Part 2
---Above [Underwood] Ancient Vampire Citadel, Outskirts.
One night has passed and the people who had been brought to the outskirts of the Citadel had decided to rest for now. Due to their position being in the skies, the winds were a little strong and chilly. Although they were just ruins, they were still usable as structures to help block out the bone-chilling night winds.
Initially, Yō had worried about water and food supplies but that worry was answered soon enough.
Garol and Jack’s Gift Cards had stored many dried foodstuffs as well as branches prepared from the Water Tree.
“Listen up, Yō ojou-chan[15]. There’s a need to prepare for a drawn out battle with Demon Lords. Even if it isn’t to fight Demon Lords, there’s also a chance that you may get into an accident in Little Garden and happen to have no one else beside you to depend on. So, water tree or water pearl items that can ensure a water source is a necessary Gift.”
“Oh…I see…”
“Yahoho! And Gift cards can be used to store the harvested fruits from your own Community’s farmlands or even meat products from the animals that you rear in the farm. Like how it is always mentioned time and again, better prepared than never.”
Jack laughed heartily while Yō was really impressed:
“Is it so…… I see. So Gift cards are really that convenient.”
“Of course. After all, these have been created by the famous main branch of [Thousand Eyes], the [Laplace Demons], as a masterpiece against Demon Lords. Having the [Fragment of Laplace] during a fight with a Demon Lord will have a lot of influence on your survivability. It’s a really important Gift.”
“……Is it?” Yō replied. Having been given Gift Cards from Shiroyasha, it could have been an act to give them the necessities to prepare for a fight against Demon Lords.
Yō delivered the food whipped up from mutton jerkies into her mouth to slowly chew and taste……It was definitely not too bad, but it couldn’t be called a gourmet. Probably a little higher than the standard of cheap cup noodles. Yō couldn’t help but long for the food of her Community back at the Community grounds.
“……I miss Lily’s cooking.”
“Hnm? Did you say something?”
“Nothing.”
After all, having something to eat was better than nothing and Yō stuffed the food into her mouth like a squirrel as her cheeks puffed up with the food.
Ayesha who was sitting beside her was staring at her with wide round eyes as she noticed Yō’s actions.
“Oi……Listen! If you stuff all the food in like that, you will get choked. That’s a jerky you know? You should be chewing on it slowly before…”
“----------Uu!”
“……That’s why I said not to devour so quickly!”
“Just joking.”
“Ah? Just joking? Oi. This kind of matter shouldn’t be played around with! It can give people a fright you know?!”
Yō was teasing Ayesha while dining. Whereas Kirino was watching over the boiling of a broth in a pot that was made out of glass shaped by Ayesha herself. It was a glass pot that wouldn’t explode or crack even upon placing it above direct heat and exposed to sudden contractions or expansions. It was also quite interesting to be able to see the ingredients change in form and texture as they were slowly being boiled in the pot.
“Hmm~ Ayesha can also create such an intricate piece of glassware.”
“Of course. Not only can I control fire. I can also process the materials that would form the glass.”
“……Is it? If I remember correctly, you are a type of Gnome[16] right?”
“Yep, but I’m currently still unable to replicate the level of skill and technique that can be found in Jack-san’s Glassware.”
“Even so, that’s already quite amazing for I don’t have that ability to create Gifts from scratch.”
Yō gave her honest and forthright compliment as she stuffed another grilled mutton into her mouth.
Perhaps the praises caused her to feel a little bashful and Ayesha gave a little laugh of “Heh Heh” before smiling wryly. Whereas Yō used the opportunity to stuff another piece of meat into her mouth.
Jack who needn’t consume any food couldn’t help but smile as he looked at them with their little conversation while asking softly:
“Come to think about it, Kasukabe-san. Seeing how the headphones are still hanging around your neck……You haven’t had the chance to pass it to him?”
Yō, the one in question became pensive while continuing to stuff another piece of meat into her mouth.
Giving the jerky a few more chews and washing it down with some soup, Yō then gave a light cough before answering:
“Nn. And the Dormitory was wrecked, so I guessed that it would be best kept on me.”
“But these headphones are different from the ones you wanted right?”
“Well, you can say that……But regardless of the shape, I guess the most important thing would still be to show some sincerity. Especially since Izayoi is the kind who would be very particular about the sincerity behind an action.”
Yō scratched her head as she answered with uncertainty in her voice. Although the time spent with Izayoi was a short one, Yō believed that he wasn’t the kind who would trample over the sincerity and hard efforts that others might bring forth in their attempt to apologize.
Jack stared at Yō for a little while longer before breaking into a smile:
“……Yahoho! Seems like it was an unnecessary worry on my part!”
“Unnecessary worry?”
