Volume 3 Chapter 5 (1/2)
Chapter 5
───'Underwood', the City of Water, under the Great Tree and Waterfall.
In ‘Underwood', one of the stages for the Sun Authority War. A ‘Cait Sith' land governor, Porol Gundark, had come for the maintenance of the Spirit Train.
Today, as always, the Spirit Train's steam whistle reverberated throughout the Aquatic City.
The townscape that had been destroyed by the 'Bull of Heaven' was splendidly repaired and the scenery had regained its former beauty. The riverside covered with red bricks was full of people who came to watch the departure of the Super Gigantic Spirit Train, 'Sun Thousand'. Porol, together with his sister Sharol, had been running back and forth, greeting all the important guests who were boarding the train.
”Haah......I'm beat. How many greetings are left?”
”One more and we are done for today. Arriving tomorrow will be: Fire Dragon 'Salamandra', Saurian Demon King 'Great Sage who Devastate Seas', Roc Demon King 'Great Sage who Leaves Heaven in Disarray'...and Livelihood King 'Shuten Douji'.”
”That's one amazing list. The Eastern side is rather loaded.”
”Indeed. It's no wonder it seems like that, especially now when the Onihime Alliance had been divided and absorbed by 'Shuten Douji' and 'Great Sage who Leaves Heaven in Disarray'. There's even 'Sanat k.u.māra', who is partic.i.p.ating as an individual, and the group most likely to win, Sun Alliance 'Avatara' .”
”So how about the West?”
”First would be 'Queen Halloween'...... or so I'd like to say, but it might be a bit problematic for her, don't you think? Since the 'Book of Invasions' is missing, it seems that she can't summon the Celtic Pantheon's strongest fighters. And the Norse Pantheon is pretty much ruined, leaving only 'Argo' of the Greek Pantheon that can be called a winning candidate. That community is something else.”
”Ooh, they are really famous, even I know about them...!!! That DemiG.o.d Hercules and the Poet Orpheus belong to that community, right? It feels nostalgic to hear those names again!”
Sharol's eyes sparkled as she clapped her hands together.
In particular, the DemiG.o.d Hercules was a Divine Spirit with a direct relation to the Sun Authority War.
Cancer and Leo were the basis of Hercules' legend, 'Ten Labors,' and although both of these Sun Authorities were supposed to be owned by Hercules, now Izayoi was the owner of the Leo Authority.
”Yup, that's right. Incidentally, Poet Orpheus is also a hero of the Dystopia War. It's been about seven years since he last appeared on stage.”
Porol answered, while turning over the guests of honor list.
The Sun Authority partic.i.p.ants were divided into three groups:
Hosts who managed and controlled the Gift Games.
Players who competed in said Gift Games.
And Sponsors who supported the Players.
'Six Scars', the Community these two were in, was in charge of the Spirit Train that would transport everyone to the stage grounds. To be entrusted with the transportation of Players where the most famed of War G.o.ds gathered, it was both a great honor and the heaviest responsibility. The little boss had a strained face, but his cat ears twitched in a somewhat excited manner.
”Most of the names that have been revealed are acting as Hosts and Sponsors. There are many Communities whose Players are hiding their ident.i.ties. Someone from them might very well turn out to be a dark horse.”
”Oh? The pre-final gambling den seems to be overflowing too. Who is your favorite?”
”Favorite for what? The finals? The exhibition matches?”
”Either of them! The exhibition matches will be full of big shots, unlike what you'd expect from a skirmis.h.!.+ Especially now, I heard that someone from that famous 'Twelve Devas' will be partic.i.p.ating too, so a lot of guests are coming a long way to watch!”
”...Ah, that's right. Indeed, that person is also taking part as part of the security to pay the loan.”
Porol scratched his head with a complex expression.
The 'Twelve Guardian Devas' that brought together the G.o.ds of the Heavenly Army, as its name suggested, was the most prominent group that protected the world's order. In the end, it was hard for him to say whether it was really a smart move to treat people like them as attraction sources.
Nevertheless, there was also a part of him that wanted to witness the battle of those who were feared as the strongest war G.o.ds.
As someone born in the world of Little Garden, he desired to challenge the true Gift Games at least once. And those Gift Games were trials made by none other than such War G.o.ds.
A Divine Spirit that usually only acted as the one giving trials had descended into the world and took an existing shape.
Even that alone was no less than a miracle, but he also had an opportunity to witness them in action. Putting the morals aside for a bit, there were no other problems.
”Exhibition matches are where Players and Hosts gather, so no one can really tell who would win. Though I think it would turn out to be an interesting Game.”
”You are right about that. So in the end, who is your favorite?”
”Well, our esteemed allied Community 'No Names' are my absolute favorites. After all, only the partic.i.p.ants of 'Avatara' can rival Master Izayoi in power, at most.”
