There might never have been a moment where the phrase "a frog stared down by a snake" felt more appropriate. Watching the towering Megiddo-san loom over Kaori-san and Akane-san, it looked for all the world like two women being harassed by a common thug.
"…You two look familiar. Who the hell are you?"
"Megiddo-san. These two are from the same otherworld as me—Kaori Mizuhara-san and Akane Mikumo-san. They’re former Hero-roles."
"Ah, I see! Hero-roles. That’s why you looked familiar. I think I might’ve seen you at a Hero Festival before."
"Also, you’re scaring them…"
"Huh? Why would they be scared? You two got something to hide from me or something?"
At the sound of Megiddo-san’s gravelly voice, Kaori-san and Akane-san both flinched. Having known him for a while, I understood this was just his baseline personality and didn't mean he was actually angry. Still, to someone who wasn't used to him, he certainly looked like he was one step away from a rampage.
"It’s your eyes and the sheer pressure you give off. Even if you don't mean it, you look like you’re glaring. Could you at least try to keep your voice down a bit?"
"…Kaito, are you serious? How can you talk so casually to the War King?"
"I-Is he really not mad? A-Are we going to be killed…?"
"No, please, calm down. Megiddo-san isn't angry at all. This is just how he normally is. Though, he’s definitely more cheerful when he’s got a drink in him."
When Megiddo-san was in high spirits, he laughed a lot and left a powerful, boisterous impression. Normally, however, he looked a bit surly to the untrained eye, even if he wasn't actually feeling that way. It was impossible to tell the difference without having seen him truly enraged; his actual bloodlust was on a completely different level.
"…So, which one is which?"
"A-Ah, um, I’m Akane Mikumo. I’m the Chairman of the Mikumo Trading Company."
"Oh, yeah? I'll call you Akane, then. Mikumo Trading Company… Ah, I’ve heard of that. You’re that mobile merchant group, right?"
"Y-Yes, exactly."
Akane-san looked stunned that he knew her business, but despite his appearance, Megiddo-san was actually quite the investor. He kept a surprisingly close eye on various guilds and companies. After a brief chat with Akane-san, he turned his attention to Kaori-san.
"And you’re Mizuhara Kaori? I'll call you Kaori."
"Ah, yes! I-I’m Kaori Mizuhara. I run a restaurant called Suiren in the Friendly City. We serve food from our home world."
"Ho? Otherworld food, eh? Sounds interesting. I'll drop by for a meal sometime."
"Hwh? A-Ah, y-yes… we look forward to having you."
Piqued by the idea of otherworld cuisine, Megiddo-san announced his intention to visit. Kaori-san looked like she was on the verge of tears, but she obviously couldn't refuse him and managed a weak nod. Worried about the state of her stomach, I decided to offer a lifeline.
"Megiddo-san, why don't we go together when you do? I know exactly where the place is."
"Oh? Even better! I'll look forward to it."
"K-Kaito-kun…"
Realizing that Kaori-san would be much more comfortable with me there to act as a buffer, I made the suggestion. She looked at me with an expression of pure, unadulterated relief, as if she’d just been pulled from the brink of hell. After a few more exchanges, Kaori-san and Akane-san excused themselves to go see the rest of the festival, offering Megiddo-san a very respectful greeting before making a hasty exit.
I watched them go with a wry smile before turning back to Megiddo-san.
"By the way, it’s a bit late to ask, but what brings you to the Founding Anniversary Festival, Megiddo-san?"
"Hm? Oh, I’m here for the booze. There’s this stuff called Dwarf Fire Sake—great stuff, but they only sell it in bulk during the big festivals. I just finished buying about a hundred barrels of it."
"…A hundred barrels?"
Let’s see, if a barrel is roughly a hundred and sixty liters… then a hundred barrels would be sixteen thousand liters? I thought for a second that he might be overdoing it, but then again, for Megiddo-san, that was probably just a casual afternoon's worth of drinking.
"So you aren't here for the ceremony like Lilliwood-san or Magnawell-san?"
"Hah? Lilliwood and Magnawell are here? In person, not just their flunkies?"
"Yes. And I heard all the Supreme Gods are attending this time too."
"Heh, is that right? Well then, I guess I’ll swing by and show my face later."
Megiddo-san chuckled with anticipation, but I couldn't help but worry.
"Wait, is it really okay for you to just drop in like that?"
"Huh? Why not? I’m not joining the official ceremony. I’m just giving Lilliwood and the others a quick greeting. It’ll be fine."
"…I see."
Well, I suppose that was just how they did things. He’d probably get a free pass the moment he reached the castle gates anyway.
"More importantly, you’ve got some interesting stuff here… Wait, if it isn't Amel. You’re here too?"
"O King of Roaring Flames, it has been an eternity. I offer my deepest gratitude to the celestial alignment that has permitted our paths to cross amid this grand gala…"
"Yeah, you still talk in that gibberish I can't follow."
They seemed to be acquaintances, and Megiddo-san broke into a boisterous grin. Since he generally liked anyone with genuine strength, he didn't seem to mind Amel-san's dramatic flair at all. That was just like him.
Serious-senpai: "Wait, the title!? N-No way, the chain is still going…? But how is this even supposed to turn out now…?"