“No, it’s nothing, just my own problem! Yahohohoho!”
Jack shook his pumpkin head as he laughed.
Though Yō tilted her head in confusion, she did not press the matter further but only made a move to stuff another piece of meat into her mouth.
When everyone have finished their meal, Garol gathered the main members of their company---Kasukabe Yō, Jack, Ayesha and Kirino who represented the children to start the strategic meeting on the steps that they would take from now on.
“Regarding our movements from now on……I would like to listen to everyone’s opinion. Do any of you have a suggestion?”
“Nn.”
Yō immediately gave her reply and Garol nodded to her to continue.
“I think……Everyone should stay here together to solve the riddle of the Game.”
“……Oh?”
Hearing Yō’s suggestion, Garol gave off something between a low moan and a growl.
“You mean that we should stay and fight? And why is that so?”
“I’ve also discussed with Jack yesterday and have already confirmed for a fact that we would be punished. Even if we escape now, we would still die ten days later when the punishment comes down upon us. But taking the opportunity that the Trial Jurisdiction has bought for us, even the children can safely search the rubble and ruins of the Ancient Citadel.”
Yō’s suggestion caused Garol’s face to become taut.
“Wait. Wait a moment! Yō ojou-chan also intends to let the little brats join the battle?!”
“Nope. My point was that there’s no need for them to battle. During this time when the Trial Jurisdiction is in place, the Host and Participants are not allowed to engage in combat. So this would make it the best time for them to safely do a search with us.”
Now that there weren’t any other enemies around, it gave them free rein of roaming the Citadel---Yō had seen that chance and hence came up with that suggestion.
Moreover, when it came down to searching for information, having numbers would definitely be better. Moreover, the situation was that out of fifty of the people brought to this place, forty of them were children. If the search were to be done with the subtraction of their number, there should be a major difference in the search efficiency.
Listening from the side, Jack touched his Pumpkin head while expressing a partial agreement to her plans.
“Kasukabe-san’s suggestion would surely help to contribute greatly to the solving of the Game……But, how are their thoughts on the matter? Have the children’s reply been obtained?”
And the whole group turned their sights on Kirino. Though she shrank away under their sudden attention, Kirino still managed to express in a clear and informed voice as she spoke up for the others:
“Thank…Thank you all for your concern of our safety. But we are still part of [Underwood] and we will not stand by to see our hibernating ancient faerie be pushed into a corner.”
And determination was overflowing in Kirino’s reply.
That look of hers seemed very similar to the children of [No Name] and that made Yō feel a little amused.
Garol folded his arms as he sank into a pensive silence before taking out the black goatskin parchment, which he had kept close to his chest, as he gave in not without a few conditions.
“……Well then, I get it. Since the young ones have spoken, I should also set my resolve as well. But how should we go about doing this? Conducting a search without any leads in mind would be a waste of time. If you, Yō ojou-chan don’t have a clue on that, I will not agree to it.”
“Nn. About that matter, I do have a suggestion…… Or should I say, about the winning conditions, I may have found a solution to stop the game and yet maybe not……”
Yō’s voice had started to drift off, becoming softer towards the end.
But the people around her did not care about such trivialities as they asked at the same time:
“Ka…Kasukabe-san, you’ve solved the riddle already?”
“It’s not really a complete solving ……but I think it should be counted as something that kind of flows well with the reasoning……”
“Is that true?! That’s really great!”
“Yep, that’s really impressive! Solving the riddle on the first day of cease-fire, I’m already seeing the ray of light that leads to victory!”
“Yō-san is really great!”
Being praised by the four of them caused Yō to have cold sweat.
If her conjecture was wrong, there would be nothing that she could take back……Her heart was thinking about that with much trepidation as she carefully phrased her words:
“Hmm…before starting on my conjecture… to have some cross reference to check if my conjecture is true, may I ask a few questions first?”
“Of course! Ask away!”
“Yahoho! I’d be willing to give you the needed information!”
Everyone leaned forward while Yō smiled wryly thinking that she mustn’t screw up this time. But she soon took on a serious expression.
“---Firstly, I would like to confirm a premise of my conjecture. Are the vampires of Little Garden a race that have migrated over from another world?”
“Nn. That’s right.”
“And this Sky Citadel had also appeared during that time?”
“Although there’s no concrete proof, but from the records that have been passed down since those times, the vampire race had escaped to Little Garden due to being unable to stay in their former world any longer.”
“……In other words, they have come to Little Garden to escape their own world?”
“Yahoho! That’s not something to be surprised about you know?! It’s not uncommon to see many races that have come to this world due to various reasons that may have arisen in their former worlds.”
