I’d set out for the world where the birthday party was held in the morning, but by the time I returned, it was already past noon. I suppose the food and drink I’d enjoyed there could count as my lunch?
In terms of actual time spent in that other realm, it felt more like three days had passed. However, since the guest list was packed with people who could manipulate that sort of thing on a whim, I decided not to dwell on it. Most of that time had been spent receiving gifts, anyway.
After finding a place to display the photo with the enlargement function I’d received, I realized I had no other pressing business, so I decided to spend the rest of the day relaxing.
I’d managed to sneak in a few naps during the party’s breaks, so I wasn't particularly tired. Still, I didn't feel like going out at this hour, so I figured I’d settle in with a book... then I remembered the gift I’d received from Canalis-san. I could watch movies with it, couldn't I?
I figured I might as well give it a try. I pulled out the device Canalis-san had given me and touched it. Immediately, a high-tech, sci-fi-looking monitor materialized in the air.
It seemed to have a built-in help function, so I gave the instructions a quick scan. Apparently, it could project a screen either in midair or directly onto the walls of the room, with fully adjustable size and volume.
It even had a feature that let me specify a specific range for the audio, preventing the sound from leaking outside that area—it had every convenience imaginable. Looking through the selection, I realized it even carried the latest releases. I could watch movies currently playing in theaters back home. I decided to start with one of those.
The film was captivating, and I ended up watching two in a row. By the time I finished, evening had already set in. Was I supposed to call this thing a projector? A terminal? I wasn't sure of the terminology, but it was an incredible gift.
If I kept it in my Magic Box, I could watch movies wherever I went. It seemed like it would be a lot of fun to watch things with my lovers or friends.
With those thoughts in mind, I noticed it was almost time for dinner and made my way toward the dining hall in Lilia-san’s mansion. Generally, dinner was a communal affair here; anyone who was available, including Lilia-san herself, would eat together. Given the birthday festivities, everyone had likely cleared their schedules. I expected to see almost everyone there—Aoi-chan, Hina-chan, and even my parents.
"Oh? Master, how did you find the birthday party?"
"A lot happened, but I had a wonderful time."
"I am truly glad to hear that."
On my way to the dining hall, I ran into Nebula and stopped for a brief chat. Nebula didn't strictly need to eat; for her, it was more of a hobby or a matter of personal taste. While she might enjoy a snack with her tea, she rarely sat down for a full meal and usually skipped dinner.
"Master, would you mind if I had a moment of your time after the meal?"
"Sure, that's fine."
"Excellent. I shall bring my birthday present to your room then."
"Ah, I see... I'll be looking forward to it."
I puzzled over her request for a second until she mentioned the gift. Now that I thought about it, she’d mentioned she would give me something later when she was helping me get ready this morning.
I had no problem making time for her, and it gave me something else to look forward to once dinner was over. I had no idea what she’d prepared, but if it came from Nebula, I was sure it would be something special.
"By the way, how was it for you, Nebula? Your friend came to visit, right?"
"I spent a lovely time as well. I had previously asked Canalis-san to help facilitate a simple connection, so our conversation went quite smoothly. The one who visited is a very calm and kind-hearted individual, so I was able to relax in her company."
"Heh, sounds like a nice person."
"Indeed. She does have a flaw where she occasionally becomes narrow-sighted and impulsive, but she is sociable and knowledgeable about a wide range of topics. I believe the two of you would get along quite well."
"If you’re the one recommending her, Nebula, I’d certainly like to meet her."
"It seems her discussions with Shallow Vernal have already concluded. She mentioned that she plans to pay a formal visit eventually, so I doubt you will have to wait very long to meet her."
Nebula has an incredible eye for people. If she claimed we would get along, then our personalities had to be highly compatible. I was genuinely interested in meeting this guest.
According to Nebula, the visit wouldn't be far off. I decided to keep that in the back of my mind and look forward to the day she arrived.
Serious-senpai: "Up until now, Kaito should have only been hearing information about the Unreasonable Berserk Gorilla that would make anyone anxious... and yet, his initial affection for her is about to skyrocket thanks to Nebula's Endorsement. At this point, isn't this basically a guaranteed sequence for the Bipolar God to make her formal entry into Trinia?"