After presenting her gift to Kaito and exchanging a few brief words, Elis stepped down from the dais, letting out a quiet sigh of relief.
(Well, the most critical part is over. I still have to stay alert, but I can breathe a little easier now... But goodness, the scale of this is nothing short of breathtaking. The Phantasm King-sama said only those Kaito-sama has personally met were invited, so my parents couldn't attend... but perhaps that was for the best. Not only are the peaks of this world gathered here, but there are even gods from other worlds... Even with my experience at parties, I feel completely dwarfed by this atmosphere.)
Since Elis had only met Kaito after the shipboard party, she hadn't seen a gathering like this before. This was her first time seeing Kaito's entire circle of friends in one place, and she was utterly overwhelmed by the caliber of the guests. Despite that, her rigorous education as a lady served her well; she didn't let a hint of her trepidation show, maintaining a serene, composed facade.
(It is truly fortunate that I don’t have many personal acquaintances here. More than that, just as Kaito-sama said, there really aren't many nobles. It is surreal to see a party of this magnitude—one where the leaders of every nation are present—with almost no nobility in sight.)
There were overwhelmingly few nobles in Kaito's social circle, yet that did not mean the guests were commoners. In fact, almost every famous high-ranking Count-class demon was present, along with many other renowned figures, creating a scene where traditional nobility felt exceptionally sparse.
(I was shocked to see Count Scott and his wife. They are among the wealthiest and most influential nobles in the Kingdom of Sinfonia, but they aren't particularly close to the Ducal House of Albert, so I didn't think they had a connection to Kaito-sama... Then again, I am here representing the Hamilton Marquis House of the Arclesia Empire, so perhaps they simply crossed paths with him somewhere. It seems there isn't a single noble from the Hydra Kingdom, though... but that country has many nobles who returned their titles to become merchants, and the number of nobles there is small to begin with.)
Elis walked slowly while listening to the excitement of the tournament, pondering her next move. Considering her status, she felt it would be safest to find other humans or nobles from the Human Realm to converse with. While high-ranking figures like the Seven Princesses, the Pope, and Rasal were present—people she had met through her connection with Kaito—they were not close friends, and since she was not currently with Kaito, she decided it would be better to keep it to simple greetings and avoid long conversations.
(There are many people here with whom it would be delightful to build a connection, but if I were to approach them now, it would inevitably be perceived as having an ulterior motive. Since I am participating as an individual rather than as a representative of the Hamilton house, I should avoid networking. I refuse to exploit my relationship with Kaito-sama. I will just chat with the people I know and respond if someone speaks to me...)
Elis was calmly analyzing the situation and planning her future actions, but unfortunately, when it came to matters involving Kaito, "safe" predictions rarely went as planned.
"Excuse me, might I have a moment of your time?"
"Oh, yes? How may I—!?"
"You are the young lady of the Hamilton Marquis House, if I recall correctly?"
"Y-Yes. I am the heir of the Hamilton house, Elis Dia Hamilton. I have heard much about you."
"Please, there is no need for such formality. I assume you recognize me, but I shall introduce myself nonetheless. I am the president of the Lord Trading Company, Satania Darklord."
The person who had abruptly called out to her was Moloch of the Ten Demons... or rather, Satania.
(One of the Five Great Trading Companies... the titan who rules the Lord Trading Company, which is said to possess wealth rivaling a nation. The Demon Lord Satania Darklord! Why is she speaking to me?! The company is based in the Arclesia Empire, but we have never had a single transaction with them. If it were my father, maybe, but why address a mere daughter of a Marquis like me?)
Elis was bewildered, unable to understand why such a prominent figure like Satania would speak to her. In response to her confusion, Satania spoke with a somewhat gentle expression.
"Pardon the intrusion. I simply felt I should offer my greetings with the future in mind."
"Does this concern the Hamilton house?"
"No... while we may eventually do business, I wanted to introduce myself to you specifically, Lady Elis."
"T-To me? But I haven't done anything to deserve such attention from the Lord Trading Company..."
"There is no need for humility. The mere fact that you are highly valued by Kaito Miyama makes you worth more than mountains of gold and silver. Both the Lord Trading Company and I personally will be watching your future with great interest. If there is ever anything I can do to help, please do not hesitate to contact me."
"H-Hahii... I-I am honored."
Although phrased in a roundabout way, Satania's message was clear: "Should Elis ever bring a business proposal or seek assistance, the Lord Trading Company is prepared to support her." Elis nearly lost consciousness from being suddenly given such an incredibly high evaluation.
Satania had overheard the interaction between Kaito and Elis earlier and understood that Kaito held Elis in very high regard. Since Satania's true identity was Moloch—a being fanatically loyal to Kaito—she felt that an Arclesia Empire noble who had caught Kaito's attention to that extent was worth connecting with.
However, Elis, who had no idea about the secret identity or the fanaticism involved, remained confused as to why she was being so highly regarded, all while clutching her aching stomach.
Serious-senpai: "She is supposed to be competent and sensible, but she always gets hit with a reality check the second she finishes a calm analysis. It is like she exists just to look dignified for a moment before getting clobbered into a teary-eyed mess."