Chapter 18: The Family Dinner Party
"..."
At the banquet table in the social party.
The atmosphere could be described with one word—stifling.
Eikou, Gawain, and Tristan, all three quietly turned their chopsticks toward themselves.
They gave up on attacking, switching to full defensive mode.
The moment they sat down, they had already decided on a strategic retreat.
Because sitting across from them—was a heavyweight Servant, Gawain's mother—Queen Morgan, both beautiful and seductive.
Why the hell is she here?!
Eikou really wanted to scream that out loud.
Sending private photos through messages wasn't enough? Now she wants a face-to-face meeting too?
"Gawain."
Morgan's piercing deep blue eyes turned toward Gawain, who slightly shrank his shoulders. He still tried to maintain a gentlemanly polite smile on his face, but it was obvious he was as tense as a drawn string.
Morgan looked down on him from above, her voice as cold as ice.
"Gawain, you are the son I trust the most. I didn't expect you to take part in this frivolous party. As the eldest of the family, you should be studying properly and setting an example for your younger siblings."
Then she's even worse than Gawain. What kind of parent crashes a party meant for the younger generation?!
Eikou couldn't help but complain inwardly.
"I came here because I'm concerned for the safety of my daughters. I need to manage some of their social relationships," Morgan said.
"Besides, this hotel is a property under my jurisdiction. I can come and go as I please."
Immediate response, like she had mind-reading powers.
"...I'm sorry, Mother-sama. I'll go home and study right now."
Gawain bowed his head, his face full of remorse.
"No need for that. Since you're already here, at least eat this meal before you leave."
"Yes, Mother-sama."
Gawain obediently sat up straight again.
Eikou really couldn't take it anymore.
"Honestly... This is as tragic as the Battle of Camlann..." Tristan sighed emotionally.
This is hell, actual hell. Who goes to a party and ends up running into their own mom?
And not just Morgan... If you looked closely, the girls dragged here just to make up the numbers for the party were also all members of this family, like Gareth, Mordred.
If you included Baobhan Sith too, it was literally a whole family combo.
This... this isn't even a social party anymore...
This is just "parents taking their kids out to eat," a mealtime between parents and children, nothing more than that.
Give me my money back, give me back my 3000 QP!
I didn't pay to attend some random family dinner.
But compared to Gawain, perhaps the one more embarrassed was himself.
At least Gawain could be considered the eldest son attending a family dinner, but what the hell was his own identity at this meal?
A "student coming over for dinner at a friend's house"?
Or maybe "the man about to become the stepdad of this family"?
Why the hell does a youth party have such a heavy atmosphere?!
"All right,"
Morgan's cold yet sweet voice rang out again.
"That's enough harsh words for now. I don't want to be the elder ruining everyone's mood. Let's enjoy the atmosphere of this party together."
Eikou froze, silently thinking—Morgan-san, you really plans to keep this party going, huh? Why not just call it a family dinner already?
"..."
Morgan stealthily glanced at everyone present, then her slender fingers reached for the chopsticks.
She calmly turned her chopsticks toward Eikou.
Her target was unmistakably clear.
She had found the one she was interested in at this social party and had begun asserting her domination.
Eikou: "???"
Morgan-san, so you're aware of these unspoken rules too! And your target is way too obvious, you didn't even hesitate!
This isn't good, this is seriously not good.
He thought he was the hunter at this party, but in the end, he was just the prey walking straight into the trap.
"Well then..."
Morgan turned to look at Eikou.
At first, her face was stern and cold, like the icy wind on a cliff.
But now, as if a gentle spring breeze had passed through, an enchanting, radiant smile appeared, dazzling to the point of being overwhelming.
"May I ask this young man to introduce himself a little?"
"Yes..."
He had no choice but to stand up and obediently say:
"My name is Mochizuki Eikou… currently single."
"What are your hobbies?"
"Playing games, and sleeping in... stuff like that."
"What kind of person are you attracted to?"
"Someone with both inner and outer beauty."
"I see," she nodded slightly, as if contemplating something.
Eikou let out a small sigh of relief. These questions weren't hard to answer; they were the usual party stuff. Her daughters were sitting next to her, so she was probably too embarrassed to ask anything too blatant.
"Eikou-san, I have one more question for you," Morgan spoke again.
Eikou thought to himself, Why the sudden shift to formal language? This is starting to feel like a matchmaking interview.
"Please go ahead, Lady."
"If you love a flower, would you also be willing to love her children?"
"???"
She actually said that out loud? Like this really was a marriage interview.
I came here to climb the ladder of adulthood, but this isn't a ladder—this is a damn elevator...
"Why are you spacing out? My mom is asking you a question. It's such an easy one, so why aren't you answering already?" Baobhan Sith snapped angrily.
Easy?! What part of that is easy?! That question involves your whole family! Are you saying you're all fine with me becoming your stepdad?!
Eikou leaned in closer to Gawain beside him and whispered, "This is bad, Gawain. I think your mother seriously sees this party as a matchmaking session. What do we do? She completely misunderstood the purpose of a social party."
"Actually, a social party and a matchmaking event aren't that different. Both are for finding love."
"There's a huge difference! To put it bluntly, a social party is just a bunch of hormone-fueled boys and girls who don't know where to release it, constantly drinking to raise the mood, and then using the excuse of 'party' to let it spiral into a wild orgy beyond control."
"Sir Eikou, I'm afraid you're the one with the more severe misunderstanding about social parties."
Then Gawain leaned in closer again and whispered:
"Even though my mom's here, you still have a shot with Baobhan Sith. My mom's already started it off, next it'll be my turn to help you warm things up."
"Gawain, you…"
Even in this situation, he still remembered his promise, still wanted to charge ahead for my sake?
"All right! My turn to ask a question!"
Gawain suddenly raised his chopsticks and pointed them at Gareth beside him, striking a pose like "your opponent is me" as if launching a move.
"May I ask this lovely Lady, what are your hobbies?"
Eikou was immediately filled with admiration.
As expected of Sir Gawain, truly the great Knight of the Sun, a man among men!
To help a friend, he dared to openly flirt with his own blood-related little sister right in front of his mom at a social party. That's some serious loyalty—borderline perverted even.
"Ah, well… I guess I like sword fighting and spear dueling…" Gareth said a bit shyly, but still answered obediently, "Big brother Gawain, you already know that stuff, don't you? Don't tell me… you're purposely trying to hit on me, um haha… that's, that's kind of gross, you know…"
Rejected! Just as expected, she looked down on him!
Not just Gareth—everyone else in the family was now staring at Gawain with terrifyingly cold eyes.
Before Eikou could stop him, the greatest man, Sir Gawain had already pointed his chopsticks at the next family member—Mordred.
"May I ask this lovely Lady, what are your hobbies?"
"Eww, has your brain finally been ruined by mashed potatoes or something?"
Mordred spoke with absolute, utter contempt.
Eikou turned away and quietly wiped away a tear.
Even now, you're still charging forward for the sake of my love...
Stop, Gawain. Don't sacrifice yourself like this for someone like me…
Or maybe I should just give your mother 5 QP and beg her to let the three of us go...