Nifty was doing exceptionally well, and the family crest service I had planned for MK Royal was also proceeding smoothly. I occasionally saw the brand featured in magazines, which, I had to admit, made me feel a bit proud.
In truth, Canalis-san handled the bulk of the operations, while Anima and Caraway took care of the promotions. I hadn't actually done much myself besides drawing the winners for the first MK Royal lottery.
Isis-san, the very first winner, had already received her tea. Since we were lovers, I had hand-delivered it to her myself. She was apparently planning to host a tea party and invite Ein-san and Jutia-san over to share it.
Since both Ein-san and Jutia-san were true tea connoisseurs, I felt this was a great outcome. Isis-san seemed to be having a wonderful time as well; she was already consulting with her subordinates about using this small gathering as a reference to host a much larger tea party at her castle soon. I’d already promised to attend.
Spica-san had grown a stunning field of Blue Crystal Flowers at the castle, and they were planning to build a special tea party terrace in a spot that overlooked the entire landscape.
"I really haven't done anything to deserve the credit, but seeing it featured in magazines like this still makes me happy," I remarked.
"Why didn't you just accept an interview yourself then, Human-san?" Elise-san asked.
"N-No, that would be way too embarrassing... By the way, Elise-san, you actually went to Nifty to shop, didn't you? How was it?"
"I was impressed by how much thought went into the location and the targeted clientele. The product quality was excellent as well, though personally, I wish you would carry coffee."
As a die-hard coffee lover, it seemed Elise-san rarely drank black tea at all. She had tried the Nifty samples I’d given her, so it wasn't that she disliked it—she just far preferred coffee.
But coffee, huh... The tea leaves were originally something Nebula made as a hobby. If she felt like making coffee, that might be an option, but would it make sense to force a new coffee product into a brand specifically dedicated to black tea? It felt like it would be better to just start a separate coffee brand entirely if it came to that. Not that I had any such plans at the moment.
"I was really helped by the advice you gave me when Nifty launched, Elise-san. Thanks again."
"It wasn't any particularly grand advice. I just told you to carry yourself like an owner and stay put, since you were fluttering about like a restless chick. You’re needlessly impulsive—like a walking firecracker causing trouble wherever you go."
"Ah... ahaha..."
Elise-san spoke with an exasperated expression, but her voice held a certain kindness. It didn't feel like she was criticizing me; it was just the flow of our conversation.
As we talked, she pulled out a deck of original cards that resembled tarot, lining them up and flipping them over.
"...Hm? That’s strange. The World in the Reverse Position?"
"Those aren't exactly tarot cards, are they? What are you reading for?"
"They're similar. I made them by adding various original cards to a tarot base. As for what I'm divining... it’s about you, Human-san. This sequence and position should indicate a location, but with the World in the Reverse Position, it points to somewhere other than this world."
"Hmm... Ah, could it be an otherworld? Shiro-san gave me a special tool that lets me travel to another world... Does it mean something is going to happen there?"
"I suppose an otherworld would fit. Though I have to wonder how you move between entire worlds so easily... You truly do live outside the bounds of common sense."
She was likely just doing it to kill time, but she seemed to be genuinely reading my fortune. Elise-san nodded at my suggestion and flipped the next card.
"The Banquet in the Upright Position... Are you planning to attend a party or some event in another world?"
"I wonder. I don't have any business that would take me to the other world in the immediate future..."
"Maybe it’s further off. The next card suggests it will be within six months. And the cards after that... Hmm, this is another bizarre result. Then again, everything about you is bizarre."
"Um, what kind of result was it?"
"To summarize: you will attend some kind of event within the next six months in a place that isn't this world. You'll run into trouble or have a difficult time, but in the end, it will become a happy memory. Something like that. I just divined it on a whim, so it might not be accurate."
"I see..."
An event within six months somewhere that wasn't this world... Ah, maybe it was that. I’d promised Aoi-chan that we would try playing that MMO together using the console I got from Shiro-san, and we were planning to do that soon.
I didn't know if it would actually work, but if it did, the MMO would take place on the internet—a cyberspace of a different world. Even if I didn't physically travel there, it would satisfy the condition of being somewhere other than this world.
MMOs usually held seasonal events, so maybe we'd be participating in one of those. Unlike Aoi-chan, I’d had a long gap in my play history and my gear was ancient, so I would undoubtedly struggle. It fit the conditions of the prophecy perfectly.
"...Do you have something in mind? Well, regardless, I just hope you don't drag me into it. Would you like a refill on your coffee?"
"Ah, thank you. I'll take one."
While she maintained her usual curt attitude, Elise-san was kind enough to pour me another cup. We spent a little while longer enjoying some idle small talk.
Serious-senpai: "As usual, this guy has completely forgotten about his own birthday. Last time, it felt like he only remembered because Alice told him..."
???: "A Stomach Pain Flag has been firmly planted for Kaito-san as well. Anyway, look forward to the tea party at Isis-san's castle next time!"