Having officially welcomed Spica into her service, Isis immediately introduced her to the rest of her subordinates.
"So that’s how it is, then. I’ll be in your care from here on. Pleasure to meet ya."
"Yes, likewise... Still, good heavens, we truly are an eclectic bunch."
"The Head of the Stars, a weapon-bound undead; the vice-leader, a witch who defies her class with physical combat; a six-sword-wielding insectoid; a necromancer from the Black Forest; a ten-tailed Mystic Silver cub; and now, the spirit of a Blue Crystal Flower... Hahaha, we certainly lack uniformity, but such vivid individuality is a virtue, isn't it?"
As Iris said, there was no common thread among Isis's followers. As a faction, they were similar to the Underworld King's camp, sharing only the fact that they had gathered because they were drawn to Isis's gentle character.
"Well, given we already have a necromancer woman here who reeks of nothing but suspicion, I doubt anyone else could truly feel out of place," Sirius remarked.
"I can't imagine anyone weirder than a rotten muscle-brained insect woman showing up, so uniformity hardly seems like a concern," Rasal Marfik shot back.
"...What was that?"
"...You want to go?"
Though they lacked uniformity, the truth was that they were remarkably compatible. In the end, they were united by their shared affection for Isis, allowing them to bond naturally. Perhaps that was why Spica felt such a sense of warmth in the castle’s atmosphere.
"Kyu!"
"Fufufu, pleased to meet ya too, little one."
Watching her subordinates chatting boisterously and happily even after the introductions, Isis wore an expression of deep, heartfelt joy.
To her, this was the very scene she had once only seen in her dreams—a group that felt like a close-knit, warm family, much like the Six Kings she had known back when they all lived under Kuromueina. She felt a profound sense of happiness at having encountered such people, and at the same time, she renewed her resolve to be a King they could be proud of.
Shortly thereafter, Isis sensed the ripples of teleportation magic. After excusing herself, she headed toward the castle entrance. There, she found Lilliwood standing with a look of visible agitation.
"I-Isis, is it true? The news in your message about a Blue Crystal Flower Spirit...?"
"...Yes... there's no mistake... and... I believe she is... an incredibly ancient spirit."
"I see... To think a spirit resided within the Blue Crystal Flowers all this time... May I speak with her?"
"...I think... that would be fine... but... she's talking with the others right now... so... please wait just a moment."
The reason Lilliwood had rushed here was simple. It was the hummingbird message Isis had sent, informing her that she had taken a Blue Crystal Flower Spirit as a subordinate.
The existence of a spirit unknown even to the Spirit King herself—and in a flower Lilliwood was certain... no, convinced, could never host a spirit—was a literal bolt from the blue. She had frantically rearranged her schedule and hurried to Isis's side.
Lilliwood was shown to the reception room. A short while later, Spica arrived after being summoned by Isis. After they spoke for a time, Lilliwood was left with no doubt that she was indeed the spirit of a Blue Crystal Flower.
"There seems to be no mistake. Even so, I am astonished. Based on your temperament and your magic power... you are a spirit who has existed for even longer than Camellia. In fact, you may well be the oldest existence among all flower spirits."
"Gosh, is that so?"
"However, a question remains. When I ascended to the Six Kings, I sent out a special magical call to every spirit throughout the Demon Realm... and yet..."
"Ah, I did hear somethin'. But I wasn't really interested, so I figured it was fine to just ignore it."
"...I... I see."
Lilliwood's shoulders slumped slightly at Spica's carefree response, but the revelation forced her to reconsider her long-held assumptions.
"It is difficult to imagine there are many others who haven't manifested even once over tens of thousands of years. However, since you are a living precedent, it stands to reason that spirits may reside in other plants we previously believed were empty. I should conduct a thorough re-investigation."
"...There might be others... spirits who didn't respond to your call... for various reasons... and... even if they don't reside there at first... they might... appear... later on."
"That is true. It was premature of me to decide that spirits simply could not reside in certain things. This has been a wonderful opportunity to broaden my perspective... But more importantly, Isis... you carry yourself with such a wonderful look now."
"...Hmm? ...Do you... think so?"
Lilliwood nodded, a gentle smile spreading across her face. She was Isis's closest friend and had watched over her for a very long time. Because of that, she could sense the transformation in Isis more keenly than anyone.
"You are vastly different than you used to be. The person you are now attracts others through your very presence. I feel as though you have finally gained an aura that belongs to no one else but you... because of who you have become."
"...Is... that so? ...If it is... then I'm happy."
"Oh, it's true. Isis-sama is undoubtedly a charming person. After all, you're our proud King, aren't ya?"
"Fufu, quite right."
Watching Isis—who had gained a beloved lover and those she could call her family—begin to grow into her role as a King, Lilliwood looked on with an expression of pure, unadulterated joy.
Serious-senpai: "Having watched her through her rough years for so long, this must have really struck a chord with Lilliwood."
???: "That's true, ssu. In fact, Isis-san is steadily growing stronger mentally. It feels like she’s really toughening up, ssu."