Chapter 1152 - At the Strange Tea Party of Sweets
────And so, several minutes after the completion of the massacre.
"Man, that was my first time seeing it, but that fourth one (......) was amazing."
"Mm."
"And why are you the one acting all smug, Princess?"
"Ah, haha..."
The three girls were still inside the dungeon. In the grand hall at the deepest part of the Fun Castle of Sweets, where they had just recently slain the King, they were now settled into a sweet, sweet tea party that had been courteously prepared, enjoying a peaceful chat.
The table itself was a giant round table made of biscuits. The chairs, which one felt slightly hesitant to sit on, were made of marzipan with a softness reminiscent of low-rebound memory foam. And spread across the tabletop was a variety of sweets that seemed to say they had included every single kind imaginable.
The accompanying drinks were, naturally, of the maximum sweetness specification (hot chocolate) — it was a seat of unbridled indulgence that might give some people a sense of excessive satisfaction just by looking at it.
In short, it was the midst of a fantasy that every maiden has likely dreamed of at least once.
"Fufu, I'm the one who put (.....) it in."
"Even if you say that like 'I'm the one who raised them'────ah, thanks."
The ones busily serving the former challengers (....) turned guests as they enjoyed their chat were the sweets themselves.
Food and drink consumed in the virtual world do not possess a 'sense of eating,' except during special periods like the Starry Sky event. Therefore, looking at it from the other side, it also has a faint positive aspect in that it is difficult to feel 'boredom' or 'cloying heaviness.'
In a sense, this is extremely compatible with all-you-can-eat sweets.
Nia, who had just finished a cup of ultra-sweet hot chocolate that would normally be enough to satisfy anyone, was having a "refill" poured for her by a candy soldier with zero guilt as she cheered... though since she was a sweets-lover to begin with, it was questionable if she could serve as evidence, but the general perception was the same.
In addition to that,
Licorice watchdogs ran playfully around their feet. Cotton candy fairies danced around merrily, whether out of consideration to liven things up or simply because they were having fun themselves.
And the chocolate soldiers of the King's Royal Guard took up various instruments made of confectionery, playing cheerful background music (BGM)... it was an unrealistic space that went far beyond just being happy about a mountain of sweets.
The world-building, which was like a picture book from start to finish, snatched away all tension and restraint from the guests.
Titled: Reward Time (......).
Regardless of whether one triggered the 'King' route or the 'Queen' route, the 'Strange "Hospitality" of Sweets' would be held after a Good End clear────
This could be called the greatest factor in why the [Fun Castle of Sweets] enjoyed endless popularity.
That being said,
"In the end, how did it happen that the Princess took charge of the fourth one again?"
Whether or not to receive the hospitality was an optional choice. If one accepted, they could stay for as long as they liked. It was the custom for those who loved this Fun Castle to enjoy the never-ending banquet of the tireless, never-bored sweets while engaging in endless conversation over the equally endless paradise of treats.
Following that tradition, the fairy and the princess took charge of the infinite chatting, leaving aside for a moment the angel who was listening to the conversation but was a little busy and could only manage a nod at best.
"Mm, we were talking about how 'Lightning' would be good for the fourth one... even before we went up the floors."
"Mm-hmm."
"I was consulted as well, so I knew about it."
"Right, right."
"When I asked if they were going to rely on the Twin Wings (those two) again, Sora said 'Yes.'"
"Yeah, yeah."
"So I acted a bit sulky, saying────there's someone suited for 'Lightning' right here, though."
"What are you doing, [Sword Queen]-sama?"
"It's unfair for them to keep her all to themselves."
"I don't know if it's keeping her to themselves or keeping her to the two of them..."
And so on and so forth.
Shifting her gaze from Iris, who was munching on cake with movements truly befitting a princess while telling a truly childish episode without any sign of guilt or shame.
When Nia stole a glance toward Sora,
"...っ, um, well, that is............ ehe."
