Mandra had, of course, already conducted a thorough investigation into the Community known as Ghost Travel.
It had indeed been established only recently in the North District. As for its members—Mandra found their faces unfamiliar. If they had been renowned powerhouses, surely he would have recognized them.
And yet, in truth, both Alger and Leticia were practically celebrities in the lower levels of Little Garden.
The only reason they went unnoticed now was simple: their appearances had changed too drastically from before. Unless someone knew them well, failing to recognize them was only natural.
As for Ren Kuroda, he had publicly stated that the members of his Community were all legendary yokai and supernatural beings. That was precisely why they had chosen the name Ghost Travel.
And strictly speaking, Ren hadn't lied.
He himself was a half-demon of the oni lineage. Leticia was a pure-blood vampire. Alger was a myth-born demoness.
If that didn't qualify as a gathering of monsters and spirits, what did?
Though small in number, Ghost Travel had displayed remarkable strength in the previous Gift Games they'd entered. That was exactly why Mandra, on behalf of Salamandra, had extended an official invitation to them.
While the so-called "White Night Demon Lord" served as their final insurance policy, a Demon Lord was still a Demon Lord. One could not treat such a threat lightly.
To ensure absolute certainty, Mandra had used the irresistible rewards of the Gift Game to lure several of the North District's strongest Communities into participating—including Will o' Wisp.
In his eyes, whether it was Will o' Wisp or Ghost Travel, both were far more reliable than a ragtag group like No Name.
Shiroyasha had to be joking.
When facing a Demon Lord's assault, what use was recruiting a Community without even a proper banner or name?
Perhaps No Name had once been powerful. But after being devastated by a Demon Lord attack, they were on the verge of dissolution. And yet their slogan still proclaimed, "Defeat the Demon Lord."
It was laughable.
Sandora was still young. If she was to solidify her reputation as Floor Master, she needed the glory of defeating a Demon Lord.
Which meant the so-called "Demon Lord attack"… had actually been deliberately provoked by Mandra.
Salamandra was wagering everything on this gamble.
Only by winning could Sandora's position as Floor Master be truly secured.
But facing a Demon Lord was no child's game. Neither Sandora nor Salamandra could afford to lose. So Mandra had done everything in his power to stack the odds in their favor.
At that very moment, seated inconspicuously among the spectators, Ren and Leticia were watching Alger's performance in the Gift Game with quiet focus.
But before long, several figures approached Ren.
The instant those individuals stepped within range, both Ren and Leticia stiffened, their gazes sharpening in unison.
Three people stood before them.
All three were cloaked head to toe in black robes, their bodies completely concealed.
Though Ren sensed no overt hostility from them, both he and Leticia could immediately tell—
The aura radiating from these individuals did not belong in the lower levels of Little Garden.
"You must be the newly crowned Demon Lord who arose in the East District—Ren Kuroda of the Amanoin lineage—who coerced Shiroyasha and withdrew unscathed."
The figure standing in the middle stepped forward.
"To properly greet you for the first time, you may address me as Your Highness."
As a gesture of sincerity, he lowered his hood.
Revealed beneath was a white-haired boy around Izayoi's age. His features were bright, almost cheerful—hardly what one would expect of a Demon Lord.
Ren had still been processing the abrupt introduction when the girl standing beside the boy stepped forward to clarify.
"My apologies. His Highness was only recently born, so his social and linguistic skills are… somewhat underdeveloped."
The petite figure on the boy's left pulled back her hood as well, revealing a youthful face that rivaled Leticia's own doll-like appearance.
"My name is Saeri Suzune. I serve as strategist of the Demon Lord Alliance. Allow me to explain."
Ren remained silent, watching carefully.
"As you can see, we are Demon Lords affiliated with the Demon Lord Alliance. In Little Garden, Demon Lords are considered natural disasters—but that label truly applies only to the lower levels."
"In the upper realms, where gods and Buddhas walk freely, Demon Lords are not nearly as extraordinary as people imagine. In fact, they often become tools—used and manipulated by those who abuse their authority."
"That is why the Demon Lord Alliance was formed. To resist the gods and Buddhas. To prevent ourselves from being crushed individually, Demon Lords chose to band together."
She paused briefly.
"However… even within the Alliance, ambition festers."
Her eyes met Ren's.
"You understand, don't you?"
"Some become Demon Lords not by choice, but by circumstance. Others embrace the title out of selfish desire and grand ambition."
"Because of that, the Alliance has fractured into two factions."
"His Highness and we belong to the faction of those who did not seek to become Demon Lords out of greed. Unfortunately… our faction has been steadily losing influence."
Ren raised an eyebrow slightly.
"So you think I'm like you," he said calmly. "And now you want to recruit me."
Suzune blinked. He'd finished her thought for her.
"Before I make any decision," Ren continued, "I have a question."
"How did you learn about me?"
"My ascension as a Demon Lord in the East District should have been known only to No Name, Perseus, and Shiroyasha."
"The rest of the East District might know a Demon Lord appeared that night—but they shouldn't know who."
Ren truly was curious.
Was this so-called Demon Lord Alliance that powerful? Did they have eyes in every corner of Little Garden?
For Perseus, the incident had been a humiliation. They would never broadcast it. Shiroyasha, as a Floor Master, was unlikely to collude with the Demon Lord Alliance.
So where had the information come from?
Surely not… No Name?
Suzune smiled faintly.
"You're correct. To most, your transformation into a Demon Lord remains a secret."
"Even we learned of it by coincidence."
Her gaze shifted briefly toward Leticia.
"The Vampire King at your side… was originally one of our targets."
Leticia's eyes narrowed.
"Your interference," Suzune continued evenly, "is what caused our plan to fail."
"You remember, don't you? The leader of Perseus mentioned that someone had intended to purchase the Vampire King."
She tilted her head slightly.
"That buyer was us."
"And as a small additional note… Leticia's lost divinity is currently in our possession."
For a split second, the air seemed to freeze.
"Our original plan was simple," Suzune went on. "We would buy Leticia back… and then return her divinity."
"But thanks to your involvement, the arrangement fell apart."
Her smile didn't fade.
"And here we are."