Despite the last-minute chaos Shiro-san brought to the Arclesia Empire's Founding Anniversary Festival, things didn't escalate into a full-blown disaster. Amel-san and I packed up our stall, grabbed dinner together, and called it a night.
All in all, I’d been able to enjoy the festivities at my own pace, and the business had been a success, with nearly every item sold out. I’d made a promise to hang out with Amel-san again, and with that, my stint as a festival vendor came to a close.
A few days later... I found myself wearing a wry smile as I took in the expression of my latest unexpected visitor.
"Doesn’t it just feel like the world is fundamentally unfair sometimes? I suppose if you call it the Truth of the World, that's that, but those of us on the short end of the stick can’t help but want to grumble."
"...Um, could you be a bit more specific?"
"I’m not trying to nag or vent my frustrations, but... word is you opened a stall in Arclesia, too, right after the one in Sinfonia. Now, I have absolutely no grievances or complaints about that, but..."
"You’re clearly brimming with complaints!"
Laguna, the Queen of the Hydra Kingdom, sat across from me, sipping her tea with a pout that bordered on a full-blown sulk. I understood where she was coming from. In short, she felt it was unfair that I’d set up shop in the Kingdom of Sinfonia and the Arclesia Empire but hadn’t done anything for her own kingdom.
"Well, objectively speaking, Sinfonia and Arclesia are riding a massive wave of momentum right now. As the Queen of Hydra, it’s a bit grating to watch from the sidelines. It’s not that you’ve done anything wrong, Kaito, but at least let an old lady vent her spleen... Even if it wasn't intentional, the economic impact you bring is staggering."
"I mean... from my perspective, I really was just running a humble stall."
"Hahaha, that's because trouble has a way of seeking you out. Still, I have to hand it to you—turning a profit despite all that is a feat in itself."
Whether it was her bluntness about national interests or her willingness to complain directly to the person involved, this was very much like Laguna. Yet, because she didn't actually demand that I open a stall for the Hydra Kingdom’s Founding Anniversary Festival, she was relatively easy to talk to.
"...Wait, so you aren't going to ask me to open a stall in the Hydra Kingdom?"
"I won't. Not really... You’re too kind for your own good, so you’d probably say yes if I asked, but running a stall out of obligation isn't any fun, is it? Besides, we’re running out of time anyway."
"Is the Hydra Kingdom's Founding Anniversary Festival happening soon?"
"The beginning of next month."
I see. With less than a month left, trying to set up a stall now would be a frantic scramble—something I definitely wanted to avoid. Laguna obviously knew that, which was why she hadn't pushed.
"...Wait. Then what brings you here today, Laguna? Did you really just come to grumble at me?"
"Well, that was part of it, but I actually came to invite you to something."
"Invite me?"
"Exactly. Between the Sinfonia and Arclesia festivals, you spent so much time behind a counter that you never got to actually see the sights, right? So, I want you to come to the Hydra Kingdom’s festival as a regular guest. Our people are a lively bunch; I promise the atmosphere will be electric!"
"I see..."
She had a point. I’d been so busy with the stalls in the other two countries that I’d only ever seen the immediate area around my booth. I hadn’t even caught a glimpse of the main ceremonies. Her proposal was genuinely tempting. Visiting the festival just to enjoy it sounded like a great change of pace.
"That sounds like a plan. I haven't really had the chance to take my time and explore, and I’ve been curious about what the Hydra Kingdom's festivals are like."
"Good, good! I knew you'd see it my way. That being the case, I brought these for you."
"Hmm? What are these?"
"Reserved seats for the ceremony in the Great Plaza. They aren't the stuffy VIP boxes or anything—just the kind of seats well-to-do citizens buy to get a better view than the general standing area. One section seats four people, so here are four tickets for one block. Use them all, use some, or don't use them at all if you aren't interested. You helped me out with that tourist destination business a while back, so consider this a little thank-you. Don't be shy; take them."
"Thank you very much."
I’d been thinking that I wanted to see a ceremony for once, so these Reserved Seat Tickets were perfect. Since I had them in hand, I figured I’d find someone to bring along and really enjoy the Hydra Kingdom’s festival.
Serious-senpai: "...Laguna is seriously competent. By inviting him like this, she avoids the awkwardness of Kaito ignoring Hydra’s festival while attending the other two. It gives him a great impression of her, and she can even bank on the side effect of him bringing his lovers along. Since she's just inviting him as a friend and not making demands or trying to control his actions, she doesn't trip any of the Secoms' NG Check..."
???: "Giving him those specific reserved seats is a clever touch, too. It lets Kaito-san enjoy himself without any pressure, but it also subtly signals to the nobles and foreign royalty in the VIP area that he’s there. Plus, since there's a good chance Kaito-san's acquaintances—like Megiddo-san—will be in the VIP section nearby, there’s a high probability he’ll stop by to say hello."