“Let’s do a trade. I can allow the vampire to return to [No Name] but in return, the price would be you. You will have to belong to me forever.”
“What……?”
“This should be regarded as a form of love at first sight, right? And this sort of rare to come by ‘Gold-plated’ [Highborn of Little Garden] should not be left to waste.”
Kuro Usagi was stumped into silence once more. However Asuka who couldn’t seem to rein in her anger anymore gave a roar of outrage while slamming her palm into the table:
“Although I had known that you were a bastard, never did I expect you to be of such an incorrigible extent! Kuro Usagi, let’s go! There’s no need to listen anymore to the rubbish from this guy!”
“Please…Please wait a moment, Asuka-san!”
Asuka had held onto Kuro Usagi’s hand wanting to leave but Kuro Usagi stood fast and wasn’t willing to exit the room.
Self-doubt had started to cloud her eyes and it was obvious that the request was making her waver to the point of feeling troubled.
Recognizing the seed of doubt growing in her, Laius gave another of his annoying smiles once more as he triumphantly continued to push his proposition:
“Hey, hey, you are a [Moon Rabbit] right? As long as it’s for a comrade, even if you need to withstand the purgatory flames that will burn your body, you would still desire to brave it for the sake of the comrade right? It is after all a talent which is like second nature to your race!”
“……Uu!”
“Hey, I say, what’s the matter? Rabbits like what they call moralities and repaying the debts of others right? Weren’t your powers and trust obtained from Indra obtained through using your cheap life on a cheap sacrifice that reaped some benefits? Since the reason for your race’s existence in Little Garden is due to the summoning in remembrance of your kind’s sacrifice, why not follow the way of your kind and simply accept this casual offer? Hey, what do you think about that Kuro Usagi…”
“Shut your trap!”
*Kak!* Laius’s lower jaw met its upper half and the lips were sealed tight as a sudden look of confusion came over his face. This was the result of Asuka’s power as she couldn’t bear to see it continue any further.
“……!……?”
“You have displeased me. Just stay that way and grovel in apology!”
Confused while clamping his mouth shut, Laius started to bend forward. However, he started to resist the command in the next moment and he forced himself to stand up. Realizing what had caused him to do such an act, Laius forced his mouth over to growl:
“Oi! Bitch! This power……can only—work on inferior people! You fool!”
Enraged, Laius drew his Gift Card and following pulled out a Harpe[4] from the flash of light.
He swung down his blade but Izayoi who had been bidding his time moved before Asuka like in an attempt to shield her as he took the blow.
“You…and you are….?”
“I’m the handsome Izayoi-sama. If you want to fight, I don’t mind adding interest to it before collecting the debt you know? Of course, I will give you the rate of 100% increase per ten days.”
Izayoi lightly laughed as he gripped the handle of the sword and returned it to Laius with a kick.
Unable to take the attack, Laius had leapt back and pulled away to place some distance between them as he started to judge on the next move to follow up the attacks on his opponent.
However, the Harpe was held down by Shiroyasha’s fan.
“Enough! Stop it this instant! You fools! If you are unable to resolve this by negotiations, I will chase you guys out of the room!”
“…Pui! But it’s that woman who started it first.” Laius spat as he continued to glower with a killing intent.
At this point, Kuro Usagi also stepped between them to offer a closure.
“Yes we understand. Then for all the things that occurred today, let’s just leave it be and not pursue the matters anymore……On the other hand, regarding the previous offer,……Please give Kuro Usagi some time to consider.”
Kuro Usagi’s reply caused Asuka to be taken aback as she couldn’t help but shout loudly:
“Wait…Wait a moment! Kuro Usagi! You mean that you are willing to become that sort of fellow’s possession?!”
“…….Because there’s still a need to discuss with Kuro Usagi’s comrades, please give me some time.”
“OKOK! Then let’s set the date till the last day before my Community seals the deal……I will wait for a week then.”
Laius was full of smiles and Kuro Usagi had left the room straight after saying all that she had to say.
Asuka had also followed her out while Izayoi who continued to stand at his original spot gave a disapproving shrug of his shoulders.
“Wow! Shiroyasha, you are quite fortunate you know? Being sandwiched between a friend who’s difficult to be handled and an inferior subordinate is quite an unusual experience right?”
“Sheesh, what a thing to say, but if you really envy this position, I can always switch with you.”
“Not now……but come to think about it, the leader of [Perseus] is you?”
“What? That’s me alright, but what kind of rhetorical question is that coming from you at this time after all that has happened?”
Laius’s tone sounded quite irritable which was understandable when considering all that has transpired thus far.
Izayoi stared at Laius for a moment before giving a seemingly disappointed sigh as he turned away to take his leave.
“—Stop right there, what did you mean by that sigh, huh?”
“It’s such a misnomer.[5] And I’m such a fool for holding on to such anticipation……well, just that sort of meaning.”
“Hmph! If that’s the case, I may even bend my rules and accept a cheap challenge to a duel you know?”
Laius raised his Harpe. At the end of the day, he’s still the leader who leads [Perseus], having defeated many demigods and gods to establish their Headquarters in the Five digit Outer Gates. His strength was clearly of a different level from normal humans. Although in the earlier bout he may seem to have lost, but if it were an actual battle, Laius was confident without a trace of doubt that he would win. Izayoi lifted a brow as he reassessed Laius, but he had left the room in the end with a loss of interest.