I, Izayoi Sakamaki, Joined the Chat Group at the Start

"Pfft—Izayoi, you're so narcissistic." Kasukabe Yō burst out laughing at Izayoi Sakamaki's reassurance.

The invisible pressure that had been weighing on her instantly vanished.

"Get some rest. Oh, and when Hisato Asuka gets back later, give this to her."

Ruffling Kasukabe Yō's soft short hair, Izayoi Sakamaki handed her a small bottle containing a silvery-white glow.

"Mm, good night."

"Meow. (What a considerate human male. I can rest easy leaving Yō to you.)"

"Please rest assured, Calico Cat."

"Meow? (Lord Izayoi, you understood what I said?)"

"Calico Cat!"

Taking the bottle, Kasukabe Yō lightly kicked Calico Cat in annoyance, then quickly shut the door. Her face flushed red as she lay down on the bed.

A wave of exhaustion washed over her, and she soon drifted into sleep, an unconscious sweet smile appearing on her face.

Arriving on the rooftop, Izayoi Sakamaki looked at the dazzling starry sky and focused his mind on the Chat Group.

Izayoi Sakamaki: "@Tony, thanks."

Tony: "Don't mention it. As long as it's the administrator's order, forget Black Death bacteria—even the sun in the sky, I'd send it to you."

Izayoi Sakamaki: "Really? Then send me the Cosmic Cube."

Tony: "...That... is beyond my capabilities..."

Zhongli: "What did the administrator need such a dangerous virus for?"

Fūrinji Miu: "Yeah. You didn't go do something bad with it, did you?"

Izayoi Sakamaki: "How could that be? I went to do a good deed. With that injection just now, I saved quite a few lives."

Though a large part of it was simply because he didn't like that guy.

But hadn't he also prevented those infected people from being executed in the end?

The result was the same.

Busujima Saeko: "Speaking of viruses, it seems that a lot of things like this have been happening in our world lately. Even the news stations have started reporting on it."

Minamiya Natsuki: "Black Death?"

Takanashi Rikka: "Dark Power?"

Busujima Saeko: "No, it should be some other virus. Those infected lose their minds and attack others, but the government is researching an antidote or something."

Tony: "Heh. As a capitalist, I have the most say in this. If this isn't some bioweapon developed by the government itself, who would believe it?"

Spider-ko: "Scary. Good thing I've already transmigrated."

Izayoi Sakamaki: "Sure enough, only humans can easily destroy humanity."

Takanashi Rikka: "Wait, doesn't this feel a lot like zombies?"

Kurogane Ikki: "Zombies? Do such creatures really exist?"

Busujima Saeko: "Probably not, right? Aren't zombies just something from movies?"

Izayoi Sakamaki: "@Busujima Saeko, I can responsibly tell you that a zombie crisis has broken out in your world. Make preparations as soon as possible."

Tony: "That confirms it. Other than the government, who could develop something like this?"

Busujima Saeko: "...I'll go make preparations first."

Hestia: "What are zombies?"

"Lord Izayoi?"

A voice pulled Izayoi Sakamaki out of the Chat Group. He turned around in confusion and saw Black Rabbit, who had apparently appeared behind him at some point after finishing the meeting. She looked at him hesitantly.

"What do you want to ask?"

Seeing Black Rabbit's expression, Izayoi Sakamaki knew she was conflicted about him stabbing Mandara earlier.

"Um... does Lord Izayoi have some prejudice against Salamandra?"

Black Rabbit sat down beside Izayoi Sakamaki and voiced the question in her heart.

Ever since arriving here, Lord Izayoi seemed like a different person. He was clearly interested in Demon Kings, yet he had not acted.

And on someone else's territory, he had made such an impulsive move.

This was completely unlike the Lord Izayoi she knew.

"Prejudice? I suppose so. Anyway, I don't have a favorable impression of Salamandra, especially that Mandara. Tch."

"But... Salamandra used to be No Name's ally. Isn't it wrong to do this?"

"Huh?" Izayoi Sakamaki had trouble understanding what Black Rabbit was thinking. Was this what Hakoniwa's rabbits were like—innocent, romantic, valuing friendship, the embodiment of everything good?

"Black Rabbit, you need to understand that not everyone is a rabbit."

Izayoi Sakamaki shook his head with an amused smile. "From the moment Salamandra unilaterally tore up its alliance with No Name—no, Arcadia—Salamandra no longer had any honor or credibility to speak of. If traitors could still live freely and happily, wouldn't that be too cruel to the betrayed?"

"But... Sandora feels very guilty too." Black Rabbit was left speechless by Izayoi Sakamaki's words and tried to argue.

"But me dealing with Mandara has nothing to do with Sandora, does it?"

"..."

"Black Rabbit can't win an argument against Lord Izayoi." Black Rabbit gave up and lay down, looking at Izayoi Sakamaki beside her. For some reason, she always felt that he gave off a warm and familiar aura.

