her death mana is much weaker than usual. Honestly, as long as someone is at least at the Peerage-class level, they should be able to have a normal conversation with her.