About five minutes after deplaning at the Shanhaijing airport.
Near the gate, I spotted a Xuanlongmen executive, dressed in something akin to an agent's attire, standing with a cup of tea in hand.
The agent, who seemed to have glanced at the Tea Party attendants following me from behind his sunglasses, promptly handed the tea to me.
It seemed he had been waiting with the tea as a way to identify a member of the Tea Party, but couldn't he have just held up a sign or something…?.
Well, if the goal was not to attract attention, I wanted to praise it as an excellent method.
Except that since I was visiting another district on official business, I had brought attendants with me, rendering the effort meaningless.
In fact, if it weren't for Nagisa, I wouldn't have brought them at all, official business or not.
I had simply gone along with it because I had no reason to exhaust myself arguing against her insistence that bringing attendants would help me not get "overpowered by the aura" of the "Black Sovereign of Shanhaijing.".
Honestly, whether I had a few people behind me or was alone, there was absolutely no way my spirit would be broken.
If I ever came back saying I was overpowered, the real Mika would probably laugh at me until she died.
As I was thinking this and accepted the tea, the man suddenly bowed deeply in greeting.
It seemed I had to retract what I had just thought.
What do you mean, not attracting attention? I felt like a mafia boss who had come to make a deal with the Triads.
"Welcome to Shanhaijing, Tea Party Host. The tea I have just handed you is a Pu'er tea from our proud Taoyuan Village. I am not unaware that the proper etiquette is to serve tea that suits your tastes, but… as the Tea Party of Trinity's exceptional love for tea is famous even in our Shanhaijing, I believed you would welcome the opportunity to sample the finest aged tea that Taoyuan has to offer, and so I have prepared it in advance".
"Hmm… But you've brought the tea all the way from Taoyuan and kept it this warm? If my memory from my last visit serves me correctly, Taoyuan is on the complete opposite side of the airport".
"…That was, with the help of a thermos. Ahem. My apologies. My enthusiasm seems to have gotten the better of me".
"It feels a little strange for a group that values tradition, but I guess the taste doesn't really change just because it was in a thermos, right? Anyway, thank you, I'll enjoy it☆".
"Ahem… Yes, then I shall escort you to the Xuanlongmen's Six Flowers Pavilion. This way, please".
He was a little different from the image I had of a Xuanlongmen executive.
It felt like he had a screw loose somewhere….
Ah, right, that was the essence of Blue Archive.
I had forgotten that there wasn't a single student who was perfect in every way.
How could a mob character be any different?.
I took a light sip of the Pu'er tea, which was still at a pleasantly warm temperature. And….
Hmm, the aroma was barely there, and the taste was so subtle it was hard to describe.
It was so different from its appearance that I was actually a little surprised.
Still, I suppose the words 'pride' and 'finest' weren't used for nothing; the subtle woody aroma and the savory taste that lingered on the tip of my tongue were surprisingly not bad.
I got the strong feeling that this was an expensive tea, but I wasn't sure if it was worth drinking at such a cost… but what does it matter when I have money to burn?.
We drove through the city of Shanhaijing in the car driven by the Xuanlongmen executive. A scenery that made me feel like I had come to Chinatown flashed past the window.
As I had felt when I came with Haruna last time, this place, being based on China, was truly vibrant.
It was especially so at night.
"We have arrived".
The place where the Xuanlongmen executive stopped the car was near a huge paifang. In other words, this was the school gate of the Shanhaijing campus.
And beyond this….
"Tch, those damn Xuanwu Merchant Association bastards are ruining the guests' image of Shanhaijing…
As I thought, we should just tear this all down…".
It wasn't a joke; when people in Kivotos thought of Shanhaijing, the first thing that came to mind was the Xuanwu Merchant Association's food district.
…For the record, Haruna had a history of blowing up several restaurants here as well.
Just as a sparrow cannot simply pass by a mill, how could Haruna, who lost all reason when it came to gourmet, not be drawn to Shanhaijing?.
So, when we first visited the Xuanwu Merchant Association, a rather awkward situation had unfolded because of Haruna.
Thankfully, we managed to resolve it well, and I ended up in a collaborative relationship with the head of the Xuanwu Merchant Association, Akeshiro Rumi.
But when the students of the Xuanwu Merchant Association came at us in a group, I really thought something terrible was about to happen.
In any case, as the Xuanlongmen and the Xuanwu Merchant Association were on the worst of terms, I had heard that the people of Xuanlongmen were displeased with the current situation where the Xuanwu Merchant Association had become the de facto face of the academy.
I had also heard that this situation had stemmed from the Xuanlongmen's one-sided animosity, and it seemed that was true.
Passing through the food district and entering the proper grounds of Shanhaijing, the scenery changed completely. The atmosphere of the colorfully decorated restaurants faded, and elegant, traditional buildings caught the eye.
"From here on out is the 'real' Shanhaijing".
"Ahaha…".
I was in the middle of admiring it, did you really have to ruin the mood like that? When I came with Haruna, we never left the food district, so this was my first time seeing this part.
