At Dia Royal Chocolate, an elite boutique, Elis had been waiting in her private office since the break of dawn.
The reason was simple: Kaito was expected to visit today. During his previous stop at the shop, he had mentioned a plan to return to the city the following month. Through their subsequent correspondence, Elis had managed to pin down the exact date, leading her to clear her schedule and wait at the store from the early morning hours.
Even if his arrival isn't strictly guaranteed, if there is a chance Kaito-sama will appear, it is only natural that I, the owner, handle the reception personally, she thought. I’ve briefed the entire staff and shown them his portrait so they have his face memorized. If Kaito-sama arrives, word will reach me immediately. For now, I’ll stay here and clear my desk of these letters and documents.
Regardless of Kaito’s own awareness of the situation, rumors that Elis was close to him had already begun circulating among the nobility. If Kaito were to visit her establishment and she failed to attend to him, those petty nobles who thrived on nothing but spite might claim she was slighting him.
Social standing aside, Kaito’s very existence was the World’s Singularity. There was a high probability of something extraordinary occurring, much like the time he had arrived accompanied by Jutia. To ensure she could respond to any sudden developments, Elis’s presence was essential.
He mentioned he would be bringing friends who were otherworlders this time, she mused. As far as I know, there are currently four otherworlders in Trinia: Kaito Miyama-sama, Aoi Kusunoki-sama, Hina Yuzuki-sama, and Viscount Seigi M. Neverlight. I know their faces, so I’ll recognize them instantly. Rumors say Kaito-sama’s parents are also here, but he wouldn't refer to them as "friends," so I can safely rule them out.
Elis made it her business to know everything related to the Singularity. She remembered the names and faces of Aoi, Hina, and Seigi—the three summoned alongside Kaito—perfectly. While Kaito’s parents had never appeared in public, preventing her from knowing their appearance, she felt confident excluding them from this scenario.
Furthermore, since hearing Kaito’s mention of "otherworlder friends" a month ago, she had spent the intervening time researching the immigrants who were former Hero-roles. However, that data was far from complete.
If he brings a former Hero-role, I might not be able to identify them immediately, she admitted to herself. The living former Hero-roles who have immigrated are Kaori Mizuhara-sama, Akane Mikumo-sama, and Shigenobu Ookura-sama. Ayako Tomioka... she was a Hero-role from fifteen periods ago, so she is surely deceased. That leaves three possibilities. If he brings an older man who isn't Viscount Neverlight, I can identify him as Shigenobu Ookura-sama. The issue lies with the other two. I might not be able to distinguish between them just by sight. Well, I can simply steer the conversation toward introductions... It should be fine.
Elis knew the names of Kaori and Akane, and she was aware that Akane headed the Mikumo Trading Company. However, Akane’s firm dealt primarily with commoners and had little overlap with the nobility or the wealthy, making a portrait impossible to find on such short notice. Kaori was a private citizen living in the Friendly City, meaning there was virtually no information available on her beyond her residence.
...The biggest problem is the "one more person" Kaito-sama mentioned, she continued. If it were just another otherworlder, the matter would be simple, but he likely would have just said "two otherworlder friends." The way he phrased it felt like he was intentionally obscuring their identity. Since there were other customers eavesdropping at the time, perhaps he hid the details to avoid a scene? In that case, are they someone of high profile?
Since his visit wasn't a certainty, Elis couldn't very well pester Kaito with questions about his sightseeing companions. Consequently, the identity of the third guest remained a mystery.
Still, I should be able to narrow it down. If they are traveling with an otherworlder friend, they are likely acquaintances with that person as well. Assuming Kaito-sama made the introduction, it could technically be anyone he knows... but the most likely candidate is Underworld King Kuromueina-sama. It is a well-known fact that she is close with the otherworlders. I still have time; I should consider every possible contingency.
Elis was a sharp woman. Having prepared for various scenarios based on the information she had, she felt confident in her ability to handle the day’s events.
Yet even for her, it was impossible to imagine that he would arrive accompanied by the Pope—a woman whose very presence outside the Friendly City was often considered a state of emergency.