第７２０堀：夜はこれから（仕事） (Part2)
With everyone finally looking up, we were at last ready to talk. Fortunately, this room seemed to be designed for large banquets, as there was ample space for everyone, including the guards, to sit comfortably. Moving to another room wouldn't be necessary.
"For now, let's order some drinks. It looks like this discussion will be a long one."
*Thanks to this, I'm definitely pulling an all-nighter, damn it.*
"Oh, if that's the case, I'll go to the kitchen. I'm well-known there."
"Then I'll go with you to help out. Eris, please take care of big brother here."
"Alright, go ahead. Narjia, Ratz."
"Please do, Narjia. Ratz, be careful too."
"Yes, yes, leave it to us."
"This much is nothing, big brother."
With those words, Narjia and Ratz excused themselves.
*Well, my wives are doing their best, so I suppose I should too...*
"Then, let's sit and talk at that table over there."
"Yes, we'd like to explain our situation too."
"Every time, these kinds of explanations are troublesome..."
"Indeed. It makes us realize anew just how troublesome our positions are."
"U-um. If that's the case..."
*The goddesses usually just dump all the explanations on me anyway.*
Unlike the laid-back goddesses, Queen Miyabi's entourage sat stiffly at the long table. Oh, and it was a Japanese-style room, of course. However, Queen Miyabi was unlucky. Truly unlucky. If it had been a more proper encounter, it might have been a moving one, but do the goddesses have a talent for ruining such things? No, their leader was exceptionally good at that. So, that's why this is happening.
Well, there's no point in badmouthing the useless goddesses now. For now, I need to explain things to Queen Miyabi's entourage.
"Now, I'd like to explain, but where should I even begin...? Queen Miyabi, is there anything specific you'd like to ask?"
*For now, I'll try to answer their questions. If I were to tell our story from scratch, it would take too long, and I wouldn't get any sleep. If I were an ordinary employee, I'd get more pay, which would be nice, but I'm the one paying the wages. This overtime is just me overworking myself. Money doesn't mean much to me now anyway... I can get everything with DP... Ah, what a black company I'm running.*
"Hmm. There are many things I'd like to ask, but first, could you please introduce the goddesses sitting next to Lilishe? It's incredibly rude of me, but even looking at their faces, I cannot discern which goddesses they are."
*No, you can't tell which god they are just by looking at their faces, unless they're as distinctive as the Seven Lucky Gods. Even then, I can't distinguish between Fukurokuju-sama, with his long head and lucky ears, and Jurojin-sama, who looks almost identical as an old man. Even among Japan's famous Seven Lucky Gods, the level of recognition is about this much. Or rather...*
" 'You can't tell Fukurokuju and Jurojin apart, can you? Their characters are so bland. Faith-wise, both are mainly about longevity, and for Japan, a country of longevity, that's a bit...' "
*Some useless goddess made that utterly terrible comment, by the way. No, I understand there's a longevity problem, but don't say things that undermine the Seven Lucky Gods' position. So, Queen Miyabi's 'who is this god?' remark isn't rude at all. People don't know what they don't know. That's all there is to it.*
"It's perfectly understandable that you don't know them. These two originally operated in different capacities."
"By 'different capacities,' do you mean like Lilishe, becoming a priestess or something similar?"
"Yes, something like that."
*I have no idea when would be the right time to tell her that both of them are the leaders of their own countries. Well, I guess I'll just introduce them normally for now.*
"Then, starting from the far end of the table, I'll introduce Nonoa."
Nonoa, who was sitting at the very end, stood up upon hearing my words.
"She is Nonoa, the Magic God."