The location: the Outer Gate of Little Garden 2105380, Perry Belvedere Avenue, in front of the fountain square.
"Yo! Nii-sama, I'm back!" Kuro Usagi called out from a distance, waving to the two people standing at the entrance.
"Did you bring the new members?" The small boy sitting on the steps stood up, smiling, as he watched Kuro Usagi approach.
"Of course! Kuro Usagi went through a lot of trouble to bring these four… new members back!" Kuro Usagi said proudly, gesturing to the four people behind her.
"But Kuro Usagi, there are only two women here." Nii-sama pointed to Kudou Asuka and Kasukabe Yō, confused.
"Eh? Eh? Two?" With a creak, like a robot, Kuro Usagi turned around, then froze stiff.
"She's completely frozen," Kudou Asuka said, tapping Kuro Usagi. Sure enough, a clang-clang sound echoed.
"She must have crashed. Otherworldly rabbits are probably different from Earth rabbits." Kasukabe Yō grabbed one of Kuro Usagi's ears and twisted it, as if looking for a switch.
"…Uh, oh dear? There are two more! One is a boy with a fierce gaze, a sharp tongue, and an aura that screams 'I'm a problem child.' The other is a man with a poker face, radiating the aura of a supremely aloof strongman."
Kuro Usagi cried out in despair, using strangely apt descriptions.
"Ah, you mean Sakamaki Izayoi? He just said 'I'm going to see the edge of the world!' and ran off. That way,"
Kudou Asuka pointed towards the cliffs they'd seen from 4000 meters in the air.
Kuro Usagi, frozen in the middle of the road, heard this and her rabbit ears perked up. She demanded, "Then where's Arthas?! Where did Arthas-sama go?!"
"Sakamaki Izayoi-kun said there might be a way to travel between worlds at the edge of the world, so he went to check it out."
"Y-you! Why didn't you stop them?!"
"He said, 'Don't stop me.'"
"Why didn't you tell Kuro Usagi?!"
"He said, 'Don't tell Kuro Usagi.'"
"Liar! You're definitely lying! You two just thought it was too much trouble!"
"Yes!" x2
Kuro Usagi collapsed weakly to the ground. She envied her earlier self, excitedly anticipating the new recruits.
I should never have had expectations for problem children! I should have tied them up with ropes from the start!!!
"Um… Kuro Usagi, are you alright?" Nii-sama said wryly, watching black flames rise from Kuro Usagi's back.
"Nii-sama, please look after the two young ladies." As she spoke, Kuro Usagi's blue hair turned a vibrant pink.
"Kuro Usagi, what are you going to do?" Nii-sama looked worriedly at the furious Kuro Usagi.
"Naturally, I'm going to retrieve that number one problem child! He even tricked Arthas-sama away… unforgivable!" Kuro Usagi said, darting off and disappearing in a flash.
"She's fast!" Kudou Asuka sighed.
"Because she's a rabbit." Kasukabe Yō wasn't surprised.
"Um, please come with me, young ladies." Seeing the two girls, who also exuded a 'problem child' aura, Nii-sama gestured to them helplessly.
"Is this the edge of the world? The view is pretty nice." Sakamaki Izayoi stood nonchalantly in front of a waterfall.
"There doesn't seem to be anything special here."
Arthas looked around. Although this was the Little Garden, and this was the edge of the world, he didn't see any kind of 'wall.'
"Ah… while it's the Little Garden, it's not a literal box."
"Humans, you've actually found this place. Have you come to participate in my 'Gift Game'?" A strong, androgynous voice echoed from the thundering waterfall before Sakamaki Izayoi and Arthas.
"Come participate in my 'Gift Game'!"
Splash! A curtain of water descended from the sky, soaking Sakamaki Izayoi to the bone. A massive white snake-like creature emerged from behind the waterfall, its powerful aura causing the water to churn.
Meanwhile, the curtain of water near Arthas instantly froze into an ice wall, then shattered into pieces.
"Why didn't you stop it for me too? I'm soaked again."
Sakamaki Izayoi protested Arthas's self-centered action. Arthas shrugged with a smile.
"Sorry, I didn't react in time. The cold air automatically protects me."
"Well… this is annoying. What the hell is this thing?"
Sakamaki Izayoi muttered, looking up at the enormous creature before him.
It was a giant, snake-like creature, its bright yellow eyes fixed on Arthas and Sakamaki Izayoi.
"Since you've come before me, the Serpent God, choose your trial. Those who pass will receive unimaginable rewards!"
"Serpent God?!"
Arthas paused, reacting to the self-proclaimed deity.
"That's right, I am the Serpent God, master of the Toritunis Falls at the world's end!"
The white snake said proudly. A dangerous glint appeared in Arthas's eyes.
"If I pass the trial, I can choose a reward? Any reward?"
"That's right, any reward. Choose wisely. And by the way, to get the best reward, defeat me fairly and squarely, using all your strength!"
"Oh… defeat you…"
The usually expressionless Arthas's lips curled into a cruel, twisted smile.
Sakamaki Izayoi, feeling uneasy, glanced at Arthas and took several steps back. Terrifying white frost spread beneath his feet. Realizing he should leave immediately, Sakamaki Izayoi turned and ran without a second thought.
Sakamaki Izayoi liked to show off his bravery, but this clearly wasn't the time. Arthas was clearly excited.
That excitement filled Sakamaki Izayoi with deep unease, so the problem child chose to flee. He still vividly remembered the lake freezing into a block of ice; he didn't want to become an ice sculpture.
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