The girl, who indeed seemed busy, gave an ambiguous smile with an expression that looked troubled but not entirely displeased. Apparently, she didn't dislike being fought over (....).
It was something Nia already knew, but the fact that she wasn't just (..) modest was also part of her charm.
"Well, if the people themselves are fine with it... Speaking of which, what about Minalina-chan and the others? Did they just give in to the selfish Princess?"
As Nia continued her questions while looking back with a warm feeling────
"No, we had a fair and square duel (..)."
"What are you doing???"
This was the state of that girl's twenty-year-old senior. Nia offered a silent prayer for the world and herself for being toyed with, as she had to admit that this, too, was infinitely charming to a sinful degree.
"Um, no, that's wrong, it was a duel (Rock-Paper-Scissors)...! Rock, paper...!"
"I launched a surprise attack on Mi-na and won with paper."
"Wow, that's so childish."
That said, Iris was Iris and Minalina was Minalina. Though both had their quirks, at their core, they were within the framework of moral humanity among the top-tier Arcadians Nia knew.
They likely both accepted the result after all was said and done. Interpreting it loosely like that, Nia kept her exasperated retorts to a moderate level while crunching and munching on a mille-feuille────
"Our relationship was hard to call friendly before, but now we've been officially certified as 'Arch-nemeses.'"
"Wait, you didn't reconcile at all!?"
But after munching and swallowing politely, she ended up having a retort pulled out of her anyway. It wasn't a deliberate "airhead" act, but rather a resulting "airhead" move born from simply going her own way.
In short, it was the usual.
"Fufu... I'm looking forward to the future (what's ahead), aren't I?"
"You battle-crazy princess...────Well, putting the 'Useless Princess' episode aside for now."
"...Useless Princess, episode (epi)?"
Since it was the usual, Nia just gave her a half-hearted "yes, yes, you're cute, you're cute" to brush it off. Leaving aside Iris, whose expressionless face crumbled just a tiny bit in dissatisfaction as declared...
"Sora-chan, are you okay?"
She shifted her gaze and consciousness again to call out to the girl who had been busy (.....) this whole time.
Now, just what was she so busy doing? It was simply────
"Eh, ah, um, y-yes... that is────"
『────, ──っ! ──────!』
"I-I'm sorry...! Um, that is............ ──yes. Check... mate."
『────っ!!? ────!!!』
This (..). Just like this (....).
Because she had been made to be the King's (..) playmate for a loooooooooong time.
That was none other than the [Terpadore King Chocolatier] whom Sora had crushed into dust in a double sense earlier... in a miniaturized, bite-sized (.....) form.
The King, who had become small enough to fit on a palm, was just as extreme a sore loser as he had been before────which made sense, as they weren't just the same person, but the same confectionery.
The merry inhabitants of the [Fun Castle of Sweets]. They were magical mental lifeforms (......) residing in sweet bodies.
In short, losing their confectionery (body) was not death, disappearance, or the end for them; they would revive as many times as they liked as long as there were ingredients... which meant that in a 'Castle' where ingredients were endless, they were essentially immortal existences. It was fantasy at its peak.
One didn't have to feel guilt for crushing them. This was likely another reason why the Fun Castle was so well-loved (.....).
────And so,
『────! ────っ!』
"O-one more time...? Um────y-yes! It's okay! I'll play with you...! Please calm down, um, King...!"
"He's really taken a liking to her."
"He really has, hasn't he?"
With the addition of the lively frolicking between the girl and the small treat, the tea party continued peacefully and at great length.
It was hard to say when everyone would finally be satisfied... colored by the sweet scent and cheerful music, it ended up continuing for over an hour after that.
◇ You have acquired a special title ◇
・『Friend of the Strange Royal Confectionery』 Effect: You are remembered as a friend by [Terpadore King Chocolatier].
Come and play again anytime, my dear arch-rival.