In the end, not a single person remained inside the venue to watch the fireworks through the windows; every last guest moved out onto the deck to see the display.
The sun had still been high when the party began, but now it had fully set, providing the perfect backdrop for the show.
"Master, thank you for your hard work."
"You're the one who deserves thanks, Anima. You spent the whole time directing everything behind the scenes, didn't you? Good work... Now that all that’s left is the final farewells and the cleanup, I can finally catch my breath."
"Yes."
As I waited for the fireworks to begin, Anima came over to stand beside me, and we exchanged words of appreciation. Anima had essentially been running the show from the shadows the entire time. Unlike Caraway, whom I saw frequently in her role as the MC, or Eta and Theta, who were busy moving the art pieces, I had barely laid eyes on Anima while the party was in full swing.
As we spoke, the fireworks began to ascend. With a resounding boom, vivid, multicolored bursts bloomed in the night sky, and their beauty stole my breath away.
Since we were out on the ocean with absolutely nothing to obstruct the view, the sight was magnificent—a truly luxurious experience. In fact, since we were so far offshore, we were well beyond the point where one could normally launch fireworks. This was a truly extravagant spectacle, made possible only by the power of a God.
"What a magnificent sight. I have seen fireworks before, but these are so much more vivid and intricate than any I remember."
"In the world I came from, there were firework festivals—festivals where watching the display was the main attraction. They were always incredibly popular."
Since Machina had been involved in the preparations, these were incredibly authentic fireworks that reminded me of the festivals I used to visit back home. When I stole a glance at the person beside me, I saw Anima looking up at the sky, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Since we were finally standing together like this, I reached out and gently took Anima's hand. She looked startled for a split second, but a smile quickly spread across her face as she interlaced her fingers with mine.
No more words were needed; we simply stood side-by-side, watching the beautiful fireworks together.
Once the display ended, we returned to the party venue for the closing remarks. I decided that this moment—just after everyone had finished watching the fireworks and caught their breath—was the best time to conclude the festivities. I picked up the Amplification Magic Tool and stepped onto the dais.
"Once again, thank you all for attending this Shipboard Party today. Since this was my first time hosting an event of this scale, I’m sure there were some shortcomings, but I am truly happy if you were all able to have a good time. I enjoyed planning this gathering more than I expected, so I might just host another party like this again in the future. If that happens and your schedules are open, I would be delighted to have you join me once more."
The greeting was short and simple, concluding in just a few minutes. Finally, as the guests began to depart, I stood by to see them off and hand out souvenirs.
The gift consisted of a Sample of Nifty's Black Tea and the Special Blend Prepared by Nebula and Illness-san for Today, packaged together as a Black Tea Leaf Set.
I had considered gifting tea cups or other products, but given the journey home, I worried that pottery might break. Ultimately, I decided that a tea set was the most convenient and practical choice for everyone.
"Thank you for coming today."
"No, the pleasure was mine... S-So, inside this... is the blend made with Nebula-sama's Treasured Tea Leaves..."
"Ein, you mustn't open it here. You have to wait until you get home."
"Ugh... Yes, Master."
Upon receiving her souvenir, Ein-san's eyes flashed with the intensity of a bloodthirsty predator for a fleeting moment, but she nodded dejectedly after Kuro reprimanded her.
As I suspected, the only reason she had been so restrained during the party was because Kuro had given her strict orders to behave.
"Thanks for everything, Kuro."
"Don't mention it! I had a wonderful time. When you're the host, Kaito-kun, we can all relax and have fun regardless of our social status. It's a nice change of pace. I'll be looking forward to the next one!"
I see. Perhaps because I don't belong to any specific faction in this world, people felt they could enjoy the party I hosted without worrying about the usual protocols and power dynamics.
At a typical party, a member of the Six Kings like Kuro would be treated as a daunting guest of honor, forcing her to be on her best behavior. Kuro likely found that sort of atmosphere stifling.
In that sense, perhaps there really is a demand for the kind of parties I host. I might seriously consider planning a second one after a bit of time has passed.
With those thoughts in mind, I handed out the souvenirs to each guest and exchanged brief words of farewell. And so, the first party I ever hosted came to a successful end.
Serious-senpai: "Alright, it's over. There was a bit of flirting at the end, but this much is fine. Now, let's move on to the next episode."
???: "There's still the event where Pandemonium visits with the wine he got from Nebula-san remaining, you know?"
Serious-senpai: "Ah... Ahhh... That's right..."