The massive magic ship serving as the venue for the party featured an array of accommodations. Since it had been originally designed as a luxury liner, this included several high-end VIP suites.
In one of these rooms, Isis—one of the Six Kings—sat with her subordinates, passing the time with a quiet conversation as they waited for the festivities to begin.
"Ooh, this is incredible! So this is a ship... moving across the ocean like this feels so new and exciting!"
"...I see... This is your... first time... on a ship, isn't it, Vul?"
"Yes! I can’t stop smiling!"
"...Fufu... Yes... I don't have... many chances to ride them either... so it feels a bit fresh for me, too."
Isis watched warmly as Vulpecula peered curiously out the window, her ten tails wagging in excitement, before taking a graceful sip of her tea.
To avoid any chance of her Magic Power of Death accidentally terrifying the general guests at the reception, Isis had made sure to board the vessel well ahead of schedule.
"Still, as expected of Kaito-sama, I can sense people with tremendous magic power arriving one after another. At this rate, we might see the Six Kings' Executives out in full force today."
"Miyama is personally acquainted with all of them, after all. I'm not sure if the other camps have the same amount of leisure time we do, but most of them would likely prioritize Miyama over any other work."
"Hmm... I wonder how the other groups are spending their time? Are they huddled together in their rooms just like us?"
Iris responded to Polaris as she prepared a refill of tea. The Death King’s Executives—and indeed, all of Isis’s subordinates—rarely had anything resembling actual duties to attend to. As a result, it was only natural that the entire group had come along for the party.
"...What a sight. You don't look the part of a lady in that dress at all."
"I am well aware of that without you pointing it out. Besides, many Insectoids have wings or multiple arms, making this kind of attire difficult to wear to begin with... Well, this particular dress was custom-made, so it isn't uncomfortable, but it's so far removed from my usual gear that I can't seem to settle down."
"Don't act like you're ever 'settled.' It's a simple matter of a muscle-brained woman failing to pull off formal wear."
"...Oh? Is that so? The wearer is indeed a vital component. It's a real shame to see a high-quality gown look like a discarded rag just because a Carrion Woman decided to put it on."
"...Huh?"
"...What was that?"
"You two... if you start a fight here, you're going to get scolded."
Spica gave a wry smile as she watched Sirius and Rasal fall into their usual bickering. Despite the insults, the Death King's subordinates were as close as ever, clearly enjoying the lead-up to the party in their own way.
Meanwhile, out on the deck of the magic ship, Ozma leaned against the railing, enjoying a quiet smoke. As he stood there savoring the passing scenery, a loud voice suddenly boomed behind him.
"A-Aniki! So this is where you were hiding!"
"Hmm? If it isn't Kong-kun. How is the Boss doing?"
The newcomer was a mountain of a man who looked like he had been shoehorned into an exceptionally tight suit—it was Kong the Stalwart, one of the Five War Generals. Ozma gave a small, weary smile at the grinning Kong before asking after Megiddo.
"The Boss? He had Bacchus bring him some sake and started drinking immediately. He's been in a great mood lately. I wonder if it's because the guys in the lower ranks finally got their act together after the battle in the God Realm?"
"That's probably part of it, but I think he's just happy because he's grown even fonder of Miyama-kun than before."
"Ah, I see... That guy really is something special, isn't he?"
"Oh? So you have a high opinion of Miyama-kun as well, Kong-kun?"
Just as Kong noted, Megiddo had been in high spirits recently. The primary cause was Kaito, who had successfully shattered the destructive impulses Megiddo had carried for so long. This had granted Megiddo a level of control over his own power that he had never possessed before. Combined with his pre-existing fondness for the young man, Megiddo was now practically beaming whenever Kaito was involved.
"Yeah. When I first saw him at the Six Kings Festival, I thought he was just some tiny brat. But the way he fought the Boss after that... he showed some real grit. It was cool. I've always had a soft spot for guys with that kind of raw, stubborn determination. Besides, word is he beat the Boss again recently, right? Taking him down three times is a hell of an achievement."
"Hahaha, Miyama-kun really is something else. Even for this party, many of the Six Kings' Executives are coming not just because their respective Kings are close to him, but because they personally like the kid... He’s truly remarkable."
"He sure is."
Kong nodded deeply, in full agreement with Ozma’s assessment. A peaceful silence almost settled between them, until Ozma suddenly remembered something and turned back to Kong.
"...By the way, what were Agni-chan and Epsilon-chan up to?"
"Ah... well, they were bickering over which one of them gets the honor of entering the venue at your side, Aniki. The Boss and you told them fighting is forbidden, so I don't think they'll throw any punches, but... the tension was definitely sparking. It sounds like they're going to make you choose between them."
"I-I see... Hmm... In that case, I think I'll wait a while longer before I head back in..."
Imagining the two forceful women—Agni and Epsilon—who both viewed this party as a prime opportunity to win him over, Ozma’s expression became strained. He pulled out another cigarette and struck a match, deciding that the deck was the safest place to be for the time being.
Serious-senpai: "In a subtle way, Bacchus is always the one Megiddo tosses errands to among the War King's subordinates... Talk about being stuck in a hardship-worker position..."