Chapter 81: Reunion at the Victorious Feast

In the grand dining room on the 15th floor of Noah, an easy-going victory celebration party was in full swing. Almost all of Noah's crew members had been granted a two-day vacation, except for some security staff and the unlucky bridge operation staff who were still needed to ensure the large mobile floating fortress's smooth operating.

The male adventurer with red hair, who had been invited to join the festivities, observed the scene with a mixture of joy and envy. The party was filled with happiness and a strange sense of intimacy, especially when he saw Narumi and Princess Christina, along with the other four princesses, having a delightful time. Although Princess Christina's enchanting smile should have warmed his heart, seeing her so happy and intimate with Narumi sparked feelings of envy within him. He couldn't quite explain it, but he found himself imagining what it would be like to be in Narumi's place, surrounded by princesses who cared for him.

Feeling his mixed emotions, the female adventurer with brown hair, who was his partner, tenderly grasped his hand with concern. Though she was excited to revel in the festivities, she prioritized her partner's feelings over her own enjoyment. "If you don't want to be here, then we can leave, you know? How about we grab something to eat and bring it back to our room?" she suggested, her voice carrying genuine worry.

Her thoughtful suggestion touched him, and he couldn't help but appreciate her understanding and consideration. Despite his conflicting emotions, he found solace in her presence and felt a sense of comfort in knowing that she was there for him. "Thank you," he replied softly, a hint of a smile forming on his lips. "I think that would be nice. Let's take a moment for ourselves."

At that moment, a burly male pilot approached them and instantly recognized the male adventurer with red hair. "So it's really you! You're the adventurer who provided us with information about the 10th colossal biomachine monster, right? You've grown a lot in these two years and become a full-fledged adventurer now, haven't you? Your contribution this time was truly remarkable, so let's celebrate together at my table!" he exclaimed with a wide smile, warmly extending an invitation to both of them.

However, the male adventurer with red hair hesitated, his expression clouded with regret. "Thank you for the kind invitation, but I couldn't be of any help in the battle at all... and I also said something selfish that made Princess Christina angry, so..." He seemed burdened by his selfish actions and the tension with Princess Christina that had occurred yesterday.

The burly male pilot reassured him with a hearty pat on the shoulder, "You don't need to grieve. I heard your story from my teammates, and I don't think Princess Christina is that angry with you. You know, sometimes she may speak harshly, but I believe she was concerned for your safety or something like that." The words surprised the male adventurer with red hair, who pondered, "Is that so?"

The burly male pilot continued, his voice filled with warmth and understanding, "Princess Christina is truly kind-hearted, but for now, let's set aside any worries and enjoy the feast together. We can think about this later." With his encouragement, they joined the burly male pilot's table and were warmly greeted by three familiar faces—former adventurers who had joined forces to scout against the 5th colossal biomachine monster two years ago. They shared smiles and engaging conversations as they savored the feast, reminiscing about their past adventures despite being separated.

Amidst the enjoyable conversation, a soft "Nyaa!" suddenly resounded on the table, capturing everyone's attention. "Wow! What is this kitten? It's too cute!" the female adventurer with brown hair exclaimed in excitement as she discovered a cute kitten sitting on their table. Its white fluffy fur made it irresistibly adorable, and she couldn't resist stroking its back, marveling at its adorable gesture.

She then cut a small piece of tender meat from her plate and offered it to the kitten, thinking it might enjoy the treat. To her surprise, the kitten simply cried out, "Nyaa!" and didn't eat the meat. She looked somewhat disappointed, wondering why it wasn't responding to her food. "Are you not fond of meat?" she asked the adorable kitten, feeling a bit puzzled.

The sight of the female adventurer with brown hair trying to feed the kitten brought laughter to the four Noah crew members at the table. They chuckled heartily, their laughter filling the air and causing the female adventurer with brown hair to blush slightly. "Why are you all laughing like that?!" she protested, trying to hide her embarrassment with a hint of sourness in her voice.

The female pilot smiled and replied, "Well, we were laughing because we all did the same thing when we first saw this kitten robot. It's so realistic and cute that it's easy to mistake it for a real kitten. But in reality, it's just a robot, and it doesn't eat real food!" Her explanation only made them laugh even more. "Eh! This cute kitten is actually a robot!" the female adventurer with brown hair exclaimed in surprise, realizing that she had fallen for the same charming illusion as the others. The robot kitten had indeed fooled them all with its lifelike appearance and adorable gestures.

"And you won't believe it, but this amazing kitten robot was made by Flora-chan! She's just a 10-year-old girl who became Narumi-sama's disciple last month!" The female guard spoke with excitement, praising the impressive work of young Flora. She mentioned that she had helped Flora test the new functions of the kitten robot on her off-duty hours.

"Puffple! I've told you many times not to wander around on your own!" Flora herself appeared at their table, apologizing to everyone for her kitten robot's playful antics. However, they assured her that the kitten robot had brought nothing but joy to the celebration. With a warm smile, Flora returned to her family's table, still determined to customize the kitten robot's program and educate it to become an obedient companion, but it seemed like it would take more effort and time.

"I can't believe a little girl created such an amazingly cute robot! Can I get one if I pay for it?" the female adventurer with brown hair asked the others at the table with excitement. "Well, I believe mass production for selling might happen in robot shops at some point, but I'm not sure when," the male guard responded while savoring a glass of sparkling fruit wine.

"If you become crew members of Noah, you might get one sooner," the female pilot suggested with a smile, biting into a crepe she held. The two adventurers exchanged glances, feeling slightly taken aback. "Let's set that aside for now and enjoy the feast!" the burly male pilot interjected, pouring an expensive wine into their glasses and leading the toast, shifting the conversation towards more enjoyable topics.

In the camaraderie of the celebration, the male adventurer with red hair found solace and support from his old friends, realizing that his presence and contributions were genuinely valued. He felt a deep sense of belonging, surrounded by people who understood the challenges and joys of his journey. The victorious feast became a symbol of unity and harmony among the people aboard Noah, as they embraced their shared triumphs and forged strong bonds that would extend far beyond the confines of the celebration.