I Was Caught up in a Hero Summoning, but That World Is at Peace

Inside the lively venue, restlessly glancing around as she walked was the former Hero Actor, Kaori Mizuhara…… Since she was here anyway, she’d decided to participate in the game tournament, but had lost in the third round. Now, she was wandering around the venue, looking for someone she knew.

(H- Hmm…… Compared to the previous ship party, there are more people here who look like regular folks, so I do feel a bit more at ease. But still, that just makes it harder to find anyone I know. Kaito-kun and I don’t have that many mutual acquaintances, so I hope I can at least spot Akane-san or someone……)

Unlike the ship party, this event wasn’t limited to prominent figures from various sectors. It also included servants from Lilia’s household, the War King’s subordinates, and even family members of the Underworld King. It wasn’t a situation where every direction you looked was filled with famous faces.

That said, the increased number of attendees made it difficult to find anyone, and Kaori didn’t want to risk approaching a stranger———— there was always the chance that they were someone famous she didn’t recognize, which she wanted to avoid.

Kaori was an ordinary civilian. While she knew the names of the War King’s Executives, she hadn’t actually seen many of them, so recognizing them at a glance was difficult. And when it comes to nobles, she’s absolutely clueless.

In reality, there were only a few nobles present at the party, but Kaori had no way of knowing that.

As she shifted her gaze, thinking she should at least look for Akane or Shigenobu, she suddenly felt a tense and hostile presence up ahead.

[……Don’t make that unpleasant face. Today is a celebration for Miyama-sama. We can’t afford any disturbances. You should be glad you’re walking away with your life.]

[Walking away with my life? You know, they say the weaker the dog, the louder it barks. The howling of a brutish fool is quite irritating. It’s laughable for someone the likes of you to talk about my life. And I would prefer if a mutt like you refrained from speaking the lofty name of Miyama-sama, it’s unpleasant to my ears.]

[Oh? Is that so? If I’ve offended you, then I consider it a fortunate outcome, but the truly revolting pervert here is you, isn’t it? Can’t even assess yourself properly, how narrow-minded. And no, my missing eye isn’t connected to this matter. At our level, that’s no handicap. The narrowness I’m talking about is in your mental outlook.]

[It’s almost comical to hear a brainless musclehead desperately try to sound sarcastic.]

Up ahead in Kaori’s path were Agni, War King’s Head Executive, and Pandora, Phantasmal King’s Head Executive…… two individuals infamous for being bitter rivals, glaring at each other and trading barbed remarks.

Of course, given the setting, neither of them was releasing magical pressure or showing any intent to escalate the situation physically. Even so, their mutual hatred was genuine, and neither wanted to be the first to back down, so they were locked in a fierce verbal clash.

(Ababababa, n- n- n- nope, this way is a no-go…… Let’s try somewhere else……)

Though they weren’t clashing with their magic power, just witnessing two Duke-Rank Demons in a standoff was more than enough to make Kaori immediately change course and hurry in another direction.

She’d just barely avoided getting caught in an intense scene, only to find, a moment later, that another pair up ahead were also locked in a fierce glare.

[Well, of course, it goes without saying, really, but I am the God of Ocean…… THE GOD OF OCEAN! So naturally, I brought an ocean-themed gift. How about you, Eingana-san? Oh, could it be you went with something like sea serpent scales?]

[Oya, oya… how very simplistic———- ah no, I mean, how delightfully straightforward of you, Marine-san. It’s almost admirable how you feel the need to show off what you preside over in situations like this, as if you fear people might forget otherwise. As for me, well, even if I don’t give something ocean-related, the fact that I am the ruler of the great ocean is common knowledge. It’s a basic truth, so there’s no need for me to flaunt it. Unlike, say…… someone whose name recognition is somewhat lacking.]

[……Y- Yes, you’re absolutely right. That’s a wonderfully wise decision. As expected of the thoughtful and knowledgeable Eingana-san, I’m genuinely impressed. Yes, indeed…… Competing in a field where one stands no chance would be pointless. After all, someone like you could never surpass me when it comes to dominion over the ocean. It’s a prudent and rational choice.]

[……Indeed. The authority granted by the God of Creation Shallow Vernal-sama is truly magnificent, isn’t it? Yes, truly…… That said, to have nothing to boast of except the power that was bestowed upon you by a great being, it’s rather pitiful, don’t you think?]

[…………………]

[…………………]

This tense, spark-filled exchange of sarcasm and glares was between Marine and Eingana————- Though they’d both taken lessons from the previous ship party and refrained from clashing magical power or letting things escalate into a fight, they still clearly didn’t like each other, so the moment they were face-to-face, the taunting began.

For Kaori, who had stumbled upon this scene, it was more than enough to handle……

(H- Hyiiihh…… T- This spot’s no good either…… W- Well, with this many people around, I guess it’s only natural that some don’t get along. S- Scary…… Okay, let’s try somewhere else……)

Having now run into not one, but two of the most infamously antagonistic pairs in the entire venue, Kaori was having incredibly bad luck, but she still managed to pull herself away from the area.

Just then, as she reached a slightly more open part of the hall, she happened, completely by chance, to bump into someone approaching from another direction.

[……Oya?]

[Arehh?]

[This is……]

By some perfectly timed coincidence, the three of them…… Lilia, Eris, and Kaori came to a stop, ending up facing one another.

---

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [Three stomachache warriors…… it’s here! ? ? ? !!!]

? ? ? : [Eh? What’s here?]

Serious-senpai : [……Errr…… Seriousness?]

? ? ? : [Nope, not coming. I mean, I guess if you’re talking about how their stomachache-inducing situations are serious for them, well, yeah, it’s serious, I guess?]