Part 2
---- Half a month has passed since the end of the battle with the huge dragon.
The members of [No Name] continued to busy themselves with various activities while enjoying the peace and freedom of normal life.
Leticia, originally the Demon Lord that hosted the Gift game, has officially become a servant together with two other maids to be in charge of the senior group.
[Underwood]‘s harvest festival was postponed due to the dragon’s attack, but due to large amount of support from 'Thousand Eyes' and other volunteers, the date to resume the celebration has been confirmed.
South had also officially announced the electing of a new Floor Master and invited many guests from the other communities. The Draco Greif Alliance having contributed a lot to the defeat of a Demon Lord would be the most likely candidate to be elected to take the position.
At the same time, [Will-O’-Wisp] and [No Name] have also shared in the honour of having defeated a Demon Lord and are now acknowledged by communities for their fighting prowess.
[Thanks must be given to Sala. Her thoughtfulness to specially advertise for our community’s [No Name] with the last Demon Lord Battle]
Even if much contributions and feats were accomplished, the [No Name]s lacked an emblem to be officially acknowledged. Sala, the alliance leader, had taken that factor into account and wrote of [No Name]‘s accomplishments in her invitation letters for the resumption of the harvest festival.
Their honesty and kindness helped Leticia regain her composure as she pushed forward into the Community’s hallway. The children were already in their neat files, awaiting Leticia’s arrival. Lily, the one responsible for calling them in, perked her fox ears upon her entrance and ran over with overalls rustling from her movements.
“Leticia-sama! Good Morning! The senior group has gathered!”
“Really. Good Morning everyone. Eaten breakfast yet?”
“Yes! It was really good too!”
“Today’s dish is Omelette rice!”
“I already can’t wait to eat lunch!”
“It’s still too early.”
Leticia smiled wryly while telling off that energetic kid.
There were a total of twenty kids that averaged at the age of 10 that made up the senior group whose purpose was to be in charge of the Community’s food and lodgings. Their energetic selves in the early morning seemingly prepared to face the day’s tasks ahead was really heart-warming yet sad. Leticia smiled as she gazed upon them.
“Well then, let’s start dividing the tasks for the day… but I have something to tell everyone before that.”
With that, Leticia took out an invitation letter that had the wax seal emblem of the Draco Greif Alliance stamped on it. Holding the letter, she looked at the children seriously.
“The harvest festival hosted at [Underwood]‘s great waterfall has extended its invitation to welcome all members of [No Name]... did you guys understand that? I will repeat. All members of [No Name], which would include the senior group and the junior group, will be welcomed.”
“Wa~” The Senior group children began cheering.
It was a reaction to be expected from the children as they have never left the Community grounds ever since the attack of the Demon Lord on their Community three years ago. Even if they were to leave the Community, it was only to collect water from the river outside the confinement of the Community’s boundary. This was because of the fear of getting kidnapped and sold off especially since there wasn’t any way for them to identify themselves as a member of [No Name].
Thus to not give trouble or cause worry to their sole guardian, Kuro Usagi, they would simply not leave the boundaries of their Community and were constantly alert while living out their days in the Community.
For these children to receive the invitation to a harvest festival, it was no wonder why they would get this excited.
Though Lily continued to stand by Leticia’s side like a proper representative of the senior group, her prided two fox tails already betrayed her excitement with their energetic wagging.
Leticia who was also caught up in their mood recovered her wits clapped her hand to attract their attention back to her.
“Of course, this is an unprecedented treatment... Don’t forget that this is only made possible by the feats of our masters--- Izayoi, Asuka and Yō having their contributions acknowledged. And it is also due to their hard work that the invitation letter includes all the members of the Community.” Leticia reminded them.
At the mention of the name of Izayoi and the others, the rowdy children became well behaved.
------ The three people summoned from foreign worlds outside of Little Garden.
Ever since the arrival of Izayoi, Kudou Asuka, Kasukabe Yō in the Community, the life of [No Name] has undergone a total transformation that’s supposed to be only seen in fantasies.
The contribution of the Water Tree seedling to their Community’s dried up reservoir led to the revitalization of their land, making it arable again. At the same time, they have also brought in glass lamps that would light up and warm the Community during the night.
Izayoi and the others* were the idols that the children revered. They were heroes in the children’s eyes.
“This invitation letter is the proof of the trust that they have earned through hard work. Please remember to maintain the baseline of behavior and etiquette upon reaching [Underwood], for we wouldn’t want to sully the reputation that they have helped to build thus far, got it?”
“Yes, we understand!”
The children replied loudly in a jumble of voices that was almost enough to shake one’s eardrums to the point of bursting.
Leticia gave a wry smile that was mixed with a genuine hint of a smile that played on her lips as she started to dispatch them for the day’s tasks.
