From RE0, Sato Kazuma decided to cheat on food and drink

"I apologize to Lady Aqua on behalf of Phyllis, although... although I also find it somewhat difficult to understand Lady Aqua's words."

Crusch leaned down slightly and spoke to Aqua.

Unlike Aqua's joy at being recognized, Kazuma Sato wore a somewhat troubled expression.

It’s broken. It’s broken.

Hearing such outrageous words, Crusch did not accuse her of lying.

She really does have the ability to detect lies...

From now on, I must be careful with my words and actions.

"Lord Kazuma, may I ask what you did before?"

Just as Kazuma Sato was thinking, Crusch turned to look at him.

"I am... a guardian responsible for fighting against capitalism and protecting my family and comrades..."

"Mr. Kazuma wasn't telling the truth."

Crusch caught the information that Kazuma Sato was lying.

"hiss....."

Kazuma Sato's mind raced as he considered how to speak in a way that wouldn't make him too embarrassed.

"I was a student before."

"Mr. Kazuma is still hiding something."

hateful.....

Kazuma Sato bit his lip tightly.

There's no way I could possibly admit that I'm actually a total shut-in!

Please stop asking!

Just then, the doors of the main hall were opened again.

Julius and Anastasia were the first to enter.

Afterwards, Emilia arrived here with Roswaal and Subaru Natsuki.

"Oh! Lady Aqua! Lord Kazuma! You've arrived!"

Emilia immediately greeted everyone with a smile, and also bowed politely to Crusch.

Emilia, you're a lifesaver!

After Emilia's arrival, the topic between Kazuma Sato and Crusch was finally able to be shifted.

"Hey, Subaru, what brings you here too?"

Aqua then turned to Subaru Natsuki and asked him a question.

"Um... is it strange that I came here?"

"Theoretically speaking, shouldn't only the candidates' supporters or knights be able to participate? Subaru, you should just be a servant."

Aqua's face was full of curiosity.

"I....."

Natsuki Subaru wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.

He simply couldn't bring himself to say that he had shamelessly begged Emilia to bring him here.

Subaru Natsuki and Kazuma Sato exchanged a glance, and the latter immediately understood what the other was thinking.

It seems we're in a similar situation.

Only a complete otaku can truly understand another otaku.

"Hey, hey, hey, can you at least watch the atmosphere when you talk?"

Kazuma Sato pulled Aqua aside.

"I was really just curious!"

Crusch stood silently to the side, watching Kazuma Sato.

The other party never revealed their true identity.

Who is he?

Although Crusch had doubts, since Aqua was one of the candidates and Kazuma Sato was his supporter, there shouldn't be too much of a problem with her identity.

After a period of waiting, the last candidate slowly stepped into the venue.

The crimson dress burned like flames, outlining an incredibly alluring figure, while beneath her long golden hair lay a face that was almost breathtakingly beautiful.

Priscilla Baliel.

"Making mortals wait can be quite amusing."

Priscilla held a fan in her hand, a haughty smile on her face, and her disdainful gaze swept over everyone as if they were merely her foils.

Looking at Priscilla, Kazuma Sato couldn't help but recall the first time he met Aqua.

That arrogant face of his was truly infuriating.

But who could have imagined... that she was actually mentally challenged?

"Your Highness, could you please speak a little softer..."

Kazuma Sato's gaze was quickly drawn to the man beside Priscilla. He was dressed in tattered clothes, had only one arm, and most notably, a huge helmet that completely covered his face.

Aldibalan, Priscilla's Knight.

Before long, the members of the Sages appeared one after another and took their seats in the upper part of the hall, while Mycroft sat in the very center, which indicated his status among them.

"This old man's status is higher than I imagined..."

Kazuma Sato recalled what had happened the night before and couldn't help but feel a wave of fear.

"Now that all the candidates have arrived, I, Marcus, the Grand Master of the Royal Guard, will preside over this meeting on behalf of the council."

