Part 3
………And hence, we’re back to Izayoi playing the gift game by Shirayuki-hime.
Strangely, Izayoi’s achievements haven’t been that great.
Kicking the water with her bare feet, Kuro Usagi sighed as she sat beside the river, waiting.
“It was unexpected that the news of Izayoi-san’s combat results have been spread together with the evaluation of Jin-bocchan……Due to the combat experience that others have heard by now, it’s inevitable that they would reject inviting you for a game, although you could also blame it on bad timing. Luckily, Shiroyasha-sama had prepared the game for you this time but future games that would allow you to participate in may not come so often now…”
“……….”
---That’s right, for Izayoi’s name had also started to spread along with the news of the new evaluation of the [No Name] Community. As a result, Izayoi’s right to participate in games has been restricted and can only rely on [Thousand Eyes] Shiroyasha to introduce the Games for him.
Then again, not wanting to fight Izayoi in gift games is understandable as his battle prowess is great and his combat records of his previous enemies have been astounding.
The humongous Great serpent goddess who resided in the “Edge of the World”.
Algol, one of the most powerful Star class Ex-demon lords in existence.
Weser, Black Percher’s trusted aide, who was a demon that held the Gift of [Divinity].
Having defeated these foes with insane strength on his own, Izayoi’s strength definitely wasn’t something that belonged in the lower levels.
After all that is said and done, the hosts were people who wanted to make a living, if they knew they’d be defeated, they wouldn’t allow his participation. And besides that, Izayoi had little interest in the mundane and boring gift games of theirs anyways.
Izayoi stretched a little, shrugged his shoulders and looked towards Kuro Usagi.
“Forget it. After all, bullying others isn’t something to be proud of especially when it comes to extorting others to do a favor for you, it sure isn’t right. No point ruining the reputation that was earned right? After all, our Community is a group that upholds Justice while striving towards the goal of [Defeating Demon Lords] so avoiding the battles that would surely be won would also show that we are very tolerant and a situation that we can use to our advantage.”
“You are right on that. But is the Gift obtainable from this Game able to cause a reversal of the current tide in the results ranking?”
“About that……? Well, this can be called a part of the fun after I clear the game.”
Izayoi laughed out with alacrity.
*Pata Pata* Kuro Usagi however, was not amused and continued to kick at the water.
To her, she could see that Izayoi possessed the strength and for her to be unable to introduce the games of his calibre, it was really vexing. Because Kuro Usagi truly believed that Izayoi was someone who could definitely build a name for himself through the victories in stages far larger than this and obtain very rare trophies at the same time.
Kuro Usagi pursed her lips and kicked the water harder.
“Even though Shiroyasha-sama introduced the game for you this once and helped to solve the problem…Kuro Usagi is still unsatisfied. If we lost in a game that we participated in, Kuro Usagi would be able to accept the loss. But to remove the rights to participate in future games….This…This is like---”
“-always relying on others.” Although she wanted to say it, Kuro Usagi restrained herself.
“Yeah, yeah.” Izayoi gave an expression that looked irritated by something troublesome as he scratched his head before looking Kuro Usagi in the eye.
“Kuro Usagi.”
“Ye…Yes?”
“I like your humble attitude, but if you’re too pessimistic, it’s not good. The current situation is really quite uninteresting, but as I’ve already said, it is not hopeless and still within my calculations. So can you stop your inane bursts of self-depreciation? It’s annoying.”
*Ah Uu* Kuro Usagi’s ears drooped as she didn’t dare make another squeak.
After all, Izayoi was busy with the solving of the Game and to hear someone grumbling beside him was really getting on his nerves for it broke the train of thoughts. Placing aside the problem of the pessimism, the bigger problem was the lack of knowledge.
Not wanting to be a bother to Izayoi any further, a depressed Kuro Usagi stood up and intended to hide in the woods for the mean time.
Looking at the depressed Kuro Usagi, Izayoi gave a small sigh before calling out to her.
“Hey, Kuro Usagi.”
“Huh…yes?”
“Let’s have fish for tonight’s menu.”
“Hah?” Kuro Usagi turned her head and tilted her rabbit ears.
Izayoi points to the center of the river.
“Over there, if you caught the fish there and grill them, they’ll be delicious. If I’m not wrong, they are fresh water Horse-Mackerel. I want to try them…… please?”
After hearing out Izayoi, Kuro Usagi smiled and nodded her head.
“Yes! Understood! Tonight, Kuro Usagi will answer Izayoi-san’s wish for tonight’s dinner and take on the responsibility of cooking them personally!”
“Un. I’ll be waiting.”
Izayoi laughed as Kuro Usagi jumped excitedly as she headed to the path in the forest. It seems that her ears were able to pick up the situation from anywhere and it wouldn’t make a difference to leave the scene.
Come to think about it, those rabbit ears sure are the same as ever, showing her expressions so clearly from its movements, though seeing her sudden change made him dazed for a moment, nevertheless, Izayoi was able to fully concentrate now.
