**Unnamed Residential Area, Near the Canal**
A four-colored, three-colored cat traversed the ruins and slowly reached an area with several empty buildings that looked better. Along with this, they left the residential area and searched for a place to plant a water tree sapling in a tank. It seemed they had been here before. Jin's children and the community cleaned the canal with tools.
"Ah! The preparation of the canals and the tank is complete!"
"Great work, young Master Jin. Did everyone else help with the cleanup?"
"Wai-wai!" The children gathered joyfully around Kuro Usagi.
"Welcome back, USA-Netheyan sister!"
"I want to sleep, but I helped with the cleanup…"
"Sister, sister, who are these new people?!"
"Are they strong?! Are they cool?!"
"Yes! Very strong and charming people! I'll introduce them now, so line up."
Kuro Usagi snapped her fingers. After that, the children formed a line with perfect movements.
There were about twenty of them, including boys and girls with cat and fox ears.
The four had different impressions, but they didn't express them. Even if they didn't like children, they would live with them from now on and would have to communicate with them at least a little to avoid discontent.
"Ahem," Kuro Usagi coughed exaggeratedly.
"From right to left—Kurokami Haru-san, Sakamaki Izayoi-san, Kudo Asuka-san, Kasukabe Yo-san. As you know, communities are supported by powerful Gift holders. Those who cannot participate in Gift Games support the Players in their personal lives, inspire them, and, from time to time, work for their benefit."
"God, don't do that. It won't be a problem if you behave as usual with us," Asuka said.
"Absolutely not. That way, we won't have any organization," Kuro Usagi immediately rejected Asuka's offer in a very strict tone.
It was the most serious tone and facial expression of the entire day.
"The daily life of the community depends on the Players who participate in Gift Games and the blessings they earn in them. While you live in this Little Garden world, you cannot ignore this rule. If you spoil them when they're still children, it will negatively affect their future."
"…That's how it is."
Kuro Usagi quickly calmed Asuka with an authoritative air. This had been the rigor of someone who had led this community for the last three years. Meanwhile, another thought crossed Asuka's mind.
Perhaps now her shoulders were more relaxed than she had previously thought.
"Here are the older ones. They can't participate in Gift Games, but as you can see, some of them have beastly Gifts, so if you need anything, use them. You agree with that, right?"
"Let's make friends!"
All the children shouted loudly.
The four felt as if they were under attack by sonic weapons.
*'I'd rather suffer eternally than deal with children,'* Haru thought.
Only Izayoi smiled. The expressions on the faces of the two girls and Haru were strange.
"Well, then, since we've introduced ourselves, let's plant the water tree! I'll place it on the pedestal, so Izayoi-san, please release it from the card."
"Okay."
There hadn't been water in that canal for a long time, but the structure remained intact. However, it was cracked in several places, and sand had accumulated in some important areas. As expected, scrubbing all the gravel turned out to be a difficult task.
Kasukabe Yo, standing on a stone wall, looked around curiously. "A large body of water, almost like a lake."
Kuro Usagi quickly turned around with the cat in her arms.
"Yes, the last time it was used was three years ago. Initially, a water tree and a dragon's eye were placed on a pedestal above the tank, but they were also taken by the Demon Lord."
The eyes of Izayoi and Haru sparkled.
"Dragon's eye? What's that? I want it! Where can I get it?" Izayoi asked.
"I want it too," Haru said.
*'It's one of the materials to evolve the Dark Repulser,'* Haru thought upon hearing about the dragon's eye.
"Seriously. I wouldn't tell you even if I knew," Kuro Usagi replied.
If she told Izayoi and Haru, they would participate in that game. If they summoned the dragon for the game, they really couldn't save it. Kuro Usagi dodged the question, and Jin returned to the previous topic.
"We did some work, but only the basics. Besides, with the help of this tree, it's impossible to fill all the canals with water, so we closed the canals in the residential area and opened only one that leads to the main mansion and the hostel. We use it sometimes when we collect water from the river, so there's no problem."
"Oh, there's a way to transport water from the river a few kilometers away?" Asuka asked.
Instead of Kuro Usagi, who was busy placing the sapling, Jin and the children answered Asuka: "Yes. Each of us carries a bucket of water in each hand."
"Although half usually spills and disappears."
"However, if the USA-Netheyan sister could bring water from outside the Little Garden, the tank would fill up in no time."
"…I see, that sounds harsh."
Asuka was worried about something.
Kuro Usagi made a big leap to the center of the tank, where there was a pedestal on a column, and said, "Now I'll untie the string, and the sapling will take root. Izayoi-san, please open the canal to the mansion!"
"Okay."
Izayoi jumped into the tank and opened the shutter. Kuro Usagi untied the rope immediately afterward. A large wave escaped from the fabric covering the roots and quickly began to fill the reservoir.
Izayoi, who had just opened the shutter, shouted in surprise, "Wait… wait a minute! I don't want to get wet again today, hey!"
