I took thorough notes on Elise-san’s advice and immediately set to work. Starting the very next day, I began making advance arrangements with the big shots—the individuals guaranteed to cause a commotion if they simply showed up at the stall unannounced.
Kuro was eager to visit, and as someone whose hobby was literally going on food tours, she assured me that her Recognition Inhibition measures were already foolproof.
As for Isis-san, she informed me that Spica-san—the Blue Crystal Flower Spirit who had recently joined her household—would be coming to make the purchase alongside Vul. I already knew of Spica-san’s existence because Isis-san had mentioned her via Hummingbird, but since this would be our first time meeting face-to-face, I was curious to see what she was like.
When I contacted Megiddo-san, he barked, "Huh? Is that right? Fine, I’ll send Bacchus or Ozma to pick some up, then." Realizing he had originally intended to just walk in without a second thought, I felt truly relieved I’d taken Elise-san’s advice to heart.
Lilliwood-san didn't eat or drink in the first place, and given her deep ties to the Kingdom of Sinfonia, she was already scheduled to be quite busy with the official ceremonies. She hadn't planned on coming since she wouldn't have a moment to spare. However, she jokingly added that it might be awkward if she were the only one among the Six Kings not to try the stall, so she mentioned the possibility of sending one of her subordinates. It seemed likely one of the Seven Princesses would make an appearance.
Magnawell-san planned to use his Split Body. Since almost no one currently knew that form belonged to him, he figured that combining it with Recognition Inhibition would make his visit entirely problem-free. Of the Four Great Magic Dragons, Flare-san had expressed interest and mentioned she might come separately from Magnawell-san.
As for Alice... she seemed hell-bent on participating as a mascot. I didn't think for a single second that her unsettlingly creepy kigurumi would actually attract customers, but since having her around would be incredibly reassuring if any trouble broke out, I decided to let it go.
In the God Realm, Shiro-san wouldn't be appearing on-site, just as we had previously discussed. Instead, we settled on a plan where I would deliver the finished Baby Castella to her personally, starting with the very first batch I produced during the prototype stage.
I reached out to Fate-san to check her plans as well. "I don't want to go somewhere that crowded. It’s a pain," she replied. "But with that said, I still want to eat the Baby Castella Kai-chan makes, so save some for me." It was a classic Fate-san response, so I agreed to serve her at a later date.
Chronoa-san hadn't originally planned to attend the Founding Anniversary Festival, but once she heard all the Six Kings were participating, she decided to attend the ceremony specifically out of concern for Lilia-san. When I heard that, I saw Lilia-san looking visibly relieved, which left a strong impression on me. Come to think of it, I wouldn't be at the ceremony myself, and since Lilia-san was acquainted with all the Six Kings, she would likely be under a lot of pressure to greet them all.
Life-san didn't seem particularly interested in the festival or my stall. However, when I checked with her, she offered a polite smile. "If you find yourself short-handed, please say the word. I will dispatch the God of Harvest. You may work her like a beast of burden." I felt terrible for Erun-san, so I quickly declined the offer.
Finally, I checked with Eden-san just to be safe. "I am interested in My Child's stall, but it would cause a scandal if I appeared. I shall consider a more discreet method," she replied. I was shocked by how sensible her answer was. She was so remarkably cooperative that I suspected Kuro might have already given her a stern talking-to. She even went as far as to say she would give up if she couldn't find a way to visit without causing a scene.
Beyond them, I contacted every Six Kings’ Executive and high-ranking official I could think of. Some planned to visit using Recognition Inhibition Magic, while others decided to sit this one out, but overall, there didn't seem to be any major issues.
I purchased the magic tools Elise-san had recommended and placed an order with Alice for the stall and equipment. I confirmed with Nebula that it was okay to use her chocolate, then made a list of ingredients for Shiro-san to manifest for me.
With most of the logistical prep out of the way, I planned to pick up the stall and cooking utensils from Alice's shop tomorrow and start on the prototypes immediately. I’d been told that Baby Castella wasn't that difficult to make, but I still hoped they would turn out delicious.
[Level of Ingredients (Taste)] Common Ingredients... ★★★ High-end Ingredients... ★★★★★ World's Best Ingredients Currently in Existence... ★★★★★★★★★ Ingredients made by Shiro... ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Commercially Available Chocolate... ★★★ High-end Chocolate... ★★★★★ World's Best Chocolate Currently in Existence... ★★★★★★★★★ Nebula's Chocolate... ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Serious-senpai: "...This is totally a recipe for disaster, isn't it?"