Inside the great hall of Kuromueina’s castle in the Demon Realm, the group that had returned from the shipboard party gathered together. Their attention was fixed on a single spot where the atmosphere—normally so tranquil—had become as sharp as a honed blade.
At the center of that tension stood Ein. She was staring down at a wooden box in her hands with an intensity so fierce it felt as if her gaze alone might bore a hole through it.
The box contained the commemorative gifts distributed at the end of the shipboard party: a specially designed teaspoon, a selection of limited-edition crafted sugar, and a special blend of tea leaves created specifically for the occasion.
Amidst the heavy silence, Ein slowly opened the lid. After a long moment, she finally spoke.
"…Magnificent. A refreshing sea-themed spoon, and crafted sugar in a special shape unlike anything sold under the Nifty brand. And this… this is the commemorative blend utilizing Nebula-sama’s Treasured Tea Leaves. What an extraordinary feat. Even I cannot perfectly envision the finished brew simply by inspecting the leaves! It is truly nothing short of masterful."
"Ein seems to be enjoying herself," Kuromueina said with a warm smile.
"I mean, Anego Ein’s intensity is so overwhelming it’s actually kind of terrifying," Acht muttered.
"It’s just like her to keep her magic power perfectly restrained even now," Eval added, "but… ah, look, she’s already brewing it."
Watching Ein talk to herself with such a fervent expression, the others watched as she immediately prepared a cup using the special blend. After taking a sip to taste her work, her eyes widened.
"Magnificent! A deep, complex aroma and a novel flavor distinct from any other tea leaves, yet possessing an overwhelming deliciousness. My only regret is that such a minuscule amount was provided… It is a flavor so wonderful it brings a sigh to one’s lips."
The commemorative blend had clearly moved Ein to her core, and she began to describe her impressions with sparkling eyes. As she watched, Kuromueina rested her chin in her hand.
(Just now, for a fleeting moment, did Ein’s magic power actually increase? Ah, maybe that’s why Kaito put restrictions on circulating those leaves. If so, I’ll have to make sure to stop her if she starts demanding more…)
Kuro had been concerned that Ein might try to badger Kaito for more of Nebula’s tea, as she had in the past, but although Ein was clearly excited, she made no mention of wanting more.
"Ein-onee-chan, are you going to ask Kaito-kun-san for more of those tea leaves?" Razulia asked.
"No, I cannot do that. I certainly want these leaves—I want them so badly it hurts—but they will likely be used as gifts for future events hosted by Kaito-sama. If that is the case, maintaining their rarity is vital. If my pursuit of these leaves were to cause him even the slightest trouble, I have no choice but to endure."
Though Ein often seemed to lose her head when it came to maids or tea, she still possessed a firm set of priorities. She wanted the tea leaves desperately, but Kaito was her absolute priority. Fearing that her greed might negatively impact Kaito’s future plans, she chose to restrain herself.
"I see! In that case, Ein-onee-chan, I’ll give you the leaves from my souvenir. I can’t brew them very well anyway," Razulia said.
"Ah, then take ours too," Acht offered.
"We aren't confident we can brew tea this good either," Eval said. "Just let us have a sip of whatever you make when you get the chance."
"…Thank you. Thank you all very much."
Since many of Kuromueina’s family members were close with Kaito, Ein ended up receiving a substantial amount of tea. She looked overwhelmed with emotion at her family's kindness. Watching the scene, Kuromueina nodded with a satisfied expression.
Serious-senpai: "I wasn't worried about Jutia, but I'm surprised even this one isn't running wild."
Mystery Entity: "Well, Ein-san knows when to restrain herself. She only really loses control when it's purely about maid duties."