The next day.
Capital City's Adventurer Guild.
As Kenichi, Erza, and the others descended from the guild's second floor, they saw Evileye, Lakyus, and the other members of Blue Rose standing near the staircase, seemingly waiting specifically for Kenichi, Erza, and the group.
"Members of Fairy Tail, congratulations on your successful promotion to Adamantite-ranked adventurers!" Lakyus looked at Kenichi, Erza, and the others and was the first to speak.
That's right. Just moments ago, Kenichi, Erza, and the group's adventurer rank had been promoted from Mithril to the highest rank, Adamantite.
As for why they were suddenly promoted, according to the Adventurer Guild's explanation, it was because the members of Fairy Tail repelled the Demon Emperor Jaldabaoth last night, successfully resolving the kingdom's crisis.
Kenichi was quite surprised by the Guild Master's decision.
After all, his clash with Nazarick had nothing to do with the kingdom's crisis.
However, since the Adventurer Guild had promoted Fairy Tail to an Adamantite-ranked team, Kenichi naturally wouldn't object.
"Thank you," Kenichi first responded to Lakyus, then scanned Evileye, the twin ninjas, and Gagaran, asking: "The members of Blue Rose seem to be waiting here specifically for us. Is there something you need?"
"There is indeed something!"
"The kingdom's Third Princess, the Golden Princess, has invited you to attend tonight's banquet!"
'Golden Princess!'
Upon hearing this name, Kenichi's eyebrows immediately twitched.
Kenichi didn't have a very good impression of this Golden Princess.
She was extremely scheming and secretly collaborated with the demons of the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
In the end, the kingdom's downfall was largely related to this Golden Princess.
Of course, Kenichi didn't care who the Golden Princess collaborated with.
What concerned him was why the Golden Princess was inviting them.
Just as Kenichi was about to refuse, Erza beside him had a sparkling look in her eyes, almost as if stars were shimmering, seeming very excited about the banquet.
Seeing Erza's expression, the muscles at the corner of Kenichi's mouth twitched a few times.
Although he hadn't activated his [Hearing Magic], seeing the expression on Erza's face, he knew exactly what she was thinking: 'The banquet in this world must have cakes I've never tasted before.'
Kenichi sighed inwardly, then asked Erza, Kagura, and Wendy beside him: "So, do you want to attend? This banquet?"
"Of course we're attending!" Erza, already in a purple evening gown, was the first to speak.
"So fast!"
Just a moment ago, Erza was wearing silver armor.
In the blink of an eye, she had changed into an evening gown.
Wendy couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
And Kagura seemed to recall something about a certain past banquet. She glanced at Kenichi, her pretty face slightly reddened, then said: "It wouldn't be bad to attend."
"Uh-"
Looking at Erza and Kagura's reactions, Kenichi was speechless. After a few seconds, he finally responded to Lakyus before him: "We will attend tonight's banquet."
"Then, see you tonight!"
Lakyus responded to Kenichi with a smile, then turned and left the guild hall with Evileye and the others.
…
The opulent palace hall was currently filled with many people.
Among them, the most dazzling was undoubtedly the golden-haired young woman at the very front of the hall, dressed in a white evening gown with gem-like eyes.
This golden-haired girl was none other than the Golden Princess, Renner.
Although Lakyus, who was conversing with the Golden Princess, also exuded feminine charm in her every gesture, the incredibly pure smile on the Golden Princess's face intoxicated many young nobles.
"The Golden Princess is simply enchanting!"
"That smile... I want to protect it forever!"
"It's so sacred..."
Just as a group of young nobles gathered to praise the Golden Princess, a golden-haired man dressed in luxurious attire on the hall's second floor involuntarily twitched the muscles in his face upon seeing the Golden Princess's pure smile.
"My little sister is truly terrifying!"
"Every time I think about the other side beneath that smile, it sends chills down my spine!"
No sooner had the golden-haired man finished speaking than a tall, slender middle-aged noble beside him reminded him: "Your Highness, this is a public occasion. Please mind your words!"
"Don't worry, no one can hear us anyway!"
No sooner had Prince Zanac finished speaking than Kenichi, Erza, Kagura, and Wendy, a party of four, entered the hall from outside.
Prince Zanac hadn't paid much attention to Kenichi's group initially.
However, when Zanac saw Kenichi look up towards him and give a meaningful smile, he was astonished.
Although he hadn't spoken, the expression on his face seemed to say, 'No way, did this guy just hear what I said?'
"Marquis Raeven, do you know that man who just entered?" Prince Zanac stared at Kenichi and asked Marquis Raeven beside him.
"I do."
"He is the leader of the adventurer team [Fairy Tail]. They are the ones who repelled the Demon Emperor Jaldabaoth last night."
Hearing Marquis Raeven's words, Prince Zanac's face immediately stiffened.
Those capable of repelling the Demon Emperor Jaldabaoth were naturally no ordinary people.
It wouldn't be strange if they possessed some special abilities.
Prince Zanac was now convinced that his earlier comment about the Golden Princess had definitely been overheard by Kenichi.
Otherwise, Kenichi wouldn't have given him such a meaningful smile right after entering.
While Prince Zanac and Marquis Raeven were talking, Lakyus, who was conversing with the Golden Princess, also noticed Kenichi, Erza, and the group who had just entered the hall.
"Princess Renner, the members of Fairy Tail have arrived. I'll go greet them!" After saying this to the Golden Princess, Lakyus went to welcome Kenichi, Erza, and the group.
'So those are the humans the Undead want to eliminate...'
The Golden Princess maintained her pure smile, her gem-like eyes watching Kenichi, Erza, and the group as she thought to herself.
However, at that moment, Kenichi's ear twitched.
'I heard that.'
'So that's it. This is the reason the Golden Princess invited me.'
The [Hearing Magic] of Cobra could hear others' inner thoughts.
Just now, Kenichi used the [Hearing Magic] to hear the Golden Princess's inner words.
He naturally knew that the 'Undead' the Golden Princess was thinking of referred to Ainz and Demiurge.
It was clear that the Golden Princess had invited Kenichi, Erza, and the others to help the Great Tomb of Nazarick gather intelligence on them.