Eris felt a pang of stomach pain so sharp she wondered if a hole had actually opened in her gut. Yet, thanks to the effects of the God of Life's Provisional Blessing, her body was paradoxically brimming with energy, to the point that she felt none of the lingering exhaustion from the party. Even a divine blessing can't cure a psychological stomachache, she thought as she stepped through the dedicated transfer gate.
Moments later, she was standing before the familiar Hamilton Marquis estate. Glancing at the sky, she noted that the sun was still high.
(I spent quite a while in that other world, yet as I was told, almost no time has passed here. The sheer scale of the gods' power is truly terrifying.)
She had left for Kaito's birthday party the day before, yet when she checked her watch, it was only ten o'clock in the morning on the day after her departure. The math didn't add up at all given how long she'd been away, but since this was the handiwork of the Gods of World Creation—beings who existed far beyond the boundaries of common sense—Eris entered the mansion without giving it much more thought.
"Welcome home, Milady."
"Thank you. I have returned. Where are my father and mother?"
"They are waiting for you in the back room. I shall guide you."
After a brief exchange with the maid at the entrance, Eris followed her to the room where her parents were. Her attendance at Kaito's birthday party had been discussed in advance, and both the Marquis and Marchioness had cleared their schedules to receive her report as soon as she returned.
"Father, Mother, I have returned."
"Ah, welcome back... Thank you for the guidance. You may withdraw. From this point on, do not allow anyone to enter this room unless it is for a matter of absolute urgency."
After giving a brief reply to Eris's greeting, Marquis Hamilton dismissed the maid and activated a magic tool on the table to seal the room's privacy. Then, looking at Eris, his expression shifted to one of profound worry.
"...What is that look in your eyes, my daughter? You look as though you’ve survived a dozen desperate love triangle dramas."
"It seems it wasn't exactly an uneventful trip," the Marchioness added. "We had better brace ourselves for whatever she has to say..."
Naturally, both the Marquis and his wife had hoped Eris would finish the party without incident and return home. However, judging by her expression, it was obvious she had something serious to report, which caused their own expressions to stiffen in anticipation.
"I hardly know where to begin," Eris started, "but I will tell you the most important news first. To be honest, I haven't quite processed it myself... but I have received a Provisional Blessing from the God of Life Life-sama."
"..."
"..."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Marquis Hamilton and his wife stood frozen in a daze, their minds failing to comprehend the weight of her words. Still, as the Current Prime Minister, the Marquis eventually managed to shake off his shock and speak.
"...H-how did this happen? Was it something like what occurred during the previous Six Kings Festival?"
"No. It wasn't a group blessing like the one during the first Six Kings Festival. It was bestowed upon me personally. Furthermore, she has permitted me to address the God of Life Life-sama by her name, and she expressed a desire for us to maintain regular contact in the future."
"Wait, wait... why!? How could this happen? What possible chain of events could lead to you speaking directly with the Goddess of Life-sama?"
"About that..."
For their daughter to go to Kaito's birthday party and return with the Provisional Blessing of a Supreme God was something Marquis Hamilton could not possibly process calmly. Faced with her clearly bewildered parents, Eris explained the situation as thoroughly as she could.
"...I see. Under those specific conditions, I suppose you would be the most suitable choice..."
"Yes. The fact that few of Kaito-sama's human acquaintances live in the Arclesia Empire was certainly a factor. But beyond that... for some reason, Kaito-sama seems to evaluate me very highly. It appears his personal opinion carries far more weight in the minds of the gods than I ever imagined."
"Does that mean Miyama Kaito-sama has an exceptional eye for judging people? I suppose it makes sense; he could never have built such an incredible circle of friends otherwise. If even the gods trust his judgment, it's hard to argue... But... truly, you’re sure he doesn't harbor any romantic feelings for you?" the Marchioness asked, seeking confirmation.
"At least as far as we've talked, no. I'm certain he considers me a trusted friend and finds me easy to talk to, but I've never sensed any romantic intent from him."
"A platonic compatibility, then... Regardless, we must adjust our perspective. It’s clear Miyama Kaito-sama thinks much more of Eris than we realized. If we don't proceed with that in mind, we'll end up making a catastrophic mistake somewhere down the line."
While it was an incredibly auspicious development, it was also one that brought a staggering amount of stress. It was only natural that Eris and her parents all found themselves unconsciously resting their hands over their stomachs in a synchronized gesture of pain.
Stomach Pain Master: "A Full Combo-da-don! And you get to hit them once more-don!"
Serious-senpai: "Seriously, someone save them... A chain reaction of a Stomach Pain Combo from Eris to Marquis and Marchioness Hamilton... It’s just too pitiful."