After receiving a rather special gift from Pandora-san, I received a gift from Megiddo-san as well. As I expected, it was alcohol...a giant barrel of sake.
　Next to Megiddo-san, Fate-san gave me a large cushion as a gift, and next to that was Magnawell-san, but Magnawell-san, naturally, was unable to enter the hall. He is currently outside the venue, so Fafnir-san gave me a present on his behalf.
　After that, Lasse-san, Lotus-san, Dahlia-san, Amalie-san, and Orchid handed me the gifts in order, and just when I thought it would be Fea-sensei's turn next.......

''Yes, so next up is Catastro.''
Ha!

　Following Alice's words, she tucked her long, light green hair into a single strand at the back of her neck and wondered if it was a tailcoat?　A woman dressed like a butler came up to the stage with an elegant gait.
　　Huh?　Who is this?　I really don't remember.

''Ah, Kite-san. That girl, you see, is one of the Count-level high-ranking demon clans that I entrusted with Kite's escort on a temporary basis. I've never directly exchanged words with Kite-san, but I did allow her to participate, just in case she was the leader of the ten people at that time.''

　I'm sure you're one of the people Alice assigned to protect me after the incident with Kuro. If you're the one to put it all together, you're probably one of the higher-ranking people under Alice's command.
　When Catastro-san came in front of me, he bowed with a polite gesture and then opened his mouth.

I'm Catastro, and I'm here to introduce you. I'd like to congratulate you on your birthday today. I have brought a small gift for you to celebrate.
Yes. Thank you for coming. I'm Miyama Kaito.............um, nice to meet you.
'Thank you very much. But I'm sorry to shake your hand but I am constitutionally inclined to corrupt what I touch. Even though I'm wearing thick gloves, I can't prevent that from happening completely.

　To me, who reflexively held out my hand for a handshake along with a greeting, Catastro-san lightly shook her head and apologized.
　Corrupting what you touch........this way of saying it, it's like you can't stop it at will?　It's kind of a bit of a sad ability, I guess.
　I have Shiro-san's blessing for a change, and I'm probably okay with it... but maybe it's a topic I shouldn't touch on too much.

''No, Kite. There's no need to feel sorry for me. That boy, 'if he's in his true form, he can hold things with his sense of touch'................................so you can touch him with that.
"....even if these hands are 'poison wing altered' and dangerous, even if they live in extreme poverty on a daily basis at the expense of gloves etc., even if they eat less than a piece of bread a day, even if they sleep in a cave... ...I don't accept 'that ugly figure' as my true form. This is my true form.

　What is it?　I'm beginning to feel sorry for him in a different way than I did earlier.

''By the way, my real form is 'Moth Bucket'.
"Don't expose me for the person who denied it!　Lady Chartier!
''I mean, you're using too much time. Please hurry up and hand over your gifts, get off the stage, and take a bite of dry bread in the corner of the hall.''
''Sha, Chartier-sama.......isn't that too unreasonable......''

　Yeah, as expected, I think that's a bit of an exaggeration. No matter how much he's under my command, this will make Catastro-san angry........

''Please forgive me until the salad!　Please!　I usually eat the weeds that grow around there!

　There!　That's the part where you complain?　I mean, his diet is so miserable!

'No ... well, you can eat what you want.
''No, my stomach won't accept anything too fancy, so...''

　 Even though I'm doing so voluntarily, I shudder at the extreme poverty of it all. Catastro-san, you're a Count-level high-ranking demon race, right?　They're a handful of terrific beings in the demon world, right?　What kind of pace are we rotting gloves that poorly?

I'm sorry, Mr. Miyama. Again, happy birthday to you. It's just a small present for you.
'Oh, thank you. Um ... well, are you okay with that?

　When I asked him, hiding the word "mainly in financial terms," my intentions seemed to have been understood by Mr. Catastro, who smiled and told me, "I'm sorry to hear of your concern.

I'm sorry for your concern. I'm sorry you're worried, but it's okay. I'm used to fasting.
....
Now, if you'll excuse me.

　 The gift that was prepared for me, even though I was prepared to fast from today..............................I'm so sorry.
　Eh, uh, I'm not going to be able to do this. What do you think?　Something ... oh, yes!

Mr. Catastro!　Wait!
...Yes?
Yo, I've got something for you!
''Haha, it would be the end of the world if Miyama-sama gave us something from him--what is this!　A glove woven from the mane of a warlord!

　I stopped Catastro-san, who was about to get off the stage, and quickly held out a glove that I received as a prize at the Sixth King Festival.
　I don't know how much effect this will have on Mr. Catastro's corruption, but the material is made of, so I think it's not bad.
　Even if I had one, I'm only planning to use it as a kitchen mitten.......

''........No, no, no!　We can't have such an expensive item!
Even if I had it, I wouldn't be able to put it to good use, so...

　Mr. Catastro looks at the gloves I've offered him and shakes his head widely, looking upset, but I can't pull it off in this situation either.

'Wow, I don't need them either!　Put it away, please!
'By the way, those gloves would completely prevent Catastro's decomposition, and Catastro couldn't seem to stop wanting them, so on the first day of the Sixth King's Festival, he got paid and worked hard, but Agni-san beat him to it, so he couldn't get them. It looks like. That glove is made by a special method, so only Megiddo-san can make it, and it's extremely rare, and there was a restriction that you can't exchange it unless you win against Megiddo-san.''
Lady Chartier!　Don't say anything else!　Anyway, Mr. Miyama!　Please put it away!　There is nothing that I can give back to you for such a thing!

　I didn't realize that there was such a restriction because it was on the exchange list I was given, which was normal.
　And although Catastro-san is no longer trying to make me pull the gloves down with an expression that can be considered desperate, it seems to be true that he wants them because his glancing eyes are moving to the gloves.
　Even so, I take Catastro-san's 'hand' and forcefully hand over the gloves, which doesn't lose its stance of not being able to take them, perhaps because it is a rational person.

''No, I can't ignore it after hearing a story like that. I mean, to ignore it when there are elements at hand that can be resolved, I won't be able to sleep at night!　So take it for me!
"...wow, I never meant to-- 'Catastro! --Lord Chartier?
''I will never pull the kite that did that. Please give up. It's already too late, so just take it and go take a bite of the salad in the corner of the hall. Otherwise, an angel even more unreasonable than me will start to move.
Uggh... okay, I see.

　Hearing Alice's words, I glanced over and saw Eden-san in the corner of the hall glaring at Catastro-san.
　That's a bad guy. Absolutely, 'To refuse my child's kindness is worth ten thousand deaths. Would you mind wiping him out of existence right here?'' And that's the face I'm thinking about, which is extremely unreasonable.

　At Alice's suggestion, Catastro-san took the gloves from me with an apologetic expression on her face and immediately bowed her head vigorously.

"Miyama-sama, I have received your kindness indeed!　I will never forget this favor. I will return the favor with a lifetime of service!
'No, no, that's an exaggeration...'
Thank you so, so much!
Oh, no... yes.

　After thanking him loudly, Mr. Catastro got off the stage and moved to the corner of the hall... and began to take a bite of his salad.

　Dear Mom and Dad - yes, what is this feeling? He was kind of blown away again in a different way from the people I've seen before. It's not like he's an individual... and I suddenly wondered - are there any decent people under the Phantom King's command?