Part 2
— It was one month after fighting the Black Percher (Pest).
Izayoi and the others were in their community and were discussing future plans in the [No Name]'s Conference Hall.
A long table sat in the middle of the hall and starting in the order from the head of the table sat Jin Russel, Sakamaki Izayoi, Kudou Asuka, Kasukabe Yō, Kuro Usagi, the maid, Leticia, and the (pubescent) den mother and fox girl, Lily.
This sitting arrangement was done out of formality of the No Names.
Sitting in the position of second-in-command was none other than Sakamaki Izayoi due to the various exploits such as securing a water source as well as the retrieval of a lost comrade etc. Sitting next to Izayoi was Kudou Asuka despite looking a little miffed, but she did not voice any objections to it.
As for the person who's their leader, Jin who represented their Community, he was seating himself down with a stiff and nervous look on his face.
Seeing Jin's actions, Izayoi gave a loud short laugh before making a dig at him:
"What's the matter? Though you're sitting at a seat much higher than mine, why do you look so uncomfortable?"
“Be-Because this is the leader’s seat? Being tense is to be expected…”
Jin clutched his robes tightly as he gave his retort but that wasn't the only reason.
According to the common knowledge in the world of Little Garden, for one to seat upon the top position, it had to be based upon the premise of [Being able to participate in the Trials for the Community]. Other than that, there was also the amount of [Contribution], [Dedication] and [Influence] etc that are must-haves too.
And since Jin had yet to achieve something that can be counted as a victory in battle or sorts, he would naturally feel inferior to the others.
Hearing Jin's words that were clearly reserved and not in totality, Izayoi drooped his shoulders, seemingly irritated by his behavior.
"I say, O-chibi-sama, I’ve said it many times, you are now the leader of “No Name”, which is equivalent to being a living brand name. All of our victories have been under your banner and your name as we spread the word to the outside. If the you who's getting so well-known out there can’t even sit properly in the leader’s chair, then that would be so wrong."
“Yes! It's just as Izayoi-san says! In fact, this month’s gift games have all been sent with Master Jin’s name as the recipient!”
Ta Da! Kuro Usagi took out three letters sealed with the wax seal of the different communities' insignia to show to everyone. Shockingly, two of them were not sent to Participants but were invitations for them to attend as the “guest of honor”. And that was an unprecedented treatment for a community like No Name since they did not even have a banner.
Kuro Usagi had a look of bliss as she smiled and carefully hugged the three invitation letters to her chest.
“It has been a bitter three years…and finally our Community is starting to receive invitation letters and it’s addressed to Master Jin’s name! So please lift up your head and puff up your chest as you sit upon the top position alright?!” Kuro Usagi was being more hyped than usual.
But Jin seemed to be even more depressed as he bent his head lower.
“But that…”
(…was not my effort.)
Jin was about to finish but was cut off by Asuka.
“So what? Why are we assembled here today? To discuss about the invitation letters?”
“Ye……Yes, that is needless to say. But before touching on the topic of the invitation letters, I would like everyone to know about the current situation of our community and so I called everyone together today…… Lily, Kuro Usagi, please make your reports.”
“Understood.”
“Un…Un, I will try my best.”
Jin took off the dark gloomy expression as he looked to Lily and Kuro Usagi, prompting them with his eyes.
Tidying her Japanese style pinafore, Lily straightened herself as she began to read the report.
“Well…… if we see our total savings, we are currently doing fine in the short term. I guess that if we maintain our lifestyle with the barest minimum, we’ll be fine for about a year even under the worst case scenario.”
“Eh? Why did the problem disappear so suddenly?”
“Because according to the evaluation of the Demon Lord last month, <<Black Percher>> whom Izayoi-sama and the others managed to defeat was ranked at the 5 digits. In addition, that battle had been a task asked of us by the [Floor Master] themselves, hence the digits in the reward had also grown considerably. And that's what Shiroyasha-sama had informed us. So with that, for some time to come, we may all eat full full!”
Lily cheerfully said that as she wagged her two tails.