As the Sun slowly climbed in the skies and the intensity of the Sunlight that shone into the grove started to increase, it was clear that the Sun was soon reaching its zenith. Based on his estimations, Izayoi concluded that he had probably around 30 minutes left.
[If I don’t start anything soon, time would run out for me…... That being said, it’s not like he had enough clues that could be called clues in the first place.]
Resting a moment longer, Izayoi sighed and re-read the geass roll and as he managed to link up the pieces of information that he missed the first few times, he found that the key points and important details were finally emerging and started to have some queries about the contents of the [Geass Roll].
(Judging from the rules, this is the part where it becomes an intelligence game. So I should be able to get the answer if I piece all the information together and compare them with cross references.)
The first part that Izayoi was mindful about was the game’s name, “Flowers over the lake”
What can be confirmed is that the Aqua Fran is a plant that only grows on river banks. But the game is marked “Flowers over the lake”. This meant that the difference of “lake” and “river”[12] suggests a special environment is involved.
The second thing is the clear conditions. It is only written as “Obtain the Aqua Fran and make it bloom”, nothing else. This definitely has another meaning hidden in it.
After which, there is a difference between “buds” and the actual “blooming” part.
Hence, the “buds over the lake” would bloom to make “flowers over the lake”.
In other words, the Aqua Fran would bloom if placed over water.
“The main thing is these three problems. So if I were to link them all up…”
• What did a lake possess which a river doesn’t?
• The flower buds weren’t to be submerged but a type of flower that blooms on the water surface.
• There isn’t a limit to where the place can be for the flower to blossom.
Amassing the information together, a solution became apparent to Izayoi.
“The method to make the flower bloom is… [A change in the water depth], that means I need to change the environment. The Aqua Fran is only living by the river but if a sudden surge of water were to happen like rainfall, the environment would be changed due to the increase in the river’s depth; or it could also be the situation whereby the buds were washed to the deeper areas and due to the survival instinct imprinted in the flower, it would cause the bud to bloom at the water surface……. That should be it.”
“Correct.”
“………….Hmm?” Izayoi turned his head. It was a voice that was familiar to him but he couldn’t remember where.
But the person was someone he’d never seen before.
Her beautiful black glossy hair was held up by a tri-colored flower hairpin, wearing a white, elegant kimono with flower patterns and as she walked in that somewhat melancholic steps, the sleeves would also sway with her movements. Using a nonchalant gaze as she observed Izayoi, she moved closer and stopping at a hair’s breath away from him where her fringe and breath could already touch him, she stared at him while giving a very mischievous and brazen smile
“My my, you sure are a weird child. Not only do you have the ability to knock me out, but you’re also a smart one. No wonder Shiroyasha praised you constantly and shows much interest.”
“………….”
Izayoi blinked thrice as he re-evaluated the beautiful woman who was standing so close that they could practically feel each other breaths on the other’s face.
…..but he honestly had no idea who she was. Beautiful facial features and despite wearing a kimono, it was still possible to make out that nice hour-glass body and though most parts of her were clothed thickly, it was still giving off a charm of its own.
Normal men would be intoxicated by the sheer beauty at such a close distance and lose their senses.
But Izayoi was now intrigued out of sheer curiosity that triumphed over his other thoughts.
“……Who are you?”
“What a rude man. Have you forgotten the lady that you ruthlessly kicked on her stomach? Or have you kicked every female that you have come across after arriving in the world of Little Garden?”
After hearing her sarcasm, Izayoi finally recalled, for no matter how slow a person was, they should already catch on by then.
Izayoi stared at the lady’s figure while widening his eyes.
“You’re that snake? But that’s not right, just now you were still a snake!”
“Hah. Well, there isn’t a reason to turn to my human form. Compared to that “snake snake snake snake snake” is annoying, one should at least remember the name of the Host of the game they participate in right?! Baka!”
Hearing her, Izayoi looked at the geass roll.
The roll stated that the host was Shirayuki-hime.
Izayoi widened his eyes.
“Shirayuki-hime….You mean the one who was used as a live-sacrifice in the yasha pool…ah wait, hold on. You’re the one that Shiroyasha granted divinity? Then there should be a shrine there…?”
“About that……So what? Asking questions like this is pointless. You’ve solved the game right? Hurry up and finish it before you lose. There’s still less than fifteen minutes to go you know?”
Even so, Shirayuki-hime covered her mouth as she giggled, her attitude wasn’t the least bit nervous as she still believed in her win.
Simply put, the Aqua Fran buds required a lake to bloom, but even if the depth was just the right condition in Tritonis Falls, the flow velocity was too strong and there were no natural lakes here. In addition, the river flows all the way down to “The Edge of the World”. Even if it were Izayoi, he might not be able to be safe from the fall.
Shirayuki-hime then gently spoke beside Izayoi’s ear.
“Things aren’t looking good you know? Might as well surrender now. If you are a good boy and apologize to me for your rudeness, I’ll give you a flower. That way, you would be able to keep up your haughty look in front of Shiroyasha and the girls right?”
