Lilia sat in the VIP section, finally exhaling a sigh of relief. The area was still a buzz of excitement following Megiddo's rowdy entrance and the subsequent decision to seat the former Hero-roles among the dignitaries, but she felt she could finally relax.
She certainly didn't envy Chris or Lilliwood's predicament; she could empathize with their distress all too well. However, the stars of today’s show were the Six Kings and Empress Chris. As a mere noble from a foreign land, Lilia wouldn't be expected to interject. She felt safe, certain that she, at least, would be spared any further digestive distress.
"Hey, if it isn't Lilia! You made it out after all!"
"Wh-wh-huuh!?"
Lilia’s relief collapsed like a castle built on sand as Megiddo spotted her and called out in a friendly manner.
She was paralyzed with confusion. They hadn't interacted much, so why was he being so friendly? The simple truth was that Megiddo admired strength above all else. Lilia possessed talent unprecedented among humans, having reached power comparable to a Count-class demon in just over twenty years. Having witnessed her prowess during the battle in the God Realm, Megiddo was convinced she would one day become a powerhouse on par with the Six Kings themselves. To him, such a promising warrior was naturally someone worth liking.
"It’s been a while! You’ve gotten even stronger since I last saw you. Your growth rate is something else!"
"A-ah... h-huh? Y-yes. Thank you very much!"
"If you weren't tied down to Symphonia, I’d have scouted you long ago... How about it? Why not ditch that noble life and come work for me? I’ll give you a seat among my executives."
"A-ah, I... that is a very generous offer, but... I'm quite fond of my current position..."
"Really? That’s a shame. Well, let me know if you change your mind. You'll always be welcome in my camp!"
If this had been a private conversation, she could have laughed it off. But they were on a stage before countless international dignitaries. There was only one way the crowd would interpret this: "The Head of the Ducal House of Albert is so highly valued by the War King that he offered her an executive post on the spot." It cemented the idea that they shared an incredibly close, friendly bond.
Lilia was already a celebrity, and she had been drowning in work from nobles trying to ride her coattails. She had finally found a moment of peace, only for this to happen. Wearing a pained, twitching smile, she clutched her stomach and began to calculate the mountain of letters that would surely arrive the moment the festival ended.
I sat on a wooden bench Alice had provided, enjoying a plate of yakisoba with Amel-san. True to form, Alice had fixed herself a portion and joined us.
"Oh, this is delicious! I love the bold seasoning. So this is what your world tastes like, Sworn Friend!"
"It was a popular dish back home. It's a staple at festivals like this one."
"I see! It feels so fresh and exciting to me. Honestly, otherworlds are just so full of wonderful—I mean... Hmph. Experiencing the unknown always stirs the soul. It is as if a door has swung open to a new stage within the deep abyss."
It seemed Amel-san had a habit of forgetting her persona whenever she got too excited. She had been so taken with the yakisoba that her normal voice had slipped right out. Seeing her blush with embarrassment as she went back to her noodles was a genuinely heartwarming sight.
As I was thinking that, I noticed Alice staring off into space with a look of profound pity.
"Alice?"
"I really have to wonder... how does that person manage to land themselves in a mess every single time?"
"Huh?"
"Oh, never mind. Anyway, I’ve got some mustard mayonnaise here. Want some?"
"Oh, definitely."
The mustard mayonnaise completely transformed the flavor, making it even better. I was still a little curious about Alice’s remark, though. When it came to "messy situations," my first thought was naturally Lilia-san, but she was at the ceremony. I couldn't imagine anything going wrong there. Even if there was a problem, it was hard to believe it would involve her specifically. Since Alice said it was nothing, I decided to let it go.
Serious-senpai: "Behold, the strongest Stomach Pain Warrior. She truly is in a league of her own. She doesn't just attract trouble for today; she pulls in enough stomach-aching material to last for months..."