The Tanabata Festival is a major event for the Surface District. Each Armed Family contributes funds, vying to showcase their power through the festival’s grandeur and scale.
Venues for the Tanabata Festival are set up across the Surface District, with residents celebrating Tanabata. However, even amidst the festivities, the stark reality of class disparity persists. Venues range from exclusive ones for prestigious families to those open to the general public. The wealthier attendees are more conscious of the venue they can access, leading to fierce competition among families to secure the best spots.
Indeed, the Tanabata Festival serves not only as a celebration but also as an event where the standing of each family is visibly recognized by others, based on the venues they attend.
The finest venue, of course, is reserved for the Armed Families. It features the most exquisite cuisine, a renowned musical ensemble providing background music, and attendees adorned with opulent jewels -each piece so valuable that a commoner could live off it for a lifetime. The participants wear haute couture dresses and kimonos, radiating splendor. They are leaders of prominent enterprises, with powerful private armies at their command.
For these individuals, the festival is less about enjoyment and more a manifestation of the Surface District’s ongoing power struggles. Their conversations are filled with rumors about rival families, discussions of investments, collaborations on spirit armor technology, and networking opportunities. It resembles a feast of desires, with specters of ambition devouring the figurative meal.
Yet, this year was a bit different. Typically, the attendees, while outwardly polite, hid metaphorical knives behind their smiles, seeking to outmaneuver others for personal gain. This time, however, many were intently watching the entrance, waiting for a single individual. Even amid casual conversations, their eyes darted toward the entryway, ensuring they wouldn’t miss a thing.
Their expressions betrayed a mix of envy, jealousy, fear, and awe. This person, awaited by the most influential families -who dared to stand as equals to the Armed Families- was a man who had appeared like a comet this year: Shukou Arata, also known as Lanpeach Kouza.
◇◇
Luxurious dishes lined the tables, but many of the attendees hardly touched the food, their elegance displayed through their sophisticated small talk. However, this so-called conversation was more akin to a battle of words. This year, one particular group drew an unusual amount of attention.
“Oh my, your son has become such an impressive man. Truly something to be proud of!”
“Indeed, I’ve never seen someone so accomplished.”
“How enviable. Could you share the secret to raising such an exceptional individual?”
“Arata has always been an outstanding son. Although we lost touch with him for a while, I always believed he was achieving something remarkable. Wahahaha!”
“Thanks to Arata, the Shukou family is secure once more.”
Amid this obvious flattery, Shukou Wareta and Yone laughed with satisfaction.
They were ridiculed as fools until recently, attending events despite their family’s financial ruin. Now, however, they were surrounded by people lavishing them with praises.
It was no surprise. Shukou Arata, or Lanpeach Kouza, had risen to power, ruling over a vast section of the slums as its boss. His territory was exceptionally well-defended, proactively eliminating monsters by going to the location before they spawn. It became the safest area in the Surface District, making it the most sought-after place for relocation.
The district’s security technology came from the underground. Far beyond what the surface families could achieve. Rumors suggested that the Artificial Spirits controlling these systems were even more intelligent than the heads of the Armed Families. It is speculated that the one wielding such Spirits held power surpassing even those very Artificial Spirits.
—In essence, Shukou Arata had achieved what the Armed Families could not: securing the support of the Underground District. His military strength and financial resources seemed limitless, to the point that even the combined efforts of the Armed Families couldn’t hope to match him.
Onodera Bacchus swirled his whiskey glass, the clink of the ice cubes echoing as he silently observed the situation.
Even the ingredients in the dishes -meat, seafood, and lavishly used natural spices- were sourced from Lanpeach City. These weren’t synthetic products. Companies reliant on artificial food production were in a panic, fearing their obsolescence. Rumors of sabotage attempts circulated, but none had succeeded. No large-scale attacks had been reported either, suggesting that any hostile moves had been quietly dealt with.
(From this alone, it’s evident he has the strength to fend off enemies and the capability to maintain a steady supply of natural goods… In a twisted sense, it might be fortunate that Lanpeach aligned with the Underground District. If another Armed Family had formed such an alliance, we would’ve been their first targets.)
It is exactly because it was the Shukou family, who had already fallen, that things were settled with just this much.
Bacchus smirked, narrowing his eyes with a hint of irony.
(There’s a gap to exploit. Despite his rise, the Shukou family collapsed once before. His competent relatives betrayed him, leaving only a small group of weaklings. There’s only a handful of outstanding people around Lanpeach. There’s a high chance he’d be open to proposals offering collaboration and manpower support.) (Bacchus)
Lanpeach’s influence was destined to expand beyond Eldarge 15 to other districts. Forming ties with him now was essential.
