Putting the zealot aside, the conversation between Kuro and the homeowner, Lilia-san, started up again. However, it seemed that Kuro had already switched out of her serious mode and back to her usual self. With a bright smile on her face, she continued speaking to the nervous and stiff Lilia-san.
[Duchess Albert… Can I just call you Lilia-chan?]
[Eh? Ah, yes. Of course.]
[Well then, nice to meet you again. I’m really sorry for the sudden visit today. But, honestly, you didn’t need to go so overboard with the welcome.]
[N-No! Please, forgive me for the lack of hospitality in receiving Underworld King-sama. That was my fault.]
[Oh, no, no, you really don’t need to worry about it at all. I mean, you can stop calling me Underworld King-sama and just call me by my name, alright?]
[N-No, I couldn’t be so disrespectful as to… ]
Kuro still had that smile on her face as she spoke with her, looking as carefree as ever, but Lilia-san’s nervousness was clearly evident.
[Ah, so these must be the children from another world who arrived with Kaito-kun~]
[Ah, yes! I’m Kusunoki Aoi.]
[I-I’m Yuzuki Hina.]
[Aoi-chan and Hina-chan, huh? I’m Kuromueina. Nice to meet you~]
Kuro addressed Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san as well, and both of them looked flustered as they bowed their heads.
They both seemed so bewildered… Yeah, I can totally understand how they feel. Despite being one of the Six Kings, she doesn’t come across as particularly remarkable.
I’m used to Kuro’s casual tone, so it doesn’t faze me, but for Lilia-san and the others, it must feel strange—like a king suddenly speaking to them as if they were old friends, leaving them not knowing what to do.
[Ah, that’s right. Lilia-chan, you might have already heard from Kaito-kun, but I’m sorry for coming into the mansion without permission until now.]
[Ah, I-it’s alright!? Of course, I don’t mind! Really, I’m sorry I wasn’t able to meet you sooner…]
[I’d like to keep coming back often, if that’s okay. Would that be alright?]
[Y-Yes!? If Underworld King-sama wishes it, please feel free to visit anytime!]
Ah, Lilia-san is starting to panic. It’s like she’s already overwhelmed by everything.
Especially when Kuro apologized for sneaking in without permission just now and bowed her head, Lilia-san’s complexion went from pale to even whiter. Plus, with the speed of their conversation, it seems like she’s having a hard time keeping up with the situation at all.
At that moment, as if to rescue the flustered Lilia-san, teacakes were brought in.
There are brightly colored confections, especially some artistic-looking cakes that clearly seem like they were made by a top-tier patissier.
As I look at them, clearly prepared for an honored guest, Kuro quietly murmurs in a voice that only I, standing next to her, can hear.
[Ueeggghh… That looks difficult to eat…]
[……………..]
Unnn. I had a feeling this was different from Kuro’s usual tastes, but these lavish sweets definitely weren’t her style.
Now that I think about it, she usually goes for baby castellas, and according to her, she likes food that’s easy to eat while walking, so I figured she’d prefer more common treats.
It seems my prediction was spot on. Kuro only took a bite of each snack and then left them untouched, more out of courtesy than anything… It’s clear she doesn’t really like them.
Lilia-san also seemed to pick up on Kuro’s disinterest in the snacks, and cold sweat began to drip down her pale face, making her look quite pitiful.
And just to seal the deal, as Lilia-san stood there like that, a servant came into the room, whispered something to Lunamaria-san, and then left.
[My Lady, a messenger from the royal palace with a letter from His Majesty the King has arrived.]
[Ah, the King probably wants to speak with the Underworld King in person… Underworld King-sama, a letter from His Majesty the King has—! ?]
From the context of the conversation, it seems that the king of this country—Lilia-san’s brother—wants to pay his respects to the Underworld King, Kuro.
However, since Kuro is currently a guest of Albert Duchy and didn’t come here to see the king, he may have sent a messenger to request permission.
Lilia-san immediately understood the king’s intentions and attempted to confirm them with Kuro, but when Kuro heard her words, the smile on her face vanished.
[……Unn? Umm, Lilia-chan?]
[Y-Yes!?]
[……The King of Symphonia, who didn’t invite my favorite Kaito-kun to that evening party, treating him like an outcast, said what?]
[……Ah, no, errr……]
At Kuro’s words, which immediately wiped the smile off her face and surrounded her with a clear, full-blown aura of displeasure, Lilia-san began sweating like a waterfall.
[I didn’t quite catch that. Could you repeat it?]
[……I apologize. We were mistaken. Luna… Push it back to them.]
[I respectfully obey.]
As if Kuro’s intentions were clearly understood, Lilia-san quickly acted as though nothing had happened.
Then, with a voice that seemed laced with killing intent, she gave her orders. Lunamaria-san, still with her eyes fixed firmly on Kuro, raised her hand and left the room.
[……Again, that stupid older brother is… really not doing anything right…]
Turning away from Kuro, whose aura had clearly shifted, Lilia-san buried her face in her hands and muttered under her breath, her voice dripping with killing intent. Lilia-san, you’ve really been through a lot.
Anyway, the conversation was cut short, and the atmosphere in the reception hall had grown noticeably heavier. Lilia-san wore an expression as if she were about to cry, glancing at me as though pleading for help.
This probably means she wants me to do something to somehow restore Kuro’s mood… Err, what should I do? Ah, that’s right. I have that.
