Part 4
The time was half-an-hour before Kuro Usagi and Izayoi met up with each other again.
At a sidewalk cafe of the Fountain Plaza, Asuka and Yō summarized what they've learned from listening to the explanation regarding the Community, holding their cups in one hand.
"I see. I understand more or less. In other words [Demon Lord] is a term used for deities and such, who brandish their special rights in this world, and Jin-kun's Community was toyed around and destroyed by them. Something like that?"
"Indeed, my lady. Deities do like cheeky humans since ancient times after all. Breaking something you love too much at the end is a common occurrence."
Galdo Gasper spread his arms wide laughing ironically while sitting on the sidewalk cafe's chair.
"They've lost their Name, Emblem and all their main forces. All that remains is an extensive part of land in the residential zone. If they would've formed another Community when that happened, then the previous Community would've been remembered as remarkable. Now they are nothing more than another nameless and dishonored Community."
"..."
"Think about it for a bit. What can even a Community do that is not allowed to name itself? Trade? Being a Host? No one will trust an organization without a Name. Then participating in Gift Games? Yes, that is certainly possible. But will talented Gift Bearers gather to a Community that allowed its prestige and pride to decline so much?"
"Indeed. Probably nobody would want to join."
"Yes. He is nothing but a shameless ghost of the past clinging to their former glory, holding an impossible dream."
He was inelegantly laughing loudly at Jin and his Community, almost ripping his colorful tuxedo.
Jin's face was bright red and his hands were in a grip on his lap.
"There is more. He talks about rebuilding his Community, but he is just a parasite relying on Kuro Usagi to support their Community."
"..."
"I really pity poor Kuro Usagi. Rabbits possess so many powerful Gifts that they are called the [Highborns of Little Garden], any Community would welcome them happily with open arms. Having a Rabbit to a Community means a great deal. And yet every day she runs around wrecking herself for those stupid brats, supporting that weakling Community, getting by only on her meager income."
"...I see. I understand the situation. Then Galdo-san, why is that you told us about this so politely?"
Asked Asuka with a hidden meaning behind her words. Galdo noticed that and laughed.
"I will say it outright. Will you come to my Community together with Kuro Usagi if you please?"
"Wha-What are you saying Galdo Gasper!?"
Jin Russel hit the table in his anger and protested.
But Galdo Gasper ferociously stared back at Jin.
"Shut up, Jin Russel. If you would've changed your Name and Emblem in the first place, at least some people would've remained. You corner your own Community with your selfishness, yet you dare summon people from another world?"
"Tha-That is..."
"Did you think you could deceive someone who doesn't know anything? And if as a result you would make them bear the same hardship as Kuro Usagi .... , then as a resident of Little Garden I have a duty to warn you."
Pierced by the same kind of beast-like gaze as before, Jin faltered a bit.
But even more than Galdo's words, his sense of guilt for his inexcusable behaviour towards Asuka and Yō has made his heart heavy.
Jin's Community was in that dire situation.
"....So, how about it ladies? I won't ask you to respond immediately. You have 30 days of freedom in Little Garden you can take to decide before joining a Community. You should inspect the Community that summoned you and our Community, [Fores Garo], then after careful consideration--"
"No need. I am perfectly satisfied with Jin-kun's Community."
'Ha?' Jin and Galdo were trying to discern her motives from her expression.
As if nothing special happened Asuka drank the leftover contents of her cup and turned to Yō with a smile.
"What does Kasukabe-san think about all this?"
"Not much, I'm fine with either. I only came to this world to make friends after all."
"Oh, how unexpected. In that case, can I nominate myself for the position of friend number one? We are polar opposites, but somehow I feel we would get along surprisingly well."
Yō silently thought about it for a little while, then nodded with a slight smile.
"...Yeah. Asuka is different than the other girls I know, so it may be all right."
"I'm happy for you ojou! I'm so happy ojou made a friend I'm tearing up."
The calico cat was moved to tears.
The two of them were getting excited without the two leaders.
Galdo's expression stiffened from being ignored completely, then coughed while trying to maintain composure.
"Excuse me, but can you tell me the reason--"
"As I said I am perfectly satisfied. As you heard Kasukabe-san only came here to make friends, she is fine with either Jin-kun or Galdo-san. Right?"
"Yeah."
"And myself, Kudou Asuka, I forsake my wealthy household, my guaranteed future, a life that most people would long for and came to Little Garden. Did you really think I would find the insincere invitation of a small-scale organization that only rules a tiny bit of territory that appealing? If so, then you should try again once you recognize your limitations, you phony tiger-gentleman."
She flat out refused.
Galdo Gasper was trembling from rage. As a self-proclaimed gentleman he was probably desperately trying to find suitable words to respond to Asuka's extremely insulting statements.
"W-...Wait a second my lady-"
"Silence!"
Clash! Galdo's mouth closed violently in an unnatural seeming way and fell silent.
He seemed confounded, desperately trying to open his mouth, but no sound came out.
".....!?..!??"
"I was not done talking. There are still things I have to ask of you. Sit right there and keep answering my questions!"
Asuka's words held power, this time he sat down so forcefully cracks appeared in the chair.
Galdo was panicking.
He didn't know how she did it, but the freedom of his limbs were stolen, he couldn't resist in the slightest.
The startled cat-eared shopkeeper came rushing over to them.
"P-Please keep your quarrels outside of this store-"
"You came at the perfect time. I would like Cat-Shopkeeper-san to witness this as a third-party. You will probably hear many interesting things."
After calming the Cat-Eared shopkeeper, she continued speaking.
