Through Black Rabbit's explanation, Ren Kuroda and the others finally learned the truth about the fox-eared girl they had t earlier—Lily.
Lily belonged to the Fox Clan responsible for managing No Na's farmland.
Her ancestors had once served Ukanomitama-no-Kami, the deity of harvest and prosperity, and had been granted a fragnt of divine authority. That sacred lineage had been passed down through her family for generations.
Lily's mother had inherited that divine spark.
Unfortunately, it had been taken by a Demon Lord.
Still, Lily herself was born into the agricultural branch of the Fox Clan. Even without the divine fragnt, she possessed an almost instinctive understanding of crops and soil. Tending fields ca as naturally to her as breathing.
The thirty gold coins Ren had barely had ti to warm in his hands vanished almost instantly—twenty spent in one stroke.
Black Rabbit's face twitched with visible pain at the expense.
And yet, she couldn't stop smiling.
Because No Na was finally—slowly—coming back to life.
As for the remaining ten coins, Ren had originally suggested visiting the high-end confectionery community Six Scars and buying a selection of premium cakes to bring back and surprise the children.
He was imdiately t with Black Rabbit's fierce rejection.
Having endured years of hardship, she did not hesitate to scold him sharply for what she called outrageously reckless spending.
"Funds should be used where they're truly needed!"
Even if the farmland could be restored, they would still need to purchase seeds and agricultural tools. Spending money on luxury sweets right now would be irresponsible.
"Housewife!"
"Cheapskate!"
"Heartless rabbit!"
The so-called "problem children," who had been visibly excited at the prospect of celebrating with a feast—especially Yō, whose imagination had already started conjuring images of mountains of cake—turned on Black Rabbit with rciless teasing.
But no matter how sharp their jabs were, Black Rabbit's resolve didn't waver.
In fact, she confiscated the remaining ten gold coins outright.
Her reasoning was simple:
"Ren seems like the type who would casually waste money, and he tends to spoil the children far too much."
After leaving Thousand Eyes, the group split up.
Ren and Izayoi carried the newly purchased Gift back to No Na's headquarters to test whether it could restore the soil.
anwhile, Black Rabbit, Asuka, Yō, and Lily headed into the marketplace to buy seeds and farming tools.
They had originally tried to drag Izayoi along.
But as soone from modern society, he understood all too well how exhausting it was to accompany girls on a shopping trip.
Without hesitation, he shoved the community leader, Jin, forward as a substitute.
Thus, in the outer seven-digit comrcial district, Black Rabbit and the others happily enjoyed their ti shopping.
It proved once again that regardless of world, age, or race, won possessed inexhaustible energy when it ca to retail therapy.
And today was different.
Black Rabbit and Lily were in especially good spirits.
Ren and the others had cleared Lady White Yaksha's Gift Ga and earned a substantial reward. The community's land would soon be revived. Financial worries, at least for the mont, were lifted.
For the first ti in a long while, everything seed to be moving in a better direction.
Because of that, their mood—and stamina—were at an all-ti high.
Which made things particularly miserable for the only male dragged along as labor.
Jin trailed behind them, his expression utterly numb.
Compared to the physical exhaustion of carrying supplies, it was his inner turmoil that hurt more.
Ren and Izayoi had only just joined No Na.
And yet—
One had already outlined strategic plans for the community's future.
The other had solved their imdiate resource crisis.
anwhile, he—Jin Russell, the official leader of No Na—felt increasingly unnecessary.
Now his only role seed to be carrying bags.
No Na was recovering, and he was genuinely happy about that.
But at the sa ti, doubt crept in.
Was he truly worthy of being their leader?
Wouldn't soone like Izayoi… or Ren… be more suitable to stand at the top?
—
Elsewhere, in the forest region bordering the outer gates—
Gale Gardo was in a foul mood.
That very morning, he had discovered that several of his subordinates had been killed.
Ordinarily, a few dead underlings wouldn't bother him. Gale Gardo was vicious by nature; he didn't mourn disposable pawns.
But these particular n had been among his most productive.
Worse still, their bodies had been found near the forest—practically at his community's doorstep.
His community, Fores Garo, was based in that very woodland.
For mbers to be killed so close to ho—and for them to know nothing about it until after the fact—
It filled him not only with rage…
…but with a flicker of fear.
Fores Garo's hands were far from clean.
They abducted children from other communities. They forced talented individuals to join them. Those who resisted were either killed or sold outside Little Garden.
They had made many enemies.
The only reason they had survived this long was because they had powerful backing—and because Gale Gardo was careful. Before targeting any community, he always investigated thoroughly. He never provoked opponents he couldn't handle.
Yet last night, near their territory, several corpses had been discovered.
The n weren't top-tier powerhouses, but in the outer seven-digit gates, they were more than competent.
And yet—
Each had been killed instantly.
No warning.
No resistance.
Just a single, lethal strike.
The killer had attempted to bury the bodies hastily with dirt.
But against the senses of beastn, that concealnt was laughable.
When Gale Gardo examined the corpses and saw the blade wounds, his face turned ashen.
He hadn't t the attacker face-to-face.
But from those clean, decisive cuts, it was obvious.
The enemy was far beyond his level.
Had he accidentally kidnapped the child of so terrifying big shot?
Was this retaliation?
The thought gnawed at him relentlessly.
The anxiety had made him unusually irritable all day. Earlier, a careless subordinate had earned a slap—one that killed him on the spot.
Now, hoping to ease his tension, Gale Gardo had co out to stroll through the market.
And then—
He saw them.
Black Rabbit and the others, walking toward him.
In the outer seven-digit gates, No Na was infamous.
A community without a banner or a na that had sohow survived to this day—that alone made them noteworthy.
But more importantly—
They had Black Rabbit.
The so-called "Little Garden Noble."
Moon Rabbits were a high-ranking race, typically seen in the upper levels of Little Garden.
In the lower levels, one was a rarity beyond compare.
A crumbling, nearly dissolved community like No Na, yet possessing such a precious existence—
Gale Gardo had long harbored thoughts about that Moon Rabbit.
And today, he was in a particularly bad mood.
Now, by sheer coincidence, he encountered No Na.
Even their timid little leader was present.
Perhaps…
Taking out his frustration on them wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.
..
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