Chapter 8[แก้ไข]
Part 1[แก้ไข]
—Boundary wall, stage area. Operation headquarters of festival, hall.
The cloister at the stage area was dyed in red by the sunset, where not even a silhouette was present.
The corridor with red glass was also deserted, making the lively scene one week ago look like an illusion.
The shadow cast by the steeple was slanted, and the palace gradually became darker. The total number of people gathered in the hall numbered just about five hundred or so.
Those that were forced to yield one week ago and others who did not have participation rights like Jack, adding to the fact that the people gathered in the participants didn't get the disease from the Demon Lord, there was only less than 1 percent of the full strength.
Sandra appeared in front of the commotion, as if trying to dispel everyone's anxiety, spoke in a resolute tone:
"The plan for the game has already been decided. Those that can still move are responsible for important tasks, everyone please quiet down and listen.........Mandra-niisama, please."
Mandra, who stood at the side, tidied his uniform before reading the plans that were written out on a document.
"Firstly, fighting with the 3 demons is the responsibility of [Salamandra] and [No Name] led by Jin Russel.
Secondly, the other members are placed in charge of finding the 130 stained glass.
Lastly, after the discovery of the glass, please ask the Commander for instructions to either protect or break it, according to the rules."
"Thank you— these are the plans for the participant side. This is our final battle with the Demon Lord, please be vigilant and concentrate on your tasks."
WOAHHH! Warm roars resounded in the hall. Although the game was about to begin, the objectives to solve the game has already been completed, thus improving morale.
Members who had gotten the disease also roared, but this was not the time to show weakness.
In order to win the game against the Demon Lord, the participants began to move.
On the other hand, Kuro Usagi was standing on top of the palace overlooking the stage area.
The symbolic city could be seen and debris of the huge chandelier was all over the roof, not yet cleaned up. Placing both hands on her chest, Kuro Usagi quietly gazed over the base of the steeple.
Her hands were trembling slightly.
"...........Guu!"
"What's wrong, Kuro Usagi?"
Kyahh! Kuro Usagi let out a sudden voice, with her ears and tail springing outwards. When she noticed the thing on her chest, she was shocked again.
It appears that when Kuro Usagi was not being attentive, Izayoi had slipped through her armpits and moved her chest.
"Wuh....What are you doing, you idiot!"
"Of course I am rubbing your chest, Kuro Usagi-chan."
The magic hands that could pounce and the hurriedly escaping Kuro Usagi.
"Rea.......Really! Kuro Usagi thinks that Izayoi-san's interest is really improper!"
"Heh! What are you saying? In the past there was [Rather than being a sneaky mensao[1] pervert, why don't stand up proudly as an open gentleman!] this motto...."
"There isn't!"
"There is!"
"Definitely not!"
Yiiii~! Kuro Usagi, with her rabbit ears on end, strongly rebutted.
Izayoi laughed with a Wahaha, before sitting down on the roof and asking:
"So, why is your face filled with expressions of distress?"
Eh? Facing Izayoi's sudden question, Kuro Usagi was momentarily speechless.
Feeling very ashamed after being seen, Kuro Usagi turned her face, already with slightly flushed rabbit ears.
"It's......it's nothing! Kuro Usagi is just excited because the game is gonna start."
"Oh? I think it's because you are facing against humanity's first huge stage that you are trembling from nervousness."
Izayoi gave a sly smile and corrected her, making Kuro Usagi close her mouth.
Because of [trial jurisdiction], the [Highborn of Little Garden] eligibility to participate in gift games is usually restricted. Unless it was a particularly rare opportunity, it was practically impossible to participate in gift games.
Although Izayoi's accusations pierced through her red heart..........but this was not the reason why Kuro Usagi felt so melancholic.
"To say........to say I am not worried is just a lie, but we [Moon Rabbits] are the dependents of Indra. Once we join the fight, the blood from our bodies will naturally adapt to suit the fighting."
"Oh? So you are trembling because of something else?"
Izayoi was saying it in a relaxed tone but Kuro Usagi's face was very stiff.
Lowering her rabbit ears and eyes, Kuro Usagi used an attitude as if she had reached a dead end to confess her inner thoughts.
"To be honest, Kuro Usagi is thinking about something related to the community.......and the captive Asuka-san."
"What?"
"If we lose in this game, it essentially means that [No Name] would completely collapse, leaving only the children to stay in the base. Just thinking about leaving all the kids alone.........Kuro Usagi will........will not be able to control her anxiety."
Kuro Usagi clenched her lips, even her rabbit ears drooped.
"However, this is a reality that will just make people give up. Mother bird gets attacked by Demon Lord, then the chicks will perish. In the Little Garden, this situation isn't rare at all.........and Asuka-san and Kasukabe-san, makes Kuro Usagi even more sorry."
The tolerant tone sounding Kuro Usagi stared into the distance and asked:
"Izayoi-kun, do you remember the advice Shiroyasha-sama gave?"
"Advice?"
"Which was the words that she told to Asuka-san and Kasukabe-san, [Before fighting against a Demon Lord, increase your strength. The two of you with your current abilities will definitely not survive in a Demon Lord game.]"
Saying till the end, Kuro Usagi's tone naturally began to tremble.
A month has passed since the three of them came into the Little Garden. Before coming to the [Birth of the Fire Dragon festival], Kuro Usagi had never taken the advice seriously, only introducing the community life and gift games to everyone.
Even if they had the highest level of talent, they would not be able to enhance their strength when in this kind of gift game.
In order to one day take back the community's name, flag, and companions, all three of them were willing to provide assistance.
Not making any difficult request, and immediately agreeing to help while putting on a smile, was the limit of their kindness, but it has always been trampled till now.
"Up till now Kuro Usagi had not taken that advice. My eyes were always mystified by the endless possibilities of everyone.........In a month, everyone gave [No Name] so much kindness, having a dramatic shift in our lifestyle. We are no longer troubled by the lack of water, and the burden of getting food has lessened as well. Now no one would carry apologetic looks of children complaining about starvation."
"..........."
"At the time when you all took down the former Demon Lord Algol, bringing back Leticia-sama...........Kuro Usagi really thought that a broad road had appeared in front of us. Originally, we did not see any hope for the future, only desperately trying to maintain the status quo of our community......But then Kuro Usagi had a bad premonition, feeling that everything was for better or for worse."
Kuro Usagi gazed at the distant sunset, confessing everything from her heart.
That's right, companions that were taken away were replaced. Although it was a small step, it was still true progress.
The stagnant community from three years ago has finally started to flow again.
Seeing hope, the developments that were heading to the right direction, then continue on to moving forward..........Was what Kuro Usagi thought.
".......When we advocated that we were going to [Beat down the Demon Lords], Kuro Usagi thought that everyone was reliable and was deeply moved. However, because of this! We should establish a long-term perspective plan! And it should have lots of things, only Kuro Usagi who was born in this Buddha gathered Little Garden can tell everyone! It should be like this, but when you all confronted the Demon Lord before, Kuro Usagi did not form up any plan, simply enjoying my peaceful life, and the result is........!