Not long after Fafnir and Ainz left the table, Kaguya and Hayasaka also began preparing to leave.
It was already close to midnight.
Although no one in the Shinomiya family dared interfere with Kaguya's schedule anymore, staying up late had never been one of her habits.
"Miss Shinomiya really has changed a lot lately. She feels much more intimidating than she used to."
Hisako could not help commenting as she cleared the bowls and sukiyaki pot from the counter.
There was even a faint note of relief in her voice, almost as though she had only just escaped from some invisible pressure that had been hanging over her the entire evening.
"Well, she's about to take control of the Shinomiya family. Of course she would change."
Erina spoke with unmistakable respect.
Over the past several days, every rumor emerging from the Shinomiya family had sent waves through the upper circles of society.
Power struggles.
Political maneuvering.
Overwhelming victories.
Rumor after rumor had circulated, and one after another, those stories had later been indirectly confirmed.
With every confirmation, the major families were forced to reevaluate everything they thought they knew about Shinomiya Kaguya.
The girl who had once been little more than a golden bird trapped inside a luxurious cage...
Had finally broken free and emerged from the flames as a phoenix no one dared underestimate.
Naturally, such a transformation would affect the way she carried herself.
"Changed...?"
Yuto, who was also helping clear the counter, smiled faintly.
"I don't think she's changed that much. She just seems a lot more confident and cheerful than before."
Erina and Hisako exchanged a glance.
Both immediately saw the same helplessness in the other's eyes.
Of course.
To Yuto, something capable of sending shockwaves through their entire social world probably did not seem particularly significant.
They simply stood at completely different heights.
Yuto carried the empty pot back into the kitchen, while Erina and Hisako followed with the remaining dishes.
Without needing to be told, the two girls went straight to the sink and began washing everything.
After thanking them for their hard work, Yuto leisurely walked back into the dining area.
Tohru was wiping down the counter.
The moment she saw him emerge, she immediately moved closer.
"Boss, if you're going to that banquet, are we still opening the restaurant that night?"
The dragon girl looked genuinely puzzled.
"Of course."
Yuto nodded.
"I'm not staying for the entire banquet. I'll go over, give Asuna her birthday present, stay for a little while, and then come back."
He smiled encouragingly and patted Tohru on the shoulder.
"So I'll be leaving the restaurant in your hands for a while. Make sure you explain things properly to any customers who arrive."
When Asuna had invited him, she had mentioned that the banquet was being held to celebrate her birthday.
If it had merely been an ordinary social gathering, Yuto probably would not have agreed to attend so readily.
He still had the restaurant to take care of.
Even after deciding to go, he had only ever planned to remain there briefly before returning.
"Eh—so that's how it is?"
Tohru's expression immediately fell.
Yuto tilted his head.
"What's wrong? Did you need something?"
"Not really..."
Tohru lowered her gaze.
"I just thought Boss might take me with you. I didn't realize I'd be staying behind to watch the restaurant..."
Her disappointment became increasingly obvious.
Yuto sighed helplessly.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he shook his head.
"You spend all day thinking about having fun. Do your job properly."
"Uuuh... I do work properly..."
Tohru lowered her head and slowly swayed from side to side.
She did not openly complain any further, but her entire body radiated displeasure.
Then he reached over and lightly knocked her on the head.
"Fine. In a few days, we'll take Kanna and go to an amusement park. Didn't I promise to take you before?"
He vaguely remembered making that promise several days ago.
They had simply been too busy lately to actually go.
The instant Tohru heard the words amusement park, every trace of disappointment disappeared.
She reacted like a cat suddenly spotting dried fish.
Her eyes immediately lit up.
"Really?!"
"Mm. Of course."
Yuto smiled and nodded.
Tohru instantly let out an excited cheer.
Even the speed at which she wiped down the counter increased dramatically.
"Looks like it's about time for me to leave too."
Lucoa, who had been standing nearby, smiled toward Yuto.
"Eh?! You're not staying a little longer?"
Before Yuto could respond, Tohru spoke first.
Lucoa smiled gently at her.
Then she reached over and patted Tohru on the head.
"We'll see each other again tomorrow night."
Her voice was soft and soothing.
The corners of Tohru's mouth drooped.
"All right..."
She sounded noticeably reluctant.
"Have a safe trip. See you tomorrow."
Yuto smiled and said goodbye.
Lucoa returned the smile with a nod before leaving the restaurant.
"Sigh... I hope Lucoa doesn't disappear for ages again like last time."
Tohru continued staring toward the door, apparently still worried that it might happen again.
Yuto laughed when he saw her expression.
"You don't need to worry that much. If you really miss Lucoa, you can always go back and visit her whenever you want."
His calm reassurance gradually eased Tohru's concern.
For some reason, however, her attention suddenly shifted toward Fafnir in the distance.
Her eyes narrowed.
There was an unmistakably scrutinizing look in them.
"Compared to Lucoa, Fafnir really is hopeless..."
Tohru spoke in a low voice filled with the disappointment of someone watching a friend ruin his own life.
"Every time he comes here, all he does is play games. I saw on television that humans can become addicted to the internet."
Her eyes remained fixed on Fafnir.
"Fafnir's symptoms probably count as internet addiction too, right...?"
In Tohru's eyes, the dragon sitting perfectly upright with his arms folded and a gaming headset covering his face looked like nothing more than an irritating human-shaped pole.
"Well... probably..."
