A massive magic ship plowed through the Great Ocean of the Demon Realm. I leaned against the deck railing, narrowing my eyes as the sea breeze brushed against my face. Standing on a ship in the middle of the ocean was a picturesque sight; I even allowed myself to wonder if I looked a bit like a movie star in this setting... though that was probably just a delusion.
Today wasn't the actual day of the shipboard party; that was still a few days off. The reason I was currently sailing across the Demon Realm's waters was, simply put, a trial run.
It stood to reason that hosting a full-scale gala at sea without any practice would be a recipe for disaster. Since we were hiring staff, there were countless details to finalize—coordination, communication, and logistical checks.
The magic ship Kuro had given me was a true ultra-luxury liner. Stretching over 350 meters in length, it was capable of carrying more than five thousand passengers. The number of cabins alone was staggering.
I planned to assign a room to every guest so they had a place to change or rest, which meant those rooms needed thorough inspection and preparation.
As for what I was currently doing during this crucial trial run... absolutely nothing.
Yeah. I had no job. Illness-san was handling the briefings with the hired maids and scouting the party venues. Eta and Theta were inspecting the guest rooms. Anima and Caraway were busy with budgets, supplies, and the navigation charts. Even the catering staff—though not on board yet—were hard at work at my house, led by Nebula and Kaori-san.
With nothing to contribute, I had retreated to the deck in a bit of a funk, staring blankly out at the waves.
I couldn't help it. I really couldn't. I didn't know the first thing about training maids, and I would only be a hindrance to Anima and the others while they were in the middle of their checks. For someone like me, staying out of the way was the most helpful thing I could do... God, the ocean really was beautiful, though.
"Pardon me. Miyama Kaito-sama, might I have a moment of your time?"
"Whoa! G-Gluttony-san?"
"Yes. I apologize for the sudden visit without prior notice. I did not mean to startle you."
Startled by the sudden voice, I spun around to find Natasha-san standing there. She held the doll that served as Gluttony-san's main body, and as usual, she spoke on the King's behalf.
Setting aside the surprise, I wondered what she wanted.
"No, it's fine. Did you need something?"
"Yes. While it may be presumptuous of me, I was hoping to offer my assistance with the transportation of your guests for the upcoming party."
"Transportation? You mean helping out with teleportation magic?"
"Precisely. Shaltier-sama informed me that the current plan involves using the transfer gates located near a harbor suitable for a ship of this size."
"Yeah, that was the idea..."
Since not all the guests could teleport themselves, we had assumed they would use the standard transfer gates to enter the Demon Realm.
The plan was for guests to use their invitations as a 'key' at the gates, which would teleport them for free to a location near the harbor. Alice's subordinates handled the gate management, so I was going to arrange the logistics through them.
"However, given the scale of the harbor required to dock such a massive vessel, I believe your guests would attract a great deal of public attention, especially considering their high status. If I were to assist, however, teleporting everyone directly onto the ship would be trivial. If you wish, we could set up temporary reception desks near the major transfer gates. Once their invitations are verified, I could teleport them straight to the ship. This would allow the vessel to remain out at sea, avoiding the crowds entirely."
"That... actually sounds like an incredible help. But are you sure? Won't that be a massive burden on you?"
"Not at all. Moving a few hundred people wouldn't expend even a fraction of my energy. Besides, being of service to Miyama Kaito-sama is the greatest bliss for this body... Furthermore, I suspect the great Shaltier-sama, who possesses the insight to see all things, only mentioned your plans to me because she anticipated this very outcome. I infer that assisting you is Shaltier-sama's desire as well."
"I see..."
That certainly sounded like Alice. Providing indirect, roundabout support was exactly her style.
"...Alright. If you're willing, Gluttony-san, I'd love your help. I'll need to discuss the details with Anima and the rest, so let's head inside."
"I shall work to ensure your expectations are met."
With Gluttony-san's support secured, the logistical headache of transporting the guests had been solved. All that remained was to polish the finer details and wait for the big day.
???: "Oh my, what wonderful support from the capable and transcendent beautiful girl, Alice-chan! This kind of subtlety is clearly the secret to winning Kaito-san's heart!!"
Serious-senpai: "...It's a bizarre fact that while she's a total disaster in romance, she really is terrifyingly competent at everything else."