The guests arriving at the party venue weren't exclusively famous figures; they were simply people who shared a connection with Kaito. Nevertheless, in terms of sheer numbers, there was an undeniable skew toward the renowned.
Akane and Kaori stood in the open space of the reception lobby, idly watching the other guests arrive. Kaori had just returned after successfully guiding Olivia to her guest room.
The two of them had found themselves restless in their overly luxurious quarters and, curious about the sort of people who would be attending, had decided to see the arrivals for themselves.
"By the way, Akane-san, where's Frau-san?"
"Oh, she apparently knows some of the maids working the party, so she went to say hello. It wouldn't be right to try and chat once the party starts and they're busy as waitstaff."
"I see. In that case, I'll act as your guard until she gets back."
"Oh? Do you have what it takes, Kaori? I’m quite the lost cause when it comes to anything other than teleportation magic."
"Heh heh. I specialize in water magic, so I’m actually fairly formidable out on the open sea... though 'formidable' is a relative term. Compared to the other guests here, I'm probably closer to a water flea."
As they engaged in their idle chatter, a voice they didn't recognize called out to them—a departure from their earlier encounter with Shigenobu.
"Um, excuse me, are you two here for the party?"
"Eh? Oh, yes. And you are...?"
"Ah, forgive me. My name is Elise. I run a small fortune-telling shop in the Kingdom of Sinfonia. I was feeling quite intimidated by all the illustrious figures everywhere, and when I saw two people who seemed to share a similar aura, I couldn't help but speak up. If you happen to be famous and I simply didn't recognize you, please accept my apologies."
The speaker was a woman with slightly wavy brown hair long enough to obscure her eyes. At Elise's words, Kaori and Akane nodded sympathetically.
"I completely understand," Kaori replied. "I'm Kaori Mizuhara. I'm just a commoner who runs a small restaurant in the Friendly City."
"And I'm Akane Mikumo. I’m technically the chairman of a small firm called the Mikumo Trading Company, but against the heavyweights at this party, I'm as ordinary as they come."
"Thank you for the kind introductions. Judging by the sound of your names... are you perhaps otherworlders?"
"Yes, we're former Hero-roles."
Seeing Elise’s gentle, friendly smile, the two women felt a wave of relief. Having seen nothing but high-ranking executives and legendary beings since they arrived, the encounter was a breath of fresh air.
"Elise-san... Since you're here at the party, I assume you're an acquaintance of Kaito-kun?"
"Yes, Kaito-san has been very kind to me ever since I first opened my shop. That's why I was invited today, but I never imagined it would be such a grand affair. I’m feeling a bit out of my league."
"I know exactly how you feel! I mean, I know Kaito-kun only invites people he knows personally, but when Six Kings, their executives, and high-ranking gods start filing in one after another, it’s hard not to feel pressured. Seeing someone like you, Elise-san, is a real relief."
"And seeing you two has made me realize I'm not the only ordinary participant here. It's a weight off my shoulders. If it's not a bother, would it be alright if we talked a little more?"
"Of course! I'd love to hear about your shop!"
"I'm interested, too," Akane added. "If you’re ever looking to sell original goods or expand your reach, my company might be able to help you out."
Having found common ground in their shared commoner aura, the three women continued their pleasant conversation for a while.
???: "This girl... acting so brazenly..."
Serious-senpai: "Well, Elise always maintains a facade of total humility around anyone other than Kaito or Alice, so this is just her usual mode. Her being 'intimidated' is a complete lie, but I'm sure she's grumbling about Kaito in her head."
???: "Though in her case, the fact that she’s complaining about someone is actually proof that she’s incredibly fond of them."