Volume 1 Chapter 5 (2/2)
This goes without saying, but it wasn't an opponent they could fight and win against
With this, it was extremely unlikely for them to be able to return to their former world
As the three of thei suddenly told them as her usamimi perked up
”Ah, that's right In this case, there's no need to need to defeat it with some kind of power!”
”Eh?”
”In subjugation gaet, aside fro with the ence! The opponent is the Avatar of TaurusFor exaet is Minotaur, then there should be a ends!”
Usaa! Kuro Usagi raised here usamimi
From those words, even Homura was taken aback and folded his arms
”I-Is that so According to the previous conversation, ends In that case, if we investigate Minotaur's legend, we ht find the way to beat it!”
As if finding a ray of hope, Hoi
”Kuro Usagi The previously mentioned Sun Authority, what is it? Would it be fine to consider it as some kind of Gift with terrific power?”
”YES! Even within the countless Gifts, Sun Authorities are ranked as the highest class There exist 24 types of the arms, they are also the mediums required to summon the Celestial Beasts!”
Kuro Usagi explained with raised usamimi
Ho
”Just by reading this invitation, this Gaht?”
”YES, it's as you say!”
”I see So that's why there were Minotaur and ”Taurus” huh Indeed, if all these was caused by the Gift Game, then it all makes sense”
Homura took a serious expression and put hand to his chin
That expression was even more tensed than until noever there was no despair in it like before Homura as a quick thinker, started to collected the chain of events that happened until yesterday in high speed
”Typhoonagricultural daesince it came to that, next would be faainst that The second clinical trial have been passed so the distribution of medical-use Nanomachines should start within a few days The question is what happened to the typhoon number 24 and where is the Minotaur”
While tapping on table with his finger, he announced the conclusion
Ho a little, still displayed his best smile
”Okay! Suzuka, Ayato! We ht actually have a chance to win!”
”Really?”
”Is that true?”
”Yes It was by accident, but I have brought the trump card with me”
Suzuka looked slightly puzzled from Homura's remark
As if noticing so, Ayato asked him with a tensed expression
”Senpai Could it bethat you plan to use the reins”?”
”I don't have another choice do I The study is still at 10 stage, but we still have ”Origin” stocks It should be fine to use just one of them But, what's left is the i have some kind of idea?”
Hoi
Meeting his gaze, Kuro Usagi also made up her mind
”I see, I understood the story! If you are deteri will also lend you a hand!”
”Is there a way?”
”YES! I thinkwith ”Queen Halloween” who has suood idea!”
Homura and Suzuka tilted their heads in wonder at the words that cai
””Queen Halloween”Yeah, now that you mentioned it, there was such mail address So that person is the summoner?”
”YES! She isn't soenerally, she is referred to as Golden Haired Queen Who Governs the World's Boundary”
”Governs the World's Boundary?”
”YES, or would it be better if I say she is the one deified at Halloween Festival To start with, do any of you know thebehind the festival known as Halloween?”
”No, I don't know the details”
Holances and shook their heads at the same time
Then, we have to start the explanation from there
Gohon, as Kuro Usagi cleared her throat, she raised one finger and puffed up her chest
───”Halloween” was the festival of Sun worshi+pping and celebrating the harvest performed by ancient Celts that have existed in Western Europe The ancient Celts viewed the hout the year as a cycle of life and death, and worshi+pped the Sun that had started to weaken when it neared the fall from summer, as an existence that would be reborn as a new life after dying in winter
The ancient Celts believed that on October 31 which is the Sun weakening boundary, the boundary of the world itself would beco frodom of the dead However, the ancestral spirits weren't the only ones crossing over fro fiends would coain, they have defended the monsters in appearance
”Aha So youthat, it became known as the Queen Who Governs the Boundaries?”
”YES! Furthermore, even in this Little Garden where war Gods and deities gather, ”Queen Halloween” is someone who is referred to as a sole ”Queen” I think she would know the way to return! And in a few days, you would have a chance to meet Queen here in ”Underwood””
”Really!?”
