Tension hung thick over the VIP seating area in the Central Square, the heart of the Arclesia Empire’s Founding Anniversary Festival.
Chris desperately scrambled for a solution, but even for a ruler hailed as the Wise Emperor, time had simply run out. She found herself wishing the entire situation was nothing more than a nightmare, but reality offered no such comfort—Megiddo plummeted from the heavens and slammed onto the platform.
"Alright, we're here! Yo, Lilliwood! Magnawell! I came to see your mugs!"
[......]
"......"
It was a small mercy that he hadn’t dropped directly into the middle of the parade grounds, but crashing into the stands where the world’s elite were gathered was hardly an improvement.
Because of the guests' high status, all eyes were already on the VIP section, and it didn't take long for the onlookers to realize that the newcomer was Megiddo. The War King casually set Akane and Kaori down and raised a hand in greeting, seemingly oblivious to the chaos he was causing. Meanwhile, veins throbbed visibly on the foreheads of both Lilliwood and Magnawell.
However, the two Kings moved with the decisive grace expected of their rank. They shared a silent look, reached a consensus in a heartbeat, and took action.
"Megiddo, while we appreciate your haste to join us, making such an entrance directly into the venue is hardly appropriate for your status," Lilliwood scolded.
"Quite so," Magnawell added. "Troubles are unavoidable, to be sure. It is like you to be so stubborn about attending the ceremony in person as scheduled, but you really ought to have sent a proxy ahead of yourself."
"Huh? What the hell are you guys—"
While Megiddo was bewildered by their unexpected reactions, Lilliwood and Magnawell continued to speak as if Megiddo’s attendance had been planned from the start and he was merely arriving late. They clearly intended to force this narrative through.
It was a sensible move. Framing his arrival as a delayed appearance due to unforeseen trouble was far less scandalous than a member of the Six Kings suddenly crashing a state ceremony.
"War King-sama, we have been waiting for you," Chris chimed in, catching on immediately. She began speaking as if Megiddo’s participation was a foregone conclusion and signaled her subordinates to arrange a seat for him at once. "Please, wait just a moment while we prepare your place."
"Ah? No, I wasn't really planning to—"
Megiddo tried to refute the claim, but before he could speak, Lilliwood and Magnawell clamped their hands onto his shoulders. Their grips were tight enough to crush bone.
"Just shut up and follow our lead," Lilliwood hissed.
"You can either cooperate with us," Magnawell whispered, "or you can choose to be lectured into the ground by Kuromueina. The choice is yours."
"O-Oh... I don't really get it, but fine. But seriously, why are you guys so mad?"
"Whose fault do you think—!"
"Calm down, Lilliwood. He is simply the way he is."
Once Kuromueina's name was brought up, Megiddo had no choice but to obey quietly. Though he still looked puzzled, he finally accepted that he was now an official participant in the ceremony.
With a potential diplomatic disaster narrowly avoided, the crowd’s attention shifted to the two girls Megiddo had brought with him. Chris, spotting Kaori among the trembling pair, rushed over and spoke in a hushed, frantic tone.
"Kaori-san? Why are you in a place like this?"
"Oh, C-C-C-Chris-san! It’s b-been so long! I-I am so, so sorry for this... I don't even know how it happened! We were just with Akane-san when the War King suddenly grabbed us and..."
"Oh, those two seem to be Kaito's acquaintances," Megiddo added. "They said they wanted to meet the Arclesia Emperor or something, so I brought them along for the ride."
Hearing Kaori's pitiable explanation and Megiddo's casual remark, Chris grasped the general situation. However, it was too late to simply usher them away; with the entire crowd watching, she had to justify their presence.
As she was wondering how to handle it, a high-ranking noble in the audience mused aloud.
"Oh? Wait, aren't those two Former Heroes? My, Empress Chris, I am impressed. To maintain such close ties with the otherworlders even after their duties were finished... and to invite them to such a state ceremony! Could the trouble that delayed the War King have been related to ensuring their safe arrival?"
"Exactly," Chris replied, seizing the opportunity. "We invited them as a symbol of our continued friendship with the otherworld, but there was a bit of trouble, and the War King-sama was kind enough to resolve it and escort them here. We must prepare seats for them as well."
"I thought as much. The people from the otherworld are important to us all... However, the commoners look a bit bewildered. Perhaps a formal explanation is in order?"
"You are quite right. I will address them immediately."
Because an influential noble had spoken so favorably of them, the suspicious gazes toward Kaori and Akane vanished.
Relieved, Chris apologized to the two girls for dragging them into the spotlight on the fly and announced to the public that these two Former Heroes and current residents would be participating as guests of honor.
Fate watched the scene play out from a distance with a wry smile.
Was that noble one of Shaltan's? She really is soft-hearted under that mask. Well then, I might as well help out... I'll lock in the destiny where the public views their presence as a positive thing. There, that should do it.
Serious-senpai: "Those two poor girls... their stomachs are probably about to explode from the sheer stress of being dragged into this. This should be the end of it... right? Wait, why is the Black Hole of Stomach Pain still so quiet? I have a bad feeling that there’s more to come..."