Izayoi had gotten wet several times today, so he hurriedly jumped onto a stone wall.
After removing the seal, the roots of the water tree twisted around the column under the pedestal and began producing even more water.
New leaves radiated a glow, both from the moonlight and the water flowing through the branches.
"Ah! It's better than I thought!"
A strong flow passed through the buffer and quickly began to fill the canal leading to the mansion. The amount of water produced by the water tree was much greater than they expected, so much so that it filled the entire tank. Seeing a familiar scene, Jin whispered, "Amazing! With this, we can use water for many things! …"
"What? Are you going to start growing something?" Izayoi asked.
"Growing floral-type Gifts, like Suisen Ranku, which grows on the water's surface, we can obtain an additional source of income for the Community. Besides, everyone will be able to participate in this…"
"Hm… what's Suisen Ranku, a miniature gentleman?" Izayoi teased.
"Uh?" Jin opened his mouth in surprise. Not because they didn't know about the flower, though.
He was surprised that Izayoi called him a miniature gentleman for no reason, a nickname that combined respect and negligence.
"Sui-Suisen Ranku, also called Aqua Flan, is a light flower that can purify water. It's also used in flower baths and is generally sold for its aesthetic properties. If I remember correctly, there were several in the fountain plaza."
"Ah, those egg-like buds? Maybe you should've brought some if they were valuable."
"What are you saying? Suisen Ranku can be used as chips in the southern and northern quarters. It would be a crime if you took one!" Jin protested.
"Hey, hey, don't worry about the little things while you're still a kid, miniature gentleman," Izayoi teased further.
*Qchin.* Jin clicked his tongue and tried to respond.
However, Izayoi stopped his hand movement and said with a serious expression and a terrifying voice, "Sorry, but I won't call you leader until you prove yourself. I brought the water tree just because I wanted it. I didn't do it for the Community's sake."
Jin couldn't say anything. He had heard from Kuro Usagi that Izayoi defeated the Serpent God and received a water tree. As valuable as he considered it, those words hit him hard.
"As I told Kuro Usagi, if this Community becomes boring after I fulfill my duty for the bond… I'll leave it without a doubt."
"Understood."
Izayoi spoke sincerely and threateningly. Jin didn't understand Izayoi's frivolous attitude, but of the three, he was undoubtedly the most problematic.
No one but Haru knew what "boring" meant, but that's why Jin nodded confidently.
"The goal of our Community is to defeat the Demon Lord. I won't rely on Kuro Usagi forever. During the next Gift Game… I'll prove it."
"That's why I'm looking forward to it, miniature gentleman."
Izayoi turned, laughing. Jin was irritated by the nickname, but now he couldn't do anything and held his words.
Unlike Jin, who had relied on Kuro Usagi until then, the new comrade Izayoi managed to make a much greater contribution to the Community.
"First Gift Game… I have to try," Jin murmured to himself, watching the sixteen-day moon rise above the tank.
Only Haru heard the kid speak.
[Scene Change]
They arrived at the mansion late at night. The silhouette of the headquarters under the moonlight was as large as a hotel. Yo looked at the mansion, which had become their base, and murmured in admiration, "It looked great from afar, but… it's really huge. Where will we live?"
"According to our Community's traditions, we rank those who participate in Gift Games, and from the highest ranks, they live on the upper floors, but… you can use any. Moving up and down would also be troublesome," Kuro Usagi explained.
"I see. Would it be a problem if I used that building?" Asuka pointed to a building next to the mansion.
"Ah, that's a children's building. It was used for other purposes, but for general safety reasons, everyone now lives here. If Asuka-san doesn't mind living with 120 children, then…"
"I'll pass," Asuka replied quickly. Even if she got along with children, spending time with so many probably didn't seem very appealing to her.
The quartet set aside their questions about Little Garden and the Community for a while and expressed a strong desire to "take a bath today," so Kuro Usagi was preparing it.
When Kuro Usagi saw the condition of the large bathhouse, which hadn't been used in a long time, she went pale and said, "Please wait an hour! I'll clean it quickly!" she shouted and started cleaning the bath.
The quartet examined their rooms and would gather in the changing room.
*'Damn meowing, if I could understand that cat, it'd be great,'* Haru thought, joining Yo talking to the cat.
To others, the cat only said "meow meow," but Yo responded in normal language. To strangers, it seemed odd. Asuka reluctantly asked her, "It might be an awkward question, but… maybe the reason you don't have friends…"
"I have lots of friends. There just aren't any humans among them."
From the tone of her response, Asuka understood that this topic shouldn't be pursued and fell silent.
Kuro Usagi's voice came from the hallway soon after.
"The bath is ready. Please come in, ladies first!"
"Thank you. Let's go, Haru-san, Izayoi-kun."
"I'd rather come back later, so no problem," Haru said.
