Part 2[แก้ไข]
Residential Area of the [No-Names], near the floodgate.
The four of them and the calico cat passed through the ruins and slowly made their way to an area that had multiple empty buildings that looked more intact. With that, the four of them left the residential area behind and looked at placing the sapling of the Water Tree in the reservoir. It seemed the place had prior visitors, Jin and the Community's children were cleaning the channel with cleaning tools in their hands.
"Ah, everyone! The preparations of the channels and the reservoir are completed!"
"Well done, Jin-bocchan♪ Did everyone help with the cleaning as well?"
Wai-wai, the children merrily gathered around Kuro Usagi.
"Kurousa-neechan, welcome back!"
"I'm sleepy, but I helped with the cleaning~"
"Nee nee, who are those new people!?"
"Are they strong!? Are they cool!?"
"Yes! Very strong and charming people! I will introduce them right now so stand in a line everyone."
Pachin. Kuro Usagi snapped her fingers. With that the children formed a line with perfectly executed movements.
There were about 20 of them. Among them were some cat-eared and fox-eared boys and girls.
(They are really nothing but kids. Around half of them are non-humans?)
(Lo-Looking at them now there are lot more than I imagined. And this is only one sixth of them?)
( .... . I ... can't really handle children. Will I be okay?)
The three of them all had different impressions, but they didn't say them out loud. Even if they are bad with kids or anything, they will have to live with them from now on, therefore they will have to interact with them at least a little to not cause friction.
Kohon. Kuro Usagi coughed exaggeratedly and started introducing the three of them.
"They are - from the right - Sakamaki Izayoi-san, Kudou Asuka-san, Kasukabe Yō-san. As you all know, those who uphold the Community are the powerful Gift Players. Those who can't participate in a Gift Game support those Players in their private life, encourage them, and from time to time strain themselves for them."
"Ara, there is no need for that. It is no problem if you are more direct with us."
"Absolutely not. That way there won't be any organization."
Kuro Usagi immediately refused Asuka's proposition with a very strict tone in her voice.
This was the most serious tone and expression she had all day.
"The Community's daily life is ensured by those Gift Players participating in Gift Games and by the blessings they earn through them. As long as you live in the world of Little Garden, this is a rule that you cannot avoid. If you spoil them while they are young it will have a bad influence on their future."
"...... I see."
Kuro Usagi swiftly shushed Asuka with an authoritative voice and manner. It was a strictness of someone who lead this Community for the last three years. Another thought surfaced in Asuka's mind in the meantime.
Maybe there was much more resting on her shoulders now than she previously thought.
"The ones here are the eldest of the children. They can't participate in Gift Games, but as you can see some of them have Beast-type Gifts, so when you need something done, please use them. You are all right with that, right everyone?"
"""""Let's get along from now on!"""""
The 20 or so children shouted with an ear ringingly loud voice.
The three of them had a feeling like they were attacked by some kind of sonic weapon.
"Haha, how lively."
"I-Indeed"
( ... can I really get along with them?)
Izayoi was the only one laughing. The other two had a complex expression on their face.
"Well then, now that we have all been introduced, let's plant that Water Tree! I will put it on the pedestal so Izayoi-san please take it out of your Gift Card."
"Aiyo."
There was no water in the channel for many years now, but the frame remained intact. However it had cracks in some places and sand has accumulated in some important areas too. As expected, cleaning out all the gravel proved to be a difficult task.
Kasukabe Yō was standing on a stone wall looking around the area curiously.
"This is a big reservoir. Almost as big as a lake."
"Indeed. After passing the gate we've seen many channels here and there, if all of those would contain water it would be a spectacle for sure. However the time these were last used was quite a long time ago isn't it? How was it, Rabbit-eared neechan?'"
Kuro Usagi quickly turned around with the cat in her hands.
"Yes, the last time they were used was 3 years ago, Calico cat-san. Originally a Water Tree with a Dragon's Pupil was placed on the pedestal of the reservoir, but that too was taken by the Demon Lord."
Izayoi's eyes sparkled.
"Dragon's Pupil? What's that, I want that! Where can I get it?"
"Oh, I wonder where. I wouldn't tell Izayoi-san even if I knew."
If she'd told Izayoi about it, he would go and challenge its Game without a doubt. If he challenges a dragon then there really wouldn't be any way to save him. Kuro Usagi dodged the question and Jin returned to the previous topic.
