[Outer Gate No. 26745, Perseus Base]
Perseus greeted a group of Nameless, who knocked down the wide doors of their white palace, both groups seated across from each other in the reception room.
Lai, who appeared in the discussions, smirked arrogantly, continuing to gaze passionately at Kuro Usagi. However, Kuro Usagi ignored this, starting negotiations: "We, Nameless, are requesting a duel with the Perseus Community."
"What?" Lai responded.
Haru, observing Lai's gaze, had only one thing on his mind: *"Relative of a roasted chicken."*
Kuro Usagi continued: "As for the style of battle, even if you use Perseus's most complex Games, we will accept them without objections."
"Huh? What? You came to talk about this nonsense? I already said I refuse a duel, didn't I?" Lai replied.
Lai waved for them to leave, clearly rejecting them.
"If that's all you have to say, get out. Ah, what a pain. Though she's not my type, I'll take that vampire to vent all the built-up expectations. In the end, she was almost sold to that depraved fat pig who wouldn't care about low-quality goods…"
*Bam!*
Kuro Usagi cut off his words with a slam on the table and began unfolding a large package in front of Lai.
Two jewels with the symbol of the Gorgon's Head rolled out of the package, red and blue stones.
Seeing the two precious stones, all the nearby Perseus members shouted in surprise.
"What… What the hell…!"
"A Gift that grants the opportunity to summon Perseus? …Could it be that the miserable Nameless who defeated the sea monster Kraken and the Moirai have this right?"
(Moirai - the three sisters of Greek mythology)
The Perseus members were confused. In a normal situation, if there were a Community with the right to summon, the Base would be notified by letter. But it seemed they were unaware of this.
This was to be expected, as a pile of documents had stacked up on Lai's desk.
"Oh, you mean the Giant Octopus and the old witch?" It was pretty fun; I think the snake was good training, though Haru overdid it by ripping that out," Izayoi said.
Izayoi stretched his neck. These gems were Gifts that could only be obtained after defeating legendary monsters. But Haru really went overboard by eating a piece of the Kraken.
The reason for granting the right to summon Perseus as a prize was the desire to revive the legend of Perseus, helping to foster the ambition to progress in the lower levels.
But Lai was not so noble, rasping and clicking his tongue as he looked at the jewels before him.
Lai's dissatisfaction reached its limit.
"Hmph… fine, then I'll play with you. The original purpose of this Game was to crush Communities that overestimate their strength. To ensure you never get in my way again, I swear I'll completely destroy all of you!" Lai declared.
Lai threw back his impressive cape, speaking with anger.
Kuro Usagi returned his gaze, declaring war: "After insulting our Community with rude behavior, we no longer need to talk. We, Nameless, will settle this with Perseus in the Gift Game!"
This Game was an open test for weaker and lower-level Communities. When it begins, the Game also provides replicas of Perseus's equipment. It was a well-structured and carefully considered Gift Game.
[Scene Change]
**Geass Scroll**
"A Tale in Perseus"
**Participants:**
- Haru Kurokami
- Sakamaki Izayoi
- Kudo Asuka
- Yo Kasukabe
- Nameless Leader: Jin Russell
- Perseus Leader: Lai Perseus
**Victory Conditions:**
- Overcome the Game Master's Leader.
**Defeat Conditions:**
- Choosing not to participate.
- Loss of the right to participate in the Game.
- Inability to meet the victory conditions described above.
**Game Field and Rule Details:**
- The Community Leader hosting the Game cannot leave the headquarters - the deepest part of the White Palace.
- Members of the host Community cannot enter the deepest part of the palace.
- Participants must not be detected by members of the host Community (including the Leader).
- Participants who are discovered will be considered eliminated and lose the chance to challenge the Game Leader.
- Eliminated participants lose the right to fight the Game Leader but may continue participating in the Game.
**Oath:** Nameless swears by honor and flag to respect the above items and participate in the Gift Game.
**Perseus Seal**
[Scene Change]
As soon as they signed the Geass Scroll, they were enveloped by a light that filled their entire field of vision.
The spatial rift transported the six outside the door and released them in front of the entrance to the Gift Game arena.
As Haru and the others, standing near the door, looked around, they realized the environment around the White Palace had been torn from Little Garden, turning it into a palace in the middle of a void. This place was definitely within Little Garden and, at the same time, not exactly.
"Disqualification upon discovery? In other words, we need to quietly kill Lai?" Izayoi said.
Izayoi looked at the White Palace, seemingly expressing his thoughts while barely restraining his excitement.
"If so, Lai must also act according to the legend and sleep, right? But even then, the battle won't be easy," Jin replied.