Everyone present shared this sentiment. Fools who didn’t understand this wouldn’t have been invited to the venue in the first place.
As a result, many lavished Shukou Wareta and Yone with gifts and money, hoping to curry favor. However, they failed to grasp one crucial detail…
(Those two are insidious; the toxic kind of parents. Moreover, the troublesome kind that corrodes the other party with a sweet poison. They probably believe, deep down, that Lanpeach was estranged because he was diligently working to achieve greatness. In their minds, they see themselves as loving and devoted. But their love is selfish, oblivious to his feelings. It’s the kind of affection that suffocates -like loving a kitten to death. Though Lanpeach is more of a venomous scorpion than a kitten.) (Bacchus)
According to the information Bacchus gathered, Lanpeach refrained from using his birth name, Shukou Arata, and kept his parents at a deliberate distance. While he supported them financially, he harbored no affection for them. Building a relationship with his parents was unnecessary -possibly even detrimental. Bacchus planned to limit his interactions with them to polite formalities.
Thus, when Bacchus heard that Lanpeach would attend the event, he prepared thoroughly to present himself as a dependable ally, intent on securing Lanpeach’s favor. There’s the matter with Vapula, so he was planning on appealing that the Onodera family is the one who is the closest to Lanpeach.
Even the heads of the Armed Families offered only brief greetings to Shukou Wareta and Yone before quickly moving on, realizing the futility of aligning with the parents.
And so, everyone awaited Lanpeach.
“Aegis-dono, you seem unusually restless today.” (Bacchus)
Bacchus spotted an acquaintance and struck up a conversation to pass the time. Aegis was typically calm and enigmatic.
However, it was rare for her irritation to be so obvious that even those around her could notice. Bacchus wondered if Aegis’s annoyance was related to Lanpeach’s presence and decided to probe further. The strikingly beautiful woman, with her sharp, almond-shaped eyes, turned her gaze toward him. Her piercing look felt like a knife stabbing into Bacchus, catching him slightly off guard.
“What’s the matter? You’re unusually irritable today. Are you that wary of the person about to arrive?” (Bacchus)
“That’s not it. It’s something else. I’m just a little annoyed, that’s all.” (Aegis)
Aegis ran her fingers through her hair, making no effort to conceal her irritation. Bacchus, puzzled, scrutinized her closely.
“What is it, dwarf-san? Were you not taught that it’s improper to stare so rudely at a woman?” (Aegis)
“My apologies. Still, you’re not one to get irritated over something trivial, are you? What happened? If you need help, just say the word. We’ve known each other for a long time, after all.” (Bacchus)
It didn’t seem to be about Lanpeach, which only piqued Bacchus’s curiosity. He decided to offer his unsolicited kindness.
“Hah! Who gives meat to a wolf with its mouth wide open? I’ll handle it myself, so there’s no need.” (Aegis)
“Well, if you ever find yourself in trouble, let me know.” (Bacchus)
She scoffed and laughed through her nose, her sharp gaze unwavering. Bacchus simply shrugged, having expected that reaction.
But what could have caused her to lose her composure like this?
━━━ As they continued their casual conversation, the crowd suddenly stirred with excitement.
“Oh, looks like Lanpeach has arrived. The one everyone’s been waiting for. …Huh? He’s brought quite a group with him. Even kids?” (Bacchus)
Lanpeach entered through the grand entrance. However, he wasn’t alone. He escorted several beautiful young women. Among them was Chihiro, but there were also others Bacchus didn’t recognize. Furthermore, there were two little girls with them.
The young women and the children were all elegantly dressed, their gowns and accessories perfectly suited to the occasion.
“What’s this? Are those Lanpeach’s kids? Or did he bring all his lovers and mistresses? Honestly, it suits him too well.” (Bacchus)
Lanpeach’s minor villain smile was the very embodiment of a man reveling in his newfound status. His behavior seemed to shout, I’ve made it big and I’m enjoying every second of it.
“Well, anyone fooled by that face will regret it later. Now then, since he’s my dear friend, I’d better go say hello. What about you, Aegis-do—huh!?” (Bacchus)
As Bacchus casually boasted of his friendship with Lanpeach and turned to Aegis, he was startled. Her eyes had turned a blood-red hue, and for an instant, her face looked terrifying.
However, it seemed to have been his imagination, as her usual serene smile quickly returned.
“You’re right, Bacchus. I know him too, so I should go greet him.” (Aegis)
With that, the two headed toward Lanpeach to exchange greetings.
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Oh, is she Mei’s mother? Mad Mei found a new family perhaps