Chapter 210: Divine Banquet II
Two hours into the banquet, the main host had yet to arrive. That didn't mean the party wasn't lively even though there was a bit of disappointment welling up among the nobles who wished to see the Sun God face to face.
Tsunade and Azrael together with Leone, the representative from the Beastman Country and Draudillon from the Dragon Kingdom, mostly attended diplomatic meetings with high-ranked nobles from the Baharut Empire but also other small nations.
Due to the Sun God's absence, a group of people became the main focus of attention: Rias and her peerage.
The redhead was a naturally social individual who had attended countless parties in the underworld, she knew how to be the centre of attention while Akeno remained next to her like her royal stewardess.
Unlike her, though, Anna Blair found it awkward to have nobles come and talk to her about the elf kingdom and her life, with some young ones even sending subtle flirts in hopes of a dream that could never come true. So, she politely excused herself to where the five princesses were waiting (they knew she wasn't going to be able to cope).
Last but not least, Yamada Anna. Perhaps the one who attracted the most attention among the youngsters, this girl quickly moved to the table of appetisers to have a go at it, her voracious appetite left her handsome pretenders dumbfounded and unable to step forward.
"What's your name?~" She asked the only person who actually dared to eat with her, who happened to be a young fat average-looking noble that everybody ignored, the son of a baron at the outskirts of the Baharut Empire.
The boy in question couldn't believe one of those otherworldly beauties was actually talking to him.
"D-D-Duncan Lewis, m-ma'am!" He answered nervously but still captivated by the Japanese beauty.
"We're about the same age, you don't have to say that!~" Anna giggled and stuck her hand into one of the pockets of her dress, "Here, you can have some of these, they're quite tasty!"
She took out a few snacks from her pocket that she got before in the 'incident' and the boy was captivated not only by her beauty but also by her personality, it was like the dream girl of any boy.
"Those are very expensive! How many do you have?!" He even loosened up and smiled, something his parents, who looked from far away, couldn't believe.
Their son was talking to a girl.
"E-Eh? I have a lot but I can't give them all to you, I'm saving some for my boyfriend~" Anna said casually, unaware of the boy's shattering hopes and heart. She continued to munch on some appetisers like nothing happened.
"Fufu~ you're quite heartless, aren't you?~ just like him..." Somebody said to her, rendering Anna-chan to turn around to face them, only to see the silhouette of beauty wearing a gothic dress, smiling subtly and walking away after dropping some words.
"... who is she, do you know her, Duncan-kun?"
"-kun?" The boy shook his head and tears, staring at the girl's back, "Sorry, I don't know that person, she must be a noble of some other country. Also, her sense of fashion is subpar compared to Lady Anna's" He commented, trying to earn himself some points... a noble was still a noble after all.
"Hehehe, Isn't it?~" Anna nodded happily and laughed audibly.
One could almost hear a snort coming from that gothic girl.
...
At some point during the banquet, the tone changed, the candles dimmed and the royal musicians played a different tune. It was time for the prestigious waltz. The youngsters clamoured more than the elders and approached the centre to dance with whom they believed would be their lifetime beloved.
At this stage, no one expected the Sun God to show up anymore.
But they were in for a surprise. When the gigantic gates to enter the hall opened widely, four silhouettes walked in, washing the whole area in a divine aura that was felt from the pores of all the invitees. The illumination in the room mysteriously increased even when the candles had dimmed, it was a soothing light. Even the light that shone from the moon above, struggling to enter the windows, became more prominent.
A subtle scent of leaves and flowers washed the world as gazes moved to the entrance one after the other.
Five deities dressed in white walked in, four flawless beauties and a haggard man who could barely carry his life. The sight gave all nobles a mixed impression as the deities stepped forward.
Some were too flabbergasted by the beauty of those goddesses to comment, however, there were also those kindred souls who could read between the lines.
"It is the Sun God!"
"I-Is he okay though? he looks a bit sucked..."
"Are you crazy? he looks so happy!"
"N-No wonder he's late. Grandpa used to say there is no happy man like a sucked man".
"Grandpa was quite wise indeed".
...
Ray stepped forward, scoring two goddesses in each hand while the other two followed closely behind. Galadriel smiled and greeted everyone, focusing on the corner where the other elves were.
"My dearest, may I go there? I wish to talk to the children, " Galadriel said, pointing at the corner where Alana and Anna were waving at her.
"You don't need to ask me... we will dance later, alright?"
"I will wait for my turn~" Galadriel kissed the back of Ray's head and walked off joyfully, earning the gazes of everyone who couldn't help but focus on her skin colour and magnificence.
"A real midnight elf! One of those mythical midnight elves!" A noble lady from the Re-Estize Kingdom screamed while her husband couldn't restrain the desire to eye that elf up and down.
"I thought they were extinct. Those were supposed to be just fairy tales".
While Galadriel walked to the side of the elves, Ophis moved away without saying a word out loud, she merely brushed her hair and sent Ray a mental note.
'I will look for a silent spot, this place is too loud'.
Those who stared at her were momentarily clueless. Of all four ladies, she was the one who looked the least 'divine'. At the very least she was not emitting divine energy or grace compared to the other three.
However, those who had a reaction were not precisely the noble guests, but instead, Tsunade and Azrael who couldn't keep their eyes out of Ophis as she wandered off, her silhouette disappearing and visually merging with the air like she didn't exist.
'Ouroboros Dragon, just how strong has she become...? I-I can't even feel her presence' Azrael clenched her fist harshly.
'That brat... he must have given her a top massage' Tsunade mumbled as the two of them approached Ray and the other two goddesses who were by his side.
"*cough* I imagine Aqua is asleep and couldn't attend, that shameless girl" Tsunade mumbled, ignoring her husband completely and putting her whole attention on the goddess who was standing on Ray's right side, even as the sense of rivalry welled up, she still couldn't help herself and smiled and extended her hand forward.
"I have arrived, Tsunade-san~," The dark-skinned goddess said, stretching and holding Tsunade's hand cheerfully.
"Welcome back, Elysir or is it Reina-san?~".