{Author's Notes}
As previously announced, this is an extra chapter around Death King's executive subordinates, Pleiades. It's scheduled to be a two-parter.
**********
In the Land of Death, located in the northern part of the Demon Realm, in the castle of the Death King Isis Remnant, her servants were preparing for tonight's Christmas party.
A woman carrying a huge table with one hand enters the room, which seems to hold quite a few people. She had short, iridescent bob hair, antennae sprouting from her head, and beetle-like wings on her back.
She is over 190 cm tall and carries six swords on both hips, giving her the air of a warrior.
After setting the table in the center of the hall, the woman... One of the Pleiades, Death King's executive subordinates, known as "Celestial Blade Star", Sirius, looked around and called out to a woman a short distance away.
[Sorry, Rasal. Do you have a moment?]
[Unnn? What?]
At Sirius' call, "Earth Bound Star" Rasal Malfik, who was working in a jet-black robe with a hood hiding her face, turned towards her and tilted her head.
She had a slightly petite build of about 150cm, but on her back, she carried a huge coffin that was over 2m tall, and the fact that she was wearing all black made her release a unique sense of intimidation around her.
[I've brought in the big table, but I'm not good at setting it up... Sorry, can you handle this?]
[Ahh, alright. I'll take over that. Sirius, you take over mine and bring in the chairs for everyone.]
[Umu, got it.]
[Thanks.]
Although Sirius and Rasal are both members of the Pleiades, they are usually on bad terms and often fight with each other, but this time, they made sure to not fight and cooperated with each other.
Watching such a scene from a short distance, another member of the Pleiades felt moved and muttered.
[My, oh my, they don't seem to be fighting today. That's really great. If they had quarreled and delayed the work, I would have been scolded by Head-dono.]
A woman with long purple hair, a white pointy hat, and a robe of the same color, bearing the appearance of a witch... "Far North Star" Polaris chuckled, sounding like she was having fun.
She was the second oldest member of the Pleiades, after the head Iris, and was in charge of the preparations for the event in Iris' stead, who was currently cooking their feast.
(T/N: I can't find the word to use in english, but this sentence says that Polaris is the second member to join Pleiades. This doesn't necessarily mean that she's the oldest age-wise.)
[That's right~~ It's great that they're cooperating with each other. I'm relieved too.]
Responding to Polaris' murmur with a relaxed tone was a woman with bluish silver hair and crystalline flowers. It was Spica, a Blue Crystal Flower spirit, and a member of the Pleiades known as the "Crystal Flower Star".
She was dressed in a pure white dress and looked like an elegant noble lady, but her tone was somewhat peculiar.
Spica, after answering Polaris' words, moved her gaze and called out to the other member of the Pleiades, who was floating in the air, working on something at a fairly high place.
[Eul, what about that side?]
[Well, I guess I would like to add a little more decorations. Spica, can you add some more flowers?]
[Yeah~~ Easy task~~]
With a raise of Spica's hand, a large number of Blue Crystal Flowers appeared around her. Thereupon, they were received by ten white tails extending out from the floating being's behind.
The one who is decorating with her ten long tails and dexterously moving both hands is the "Fox Monster Star" Eulpecula. She has semi-short white hair with a lot of curls, and a petite body of about 130cm. There are fox ears springing out of her head, and her face looks somewhat young.
Eulpecula, dressed in a peculiar outfit of a miko uniform-like upper clothing and a skirt and leggings on her lower half, quickly finished decorating and landed next to Spica. When the two of them stood side by side, they looked like sisters, partly because of their similar hair color.
[Well, that's about it.]
[Yeah, great work. You really have good taste, and I'm happy to be your supervisor.]
[Polaris was mostly just watching though... Imma tell Iris.]
[Oi, oi, give me a break. If you do that, I'm not going to be able to attend the party... Haahhh... I admit, I've just been looking at everything and not working myself. I'll just work a little harder from here, okay...]
Soon, the large hall was beautifully decorated and ready for the party.
[Unnn, everything looks fine. Everyone, good work.]
[It looks like Iris' side still needs time.]
[There are five of us here after all. I guess you could say that it's inevitable.]
[Guess you're right. If there's anything we can do to help her, how about we———– Ah!?]
As they discussing about Iris, which took a longer time than them due to the manpower ratio, Eulpecula turned around in the middle of her words, as if she had noticed something.
Her ears perked up and her tail was wagging, as if she was anticipating something, so the other could immediately tell what she had noticed.
Immediately after, the door to the hall where the event was being held opened, and their master, Isis arrived.
[...Everyone... Good work... Is the venue's preparations... finished?]
[Isis-sama!]
When Isis appeared, Eulpecula ran up to her with a big smile on her face, her tail vigorously wagging behind her.
[Yes! We finished... I- I decorated that side, is it alright?]
[...Unnn... They're neatly done... Eul is a good girl.]
[Ehehe, I was just doing my job as Isis-sama's subordinate.]
When Isis reached out her hand and patted her head, Eulpecula smiled, looking as if she was melting in her touch, while her ten tails happily wagged behind her. That scene itself... looked like an infant being spoiled around her mother, making the onlookers smile.
As Isis continued to gently pat Eulpecula's head, she moved her gaze to the other members of the Pleiades and spoke.
[....Well then... I'm going to... pick up Kaito, okay... We'll also do some shopping... so I think we'll take some time before going home... but the party will start at the scheduled time...]
[Understood. Please enjoy your time.]
When Polaris replied on behalf of the group, Isis nodded in satisfaction, before slightly waving her hand and disappearing with Teleportation Magic. After a few moments of silence, as if she suddenly remembered something, Polaris spoke.
