Part 9
—Foothill of the lake at Deborahs Gorge. Deepest recesses of the Stymphalian nests.
A quarter of an hour had passed since the end of the battles from the three teams.
Garol and his subordinates had caught up with the second squad and joined Izayoi and the others.
“Aiya, I’m sorry, really sorry about this! These guys did not join the battle in [Underwood] and hence do not recognize you people.”
“I thought so as well. If they recognized us, our communication would have taken a different route,” Izayoi shrugged his shoulders as he gave a “Yare Yare” sigh.
Garol-dono gave a hearty laugh.
On the other hand, Woldo and Dork had a bitter and complex expression as they listened in on the conversation between the Izayoi and Garol.
“……it must have been rude of us to not know of the faces of the heroes who saved [Underwood].”
“We have only heard a rough sketch of the situation that “there was a group of incredibly strong to the point of absurdity, [NoName]s who brought down a Demon Lord”. Never did we expect it to be you guys. The world may be wide but it sure is a small place I guess.”
Dork gave a dry laugh while Woldo was reflecting on his actions. Having been the ones who fought these two, Asuka and Yō gave a wry smile.
“Mah, not having stated our reasons is also our fault.”
“Mhm. Both sides are in the wrong.”
“It’s great that we can agree on that. Come to think of it, why would you guys do such a thing?”
“That’s…… a special request from Garol-dono,”
“Everyone—! It has hatched!”
Before Yō could complete her words, the voice of Kuro Usagi from the deepest recesses of the nest broke into the conversation.
Not knowing the meaning of those words, Woldo and Dork exchanged a look while Izayoi and the others urged them to move faster.
“The incubation ground is in the cave by the water. We will start to explain from here.
The trio beckoned the others to hasten their steps.
The cave of the lakefront opened up into a cave that was lined with the feathers that have not solidified to their copper state and functioned as an insulated warm space. And there were many beautiful green copper feathered strange birds who were roosting in their own nests as they incubated their eggs.
Yō took a step as she pointed towards them.
“It’s currently the incubation and hatching season for them. The Gift Game can resume after this.”
“After all, this is the period that makes them easy to be targeted by others.” Izayoi supplemented.
And the destination of the group was the nest where the biggest strange bird was roosting in the centre of the incubation cave.
Confirming that it is Izayoi and the others, the strange bird craned it neck to turn its gaze to Yō.
{“Yō, have you brought them?”}
“Mhm. This is Garol-san of [Six Scars], Woldo-san who is the Vice leader of [Five Claws] and Dork-san who is the Vice leader of [Four Footed]. And there are also the members of [Two Wings] whom we have brought with us from the outside.”
{“Is that so? Members of [Two Wings] are also…..”}
The strange bird closed its eyes slowly, seeming at ease.
Not understanding what was going on, Woldo and Dork asked Izayoi and the others in their confusion.
“What’s this about?”
“It isn’t anything too complicated anyways. Just think about it, we have chased off the leader of [Two Wings], Griffith and his faction right? So Garol oji-san requested for us to find a new race for the core of their forces to bolster the ranks of [Two Wings].”
The two vice leaders were suddenly stunned by the revelation.
“wha…… you want the Stymphalians to join the [DracoGreif] Alliance?!”
“Garol-dono, are you serious?!”
“Aah, I’m serious about this. I did have a little fright myself when I heard of the proposal but continued the negotiations with the leader of their side anyways. Actually, to think of it carefully, they are a race of eudemons that are ranked in the higher range of spiritual powers. Why would there anything to be unsatisfied about?!”
“But, they are the strange birds that the Greek gods are planning to annihilate, you know?!”
Izayoi stared at the panicking duo with his sharp gaze.
“You are wrong. This game is ‘to gather a large amount of green coper from the bodies of the Stymphalians’. If you are able to solve the problem peacefully, it would be for the best.”
“That, that’s your own interpretation right?! Isn’t it normal to read it as a genocide for the strange birds,”
—*Bang* Izayoi flung a bronze and silver coin over to them.
He then tossed a handful of green copper feathers and silver feathers into the air as he added.
“Those are the minted copper and silver coins of a faction within the Greek gods, known as [Keykeion]. The coins should have the pictures of the Stymphalians engraved upon them right?”
“Wha, What?!”
“What’s going on? Oi!”
The two vice leaders were shouting in surprise.
Izayoi turned and gestured them to be quiet as he started to narrate the reason.
“[Kerykeion] hosted this game for the materials to mint new coins for themselves and not for any other reason.”
“That, that is…… but, why would they require the feathers of the Stymphalians?”
“Who knows? The following will be my speculations. The elimination of Stymphalian birds is quite famous amongst the Greek mythologies. Hence, the Greek gods have decided to employ the engraving of Stymphalians on their coins to parade that accomplishment.”
“Then, if the copper coins are made from the material of [green copper feathers] from the Stymphalians,”
“The silver coins will also be combination of [green copper feathers] as well.”
Izayoi, Asuka and Yō finished the line for him.
The two vice leaders digested the newly obtained information in their minds while coming to a succinct conclusion.
“Which means to say that this game isn’t with the goal to eliminate the strange birds……?”
“Just handing over the feathers of the strange birds would suffice? All for the purpose of minting new coins?”
“Yes, that’s right. Just hand over the green copper feathers and [Kerykeion] doesn’t care for what method the participants may use to get to that goal.”
“Mhm. So we sought the chief of the Stymphalians for negotiations and this is what he said: {“If it continues to be hosted like this, the games hosted by [Keykeion] might just wipe out our kind. Why not form a contract where we are able to pay green copper feathers in installments to the Communities while obtaining the protection as new comrades of [Two Wings].”}.”
Hearing Yō’s final supplement to the narrative, the duo finally understood the point that they were coming from and the reason for the whole series of events that followed.
“I see. This is something that we can also help out with.”
“That’s right. Although I did say those stuff earlier, but we are always welcoming to strong comrades. After all, we of the [DracoGrief] Alliance are going soon to become the [Floormaster] and for eudemons as strong as you guys, we will not have any objections to that.”
The two vice leaders laughed heartily as they made their promise.
With Yō as the translator, the chief of the flock, the mother bird bowed its head in thanks.
{“Thank you. We who have been feared as strange birds will hereby swear to protect the peace as one of the defenders of the region and to fight alongside you guys under the same Flag.”}
“…… okay, so Garol-san, that’s the end of the request right?”
“Aah, everything is now perfect. The [DracoGreif] Alliance will also be welcoming a more prosperous era after today!”
Garol gave a hearty laugh that wasn’t any less as compared to the other two vice leaders as he gave a clap of his hands.
“Oi, call in the guys who have been waiting outside! Tell them that we are going to hold a party to welcome the new main force for the Alliance!” Garol called he took out his Gift Card to bring out a bottle of rum which he placed on the nest.
“Got it!”
Upon receiving the order, his men immediately proceeded to inform the other [Two Wings] members who were waiting outside.
Izayoi, Asuka and Yō exchanged glances as they stole a laugh—
“Although the method is different…… but with the contract of an installment for feathers from the Stymphalians, the game of <<The green copper strange birds>> can be said to be cleared right?”
“Yep. Then, what follows would be the negotiations with Garol-san about obtaining seventy percent of the rewards.”
“Mhm. We do have that sort of right to make that demand.”
*Pa* They hi-fived each other for the victory they had gained.
Having fulfilled the request of Garol for <<The green copper strange birds>>, the trio had mischievous smiles as they walked towards the banquet.
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