"Those who are discovered lose the chance to fight the Game Leader. Similarly, if our team's leader, Jin-chan, is disqualified, it'll mean an instant defeat for the Participants. Since that's the case, there are about three different roles that need to be played," Asuka said.
Yo, standing beside Asuka, nodded in approval. In a normal situation, a Gift Game would require at least 100 people, divided into groups of ten, to have a chance of successfully entering the palace.
But now they had to do it with just five. Therefore, role distribution was crucial.
"Hmm, first we need to designate someone to accompany Jin-chan, who is the player to defeat the Leader. Someone must search for opponents and defeat the invisible members of the Master, and finally, there must be a player who, from the start, reveals themselves and draws attention," Asuka explained.
"It won't be a problem for me to find the invisible members," Haru said, sensing everyone with Observation Haki.
"Kasukabe, you also have good vision and sense of smell, so I'll leave the invisible opponents to you and Haru," Asuka said.
"Kuro Usagi can only participate in the Game as a judge. Kuro Usagi apologizes, but she'll leave the Game Leader to you, Izayoi-san," Kuro Usagi said after Izayoi's suggestion.
"Huh? So I'll be the bait?" Asuka responded, showing slight displeasure.
"Oh, sorry, lady, I'd love to switch places with you, but if we don't win, there's no point in this battle. If anyone has to fight that bastard, Haru and I are the best candidates, no matter how you look at it," Izayoi replied, teasing her.
"Hmph, forget it, I'll let you take the spotlight this time. But if you dare lose, you'd better prepare yourself; you won't get off easily!" Asuka retorted.
Izayoi shrugged indifferently in response. However, Kuro Usagi's expression darkened as she voiced her concern: "As regrettable as it is, there's no guarantee we can win. If we don't seize this opportunity and catch Lai by surprise, the battle will become very tough."
"Is that villain really that powerful?" Asuka asked, sounding a bit nervous.
"No. Lai-san isn't that strong in himself; the problem lies in his Gifts. If Kuro Usagi is correct, his Gift must be…"
"Ex-Demon Lord's servant, who hired him as a subordinate," Izayoi interjected.
"Yes, the Ex-Demon Lord… Uh?" Kuro Usagi was left speechless by Izayoi's addition.
However, Izayoi remained indifferent and continued: "According to the Perseus myth, this world can't have the Medusa's Head, as it was offered to the God of War. However, those guys can still use the Petrification Gift - Perseus, who was invited to become one of the constellations. Simply put, that thing around his neck… it must be a Demon Star, right?"
"A Demon Star?" Asuka, Yo, and Jin, who didn't understand what Izayoi was talking about, exchanged glances, tilting their heads in confusion.
Only Kuro Usagi remained stunned and frozen in place.
Haru didn't care at all.
Because only Kuro Usagi realized how extraordinary Izayoi's hypothesis sounded.
"Izayoi-san… you… already know the secret of Little Garden's constellations?" Kuro Usagi asked, tilting her head while staring at him as if it were unbelievable.
"Yeah. Yesterday, when I looked at the stars, I had a hunch about it, and after meeting Lai, I almost confirmed it. And only when I found extra time to inspect the Demon Star did I reach that conclusion. In the end, when Shiroyasha gave me the equipment, there was no issue with doing some background research," Izayoi said.
Izayoi laughed triumphantly, while Kuro Usagi, looking at his face, showed a smile with hidden meaning.
"Izayoi-san is incredibly smart, huh?"
"What are you talking about at this moment? I'm naturally smart. I can even open Kuro Usagi's room door without turning the handle, can't I?" Izayoi teased.
"No, no, more precisely, those doors didn't have handles to begin with, just a panel," Kuro Usagi corrected.
"Oh, is that so? But even if there's no handle, I can still open the door without using one," Izayoi said.
"…Could Kuro Usagi ask for a demonstration?" Kuro Usagi asked, giving Izayoi a cold stare.
Haru also had no idea how to open a door without a handle, so he'd just kick it.
As if answering a question, Izayoi smiled and approached the large doors.
"Well, something like this… Of course I can!"
Accompanied by the incredible sound of a blow, he smashed the White Palace's large gates with a kick.
"I'll take care of the invisible idiots," Haru said, speeding inside at full velocity.
[Scene Change]
The White Palace was a five-story building, with its deepest part on the top floor, and the only way to get there was through one of the staircases. Though it wasn't known how many people were part of the Master, they'd have to clear at least one staircase to pass.
