Naturally, invitations to Kaito's shipboard party had been sent out to a wide range of his acquaintances. True to his character, he had extended them to anyone with whom he had exchanged introductions and shared a meaningful conversation.
Among them were some rather unexpected recipients. In the staff lounge of an adventurer guild in a certain town, a young woman working as a receptionist let out a triumphant cheer, pumping her fist in the air as she clutched a letter.
"Yes! This is it... My chance to secure a connection with someone wealthy!"
"Wait... Seriously, Gurin? When did you land a connection like that?"
"This is a total betrayal! Why did only Gurin get one?"
"Hmph, what a pity for you two. While you were all off enjoying the after-party, I was busy deepening my rapport with Miyama alongside An!"
Standing before her two envious colleagues, Gurin—the leader of Team Scarlet Blue, who had met Kaito during the Flying Board Tournament—wore a look of smug triumph.
She and her teammates were ordinary women who harbored dreams of living the high-society life of noble daughters. Receiving an invitation to such a party was a first for them, and their excitement was palpable.
"A shipboard party... I wonder if it’s on one of those luxury liners?"
"Ugh, I'm so jealous, Gurin. If you get close to a rich guy, you have to introduce us, okay?"
"Yes, yes. Well, for now, I need to go and reserve a rental dress... I might even splurge a little and go for a higher grade than usual."
Gurin spoke with her heart swelling with anticipation, though her understanding of the situation was, quite frankly, naive. Not that anyone could blame her. In her mind, Kaito was simply a well-off young man she had met at a tournament—likely some relation to the nobility at best.
Consequently, she had no inkling of what was truly in store. She never dreamed that the Six Kings, the Supreme Gods, and the kings of the Human Realm were all scheduled to converge on that ship. She had no idea she was walking into a social lion's den populated by world-shapers she would normally never even lay eyes on, let alone speak to.
At the same time, in a sprawling underground city of the Cruel race located in the mountain regions of the Arclesia Empire, the woman known as An—whose full name was Rimegite Rinoria Gisurudo Ametes An, the leader of Black Muscat—was staring at the invitation she had received.
"An invitation from Kaito... This is the first time I've ever received something so formal. I’m not quite sure what to make of it."
"More to the point, An, when did you find the time to socialize with him?"
"Oh, no, it was nothing like that. We just exchanged brief introductions and spoke for a bit during the after-party... What do you think? Do you think he sent this just as a social courtesy? If so, would it be more polite to decline?"
"On the contrary, it’s a rare invitation. Unless you have a conflict, you should definitely attend. Besides, if the party is held inside the ship, you won't need to worry as much about the sunlight."
As An stood there brooding over the letter, two of her fellow Black Muscat teammates chimed in while peering over her shoulder.
"He didn't seem like the type to deceive anyone, and given the incredible quality of the paper, I'm sure it’s a genuine invite, but..."
"Wait, is this Black Magic Sheep Paper? I... well, it’s my first time seeing it, so I can't be sure, but doesn't this mean it’s an incredibly high-status party? I feel like I'd be completely out of place."
An was also just a commoner, and such an invitation was unprecedented in her life. She was visibly intimidated by the document, which was crafted from clearly exorbitant materials.
"He was a well-presented young man, and there’s that rumor that Otherworlders can be granted titles upon request. Perhaps it’s a noble-style gala? Come to think of it, didn't your grandfather say he attended a noble's party once, An?"
"That was just a small gathering in the countryside... The letter says we can dress freely, but I should probably try to wear something respectable, right?"
"Ah, I think my great-grandmother had some accessories she received from a noble back in the day... Should we see if we can borrow them?"
"That would be a help. To be honest, I'm completely out of my depth here, so I'd appreciate whatever wisdom you can offer..."
The Cruel race to which they belonged maintained exceptionally strong communal ties. Their underground city, while sprawling, functioned effectively like a large village where almost everyone was an acquaintance. With the tradition of inheriting names from parents and grandparents, most residents could trace a blood relation if they looked back far enough.
News of the invitation spread through the city like wildfire: "An was invited to a noble's party!" Before long, a crowd of curious onlookers had gathered, leaving An at the center of the hubbub with nothing but a wry, helpless smile.
Serious-senpai: "A surprise comeback... Come to think of it, nobody from Yellow Pipe actually introduced themselves to him, did they?"
???: "That’s a fresh entry for the Stomach Pain Category."
Serious-senpai: "Give them a break."