"I wouldn't normally miss a chance to bathe with ladies like you, but I'll come back later too," Izayoi added.
"Understood."
After the three ladies left.
"Did you feel it too?" Izayoi asked after they were gone.
"Impossible, I didn't feel anything," Haru replied.
"Then let's deal with those guys outside," Izayoi said.
[Scene Change]
The sixteenth moon was in the sky tonight.
Leaving the mansion where Kuro Usagi led them, Izayoi and Haru stood as defenders of the Demon King in front of the building where the children slept, arms crossed.
"Hey… if you don't decide, we can't take a bath," Izayoi said, tired of waiting for them to make a move.
*Zaa,* the trees swayed in the wind. At first glance, there was no sign of anyone's presence, but Izayoi kept talking to himself with an irritated expression, as if speaking to someone.
"Are you going to attack this place or not? If so, make up your mind and do it."
*Zaza,* only the trees swayed in the wind. There were still no signs of anyone hiding.
"These guys," Haru said, annoyed.
Frustrated, Izayoi picked up some stones and gently tossed them toward the shadows of the trees.
"Hey!"
The incredible sound of an explosion, inconceivable for such a throw, blew nearby trees, sent dark figures flying in all directions, and shook the windows of the nearest buildings.
*'Seriously, he threw that pebble gently?'* Haru thought.
Jin quickly ran out of the building and asked Izayoi what was happening. "W-What happened?!"
"Seems like intruders. Maybe they're from Fores Garo?"
Dark figures and debris fell to the ground, one after another.
Those who were still conscious stood up heavily and looked at Izayoi, Haru, and Jin.
"Wh-What absurd strength! … So, the talk that he defeated the Serpent God was true."
"Yes… with this, they might win the game against Galdo! …"
There was no hostility in the intruders' eyes. Izayoi noticed this as he approached them and began to say, "Ooh? What? You're not people?"
Each of them had non-human body parts: dog ears, long hair, claws, reptilian eyes. Izayoi looked at them with great interest, as if studying them.
"We're humans, but we possess Beastly Gifts. Since the level of our Gifts is low, we can only use this incomplete transformation."
"Hey… so you want to talk with us instead of attacking? Hurry up and tell me."
Izayoi spoke to them, smiling. However, the intruders fell silent, not burning with the desire to respond.
Looking at each other, they resolutely bowed their heads.
"We humbly request! Could you completely destroy our… no, the Community associated with the Demon Lord, Fores Garo!!!"
"I don't want to."
He easily rejected their humble request. The intruders tensed and couldn't utter a word. Jin, who had been watching the situation until that moment, was stunned, and his jaw dropped slightly.
Haru wasn't interested in fighting Fores Garo. The girls started it, so let them finish it.
On the other hand, Izayoi got bored and turned his back on the intruders.
"You're probably the ones taking hostages, right? You were forced to come here and kidnap several children, something like that?"
"Yes. We thought you didn't even know about it. Please forgive our ignorance and rude attitude… All of us have relatives taken hostage, so we can't disobey Galdo."
"Ah, those hostages. They're already dead. The end," Izayoi said in a cold tone.
"…What?"
"Izayoi-san!!!" Jin quickly interrupted the conversation, but Izayoi told him in the same cold tone, "Is there a reason to hide it? If you win tomorrow's Gift Game, it'll still come out, right?"
"E-Even so, there are more appropriate ways to say it!!!"
"Idiot brat," Haru said, hearing Jin.
"Hah, you're asking me not to forget their feelings? You're kidding, miniature gentleman, think about it. Who kidnapped the dead hostages? They did."
Jin suddenly turned. If they kidnapped even more people to save the hostages… then it's safe to say they're responsible for about half of the deaths.
"Hunting villains is cool, but I won't do it if the same villains ask me to," Izayoi said.
"That's reality, brat. You're the Community leader. Grow up," Haru said, even colder than Izayoi.
"So, the hostages are really…?"
"…Yes. It seems Galdo killed the hostages the day they arrived."
"Impossible!"
The intruders bowed their heads. They had been kidnapping until today to save those hostages. The shock of realizing those hostages were already in another world must be immense.
Seeing them drowning in despair, an idea struck Izayoi.
Haru saw Izayoi's eyes change, knowing he was about to do something.
Izayoi quickly turned and placed his hand on the intruder's shoulder with the smile of a child who had found new entertainment.
"You all hate Fores Garo? You want it destroyed?"
"O-Of course! Everything we've been through is because of him! …"
"I see, I see. But you don't have the strength to do it, right?"
They bit their lips.
"A-And he's still subordinate to the Demon Lord. His Gift is much stronger. Even if we challenge him in the game, we won't win! No, even if we somehow win, we'll attract the Demon Lord's attention…"
"What if there was a Community that wanted to defeat the Demon Lord?"
"Huh?" The intruders raised their heads. Izayoi pulled Jin toward him.