[Speaking of which, this is something I heard from Head-dono but... I heard that Isis-sama and Kaito-sama are going to prepare presents for each of us. Perhaps, that's what she was talking about when she mentioned shopping.]
[Is that so!? Geez, Isis-sama and Kaito-sama are so kind... but we're the one who should be entertaining them, so they don't really have to be that considerate... but I love that part about them too!]
[That's right~~ They're really nice.]
As if her tension had been boosted by Polaris' words, Urpecula muttered happily while her tail wagged behind her, and Spica, seeing this, agreed with a smile.
In such a harmonious atmosphere, Sirius brought her hand on her chin, as if she was thinking about something, and after nodding once, she spoke.
[...I don't think Iris-dono will be late, but I think it would be better if someone helps her. It looks like everything is done here anyway, so I'm going to help Iris-dono———— Unnn?]
Sirius was about to walk towards the exit, saying that she would help Iris with the cooking, but she immediately stopped when she felt someone pull her back.
Turning around, Sirius found snow-white tails clutching her hand... "tightly clutching her hand".
[...Oi, don't do anything unnecessary, roach.]
Thereupon, with a voice so dreadful that it was hard to imagine from how cute and excited she had been just now... No, the voice Eulpecula spoke just now definitely held killing intent. Veins were popping out of her forehead, and her expression made her look as if she was a devil from hell.
[I'll say this to you now... If by any chance, even if there's only a 1 in a million chance that it happens, that those "trash" you've created should end up in Isis-sama or Kaito-sama's mouths... I'll freaking kill you.]
[...Ah, yes. I'm sorry.]
Exposed in Eulpecula's overwhelming anger, Sirius turned pale and respectfully nodded.
[...Hmmm, I would have to agree with her on this one. Every people has things that they are good at and aren't good at, so I'd rather you don't participate in this. Mainly so we can enjoy our meal.]
[Polaris!?]
[She's right~~ This isn't something I can support you either.]
[You too, Spica!?]
Putting aside Polaris, even Spica, the calmest and gentlest of the Pleiades, agreed with Eulpecula with a wry smile on her face, shocking Sirius.
Sirius' inability to cook really is bad, so the reactions of those around her are normal... but the person herself thinks as if she can cook fairly well.
In such a situation, there is no way that the remaining member of the Pleiades wouldn't join in... pouring oil into the fire.
[Kukakakakaka! Well, it can't be helped. You don't have to be depressed, Sirius. It's just wrong to expect you to do something as advanced as cooking when your whole body is made up of muscles.]
[...Guess you're right. Well, I guess I should be proud that I'm more decent than a certain carrion woman who only knows how to mix carrions and more carrions to make zombies.]
[...Ah?]
[...Hahh?]
Of course, having been taunted by Rasal, there's no way that Sirius wouldn't snap back. With the situation turning like that, as usual, sparks instantly flew between them, and they each took up their weapons and moved into a fighting stance.
[...If you're going to fight, do it outside. If anything happens to the decorated venue, I'm sure the scary Head-dono will blast you away.]
[ [ ...….. ] ]
After hearing Polaris' words, Sirius and Rasal glared at each other and moved of the castle with their swords and coffin respectively.
A little while later, a thunderous roar could be heard from within the party venue, making Polaris sigh as she laid down a Barrier Magic, preventing the venue from breaking.
[Good grief. Well, I guess it can be said that they're just as usual... Now then, with the work done, let's have some tea...]
[I see, what a great timing that is. If you're free, help with the cooking, Polaris.]
[Head-dono... Since when have you been there... No, no, I'm going to enjoy my tea time now.]
[Cut with the bullsh*t and get your ass over here.]
[Head-dono, aren't you being a bit too strict to me!? I've just taken on the important role of overseeing the venue...]
Before she knew it, Iris had arrived at the venue and just like that, she grabbed Polaris by the scruff of her neck and took her away.
[What, you probably just watched the others in the first half, and you only joined in after someone pointed you out.]
[...This is quite the problem. I can't say anything back because all of it is true. If that's the case, I at least demand that the method of transportation be improved. Putting aside whether you have a higher standing on me or not, the maiden that I am isn't comfortable with a method of transportation that involves my buttocks sweeping the floor.]
[I see, in that case...]
[Okay, Head-dono. I'm sorry. I'll stand and walk. So, please stop trying to blast me away with magic... I'd like to excuse myself from being cooked along with the other ingredients.]
After seeing off Polaris, who was also taken away just as usual, Eulpecula and Spica, who were left behind, looked at each other.
[Eul~~ What should we do?]
[Yes, we're not as bad at cooking as that idiot Sirius, but we're not really that good at it... so even if we help, we'd just be in the way.]
[Guess you're right~~ We'd just drag them down.]
[Then, let's just do something else. We still have some time to spare, so why don't we prepare our present for Isis-sama and Kaito-sama?]
As a side note, Eulpecula and Spica are good friends. The innocent and cheerful Eulpecula and the carefree and gentle Spica are somehow compatible in terms of personality.
[That's a great idea~~ I'm sure that they'll definitely be delighted.]
[That's right! And then, if things go well, they might pat my head again... Ehehe.]
[Since the two of them look good together~~ maybe we should get them matching gifts.]
[Hmmm, if it's accessories or flower wreaths, we could easily make it. Let's make it together!]
[Yes~~]
Unlike the other pairs, this pair seemed to be enjoying themselves as they discussed what kind of present they wanted to give.