Now that the primary festivities had reached their end, the venue’s atmosphere had softened into something far more relaxed. Elis Dia Hamilton, daughter of the Marquis, stood amidst the lingering crowd, her mind churning with quiet calculations.
(It truly was a standards-shattering party, but the gains were greater than I ever imagined. The connection with the Lord Trading Company is one thing, but achieving a high rank in the Quiz Tournament and obtaining a trophy—even if luck played its part—will be incredibly beneficial moving forward. A trophy crafted by the Phantasm King carries enough prestige to bolster any noble’s status. However, the fact that I, a mere heir, have received so many blessings lately makes me want to pull back to avoid drawing unnecessary envy... but... but...)
As a noble, interacting with those at the very pinnacle of the world was undeniably advantageous. In fact, due to the recent string of incidents surrounding Kaito, Elis’s name was spreading through the aristocracy at a lightning-fast pace.
She wasn't merely the talented heir to the Hamilton Marquis House anymore; her reputation as Elis Dia Hamilton was skyrocketing on its own merits. While she was grateful, she was also keenly aware that such a rise could birth new political rivals fueled by nothing but spite.
As the saying went, "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down." Standing out too much was rarely the wisest strategy.
(Well, in Kaito-sama’s case, he is literally on a different dimension. He’s reached a realm where jealousy and enemies simply cease to exist. But even as the heir to a high-ranking noble, I am personally still just a successor without a title to my name. I’ve wanted to suppress this momentum and settle down for some time now... yet things never seem to go as I intend.)
Elis had hoped to remain out of the spotlight until the gossip in the social circle died down, especially after receiving so much favor regarding Nifty. Unfortunately, matters involving Kaito consistently defied her expectations, leaving her plans in tatters.
(I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to move openly against the Hamilton Marquis House, but I should increase my personal security just in case... and if possible, I’d like to secure some form of backing. That, however, is easier said than done. Although I’ve gained a tremendous circle of acquaintances—including the Seven Princesses, the Pope-sama, the Lord Trading Company, and even Chrome-sama—those are merely personal connections. They aren't the kind of formal backing that serves as a shield.)
At the very least, she had already promised to invite Kaito to future tea parties. This would undoubtedly draw more envy, and Elis’s heart yearned for a patron whose influence would make potential enemies think twice before interfering.
But such a powerful figure wasn't easily found.
(If I consider the possibilities, I could try to persuade Elis's Father to appoint me as the Person in Charge of Transactions Involving the Hamilton Marquis House. I could use the matter Satania-sama raised, or perhaps the Matter of Gemstone Mining that Rasal-sama mentioned. Then, through those dealings, I could build a rapport until they become my formal backing... No, that would be difficult. Greed is a transparent thing; if I appear too calculating, I might only succeed in offending them. It’s better to keep that as a quiet hope and focus on sincere interaction.)
Elis desired a patron, but acting solely for that purpose felt dishonest and beneath her. Deciding to remain true to herself, she resolved to maintain her relationships with sincerity and chose not to volunteer for the position of transaction manager.
Right at that moment, a voice called out to her.
"...Do you have a moment?"
"Oh? Yes. Forgive me, I didn't mean to be—H-Hrk!?"
Elis turned to apologize for her delayed response, only to freeze mid-sentence. Standing directly before her was the God of Life Life, one of the Supreme Gods of the God Realm.
"I intended to speak with you during the party, but opportunities were scarce. Please forgive me for addressing you so abruptly now that it has concluded."
"N-No! Not at all! I am beyond honored to be addressed by you!"
"I am glad to hear it. Since we are here, allow me to introduce myself. I am one of the Supreme Gods of the God Realm, the God of Life... My name is Life."
"I offer my humblest greetings to the Great Goddess of Life. I am the Heir of the Hamilton Marquis House of the Arclesia Empire, Elis Dia Hamilton."
Faced with Life’s calm yet majestic voice, Elis offered a deep bow and an introduction of her own. Internally, however, she was in a state of utter pandemonium.
(W-Why? Why is the Goddess of Life speaking to me? More than that, she introduced herself and even invited me to do the same? W-How did this happen? No, I can guess... I’m certain Kaito-sama is behind this somehow, but this is so far beyond my wildest assumptions... W-Why me?)
She fought desperately to maintain a polite facade, but her mind was in a full-blown panic. True to form, her stomach began to protest with a surge of agonizing pain.
Serious-senpai: "I don't know the exact sequence of events, but one thing is certain... I’d bet anything that Kaito said something he shouldn't have during the gift exchange."
???: "No doubt about it-ssu."