Part 7
On the highest floor of the headquarters, Jin dragged Izayoi to the reception hall and shouted at him because he couldn't control his anger any longer.
"What are you trying to accomplish!?"
" 'Defeat the Demon Lord' only changed to 'Defeat all the Demon Lords and their accomplices', right? 'All those who have problems concerning Demon Lords please contact Jin Russel', the catch phrase could be something like this maybe?"
"It's not funny and this is not a laughing matter either! You saw what a Demon Lord's power is capable of at the Community's entrance, right!?"
"Of course. Being able to fight someone that has such an interesting power in a game would be awesome."
Izayoi sat down on the couch of the reception hall, leaned backwards arrogantly and expressed his hope for a match with a Demon Lord. Jin became speechless for a second, then asked him to explain his behavior.
"Awe......awesome you say? Then Izayoi-san is planning on driving this Community to its destruction only for your own amusement?"
Jin's tone was stern. Izayoi's behavior was inexcusable.
If this man planned to use this Community only for his own amusement, then it doesn't matter how helpful of an asset he could have been, they couldn't welcome him. Jin would've had to talk it over with Kuro Usagi and drive him out. Izayoi was smiling jovially as always.
"Nope. This plan is indispensable for the development of the Community."
"Plan...? What do you mean?"
"I want to check something first. How did you plan on fighting the Demon Lord after summoning us? Those like Shiroyasha and the one that made those ruins are called 'Demon Lords', right?"
Jin fell silent. Although they wished to regain their honor and defeat the Demon Lord, it's not like he as a leader had any clearly defined plans for it. Jin gathered his young intellect and answered.
"First... I was planning on securing a water source. Even if a Water God class water source was out of the question, there were other sources of water that - after careful planning with the help of the newcomers - were possible to obtain. But regarding that Izayoi-san delivered an outcome beyond our wildest dreams, so I'm honestly grateful."
"Yeah, be very grateful."
Ignoring the laughing Izayoi, Jin continued.
"By steadily completing Gift Games the Community would definitely grow strong. Even if the newcomers were to be powerless, with all of our efforts combined we could still grow our Community bigger. More so with a gathering of such talented people.... we should've been able to handle any kind of Gift Game."
"I see, full of hopes and expectations."
Izayoi didn't show any sign of being intimidated. Jin couldn't control himself any longer, radically changing his tone he yelled at him.
"And yet.... and yet, what Izayoi-san did is exposing the Community to danger solely for your own amusement!! If an absurd rumor like we are a 'Community to Defeat the Demon Lords' spreads, then it's all over, Games with Demon Lords will be impossible to avoid. Do you really understand what that means!?"
Jin punched the wall of the reception hall while yelling. Most likely he really couldn't put up with it anymore. Seeing Jin like that Izayoi stopped laughing and this time he looked at him with scornful eyes.
"Unbelievable guy. You were talking about things like rebuilding, regaining your pride with a vague plan like that? I'm disappointed in you ochibi."
"Wha-"
"Growing stronger by taking part in Gift Games? That goes without question. I'm asking how will we win against the Demon Lord?"
"A-As I said, by taking part in Gift Games we grow stronger-"
"Then the previous Community didn't take part in Gift Games and grew strong?"
"Tha-....that is..."
Jin couldn't say anything. Izayoi immediately shot him another question.
"Also, the previous Community got big only by Gift Games?"
".... . No."
A Community grows bigger thanks to powerful Gifts and powerful Gift Bearers. In other words talented people.
It's only natural that the people that lived by relying on their own talents would want to be a part of a well known Community. However .... this Community doesn't have its crucial Name or Banner.
"We don't have a Name or Banner. There is not a single thing to represent our Community with. This way the word of our Community's existence can't even spread by word of mouth. That is the reason you summoned us, right?"
"....."
"With things like this we pretty much can't sign anything when buying and selling goods either. It's not a surprise that [Thousand Eyes] didn't treat us [No-Names] as customers. After all a [No-Name] is only one of the many nameless ones. And because of that it would be dangerous to place your trust in. You'll have to surpass the previous Community while carrying a handicap like this."
"Surpass... the previous..!?"
Realizing this fact felt like a hammer to the face for Jin.
The previous Community that was widely regarded as very impressive in the City of Little Garden.
Jin had only meager talents still, and only became the Leader because of his height and by coincidence. However even though he spoke of Defeating the Demon Lord sometimes, Izayoi's words represented the reality he tried to avert his eyes from.
Jin was unable to retort back, so the astounded Izayoi delivered the final blow.
"As far as I can see you really didn't think of anything at all."
"......"
From the shame and the scale of responsibility that was revealed by those words, Jin couldn't raise his head.
However Izayoi grabbed Jin's shoulders firmly and said with a devious smile.
"If there is no Name or Banner ..... then there is no choice, but to promote the Leader's name, right?"
