Chapter 1596 - Events Hereafter ②

After Laguna-san left, I went to my room and looked at the reserved-seat ticket I had received. It was apparently for a large seat for four people, but there wasn’t really any need to use all four seats.

I mean, there’s only a few days left until the Founding Festival, and since I was planning to go to the festival mainly to enjoy myself, with the ceremony just an afterthought, I thought it would be better to invite someone among my lovers to go with me.

However, I guess it wouldn’t be a good idea to invite Shiro-san or Kuro here. Especially if I simply wanted to enjoy the festival, that would be difficult with a celebrity who attracts a lot of attention.

Considering someone who won’t draw attention even if we go together, and someone whose schedule she can easily adjust…… Someone I can easily invite……

[Alice, wanna go with me to Hydra Kingdom’s Founding Festival?]

[……I’m somewhat curious what thought process you had that led you to choosing me….. But well, I do welcome going together with you though.]

[Well, I thought that if I go with you, I can simply enjoy myself…… Alice has also helped me a lot in various ways for Symphonia Kingdom and Archlesia Empire’s Founding Festivals, so this can also be my way to express gratitude……]

[Ohh…… Kaito-san, you in your dere phase? Well~~ This certainly makes all of Alice-chan’s efforts worth it~~]

[……Guess I’m going with someone else then?]

[Wait, I’m just kidding, okay? Just kidding. It’s a Transcendental Beauty’s joke.]

Her fooling around at a moment like this really is just like Alice, but for the time being, it seems it’s an A-Okay for her to go with me for the Founding Festival. Well, by hanging out together with her, I knew I’d be able to have leisurely fun, and even though I’d likely end up having to treat her, that isn’t really a problem.

It’s also reassuring going there together with the knowledgeable and considerate Alice.

[Incidentally, you gonna invite some others too?]

[Hmm~~ Nope, isn’t it fine if we go with just the two of us? If we go with those you’re close with, either Kuro or Fate-san would end up causing a ruckus around us……]

[Well, that’s true. In that case, since we have the opportunity, let’s enjoy ourselves just with us two.]

Back when I once asked her who she’s fine going on a date together with, she’s alright with going together with Kuro or Fate-san, but found going on a date with others troublesome. Even with how much she fools around, Alice generally is a kind person, so even if she found herself in a situation where she goes on a date with me together with someone else, she would probably handle it well…… but well, it’s best to go with just the two of us.

[……Come to think of it, thinking of Alice and festivals……]

[Whoa there, Kaito-san, let’s be careful with our next words, yes? Too much embarrassment and I’d end up escaping, you know? You fine with that? Can you not underestimate how much of a love noob I am?]

[No, like I said, that isn’t something you should say so proudly……]

I remember going to a festival together with Alice. However, I kinda feel like memory is spotty, with me finding some parts of that time difficult to recall. Alice’s best friend…… A World Creator from a different world should also be there with us, but I can’t remember any of the moments involving that person. I suppose this is also because of the power of a being who was a World Creator just like Shiro-san.

However, I can clearly remember the scenes when that person is not present, so I do remember the time I went on a date with Alice at the festival. It seemed like Alice found that time too embarrassing though, not wanting to talk about it……

[By the way, what’s Hydra Kingdom’s Founding Festival like?]

[It’s basically no different from Symphonia’s or Archlesia’s. If you’re asking what’s unique about their festival, I guess it’s that Megiddo-san attends their ceremony every year. Megiddo-san is quite favorable to Hydra Kingdom after all……]

[Ahh~~ Now that you mentioned it, I think I heard something like that before.]

Hydra Kingdom’s overall national culture is adventurous, which made their country quite appealing to Megiddo-san. In fact, it appears to be a country that is proactive and at the forefront of various reforms, as evidenced by being the only one among the three countries to have introduced a parliamentary system through voting for representatives.

As is the case with the Flying Board competition that was held just lately,  it seems that due to the country’s adventurous culture, the citizens’ enthusiasm was incredible, creating a vibrant and lively festival atmosphere.

[……Well, Laguna-san probably plans to bring her Joker to the board this year.]

[Joker?]

[Yes, putting aside her desire to abdicate her throne, Laguna-san is very capable as a King. Currently, both Symphonia Kingdom and Archlesia Empire had made an impact on the public during their Foundation Festival, while Hydra Kingdom seems to be falling behind the other two countries, giving the impression of remaining unchanged from previous years. However, when one looks at actual national power, Hydra currently stands at the top, but it might not be apparent to the general public.]

[I see……]

Indeed, considering the situation from the public’s perspective, they could get easily swayed by the impactful information, with keywords such as “all Six Kings in attendance” or “gathering of the Supreme Gods” bringing about significant impact. If there is nothing noteworthy happening in Hydra during this event, there is a risk of being perceived as falling behind the other two countries, which could also have implications on their economy.

[And so, that Joker of theirs is?]

[You could say she’s making an illegal move. There’s only card of hers that Laguna-san can use that can compete with the attendance of all Six Kings and Supreme Gods……]

[……Ahh, I think I know now what you’re talking about.]

[Well, it would just be too bad for Neun-san…..]

Yes. Just as Alice said, Laguna-san has extremely powerful connections, no less than the Six Kings and the Supreme Gods. Laying in wait in her hand is her a certain card, the Legendary Hero who was the bridge between the three realms……

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [This is…… the presence of a new stomachache!?]