However, Leticia who sat beside her frowned and gave a light warning:
“Lily, please don’t say it in that way.”
“Oh…Ah! So…sorry!”
Lily who noticed that her speech was far too casual bent her head as her ears went red and was even wagging her prided tails in a flustered manner.
Yō gave a wry smile as she urged Lily to continue:
“Five Digits… Is that possible from the community [Grim Grimoire Hamelin] with no HQ[2]?”
“Un. Normally, it would not be possible to get a number if it comprised of only three members. But it is said that the evaluation had been based upon the fact that [Black Death Demon Lord] is a God class spirit and the level of the Gift Game is difficult enough to make the community be recognized as a 5-digit.”
Hearing this for the first time, Izayoi then got curious.
“Oh? The difficulty of the Gift Game is also relatable with the numbers?”
“Yes! What we call as Gift games are originally the trials set by Gods and Buddhas to gift their grace upon the challengers. While in the world of Little Garden, those simplified trials that have been modified by formalities are called Gift Games, while the difficulty of the Game is directly representative of the Host’s own power level.”
*MhmMhm* Izayoi nodded his head while listening to Kuro Usagi’s explanation.
---It’s said that in Little Garden, the ranking of the Community did not increase just because it possessed numerous strong members.
Other than the 7 digits which is the lowest of the lower floors, each floor had its own condition to be met.
“Although there are many ways to be promoted, but let’s give an example to make it simple---[If we want to go up to 6-digit level, we have to fulfill a trial made by the Floor Master.],
[If we want to go up to a 5-digit level we need to have other 3 communities of 6 digits under us, hang our flags at all these Outer Gates and be able to host a Gift Game where a hundred communities or more participates under an oath to our flag]….umm I think this should be good enough.”
Basically speaking,
6-digit Community required the ability to participate as a player while a
5-digit Community required the Community to possess the ability to host Games.
And that also meant that---the [Authority of the Host Master] that a 6-digit Demon Lord used would be much different from the scale and quality that a 5-digit Demon Lord would use.
Kuro Usagi put up her finger and added seriously:
“The power difference between a 6-digit ranked Demon Lord and a 5-digit ranked Demon Lord’s are like the Earth and Sky. If you’re facing a 6-digit ranked Demon Lord, it is still possible to defeat it with a group made of strong members or an organization. However, you will not stand a chance if you’re facing a 5-digit ranked Demon Lord using the same concept. Demon Lords of the five digits are also acknowledged by those who hold the power of the [Host] as a strong force to reckon with. For example, though [Black Death Demon Lord] whom you guys have fought against was just a new face in the Demon Lords, the Gift game which was a sinister trial enough to even cover the entire world in darkness, by the sealing of the Sun-class Star Spirit.”
After Kuro Usagi finished her explanation, Izayoi had also taken on a serious tone that was very unlike him as he concurred with her point:
“Yeah…if Pest had been more capable, then we would already have had the end game when the Trial Jurisdiction was used to pause the game… If she had foreseen Kuro Usagi triggering the Trial Jurisdiction, then that will be quite a praiseworthy feat……but her performance at the negotiation table was really terrible.”
Izayoi laughed while giving a sniff at that.[3]
Lily lifted her head as she guided the conversation back on track:
“Well…yeah. Thanks to everyone’s efforts that defeated the Demon Lord of the 5-digits, we have obtained the rewards from the request[4] and hence for Izayoi-sama and the others, we will be given another Gift besides the monetary compensation.”
“Ah? Really?”
“YES! Regarding that part we will be notified about it soon, so please wait in anticipation!”
“Oh?” Izayoi’s reply had a tinge of delight and the other two had the same reaction.
Although it was unknown what Gift it was, but considering that it requires taking down a Demon Lord to get it, it must be something “interesting”. Jin also nodded his head happily, prompting Lily to continue her report.
“Well, Lily, can you update us on the situation of our farm’s revival?”
