Before my eyes, a breathtaking field of Blue Crystal Flowers stretched out in full bloom. The contrast between the brilliant blue and the distant, snow-capped peaks was a masterpiece of natural beauty.
"It's incredible," I said. "This field is absolutely stunning, and the view from this terrace is perfect."
"...Yes... Everyone... worked hard."
I had come to visit Isis-san to share the surplus Riples I’d received. Since the terrace she’d mentioned before—the one with a view of the Blue Crystal Flower field—was finally complete, I ended up having tea here with her and her followers. It seemed she intended to use this spot for future tea parties, so this was essentially a trial run.
"By the way," I asked, "did you decide on an epithet for your group, like the other Six Kings have for their factions?"
"We did-ssu!" Vul replied energetically. "With Iris at the center, we chose 'Mutsuraboshi.' The other Six Kings’ Executives have numbers in their titles, so we decided to follow that format. Well, I’m not really strong enough to be called an executive yet-ssu, but I’ve joined as an Initial Member."
"I see. But you’re talented, Vul. I’m sure you’ll be just as strong as the others in no time."
"Ehehe, thank you!"
I gave Vul a light pat on the head, and she squinted happily, her tail wagging. Just then, Iris-san and Polaris-san arrived, carrying tea and various fruit-based sweets. They also brought the sliced Riples I’d provided as a gift and arranged everything on the large table.
"...Iris... Polaris... thank you... Now that... everything is ready... let's begin."
At Isis-san’s word, the tea party started. Everyone immediately reached for the Riples from Marie-san’s farm. They had been sliced into bite-sized pieces and served on individual skewers.
"...Delicious... These are excellent Riples."
"Indeed. They have a flavor that would be quite easy to incorporate into pastries," Iris-san added with an impressed expression. Since cooking was her hobby, she was likely already brainstorming new dessert recipes.
"Whoa, so this is a Riple! This is the first time I've ever had one. The texture is really nice."
"Had you never tried one before, Spica-san? Actually, it's my first time too-ssu... though I feel like I've tasted something like it before? Hmm, my memories from before I mutated into a Mystic Silver are a bit fuzzy, so maybe I had one back then?"
Spica-san and Vul chatted curiously as they experienced their first Riples together.
"My, how fascinating," Polaris-san remarked. "Even among Riples, the flavor varies so much by variety..."
"TrulY. The taste is quite differenT from the Black Blood Fake Riple I have consumeD beforE."
"Wait, those are poisonous fruits that only look like Riples because they grow by absorbing nutrients from corpses. They aren't Riples at all..."
Polaris-san and Rasal-san seemed to enjoy them as well, though I heard a name that definitely didn't sound like it belonged in the food category. I decided to ignore it. I’d probably never have to eat one of those anyway.
While everyone generally enjoyed the fruit, Sirius-san was the one who radiated the most intense joy.
"...Simply marvelous!"
"Do you like them, Sirius-san?"
"Yes, these Riples are wonderful. Insectoid-type demons generally have a fondness for fruit, and I am no exception. I especially love fruit with a high sugar content, and these match my tastes perfectly."
I wasn't sure if it was rude to make the comparison, but it reminded me of how beetles loved sweet fruit. Regardless, it was clear that these Riples were a direct hit for her, both as a racial trait and a personal preference.
"...If Sirius likes them that much... and Iris wants to use them for cooking... should we... buy a large amount?"
"I think that’s a good idea. Marie-san mentioned they had quite a surplus..."
Isis-san gave a bitter smile as she watched Sirius-san’s mood soar. She suggested that they should start procuring Riples from the Rich Baron House. Since Marie-san was struggling with sales, having a new, massive client would be a huge help to her family.
"...Then, Rasal... sorry... but could you... handle the arrangements?"
"UnderstooD. I shall visit the Rich Baron House soon and conclude a contracT."
"...Yes... please do... Since she is Kaito’s friend... make the terms favorable for her."
"CertainlY. I will propose a contract that is advantageous to the Baron House to some extenT."
Rasal-san, who handled the business side of the faction, nodded her agreement. I realized Marie-san would probably be terrified if a Six Kings’ Executive just showed up unannounced, so I figured I’d better send a Hummingbird or a letter to warn her first.
"Hey, Alice. Why did you just pop out of nowhere and start pouring yourself a glass of wine?"
"Oh, you know me. I’m just here to observe with admiration and amusement how he manages to deliver profit and Stomach Pain so accurately at the same time."
"...What on earth are you talking about?"
Alice had appeared beside Iris-san and was chatting while pouring wine. Her voice was low and I was sitting some distance away, so I couldn't make out the specifics of their conversation.
Stomach Pain Devil: "Daiyondaa!"
Serious-senpai: "Stop it already! The Rich Baron House’s Stomach Life is already zero just from the buildup so far! And you, why are you just sitting there drinking wine?!"
???: "Well, it’s entertaining... and besides, even if the sudden scale of it all causes some Stomach Pain, this is entirely beneficial for Marie-san and her family. There’s no reason to stop it. It’s just fun to watch..."