"We did some maintenance work on it from time to time, but only the minimal amount. Besides, it's not possible to fill the whole reservoir and channels with this Water Tree alone yet. So we close off the channels towards the residential area and open only the one that flows in the direction of the main mansion and the dorm. We used that sometimes when we went to draw water from the river so no problems with that."
"Oh, is there a way to transport water from the river numerous kilometers away?"
Instead of Kuro Usagi who was busy with the placement of the sapling, Jin and the children answered Asuka's question.
"Yes. Everyone carried it with buckets in both hands."
"Half of it usually spills and disappears though."
"Although if Kuro Usa-neechan would be allowed to bring water from outside of Little Garden then she would fill the reservoir in no time."
" .... I see. Sounds tough."
Asuka was somewhat disappointed.
She was probably expecting a more epic or fantastic way. But if that method were to exist Kuro Usagi's head wouldn't have ached about the shortness of water and they wouldn't have welcomed the Water Tree with such joy.
Kuro Usagi made a big jump to the center of the reservoir where the pedestal was on top of a pillar, then said:
"Now then I will untie the string of the sapling and it will take root. Izayoi-san please open the channel for the mansion!"
"Aiyo."
Izayoi jumped down to the reservoir and opened the floodgate. Immediately after Kuro Usagi untied the string from the sapling, a big wave of water rushed forth from the fabric that was covering the roots and quickly started flooding the reservoir.
Izayoi who just opened the floodgate yelled in surprise.
"Wai-, hold on a minute you! I really don't want to get drenched anymore today, oi!"
Izayoi got soaked multiple times already today, so he jumped up on the stone wall in haste.
Now that the seal was undone, the roots of the Water Tree wrapped around the pillar below the pedestal in no time and started emitting even more water.
From the moonlight and the water running down from the branches of the tree, the freshly sprouted leaves emanated a dazzling radiance.
"Uwaa! This one is more lively than I imagined♪"
The strong current passed through the floodgate and quickly started filling the channel leading up to the mansion. The amount of water gushing forth from the Water Tree became much more than they originally anticipated, so much it filled the whole reservoir. Seeing the familiar scene of the water-reserves filling up Jin whispered filled with emotion.
"Amazing! With this we may be able to use water for things other than the basic needs...!"
"What? Are you planning on starting a farm or something like that?"
"Close. For example by growing flower-type Gifts like Suisen Ranka that thrive on water surfaces, it can become an income source for the Community even without participating in Gift Games. Plus everyone would be able take part in it..."
"Hm... Then what is that Suisen Ranka, ochibi?"
E? Jin left his mouth half open in surprise. However not by the fact that he didn't know of the flower.
He was surprised by how he called him 'ochibi' without any precedent, a nickname that mixes together respectful and scornful language.[1]
"Su-Suisen Ranka, also called Aquaflan, is a light colored flower that has water purifying properties. It's also used for herbal baths and commonly traded for its aesthetic value too. As I recall there were some at the Fountain Plaza."
"Aah, that egg-like flower bud thing? Maybe we should've taken one back with us if it's that valuable."
"Wh-What are you saying? Suisen Ranka can even be used as Chip in Southern and Northern District Gift Games, it's a crime if you take one!"
"Oi oi, don't sweat over small things while you are still a kid, ochibi."
Kachin. Jin finally snapped and tried to retort back at him.
However Izayoi stopped him with a movement of his hand and said with a serious expression and a dreadful voice.
"Sorry, but I won't call you Leader before I approved of you. I only took that Water Tree because I felt like it. I didn't do it for the 'Good of the Community' at all."
Jin was at a loss for words. He heard from Kuro Usagi that it was Izayoi who defeated the Serpent God and obtained the Water Tree. As much as he expected him to be a considerable asset, these words hit him even harder.
"As I told Kuro Usagi before, if this Community becomes boring after I fulfilled my duty as a thanks for summoning me... I will leave without hesitation. Understood?"
Izayoi spoke in a manner that could be taken as sincere as well as threatening. Jin was mislead by Izayoi's frivolous attitude, but among the three, he is no doubt the biggest problem child of them all.
What 'boring' really meant was unknown, but exactly because of that Jin nodded back resolutely.
"We are a Community with the aspiration of 'Defeating the Demon Lord'. I'm not p