Rasal and Eulpecula clearly seemed flustered by the situation, seeing that Isis, their King, preparing for the tea party.
[I- Isis-sama!? We’ll handle the tea preparations!]
[Yes, there’s no need for Isis-sama to bother……]
[……No……I sometimes…… used to make them myself…… before everyone came…… I’m quite good at brewing tea…… and I also…… bake cakes.]
Looking at Isis telling them this with a kind smile, Rasal and Eulpecula exchanged glances before wryly smiling.[If that’s what Isis-sama says, I won’t say otherwise anymore…… However, I don’t feel comfortable leaving everything to Isis-sama, so I was wondering if we could help.]
[It’s just as Rasal said! Please allow us to do something too……]
[……Is that so? ……Thank you…… In that case…… Can you help me with decorations?]
Rasal and Eulpecula were delighted that Isis had prepared tea for them and even baked cakes. However, they couldn’t bear the guilt of letting their King Isis work with them not doing anything, so they offered to help.
Thereupon, Isis happily smiled and accepted their offer.
And it wasn’t just two who ended up helping out, as following Rasal and Eulpecula were Iris and Polaris, and a little later, Sirius and Spica came to the kitchen and offered their help to Isis as well, so in the end, everyone had gotten involved in the tea party preparations.
[Well then, Sirius! And Spica, join me in preparing the table! It’s a waste of manpower if we’re all crammed here!][Yes~~ Since we’re at it~~ I’d like to decorate. Let’s put up some flowers~~]
[……Oi, didn’t you just emphasize my name just now?]
Since it was pointless for everyone to be in the kitchen at the same time, they decided to split up, with Polaris, Sirius and Spica taking on the task of setting up the table and other arrangements.
Meanwhile, the remaining members joined Isis in preparing tea and pastries.
[Even so, I’m looking forward to Kaito-sama’s original blend!]
[……Unnn…… Kaito chose it…… so it must be…… delicious.]
[No doubt about it!]
Isis spoke with a smile, and Eulpecual, looking rather happy, agreed with her.
[Regarding that tea brand, I heard that the lottery has significant odds, which shows the high level of attention they have right from the start.]
[Indeed, in cases like this where there is high pre-launch attention, the launch moment would be the most bustling. Considering that, their remarkable level of attention is truly commendable.]
While decorating the cake, Iris and Rasal also talked about Kaito’s tea brand. Isis was originally done with the preparations to some extent, so it didn’t take much time for them to complete the tea party arrangements. When the cakes were beautifully finished, the four, including Isis, headed to a room with a picturesque view inside the castle.
There, Polaris and the others had already finished setting up the table, and with everyone taking their seats, the tea party began.
[Ah, it’s delicious! This sweet and gentle taste, it’s just like Kaito-sama!]
[Right~~ They’ve skillfully made a good blend~~ I guess creating a tea brand would require a good understanding of tea, so is he knowledgeable about tea as well~~?]
[I’m not sure? I’ll ask him next time.]
Even if some commotions occur between them, Isis’ subordinates all get on well together, and often have a lot to talk about on these occasions, perhaps because they have a good chemistry.
[I see, it has a wonderful taste. Its sweet taste is to my liking……]
[That’s unexpected. I would never have thought that a bug woman, whose tongue is made up of muscles all the way down to the tip, would know what tastes good or bad……]
[If only there wasn’t a woman next to me who stinks like corpses, I could have enjoyed the aroma too, but well, a shame.]
[……Hah?]
[……Ahh?]
[If you guys start a fight here, I’ll blow you out of the castle, so brace yourselves.]
It’s a familiar sight to see Sirius and Rasal glaring at each other as usual, and Iris, a vein popping out of her forehead, scolds them.
[……Fufu.]
[Isis-sama, you seem to be enjoying yourself?]
[……Unnn…… Having people…… who willingly go along with various things like this, as if it’s natural…… To have such a kind family…… makes me really happy.]
[That’s a great honor to hear.]
Isis’ expression, answering Polaris’ question, looked very happy. Even in the preparations for an event as trivial as this, no one needed to be formally requested or called for assistance, they naturally cooperated. Having these people who, even though some people do say this and that, can gather around the same table and share laughter as her subordinates is truly wonderful, and Isis relished this feeling of happiness.
[Come to think of it, as we have a decent number of six, following the lead of the other camps, having some kind of nickname might be a good idea.]
[Like a title for the Executives? It seems like Head-dono unexpectedly likes those kinds of titles.]
[I’m fine with that, but can you really count me as an Executive? Compared to everyone, I’m still quite weak……]
[Isn’t it fine~~? I don’t really think it has to be decided based on strength, it’s more like initial member vibe~~ Besides, I’m sure if it’s Eul, you’ll soon become strong enough to not be inferior to us~~]
[The other camps’ nicknames are Five Warlords and Seven Princesses…… Speaking of which, doesn’t Underworld King-sama’s camp have anything like that?]
[They’re special in their own way.]
Initiating a topic like this and naturally having everyone join in, that atmosphere is exactly what Isis had longed from the bottom of her heart, and just witnessing moments like this makes her really happy.
[……Then…… Let’s all think about it.]
[ [ [ [ [ [ Yes! ] ] ] ] ] ]
Just like that, even today, within the extreme coldness of the northernmost part of the Demon Realm, warm laughter echoed in the castle.
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [Basically, the members of this camp are close to each other and they always have a lot of fun.]
? ? ? : [Strange, isn’t it? How is it different from my…… erhem. From Alice-chan’s camp?]
Serious-senpai : [……The blackheartedness…… of the King, I think?]