Yuto hesitated.
"I also saw on television that if someone plays games too much, they'll eventually become completely degenerate."
Tohru's expression became increasingly serious.
"Fafnir might be a dragon, but if he's already showing signs of internet addiction, then that means he could eventually turn into one of those pathetic people they showed on television, right?"
She frowned deeply.
"Fafnir was never exactly a good dragon to begin with, but when I imagine him becoming that pathetic... I can't help feeling responsible."
"After all, I'm the one who brought him to the restaurant in the first place. If he ends up ruining himself, then part of that is my fault."
Her hands slowly clenched into fists.
"As his friend, I can't just stand by and watch him sink any further!"
By the time she finished, Tohru practically had flames of determination burning behind her.
Yuto stared at the suddenly motivated dragon girl and had absolutely no idea what to say.
More accurately...
He did not even know where to begin correcting everything wrong with that speech.
What kind of television program had managed to brainwash this innocent dragon so thoroughly?
Playing games automatically led to degeneracy?
Hadn't that kind of nonsense been outdated for years?
"Tohru, who exactly said all of this in the program you watched?"
Yuto finally could not resist asking.
"Eh... that... let me think..."
Tohru tapped a finger thoughtfully against her chin.
After a moment, her eyes suddenly lit up.
She remembered.
"I think it was some expert named Yongxin! He was also the one who suggested electroshock treatment!"
Tohru raised her hand excitedly as she told him.
Yuto rubbed his forehead.
He had never heard of this so-called expert Yongxin before, but that certainly did not stop him from immediately losing whatever respect he might have possessed for the man.
"Tohru, listen to me. Most of what you heard in that report was wrong..."
Yuto proceeded to explain the matter to her at length.
As he spoke, understanding gradually appeared in Tohru's eyes.
Then, almost immediately, that understanding transformed into anger.
"So you're saying that expert lied to me?"
"Mm."
Yuto nodded.
That only made the dragon girl even angrier.
Compared with some supposed expert appearing on television, she trusted Yuto infinitely more.
If her trust in that expert had been a one...
Then her trust in Yuto was one hundred.
And one hundred was the maximum.
"That stupid human actually dared lie to me on television!"
Tohru clenched her fists furiously.
At that moment, she genuinely looked ready to fly straight to the so-called expert and punch him.
After all...
Tohru had never exactly been known as a gentle dragon.
"From now on, think for yourself a little more." Yuto spoke patiently.
"Plenty of things on television are unreliable. If there's ever something you aren't sure about, just ask me."
Faced with his advice, Tohru obediently nodded.
However...
She still had not completely abandoned the idea of teaching that expert a lesson.
She had already made up her mind.
She would borrow one of Fafnir's cursed artifacts and give the man a tiny "warning."
Slide~
At that moment, the restaurant door opened again.
"Welcome!"
Yuto immediately looked toward the entrance.
"When welcoming this king, you should display considerably more reverence, Kamisaka."
The King of Heroes strode calmly toward the counter.
His expression was composed, but the slight upward curve of his lips carried that familiar arrogance that seemed permanently etched into his demeanor.
Enkidu and Siduri had come with him.
Both wore gentle smiles.
Compared with the proud king walking beside them, the two were considerably easier to approach.
"More reverence? Sure. Next time."
Yuto answered casually with a smile.
Gilgamesh rested one hand beneath his chin while the corner of his mouth lifted.
"Even next time, you won't show this king any reverence at all, will you?"
He gave a disdainful snort.
"This king can see straight through that perfunctory answer."
"I said next time, so next time it is."
Yuto shook his head.
"Forget it. This king did not come here to argue with you over something so trivial."
Gilgamesh waved one hand dismissively before sitting upright and fixing Yuto with a serious gaze.
"This king came tonight because there is something I need to ask you."
His expression sharpened slightly.
"I imagine you already know what it concerns."
"I'm surprised you came this late."
Yuto smiled faintly.
"I thought you'd show up much earlier."
Gilgamesh folded his arms, pride written openly across his face.
"Royal affairs were particularly demanding today. This king came here the very moment his duties were finished!"
At those words, both the retainer and friend standing beside him visibly struggled not to laugh.
Other people might not have known the truth.
But Enkidu and Siduri had remained beside Gilgamesh throughout the day.
Naturally, they knew exactly how accurate his claim was.
His royal duties truly had been demanding.
That part was not false.
However, the King of Heroes had actually finished everything several hours ago.
He simply had not come to the restaurant immediately afterward.
Instead...
He had deliberately waited until late at night before appearing.
His reasoning was not particularly difficult to guess.
If too many people were present, bringing up what he wanted to ask Yuto would become awkward.
And that could very easily lead to an unnecessarily embarrassing situation.
For a king who cared so deeply about his pride...
That possibility had to be avoided at all costs.
Which was precisely why Gilgamesh had deliberately waited until late at night before coming.
Being occupied with royal affairs?
That was merely a convenient excuse.
"Is that so? Looks like I misunderstood you."
Yuto smiled.
"Hmm?"
Gilgamesh frowned, clearly displeased.
"What exactly did you think?"
"I thought you deliberately waited until it was late because you were afraid it'd be embarrassing if too many people were here."
Yuto answered with a perfectly calm smile.
Gilgamesh's expression instantly stiffened.
It looked almost as though he had just bitten into something unpleasant.
Having his intentions exposed so directly...
Was embarrassing too!
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