However, not every day was a battlefield. Rest and moderation were considered, and moments of leisure were granted. This was one such scene. A warm day, depicting a peaceful moment in the life of Chaldea—
"Hum-hum-huuuun♪ La-la-laaa♪ Te-te-te~♪"
When Rikka was called to the control room, she was met by our very own Romani Archaman, who was pacing back and forth with an empty plate in a state of high spirits.
"Ah, you're here, Rikka-kun! Great job on the ZIPANG farming! Thanks to your terrifyingly intense grinding, Chaldea's resources are overflowing! Thank you!"
"That's fine and all, but… what are you doing, Romani? Is this some suspicious ritual?"
Rikka threw him a bone, as an audience member's courtesy. He answered brightly.
"Oh, this? These are preparations for an event you can only do this time of year! After all, it's the end of September! There's only one thing to do!"
"It's moon-viewing, Rikka," Olga Marie cut in, flatly spoiling the reveal. She had finished adjusting Sheba and Trismegistus and was currently stretching in relaxation mode. "Well, since we're in Antarctica and it's always a blizzard, we have to settle for recorded visuals."
"An event to share drinks and talk with friends under the moon. I figured it would be a good change of pace, so I gave the green light. The Association and the others sent word that 'maintaining the status quo' is fine for now, so let's take it easy."
"Marie, you're the best! Moon-viewing… it's been so long since I've done something so delicate… I can't even remember the last time…"
"Sometimes the decision to do nothing is important. You've achieved such a great feat; no one is going to blame you for resting."
Click. Olga Marie switched Chaldea's power to emergency mode, dimming the lights. The Director didn't cut corners when it came to setting the mood.
"So, you have come, Master? Since you are a minor, you shall make do with soda. I have already begun enjoying myself."
"Hell yeah. Drink up, drink up~"
In the middle of the control room, the King of Heroes and the Genius (Da Vinci) were already sharing drinks. There was no moon yet, but you couldn't expect people like them to wait for the official start.
"W-Well, don't mind those two. Just accept it as it is. I placed an order with Jeanne Alter to make the dango, so I'm sure they'll be exquisite."
When you think sweets, you think Jalter. She had become Chaldea's premier brand. Rikka's excitement spiked.
"This is gonna be the best moon-viewing ever! Heck yeah!"
"Exactly! There's nothing to worry about! It's not like an 'Event' is going to trigger during moon-viewing. It's just looking at the moon, drinking, and stuffing our faces with dango, right? On a side note, Mash and Sheba are late. Is the delivery behind schedule?"
The King of Heroes sighed at Roman's careless words.
"Fool. When you put such things into words, the moment they leave your lips, they are woven into the tapestry of causality as 'fate.'"
"Eh? No, no, there's no way. I mean, Goetia used to put curses into his words, but as a 'Solomon' like me, that shouldn't—"
—"Careless! That is pure carelessness! Total hubris!"
Responding to the accusation from Air (Ea), who was already a bit tipsy…
"EVERYONE, WE HAVE A PROBLEM!! THE DANGO HAVE VANISHED!!"
Mash's voice rang out, more panicked than ever before. Everyone froze in shock.
"W-What?! That's impossible! Who on earth would do that?!"
"Hello? …Eh? You're not involved this time? 'It's not fair to assume it's me whenever there's a scheme'? I see. Fine. I'll take you off the suspect list for now."
"H-Hieee! Vanishing right at the moment of delivery… this is terrible! No one wins this way!"
As if echoing that lament, dissatisfaction and panic erupted across Chaldea.
"Hey! What's this about the dango being gone?!"
The first to shout into the control room was our greatest warrior, Cu Chulainn.
"What is it, Cu Chulainn? Are you truly that much of a glutton? How unsightly," Gilgamesh remarked.
"It's not about me! It's about Connla! It was his first time seeing this culture, and he was so excited…!"
(Flashback)
"Wah-hah! Yay! Sake and dango! A moon-viewing live show with Mash and Mash-Kon might be fun too! Let's cycle!"
He was so full of hope… but once he found out there were no dango…
"I knew it (dead eyes). That's right… that's how adults always blow smoke. Granny was always like that too. When I asked when I could see Father, she just kept dodging the question, saying 'soon, soon.' She never told me the truth. It's okay. Connla is a strong boy. I can hold it in… hold it… hic… waaaaaaah! Dango—!!"
"Scathach, we need to talk."
"U-Umu…"
"He's crying his eyes out! No, that's not even the main problem! The problem is that a kid felt the need to 'read the room' and hold back! Don't teach a kid restraint! When you're a kid, being a bit selfish is just right!"
"He's turned into a total doting father!"
"Mash Kyrielight! I am going to comfort Conn-chan immediately!!"
Mash dashed off to save her partner. The King of Heroes chuckled, clinking his wine cup.
"Hmph. He makes a good father. It is a pity he could show none of that in history."
"Shut it! I wouldn't mind if my son was the apple of my eye! Though if it were Balor, I'd die just by looking at him!"
As they argued, more petitioners appeared.
"—This situation is quite grave."
The great hero Heracles stepped into the control room with a grim expression.
"The children who were looking forward to the moon-viewing are all in tears. 'It's cruel, it's cruel! The sake tastes salty from my tears!' 'I just... wanted to eat...' 'Disappointing...' The cause of this chaos must be eradicated."
The great hero's resolve was clear; he let out a low growl. To him, the tears of children were a life-or-death matter.
"Heracles! Wait, Heracles!"
"Maybe the culprit should cool their head for a bit…"
"I!! I, who am the radiance of the sun, cannot forgive this rebellion against the truth!!"
The next to barge in was the Pharaoh who stood as an equal to the King of Heroes—Ozymandias. Even the Radiant Sun King was lodging a complaint.
"This chaos has clouded the smile of my beloved Nefertari!! The moment she heard the 'dango' could not be eaten, her face fell into shadow! I will not allow it! I absolutely will not! With the glory of the sun, I shall incinerate the transgressor!! Right here! Right now!!"
The Sun King was livid that his time with Nefertari had been disturbed. Anyone who interrupted a moment between him and his wife was guilty of sacrilege and deserved death.
"Please wait! Please wait, Pharaoh! Ugh, the moon-viewing has turned into a riot!"
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