Part 2[แก้ไข]
---Above [Underwood] Ancient Vampire Citadel, Outskirts.
One night has passed and the people who had been brought to the outskirts of the Citadel had decided to rest for now. Due to their position being in the skies, the winds were a little strong and chilly. Although they were just ruins, they were still usable as structures to help block out the bone-chilling night winds.
Initially, Yō had worried about water and food supplies but that worry was answered soon enough.
Garol and Jack’s Gift Cards had stored many dried foodstuffs as well as branches prepared from the Water Tree.
“Listen up, Yō ojou-chan[3]. There’s a need to prepare for a drawn out battle with Demon Lords. Even if it isn’t to fight Demon Lords, there’s also a chance that you may get into an accident in Little Garden and happen to have no one else beside you to depend on. So, water tree or water pearl items that can ensure a water source is a necessary Gift.”
“Oh…I see…”
“Yahoho! And Gift cards can be used to store the harvested fruits from your own Community’s farmlands or even meat products from the animals that you rear in the farm. Like how it is always mentioned time and again, better prepared than never.”
Jack laughed heartily while Yō was really impressed:
“Is it so…… I see. So Gift cards are really that convenient.”
“Of course. After all, these have been created by the famous main branch of [Thousand Eyes], the [Laplace Demons], as a masterpiece against Demon Lords. Having the [Fragment of Laplace] during a fight with a Demon Lord will have a lot of influence on your survivability. It’s a really important Gift.”
“……Is it?” Yō replied. Having been given Gift Cards from Shiroyasha, it could have been an act to give them the necessities to prepare for a fight against Demon Lords.
Yō delivered the food whipped up from mutton jerkies into her mouth to slowly chew and taste……It was definitely not too bad, but it couldn’t be called a gourmet. Probably a little higher than the standard of cheap cup noodles. Yō couldn’t help but long for the food of her Community back at the Community grounds.
“……I miss Lily’s cooking.”
“Hnm? Did you say something?”
“Nothing.”
After all, having something to eat was better than nothing and Yō stuffed the food into her mouth like a squirrel as her cheeks puffed up with the food.
Ayesha who was sitting beside her was staring at her with wide round eyes as she noticed Yō’s actions.
“Oi……Listen! If you stuff all the food in like that, you will get choked. That’s a jerky you know? You should be chewing on it slowly before…”
“----------Uu!”
“……That’s why I said not to devour so quickly!”
“Just joking.”
“Ah? Just joking? Oi. This kind of matter shouldn’t be played around with! It can give people a fright you know?!”
Yō was teasing Ayesha while dining. Whereas Kirino was watching over the boiling of a broth in a pot that was made out of glass shaped by Ayesha herself. It was a glass pot that wouldn’t explode or crack even upon placing it above direct heat and exposed to sudden contractions or expansions. It was also quite interesting to be able to see the ingredients change in form and texture as they were slowly being boiled in the pot.
“Hmm~ Ayesha can also create such an intricate piece of glassware.”
“Of course. Not only can I control fire. I can also process the materials that would form the glass.”
“……Is it? If I remember correctly, you are a type of Gnome[4] right?”
“Yep, but I’m currently still unable to replicate the level of skill and technique that can be found in Jack-san’s Glassware.”
“Even so, that’s already quite amazing for I don’t have that ability to create Gifts from scratch.”
Yō gave her honest and forthright compliment as she stuffed another grilled mutton into her mouth.
Perhaps the praises caused her to feel a little bashful and Ayesha gave a little laugh of “Heh Heh” before smiling wryly. Whereas Yō used the opportunity to stuff another piece of meat into her mouth.
Jack who needn’t consume any food couldn’t help but smile as he looked at them with their little conversation while asking softly:
“Come to think about it, Kasukabe-san. Seeing how the headphones are still hanging around your neck……You haven’t had the chance to pass it to him?”
Yō, the one in question became pensive while continuing to stuff another piece of meat into her mouth.
Giving the jerky a few more chews and washing it down with some soup, Yō then gave a light cough before answering:
“Nn. And the Dormitory was wrecked, so I guessed that it would be best kept on me.”
“But these headphones are different from the ones you wanted right?”
“Well, you can say that……But regardless of the shape, I guess the most important thing would still be to show some sincerity. Especially since Izayoi is the kind who would be very particular about the sincerity behind an action.”
Yō scratched her head as she answered with uncertainty in her voice. Although the time spent with Izayoi was a short one, Yō believed that he wasn’t the kind who would trample over the sincerity and hard efforts that others might bring forth in their attempt to apologize.
Jack stared at Yō for a little while longer before breaking into a smile:
“……Yahoho! Seems like it was an unnecessary worry on my part!”
“Unnecessary worry?”
“No, it’s nothing, just my own problem! Yahohohoho!”
Jack shook his pumpkin head as he laughed.
Though Yō tilted her head in confusion, she did not press the matter further but only made a move to stuff another piece of meat into her mouth.
When everyone have finished their meal, Garol gathered the main members of their company---Kasukabe Yō, Jack, Ayesha and Kirino who represented the children to start the strategic meeting on the steps that they would take from now on.
“Regarding our movements from now on……I would like to listen to everyone’s opinion. Do any of you have a suggestion?”
“Nn.”
Yō immediately gave her reply and Garol nodded to her to continue.
“I think……Everyone should stay here together to solve the riddle of the Game.”
“……Oh?”
Hearing Yō’s suggestion, Garol gave off something between a low moan and a growl.
“You mean that we should stay and fight? And why is that so?”
“I’ve also discussed with Jack yesterday and have already confirmed for a fact that we would be punished. Even if we escape now, we would still die ten days later when the punishment comes down upon us. But taking the opportunity that the Trial Jurisdiction has bought for us, even the children can safely search the rubble and ruins of the Ancient Citadel.”
Yō’s suggestion caused Garol’s face to become taut.
“Wait. Wait a moment! Yō ojou-chan also intends to let the little brats join the battle?!”
“Nope. My point was that there’s no need for them to battle. During this time when the Trial Jurisdiction is in place, the Host and Participants are not allowed to engage in combat. So this would make it the best time for them to safely do a search with us.”
Now that there weren’t any other enemies around, it gave them free rein of roaming the Citadel---Yō had seen that chance and hence came up with that suggestion.
Moreover, when it came down to searching for information, having numbers would definitely be better. Moreover, the situation was that out of fifty of the people brought to this place, forty of them were children. If the search were to be done with the subtraction of their number, there should be a major difference in the search efficiency.
Listening from the side, Jack touched his Pumpkin head while expressing a partial agreement to her plans.
“Kasukabe-san’s suggestion would surely help to contribute greatly to the solving of the Game……But, how are their thoughts on the matter? Have the children’s reply been obtained?”
And the whole group turned their sights on Kirino. Though she shrank away under their sudden attention, Kirino still managed to express in a clear and informed voice as she spoke up for the others:
“Thank…Thank you all for your concern of our safety. But we are still part of [Underwood] and we will not stand by to see our hibernating ancient faerie be pushed into a corner.”
And determination was overflowing in Kirino’s reply.
That look of hers seemed very similar to the children of [No Name] and that made Yō feel a little amused.
Garol folded his arms as he sank into a pensive silence before taking out the black goatskin parchment, which he had kept close to his chest, as he gave in not without a few conditions.