How is Kasukabe doing?
It'll take a little bit more time for her to recover,
but there's no need for concern.
Izayoi-san!
I heard from Master Jin that
you're going to participate in the game
to help us get our friend back.
Yeah, I promised him I would.
So what's that former Demon Lord like?
She's absolutely wonderful!
Her name is Leticia-sama.
She's very intelligent, and I respect her a lot.
She taught me many things.
However, when our community fell into ruin,
she was taken by the Demon Lord.
And so ever since then,
she's been offered as a prize in various Gift Games, right?
That's correct.
But now we'll finally be able to get her back!
I'm sure you'll win the game for us.
Wouldn't it be better if you participated yourself, instead of me?
I cannot do that.
The rabbits have the authority to judge and referee games.
In order to participate in the games,
I'd have to meet a number of requirements.
So that's how it is.
I'll make some tea.
Also...
Don't you think you have better things to do
than listen in on someone's conversation?
Well, that's a surprise.
Episode 4
It Seems Some Pervert is After Black Rabbit?
You're able to detect my presence.
I didn't expect such a cute girl to be the one out there, though.
You're the one who helped Galdo.
What do you want with me?
I don't have time to answer you.
I don't have time.
I-Izayoi-san?!
What's going on?
I don't know!
I will give you credit for how powerful your blow was.
But what good is it if you've used up all your power for just that?
Hey, I'm offended.
I held back quite a bit, you know.
Don't do it, Izayoi-san!
Don't get in my way, Black Rabbit!
No, she's our friend, Leticia-sama!
What?
I see. So you're the former Demon Lord.
Yes! Leticia is one of them, a rare,
pure-blooded vampire that we call a "Knight of the Little Garden."
Stop it, Black Rabbit.
I am currently owned by another.
I am nothing more than an object.
That's not true at all!
But I'm glad we got to see you.
I'm sorry.
I didn't know how I could face you all again.
No, it's...
Could I ask something?
If you are supposed to be their friend, why did you help Galdo?
My friend was injured.
I have the right to know why.
I wanted to know how strong you were.
I wanted to know if I could entrust this community to you.
I hope that your wounded friend is doing well.
However, your gifts are still quite unpolished.
This community would be too much for you to handle.
I originally came out to this gate to
convince Black Rabbit to disband the community.
It's quite difficult to rebuild a community from being unnamed.
I cannot force Jin to go through any more.
But when I was about to go forward and tell her,
I heard a rumor that all of you were summoned here.
And that's why you wanted to see how strong we were,
and if we didn't have a chance, you'd deal with it then.
But now that you've put Jin's name out there so boldly,
we can't just shut down everything.
But wouldn't all of that change if you just came back?
Yeah! If we win the next Gift Game,
you can return to our community!
That's...
You've canceled Leticia's Gift Game?!
Yes, we found a good buyer.
Have you no shame?!
What's the problem?
I just came as a fellow colleague under Thousand Eyes
to inform you of what's happening.
Excuse me...
Colleagues? What a load of...
You think that's something the man who inherited
a historic community like Perseus should do?
This doesn't just involve you and your cohorts.
This involves all of Thousand Eyes,
and would be a disgrace to the twin goddesses on our flag.
I'm quite aware.
But you brought, without permission, something
that belongs to me all the way out to a 7-digit gate.
I'd say we're even here.
I had no intention of hiding that fact.
But Leticia is no longer here.
Sorry about that.
If you can't complete your deal, you won't be able to cancel the game—
I am, at the very least, fully aware
of the background of my possessions.
But I'm willing to do as I see fit
in order to make sure this doesn't happen again.
Wait... You're planning on attacking the no-names, aren't you?
That's quite the accusation.
I'm just going to provide them with retribution.
No one's going to be upset if a no-name community
suddenly winks out of existence.
Sorry about that. My hand slipped.
What are you trying here, kid?
Oh? Did that make you angry?
Oh man, if you, the Demon Lord of the White Night,
really got upset, I might just die.
But
before I died, I'm certain I could take out this shop.
What? The Gift Game was canceled?
But we've been waiting for this chance...
How about trying to hide out here?
That would be impossible.
