Even for those with incredible power—or perhaps precisely because they were so powerful—everyone seemed to be struggling with the slow response times. Just as Alice had intended, the tournament was quickly descending into a state of total chaos.
What caught my attention, however, was that Shiro-san and Machina-san were simply watching the tournament without any sign of participating. I suspected Alice had already handed them their commemorative gifts beforehand.
If Shiro-san or Machina-san had played for the first time without any preparation, they probably would have struggled with the hardware lag too. However, since those two can do pretty much anything they set their minds to, they likely could have mastered the game in an instant. Alice must have given them their prizes early and found a way to talk them out of entering to preserve the competitive balance.
While I watched the chaos unfold, I realized I couldn't just stand there all day, so I gave the Garapon lottery machine a spin and asked Ein-san to call the winner over.
I had planned to draw again if the winner was currently tied up in the tournament, but fortunately, the person I drew wasn't part of the first bracket.
"Hello, Kaito-san. Happy birthday."
"Thank you. I’m sorry for calling you over while things are so busy. Was the timing alright?"
The person I had drawn was An-san. She offered her congratulations with a gentle expression. As I thanked her, I made sure I wasn't interrupting anything, but she simply gave a wry smile and nodded.
"Yes. In fact, being called away now was actually a relief. Since everyone’s attention is focused on the tournament over there, I’m glad I don't have to present my gift while being watched by so many high-ranking individuals."
"Ah, I see what you mean. For someone who doesn't like to stand out, this might actually be the perfect time."
"Still, ever since I met you, Kaito-san, my common sense has been constantly overturned. I never even dreamed I would have the chance to visit another world."
"Oh, right. Technically, this place counts as a different world, doesn't it?"
To me, it just felt like Shiro-san and Machina-san were up to their usual absurd antics, but for An-san and the others, this was their first time ever leaving the world of Trinia.
"It is. This world is wonderful for me. It’s bright, but it doesn't seem to be true sunlight. Since I’m weak to the sun, I’m grateful I can spend time here without having to cover my skin."
An-san, a member of the Cruel race, is extremely sensitive to sunlight. Apparently, her skin turns red and burns painfully if she's exposed to it, so she usually wears a cloak to stay covered during the day.
An-san's skin is a pale blue—not as a figure of speech, but literally a light blue hue, which is a defining trait of her race. That was likely why Tre-san had been able to identify her as a member of the Cruel race at a single glance.
If that skin were to burn bright red, it would be agonizing just to imagine, so I was glad to hear she was comfortable here.
"...Once again, this is my birthday present for you. It might not be much compared to what the others have given you, but..."
"Please don't say that. I'm just truly happy that you prepared something for me, An-san."
"I'm glad to hear that. Inside is an accessory made from a gemstone I mined and processed myself."
An-san handed me a small box. With her permission, I opened it and found a pin badge with a gemstone.
It was a tasteful design that looked like it would go perfectly with a formal suit. I actually preferred this kind of subtle elegance over anything too flashy, so it was a great gift.
"By the way, did the exclusive contract with Tre-san work out?"
"Yes, we successfully signed it, and our environment has completely changed. I’ve finally been able to pay the association members a salary that truly reflects their hard work... I really can't thank you enough, Kaito-san."
"The connection with Tre-san was just a lucky coincidence, but I'm happy I could be of help."
"The members were so happy... though, perhaps they’ve taken things a bit too far..."
"What do you mean?"
"Ah, well, between the invitation to the previous party and the Magic Box I won as a prize, everyone I know now views you as a mysterious, amazing noble."
Setting aside An-san and the members of the Flying Board who had met me in person, it wasn't surprising that others would see me that way. My actual status was pretty hard to explain to a third party, so I figured that kind of misunderstanding was inevitable.
"And because of that, strange rumors have started spreading about me being 'scouted' by a noble. The Cruel race has very close-knit communities, so everyone tends to act like one big family..."
"Ah, those kinds of rumors happen. I’ve had my share of experience with that too."
"Yes. You probably don't feel great about rumors linking you to a woman like me—someone with different skin, a plain face, and a meager body. But it’s really just a joke among my kin, so I hope you can forgive us."
"Oh, no, it's not a problem at all. In fact, I think your skin is beautiful, An-san. I see you as a lovely woman with a cute face and a wonderful personality, so I don't feel bad about it in the slightest."
"Eh? Ah... I-I see... If you say it like that, I don't really know how to respond... but thank you. Um, I shouldn't take up any more of your time. I’ll be going now..."
Her blue skin was rare, but I thought it was a genuinely beautiful color. An-san herself was petite and cute, a truly pretty woman, so I simply told her the honest truth.
Serious-senpai: "He's raising another flag..."