The Banquet Hall.
I looked around the Hall while I observed the interaction of the nobles and other prominent people interacting with each other. Indeed, I agreed with Hela, this was boring as hell, and I wished to go home or to the lab and just laze around.
Grayfia was talking with some high-ranking officials of the Dresden Arcanum Empire about some matter, and by looks, it was clear she was enjoying herself in the discussion. If I had to guess, it was some boring administrative job in which Fia was excelling, and that boring thing was enjoying for her.
To my surprise, even Hela found herself a way to pass the time as she was discussing the incoming military strategy for the Holy War against the Gods of the Divine Star Regions. There were a lot of high-ranking Generals, Marshall and Admirals of the Dresden Arcanum Empire, participating in the Banquet.
"It is boring as hell."
I muttered as Venalana visibly flinched next to me.
"Don't be grumpy."
Said Venelana as she noticed someone she knew and dragged me there.
"Oya, isn't it Natalia?"
Said Vena as we came in front of some beautiful blonde woman with very long hair, whom I barely recognized as Venelana's rival. And right now, there would start a round of insults, bragging, and similar things, until one side admitted defeat.
"It is... I must admit tonight you look good... are you alone here?"
Asked Venelana with venom in her voice as she looked at Natalia. Hearing that, Natalia scowled at Venelana before she decided to counterattack.
"Indeed, I am. Contrary to seductress like you, I don't have much luck... especially when similar bitches always tempt good men."
Stated Natalia as she narrowed her eyes at me while Vena visibly flinched.
"Or is it because you don't have anything to temp?"
Venelana quickly bites back as Natalia's expression falters.
"Frankly speaking, you are flat as a board and have an insufferable personality, no wonder most men would avoid you like the plague."
As Natalia was fuming with anger, Vena was enjoying her expression, and I was feeling very awkward, as now I realized why she dragged me here... she wanted to brag about me to her enemy, friend, frenemy... or whatever.
I learned to be self-conscious about myself, and from the point of view of these Noble Ladies, I was, how would one say it... a catch yes.
I was very handsome, powerful, and other things that apparently appealed to them. So Venelana was basically using me to win over her rival.
"So you two are frenemies? Best friends turned from enemies or whatever?"
Not the smartest thing to say in this situation, as both of them glared at me, especially Vena's expression I knew very well; it was an expression of "you can sleep on the couch or ground or rot in hell tonight".
Seeing that, I just left them and went far from them so as to not rile my wife; even more, it was wise to leave.
"Hello, Grandfather."
Suddenly I turned around to see my granddaughter Kunou greeting me with the same grace and elegance as her mother had.
It weird feeling sometimes... how the time flew. I still remember her as a shy little girl that hid behind her mother, and on all formal occasions, she was always hiding behind me to avoid any attention.
She always tugged my robes if she wanted something. I always used to pick her up and place her on my shoulders. How the time flew... really weird feeling, nostalgic? Depressive? Who knows... I wasn't that old compared to truly old monsters; I was only something above 3,000 years old, which was basically nothing.
"What did you say again to Grandma Venelana so that you had to leave?"
She asked as I scratched my head in shame, probably.
"Don't know... maybe I called her and that woman Natalia frenemies? Why did she be so pissed about something like that."
I muttered, not really understanding it all.
"And why I am talking about it to you, you little helion... not really little, but you are still causing mischief anywhere you go."
I said to my granddaughter as she smirked at me. Nine-Tailed Foxes were known for their mischievous nature and tricking people, causing mischief and troubles anywhere they went.
"So, how are you enjoying the banquet?"
I asked her as Kunou shook her head because she was not for occasions like this. One would think she inherited Yasaka's tastes for social occasions, but in this regard, she took more from my son Sigmar.
"It is boring here... Maybe I will go and annoy grandmother for a bit... that could be fun."
She answered as I shook my head, and she departed to find Hela, who was talking about the military strategy with various high-ranking Military Officers of the Dresden Arcanum Empire.
"Can I have your attention, please?"
Said the soft voice of Arcane Ancestor Adolf K. Weissmann as the entire banquet hall quieted down.
"Today, we are celebrating the most notable occasion for the past Eras, and that is nothing other than the extermination of the Warlock Path from the Astral Boundary Universe by our allies."
Stated Arcane Ancestor as everyone waited for his next words.
"But that is not enough; from now on, the Dresden Arcanum Empire will be unleashing the Crusade against the Gods in the Divine Star Region after several decades since today."
After the Crusade against the Gods of the Divine Star Region was officially announced, everyone looked excited as now they had the most bulletproof confirmation about the upcoming war against the Gods.
Nobody said anything; people just clapped in happiness that their Empire would be going to war. Of course, Arcanists were rather military amateurs, not really aware of the horrors that the war brought, but those horrors were usually restricted to the soldiers, not the experts.
Still, I was watching this with a gleam in my eyes, as we can benefit from this war very much, once again.