The staring contest between Shallow Vernal and Eden finally dissipated once Kaito stepped in to mediate. However, the apology that followed from both deities nearly sent Lilia, Elis, and Kaori into a state of shock.
To have Shallow Vernal, the literal pinnacle of existence, and Eden, the God of an Otherworld, bowing their heads was a level of pressure they simply didn't know how to navigate. Refusing the apology was out of the question, yet accepting it felt equally daunting. They couldn't exactly tell these supreme beings "I forgive you," as such a statement could easily be misconstrued as speaking from a position of superiority.
"Shiro-san, Eden-san, I appreciate how sincere you're being, but you're completely intimidating them. It’s okay. I caught on to the situation quickly this time, and I'm sure the three of them don't mind. Right?"
Sensing their plight, Kaito placed himself between the parties to handle the interaction. His intervention allowed the three women to communicate their agreement by nodding as vigorously as bobblehead dolls, sparing them from further direct interaction with the gods. As Kaito turned back to Shallow Vernal and Eden to discuss the root cause of the conflict, the trio finally allowed themselves a ragged breath of relief.
"That... that was terrifying," Kaori managed to say, her voice trembling. "Elis-san, Lilia-san, are you both okay?"
"Yes, we—I mean, I am fine, though I truly thought I was going to lose consciousness," Elis replied.
"I’m with Lady Elis on that," Lilia added with a weary sigh. "Kaito-san really saved us."
Elis had almost reflexively answered for Lilia as well. In the social circles of the Arclesia Empire, Lilia held the highest rank while Kaori was a commoner. Etiquette dictated that a middle-ranking noble like Elis should act as a buffer to prevent Lilia from being forced into direct, repeated interactions with those of a lower class.
However, she realized that those rigid rules applied to standard social functions. The Arclesia Empire’s values didn't necessarily translate to other nations, and in this specific situation, it felt more appropriate for them to speak for themselves. More importantly, she felt that noble hierarchies were utterly trivial compared to the deities standing before them or Kaito, who spoke to those gods as equals.
I thought I was more flexible, Elis thought with a pang of self-reproach. To impulsively default to noble common sense in a moment like this was a lapse in judgment. I must do better.
While reflecting on her own actions, Elis turned back to the other woman. "Kaori, were you alright?"
"Ah, ahaha... my stomach is killing me, but I'm managing. I'm just so glad Kaito-kun showed up when he did."
"Honestly, I feel like I should be apologizing to you both," Lilia said. "It seems Shallow Vernal-sama came here because she had business with me. I might be the one responsible for this mess."
"Please, no one could have predicted this," Elis reassured her. "Duchess Lilia, you shouldn't blame yourself. I was so overwhelmed I could barely think straight myself."
A strange sense of solidarity—an unspoken empathy—began to form among them. Perhaps it was the shared trauma of the crushing stomach pain, but they felt the distance between them shrinking. It was an ironic foundation for a friendship, but facing a crisis together had naturally brought their hearts closer. They looked at one another and shared a weak, wry smile.
I'm painfully aware of my own immaturity, Elis thought. I couldn't take a single meaningful action; I was on the verge of fainting. Even if the pressure of Shallow Vernal-sama’s magic power is immense, you don't truly understand it until it’s on top of you. The relief I felt when Kaito-sama arrived was so massive it’s still lingering.
She watched him, her heart still racing. It might just be the suspension bridge effect, but given how much I already liked Kaito-sama’s character, my heart is pounding quite a bit. Still, I don't think it's quite love yet. At the very least, there’s no need to report anything to Elis's Father just yet.
After reaching a conclusion regarding her feelings, Elis returned to the conversation. "Still, we're in a bit of a bind. We can't exactly leave until Kaito-sama is finished talking with them."
"T-True," Kaori agreed. "But what was Shallow Vernal-sama’s business with you, Lilia-san?"
"I'm not sure... Is it just me? My stomach still hurts."
"Rest assured, Duchess Lilia," Elis said softly. "So does mine."
"Me too," Kaori whispered.
It was a bond forged in shared agony—those who know the same pain. In that moment, they felt a connection that defied simple words.
Serious-senpai: "Those who know the same pain... God, what a miserable bond. But seriously, what was that natural god's business?"
???: "Who knows? Something trivial and Kaito-related, I'm sure. Oh, wait... actually, I bet I know. The game consoles were popular, so she probably wanted to give him more. But since she's already given him a gift, she likely came to ask the Representative of the Human Race, Lilia-san, whether it was okay to give a Birthday Present multiple times."
Serious-senpai: "So you're saying if you follow the thread, this stomach pain is Kaito's fault too?"
???: "Exactly. Business as usual. Perfect!"