A burly man in knight's armor walked up to the crowd and spoke in an incredibly powerful voice.

"He really fits the stereotype of a commander of a knightly order from another world."

Kazuma Sato muttered under his breath.

Just as he thought the meeting was about to begin, Anastasia's voice rang out first:

"We're extremely busy and can't afford to waste any time. Tell us quickly why we've been gathered here! In Kararaki, time is money!"

Does such language exist in this world?

No?

Kansai dialect?

Kazuma Sato never expected that this seemingly cute girl could have such an accent.

But how can she just say things like that in this kind of situation?

A premonition arose in Sato Kazuma's heart.

I am afraid.....

None of these candidates are easy to deal with.

"Makes sense."

Crusch nodded beside her.

"Lord Crusch, as the head of the Karlsten family, how could you say such a thing..."

"While it's important to follow the rules, it's also true that time is limited. Besides, this meeting was brought forward for some reason, which caused changes to almost everyone's schedule, although I had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on."

"Lady Crusch, are you already aware that you, the five Dragon Priestesses—who are also the king's substitutes—have been gathered here?"

"McLutov asked Crusch,"

“I understand, Secretary Mycroft.”

Crusch smiled.

Kazuma Sato turned to look at Crusch. Although she always seemed serious and unsmiling, this kind of persona would make her a very serious and earnest character in various games and anime.

"We're having a cocktail party, aren't we? Although we're bound to be competitors sooner or later, as long as we sit around the table and drink together, we can understand each other's character!"

Crusch answered with absolute confidence.

Wha, what's going on?

Kazuma Sato's lips twitched slightly.

He never expected that Crusch would utter lines that sounded like those of a single-celled organism like Aqua.

etc--

Another ominous premonition suddenly rose in Kazuma Sato's heart.

For Aqua, the cocktail party is practically a keyword!

"A cocktail party, how wonderful!"

Before Sato Kazuma could stop her, Aqua had already walked up to Crusch and said expectantly,

"When?! I didn't get to drink my fill last night!"

Aqua had long since forgotten Sato Kazuna's advice to be cautious.

"It should be tonight!"

"That's awesome, I can't wait!"

"Um, gentlemen, this time it's not..."

McCrotoff wanted to forcefully steer the conversation back to the meeting—

However, his voice was quickly drowned out by Aqua and Crusch's voices.

What kind of wine do you have? Do you have sparkling wine?

Sparkling wine? What's that?

"It's like injecting gas into the liquor! Shake it and bubbles will appear! It tastes amazing!"

"I've never heard of this before. I'd like to try it if I could."

Aside from Kazuma Sato having Aqua introduce herself to verify Crusch's blessing effect, they hadn't had much conversation before. But now, as if they had found common ground, they started a frantic discussion.

"As for wine, our Carraraji wine is definitely the best!"

Anastasia also unknowingly joined the conversation.

“You common folk can only drink cheap wine. The red wine I taste is a high-end wine that you poor people cannot afford. However, it has such value because I drink it.”

Priscilla maintained her arrogant demeanor as she addressed the others.

Emilia remained silent, but secretly clenched her right fist, encouraging herself:

"I think I was a little drunk last time... I must do my best this time!"

Several people had a heated discussion about the party, and they even decided what drinks to have and what snacks to eat with them that evening.

McCrotov looked at the group of people in front of him, somewhat bewildered. He wanted to interject, but couldn't get a word in edgewise.

The discussion among the candidates gradually came to a halt several minutes later.

"Sir McCrotov, there's nothing wrong with the cocktail party, is there?"

"That's for sure. The selection process for the King of Kings has just started, right? So everyone can drink and take turns giving speeches, right?"

All eyes turned to Mycroft.

He was a long-time follower of Lugnica and had been a member of the Wise Men for over forty years.

Today is the most helpless day of McCrotoff's political career.

Today's meeting was supposed to be the official start of the King Selection Conference, since the five candidates chosen by the dragon had already been revealed.

But now, it seems the nature of the meeting has completely changed.