It seemed Megiddo-san intended to browse the stall Amel-san and I were running before he went to check in with Lilliwood-san and the others. He looked over our merchandise with genuine interest. Picking up an accessory I had put together using Alice’s crafting kit, he let out a hum of approval.
"Ho, did you make this, Kaito? I see... It’s actually quite good. The design is a little generic, but the craftsmanship is meticulous. For a first attempt, you've done a hell of a job."
"Thank you. I’m happy to hear that... Would you like to buy it?"
"Nah. Accessories just get in the way, so I don’t need it. Still, it’s a fine piece. You shouldn't have any trouble finding a buyer."
This was Megiddo-san in a nutshell. He was never stingy with his praise for things he deemed good, yet he would bluntly state he didn't need something even after commending it. That honest, straightforward attitude was very much his style.
After admiring my handiwork for a few more moments, Megiddo-san gave a satisfied nod and shifted his attention to Nebula's pottery.
"Now this... this is incredible. Nebula is that little spirit at your place, right? The way she managed this fired finish while keeping the colors in the pattern so vivid... You can't get hues like this by just painting them on after the kiln. This is top-tier work, without a doubt. ...Hey, Kaito. What's with that face?"
"No, I mean, I get it intellectually, but..."
I was well aware that Megiddo-san possessed a refined eye for the arts, but I couldn't help but feel a nagging sense of dissonance, like a tiny fish bone stuck in my throat.
Naturally, there was no way a certain someone was going to let that moment pass without sticking her nose in. She popped into existence beside us, seizing the chance to start trouble.
"Gorilla-san, I’ve told you a thousand times: you don't have the face for art appreciation. You don't have a 'pottery-critiquing' face; you have a 'pottery-smashing' face."
"You... Are you picking a fight with me?"
"Oh, do you want me to? You certainly are a demanding customer—Aieeeee!?"
Sensing the sparks beginning to fly, I immediately whacked Alice over the head with Shiro-san's Special Toy Hammer.
"Alice, if you start a brawl in a place like this, Chris-san is going to have a total meltdown from the stress."
"Hey! I was going to teleport us to the Demon Realm first!"
"If you do that, someone else is going to end up with a massive headache, so just stop."
Lilliwood-san and her associates would likely be the ones left screaming. Well, actually, I recalled Lilliwood-san and Megiddo-san getting into it in the Demon Realm once before... Regardless, it was best to nip this disaster in the bud.
"Mmm, well, if Kaito-san insists... You just dodged a bullet, Megiddo-san."
"What? You’re backing down? Come on, don't get my hopes up just to flake out on me... I thought I was finally going to get to cut loose for real after all this time."
"Do you want me to call Kuro?"
"...Wait, Kaito. I get it. I’ll stop. Just... let's not do anything rash."
Alice would listen to me if I pushed the issue, so she wasn't the problem. As for the battle-maniac who was currently slipping into his fighting rhythm, I knew Megiddo-san was completely unable to defy Kuro these days, which made for a very effective deterrent.
Both Megiddo-san and Alice seemed to settle down, and the hostile tension that had filled the air a moment ago dissipated.
"By the way, Megiddo-san, do you want to buy some snacks to go with your sake? I'll even charge you a premium."
"You should be giving me a discount... Well, whatever. You don't mess around when it comes to food, so I know the taste will be solid. Send a bulk order over to my castle later. Talk to Agni or Bacchus for the payment; I'll tell them to take it out of the vault."
"Coming right up! Much appreciated~!"
The two of them were certainly quick to switch gears. They had been at each other's throats just seconds ago, but I suppose they really were friends at heart.
Despite the occasional flare-up, things were proceeding quite peacefully.
Serious-senpai: "That’s the thing, isn't it? Unlike the poor Stomach Pain Warriors, Kaito’s side is just having a relaxing time at the stall. Friends drop by, they chat, and everything moves along at a nice, slow pace... Meanwhile, there is absolutely nothing 'relaxed' about what’s happening over at the castle..."