“During the duration that we are away from the Commmunity, the ‘Draco Greif Allance’ will be dispatching a sentry to look after our boundaries. So to welcome the guest, we shall be giving the residential area of the Community a thorough cleaning. Senior and Junior groups may start to sweep and clear out the trash. There’s no need to worry about your luggage for the other two maids and I will bring it over for you guys later. So focus on your tasks of cleaning up---- so let’s start!” Leticia clapped her hand to signal the start of their tasks.
With an energetic response, the children left to start their tasks. Only the maid Percher and Lily of the senior group stayed behind with Leticia.
Percher who stood beside Leticia watched the children move off to their tasks with annoyance showing in her eyes.
“How in the world do they find so much energy to accomplish their tasks so early in the mornings?”
“This is the responsibility that they carry as part of the Community. We should also get started before the order of candlestick racks from [Will-O’-Wisp] arrives today.”
“Oh, Leticia-sama…” Lily started while wagging her two fox tails in a worried manner.
“Really sorry to interrupt you when you are busy. Can I have a little of your time?”
“No problem. What’s the matter, Lily?”
“Ac.. Actually, I have noticed something strange from the basement work room. Occasionally, there would be some strange noises that are coming out from there…..”
“That sounds bad and which work room is that?”
“Room number 360.”
Leticia tilted her head slightly in surprise.
“…… Room number 360? Why would it be in so isolated an area? Aren’t the work rooms that are related to housekeeping from room 1 to 20? The work rooms behind shouldn’t be in use.”
Leticia furrowed her eyebrows. Lily said she didn’t know why either and her fox ears had drooped.
----The so called work rooms were storage facilities for the Gifts earned from Gift games that could be incorporated into the daily life for the Community. Needless to say, the flames for the kitchen to keep it warm, clean water storages were part of those Gifts kept in the work room. Occasionally, Gift ceremonies would be held in the work room too. [Will-O’-Wisp]’s candle stick racks were storages for the Gift of Flame and would also be placed in a work room if according to plan.
Other than shifting the candlestick racks, Kuro Usagi did not mention of any other rituals being held in the work rooms. With that, Leticia would have dismissed the conversation as a misunderstanding if not for the worry that was shadowing Lily’s facial expression.
“Work Room 360 has an entrance that exactly opens up behind the quarters for the senior group. The echoes are also heard in the other quarters and the kids from the junior group are also frightened. So, Leticia–sama, would you mind finding time to investigate…..”
Lily was wringing her sleeves as she pleaded.
Leticia folded her arms and was in deep thought. Lily’s words rang true as the members of the junior group were much younger kids and would definitely be frightened by the weird noises.
“Okay…… When everyone has left the Community, I will go and verify for myself.”
“Thank you!”
“It’s a small matter. Okay, let’s go clean up first. After all, even without our masters and Kuro Usagi around, we still have to complete our tasks well.”
“Yes!”
Lily wagged her two tails and replied in a voice that would not have lost to the enthusiasm of the other children before running off to the kitchen.
Percher who was listening to the whole conversation from the side, looked at Leticia.
“Leticia, you plan to skip out on the harvest festival?”
“... How is it possible for me to attend?”
Leticia gave a wry smile.
It wasn’t too long ago that she had merged with the giant dragon due to the plot of some nefarious people.
Even if the culprit wasn’t her, the Leticia who had fought against her friends would not be able to forget the past and join the harvest festival. It would cause the host and the other guests to be unhappy.
“The harvest festival this time is a holiday for my masters. I would not want them to worry and be able to enjoy themselves there.”
Leticia forced a laugh as it felt awkward talking about it. But her eyes showed no signs of being troubled by it. Now that they have mutually accepted the role of the servant and master relationship, she only had one wish in her heart.
The wish that Izayoi and her other masters will be able to receive lots of Gifts and may luck shine upon them.
“…… Those who become Demon Lords will have to pay off the sins that they have accumulated in the past, no matter the methods. Some with their souls, some by seeking solace in religion, and many other types of methods… I used to give up trying to repent in the past. So from now on, I will chase after my masters and help them in the fight against Demon Lords to erase my sins.” Leticia clasped her petite hands together as she said this.
Percher looked at her with disinterested eyes, taking in her appearance that was of one that glowed with having found their road for repentance. Being a Demon Lord herself, the confession of Leticia should be piercing to her ears.
The Leticia who has recovered her composure seemed to have remembered something else as worry crept into her narrowed eyes. “And... I still want to investigate more about Canaria.”
“…Oh Really?”
Percher tilted her head slightly as she haden’t heard of that name before. But she was more concerned about another matter.