I'm sure they already know I'm here.
If we don't handle this properly, every community
under Thousand Eyes will become your enemy.
I see.
So basically you were hurrying because you knew you couldn't return.
In that case, let's finish things.
You want to see how strong I am, right?
The rules are simple.
We throw the lances at each other.
The person who gets hit loses.
That sounds great.
Simple is best!
Allow me to go first.
That's all you can do?!
He's powerful.
If he's this powerful, then I can...
Black Rabbit? What are you doing?
I knew it.
"Lord of Vampires."
You had such a great gift,
but now all of your divinity is gone.
And now she's left with just the gift of being a vampire.
No wonder she didn't hit very hard.
Why? How did this happen?
What's that?
The Power of the Gorgon!
You mustn't be hit by its rays!
Asuka-san!
L-Leticia-sama!
There she is!
Who are they?
They're from the community Perseus!
A head of a gorgon and shoes with wings.
No different than the myth, I guess.
L-Leticia-sama!
All right, we're headed back.
Please wait!
What will you do with her?
This vampire is our property.
What we do with her is none of your business.
She will be sold out of the Little Garden.
What was that?
A vampire can only be in the sun's rays within the Little Garden.
The trade was approved by our leader.
You have no say in the matter.
Right now you are within the airspace of our headquarters.
Do you have no words to speak to this insolence?
Enough of you.
We would bring shame upon our flag if we were to be polite
to a no-name community in the upper gates like yours.
What was that?
I cannot believe this.
No, I cannot believe this at all.
I am celebrated as the image of dedication,
and you have made me so angry.
What?
Emerge, Spear of Indra!
Th-That couldn't be Indra's weapon.
It can't be. It has to be a replica!
Then why don't you test that theory yourself?
There.
What are you doing, Izayoi-san?!
Calm down.
You're basically fighting against Thousand Eyes.
Also...
I held back and didn't get into the fight.
Why do you get to have fun by yourself?
Ow! That hurts!
That's why you're getting mad?
You're right, but I couldn't forgive them for how rude they were being!
If I could just take retribution...
It looks like they all left.
I'm sure they hid themselves with their gifts of invisibility.
Let them go.
But...
We're not trying to talk to them, but their boss.
Runt.
Y-Yeah?
Watch over Kasukabe.
We're going out for a little bit.
I owe her one.
Let's get her back, no matter what.
Yes.
Oh wow, a rabbit.
Pretty cool. First time I've seen one in person.
I didn't think there'd really be a rabbit on the East Side.
Man...
A miniskirt with garters. Pretty hot.
Hey, girl, join my community.
I'll give you three meals, a collar, and play with you every night.
I think I'll have to turn you down now.
Those sexy legs belong to us.
That's right.
Black Rabbit's legs are...
Wait, no they don't, Asuka-san!
That's absolutely correct.
These legs already belong to me.
That's right.
These legs—
Hey! Shut up!
Very well!
I'll buy them. Name your price.
They're not for sale.
Come on, Black Rabbit's going to get mad.
You're pretty dumb. We're trying to make you mad.
You idiot!
Are the no-names actually a bunch of comedians or something?
Seriously, come back to my place.
Of course, if you do, you'll be spreading those
great legs of yours in bed with me.
I politely decline.
Black Rabbit has no intention of showing her skin
to someone who lacks common decency.
You think you're one to talk, in that outfit?
Sh-Shiroyasha-sama said that, if I wore this,
I'd get a thirty percent increase in pay for reffing games.
Shiroyasha...
Hm?
Excellent job.
This isn't getting us anywhere.
Don't wanna.
What was that?
I said I don't wanna.
You've got to be kidding about having a duel.
Leticia, who is controlled by Perseus,
has gone on a rampage through the eastern lands,
and when she was captured,
members of said group initiated a verbal assault.
We will not let this slide for a mere apology.
Do you have anything to prove that?
If you question her after releasing her
from her petrification, you will find all of it is true.
I said I don't wanna.
Now that she's run away,
we're keeping her petrified until we ship her out.
Also, anything she says might have been planned in advance.
You know, to help out her former compatriots.
Besides, she ran away so that she could see you guys, right?
