Go around and back in, Miss!
Hey, that's...
That's the power you got from the elephant!
Miss!
As you have seen, the last individual to move to the finals
will be Kasukabe You of the no-names.
I ask that the rules for the finals that will take place tomorrow
be announced by
our newest Host Master, the guest of honor at this festival.
Hello, everyone. I am the northern master, Sandora Dortlake.
Episode 7
Someone Might Get All Kissy with Asuka in the Dark?
You no-names, causing trouble at our festival...
I hope you're prepared for the consequences of your actions!
I only assisted in heating up this festival,
according to Shiroyasha's wishes.
Don't be so proud of yourself saying that, you dummy!
I can't believe you—
That's enough, Mandola.
It is Sandora's job to pronounce the judgment.
I speak to this aristocrat of the Little Garden and her compatriots:
I thank you for coming so far to our Rise of the Fire Dragon Festival.
Miraculously, there were no injuries resulting from this incident,
and Shiroyasha has graciously agreed to repair the building in question.
Therefore, I shall demand nothing further
in response to this incident.
Quite generous there.
I personally requested your help here.
Consider it an advance on your pay for this job.
Jin, Lili!
It's been a while!
I'm glad you seem to be doing well.
That looks good on you.
I wanted to go and see you
the moment I heard you were attacked by that Demon Lord,
but Father became suddenly ill and I
had to be part of the succession ceremony.
Don't worry about it.
But I'm surprised that you're floor master!
Don't act like you're friends, no-name boy!
A little violent, aren't we?
You weren't planning on holding back, were you?
Of course not!
The fact that we invited you no-names here to the festival
is enough to tarnish the reputation of the Salamandra!
Nii-sama! They were once our allies!
It is not polite for us to take that attitude towards them
when we were the ones who selfishly relinquished our pact with them!
Sandora, you are still too naïve.
You are currently a northern floor master.
You are not in a position to act so friendly towards the no-names.
But...
That is enough, Mandola.
Thousand Eyes overstepped their bounds.
The beasts of the south, the faeries of the north,
and the failures of the east...
I think that sums it up.
Maybe the east was jealous of the north and spread that rumor.
Mandola-niisama!
What is this rumor about?
Is that why you've requested help from us?
A top member of Thousand Eyes has recorded a prophecy.
It says there are signs that a Demon Lord attack
shall occur at the Rise of the Fire Dragon Festival.
Thank you.
I wasn't trying to hurt you.
I just wanted someone to accompany me on my journeys.
Here you go. Proof of my friendship.
Sniff, sniff, sniff.
Nom, nom.
How about we introduce ourselves now that we've become friends?
My name is Kudou Asuka.
Can you say that?
Asuka?
You stretched that out a little bit too much.
Asuka! Asuka! Asuka!
Thank you.
What's your name?
Rattenfänger!
Hm? Is that your name?
Commu!
You mean that's the name of your community?
So what's your name, then?
Rattenfänger!
Oh well.
I've come this far already.
How about we go take a look at the exhibits?
Th-The prophecy predicts an attack by a Demon Lord?
I'm pretty surprised.
I thought there was going to be fighting
over the succession, or something.
What was that?!
You're the ones who accepted the job without listening to the details.
I'm not going to apologize for that.
True.
So what are you going to have us do?
Actually, you sure that prophecy is going to come true?
There's no doubt about it.
The prophecy was delivered by the Demon of Laplace.
You mean where all the prophecies are said to originate?
There is nothing false about the Demon Lord attack written here.
However, given who wrote the prophecy,
I imagine it is known who will call the Demon Lord here.
Are you trying to mock us?
You know who it is, but you
only tell us an attack will occur!
Nii-sama!
So they know who will be behind bringing about this disaster,
but they won't release the name.
That can only mean it's someone they can't mention, I assume?
Are you saying there's another floor master
that's conspiring with a Demon Lord?
We still do not know.
But it is true that the other floor masters
were unhelpful regarding Sandora's festival.
And if the Demon Lord attack has something to do with that,
it only makes this more serious.
Is this really that rare of a thing?
No, this is terrible!
The floor masters protect the peace
and shield the lower-end communities.
But in reality, they're just normal people with the capacity to think.