The collapse of the gates signaled the start of the Game, and Perseus's knights began to act. But they didn't have time, as Haru, using Sonido and Reinforcement simultaneously, took them all out at high speed.
Haru's maximum speed with Reinforcement was nearly Mach 2.
The others who entered afterward heard the chaos Haru was causing. Asuka, Yo, Jin, and even Kuro Usagi, who hadn't seen Haru fight before, were stunned.
Everyone except Izayoi was surprised by his tremendous speed.
"What are you all standing there for? Grab the helmet and start moving. And Izayoi, give that idiot a good punch for me," Haru said, stopping in the center before vanishing again at high speed to finish off the rest.
They picked up the invisibility helmet from the ground that Haru had thrown.
Asuka stayed behind to distract enemies, but there was no one left; Haru had finished everything.
"You didn't leave anything for me," Asuka said.
"I wanted to finish as quickly as possible," Haru replied, bored.
It didn't take long for Asuka, Yo, and Jin to turn to stone. But Haru continued without being petrified.
[Medusa's Eye: Petrification Immunity: Prevents petrification]
*Good thing I ripped out one of that old witch's eyes,* Haru thought, seeing everyone petrified.
"Hmm. He's already done; that was fast," Haru said, noticing everyone who was petrified returning to normal.
Still, why did Izayoi have to destroy the top four floors?
Lai, what an insignificant enemy. His AGI is the same as a normal human's, and even with the winged boots, he barely exceeds 100 AGI. That's not even the speed of wind in a storm.
Haru, seeing Asuka and Yo return to normal, went to the top floor to see the end.
Arriving there, he saw Lai still fighting. Losing would be worse than humiliation, as Perseus's flag was at stake.
"I won't lose… I can't lose… How could I lose?! Kill him, Algol!" Lai shouted.
A pair of shimmering gray wings fluttered. The duo, carrying all the Community's determination, charged forward.
What a disappointment. The only thing Algol has is its Petrification ability and creating demonic beings, which was used before Izayoi destroyed everything.
[Scene Change]
Leticia's misfortunes were just beginning.
Until the moment her rights were transferred to Nameless, we could say everything was perfect. However, when the six who defeated Perseus brought her statue to the hall and freed her from the stone, the four troublemakers said in unison: "Well then, we'll trouble you in the future, Maid-san!"
"Huh?" Leticia responded.
"What? In the end, we just worked in this Game, right? You just followed us," they said.
"Nn. I got beaten up and petrified too," another added.
"And who gave you the right to summon was me, right? So, we've already decided to split it in a 2/2/3/3 ratio to enjoy the property!" they continued.
"What are these people talking about?!" Leticia exclaimed.
Now Kuro Usagi wasn't just behind with the nonsense but also blushed. However, Jin was also confused.
The only one who remained calm and composed was the person in question—Leticia.
"Oh… Uh, that's right. I promise to repay your kindness. Returning calmly to the Community truly makes me happy. However, no matter how many friends we have, comrades tied to this Community must never forget etiquette. So, if you want me to be a servant, I'll gladly accept that role," Leticia said.
"Le… Lady Leticia?!" Kuro Usagi exclaimed.
"I've always wanted a white-haired maid! After all, the maids at my house were neither cute nor attractive! Nice to meet you, Leticia; please take care of me in the future," Asuka said.
*Her hair is golden,* Haru thought, listening to Asuka.
"Take care… No, that's not right. Since the roles of master and servant are being played, it should be said: Please guide me. That sounds better, right?" Asuka corrected.
"Just say whatever you're comfortable with," Leticia replied.
"Here… Like this… No, is it? Ooooh, since you said…" Asuka stammered.
"Don't try to copy Kuro Usagi!" Kuro Usagi shouted.
Izayoi burst into loud laughter. Seeing how the four created a harmonious atmosphere, Kuro Usagi could only collapse.
[Scene Change]
The night of the third day after the battle with Perseus.
The Nameless members, including all the children, gathered at the water tree reservoir.
The total number was 127 people and one cat. Looking at the numbers, they could be called a medium or even large Community.
"Wow… so! Let's start the party to honor the new Community members!" Kuro Usagi announced.
The children shouted in unison. Though it was a small party, there were still long tables brought from nearby buildings, filled with food. It truly looked like a welcome party organized by the children, but the trio wasn't displeased with it.
"But why is the welcome party being held outside?" Asuka asked.
"I have the same question," Haru said, agreeing with Asuka.
"Also, didn't Kuro Usagi prepare a big surprise for us?" Yo asked.
To be honest, Nameless's financial situation was much worse than expected. The treasury's bottom would be fully visible in a few days.