"I'm saying this young Master Jin is building a Community to defeat the Demon Lords."
"What! …"
The intruders and Jin were shocked. This was close to the Community's goals, but not exactly. Jin planned to protect the Community and defeat only the Demon Lord who took their Emblem.
However, Izayoi explained it as if they were going to defeat all Demon Lords.
Probably because such a Community didn't exist before, the beastmen asked again, confused, "A Community that will defeat the Demon Lords? What's that?"
"As I said. We'll protect everyone from the invasion of Demon Lord Communities and their subordinates. And everyone we protect must spread the following: An incredible offer. Attention: Anyone with problems with Demon Lords, direct your questions to Jin Russell."
"That's…"
"That's a joke?" Jin wanted to say, but his lips stayed shut. Izayoi was absolutely serious.
Izayoi stood up and spread his arms, as if trying to catch a strong wind.
"What happened to the hostages is sad. However, you can breathe easy. Tomorrow, members of our Community, led by Jin Russell, will avenge you! No need to worry about the future! And all this is because our Jin Russell rose to defeat the Demon Lords!"
"Ohhh!!!"
Izayoi spoke exaggeratedly, but the intruders found hope in it.
Haru was just holding back laughter, turning his back to them.
"Go back to your Communities! And tell all the upcoming Communities that our Jin Russell will defeat the Demon Lords!"
"I understand! Good luck tomorrow, young Master Jin!"
"Wait…!" Jin's shout didn't reach them; the intruders disappeared in the blink of an eye.
*'This will be fun, really fun,'* Haru thought, heading to the bath, thinking about the fun he'd have in this world.
[Scene Change]
While Jin dragged Izayoi to the waiting room, Haru went straight to the bath.
What pure water. I need to get the sacred tree's Gift to create drinkable water.
I'm sure Kuro Usagi wouldn't tell me who I should challenge. She didn't talk about that dragon, after all.
"How relaxing," Haru said to himself, floating in the bathwater. It felt more like a hot spring without the hot water.
"Hadou 90. What a pain."
My Hadou 90 has been weird since the first time I used it against Arlong. It was small compared to the real one Aizen uses in *Bleach*. In the end, that proved true; after Riser, I practiced outside the city, and the MP cost increased a lot. But it's still incomplete.
There's no doubt Hadou 99 is complete, but the MP cost is still unknown.
For now, I'd better focus on getting a sacred tree to purify my water magic.
"Well, their game is tomorrow. I'll use this time to practice my Hadou 90," Haru said to himself, finishing his bath.
[Scene Change]
Asuka, Yo, Jin, Kuro Usagi, Izayoi, and the cat had gone to the game against Fores Garo. Meanwhile, Haru was in a terrain that seemed destroyed millennia ago, practicing Hadou 90.
"Overflow, abode of chaos! Insolent vessel of madness! Deny the hidden will, freeze, and obliterate! Disturb the sleep! The iron maiden crawls! The mud doll disintegrates! Unite! Oppose! Fill the earth and acknowledge your own powerlessness!"
**Hadou 90: Black Sarcophagus**
A coffin of black energy formed, pierced by dozens of energy spears, shredding whoever was inside. This Kidou has a large amount of gravity that can distort even space-time.
"Huff… huff… 1… 130… t-thousand MP… incomplete," Haru said, kneeling and panting from losing so much MP at once.
[Scene Change]
Haru lay in bed after learning Yo had been taken for medical treatment. That was a surprise, having a Gift for that here.
The Demon Lord who destroyed the Community years ago didn't take the treasures—Gifts—collected by the Nameless from the workshops. However, due to their unique nature, requiring many conditions for use, most were hard to manage, and finding a buyer interested in sophisticated equipment on the market was difficult. Consequently, they were abandoned, gathering dust in the workshops.
Haru, in bed, sensed someone outside on the third floor. He knew it was the loli vampire. Wanting to take a look, he arrived with Sonido and saw the girl with Kuro Usagi in front of her.
Her beautiful golden hair was tied back with custom ribbons, while a red jacket was worn over a long dress. Though said to be older than Kuro Usagi, she looked very young. After all, she was a loli vampire.
"Forgive my rudeness, but I just wanted to see him, Kuro Usagi, so Jin wouldn't know of my visit."
"Here… how is that? Ah! Kuro Usagi will make tea, wait a minute!"
Perhaps it was a blessing to see a long-lost comrade. Kuro Usagi easily ran to the tea room.
Noticing Izayoi and Haru were there, staring at her strangely, Leticia tilted her head and looked at them.
"Is something wrong? Or is there something on my face?"
"No, I just feel you really fit the description. Beautiful woman… No, that's not it. I just thought about admiring you to soothe my eyes," Izayoi said.
"Lolicon," Haru said, sitting next to Izayoi on the sofa.
Leticia Draculair laughed heartily.
Suppressing the remaining urge to laugh, she created an aristocratic atmosphere, sitting in the armchair.