Porol said proudly, twitching his nekomimi.
'No Names', was the popular name that the community where Sakamaki Izayoi belonged to was called.
It was a rising Community that had overcome countless trials on its way, and was in charge of the eastern side of Little Garden that was divided into four directions. Rumors were going around that they would likely be the winners of this Sun Authority War too, and there were also many War G.o.ds who had gathered in their support.
But Sharol dropped down her nekomimi and asked in doubt.
”'No Names' is it... No, wouldn't that be a bit too hard?”
”Why is that? And it's natural to cheer for your allied Community.”
”You have a point. But Master Izayoi hadn't come back since he left for the outside world, so I think that would be pus.h.i.+ng it, don't you think so too? And there are even talks about Leticisama and Croix-sama having gone missing on top of it. Besides, did you check the lineup of 'Avatara'?”
Porol responded to Sharol's question with a bitter face.
”...I did. They had some amazing members there.”
”That's what I mean! What the heck is up with that super overpowered battle squad! On top of being full of Heroes and Divine Spirits, there wasn't a single name on the list I didn't know! Their average battle power is on a divine level... are they planning to destroy the world a few times over or something!?”
Such overly unreasonable difference in war power made her snap in rage.
That was just how powerful the community she spoke of - Sun Kings 'Avatara' - was.
Just like with the 'Twelve Devas' who were deemed as the strongest, they were also a mixed group of G.o.ds consisting of world-famed Heroes and Divine Spirits. Or perhaps it was better to call them a group of kings.
They had gathered together from the Indo-European sphere, and not only spread through Europe, they even enrolled a member of the Giants from the Northernmost parts of it. After all, 'Avatara' was made in order to welcome the 'Savior of the Future', and it even had the founder of Buddhism among its members.
Their fighting power was by no means normal. If all their members gathered at once, they could even pose a threat to this Little Garden of G.o.ds. In addition to that, the rumors had that they even had the cooperation of famous Demon Lords and heroes, the likes of Bull Demon King and Shen Gongbao.
When even the Demon Lords and Divine Spirits from the Chinese side backed them up as Hosts, the lower communities there were bound to follow along too.
They were truly an invincible force. They firmly sat on the seat of likely winners.
”I wonder just how far 'No Names' can go when they are lacking their main fighting force. Maybe they'll even have an unexpected loss in the very first match.”
”As if. That won't ever happen. ...Did you forget, Sharol? That there's another humanity's biggest problem child, aside from Master Izayoi in 'No Names'?”
Saying so, he tapped on the Players list with his index finger and gazed up towards a certain flag.
It seems that they had arrived at their destination while they were caught up in the conversation.
Having arrived before the wagon where their final guest of honor was waiting, Sharol ended up holding her breath.
Hoisted there was a red flag, gilded at the edges. Its banner depicting a girl standing atop the hill of hope, belonged to one of the Communities that were nowadays deemed as heroes in the Little Garden.
And among them, who didn't yield to the adversity of being ”Nameless” and fought countless battles to arrive in the present, there was a girl who had power rivalling the Sun Heroes despite not having her name recorded in history.
”Ahh... There was indeed another one, huh. There might certainly be a chance if elder sister Kasukabe makes an appearance. I'm more mweorried about our supplies! We might run nyaout of food!”
”You have a point there. I'll appoint a veteran gatekeeper to the Spirit Train's food warehouse, just in case. If Calico Cat persuades her, even elder sis Kasukabe shouldn't attack it... I hope.”
The two exchanged worried nods.
Why they worried more about their food supplies rather than the community's course of action was still a mystery.
”It's been a while since we met with elder sis Kasukabe. The last time Sharol met her was back when she went to help out the Unicorns, was it?”
”Uwaah! Don't mention that in front of me. Your big sis here almost died there you know! I swear, the freedom elder sis has with her actions nowadays is even beyond Master Iza───oh?”
While she was speaking, the sky of 'Underwood' gave a s.h.i.+ne.
Looking towards the distant sky, the two muttered to themselves.
”A summoning light... Did someone open an 'Astral Gate'?”
”That's been a common occurrence lately. It's the Game Players, I guess?”
They confirmed the buffer water veil repeatedly spread throughout the sky as the silhouettes kept piercing through them with their fall.
One of them had a familiar pair of giant b.r.e.a.s.t.s.
”Oh my? Could that golden-haired girl with huge b.r.e.a.s.t.s be...”
Sharol's cat eyes brightened up as they fixed upon the falling figure.
They raised a big splas.h.!.+, even louder than the Spirit Train's whistle along with a pillar of water as they fell into the water, more than enough to drown out the tumult in the city.
While the riverside sightseers started making noises about it, the fallen person, Kudou Ayato, timidly got up on the ground. With her hair soaked from the river, she confirmed the safety of Suzuka next to her.