Even if the others started trading officially, feeding over a hundred children would still be an issue. And besides the fact that they must defeat the other Demon Lords, they also needed to retrieve the rest of their comrades.
Though she didn't know that Haru had a lot of money—millions, to be exact.
Only Izayoi knew, having seen him in Gift Games where he earned money.
Asuka, clearly representing their crisis, sighed with a bitter smile.
"I clearly said not to overdo it… what a child," Asuka said.
"Yes," Yo agreed, with a wry smile on her face. As they talked calmly, Kuro Usagi suddenly called for attention: "Well then, the main event begins! Please closely observe Little Garden's curtain!"
Today's sky was full of stars, as always, and the constellations in the night sky shone brightly.
However, a few seconds after Kuro Usagi's request, a change occurred.
"Ah!" one of the Community members who looked at the sky gasped.
At that moment, one after another, stars began to fall from the night sky. Everyone immediately mistook it for a meteor shower and started shouting.
Kuro Usagi explained instructively to Izayoi and the others: "This meteor shower was caused by our new comrades. This is a quartet from another world that created this meteor shower phenomenon."
"Huh?" the group responded.
Amid the children's shouts, Izayoi and the others yelled in surprise. Kuro Usagi didn't seem to mind and continued: "As in the geocentric model adopted in Little Garden's world… all the rules are somehow connected to Little Garden's cities. The Perseus Community, defeated by our comrades, was expelled from Thousand Eyes. Therefore, they must leave that part of the sky."
Haru and the others were speechless.
"Huh… you mean… the constellation will disappear from the sky?" Izayoi asked.
At that moment, flashes of bright light filled the sky.
Perseus, which was originally in the sky with other constellations, vanished with the meteor shower.
Though the trio had seen many other types of miracles, the scale of this one was entirely different.
Unlike the quartet, whose jaws dropped, Kuro Usagi continued her speech: "This meteor shower is also a blessing from Thousand Eyes to celebrate the restoration of our Community's activity. Whether you want to make wishes or enjoy the moment, let's have fun tonight, okay?"
Kuro Usagi and the children cheerfully raised their cups. However, Izayoi, Haru, and the others weren't in the mood to join them.
"Having the ability to change the constellations in the sky on a whim… in other words, until the end of these skies, is it all just decoration to make Little Garden more interesting?" Izayoi asked.
"I guess… it really is?" Asuka replied.
Asuka and Yo raised their heads to look at the force, which could be called too incredible, and they couldn't resist feeling insignificant in comparison.
Only Haru and Izayoi continued watching the meteor shower, feeling a strange mix of emotions.
*Though I knew Algol wasn't a variable star, I didn't expect the entire sky to be created for Little Garden,* Izayoi thought.
Looking at the starry sky, he gazed at the empty spot where the Perseus constellation used to be.
The reason Algol was a demonic star in legends was because it was a variable star. In fact, it's a pair of binary stars in eclipse, forcing a change in the wavelength of emitted light. It's called an eclipsing binary star and is the true face of Algol's malevolent nature.
And it seemed there was some kind of power, great enough, existing in Little Garden, capable of freely playing with the positions of the stars. Something that could control entities beyond the sky. As Izayoi narrowed his eyes, as if rekindling his sense of awe, an energetic voice came from the side.
"Hmm… did that surprise you?" Kuro Usagi asked.
Kuro Usagi hopped toward Izayoi as he spread his arms and nodded.
"I admit it was truly a checkmate. But this end of the world, or the sun traveling in a horizontal plane… I thought I wouldn't be surprised anymore after seeing so many absurd things, but in the end, there are still large-scale displays. Thanks, I think I've found a good goal for myself," Izayoi said.
"Oh? Can Kuro Usagi ask about it?" she replied.
It wasn't a goal for the Community but Izayoi's personal goal. Even if it wasn't Kuro Usagi, others would be interested too.
Izayoi pointed to the spot in the sky where the Perseus constellation had disappeared.
"I want to put our flag in that spot… how's that? Interesting?" he said.
This time, it was Kuro Usagi's turn to be stunned. However, she quickly recovered and smiled joyfully.
"That… sounds romantic," she said.
"There's nothing romantic about it; the flag is for the Community, not you," Haru said, shattering Kuro Usagi's illusions.
Haru just smiled, looking at the sky.
*Well, I already have enough tokens for the God Slayer.*
*I think the Thunder one will work best with Observation Haki. Not to mention the 500 PDS bonus when buying it, though every Slayer has a different PDS bonus amount.*
Sighing, Haru looked down at the ground and then back at the sky.
*Who could be at the top of this world?*