It's a fantasy to think they're not going to try and scheme.
And that is exactly why we must bring justice to this person.
But right now, we must deal with the Demon Lord in the prophecy.
I want you, Jin and the others, to help us defeat
the Demon Lord in their game.
Understood.
The no-names will assist both communities.
Yes, this will also help protect the peace within the Little Garden.
I hereby declare that the culprit will face appropriate punishment.
Salamandra declares the same.
Jin, you can do it.
We're counting on you.
Right.
Anyway, don't get so worked up,
for the strongest floor master, Shiroyasha, shall face him!
You can hold down the fort with Sandora
until the real action starts.
Is there something you don't like about that, boy?
No, this is a good chance to see just how strong these Demon Lords are.
But you wouldn't really have a problem if someone just happens
to take out our Demon Lord before you get to him, would you?
Very well. I will allow it.
There are so many people.
There are a lot of communities participating.
It's pretty!
It is pretty amazing.
Created by the Will-O-Wisp Community.
The pieces are displayed differently
depending on whether a group has a flag or not.
If we want to be great hosts, then we really need to have a flag.
We must get our flag back from the Demon Lord.
Asuka?
It's nothing.
Let's go.
That's...
It's big!
What community...
Asuka, Rattenfänger!
Huh?
Created by the Rattenfänger Community.
Title: Dean.
Did your community create this?
Dean...
The Rattenfänger community is amazing.
Rattenfänger! Rattenfänger!
I've found you.
What is that?
I've finally found you.
Coward, show yourself!
I've found you...
That which dares to lie about the name Rattenfänger!
Rats?!
How can there be that many?!
Return to your nest!
Asuka, where did you go?
The northern plains are too dangerous
at this time of day, even for Asuka.
I messed this up.
Be still!
Return to your nest!
Why won't my gift work?
This is strange. My gift of Authority hasn't faded, but...
Wait...
Are they after her?
In that case...
Hold on tightly! Don't fall out!
At this rate...
Why would mere rats dare to bare their fangs
towards one of my compatriots?!
Are you hurt, Asuka?
Are you Leticia?
Where is the spell caster?
Show yourself.
You must be at least somewhat ready for the consequences,
as you've made an assault in this place.
Tell us your community, and give us your name.
You were really impressive.
You know, master, I'm happy you would praise me,
but that feels rude instead.
I may have this form, but I am a former Demon Lord
and a pure-blooded vampire.
I could face millions of those rats without breaking a sweat.
But instead I...
I wouldn't expect less from a Thousand Eyes hot spring.
I was just wounded and there's no sign of that after simply bathing here.
Today was fun.
I could run around freely, and look at whatever I wanted to see.
But...
I wonder why my gift didn't work on those rats.
Sure, there was that time with Laius, but...
That only works on idiots with lower-level gifts!
I can't believe that
the level of my power would be lower than that of rats.
That being the case, I can only think of one other reason...
They were under the influence of someone stronger than me.
Asuka?
My gift is really hard to use.
Its effectiveness depends on its target.
And it's even worse for "the gift that controls other gifts" that I desire.
I will never be able to run around and fight
like Izayoi-kun and Kasukabe-san,
even if I were to control the gift of a powerful weapon.
I wonder if I made the wrong choice.
Asuka?
But I do not wish to become a witch that controls others.
There is no merit in warping someone's heart
so far that they consent to my will.
The gift that controls other gifts...
I will make this power mine!
Asuka-san, is it true you were injured?!
Wait, Black Rabbit!
What gives you the right to enter the bath
before the master of this place?!
Hey, are you okay, Black Rabbit?
I-I'm fine.
Are you okay?!
Did your fair maiden skin become tarnished?!
Are you just trying to act like you're not hurt?!
I was more worried about you.
I'm fine.
My wounds were healed after bathing here.
I'm so glad...
You have a lot more there than I thought.
I'd never think you were 15.
Huh?
You're quite developed from your collarbone down to your breasts,
but your curves towards your belly button are quite tight and normalized,
yet your skin has a soft womanly feel to it.
Not to mention, if one were to take a handful of that
wonderful meat that lies between your thighs and buttocks,
you'd see that young skin overflow between your fingers, and—
What? I didn't know Shiroyasha was like this.