”A...Are you okay, Suzuka!?”
”......Yeah. After all, we b.u.mped into several of those net-like water veils on the way this time around. Though it still hurt a lot. Actually, is there a rule in Little Garden saying you can't summon people anywhere below four kilometers above the ground or something?”
Naturally, there was no such law.
Doing so was probably just a hobby of Queen, who summoned them, or perhaps just something like a beauty of style.
They safely landed thanks to the good work of the buffer Gift that was unlike the last one, however it was reasonable that she wanted to avoid being summoned the same way again and again.
Having been soaked down to her toes, Suzuka s.h.i.+vered from the cold.
”I-I'm freezing...! We better find someplace to warm up first!”
”T-That's right! It's unseasonable to wander through the city in these clothes! Senpai, let's head towards the Spirit Train for now!”
Ayato turned around, with her wet golden hair s.h.i.+ning and fluttering along.
However, there was no one there to answer her back.
”...Senpai? Tokuteru-san?”
”Eh? We are the only ones here?”
The two recalled the moment they were summoned.
They were summoned the moment Homura opened the invitation letter.
───However, it seemed that it was only these two who were summoned here.
Suzuka instantly turned pale.
”Could it be... that there was an interference with the Queen's summoning...!?”
”Hey, miss big b.o.o.bs and flat board-chan over there! Welcome to Little Garden!”
”It happened faster than planned, huh. Were you urged to hurry up on the debt repayment?”
Sharol approached while waving her hand and tail, while Porol followed along with a cynical smile on his face. Ayato and Suzuka turned towards the two and repeated the strange words they spoke.
”...debt repayment?”
”Eh, what? What do you mean?”
The two spoke with pale faces. Porol and Sharol exchanged looks with surprised faces.
”Did you two not read the invitation?”
”Huh, that's strange. I'm sure there was a proper permission from Queen. You didn't hear about it?”
”Ugh, was that person responsible for this again...!”
Ayato ground her teeth as she glared towards the Great Tree.
Queen Halloween, who ruled the All Souls' Day of the Sun, was a Celestial Spirit in charge of the star boundaries. There was no one who could possibly interfere with her boundary manipulations. When Ayato's side was separated from Homura's, it was without a doubt caused by the meddling of Queen with this prank of hers.
”So then, where is Queen? In 'Underwood'? Or Spirit Train? No, before that, where did Senpai go!?”
”R-Relax there, miss big b.o.o.bs.”
”Homura's group was supposed to be invited inside the Spirit Train where the exhibition match is held... but it would be troublesome if you don't have a written invitation. All the tickets in the auditorium have been sold out, so it would be difficult to meet with the Players now, unless you request to be let on the Spirit Train by one of the VIP guests.”
”I-Is that so?”
”Yeah. Would you like to see the pamphlet?”
They looked at the diagram drawn on the Spirit Train pamphlet Porol took out.
Super-Gigantic Spirit Train 'Sun Thousand' was the main operational headquarters which carried a function to transfer the Players to the stages of the Sun Authority War. They were largely divided into three cla.s.sifications: pocket stage wagons, Player living wagons, and special guest wagons, and the rest of the wagons were a.s.signed to the management and amus.e.m.e.nt facilities.
This gigantic Spirit Train was 200 meters in length, being likened to an iron fortress. It was understandable that Asterius mistook it for a mobile fortress when he first saw it.
If it was indeed used for military purposes, its usefulness would be immeasurable for certain too.
A Spirit Train travelling on Ley Lines could travel without being bound to the concepts of the material world, and it was said that it could even push through the submarine and underground water veins too.
The journey on such a splendid train sure sounded nice to the ears, but the train was clearly overqualified for the job.
Looking over the diagram, Suzuka swallowed a small breath.
”Wow... What the h.e.l.l, this is too amazing. So this train can even cross the seas. But where is its destination anyway?”
”Well, it's going to be travelling all over Little Garden! Be it the depths of a volcano, or the continent lost in the sea, or the temple of the moon world. Basically, it can go wherever it's requested to, that's one of its good points!”
Porol proudly declared with a snort. It appeared that the Spirit Train held a special significance for him. It was certainly an essential Gift for transporting the Players to the gathering stages of the Sun Authority War.
Ayato quickly memorized the diagram, and looked over the timetable.
”It departs at noon...! This is bad, there's no time left!”
”H-How about we sneak in? My s.p.a.ce transfer can quickly transfer us in the pa.s.senger wagon.”
Hearing Suzuka's suggestion, Ayato clapped her hands.
”Ah, there was also that method...!”
”Hey there, at least hold back on your smuggling discussion in front of the Spirit Train manager here. I really can't overlook that much, you know. Rather than that, don't you have any acquaintances in the VIPs? Maybe ask Queen herself?”