The party was about to begin, and with most of the participants already gathered, I stole a glance at the hall from the wings of the stage. I was the one who had sent out the invitations, but seeing the actual assembly was a staggering sight.
When it came to large gatherings like this, Shiro-san’s presence was truly in a league of its own. Just by standing in the room, she seemed to radiate an overwhelming aura that demanded attention.
Naturally, there were a few guests among the crowd I was worried about. Since I had essentially cast a wide net and invited every acquaintance I could think of, the guest list included ordinary commoners alongside the world’s most powerful and famous figures.
Still, I figured most of them would manage. For instance, Mary-san, the President of the Wyvern Service, was already acquainted with Fafnir-san and Flare-san. Given her professional relationship with Lilia-san—as an owner and a hired manager—she already had a decent social circle within the hall.
Then there was Chapel-san, the manager of the Monster Race. While his personal connections were something of a mystery, his position required him to deal with figures like Chris-san and the Dragon King’s camp, so he wasn't exactly a stranger to them. Besides, he was a shrewd operator; even without prior acquaintances, I was sure he’d have no trouble working the room.
As for Kaori-san and Akane-san, they knew enough people here to get by, and since the two of them were sticking together, I wasn't too worried. Mr. and Mrs. Shigenobu were staying close to Rei-san and Fia-san, and I could see the four of them chatting comfortably.
...The ones who truly concerned me were Gurin-san and An-san. I’d invited them because we’d exchanged contact information at the Flying Board After-party, but they knew almost no one else here. They were currently huddled at the edge of the venue, faces pale with intimidation from the illustrious crowd.
I had anticipated the risk of Gurin-san and An-san being isolated, so I’d asked Aoi-chan and Hina-chan beforehand to look out for them once the party started. Since they’d met during the Flying Board After-party, I hoped their presence would put the two at ease... but in hindsight, I might have messed up. I should have asked them to check in before the party officially kicked off.
Ideally, I would have gone over myself to introduce them to people, but doing so right at the start was impossible. I couldn't exactly snub Shiro-san, the Six Kings, the Supreme Gods, and the various monarchs to go see them first. For the time being, I had to trust Aoi-chan and Hina-chan to handle things.
Once I finished the essential greetings, I planned to head over as quickly as possible. I’d introduce them to someone approachable and kind—someone like Camellia-san—and do my best to help them blend into the party.
As these thoughts crossed my mind, it seemed the final guests had arrived. Caraway stepped onto the stage and took her place behind the Amplification Magic Tool to begin the proceedings. At last, the party was underway.
Serious-senpai: "Oh, so he did actually give some thought to Gurin and An..."
???: "With Aoi-san and Hina-san on the move... the two high-ranking gods might just come along as a set!"
Serious-senpai: "Give the poor girls a break."