“No way. If I had the guts to surrender to snake-girl and return with a flower that you have given to me out of pity, it will make the Ojou-sama there laugh and she’ll hang up the flower with a plaque saying 'The evidence that Sakamaki Izayoi has embarrassed himself is here' mounted in the conference hall.”
Izayoi said jokingly as he shrugged his shoulders.
Of course Asuka wouldn’t be that harsh.
….But if Asuka were to hear of this…
“You want it? You really want it? If so, we’ll just take a commemorative photo and frame it then!”
Though he might have some veins popping near his temple, he would have answered with a smile.
Feeling a little wistful about the lost opportunity to have their synchronized banter in this current place, Izayoi jumped down from the huge rock, as he gave a loud hearty laugh.
“Then again, I never thought the snake would be a bishoujo.”
“Surprised?”
“Of course, but it is a nice bonus…… Do you still remember the contract if I win?”
Izayoi laughed fearlessly.
“Hmph.” Shirayuki-hime sneered.
“Of course….In fact, if you can win this……. I, Shirayuki-hime, will be under your subjugation and be your servant.”
“For real? You’ll do anything I say?”
“Of course. You can split open my stomach and eat my liver or you can rip my clothes off and tie me up with chains. You can also defile my purity and enjoy my tears….So long as you are my master, I will satisfy your desires.”
Shirayuki-hime used her hand and pressed on her breasts, as she gave a challenging smile, confident that Izayoi would lose.
Izayoi nodded, satisfied with the answer and looked to the forest. He then stretched his arm, as if to measure the distance.
“Well, I guess I’ll just have to solve this impossible problem……step by step. In front of your very eyes.”
“What?”
“Ah, right, before I solve it for you….Did you know about the “Ten Labors of Heracles? I heard that it’s a Gift Game that really exists in the South Side.”
“Of course. The ten labors were very famous.”
Even if it were of different mythologies, it was still understandable that Shirayuki-hime would still have heard of it.
“The 10 labors” were done by the legendary hero, Heracles. In order to atone for his crimes of murdering his family, he had to defeat and overcome opponents like the Lernaen hydra, mares of Diomedes, Cerberus and many other impossible tasks, a Gift Game based on Greek mythology and is one of the most difficult games in Little Garden.
“And despite having required to do ten labors, Heracles was also made to do two more, due to 2 of them being accused of flouting the rules, so it’s a total of twelve labors. And the Fifth labor, the “Augean stables”, is considered as a test of intelligence and his ability to adapt to the situation.
---The requirement was [to clean out the stables that housed 3,000 cattle within a day when it hadn’t seen cleaning for more than thirty years.]
And it’s a very disgusting and humiliating labor. So what did Heracles do? Using his crazy strength---He . re . routed . the . river . and . let . the . water . flow . down . and . made . it . wash . the . stable . for . him . do . you . understand?”
Because Shirayuki-hime understood, her face soon turned pale as Izayoi showed a sly grin.
“Oi…oi, are you serious?”
“Yeah, I’m always serious.”
Izayoi went near the river and lifted his right leg up and dropped it down hard.
At once, a huge shockwave swept the river bank and formed a crater. And the crater continued to move in a straight line, seemingly like land mines that have been planted in advance, fragments of rocks and soil were spat out of the ground as it travelled forth. The strong force that seemed to pierce the entire forest was continuing to extend forward and the river began to flow to the crater formed by the impact as well.
It’s as though a canal was created instantly.
“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA” Izayoi laughed loudly and taking a leap forward as though he wanted to stand before the turbid waters that were rushing into the water canal as he spread his arms and proudly proclaimed .
“If there isn’t a lake here, I just have to make the course of the river change to make one appear♪”
Shirayuki-hime was shocked to the point where even her feet were unsteady.
“That’s right! Heracles used his might to change the river’s course and used it to wash the stable and the cattle of Augeas!!!”
If Izayoi mimicked the method used for the “Augean stables” and literally broke the river formation -- without doubt, at least half of Shirayuki’s territory would be ruined.
Shirayuki-hime woke up from her shock and screamed.
“HEY! STOP THAT YOU CRAZY KID!!!”
But it’s too late. Izayoi was always serious.
Serious to the point where he was pretty much excited about it.
After all, one of his mottos was “No matter what you do, be it a prank or not, always be serious about it.” This is how serious Izayoi was.
As Izayoi made a revolution before connecting his fist to the earth---The punch that would gorge out rivers and mountains had immediately gorged out a crater in the forest. The crater that looked like the vent of a volcano. As the ruckus that would have led others to believe that a terraforming was occurring at that very moment started to spread into the surroundings, the spray of water from the river started to pour in like a waterfall as it started to fill the crater.
---The lord of the Tritonis Falls has once again underestimated him. Or to be exact, she could not understand Sakamaki Izayoi well.
Sakamaki Izayoi…. The world’s most powerful problem child.
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