Jin suddenly raised his head. At the same time he recognized what Izayoi's aim was. When he spoke to the intruders, Izayoi emphasized Jin's name and the fact that he is the leader multiple times. That means,
"You plan to call attention to me .... and promote the existence of our Community that way."
"Yeah. Not a bad plan, right?"
This time Jin saw the proudly laughing Izayoi in a different light from before.
He recounted Izayoi's words multiple times in his mind, and started to think seriously about that strategy.
"I-Indeed.... that is an effective tactic. If the Leader works as a public face for the Community and promotes its existence .... It could build confidence comparable to having a Name and Banner."
Shiroyasha for example. Although she is only one of the Officers of [Thousand Eyes], her name is known in every part of the world. At times, having a prominent Leader can have the same effect as having a Banner.
"But this alone is not enough. There isn't enough impact to have the rumors spread far enough. So, if there would be even one example where the young boy named Jin Russel, whose aim is to Defeat the Demon Lords has won.... Then that rumor would certainly spread like ripples."
"A-And spread to whom?"
"To those that have the same 'Defeat the Demon Lords' ambition in mind."
Demon Lords challenged powerful Communities to fights as amusement. It would not be an understatement to say that they existed in Little Garden solely to satisfy their own desires. The Communities that were destroyed as a result were as many as stars in the sky. There is a good chance that capable people that were regrettably defeated by a Demon Lord would have the ambition of defeating them.
Jin's heart was pounding faster from the very specific strategy he could not even dream of before.
That was because the things he said were very much possible.
"Spreading rumors about the existence of our Community by using my name..."
"Yes. The current situation is a good opportunity. The opponent is connected to a Demon Lord and it's a Game we can win. The victims are from various Communities. If we can spread ochibi's name well enough with this ..."
Although small ones, ripples would spread within the Communities near Outer Gate number 2105380.
If they can earn the gratitude of the Communities that suffer from the hands of the Demon Lord's underlings, then rumors would steadily spread under the surface.
"Well, just as ochibi-sama fears, there is a high chance of attracting other Demon Lords as well. However there are precedents of a Demon Lord having been defeated, right?"
Kuro Usagi explained it like this: 'If you defeat a Demon Lord, you can make it your subordinate.' That means there were people who managed to defeat one, and that it's an opportunity to gain a powerful pawn for the organization.
"The most important thing that this Community is lacking right now is talented people. I won't say something ludicrous like I want people on my level, but I want some that can hold a candle to me. But it's up to ochibi to agree or disagree. If you have other cool plans then by all means, I will cooperate."
Jin took another good look at the smiling Izayoi. There were no signs of the anger anymore.
The logic behind his strategy was sound. It would've been easy to just agree, but he must not forget the unstable elements of the plan either. After considering all that, Jin set a condition.
"I have only one condition. Would you participate alone in a Gift Game that will be hosted by [Thousand Eyes] not long from now?"
"Why? Do you want me to demonstrate my strength?"
"That is also one reason. But there is another purpose behind it. A very important item will be showcased during this Game, which we have to take back no matter what."
Name and Banner. Something this Community treasures as much as those.
"You can't mean ... your former comrade?"
"Yes. And not just any ordinary comrade. One who was formerly known as a Demon Lord."
Izayoi's eyes sparkled. His smile became ominous and he started giving off an aura of danger.
"Heh? A Former Demon Lord was your comrade? That holds a pretty big significance."
Jin replied with a nod.
"Yes. As you guessed, that means the previous Community had experience fighting and defeating a Demon Lord."
"And there exists someone - who we will call Super Demon Lord with an amazing naming style - who can destroy a Community that made other Demon Lords submit."
"N-no one calls it that! There are power differences between the Demon Lords and all are very different. Shiroyasha-sama also has the Host Master privilege, but no one calls her a Demon Lord anymore. The term 'Demon Lord' only refers to those that abuse their Host Master privilege."
The Host Master privilege itself was nothing more than one of the tools that exist to make Little Garden more interesting.
Jin explained that it was only after some started to abuse it, that the term Demon Lord came into existence.
"The Game's Host will be one of the Officers of [Thousand Eyes]. He probably made some sort of deal with the Demon Lord that destroyed us and obtained ownership over our comrade. Since they are a trader Community, it would've been the best if we could take care of it using money, but..."
"It's rough being poor, huh? Anyway, all I have to do is get back that Former Demon Lord comrade right?"
Jin replied with a nod. If he was capable of it, then Jin certainly wanted to ask him to do just that.
"Yes. If we can accomplish that, it will become possible to prepare for the battles against Demon Lords, and I will also support your plan. However please don't tell Kuro Usagi about this yet..."
"Okkay."
Izayoi stood up from the couch. When he opened the reception hall's door to return to his room, he said something to Jin like it just came to mind.
"Don't lose tomorrow's Game."
"I understand. Thank you."
"If you lose I will leave this Community."
"I understand. ..... What?"
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