At the game and food stalls scattered throughout the city, Enrico's companions were spread across the center of Vesparello, each enjoying the festival in their own way. Everyone seemed excited, having fun and even talking about what would happen the following day.
Kai seemed a little discouraged.
"I wanted to join Enrico's team, but he asked me to join the person he mentioned."
"It must be because he has already decided on the four companions for his team."
"Then why didn't he choose me? I'm strong!"
Liam was eating peacefully while Kai participated in a precision sword game. The challenge consisted of hitting exactly the spot indicated by a line that appeared for only one second among five targets. The more accurate the strike, the better the prize at the end.
Kai had managed to hit all five targets perfectly with just one hand and without even trying hard.
Liam continued eating and had a thought.
"Maybe that's exactly why... What if he wants to fight you in the Tournament of Runes?"
"Wait, you're right!"
Kai's eyes began to sparkle, as if tiny stars were reflected in them. He could already imagine his rematch finally happening. Besides, Enrico himself had indicated whom he should form a team with. Therefore, perhaps that really meant he intended to face him this time.
"I'll give it my all!"
"That's the spirit!"
At the neighboring stall, Serenya stared threateningly at Elian, making him break out in a cold sweat. Caelan, on the other hand, didn't seem to care about the situation. He was far too busy shooting at the water bubbles floating some distance away with a magical weapon.
"Why are you avoiding my right-hand man, Elian?"
"M-Miss Serenya, I-I can't stay near him! Didn't you hear what he said about me being feminine enough for him?"
"Elian..."
Serenya looked away for a moment, lost in thought. However, shortly afterward, she grabbed his shoulder tightly, making him tremble under the pressure and the aura emanating from her.
"I don't like this, but if that's what the subordinate wants, then you'll have to accept it."
"Wait! L-Leader, what do you mean by that?"
"Perhaps I should buy some clothes that Enrico would like for you."
Serenya didn't have a very pleasant expression. In fact, she seemed to be suppressing an inner fury while maintaining a forced smile that conveyed all her suffering.
"If my right-hand man wants it, then you'll belong to him."
"Leader, you can't say that!"
With every word Serenya spoke, Elian became even more horrified. He simply couldn't accept that! His sense of shame wouldn't allow him to do something like that. Desperate, he turned his head and cast a pleading look toward Caelan, hoping he would help him.
Caelan finally noticed the situation, but, to Elian's despair, his response was nothing more than a cruel smile.
"If you need help, I can also help choose the clothes."
'You bastard! I'll kill you!'
Serenya pointed at Caelan with an expression of disapproval.
"No. Only women and Enrico will be allowed to participate. That way, we'll decide everything together."
Elian looked at her with an expression of despair, while Caelan let out a laugh.
"I'm not a woman! And what do you mean Enrico will also participate?"
"I can help too."
Sylvia, who hadn't even been invited, was there with a serious expression. She seemed to have just made an important decision: she would do everything within her power to bring those two men closer together, secretly indulging in a rather peculiar perversion.
Elian practically glared at Sylvia with a mixture of irritation and desperation.
"Who invited you?"
"You're so silly, Elian! Of course I invited myself. Serenya, I can join you, right?"
Serenya nodded to her, unaware of the gleam in the girl's eyes.
"Of course. Once Enrico comes, we'll set a day to go. We'll only go if Enrico agrees, because I don't want to visit a clothing store accompanied by another man besides him. The others must feel the same way. But if Enrico can't come, perhaps you could accompany him alone to choose the clothes for us."
Sylvia seemed to have transformed into a knight at that very moment, as if she had just received a mission directly from a monarch.
"Of course, Miss Serenya! Leave it to me."
The only thing Elian could do was clutch his head, desperate as he tried to find a way to escape those lunatics. Enrico was an incredible person in his eyes, but that shouldn't be possible, especially since he considered himself far inferior in terms of power.
'How do I escape this?'
While Elian faced the despair of imagining a trip to a clothing store, the three girls from Tsuyokuni were in another shop, happily choosing what they would buy.
"This will be a good outfit for the future between me and my master."
"Perhaps my Ketsumei will like these more."
The clothes chosen by Yumeha and Rina were perfect for dates. Watching the two, Aoi brought a hand to the cheek of her mask while holding a piece of clothing different from the ones in front of her friends.
"How cute! Both of you are choosing clothes for a date."
"What do you mean? Wait, Aoi, why are you holding that kind of clothing in your hands?"
"What do you mean? It's just a simple pajama set."
Yumeha was the first to notice the black, transparent piece of clothing Aoi was holding. Although it looked like pajamas, its style was completely different from what she had expected.
Rina approached and carefully examined the outfit, maintaining a serious expression.
"This will be good for our future. Are there any in white or lilac?"
Aoi pointed toward the place where she had found the clothing.
"Yes! I thought these were quite beautiful, and I'm sure my darling will like them."
"You two... Could Master like them too? Are there any purple ones?"
Unable to contain her desire to make her master happy, Yumeha approached the two and began examining other pieces available in the store. Several minutes passed as the three chose their clothes. During that time, Rina noticed that Aoi was more excited than usual.
"You seem happier than usual, Aoi. What happened?"
Aoi's voice conveyed unmistakable happiness.
"My mother will come to meet Enrico during the Tournament of Runes, so of course I'm happy. Besides, I'm thinking about showing him my face, since he can see it. I was a little nervous, but now I'm going to go through with it!"
Rina became excited for her friend.
"Your mother is coming? That's wonderful! That way, our entire family will be together."
Yumeha, standing beside her, showed surprise upon hearing that.
"Miss Aoi is going to show her face? If you were nervous about that, you should know that Master would never worry about something like that. Take me as an example: I still haven't completely shown him my eyes, and he has never asked."
Of course, she would show them if he asked. Perhaps Enrico would even think her eyes were beautiful. If that happened, Yumeha would be the happiest woman in the world.
"I know... Wait, aren't those Grakka and Danyana? Why are they competing against those girls?"
Aoi was right. At a nearby table, Grakka and Danyana were playing a card game against Seraphina and Valença.
That competition had started because Grakka and Danyana wanted to fight Enrico that day. However, to protect their beloved's rest, Seraphina and Valença had decided to intervene, proposing a card game. If they wanted to face Enrico, the two would first have to defeat them.
'I have to win!'
The atmosphere was tense for the four girls. All of them had a very clear objective: two wanted to fight Enrico, while the other two were trying to protect his rest.
And none of them intended to back down.