It was probably just her imagination.

"What would it take for Lord Izayoi to forgive Salamandra? If we allied with them, No Name's strength would grow again."

"Well..." Izayoi Sakamaki pinched his chin. "If Black Rabbit calls me big brother, I can consider it."

"Big brother?"

"Not enough. Try calling me husband."

"H-Husband?"

"Darling husband."

"Darling husband?"

"Dear."

"Dear?"

"Daddy."

"D-Da—ahhh! Lord Izayoi, don't tease Black Rabbit!!!"

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Black Rabbit had originally thought Izayoi Sakamaki would seriously consider forgiving Salamandra. Only after hearing the mischievous smile in his voice did she realize that this problem child had been playing with her all along. "Mmph—Lord Izayoi wasn't considering it at all."

"I did consider it. And it turns out it still won't do. I can't forgive them just because Black Rabbit asked me to."

"Isn't that the same thing?" Black Rabbit was somewhat speechless, but her expression was a little unnatural. "Um... Lord Izayoi, Black Rabbit has something to tell you."

"Hmm? What is it?"

Izayoi Sakamaki noticed the unnatural look on Black Rabbit's face as well, and he roughly guessed what it was about.

"Um... Black Rabbit has also become one of the participants, in exchange for the Gift Game being postponed until the day after tomorrow."

"Oh?" So it had turned out this way after all. Sometimes, being too pure and innocent was also a mistake.

He needed to teach Black Rabbit a lesson.

Izayoi Sakamaki turned to look at Black Rabbit and raised his right hand.

Knowing she was in the wrong, Black Rabbit lowered her head and closed her eyes, waiting for Izayoi Sakamaki's punishment.

She only hoped that Lord Izayoi would not hate Black Rabbit for making such a decision on her own.

Knock—

"That hurts."

With a crisp sound, Black Rabbit clutched her reddened forehead and looked at Izayoi Sakamaki with tearful eyes. For a moment, she felt both delighted and guilty.

"Lord Izayoi..."

"Just this once. You actually went and sold yourself off without consulting me. Did you forget that you still have me as your master?"

Watching Black Rabbit's pitiful expression, Izayoi Sakamaki folded his arms, not the least bit surprised by her choice.

After all, she was a rabbit.

"Mm-hmm. Next time... there won't be a next time." Black Rabbit held her forehead and smiled. She knew Izayoi would never stand by and do nothing.

"What a foolish rabbit."

Izayoi Sakamaki smiled helplessly and looked toward the brilliant starry sky.

He wondered whether Hisato Asuka had already tamed that Gift.

"I finally made it here."

Completely unaware that the competition had already been interrupted, Hisato Asuka arrived at the innermost part of the exhibition hall. That massive crimson armament was still parked there.

"Asuka~"

Little Fairy stood up on Hisato Asuka's shoulder and pointed at the golden specks of light that had somehow spread throughout the area.

"What is it?" Hisato Asuka was confused, but she soon understood. These specks of light were also living Elves.

"Let us... give you a gift. Please accept it."

Over a hundred golden specks of light spoke together. Hisato Asuka fell silent and listened carefully.

She knew this was not the time for questions.

"As a fabricated fairy tale, let us bring the Pied Piper to its final end."

The specks of light paused slightly, and Hisato Asuka began to ask, "Group Elves? You are..."

"We are the souls of the 130 people sacrificed in Hamelin, those who lost their lives to disaster. We shall tell you everything."

"The truth of Hamelin, which occurred on June 26, 1284!"

The truth?

In Hisato Asuka's mind emerged the Demon King's Contract Document, shattering false masks and revealing the inheritance of truth.

"We will grant you the greatest masterpiece created by us Pied Pipers, the final Gift forged from ore bestowed by the Star Sea Dragon King!"

The golden specks of light began to gather, forming a golden Contract Document. This was the final wish of those 130 Elves!

"Will you, brought here by the 131st member, you who can bear this miracle, accept our final Gift Game?"

The golden Contract Document floated into Hisato Asuka's hands. She froze slightly, glanced at Little Fairy on her shoulder, and murmured, "Tame Dean with my Gift?"

"I want to ask something. If I obtain this Gift, can I defeat that Demon King? Can I catch up to that person?"

"As long as you can tame it, we will surely lead you to victory! To glory!"

"I understand." Hisato Asuka smiled. "Then please entrust your final Gift to me!"

"With your majesty, light the flame for the soul of steel!"

The final voices of the 130 Little Fairies rang out. As a rainbow gleam flashed through the eyes of the giant armored Dean...

The Gift Game to tame the Pied Piper's greatest masterpiece had begun!

Having just parted ways with Black Rabbit, Izayoi Sakamaki thought about the five days of free time he still had and found himself not knowing what to do.

With nothing to do, he could only find a relatively quiet place and enter the Chat Group again.

Hestia: "Ugh, despite being an Upper God, I can't even find a job to support myself..."