"I see. So you're Izayoi? As Shiroyasha described, a straightforward guy. But if you want to admire Kuro Usagi, you shouldn't yield to me, right? In the end, she has a pretty appearance and a completely different charm."
"But since I consider her a mascot, instead of admiration, I'd lean more toward teasing, right?"
"I agree," Haru said.
"Please don't agree on that, okay?!" Kuro Usagi protested.
"And you, you're Haru, right?" Leticia stared intensely at Haru, sensing something strange about him, especially the attraction she was feeling.
"I'm not interested in lolis," Haru said, being stared at.
Before she could say anything, Kuro Usagi, who returned with a tray and red tea, huffed irritably. Her expression while serving tea was still pouting.
"Compared to you, Madame Leticia, most women in the world wouldn't be admirable. Not just Kuro Usagi looks worse," Haru said, knowing Kuro Usagi was listening behind the door.
"No, you're not missing much, are you? I don't deny she's beautiful with a different charm, but if you asked about my preferences, I'd choose you, Kuro Usagi," Izayoi said.
"…Here… how is that?"
Hearing a sudden confession, Kuro Usagi's cheeks and ears turned red. Though today the number of confessions and praises wasn't fewer than the stars in the sky, Izayoi's words seemed imprinted in her mind, reaching her ears in an unfamiliar way.
"Kuro Usagi, did I interrupt something? Maybe you had a little date before I…" Leticia teased.
"No, there was none of that! So, what brings you today?" Kuro Usagi replied.
*Is it my impression, or is this rabbit looking for a strong sexual partner like hell?* Haru thought.
Kuro Usagi panicked and quickly returned to the main topic. Leticia now belonged to another.
"Well, it's not particularly important. I came here to see the power level in the new Community, and I don't want to meet Jin because I don't have the right to. In the end, if you look closely at the result, it hurts your friend."
Even among demons, pure-blood vampires were rare. Their environmental requirements didn't differ much from Izayoi's ideas about vampires. But if he had to name the main difference, he'd say it's how the world views vampires.
Just as rabbits, the Messengers of the Little Garden's creator, were called the High Light of Little Garden, vampires who could walk under Little Garden's daylight were called Knights of Little Garden.
The Gift they possess allows them to completely ignore rituals. Through a simple blood exchange, they can cause demonization. The Gift's recipient will soon be consumed by the desire to devour people, but this technique is only available to Pure-Bloods and won't cause demonization if the victim is bitten by a common vampire.
Thus, when the urge to drink blood takes hold of a Vampire, they start a personal Gift Game, requiring participants to provide their blood as a chip. Only respect and adherence to Little Garden's Gift Game rules allow vampires to live with others.
Little Garden's cities allow vampires to enjoy the sun while leading a sustainable and wonderful life. In exchange, they also play the role of Little Garden's Defenders, which led to pure-blood vampires being called Knights of Little Garden.
"A vampire? I see. So why is she so beautiful?" Izayoi said loudly, drawing everyone's attention in the room.
"Uh?"
"Oh, forget me, please continue," Izayoi waved his hand for them to continue.
"Indeed, when I heard that Kuro Usagi and the others announced the restoration of the Nameless Community, I was outraged… boiling with rage, because you made such a foolish decision. I know you understand that this choice leads to a very difficult path with many obstacles.
"But when I had the chance to contact you, to talk with you, though with great difficulty… I heard news I couldn't ignore… It said that the owner of a Divinity joined you."
Kuro Usagi's gaze, unknowingly, shifted to Izayoi. Leticia must have heard this from Shiroyasha.
"So, I wanted to use this time to conduct a small test and check if the new members have enough power to save the Community."
"And what did you decide?" Kuro Usagi asked with a serious look, but Leticia just smiled bitterly and shook her head.
"What a pity, but Galdo was a failed test with his meager strength. The two girls who participated in the game are just promising talents, and now it's hard to evaluate them… I arrived here successfully, but what should I say?" Struggling with her thoughts, which she didn't seem to understand, Leticia smiled wryly again.
And then Izayoi corrected Leticia's words with a scornful attitude.
"Make a special visit to the old house to say something? Really? Shouldn't it be a desire to find relief for the old Community's progress?"
"…Hmm. Maybe so."
Seeing Leticia maintain a wry smile, Izayoi made a proposal in a frivolous tone, "Well, if you're not sure about it, there's only one way to handle it."
"What?"
"It's very simple. Since you're worried about what the Nameless have and what they lack to face the Demon Lords, just use your own power to test it. How about it, former Demon Lord lady?"
Izayoi stood up abruptly. Realizing Izayoi's intentions, Leticia couldn't utter a word at first but then burst into laughter. Leticia's exaggerated laughter also rose, laughing so hard that tears appeared in the corners of her eyes.
"Hehe, of course, I didn't think of that. This is a really simple and effective way. If I'd known, I'd have done it from the start instead of the backstage plan."