She's quite impressive, but completely unimpressive in other ways.
When did you guys get here?
During all the commotion.
Well then, I haven't yet talked to you about the Demon Lord attack.
I'll tell you all about it while we're here in the bath together.
D-Demon Lord?
So there's a prophecy about a Demon Lord attack...
Well, it just means it's a good thing we came out here.
Oh, Master Jin, Izayoi!
Oh, this is quite the view, runt.
Huh?
It's quite provocative seeing how developed Black Rabbit
and the rich girl are from their arms down to their breasts,
given their thin clothing,
but seeing the water drip down from Kasukabe's hair
down onto her relatively slender young body,
and following that drop, naturally guided by her collarbone,
all the way down towards her chest is so much more—
Is this place full of perverts or something?!
Shiroyasha and Izayoi are big dummies!
Calm down, you two.
Huh?
Where are Leticia-san and Lili?
They said they were going to stay in the bath a little longer.
You've gotten better at this, Lili.
Thank you!
Well, we don't really need the two of them.
I need to talk to you a little bit about what will start tomorrow.
That means...
Indeed.
We're going to have
our first meeting about how to make
Black Rabbit's reffing uniform cuter and sexier!
No, we won't!
Yes, we will!
No, we won't!
Come on, I thought this was going
to be an important discussion about the Demon Lord.
No, I'm pretty serious about the outfit.
Actually, I want to ask you to ref the Gift Games
that You will be in tomorrow.
Well, that's a surprise.
Thanks to the nuisance you two caused,
the fact that a Moon Rabbit has come here is becoming common knowledge.
So now you're going to have to make an appearance.
Of course, I would provide separate compensation for you.
Understood.
Black Rabbit shall chair and ref the games tomorrow.
I appreciate it.
So your reffing uniform will be an erotic and cute
see-through bustier and skirt!
I'm not wearing that!
Yes, you are!
I am totally not wearing that!
Could the two of you knock it off?!
Fine...
Shiroyasha, who am I going to be fighting tomorrow?
Sorry, but I can only tell you the name of the community.
There are two other communities participating in the finals
other than the no-names and Salamandra.
Will-O-Wisp and Rattenfänger?!
Rattenfänger... German, huh?
So that means tomorrow's opponent will be the Piper of Hamelin, huh?
The Piper of Hamelin?!
What are you talking about, kid?
Huh?
Sorry...
There's no way for you to know this, but the Piper of Hamelin
was the name of the community that served a certain Demon Lord.
Demon Lord?
This Demon Lord
summoned demons from over two hundred different grimoires
and led the community, Grim Grimoire.
But they should have died after being defeated in a Gift Game
with a certain community.
After the Demon Lord died,
the Piper of Hamelin should have lost its power, as well.
Actually, how do Rattenfänger and the
Piper of Hamelin have anything to do with each other, boy?
The runt here will explain.
R-Right...
You're all aware that the story, "Piper of Hamelin,"
is included in Grimms' Fairy Tales, correct?
Hamelin is the name of a city where the story is said
to have actually taken place.
The following is engraved on a stone monument in the city.
"In the year of 1284, on the day of Saints John and Paul,
on the 26th of June,
130 children born in Hamelin were seduced
by a piper, dressed in all kinds of colors,
and lost at the place of execution near the koppen."
The Piper of Hamelin mentioned in Grimms' Fairy Tales is the Rattenfänger.
He is known as the rat-catcher, the man who controls rats.
Controls rats?!
Rattenfänger!
It couldn't be...
Well, whether or not he is the Demon Lord of the prophecy,
it's quite likely that there are remnants of Grim Grimoire living in hiding.
I'll put people on watch to make sure Sandora does not lose face,
but if the worst happens, all of you must do your part.
Thanks.
Rattenfänger... The Piper of Hamelin...
Could she work for the Demon Lord?
It's hot inside your dress!
Oh, right, you were in there this whole time.
Sorry about that.
It looks cooler over there!
Cooler
Next Time
It Seems That a Great Disaster Will Come With the Playing of a Flute?
Miss, it's not all over yet!
Art by Yuugen