"You said you challenged this area's Communities to a contest where both parties have to agree and won all of them. But that is somewhat different from the Gift Games I have heard about. Games between Communities should consist of a Host and the challengers, both betting various chips. ... Hey, Jin-kun. Betting the whole Community as a chip is that common?"
"O-Only if there is no other way, on rare occasions. But that is the same as betting the whole existence of the Community itself, a very rare case."
The Cat-Eared shopkeeper nodded in agreement.
"I figured as much. Even we know that and we just barely arrived here. Being able to force fights between Communities is exactly why those with the Host Master privilege are feared as a Demon Lord. Why is that you, who does not possess that privilege, were able to force those important contests where one has to risk their whole Community, one after the other? Will you please tell us?"
Galdo Gasper's face looked like he was about to scream, but against his will he started speaking.
Nearby people slowly started to realize the reason behind the disturbance.
In other words, the fact that no one can disobey this young lady, Kudou Asuka's orders.
"There are many ways to force them. The easiest one is kidnapping women and children from the opponent's Community and blackmailing them. We left the ones who didn't respond to that for later, then gradually absorbed all the others and forced the remaining ones into circumstances where they couldn't help but accept the challenge to a Game."
"Well, that is about what I expected. It is a simple plan fitting for a small fry such as you. However, will the members of the organization you absorbed in this shady way work for you obediently?"
"We took a few children as hostages from every Community."
One of Asuka's eyebrows twitched slightly.
Her manner of speaking or expressions didn't change, but the atmosphere around her gave off a sense of foreboding. Even Yō who was indifferent about the choice of Communities looked at him with narrowed eyes like she's looking at something nasty.
"....I see. More and more despicable. Then where are those children confined at the moment?"
"Already killed them."
The atmosphere around them froze in an instant.
Jin, the shopkeeper, Yō and even Asuka doubted their ears for a moment and didn't know what to think. Only Galdo Gasper continued speaking obeying the order he received.
"On the first day when we took the brats their crying really pissed me off so I killed them all without thinking. After that I tried to be more careful after taking them, but 'I miss my daddy' , 'I want my mummy', their crying irritated me so much I killed them after all. After that I settled on dealing with the brats on the same day they arrive. But if they find out I killed someone from those Communities it would break the organization. So a trusted subordinate took the bodies of those dead brats and at-"
"Shut up!"
Clang! Galdo's mouth closed even faster than before.
Asuka's voice became even more dreadful as she cracked down on Galdo like she was trying to squeeze his soul.
"Amazing. One rarely meets an epitome of evil such as yourself. As expected of Little Garden, the home for inhuman creatures. Right Jin-kun?"
He was a bit flustered from Asuka's chilly gaze, but he denied it quickly.
"Such evildoer is rare even in Little Garden."
"Is that so? That is a bit of a shame. ... By the way, with this confession can the law of Little Garden punish this scum?"
"It's problematic. Of course it's against the law to take hostages from declined Communities or kill the comrades of his followers, but .... if he escapes to outside of Little Garden before the law can judge him, then it's over."
That can be taken as a form of punishment in and of itself. If Galdo as the leader leaves the Community, it's clear that Fores Garo which is nothing but a disorderly mob, will break up.
But Asuka wasn't satisfied with only that.
"I see. Then there is nothing we can do."
She irritatedly snapped her fingers.
That must've been the sign.
The power that restrained Galdo vanished and the freedom of his limbs returned to him.
Galdo mad with anger smashed the cafe table.
"Y-You little biiitch!!"
Along with his loud roar, his body underwent radical changes. The tuxedo covering his huge body was ripped apart by his expanding back muscles, and the hair on his body changed colors to an emerging black and yellow striped pattern.
His Gift was a close breed to something like a werewolf. He was part of a mixed race called the weretigers.
"You bitch, I don't know what you're thinking ... but you know who stands behind me, right!? I'm under the protection of the Demon Lord that protects the Number 666th Gate of Little Garden!! If you pick a fight with me, that means you pick a fight with him too! Do you know what tha-"
"Silence! I was not done talking."
Clang! Once again his mouth closed vehemently. But his rage couldn't be stopped solely by that anymore.
Galdo raised his thick, log-like arms and attacked Asuka.
Yō stepped in between them.
"Fighting is bad."
She caught one of his arms, then twisted it further, causing his huge body to turn around and pinned him down.
"Gi...!"
Galdo's eyes were opened wide by the unexpected strength that the girl's thin arms exhibited.
Only Asuka was laughing happily.
"Now, Galdo-san. I do not care who you have behind your back. The same could probably be said about Jin-kun too. After all his final aim is to defeat the Demon Lord that destroyed his Community."
Hearing those words Jin took a deep breath. In reality, Jin almost lost to fear when the Demon Lord was mentioned, but hearing Asuka mention his goals helped him get back to his usual self.
"...Yes. Our final aim is to defeat the Demon Lord and regain our pride and comrades. Those kind of threats won't work on us anymore."
"There you have it. This means you have no way to avoid your destruction."
"Shi-Shit...!"
For unknown reasons Galdo, who was pinned down by Yō, lay on the ground unable to move.
After Kudou Asuka regained her composure somewhat, she lifted Galdo's chin with the tip of her foot, then said with a mischievous smile:
"However. I will not be satisfied by only your Community's demise. A scum like you must be torn to shreds and punished, while you regret all your sins. ... But there is a proposition I have for all of you here."
Jin and the shop employees nodded to Asuka's words, glanced at each other and tilted their head.
Asuka pulled the tip of her foot away and this time she grabbed Galdo's chin with her feminine, pretty fingertips.
"Let us play a Gift Game. With the continued existence of your 'Fores Garo' and the pride and soul of the 'No Names' on the line."
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