Nero was taken aback.
Alice had hugged her so boldly that she couldn't help but think, If Claire were here, she'd definitely lose her mind.
After their heartfelt embrace, Alice took Nero's hand and led her to a seat, her cheeks still tinted with a faint blush.
With practiced ease, Alice pulled Nero into the seat closest to her own.
"What about Rain? Isn't her position supposed to be the one closest to Alice?"
When Nero turned to Rain for an explanation, the mage replied with a calm smile, "This meal is to honor Her Highness and the valiant heroes being commended. As members of her personal guard, Lady Claire and I are not to take seats at the table but to stand by Her Highness's side."
"Yunyun, come sit with us too," Alice called out warmly.
As one of Nero's teammates, Yunyun's assigned seat was naturally among those closest to Alice.
At the long rectangular table, Alice, as the highest-ranking person, sat at the head. Nero and Yunyun occupied the seats nearest to her.
Rain, ever composed, remained standing respectfully beside Alice.
"I've been keeping track of your deeds since returning to the capital, Sister. I always knew someone as strong as you could defeat the Demon King's generals, but to take down half of them in such a short time? That's truly remarkable!"
"Umu! Naturally—it's me, after all!" Nero crossed her arms, exuding boundless confidence. "However, the credit isn't mine alone. Yunyun, Megumin, and the others all played crucial roles. That slime's immunity to physical attacks and massive size would've been a challenge even for me."
"Yes, I've heard about it. From the final blow delivered to the poisonous slime Hans by the high priest Aqua, to the combined magic of Yunyun and Megumin that defeated the chimera Sylvia. Their contributions, as well as those of Lalatina and Kazuma, were indispensable in those battles."
Nero nodded at Alice's assessment. She had to admit that Hans, the poisonous slime, was a poor match for her.
Hans's mountainous size and immunity to all physical attacks left her with few options to deal significant damage. As in the original story, Aqua absorbed the prayers of all Axis cultists and obliterated Hans with a single punch.
Sylvia was another tough opponent. Though Nero initially cut her down with ease, Sylvia later returned after fusing with the remnants of both Beldia and Hans. With her enhanced abilities, immunity to physical attacks, and a shield that negated magical damage, Sylvia had become virtually invincible.
In the original timeline, Kazuma had used his "charm" to bait Sylvia into absorbing him, exploiting the fusion to act as her weak point. This allowed Yunyun and Megumin, armed with the collective mana of the Crimson Demons, to obliterate Sylvia and Kazuma together.
But with Nero in the picture, Kazuma's life wasn't on the line.
Nero's Noble Phantasm, Regalia of the Maiden's Song, was key. This anti-unit ability unleashed a devastating defense-ignoring attack, breaking Sylvia's magical shield. Yunyun and Megumin followed up with their most powerful light sword and explosion magic to finish the job.
As Nero recounted these battles, Alice hung on her every word, her excitement evident.
Noticing Alice's eager expression, Nero smirked.
"Umu! Since Kazuma and his party haven't arrived yet and there's still time before the meal begins, why don't I tell you more about my and Yunyun's adventures?"
"Yes, please! I'd love to hear them!"
Rain, observing the scene from Alice's side, couldn't help but smile at the princess's enthusiasm.
When Claire entered the room, she was met with the sight of Nero animatedly narrating her tales, while Alice listened intently, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
Though Claire furrowed her brow in mild irritation, she wisely refrained from saying anything. Instead, she quietly took her place beside Alice, mirroring Rain's stance.
A short while later, Kazuma's team finally arrived.
Though the doors remained closed, Nero's enhanced hearing picked up Darkness's voice from outside.
"Listen carefully. When we meet Princess Alice, all you need to do is eat quietly and not cause any trouble! This isn't a casual gathering—any mistake here could cost us our heads!"
Darkness giving this warning is like trying to keep a reckless puppy from misbehaving, Nero thought, suppressing a laugh.
The doors opened, and Nero's eyes brightened at the sight of the arriving group.
First was Darkness. Gone was her usual armor, replaced by an elegant white gown. Her long golden hair was neatly braided and draped over her right shoulder, giving her an air of refined maturity.
Next was Megumin, who wore a striking black gown that contrasted beautifully with her fair skin. The off-shoulder design left much of her skin exposed, giving her a surprisingly sophisticated look.
And then there was Aqua. Despite being the most radiant of them all in her pristine white gown, she could only maintain her divine, goddess-like aura until she opened her mouth. The moment she spoke, that sacred image would undoubtedly shatter.
Darkness, exuding the dignity of a noble, approached Alice and performed a deep bow.
"Thank you for your patience, Princess Alice. Dustiness Ford Lalatina, along with her adventurer companions, greets you humbly."
Her impeccable manners left nothing to criticize—an uncharacteristic departure from her usual behavior.
However…
"Iris?!"
"Isn't that Iris?!"
"What is Iris doing here?!"
Behind Darkness, Kazuma, Megumin, and Aqua openly gawked at Alice with wide-eyed shock.
"You insolent commoners!" Claire's patience finally snapped. She stepped forward, her hand already on the hilt of her sword. "To shout so brazenly in Her Highness's presence, and to look directly at her with such disrespectful eyes—how dare you?! Even for crude adventurers, this is beyond unacceptable!"