"Whoa…".
"Hmph. Guests who lay their eyes on the Six Flowers Pavilion for the first time tend to have that reaction. Its exterior is grand and elegant, and its interior possesses a splendor that cannot be seen anywhere else in Kivotos. That is the essence of the Six Flowers Pavilion".
As the guide said, the moment I stepped inside the Six Flowers Pavilion, the dazzlingly ornate decorations and wallpaper made my head spin.
It was so glittery that even the Tea Party building seemed to pale in comparison.
"…Mika-nim, should we perhaps pay more attention to our decorations as well?".
"Hmm? No, no, there's no need for that. The restrained beauty of the Tea Party is nice to look at, isn't it? And if I allocated the budget for something like that, I'd get an earful from Nagisa-chan.
I'd get an earful from Nagisa-chan".
There were plenty of more useful ways to spend the budget. Except for those ridiculously expensive books that the head of the Library Club kept requesting.
I had only approved those a mere two times since I started this job.
I would rather allocate the budget to anti-sukeban policies than to decorations.
As we continued to move deeper into the Xuanlongmen's territory, we soon found ourselves in what was clearly our destination. And.
"The Head of the School is arriving!".
The second student council president I had met in person, excluding the two from my own academy and the General Student Council President, made her appearance with a leisurely stride.
Her black hair was tied up in a typical bun style and adorned with a butterfly ornament. She wore a black qipao dress with a dragon pattern that clung to her body, revealing her figure, and over it, a coat that gave off the strong impression of a mafia or triad boss.
A glint swirled in her eyes that made it seem stranger if she hadn't drunk the rejuvenation potion made by Yakushi Saya.
Ryuge Kisaki. The Black Sovereign of Shanhaijing.
Her true form was that of a small giant whose height was similar to or perhaps a little taller than Hina's, but whose aura was second to none.
…Hmm, maybe she only seems taller than Hina because of the heels?.
The aura I'm referring to was not one of martial prowess. To be honest, the feeling was completely different from when I first met Hina or Neru.
Hina exuded the aura of a proud warrior, so much so that even I, at the time, felt an unconscious fighting spirit.
Neru had a strong feeling of 'I'll crush anyone who gets in my way.'.
Kisaki, on the other hand, had what could only be described as the air of a ruler. It was a quality I had not seen in any of the other students I had met so far.
"Tea Party Host, you have come a long way. I must say it is an honor to meet you face to face like this. I have long wished to meet you, the one who has made the most notable moves among the current generation of student council presidents… Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am the head of the Xuanlongmen, the student council of Shanhaijing Senior School, Ryuge Kisaki".
"It is an honor for me as well to meet you, the one known as the Black Sovereign of Shanhaijing, Head of the Xuanlongmen. I apologize for not visiting you during my last trip to Shanhaijing. At the time, I was only visiting for tourism and some personal business".
"As I mentioned in my letter, I felt a pang of disappointment but was not let down. The mere fact that you have taken the time to visit again is a source of joy for me. And one more thing".
Kisaki tilted her head slightly and asked an unexpected question.
"Why… are you using such a formal tone? As far as I know, you are not one to be bound by etiquette and formality".
"…Was I not sufficiently formal in my letter?".
"Indeed, now that you say it, I am at a loss for words. However, I would prefer it if you did not go so far as to wear clothes that do not fit you just to be polite. If I were to cause you any discomfort, in any way, would that not mean that my treatment of a guest was lacking?".
Hmm. Was it that obvious I was uncomfortable? I thought I was coming off a bit more naturally than before, so I thought I was getting better, but it seems that wasn't the case.
Perhaps it was because Kisaki's aura was so unique, despite her appearance, that I felt it would be better to be polite.
Well, in any case, if she's telling me to act as I usually do, then of course I'm happy to.
"…Hmm. Alright, if you say so. I'll gladly accept your offer, Kisaki-chan☆".
"…How rude! Even if she is the student council president of another academy, she is not someone you can address so lightly. Know your time and place—".
"Wait, you are the one being rude. What is this insolence toward the Host of Trinity's Tea Party—".
"Enough. What is this rudeness toward my guest?".
"B-but, Head of the School!".
"Did I not tell you to stop?".
"Yes, ma'am! My apologies, Head of the School!".
The Xuanlongmen member who had announced Kisaki's arrival had gotten worked up all on his own, and after getting a stern reprimand, he bowed his head to me.
Looking at him, shouldn't he be the one to be more mindful of time and place?.
I didn't forget to gently admonish the attendant who had spoken up for me. Still, I was grateful, so I left it at that.
"By the way, I do not recall giving you permission to address me so comfortably…".
"Ahaha. But the General Student Council President is about the only person I don't call like this".
"…I see. Indeed, a figure like the General Student Council President is someone that even you would hesitate to address casually. Hmm… it seems this conversation will be a long one, so let us first move to our seats".
Perhaps it was because of her coat, or perhaps not. In some ways, Kisaki was a girl with a similar feel to Hina.
…How can someone be both cute and cool at the same time?.