[……Come to think of it, I bought some sweets that I thought Kuro would like.]
[Eh? Kaito-kun bought me something?]
Not wanting to ignore Lilia-san’s very pitiable SOS, I took out the cookies I bought yesterday from my magic box.
[Ahh! Jam cookies!]
It seems I caught her interest. After looking at the jam cookies with curiosity, Kuro picked one up and brought it to her mouth.
[Uwaahh! This is really tasty! Kaito-kun, where did you get this?]
[Errr, it’s from a confectionery on the street west of the fountain square.]
[West? Errr, is it the shop next to the bookstore?]
[No, I’m pretty sure there’s a bakery next to it…]
[Ahh! You mean the one on the opposite side… Uwaahhh, I didn’t know they sold such tasty sweets there. Hey, do they also sell jam?]
[Yeah, they have different varieties of jams.]
[Ohh, then I’ll go get some later~]
It seems she really liked the cookies, as Kuro began taking one after another, a big smile spreading across her face.
It looks like she prefers these more common sweets. The pace at which she was eating them was clearly different from how she had enjoyed the earlier treats.
Anyway, Kuro’s mood, which had been a little off earlier, seemed to have returned to normal, and she resumed chatting with Lilia-san, her face bright with a smile.
At first, Lilia-san looked a bit confused and nervous, but as expected of Kuro, she cheerfully moved from one topic to the next. Gradually, Lilia-san’s smile appeared, and the tension melted away, making the conversation between them much livelier.
The conversation continued in such a lively and friendly manner, it felt like the words “friendly conversation” were made for it. Before I knew it, time had flown by, and it was already time for Kuro to leave.
[Well then, Lilia-chan. I had a great time today. Thanks.]
[No, the pleasure is mine, Kuromueina-sama. Please visit again.]
[Unn. Ah, next time, you don’t have to go overboard with the welcome, okay?]
[Fufufu, I understand.]
Lilia-san has really opened up to Kuro, she now calls her by her name instead of the formal title “Underworld King-sama.”
No, I think it’s more accurate to say that Kuro’s social skills—or rather, her “communipower”—are truly impressive. Not only has she become close with Lilia-san, but she also quickly befriended Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san.
[Aoi-chan and Hina-chan, let’s talk again soon.]
[Yes, Kuromu-sama.]
[Kuromu-sama, please tell us more stories about yourself.]
At Kuro’s call, Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san nodded with pleasant smiles on their faces.
The reason they still referred to Kuro by her nickname was because they still strongly sensed that she was the Underworld King. If I had known Kuro was the Underworld King when I first met her, I would have called her that too… Well, I’ve gotten used to calling her Kuro, so I don’t plan on changing it now…
[Lunamaria-chan, the black tea you served me was delicious. Let me have some more, alright?]
[Y-Yes! Please feel free to come whenever you like.]
By the way, Lunamaria-san is still the same as ever. In her case, though, her affection for Kuro has always been overwhelming, so every time she speaks to Kuro, she looks like she’s about to burst with happiness… and honestly, it’s a little scary.
[Ah, that’s right. I almost forgot… Lilia-chan, here.]
[Eh, this is—!?]
After exchanging goodbyes with each of them, it seems Kuro suddenly remembered something. She pulled out a piece of paper from her coat and handed it to Lilia-san.
Lilia-san took the paper and nodded, but when she looked at the contents, her eyes widened.
[……I’ve already taken care of those on the Demon Realm’s side… Can I leave the ones on the Human Realm to you?]
[Yes. Please leave it to me.]
[Unn. I’ll leave it to you~]
I didn’t fully understand what they were talking about, but it seemed important, especially since Lilia-san nodded seriously after hearing Kuro’s words.
Hmm. I wonder what they’re discussing… Now that Kuro has gotten to know everyone, she’ll be able to visit here more freely in the future. This should be a happy occasion, but somehow, the mood feels a bit complicated.
All in all, it feels like Kuro and I didn’t really get to talk much today… Could it be that I was just lonely because we didn’t get a chance to chat?
If that’s the case, it’s kind of embarrassing… I can’t deny that I feel a bit ashamed.
I knew that Kuro had a personality that could get along with anyone, and that was probably why we got along so well. But even so, seeing how close Kuro was with Lilia-san and the others, I couldn’t help but feel a bit unmanly for thinking I had some sort of advantage over them.
To Kuro, I’m just a “friend,” nothing particularly special. Maybe it’s the result of years of being a loner, but I have this bad habit of overanalyzing kindness, especially when I’m not used to receiving it.
I’m just a misunderstanding fool… Ugh, I’m starting to feel pathetic thinking like this. I really need to reflect for a moment and clear my head…
[……Kaito-kun, Kaito-kun.]
[Eh? Huh?]
As I was lost in thought, I saw Kuro waving at me. As I approached her, she stood on her tiptoes and whispered in my ear.
[……Thanks for the cookies. They made me so happy. It feels lonely not being able to talk with you much today, so let’s go somewhere, “just the two of us,” next time.]
[……Eh?]
After murmuring those sweet words in my ear, Kuro smiled brightly, like a blooming flower, and waved her hand enthusiastically as she left.
Dear Mom, Dad—Kuro is getting along with everyone. I have a lot on my mind about that, but in the end, Kuro—it seems like she saw right through everything.