"Please… please wait, you two?" Kuro Usagi interrupted. "What about the game's rules?"
"Since this is a test of strength, let's not make them too complicated. We'll just hit each other and see the reaction."
"The last one standing wins? Here's how? Well, that's what we call the simpler, the better, right?"
The opponents smiled at each other before simultaneously jumping into the courtyard through a window.
Haru followed through the window as well.
The window, which remained open, didn't become an obstacle, and they passed through the frame successfully. Positioned opposite each other in the courtyard, about ten tatami in size, their stances were like heaven and earth.
"Huh? So Little Garden vampires have wings?" Izayoi remarked.
This fight would be interesting if she had all her power before losing to the Demon Lord.
**[Leticia Draculair]**
**Race: Pure-Blood Vampire**
**Title: Former Demon King**
**Gift: Lord of Vampires**
**HP: 200,000**
**SP: 100,000**
**VIT: 2,000**
**VIG: 1,000**
**STR: 1,500**
**AGI: 700**
**DEX: 1,000**
**LUK: 500**
**Player: Intriguing**
Now she's not comparable to her past self. She can't do much with what's left except turn the weak into vampires.
"Hmm. Though the wings aren't used for flight… you don't like the sky at my disposal?"
"No, we didn't write it in the rules."
Izayoi shrugged indifferently. Though this meant Izayoi was at a disadvantage, he didn't complain and instead remained in a protective stance.
And Leticia began to assess him.
In Gift Games, there's a basic rule—the enemy is unknown.
Take, for example, a monkey complaining that birds cheat by flying freely in the sky. In Gift Games, it's the monkey's fault for not being able to fly, and its complaints aren't a valid argument. Facing an opponent whose strength is unknown, showing your skills, and finding a way to fight with your own Gift—that's the true essence of Gift Games and the greatest pleasure.
Flying with her back to the full moon, Leticia smiled and, at the same time, spread her black wings, taking out her Gift Card.
Seeing the Gift Card, decorated with black, red, and gold flowers, Kuro Usagi went pale and shouted, "Fly… Madame Leticia! That Gift Card…"
"Don't interfere, Kuro Usagi. Though it's a test of strength, it's the same as a duel."
The Gift Card glowed and materialized the true form of the Gift sealed within it.
Particles of light formed the object's outer shell, which then broke, revealing the true form of the weapon, shaped like a spear.
"We'll throw a spear at each other, and whoever can't block it loses instantly. Sorry, but I'll start."
"That works."
Leticia raised the spear she would throw high into the sky.
She took a deep breath to steady her breathing, spread her wings wider, and turned her whole body to add strength to the throw.
The explosion of the throw made the air ripple, and the spear pierced it with such force that vibrations could be seen crawling along the spear's sides as it flew toward its intended target.
The spear, thrown with a fierce shout, had already begun to heat up due to air friction and rapidly approached Izayoi.
Meeting the spear's tip flying toward his face while the air vibrated around it like a meteor, Izayoi showed a wide smile.
"Hmm! Why be so insolent?!"
And he swung his fist to strike the spear.
"WHAT?"
Leticia and Kuro Usagi shouted in disbelief.
But this was because the following description wasn't a metaphor, just as it was impossible to fully describe the scene otherwise. The spear's tip was so sharp it could be thrown at a speed that broke through all air resistance. Its shape, from a sharp tip to a bizarre handle, crafted in a beautiful pattern, was bent into a piece of iron with just one blow and shattered, forming countless fragments like shrapnel that flew back toward Leticia.
Insane destructive power! Leticia wouldn't be able to defend against such a blow, and her only option was evasion.
But her body didn't keep up with her thoughts. No, it didn't matter even if she had time.
If it were a normal bullet, Leticia, a pure-blood vampire, should have the ability to knock it down with her hand. But before this ferocious shrapnel, flying at the Third Cosmic Velocity and approaching almost invisible to the human eye, it was impossible to do the same.
And Leticia was about to become a target. She smiled wryly. Seeing Izayoi's incredible strength, Leticia felt ashamed for naively wanting to test his power and, at the same time, felt relieved.
If this guy has such powerful talent, maybe…
As Leticia mentally prepared to crash to the ground, shattered and covered in blood, Haru caught her using Sonido and returned to the ground. Setting her down, still surprised by being caught at such high speed, Haru went to Izayoi.
"Control that absurd strength more," Haru scolded Izayoi.
Smiling, Izayoi replied, "I still controlled it a bit. Sorry for not judging the strength of a former Demon Lord."
"She's called former because she lost the power she had back then."
Haru and Izayoi, seeing Kuro Usagi going to Leticia, stopped talking to pay attention.
"Dara's name is the pure-blood vampire princess… as I thought! Dara's name changed! Though it contains a demonic particle, there's no Divinity in it now!" Kuro Usagi exclaimed.
"Wow!"