“Yep. Just like the descendants of [Hiderigami][17] who have once caused trouble in South Side and even the Titan tribes who had been chased out of their homelands after losing their wars. The Vampire race should also have experienced something that caused them to be driven out of their homeland right?”
“That’s correct. There’s an example that is more famous……I’ve heard that the first time that the Vampires bathed in the Sun was in Little Garden and hence from that day on, they have taken up the responsibility of being the [Knights of Little Garden] as they maintained the peace of this place…… Perhaps the event that caused them to migrate from their homeland might have a connection with this.”
“Is that so…?” Yō replied before lapsing into silence. She had also heard of this story.
---The reason for their title as the [Knights of Little Garden] was due to them wanting to protect the cities of Little Garden where they were able to enjoy the gift of the Sun’s warmth.
To be able to enjoy sunlight here when they weren’t able to do so in their previous homeland, this place would surely seem like heaven for Vampires.
But thinking of that, another question surfaced in Yō’s mind.
“……But isn’t it the job of the [Floor Master] to be in charge of protecting the peace of Little Garden? Then to be given the title of the [Knights of Little Garden]……doesn’t that mean that the Vampires have previously served as the [Floor Master]?”
Garol gave a ‘Oh?’ as he gave a smile that seemed to praise Yō.
“Yō ojou-chan’s brain works quite fast eh? You’ve guessed two thirds of the correct answer.”
“Nn. Is that good or not? Anyways, what’s the correct answer?”
“Actually when Little Garden first started, there didn’t exist the positions of [Floor Master]s. During that time, it was all based on the Outer gate where they would choose an [Outer Gate Master], and it was all to be left to these individuals to have their own judgments as well as to govern the respective region.”
“……Then it shouldn’t be rare for Regional Dictatorships to occur right?”
“Yep. Especially during the dawning of Little Garden’s formation, it really was a hellish place where all the demigods and gods were fighting and causing confusion! It’s said that if Communities of the lower levels had their Authorities over the Outer Gate snatched away from them, it would really be a pitiful end for them! For example, they could make the ruling such that the cost to use the [Astral Gate] be a hundred gold coins each time! With that high a price, the residents wouldn’t be able to escape the OuterGate and hence become enslaved to the end of their lives.”
After saying so much, Garol lifted his shoulders up and tilted his head left and right to loosen the muscles.
“……Eh? With the Authority over the [Astral Gate], one can decide on the price to set for the usage fees?”
“Hmm? Oh,Oh, of course. Even now, as long as it is within the range set by the [Floor Master], it is still possible to have it increased or decreased.”
“Yahoho……I will just say it here that from North Side to get to South Side, the price is really expensive and seeming out for your necks. It’s around five times the usual price.”
“Five ……”
Yō was momentarily stumped for words. Five times would mean……A fee of five gold coins per person.
If it were the [No Name] a month ago, this would have already cleared out their treasury and cause them to go into a perilous situation.
But if [No Name] were to set the fees like that as well, they would be able to rake in 80 percent of the fees, so---
“……Nn. Let’s get back to the main topic.” Yō urged the others to continue the discussion for she was trying to shake off the tempting evil thoughts that were creeping into her mind.
“That would be great.”
Ayesha saw her chance to tease Yō there and then but noting that the situation was not one that was suitable for such a deed, she could only hold back her laughter and let it slide by.
“Anyways, to restore the order in the lower levels that seemed on the verge of being annihilated, the [Knights of Little Garden]---who are of the Vampire race, lifted their Flag. Utilizing their extraordinary strength and intelligence, they defeated evil Demon Lords one after another. And it just happened that the battle for the Star Authorities in the mid to upper levels of the OuterGates have also come to an end. So most of the Demon Lords in the Mid to lower levels were purged. Although there were still some Demon Lords that are invincible and undefeated and others that have escaped into the other worlds……but as a whole, Little Garden had managed to welcome a period of stability. From then on, the lower levels had this rule of having its Outer Gates to be interlinked with the [Knights of Little Garden] as the centre. And after the setting up of rules and legislations, the system of [Floor Master] and [Region Master] were also implemented with them being widely accepted as the [Overall Floor Master] who protects the lower levels of the North, South, East and West Sides.”
*Pak Pak!* The sound of claps began to sound in the area.
“……what comes next? Happily ever after?”
“How could that be……”
Yō smiled wryly as she replied: “Right…”
“Although the vampires have successfully led to the formation of the system of [Floor Master]s who would defend the lower levels and care for them……but it wasn’t before long that all the vampires were massacred by their Vampire King.”
“Eh?”
“The one responsible for the massacre is none other than the [Demon Lord of Impalement]---Just at the age of twelve, the strongest Kyuketsuki Hime[18] who ascended the position as the [Dragon Knight], Leticia Draculea.”
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