Inside her office at the Royal Castle of the Hydra Kingdom, King Lagna sat diligently organizing documents. While she typically played hooky from inconsequential routine meetings, she never neglected matters of national importance, nor did she allow paperwork to pile up. For all her grumbling, Lagna was an exceptionally competent monarch.
Her personal feelings on the matter, however, were a different story.
"Haa... Dear me. How much longer do they intend to keep an old woman tethered to this throne? The kingdom is overdue for some fresh blood—a passing of the torch, I say."
"Hahaha, rest easy, Your Majesty. This country is already quite adept at embracing change without such drastic measures. Please, feel free to keep being our King with a clear conscience."
As was her custom, Lagna muttered about her desire to abdicate, but it was such a frequent occurrence that her aides, busy with their own stacks of papers, were entirely unfazed. Without even looking up, they offered their usual perfunctory reassurances. Lagna sighed softly and returned to signing her documents, her complaints seemingly intended as little more than idle chatter.
Just then, one of her aides approached with a specific report.
"Your Majesty, regarding the venue for the Three-nation Joint Conference..."
"Ah, it’s our turn to host this year, isn't it? Honestly, we already held a Three-nation Joint Meeting earlier this year; one would think that would suffice. Still, I suppose these ceremonies are necessary to show the world that relations between our kingdoms remain harmonious."
"Compared to years past, the air between our nations certainly feels much clearer," the aide remarked.
"Well... we do have a certain border-crossing anomaly to thank for that. Ever since Kaito arrived, the opportunities for me to cross paths with Ryze-bo and Lady Chris have increased tenfold. It’s a byproduct, certainly, but a welcome one."
Due to the influence of Kaito—the World’s Singularity—diplomatic and cultural exchange had flourished, not just between nations but among the Three Worlds themselves.
With the Six Kings visiting the Human Realm more frequently, Demons had grown curious about the lands above, leading to a surge in tourism. Even the Gods had begun to visit the Human and Demon Realms for leisure following the White God Festival. Slowly but surely, deities who had once been nothing more than myth to the common people were becoming familiar faces.
Furthermore, the Human Realm was enjoying an unprecedented economic boom thanks to Kaito’s ventures. Relations between the three kingdoms were at an all-time high. Though Kaito never intended to be a political puppet master, his presence continued to reshape the world in profound ways.
"That aside," Lagna continued, "the Kingdom of Sinfonia has been gaining incredible momentum lately. The rumors of the Pope attending that wedding and Shallow Vernal-sama bestowing a bouquet have had a massive impact. The Hydra Kingdom needs to assert its own prestige, so the choice of venue is paramount. I’d love to find a way to truly upstage Ryze-bo and Lady Chris, but..."
"Regardless, there is little sense in being eccentric for the sake of it," the aide cautioned. "It is a three-nation conference, after all. A certain level of dignity and tradition is expected."
"It is a delicate balance. Well, we still have time. Let's weigh our options carefully—"
Before Lagna could finish, the office door swung open. A civil servant entered, looking visibly flustered.
"Your Majesty! A letter has arrived from Miyama Kaito-dono!"
"...What? A letter from Kaito? Now, that’s unusual."
Lagna tilted her head in surprise. While she and Kaito were close, their communication was almost exclusively handled via Hummingbird. They didn't typically exchange formal letters.
Lagna wasn't exactly a diligent correspondent like Chris; she preferred to handle simple matters through magical messaging and save the important—or lengthy—discussions for face-to-face meetings. Usually, she used those meetings as a convenient excuse to escape particularly dull government sessions.
"...This is remarkably high-quality stationery. Is this a matter of grave importance?"
The letter was indeed premium, and the wax seal bore the imprint of three mountains—the brand mark of Nifty.
Bracing herself for a situation that was clearly out of the ordinary, Lagna broke the seal and scanned the contents. A moment later, she reached out, grabbed the candidate list for the Three-nation Joint Conference, tore it into pieces, and dropped it into the wastebasket.
"Y-Your Majesty?! What are you doing? That’s an essential document—"
"It’s fine. The conference has been cancelled."
"I beg your pardon? Cancelled?"
Her aide cried out in a panic, but Lagna remained composed, her gaze still fixed on the letter.
"Kaito is hosting a Shipboard Party," she said flatly. "It’s scheduled for the exact same date as the conference. The invitation was enclosed."
"I see. Cancelled it is, then. I shall notify Sinfonia and Alcreasia immediately."
"Umu. There is no other choice. This is far more important. Besides, even if I hadn't said anything, I suspect Ryze-bo or Lady Chris would have been the ones demanding a cancellation anyway."
The frantic energy from moments ago evaporated instantly. The second Kaito's name was mentioned, the aides understood the shift in priorities. They immediately began drafting the necessary notices to scrap the international summit.
The difference in significance was simply too vast to ignore. A party hosted by Kaito—an event that would undoubtedly see the gathering of the most powerful figures across all Three Worlds—compared to an annual routine conference... there was no contest.
"In any case, we have much to prepare! Arrange for an emergency meeting at once!"
"It has already been scheduled, Your Majesty."
"Excellent. I’m heading to the conference room now. I'll begin the briefing with whoever is currently available. Tell the others that they are permitted to join as they arrive; they are to report as soon as their schedules allow."
The weary mask of the 'old-timer' was gone. With the sharp, decisive air of a true sovereign, Lagna strode out of the office.
Serious-senpai: "An emergency meeting for a K-Case... well, for all her complaining, Lagna is a steady hand. I doubt there'll be any real trouble."
???: "That's because she didn't inherit the 'stomachache trait' in this world."
Serious-senpai: "Oh, right. I keep forgetting. The Lagna who lived on a diet of antacids was the one from that other dimension..."