Leticia immediately turned away, unable to look Kuro Usagi in the eyes. Izayoi, who approached them, seemed a bit concerned but shrugged with a disapproving expression.
"What's this? You no longer have the former Demon Lord's Gift, and all that's left is the Vampire Gift?"
"…Yes, most of the weapons remain, but the Gift that was usually in her body…"
Haru gave Izayoi that familiar *I told you so* look.
Izayoi didn't bother hiding his disappointment as he clicked his tongue sharply.
"No wonder there were no signs of a fight from you! So, after the change of ownership, the Gift escapes too?"
"No… The Demon Lord only took talented Community members and didn't seek the Gifts. Unlike Gifts that can materialize as weapons, what we call a Blessing is a miracle granted to various Deities, Buddhas, and Spirits. In other words, it's part of the soul and can't be taken by force from the Gift's owner without their consent."
This meant Leticia gave up her Gift. Seeing how they focused their eyes on her, Leticia seemed to avert her gaze.
Kuro Usagi's expression darkened, and she said, "Madame Leticia, your former strength was equal to a Demon Lord's due to possessing both the Pure-Blood Demon and Divinity Gifts, which gave you that title. But with your current abilities, it seems you have no more than a tenth of that power left. Why did you become so…"
"That's…"
Leticia hesitantly started to speak but stopped and tried several times. In the end, she couldn't be honest with them and fell silent again, looking at the ground.
Izayoi scratched his head exasperatedly and suggested, "Forget how to say it… if you want to say something, let's go back to the room first."
"…I think you're right…"
The two nodded grimly.
A tenth, so her STR would be around 15,000, or even more in her older form. I need more power, Haru thought, following them inside.
Just as they were about to enter, they felt indignation in the air.
As they looked up to see the source, a brown ray of light flashed in the distance, and Leticia immediately shouted, "A ray of light… It's a Medusa ray?! Damn it! They found me!"
Screaming in panic, Leticia stood in front of them to shield their bodies, trying to protect them from the muddy brown ray's damage.
Realizing the nature of this ray, Kuro Usagi shouted sadly, looking into the distance.
"A flag representing Medusa's head? …No… it won't work! Please, step aside and dodge, Madame Leticia!"
But Kuro Usagi's shout didn't have the desired effect on Leticia, who was already absorbed by the brown ray and turned into a stone statue, falling to the side.
From the direction the ray came, a large group of people appeared, wearing winged sandals and knightly tunics. They rushed toward Leticia, maintaining formation.
"Target found! The vampire is petrified, capture her immediately!"
"There are some Nameless people nearby, your orders?"
"If they try to interfere with our mission, you may silence them!"
Hearing the Air Knights' words, Izayoi smiled unpleasantly and cruelly and said, "What a headache. For the first time in my life, they treated me as lightly as an accessory. Should I clap to celebrate this event? Or should I give in to rage and teach them a lesson they'll never forget? Kuro Usagi, what's better?"
"Either way… Either way, let's go back and defend the headquarters!"
Though they were worried about the petrified Leticia, they seemed to have a bigger problem.
After all, Leticia was still Perseus's property. She fled without the owner's consent, so they had no right to argue. Besides, Perseus was part of Thousand Eyes, and in case of disagreement, it would be hard to imagine an improvement in the situation.
After Kuro Usagi desperately dragged Izayoi and Haru to the headquarters, three air knights left the formation and descended to the ground to surround the petrified Leticia, while Kuro Usagi, Izayoi, and Haru hid behind the door, observing the situation.
As the knight-clad people surrounded the petrified Leticia and began to restrain her, their expressions conveyed a sense of relief.
"Well, well, we're finally done… I'm really a bit scared thinking she might escape again."
"Yes, this is a pretty big and lucrative deal, enough to cancel the Gift Game without hesitation. If we failed, Perseus couldn't stay in Thousand Eyes anymore."
"Not only that. Though it's located outside Little Garden's cities, the buyer is a nationally important Community. If the goods were stolen…"
"You said outside Little Garden's cities?!" Kuro Usagi shouted.
Kuro Usagi's shout stopped the people about to take Leticia.
Hearing the voice of a Nameless member, the Knights immediately considered it interference in their mission and turned hostile looks toward Kuro Usagi.
However, Kuro Usagi ignored their hostility and ran to protest, "What are you talking about?! Vampires—Knights of Little Garden—can only walk under the sun's rays within Little Garden's cities! But to send a Vampire outside Little Garden's cities like that! …"
"This deal was made by my leader. Outsiders better mind their own business!" a knight replied coldly before using winged sandals and flying into the sky.
They returned to the detachment, counting a hundred heavily armed Knights awaiting orders over the Nameless headquarters.
Indeed, unauthorized entry into another Community's headquarters was a terrible insult to the affected Community and would be bad if news of it spread. Normally, the Thousand Eyes trading Community, which values trust as its main principle, wouldn't act so rudely and irrationally. There was clear arrogance and signs that they considered Kuro Usagi and the others weak and miserable Nameless.