“Oh right. You mentioned that those few people aren’t around. I heard from Jin that they are staying in [Underwood], but I didn’t know that Kuro Usagi had also left the Community’s Boundary. Wasn’t she here just yesterday?”
“Eh? Oh, Kuro Usagi...”
Leaving her sentence hanging in the air, Leticia remained silent even if it made Percher surprised by her unnatural response to her question. Continuing the silence, she looked towards the windows where the sunlight was beaming into the Community house.
“Kuro Usagi... Was kidnapped by Shiroyasha.” Leticia finished her sentence after a while.
“...what?”
“Yesterday night, Shiroyasha and her servant dropped by and grabbed Kuro Usagi willfully while saying ‘I will be going to check in on the old nest of [Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven]’” Leticia said with a faraway look in her eyes.
Percher was surprised but shrugged her shoulders in understanding as she smirked. “The Floor master is so carefree?”
“It can’t be that easy. There was a simultaneous attack of a demon lord Aži Dakahā[3] bringing his own division to wreck trouble in the East while the dragon raged in the South. Even though our region was spared, the repairs and construction of Shirayuki-hime’s temple.” Leticia responded mysteriously.
The repairs of the temple should be the incident whereby water was displaced into a huge canal. However, what surprised Percher wasn’t the damage reports, but it was the name of the Demon Lord.
“ ...Wait. Demon Lord Azi Dakaha[4] is a demonic dragon that is among the five Demon lords of Zoroastrianism[5].”
“ That’s right.” Leticia answered immediately, causing Percher’s smile to fall slightly at the corners.
“ ...That can’t be true can it? Allowing that evil character to run freely around the Little Garden without a leash on its neck?”
“It isn’t possible. Aži Dakahā’s situation is special. Ever since the main body was released two hundred years ago, it has created a colony of clones that continued to roam free without anyone being able to restrain them up till today.”
“What’s that? Scary... Really terrifying. Wouldn’t it be better to get rid of the original before it replicates more of itself?”
“Nonsense. If the main body is attacked, the clones will multiply further. Moreover, the first generation are of [Divine] class. Just one of those would be able to create many other Demon Lords of Deity class. How can one simply beat them down when they feel like it?”
------ Demon Lord Aži Dakahā is the dragon within the five demon lords that is revered by the “Fire Cult”.
This dragon was from the same source as Indra and boasts of three heads with a huge body. Legend has it that it is able to perform thousands of spells. Even so, the scary part didn't stop there.
The reason that the Demon Lord Aži Dahāka is so terrifying is that it keeps cloning from its wounds. In addition to the impressive vitality it has, it is useless no matter how many chops or punches one throws at it.
The only method to defeat this Demon Lord would be to seal it. However, the reason why it is able to roam free today is precisely because the seal had already been undone by someone.
“Even though I put it that way, to think of stopping the Clones…. The title of the strongest Floor master isn’t just for show. Even after returning her [Divinity] back to Buddha, she wiped out five of the first Gen Demon Lord Clones with one strike. If not for her, the lower levels of East would be dyed red by the bloodbath of sacrifices.”
“…Oh.”
Percher replied indifferently. But within her heart, she was already having cold sweat.
To be able to defeat five Divine class Aži Dahāka First Generation, was already a power out of one’s imaginative ability. Percher having challenged Shiroyasha before and still able to live to tell the tale could be called incredibly lucky.
“But even if she is called the strongest Floor Master, the way she immerses herself in enjoyment is unacceptable.”
“Yea, you are right. When you put it that way, I wouldn’t be able to refute it.” Leticia’s expression was one that was placed in an awkward spot and she forced herself to laugh it off.
Percher nonchalantly headed off to start her tasks, leaving Leticia behind.
Silently watching Percher heading off, Leticia couldn’t help but notice a sense of unease within her heart.
Though she knew that Kuro Usagi was with Shiroyasha, and that in itself is an assurance of Kuro Usagi’s safety, she still felt a sense of foreboding.
It’s all because of the name that Shiroyasha mentioned that would plant a sense of foreboding in anyone when one relates the name of the place to the one that lives there.
[Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven’s large encampment…… Even if Little Garden has a huge surface area, the only Community that will use this location… can only be the Bull Demon Lord and no other.]
And it isn’t to meet a former Demon Lord. But a Demon King[6] that is known to hate other Demon Lords that throw in their lot with the Buddhist world.
What could Shiroyasha be planning….
After tossing the ideas around for a while, she was unable to get any other conclusion than “If it is her idea, it shouldn’t be something that I must read too much into.”
[After all, Shiroyasha is the strongest Floor Master. As long as she is around, Kuro Usagi wouldn’t be in harm’s way.]
Shaking her golden hair, Leticia tried clearing the anxiety from her heart while clasping her hands together to pray for the pitiable Kuro Usagi.
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