The instant Jin finished his sentence;
Lily’s face brightened up considerably and seemed to sparkle as she started her report in a completely different energetic attitude:
“Ye……Yes! It’s wonderful! Thanks to the daily efforts of Deen and Mel, our farm is about 25% re-formed into an arable state! If this continues, our lands growing food supply will increase to more than sufficient! Although we do need a bit more time to tidy up the whole farm and orchard lands, but if we prioritize the planting of leafy-vegetables, tubers and fruit, I think we would be able to reap the results within a few months’ time!”
Lily’s ears perked up in delight for it was truly a miracle that the once barren and desert-like land of the No Names is now reviving at god speed.
Seeing Lily’s happy expression, Asuka also fluffed her hair in pride.
“Of course, Deen and Mel have worked hard without rest, so it’s natural that the reconstruction process of the farm has yielded excellent results.”
“Fufufu.” Asuka lightly laughed.
--- Melin and Deen whom she had mentioned were Asuka’s new partners that have made a contract with her;
The fairy with a pointy hat and a dress, Mel who possess the spirit level from the accomplishment of developing lands.
The metallic golem made out of god-rare metal[5], Deen who could move forever.
The reason why Asuka was sitting next to Izayoi was precisely because she too, had managed to achieve great feats in regards to the farm.
Even though the water provided was due to the Gift Izayoi obtained[6], it was Asuka’s presence that led to the help from the Gift of an Earth Fairy and the huge horse power that ploughed the lands to make the revival a success.
“They were very hardworking, especially Deen. Night after night, other than the times when Asuka-sama left to participate in Gift Games, it has always been at the fields to tidy it up! And working tirelessly to mix the young saplings and old construction materials that were decomposed by Mel, it’s a great help!”
“Fufu, to be able to feel the happiness from others sure is great.”
“Be careful not to overwork your subordinates though, Ojou-sama.”[7]
Izayoi wryly responded to Asuka.
Taking the opportunity before the atmosphere could even start to deteriorate, Kuro Usagi frantically urged the discussion to continue.
“C-can we get back to the main topic? The farm is doing well, so I was thinking of creating a special sector for special plants.”
“Special sector?”
“Yes! It’s a region where we can cultivate spirit trees or spirit herbs like…”
“Mandragora plants?”
“Mandrake plants?”
“Man Eating plants?”
“Yes♪ Ho-Hold on, the last one was strange!!? We can’t let the children raise something dangerous like a “Man Eating plant”! Mandragora and Mandrake are dangerous species that can kill instantly[8] so it’s completely out!”
“Oh really? Then we can only come to a compromise. How about Rabbit Eater then?”
“Was that a harassment directed at Kuro Usagi?!”
“Why must you provoke Kuro Usagi?”
UuRiaaa! Kuro Usagi’s rabbit ears are now half vertical and in a fit of rage.
Lecticia drooped her shoulders helplessly as she noted that the discussion would make no headway if things were left as it were. So, she turned to Izayoi and the others to drop the most straightforward hint:
“Basically, Masters (Ojou and Goshujin-samas) need to get the right plants and livestock.”
“Livestock? As in sheep and cows?”
“Correct. Coincidentally, the [Draco Greif] Alliance from the South had just sent us a letter of invitation to the Harvest Festival. Because it’s a Matsuri hosted by an Alliance, there should be quite a big collection of farm produce as well as livestock and there would be many gift games hosted simultaneously. Some of them would have prizes like rare saplings and livestock. And it would be a great chance to increase our productivity.”
“So that’s how it is!” With that, the problem children nodded.[9]
Breaking the seal on the [Draco Greif] Alliance’s invitation letter, Kuro Usagi gave a brief summary of the contents after scanning through it with her eyes.
“The invitation letter this time is in hope for us to participate in the Eve celebrations for the Harvest Festival and the expenses for the traveling and accommodations will be settled by the Host- Seeing it from the perspective that we are of a [No Name Community], this can be seen as a VIP treatment that far exceeds our expectations! The location is one of the top few views of South Side: [The Underwood Waterfalls]! It’s allure will not lose to the [The Edge of the World] with its Great Tree and the pristine river that will be used as a stage[10]! Kuro Usagi guarantees that all of you will be having fun!”