Suzuka raised her voice Raising her usai responded
”YES! Actually, the water of this ”Underwood” is faoes ith Queen's favorite black tea She desires the athered beyond few droplets, and Queen's errand person comes once in a month”
”Once in a monthWhen's the next time?”
”Conveniently, she should be coht be possible for Queen to mediate”
With Kuro Usagi's proposal, Hohtened and they stood up
”Okay Now that our objective is decided, we can't stick around and wait”
”Uisa! We have to earn to cover our living expenses!”
”Senpai Suzuka Do you have anything that could be used as a replacement for the participation fee?”
Receiving Ayato's calm tsukkomi, the two became silent
Kuro Usagi sently and raised her hand
”Please don't worry Two of you are Izayoi-san's family The family of our benefactor so to speak Participation fees will be covered froi's pocket money!”
”Ooh, Kuro Usa is so generous!”
”Sorry for the trouble, we'll definitely return it after we earn I want to first practice with an easy looking Game, but what should I do I wonder?”
”In that case, the shop froe for Gift Games───”
”Wait a minuteeeee!”
At that reat river See toaudience started to applause with smiles on their faces
It was a serious matter however to the people in question that were nearby it They got entirely soaked by the river water, and the cuisine on the table got washed away as well
”Ah”
Large part of the cuisine went to the river, not even half of which was eaten yet Suzuka looked at that with pain However, the figure that careat river, swept down before Homura and others without a care
”I have heard your conversation! This shi+rayuki-Hie of your first Gift Game!
”S-shi+rayuki-saless, troublesome and flashy entrance!?”
”I don't understand it well, but probably she wanted to look cool”
”That's right, Senpai I can't think of anything else”
”S-Such tasty-looking meal was sacrificed for such selfish reason!”
”S-Stop fussing! As one of the Divinity holders, first i a hierarchical relationshi+p from the start is essential, isn't it!?”
Ugaa!!! shi+rayuki-Hier
As she suddenly glared towards Homura, she pointed at him loaded with all her hostility
”You there! I thought there were soer brother it seems!”
”Master? Is this about Iza-nii? In that case, Suzuka is the same”
Umu? shi+rayuki-hime bend her head
”Nunu? Can't see that, but alright All of you seem to be the inhabitants of Master's homeland If that's the case, I will use you to clear away all the huotten from him!”
”””I refuse”””
”Okay, with this, you really are that big fool's acquaintances!!!”
I have predicted this level of developh tension, shi+rayuki-Hii next
”Kuro Usagi-dono I heard the full story Notheood, don't you think Three of thee, giving it for free would be bad for their education”
”W-What!? That was an unexpectedly sound argument, to the point that I'm lost for words!”
”It really doesn't feel like the words that would couests soo”
Hounored it
”So For gaining experience in Gift Games, shouldn't this shi+rayuki-Hime invite these three to the Gift Game personally?”
shi+rayuki-His Kuro Usagi beca like ”I feel that shi+rayuki-sama took resemblance to a certain someone as of late”
Holances in wonder, but the ansas decided
”Well, we still don't knohat exactly Gift Garateful, but”
”Would we receive the reith that?”
”Of course I will prepare a spare Gift”
U that, Homura and Suzuka likewise consented to this with smiles
Despite holding a significant suspicion, Kuro Usagi leaked a sigh without saying a thing
”Understood In that case, Kuro Usagi will act as a judge”
”Judge? Kuro Usagi will?”
”YES! Even if it doesn't look that way, Kuro Usagi is the ”Aristocrat of Little Garden” who has been bestowed the ”Authority of Judge Master”! Within Kuro Usagi's hearing range, no one will be able to cheat!”
Usaa! Kuro Usagi raised her usa about cheating shi+rayuki-Hireat river once iant serpent
『Ue area』
”Yess!”
”Going underwater on the way is a no go”
Suzuka obediently replied, while Ho it somewhat
Kuro Usagi gave a sidelong glance to the girl who kept her calm in contrast to those lively two───Kudō Ayato
”Well, then, we shall go as well By the way, Ayato-san”
”What is it, Kuro Usagi-san”
”I was thinking that maybeHave we met somewhere before?”
”─── No, this is our first ”
She replied with a cali showed a lonely smile for an instant
”No, in that case, never ame!”
