Gurin and An had been waiting in the corner of the venue as if trying to hold their breath, but they had regained some measure of composure and were now surveying the hall once more.
"The Creator God, the Supreme Gods, the Six Kings and their executives, monarchs from every nation... Not to mention high and low-ranking gods, the Pope, and even Fors, one of the legendary Heroes... It’s a gathering so massive that 'everyone who matters' is an understatement."
"Exactly. Though for such a high-stakes crowd, there are surprisingly few ordinary nobles... Wait, look at that person!"
"Hmm? Do you know her?"
An followed Gurin's gaze after seeing her friend's eyes widen in shock. Lilia, Lunamaria, and Sieglinde were standing together, but An—who was a stranger to noble politics—had no idea who they were.
"An, you don't know her?! That’s Her Excellency Duchess Lilia Albert! She’s currently ranked first in the Most Active Noble Ranking!"
"Oh, one of Sinfonia’s Three Flowers... I’ve heard the name, but that’s the first time I’ve seen her. By the way, is that ranking from a famous magazine or something?"
"No, it’s a list my friends and I put together."
"Then how on earth was I supposed to know about it?!"
Gurin, who had a long-standing fascination with high society, regularly compiled noble rankings with her fellow flying board teammates. Lilia sat firmly at the top of their list. An, of course, had no way of knowing about a personal ranking shared among a small circle of enthusiasts.
"Well, regardless, she must be an incredible noble."
"She is! In just a few short years, the Ducal House of Albert rose to the absolute peak of Sinfonia's nobility. It’s a legendary ascent."
"I see. I don't know much about dukes and such, but she must be exceptionally talented."
"As expected of Her Excellency, her aura is simply on another level. I’d love to try talking to her, but our social standing is just too far apart."
"To be fair, I think there are very few people here we could talk to without overstepping..."
Gurin seemed to be regaining her usual fangirl energy, either growing accustomed to the atmosphere or letting her natural curiosity take over. An could only offer a wry smile.
Elsewhere in the venue, Kaori and Akane—who fell into the commoner category in their own right—wore conflicted expressions. They had heard rumors, but seeing Kaito’s staggering social reach in person was another thing entirely.
"This is unreal. Honestly, it feels even more intense than the Hero Festival."
"It definitely is," Akane agreed. "Usually, the Six Kings' Executives only show up one or two at a time to escort their kings. Having almost the entire roster here is unheard of."
"What are we going to do when the party actually starts? There’s no one here we can just strike up a casual conversation with."
"Tell me about it... I’m terrified I’ll accidentally say something rude and cause an international incident."
"There is no need for such anxiety, my children."
"(!?)"
A familiar voice reached their ears. Turning around, they saw a goddess with a ring of twenty wings floating behind her—Eden.
This was a manifestation being operated by Machina through Thought Partition. Since she was the deity of the world they had come from, both Kaori and Akane offered her their most respectful greetings. Eden responded with a gentle smile and stroked their heads.
"I am relieved to see you both looking so well. I understand this place might feel overwhelming, but I am attending as well. If you find yourselves in any trouble, do not hesitate to rely on your mother."
"Eden-sama... Thank you so much!"
"That's a huge relief, honestly."
Kaori beamed with happiness while Akane’s face finally lost its tension. To them, Eden was a kind, motherly figure who had looked out for them and offered guidance in the past. They trusted her implicitly.
...And indeed, unlike the way she behaved toward Kaito, she never went berserk with them. In that sense, she truly was a reliable guardian for the two of them.
"Now then, I must go check on my other children. Please, enjoy the party and don't let the pressure get to you."
"Yes!"
"Good girls. We shall speak again later if the chance arises."
Eden gave their heads one last affectionate pat before heading off toward the other otherworlders, like Shigenobu and Seigi. Watching this from afar, Alice spoke to Machina—who was standing nearby—with a look of pure exasperation.
"I wish you could manage that same level of restraint with Kaito-san."
"I don't do it on purpose! It’s just that my beloved child is so adorable that my love supernovas and I lose control."
"Right... Good grief. Even if it's for the sake of Kaito-san's party, I can't believe I'm stuck as the Machina-handler all day. Prepare yourself—I will be punching you, so don't be surprised."
"Must you say it with such certainty?"
Machina looked genuinely puzzled by the threat, prompting Alice to let out a heavy sigh.
Serious-senpai: It’s hilarious how she’s actually a dependable god to Kaori and the others...
???: Oh, by the way, it looks like the party officially kicks off next time.