Once the ice had been broken and our conversation began to flow in earnest, Elis-san stole a brief glance at me before resting her hand on the jar of sugar cubes sitting on the table.
She was likely checking if the timing was right to distribute the sugar cubes I’d brought as souvenirs, just as we had discussed earlier.
I was impressed. She had used a gesture that was subtle enough to go unnoticed by the others, yet perfectly clear to me since we’d planned it beforehand. Her ability to check in like that was exactly what I’d expect from a talent like Elis-san.
Sensing her intent, I gave a small nod. Elis-san nodded back slightly and spoke up.
"Everyone, if I may have a moment. In honor of today’s gathering, Kaito-sama has graciously prepared souvenirs for us. I’ll have them distributed now. Regarding transport, if anyone does not personally own a Magic Box or if you are concerned about your remaining capacity, please let us know. My house has prepared disposable Magic Boxes for you to use."
"Oh, in that case, may I take you up on that offer? I do own a Magic Box, but it is currently at its limit..."
I see. It certainly would be a hassle to carry things home without a Magic Box. I’d been operating under the assumption that every noble had one, but I suppose there are cases where they don't, or where their storage capacity is small and already full. Marie-san was a perfect example, as she was already arranging to get a disposable one from Elis-san.
"These are a new product from my tea brand, Nifty," I explained. "They’re sugar cubes shaped like cute monsters and animals. They might be a bit too informal for official functions, but I thought they’d be nice for personal use..."
"That sounds wonderful. I am quite the fan of Nifty’s products, so the opportunity to try a new one ahead of the curve makes my heart soar."
"Oh, so you’re a regular, Cornelia-san? Thank you."
It turned out Cornelia-san was a frequent customer at Nifty. Hearing that in a setting like this made me genuinely happy.
"Nifty is the talk of the social circle, after all," Cornelia-san added. "I’m sure many others here use it as well."
"Yes, we have made several purchases there as well."
"Though the brand is so incredibly popular that the shops are always booked up with reservations. We’ve only managed to get our hands on a few items."
"A-As for me... I haven’t actually gone shopping there myself. I did have the tea once, though, at a noble house I’m acquainted with."
It seemed like several of them were Nifty fans, but because the stores still had massive waiting lists, few had been able to visit multiple times.
As a Count, Cornelia-san likely had plenty of connections and a large trading company of her own; she might have even been buying from us since the days we were still selling through consignment.
On the other hand, for people like Marie-san who lived far from the capital where the stores were located, getting their hands on the products was difficult even if they wanted to. Simply visiting the shop was a major hurdle.
In that case, maybe I should give them the dedicated ordering terminals I usually give to my friends. Since we’d gone through introductions and were having a nice conversation, I already considered them acquaintances. But while I had a couple in my Magic Box, I didn't have enough for all eight of them.
Hmm... I wonder if God Delivery would work for this? I decided to test it out. "Excuse me for a moment," I said, stepping back before speaking toward the empty air.
"...Canalis-san? Could you deliver enough terminals for everyone here?"
"Coming right up! This is God Delivery, known for our legendary speed. Tee-hee! I’ve momentarily stopped time in the immediate area to facilitate the hand-off. And here are the ordering terminals you requested. I’ve even wrapped them as gifts."
God Delivery lived up to its name. She had arrived in an instant, and she’d even had the foresight to wrap them. As always, she was incredibly efficient.
"Thanks for everything. I'll make sure to pay you back for this soon."
"Tee-hee! Personally, just seeing Kaito-sama’s dazzling smile is more than enough payment... but since my motto is to take whatever I can get with a joyful 'Hyahha!', I’ll look forward to it. That said, I’m a very low-maintenance woman. I’d be over the moon just having tea with you."
Her face remained expressionless as always, but the excitement in her voice suggested she was genuinely happy. I thanked her again and accepted the terminals. Canalis-san bowed and vanished, and time resumed the moment she left. I turned back to the group.
"Since so many of you are Nifty fans, I’d like to give you these dedicated ordering terminals along with the souvenirs. If you use these, you can place orders directly without having to visit the store."
"Wh-Wh-What?! Th-thank you! This is such an honor... I never dreamed I would receive the rumored terminal that Kaito-sama only gives to his closest friends. I’m a bit stunned."
Cornelia-san was shocked, and the other young ladies were visibly shaken as well. Are these terminals really that famous among the nobility? Well, if they allow you to bypass the reservation lists, and Nifty is that popular, I suppose it’s only natural that rumors would spread.
The Stomach Pain Devil: "Time for a little hunting... ♠"
Stomach Pain Warrior Biographies IV
Kaori Mizuhara
Stomach Pain Power: 8 stars Suction Power: 7 stars Durability: 6 stars Piteousness: 8 stars Amount of Stomach Medicine: 6 stars Romance Flag: 7 stars
An otherworlder Stomach Pain Warrior possessing high Stomach Pain Power who made a striking debut in the second arc. Unlike previous warriors, she is a commoner. However, because her stomach pain range is wide enough to affect even Lilia, her actual power is considerable.
On the other hand, because her social standing isn't high, she doesn't attend gatherings with high-ranking officials unless Kaito is involved. Consequently, she hasn't interacted with many powerful figures directly. In fact, about 90% of the Stomach Pain Incidents Kaori suffers are the result of direct contact with Kaito rather than indirect fallout.
While she suffers the damage quite heavily, her incidents rarely spill over to Lilia, making her a Stomach Pain Warrior who is surprisingly gentle on Lilia’s stomach.
Since she isn't a noble, she doesn't gain as much political benefit from knowing powerful people. Perhaps as compensation, romance elements tend to get entangled in her Stomach Pain Incidents, meaning her Stomach Pain Flags and Romance Flags are progressing at the same time.
Akane Mikumo
Stomach Pain Power: 6 stars Suction Power: 3 stars Durability: 10 stars Piteousness: 3 stars Amount of Stomach Medicine: 3 stars Sharpness of Retorts: 8 stars
A precious character who gives head-on, sharp retorts to the sheer absurdity of Kaito’s friendship circle. While not quite at Kaori's level, she is frequently caught up in Stomach Pain Incidents due to Kaito's influence.
However, even though her stomach hurts, she is shrewd and quick to adapt, viewing the chance to build connections as a business opportunity. Consequently, there are fewer depictions of her actually suffering... Since she’s usually busy hurling fierce retorts at Kaito, she is a truly valuable asset to the narrative.
Most of her incidents involve maids rather than powerful officials—perhaps because her own aide, Frau, is a maid. Since Lilia is often dragged into these maid-related matters, Akane is a Stomach Pain Warrior who is far less gentle on Lilia’s stomach than Kaori.