Her skirt swaying, Kuro Usagi stood up
The three of theorously, and their exploration of “Underwood” had begun
Part 2
───”Underwood Stage Area” Hippocamp Pastures
It was the aquatic pastures, where beautiful shi+ning water droplets trickled down from the leaves of the Great Tree Perhaps the livestock were allowed to run freely here and there on the lands , because there was no need to worry about thes, but surprisingly, even the livestock like sheep and goats who could swi their children with them
While Saigō Ho that scenery, their eyes were still directed ahead towards shi+rayuki-hime
Suzuka raised her voice as if she saw soe
”W-Wait Ho on the river's surface?”
She pointed at the water cart while shaking Homura's shoulder The body of that cart looked like it was floating above water itself───Saying it bluntly, it looked just like a shi+p
However its driving poasn't relying on the wind to sail, nor an oar paddled by a grim boatman
A seahorse with fish-like fins attached in front of its hooves───A half horse-half fish Euderacefully on water
”Ooh!!!”
”How is it, brother Even the hull is pretty, as one would expect, that's a, isn't it?”
”Umu It's not half-bad”
You liar! Suzuka tsukkohtly
Kuro Usagi asked to Ayato while giggling
”Homura-san sure is an obstinate person”
”He's usually a bithis childish side”
”Hohou, then you inally childish? Fufu, he is similar to Izayoi-san in that aspect”
”Oi, the Kōhai and Loli Usagi over there I can hear you”
Erasing his former expression, Homura knit his brows sullenly
Kuro Usagi and Ayato were still giggling, but Suzuka remonstrated that ry smile
”No Despite how it looks, he's still the eldest of the orphanage After looking after younger children, he became like this before one knew”
”Orphanage?E, Eh? But Homura-san and Izayoi-san are”
”Not related by blood Just froe”
”Eh, ButE-Ehh?”
Kuro Usagi looked puzzled as her usamimi tilted
But at that moment, they had arrived to their destination
『Let's drop off here for the moment』
Saying so, shi+rayuki-hime bend her head towards the land As the four of them came down one by one, shi+rayuki-hime dived underwater And jumped out in a human form after a moment
”Now As you can see, this area is a feeding ground for the livestock, and will be the area for the Gaht?”
”Yes We just passed it”
”Nu? Ah That did happen I was thinking of doing a Gift Ga water carts, what do you say?”
Oohh! Homura and Suzuka raised their voices As expected, they didn't consider that she'd set up such an interesting-looking game
Kudō Ayato alone was calm, but even her expression had softened into a smile
”That see to perform a water race?”
”As expected, there are too few people for a race here But well, there's a special race known as ”Rider of Hippoca held here periodically”
”YES! The gaood reputation, and is now perfori is invited there as a judge as well”
”Houhou W-Will that be held in near future or”
”It won't It is being held once a o”
Ayazato Suzuka became clearly dejected from shi+rayuki-Hime's words
While being at loss towards her whose emotions were even more apparent than herself, she still made a follow-up in a hurry
”B-But you knoill perforht?”
”U through the doaterway, an obstacle race”
”OhIt's ht to use it for personal business like this?”
”Fortunately, I lend a hand in various ways for the stability of the Aquatic City of ”Underwood” so I have a lot of influence Even if we cause trouble, no one would get angry ───Now then, read this”
As shi+rayuki-Hile parchment fell down
『Gift Game ─ ”Water Rider of Hippocamp” ─
- Entry Qualifications: Ones invited by the Host
- Winning Condition: Finish a lap around the Great Tree faster than Host ”shi+rayuki-Hime
- Rule Summary
First: Players are allowed to look at the map and choose a favorite route
Second: Host has the freedo the head above water
Third: In case the Player is turned over, they are allowed to continue froanized
Fourth: You can interfere with the opponent at fixed intervals
- Player Victory Reward: Awarding of one Gift Card As well as the guarantee of daily necessities
- Host Victory Reward: Persuasion of Sakaize for all the rudeness until now
Oath: Respecting the above stated rules, ear upon our Glory and Flag to host the Gift Game<>