Black Summoner – Chapter 519

Keller’s Mansion – Dining Hall

Waking up from my dream, I immediately returned to the mansion. After getting permission from Tsubaki-sama to use the transfer gate, Melfina had declared “I’m coming too!” and we returned to the mansion together. Then, I gathered everyone in the dining hall. I needed to discuss the date of the decisive battle, which I had promised Kuromel in my dream.

However, the situation was…

“Delicious! This is too delicious…! Efil, you’ve outdone yourself again!”
“I am honored by your praise, Tsubaki-sama.”
“Gustav-sama, please come back already! How long do you intend to be away from the country?!”
“Hah! Isn’t that what Victor is for?! You, to come all the way here!”
“Hey, hey, Setsuna~. Let me feed you~. Open up~.”
“………”
“Hey, please stop doing things that could cause misunderstandings! Look, Touya and the others are dumbfounded!”
“That’s right! Instead, I’ll be the sacrifice! Alright Fu-chan, you can have as much as you want!”
“…Is that a form of love in itself? What do you think, Sera-chan?”
“You know, I’ve learned one thing through all this. It’s that… love transcends racial boundaries! Melfina and I are together. So transcending gender barriers is nothing strange!”
“Oh my! What a surprise!”
“N-Now, Sera. About that talk of race and gender, it hits me directly, so please stop it seriously?”
“Um, Gerard-san. I only have the barrier of race, so I’m safe, right…? Eek, I said it!”
“I-I can’t take it anymore… Melfina-sama’s scent is… insufficient… Gufuh…!”
“Colette-chan, hang in there! Hurry up and get between Older Kel and Rion-chan!”

—This is incredibly disorganized! Just gathering a snippet of the conversations happening in the dining hall paints a vivid picture. Our mansion’s dining hall is supposed to be quite spacious, but today the chairs at the long table are insufficient, it’s that crowded. What is going on?

Of course, royalty from major nations, heroes and demon kings from across time and space, and even the world’s most eccentric individuals have gathered. I admit, I was the one who called for them, but I never expected them to gather so quickly. I’d only planned on discussing it with my immediate family, but it’s turned into a world summit. Who’s going to lead this? Me?

“Ahem, ahem! Everyone, I’ve gathered you all here today for one reason. The date for the decisive battle is…”

—Rustle, rustle, chatter! No matter how I tried to speak, the noise didn’t stop. Naturally, people who could do somersaults at the slightest provocation have gathered in this room. It would be uncanny if it were quiet.

“Hey, hey, Older Kel.”
“Hmm? What is it?”

Giving up halfway, I decided to focus on Rion’s voice, pulling on the hem of my clothes. Rion is so cute today. I’ll escape reality until the fervor of this place dies down. Yes, that’s the best. It’s so healing.

“I’ve thought about it before, but this long table in the dining hall… doesn’t it look like the kind of table you’d see in a manga for villain organizations’ meeting scenes?”
“Huh? Ah, yeah… I guess it’s a common trope?”

She’s probably thinking of those scenes in battle manga, anime, or movies where villains’ executives gather. They’d meet in a typical conference room or venue, say meaningful lines, and introduce themselves to the readers, all while sitting around a table like this.

“…You don’t mean you want to try it?”
“Just for fun, a little game here! Everyone seems to be having a good time, and I just wanted to experience the mood once…”

It seems Rion had wanted to do something like that for a while. It’s rare for so many skilled individuals and interesting characters to gather. Seeing this as a good opportunity, she made the proposal. I can understand her feelings, but at my age, to do something like that—

“Is it… no…?”
“—Everyone seems to have gathered. We shall now commence the regular meeting.”

I have no choice but to do it. If my little sister gives me that look, I have no other choice.

“That was a rather sudden summons. Did something happen?”
Naturally, Rion is all in. She rested her elbows on the table, striking a pose that one of the characters might strike.

“This is a busy period. Please get to the point quickly.”
Unexpectedly, Miyabi cut into our conversation. She had been watching Setsuna and the others’ interaction with a dumbfounded look until just now. Yet, she seamlessly joined in, and the way she tilted her trademark witch’s hat diagonally… Touya and Nana are now looking at us with their eyes wide open.

“Fufu… Kelvin, is that story true? It looks like it’s about to get interesting.”
Even Sera has joined in. For some reason, she’s holding a wine glass and conspicuously tilting it. Sera’s combat uniform has a military design that’s more suited to a villain, making it very fitting. Ugh, I thought it looked cool for a moment…! But wait a minute. I haven’t even gotten to the main topic yet, so what’s going to be interesting? And that in your glass, it’s grape juice, right? It’s not wine, is it?

“How cruel, Elder Sister. Even though our retainer Victor has been defeated, you say it’s interesting.”
“Hmph, Victor has been defeated… Of all the Four Heavenly Kings of Demon, he is the most nagging, like a mother-in-law.”
Perhaps because Sera had joined the role-playing, Bell and then Serabel joined in, and then my father-in-law started participating in the conversation. As an actual demon, perhaps they’re used to it, as the atmosphere is quite fitting. And why are you all holding glasses too? The Baal family isn’t good with alcohol, but do you have some sort of agreement? Bell’s cocktail glass has a cherry floating in fizzy carbonated water. …Hey, that’s just carbonated water, right!? You can trust me, right!?

“………”
Meanwhile, Victor has stopped interjecting, reading the room. He’s become completely invisible, stubbornly upholding the setting that Bell started. In his hand, there is a colored paper with elegant calligraphy that reads, “It’s grape juice and carbonated water” — Ah, a competent subordinate who suffers, that phrase perfectly describes Victor…

“Master, let’s calm down for a moment. Please have some black tea.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you. Please serve everyone as well.”

From then on, this trend continued to spread, eventually turning into a full-fledged, all-participant theatrical performance. Due to a strange stroke of luck, our intentions aligned, and I decided to take advantage of it.

“—And so, next weekend, we will engage in a decisive battle with the White Ark in the central sea regions of the Eastern, Western, and Northern Continents.”
“Foh foh foh, my arms are itching for battle.”
“Kukuku, leave the transportation to us, the Traage Air Fleet. Once you board, there’s no guarantee of return; it’s a one-way ticket.”
“No, I’m sure it will be alright. We have the blessings of the gods, so it is our destiny. As a shrine maiden who serves God, I guarantee it.”
“What are you saying, Colette? We are going to fight that god-like being. Logically, it doesn’t make sense, Fu-chan thinks. The data is insufficient, so just kill them without worrying about destiny! Hehe!”
“Oh my, do you have complaints about God? Then, shall I run for the position of a new goddess?”

Some used their status and personalities to their advantage, while others were on the verge of collapse due to overdoing their characters. However, thanks to the benefit of the original motif being a meeting, the crucial agenda was communicated without delay. In the end, I’m grateful to Rion. And honestly, I’m starting to enjoy myself a little. If I consider it a form of communication, this method might not be so bad.

“Fufu. This is fun, Rion-chan.”
“Ah, Shutra-chan! Your acting was so realistic just now. I caught a glimpse of your cool female executive persona!”
“Ehehe, it reminds me of our meetings at the castle.”
“Huh? The castle? What do you mean?”
“It’s a secret~.”
“Ehh, tell me~.”

Thus, our scattered hearts connected, and we united to face the decisive battle.