Kuro Usagi said that while puffing up her chests. It was rare for her to give such a strong recommendation and high praise to a location like that.
Izayoi and the others exchanged a look before turning back to the excited Kuro Usagi and wryly saying:
“Oh……For it to be able to get the guarantee and high praise of the [Highborn of Little Garden], it sure is quite a feat. I guess that it must be quite a magnificent stage right?……What do you think, Ojou-sama?”
“Ara, of course! After all, it is what the [Highborn of Little Garden] highly recommended! It must have been dazzling and full of mystique…..right, Kasukabe-san?”
“Un. But if Kuro Usagi’s recommendation were to be unsatisfactory…we’ll just have to call her [Highborn of Little Garden(lol)] from then on.”
“Huh?! [Highborn of Little Garden(lol)]??! What’s with that ridiculous name that sounds like something made for some stupid bloodline Highborn?! We [Moon Rabbits] are nobles of a pure bloodline that have moral integrity, a chaste noble and pure heart that is willing to sacrifice for our dedication!”
“A nobility that risks their lives for their dedication sure sounds fishy enough to me.”
Izayoi gave a loud laugh as he made a dig at Kuro Usagi and she had puffed her cheeks angrily, turning her head away seemingly in a tantrum.
Jin smiled worriedly at the scene before coughing a little to get the attention back.
“Anyways, regarding the general direction of our Community, we have covered most of it already……but there’s one problem left.”
“Problem?”
“Yep, the festival starts in 20 days and including the eve of the festival, it would be a total of 25 days and almost a month. Games of this scale are rare and if possible, I would have wanted all of you to participate in it, but I cannot risk having our main force leaving the Community defenseless, so I’m hoping that a person would stay with Leticia here……”
“Not me.”
“Not me.”
“Not me.”
The problem children answered immediately, without a hint of hesitation.
Jin couldn’t help but to swallow the rest of the words that didn’t manage to get out of his mouth in time and as for the three problem children, they were gazing at him nonchalantly as though their answers were only to be expected.
However, it was only on this matter that he could not give way upon. Precisely because their Community had started to gather its true strength that the defense portion was a critical area to be enforced on. After all, it was also possible for malicious communities like [Fores Garo] who kidnapped children; or Demon Lords that were the manifestations of natural disasters in Little Garden to appear.
Jin leaned forward as he posed a suggestion to Izayoi and the others:
“Then since that is the case, can I ask of everyone to at least compromise with a few days where we are all together?”
“What do you mean?”
“We’ll send two to the eve of the festival, and when the festival starts, the other will be joining the two of you and after spending a week together, only two can remain while one will have to return…... How about that?”
The problem children gave a *Uu* sound as they looked at each other.
“That means one person will be able to enjoy the entire course right? Then how would we decide upon which one?”
“Well…”
Of course it would be decided by the person’s standing in the Community---was what Jin wanted to say but he decided against it since even though this is common knowledge for the people of Little Garden, it may not be the same for the problem children.
Just when Jin was in a pinch, trying to find a way to plead to their better natures, it was Izayoi’s turn to lean forward to propose his plan:
“Well then, how about we have a little competition to decide who is going to the festival for the longest number of days?”
“Competition?”
“Ara. A competition sounds interesting. What kind of competition?”
“How’s this?……We’ll see who gets the most number of trophies and or aid for the community before the eve of the festival? Once the time is up, we’ll compare our achievements and the one with the most results and the most possibility to get more trophies[11] in the Harvest Festival will get to be there the longest…… How’s that? It’s fair and simple right?”
Asuka and Yō looked at each other after hearing Izayoi’s idea. With that condition, it could be said to be a 50-50 chance.
And they both nodded.
“Very well. I’ll agree.”
“Un. I won’t lose.”
Asuka had a fearless smile on her face while Yō had shown a fighting spirit in her as she spoke up.
And the problem children begin to have a competition amongst themselves to go to the harvest festival by [Draco Greif]……….
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