Standing up, Kuro Usagi cleared her throat, regaining her composure, and spread her arms wide.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Little Garden, a world where gods and demons, and countless wonders, gather! We offer you four the privilege of participating in the 'Gift Game,' a competition only those with exceptional gifts may enter. We have summoned you!"
"Gift Game? What's that?" Sakamaki Izayoi asked.
"You're not ordinary people in your own worlds, right? Those special abilities are gifts bestowed by various Asura gods, demons, spirits, or stars. The 'Gift Game' is a competition held to use these 'Gifts' to compete. It's a stage created for those with powerful Gifts in this Little Garden to live happily and… in a twisted way!" Kuro Usagi spread her arms wide, embracing the entire Little Garden in a gesture.
"Gods… demons…?"
Arthas frowned slightly, muttering the words. They involuntarily reminded him of Orario, the city of labyrinths. But this clearly wasn't Orario; he'd never heard of a Gift Game.
"That's right, it's a world teeming with gods and demons, so don't be surprised. Alright, Kuro Usagi will continue the explanation. To participate in the 'Gift Game' in this 'Little Garden,' you must join a commonality and compete under its name!"
"I'm not interested!" Sakamaki Izayoi said, eyes closed.
"You have to join!" Kuro Usagi bounced up and down.
So, she really is a rabbit… Kudou Asuka and Kasukabe Yō thought simultaneously.
"So, Kuro Usagi invites you all to join our commonality, to strive for a better tomorrow!" Kuro Usagi said, looking at them with hopeful eyes.
"Impossible!" Kudou Asuka tossed her long hair.
"Not interested!" Sakamaki Izayoi didn't even bother opening his eyes.
"No way!" Kasukabe Yō didn't even lift her head.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Don't refuse so quickly!" Kuro Usagi bounced again.
"Um, sir, would you be willing to join my commonality? I don't know your name yet." Kuro Usagi knew Sakamaki Izayoi's and the others' names from their earlier introductions, but she didn't know Arthas's.
"Name? Call me Arthas. Kuro Usagi, I have a question… have you heard of Orario?"
"Eh? Kuro Usagi hasn't heard of that place. Is it your hometown, Mr. Arthas?"
"Hometown… perhaps?"
Arthas murmured. Even for Orario, he was just a passerby. Where was his true home?
Right… it was that place with the wind and snow, the place filled with icy ruins…
"Since you can summon us from other worlds, Kuro Usagi, do you know how to leave here and go to other worlds?"
Arthas asked suddenly, his eyes filled with hope, staring intently at Kuro Usagi.
If he could find a way… he could return to Einzbern, to Orario…
Illya… I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you, but at least I must protect our daughter.
Thinking this, Arthas gently touched his chest.
The Grail had granted his wish, making him and Illya inseparable. Unfortunately, the wish was fulfilled with the utmost malice; Illya's soul had merged with Arthas, becoming a part of him.
But at least, Illya wasn't dead. As long as her soul remained, Arthas believed there was a way to revive her.
"I'm sorry, but this world-crossing magic was performed using the power of the Little Garden. To freely leave the Little Garden and travel to other worlds requires extremely powerful Gifts… at least, Gifts that Kuro Usagi has never even seen."
Kuro Usagi said this, her head drooping in dejection. She knew that after hearing this, Arthas wouldn't join their commonality.
But to Kuro Usagi's surprise, Arthas gave a completely opposite answer.
"Good… I'll join you."
Kuro Usagi paused, then jumped up excitedly.
"R-really? Kuro Usagi is so excited!"
The girl shouted excitedly, giving Arthas a big hug. The soft touch of her body and the faint fragrance made Arthas involuntarily react.
Damn it… is this the influence of the sins of this world again?
This feeling made Arthas helpless and embarrassed, but he couldn't do anything about it. Bearing the sins and desires of the world, though he suppressed them with his power, his power, though icy, didn't represent purity.
That ice was unclean ice… Arthas didn't know what would happen if he continued to suppress the sins of this world with this power, when both forces erupted together.
For now… he could only take things one step at a time.
Thinking this, Arthas offered a wry smile. Kuro Usagi, sensing something, blushed and jumped back.
"T-that, while I appreciate Arthas-san joining, Kuro Usagi doesn't offer special services! I'm a pure rabbit!"
Kuro Usagi said petulantly.
Damn it… what am I thinking?
Annoyed, Arthas smacked his head, pushing away the inappropriate thoughts, avoiding looking at Kuro Usagi.
Seemingly oblivious to Arthas's discomfort, Kuro Usagi looked hopefully at Sakamaki Izayoi and the others.
"You three, are you really not reconsidering? Participating in the 'Gift Game,' if you win, offers unimaginable rewards from the 'organizers'!"
"…Who are the 'organizers'?" Sakamaki Izayoi asked.
"There are many. There are Asura gods and demons who hold competitions under the guise of trials to test humanity, and there are groups that hold competitions to demonstrate the strength of their commonalities.
The former are mostly free to enter, but because the 'organizers' are Asura gods and demons, they are often dangerous and difficult, and there's a risk of death.
But the rewards are correspondingly greater. It depends on the 'organizer,' but obtaining new 'Gifts' is certainly not a dream.
For the latter, you must wager something. If a participant loses, the wager is donated to the commonality of the 'organizer' according to the rules."
"Sounds interesting." Sakamaki Izayoi said.
Arthas's eyes lit up. A game with gods and demons to win Gifts? Then… is it possible to obtain a Gift that allows travel between worlds?
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