"You… You're terrible and hopeless people! … So, insulting us this much, you really won't apologize for your rudeness?! How dare you use the flag of two goddesses with that attitude! Are you really so thick-skinned?"
"Hmph, speaking politely to a low-level Community at the bottom is even more shameful for our flag! As a miserable Nameless Community, you should at least show some understanding of your situation!" Perseus's members provoked Kuro Usagi excitedly.
"What… What did you say?!"
Kuro Usagi's body seemed to crackle with irritation as anger flowed through her entire being. Their attitude toward Leticia and the insults to her Community, combined with their arrogance, made Kuro Usagi boil.
The Knights laughed when they saw Kuro Usagi trembling with rage and provoked her, "Hmf, you want to go against us?"
"How foolish of the Nameless, who couldn't even defend their own Flag, to think they can fight us."
"Shameless! Let our flag witness today that Kuro Usagi will bring justice to your insolent actions!"
The Knights continued hurling curses and insults, holding the flag high with Medusa's head, forming a crescent moon around Kuro Usagi. But all these insults no longer reached Kuro Usagi, who began to smile coldly and dangerously.
Looking at the Knights with that slow, dangerous smile that didn't suit her, she scolded, "Hng… Hng hng… How brave. It seems you've accumulated many of those famous Gifts, but do you really think you'll get stronger with those tricks?"
"What?"
The Knights fell into a frenzy. Kuro Usagi let her dark hair turn pink and leaped into the sky to intimidate the Knights.
"Outrageous… yes, right, that's absolutely outrageous! To make the Lunar Rabbit, an innocent, honest, just, and romantic symbol praised in songs, so angry! …"
The air pressure suddenly increased, creating a weight in the air and a force that made breathing difficult for the attacking Knights. The Knights were suddenly confused as the pressure created by Kuro Usagi fell upon them.
And at that moment, when Kuro Usagi raised her right hand, a sharp rattle, like the sound of an explosive atmosphere, was released. An echo of an explosion comparable to thunder filled the air, and a long spear, shining and sparkling like lightning, appeared in her right hand.
Seeing this, the Knights faltered.
"A Gift that appears with the sound of thunder… That… That's Indra's weapon?! Lord Lai didn't tell us about this!"
"No… impossible! How can a sacred weapon belong to the weakest Communities?!"
"That can't be true! It must be a fake!"
Kuro Usagi gripped the spear, still shining and emitting electric charges, with a reverse grip and said, "If you can't determine its authenticity with your eyes, use your body to learn the truth!"
As the surrounding air expanded due to the rising temperature, it exploded deafeningly while Kuro Usagi's hair glowed like a rainbow prism, slowly shifting from dark red to blue.
When Kuro Usagi was about to throw Indra's spear into the air, Izayoi suddenly appeared behind her with Haru.
"Hey!"
"Ow!"
And he used his power to pull Kuro Usagi's ears. Her hand slipped, and Indra's spear flew in a completely different direction, accompanied by booming roars, striking Little Garden's sky, releasing lightning and heat enough to illuminate the curtain for many kilometers around.
"Calm down! Want to fight Shiroyasha?! Even if I held back, you were having fun without me? What's that about? Han, tell me."
"Ow! Sorry! And why are you angry?"
And Izayoi pulled Kuro Usagi's ears several times to make her understand his point.
Haru just looked at the sky; that spear was no joke.
"It hurts! It hurts! It hurts a lot, Izayoi-san!"
The last part wasn't a simple strong pull; Izayoi lifted Kuro Usagi off the ground by the base of her ears.
"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! Hw… that's enough, Izayoi-san! Please keep an eye out, okay?! Now Kuro Usagi wants to let those rude guys taste divine punishment…"
"They're already gone."
"Uh? They escaped too fast, right?"
"No," Haru said, using Observation Haki. "Invisibility, they're not far."
Izayoi nodded thoughtfully while Kuro Usagi glared at him with fury. Releasing her ears, Izayoi shook his head.
"I understand your feelings, but this isn't the best time to act. Though I don't mind, if the Nameless fight Thousand Eyes, won't it be bad?"
"Well… that's true too…"
"If you want to know the details of the deal, we can just follow the rules. There are others who know about the situation, right?"
Kuro Usagi seemed to finally understand what he meant from the start. Since Shiroyasha brought Leticia, she might know about the deal.
"Call the others."
"Uh? But… But this incident happened in the morning."
"Then call the gentleman and the miniature lady. I smell gunpowder in the air, and in the worst case, the game will start on the spot. In that case, wouldn't it be better to bring a few more people with you?"
*'Forget it, even if it is, I'll be enough,'* Izayoi thought, though he didn't say it aloud. In the end, he could read the current situation. But he knew Haru also wanted to have fun.