Isn't it possible that you guys stole her?
What proof do you have of that?!
See? Neither of us has any proof.
Of course, the person most at risk here
if we investigate this further is...
In any event, I should head back and
get ready to sell off the vampire, or something.
I don't like girls who can't be friendly.
Especially her. I mean, she's got the body of a kid.
But at least she's cute.
There are people out there who can't get enough of that stuff.
The rays of the sun creating a natural prison,
forever trapping her like some toy...
Pretty hot, if you ask me.
I can't believe you.
But I feel pretty bad for her.
She went so far as to give a part of her soul, her gift,
to the Demon Lord, just to run all the way there.
Hey, Black Rabbit, how about we make a trade?
I'll give the vampire back to the no-names.
In exchange, you will become my vassal for the rest of your life.
You've got to be kidding, scum!
Let's go, Black Rabbit.
Black Rabbit?
You're the moon rabbit, after all.
It's only natural for you to burn in the fires of purgatory for your friends, right?
Oh, what's wrong?
Rabbits like duty and compassion and all of that stuff, right?
Come on, what do you say?
Enough!
Now bow down.
Hey, bitch...
That only works on idiots with lower-level gifts!
How dare you...
That's enough, you fools!
This woman was the one who made the first move.
I understand.
Let us both forgive each other for what has happened today.
I will discuss with everyone what you have offered,
and give you our response at a later time.
Wait, Black Rabbit!
Okay, I'll wait one week.
I'm looking forward to your response.
So that's Perseus's leader?
They don't live up to their name.
They were a proper community with a long history, but now...
In the past, they hosted a legendary highbrow Gift Game,
known to all inhabitants of the Little Garden.
I won't allow this, Black Rabbit!
I can't let you leave here and become property of that scum!
A community's members are important to it.
Leticia-sama cast away her gift,
chipping away at her soul, to come running to us.
In order to repay her for that, I must also...
That's pointless!
Are you saying that sacrifices for a friend are pointless?!
C-Come in.
You-san...
Are you okay?
This is from Lili and the others.
They could tell you guys were acting strange.
They wanted you to eat these and make up.
I'm sorry.
You're worried about me, and I spoke to you in that manner...
I'm sorry, as well.
I owe Leticia one, too.
I've heard generally from Jin-kun what's going on.
Is there a way for you to save this
Leticia without sacrificing yourself, Black Rabbit?
There is one way.
Are you aware of the legend that the knight Perseus
exterminated a monster known as the gorgon?
Kind of.
They're allowing anyone from the lower levels
to participate in a Gift Game that matches the legend.
If we can win that...
We can get Leticia back?
We would have to win two different Gift Games first for that to happen.
They both would be rather difficult.
I'm not sure how many years they would take...
I'm coming in.
I-Izayoi-san?
Where were you while all of this has been going on?
The door was unlocked.
Oh, I was just getting a little hint from Shiroyasha.
Brought these for you.
What is this?
Watermelon?
Looks like watermelon.
Black Rabbit's pretty nice.
She's just my type.
I can just imagine holding her down, making her squeal.
I'd never get bored with that.
Right...
Excuse me.
Who is it?!
Wait.
Wow, what brings you here all of a sudden?
You feel like staying now?
We no-names challenge Perseus to a duel.
What? In that case, get out of here.
You're just wasting my time.
Even after seeing these?
What?
Those are gifts that display the authority to challenge a legend.
You can't mean that the no-names
have defeated the Kraken and the Graeae?!
Oh, if that's what you're concerned about...
Thank you for coming to challenge us.
If you overcome our trial and defeat us...
I don't have time to listen to your grand speech right now.
I seriously don't have time for this.
All of you, come at me!
He said he's not quite sure.
He thinks the snake, I mean water god, was harder.
Whatever.
I'll take you on.
I'll crush you so bad...
...so bad you never think of defying me again.
Black Rabbit has no intention of showing
her skin to someone who lacks common decency.
What if I act like a gentleman, then?
No!
Do you plan on ridding me of
the chastity that I've protected for two hundred years?
Next Time
The Oath Seems to be Beyond the Stars?
Yes, yes, I do.
Art by Fujima Takuya