A dinner gathering with Isis and Kaito, the Death King’s subordinates led by Iris, and even Alice—nine people in total. As Isis gazed upon the boisterous, lively scene, she found herself reminiscing about the past.
She remembered when this fortress had first been completed. At the time, while feeling grateful to Shaltier for building such a spacious dining hall exactly as she had requested, Isis had taken a seat in the very chair she occupied now.
She had sat there imagining that one day she would have a meal surrounded by many subordinates—by family—in a bustling hall. And yet, back then, she couldn't see anything.
She had wished for it; there was no doubt about that. But try as she might, she found herself utterly unable to picture anyone but herself sitting in that cavernous space.
No matter how many times she tried to envision the meal, the only image that came to mind was her sitting alone in the vast emptiness. Even though she vaguely longed to eat with a large family, she couldn't make the image concrete. It was as if, deep down, she had already given up, believing that such a day would never come.
Unable to face the despair creeping into her heart, Isis turned away and abandoned the room. She applied Status Preservation Magic to keep the dust at bay and kept the doors to the dining hall tightly shut. It was as if she were freezing her wish, locking it away as nothing more than a dream.
Those doors finally swung open once more on the night Kaito—her most precious, long-awaited love—first came to stay at her home. Looking back, perhaps it was in that moment that her frozen dreams began to move again.
Lost in these thoughts, Isis let her gaze wander over her companions.
"Eat in moderation, would you?"
"C'mon, isn't this an all-you-can-eat deal? Can't you just keep them coming as we eat, Iris?"
"If you want something beyond what is already on the table, make it yourself. And naturally, you will provide your own ingredients."
"Ehh? But I'm basically a guest of honor here!"
"My deepest apologies. Would you be so kind as to accept our terms, Phantasm King No Face-sama?"
"Ugh... Alright, alright, I get it! I'll behave, so please stop with that skin-crawling formal talk. Seriously."
Being the best of friends, Iris and Alice were enjoying the meal in a relaxed, banter-filled atmosphere.
"...Ho. This has a curious flavor, but it is truly delicious."
"It is true that I once had no interest in food, but lately, I find that eating isn't so bad after all."
"I agree. Having gone without a meal for so long, I've become quite a fan of the Head-dono’s cooking."
Sirius, Rasal, and Polaris were eating the dishes Iris had prepared with impressed expressions. Even Sirius and Rasal, who usually spent their time bickering, showed no ill will now. Instead, they shared casual small talk as they ate.
"Oh my? That’s strange. Why can't I eat as elegantly as Vul-chan?"
"I'm not doing anything special, you know? Look, you're supposed to hold it like this."
"L-Like this? Hmm... eating is wonderful, but I'm still not used to these tools."
Since she had never manifested a spirit form in the past, Spica had never needed to eat, and she was currently struggling to handle her silverware.
In contrast, Vulpecula was using her natural dexterity to help her. Having mastered the use of knives, forks, and even chopsticks almost immediately after learning her humanization magic, the little fox was now providing guidance to Spica between bites.
"...Isis-san?"
"...Ah... No... It's just so lively... and happy."
"It is. Seeing everyone smiling over a meal makes it impossible not to enjoy yourself."
"...Yeah."
Returning the smile of the man she loved as he beamed beside her, Isis slowly scanned the room once more.
It was a scene she once could not have imagined—but now, things were different. It wasn't just this moment with Kaito and her subordinates. Just as she had once seen the silhouettes of those gathered here before they arrived, a vision of the future now flickered faintly in her mind's eye.
She saw nearly a hundred people. A grand scene where a vast family of subordinates made a cheerful ruckus as they feasted together in the great hall. It was a vision she felt certain would become reality one day. A reality she would bring to pass.
Isis's frozen heart and dreams had been touched by the warmth of Kaito, her sun, finally melting away the frost. Her heart was now brimming with heat and hope.
"...Kaito."
"Yes?"
"...Ehehe... I love you... so much."
Realizing that being able to envision a happy future was a form of happiness in itself, Isis let a joyful smile overflow.