267: The Ballroom Dinner

"Phew, looks like we made it through."

"You're amazing, Satu. That was a wonderful dance."

Vilijanira and I safely finished our dance and returned to our original seats.

The reaction from those around us, including Vilijanira, seemed quite positive.

Yeah, all that effort was worth it.

Still, this dance was truly exhausting.

Originally, since my body is a puppet controlled by the main consciousness, I can precisely manipulate it from the crown of my head to the tips of my fingers, and the movements of this dance could be applied to combat techniques, so I had a general idea of how it would feel.

But this time, there simply wasn't enough time to memorize the choreography alone.

So, well, let's just say it's a bit of cheating, or whatever... The truth, known only to me, Virijanila, Memokushi, and Jojaris, is that I used a cosmic monster's unconventional trick—reading a dance manual while existing in the Aether Space and instantly reflecting it in real time—to handle the situation.

It was like cheating in a way, and couldn't handle unexpected situations, so I'm glad everything ended without any issues.

"Vee-sama, Sata-sama. Please."

"Thanks, Memo."

"Appreciate it, Memoqsi."

"We’ve already set aside the food, so please take some accordingly."

With that, Memoqsi placed a tray bearing two glasses of transparent carbonated water in front of us.

Behind Memoqsi stood Joharisi, carrying several covered dishes, much like a cafeteria serving robot.

I see. From Vilijanira's standpoint, it would be somewhat awkward to serve herself, so Memoqsi and the others brought it over.

In any case, I take a sip of the carbonated water first.

"Yeah, it's fine and quite tasty."

"I'm glad to hear that."

The carbonated water has a moderate fizz, popping gently in my mouth and delivering a refreshing sensation.

The main ingredients are a small amount of minerals, flavorings, and a mod to maintain carbonation, and apparently, there's also a mod included that slightly promotes absorption—probably thoughtfully added for people like us who've been active and need a drink afterward.

There's nothing harmful to the body, so no issues there, and in fact, it'd probably be better for Vilijanila, who's sweating from dancing, to have one.

Of course, it contains no alcohol.

Ah, since we're at it, let's check who the provider is.

Hmm, hmm... Skitohitsuki Corporation... A major player, so it makes sense their product would be this good.

"The meat on this side has the sauce from Zaku-rokku-san."

"Then we really should try it. Yes, it's delicious."

Continuing on, we eat the roasted chicken served from the Izai Meets Marquis family, topped with Zaku-rokku-san's special sauce—essentially a sauce made with spices from Ether Space and Heikyo Morelu.

The flavor... the savory juiciness of the chicken blends with the intense aroma characteristic of ingredients from Ether Space, creating a deeply satisfying experience even in small amounts.

Hmm, I should probably ask Zaku-rokku-san for the recipe later.

It's impossible to fully recreate it, but since I'm the producer, I can certainly reproduce parts of it.

"This is the pressed sushi from the Baron Shimaeakéhako family."

"Nice balance of vinegar, and well-packed too—very easy to eat."

The third one, the Shimaeakéhako baron family... that's the pressed sushi from Harwatto-te, the one who greeted us before the dance.

I wasn’t entirely sure what kind of fish was used, but the sushi, pressed firmly with just the right amount of vinegar, was easy to eat without spilling, even in such a setting, and seemed like a great source of energy.

The accents, like ginger, were perfectly balanced—truly easy to eat.

"Joharis. You brought only the most convenient, easy-to-eat items. Thank you."

"No, even though it's possible to handle it with mods, it was perfectly clear that, from Vee-sama's position, eating something that heavy in that area wasn't feasible...

Actually, there's an even bigger issue. That area contains..."

"Oh, really? I had a feeling once Memoqui stopped me, but I guess it's true after all."

Well, as for the other food... most of it consists of easy-to-grab snacks like cookies and macarons.

Some include crackers with small amounts of vegetables, meat, and cheese layered inside.

As for what Vilijanila and Johariss are calling the hearty meals... ah, yes, things like bone-in meat, whole roasted pork, or large quantities of pasta.

You could probably take a small portion and eat it here, but since Memokshi stopped it, it's likely related to Prince Shinkubilimzo.

The houses or companies prepared are probably affiliated with the faction on the other side.

Incidentally, it seems Vilegianira might sense some kind of threat.

"So, Vee. What's the plan after this?"

"If nothing unusual happens, I'll be socializing here until the marriage-finding ball ends. Some of my university friends are here too, so I'll exchange information within acceptable limits."

"I see."

"By the way, do we really need to go and call those people here?"

"No, not at all. Everyone here is quite sharp—they'll judge the timing properly and show up again on their own."

If nothing unusual happens, that is.

To be perfectly honest, the moment Viridianiara said that, I already had the feeling something was about to happen.

And probably, her friends are aware of it too—they seem to be holding back, waiting until something does happen before approaching.

"Then, shall we wait a while?"

"Understood."

Well, no matter what happens, my role is already decided—I just have to fulfill my part.

I took a sip of the carbonated water and drank it.