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Chapter 542: 542

On the fifth day of Six Kings Festival, the day handled by Alce, all the performances were wonderful and I was truly enjoying myself . My expectations were getting higher and higher, and I was wondering what kind of fun attractions we would go to next .

However, I don’t know if I should say that I had expected this or not but…… Not everything went smoothly .

[……Kaito-san, ummm, honestly…… I’m sorry . ]

[N- No, i- it was my complete defeat . ]

[……I think Kaito-san has a great gaming sense but…… Why do you instantly become a clod when it comes to board games?]

[……That’s what I want to ask . ]

Yes, at some of the attractions, we got to play some kind of strategic board game, and I’ve badly lost in them .

Well, the board games were also extremely well-designed . The pieces move just by thinking, and the board itself was filled with gimmicks . The game was simple, yet strategic, well-balanced, and fun, as if I were playing a simulation RPG .

Well, for some reason, my pieces were annihilated even though the strength of the pieces we were using were the same……

[I see, so you also can’t play this type of board game huh……]

[……I’m well aware of it, but am I really that weak?]

[You’re so weak that I think you’re losing on purpose . ]

” ”

[Ghaak!?]

I’m starting to think that my weakness in board games is some kind of “curse” . Hmmm, why is it that I just can’t win?

[W- Well, it’s almost lunchtime…… Let’s go get something to eat! After that, let’s go around the non-board game area!]

[U- Unnn . ]

It seems like even Alice couldn’t make a follow-up regarding my weakness to board games, so she deliberately changed the subject and invited me to lunch .

However, the time was actually just right for us to have lunch, so I didn’t argue with her, and headed with Alice to the area lined with restaurants .

I have my Black-rank invitation, but I really don’t feel like using it that much, so I just pay them like normal .

Just as I was thinking about this, I suddenly realized something and spoke .

[Speaking of which, Alice . The attractions we visited this morning didn’t ask for money……]

[Ahh, Kaito-san is a Black-rank after all…… Even if you hadn’t shown your invitation, you would get a face pass when you’re with me . I’ve already informed the people in charge of the attractions in advance . ]

[I- I see . ]

[There are entrance fees and such for other participants, but they aren’t really that expensive . We want people to test the new technology, so we’re making it easy for people to experience . ]

How should I say this…… Hearing her say that makes me feel embarrassed about my initial prediction . All of the attractions that Alice came up with are really great and will truly entertain a lot of people .

[……How should I say this…… I’ve changed my mind about Alice . I was under the impression that you were planning extreme things for the sake of making money . My bad . ]

[……Ah, n- no~~ W- Well, that’s right . Of course, I did everything to make a lot of people smile . You see, I love seeing the smiles of people……]

What is this? Something about the way she said it sounded a bit strange . Come to think of it, Alice is usually the type of person who doesn’t really care about other people .

Then, in response to my words of praise, she gave me that vague response with an awkward look on her face…… Arehh? Does this mean……

[Hey, Alice . You mind if I ask you one thing?]

[W- What is it?]

[The Six Kings Festival is so grand and filled with lots of great things…… That would mean that the “sales” were great, but they’re divided among the Six Kings, right?]

[……O- Of course, I- I also thought that would be a good idea but…… t- the others don’t seem to be very interested in money…… S- So I don’t have any choice but to take care of everything as their representative . ]

[……………… . ]

I see . I understand everything now, and things started making sense . In other words, the sales of the facilities and stalls that the subordinates of the Six Kings were in charge of would be taken by Alice . Of course, I’m sure she’ll give some kind of salary of bonus to those subordinates but…… Even if you subtract that, she would still be expecting a substantial amount of money .

……She’s really going at it today huh .

[……How should I say this…… Should I say that it’s just like Alice, or should I be thinking about how I lost for changing my mind about you……]

[N- No, that’s not it! Money is just a secondary profit! The best profit for Alice-chan is something very pure! Creating lots of smiles for everyone!]

[……So, your real thoughts?]

[With lots of people flocking to fill my pockets, Six Kings Festival is the best——– Ghaak!?]

[……You really are……]

[A- Ahaha…… Whoa, it seems we’re here! It’s that store! Come, come, let’s go!!!]

She’s just forcefully moving the topic away…… Good grief, she really is a troublesome fellow . She’s a troublesome fellow…… but I really can’t hate her .

[Speaking of which, I’m going to change the subject but……]

[What is it?]

[……Today was quite a rare day when you aren’t playing around huh…… No, my bad . It’s nothing . ]

[Unnn? I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but let’s get in there . ]

[Yeah . ]

Today’s Alice was somehow more serious than usual…… I got the feeling that she was more concerned with “entertaining me” than anything else .

Could it be…… She was trying to cheer me up in her own way, considering how depressed I was after the events of the third day? However, I guess it would be stupid of me to ask her that huh .

Dear Mom, Dad————- Kuro, Isis-san, Sieg-san, Lilia-san…… and Alice . How should I say this…… I’m really quite blessed with people . And while I am truly grateful for that———— I’d like it if she enjoyed herself more .

? ? ? : [As expected of Alice-chan! An extremely caring lovely beauty! The model heroine of this novel!!!]

Serious-senpai : [……Someone’s tooting their own horn again . ]

? ? ? : [……You saying something?]

Serious-senpai : [I- I didn’t say anything . ]