Arcadia's rear grounds, Moon Lake to the northeast—
The lake had earned its name because during high tide, it took the shape of a full moon, while at low tide, it resembled a crescent moon.
Shana's new residence had been arranged beside Moon Lake, in one of a row of connected townhouses.
Standing on the third-floor balcony, Ryo looked out over the lake with a puzzled expression. "I don't remember ever hearing that our backyard had a lake this big."
Kurousagi, who was cleaning Shana's room, looked up and gave him a playful smile. "Apparently, the leader hasn't even taken a proper tour of his own Community headquarters, has he?"
Ryo's expression froze.
He couldn't exactly argue with that.
Come to think of it, he really hadn't explored much of his own Community.
He had spent the first half of his time in Little Garden bedridden, recovering from his injuries. After his recovery, he had been constantly fighting for his own survival while working to strengthen Arcadia.
Thinking about it carefully, the only part of Arcadia he really knew was the headquarters castle. He'd barely visited anywhere else. Even the rivers and wells where the Community's children had once fetched water were places Ryo had never properly explored.
With that in mind, Ryo couldn't help sighing. "When you put it that way, I've been a pretty terrible leader. I don't even know the layout of my own Community."
"Ah, well..." Kurousagi's eyes began wandering. "Actually, Lady Artemis built Moon Lake last night."
Ryo: "..."
'For fuck's sake! You're using something that was built yesterday to accuse me of not knowing my own Community? How the hell was I supposed to know about it?!'
With a dark look on his face, Ryo shot Kurousagi a fierce glare, then glanced back at the lake. "Artemis? Why did she build a lake?"
"Apparently, it's to provide drinking water for her followers..." As she said this, Kurousagi suddenly looked around. Then she cautiously sidled up to Ryo and lowered her voice, practically whispering in his ear. "I think it was the manifestation of one of her Divine Artifacts. I got a good look at it last night. It was a suit of armor."
Ryo raised an eyebrow.
Artemis had a Divine Artifact in the form of armor? He didn't remember seeing her use anything like that a few days ago.
Had she simply not had the chance to use it back then? Or was it one of her trump cards, something she deliberately hadn't revealed?
All of a sudden, Ryo felt that the gods of Little Garden were deeply suspicious, especially the famous and powerful ones.
Look at Artemis. Even after he'd bullied her that badly, she was still hiding a trump card.
Never mind the others.
Why were all these ancient bastards so damn sneaky?
"She let you see it on purpose?" Ryo looked at Kurousagi strangely.
Kurousagi stiffened. Her gaze darted around as she fidgeted with her skirt, her tone becoming distinctly unnatural. "I mean... I'm a Moon Rabbit too, you know. I have a connection to the moon~"
'I see. You used your Moon Authority to spy on her.'
Ryo instantly understood what she meant.
As for why Kurousagi was acting so awkward... She was probably feeling conflicted about using her Authority to peek at someone's secrets.
He knew this rabbit well enough.
With that thought, Ryo patted her shoulder. "It's fine. You did well. Our relationship with Artemis still isn't exactly great, so it's only sensible to keep an eye on her. It's for the Community's safety, after all."
"Y-Yeah. That's right."
Kurousagi nodded awkwardly, though she clearly didn't mean it.
Just then, Shana walked out of the bedroom and looked at the two of them. "What are you doing standing out on the balcony?"
"Looking at the view," Ryo answered casually.
"Oh."
Shana didn't find anything strange about that. She simply turned around, narrowed her eyes at the large television in the living room, and pointed at it with mild curiosity. "What's that?"
"Oh, that's a TV. You've never seen one before, Shana?" Kurousagi asked, sounding a little surprised.
"Mm... I've heard of them." Shana paused, her expression turning thoughtful. "Wilhelmina was planning to buy one, I think. But before she could, Tendōkyū was attacked..."
"Oh, right." Shana glanced around, seemed to remember something. "Where's the big shop that sells melonpan and lots of other stuff?"
"Um..." Kurousagi thought for a moment. "If you mean a supermarket, the nearest one is in the city, about thirty kilometers away. We haven't finished building the additional teleportation gates yet, so..."
Shana suddenly felt that although the environment in Little Garden was nice, it was far less convenient than modern society.
"But I can make melonpan," Ryo added. "And just so you know, I have a professional pastry chef certificate."
"Make some for me."
Shana didn't hesitate for even a second.
Suddenly, she felt that while Little Garden's convenience might be terrible, having a chef who could cook for her made up for a lot of it.
"So this is where you were."
A cool female voice sounded.
Ryo turned toward the source and looked down from the balcony at the pebble-covered ground below.
On the lakeside path stood Natsuki Minamiya, holding a black parasol. She was still dressed in her Gothic-style outfit, looking like a porcelain doll as she gazed up at him.
"Natsuki?" Ryo looked surprised. Walking over to the railing, he leaned against it and asked, "You live around here too?"
Natsuki let out a cold laugh and replied expressionlessly, "You brought me to Little Garden, yet you don't even know where I live. That sounds exactly like you, Ryo Yagami."
Ryo immediately felt that he shouldn't have asked.
No, he shouldn't have spoken at all.
But seeing his awkward expression, Natsuki suddenly smiled. "Looks like you spent quite a long time in another world. Otherwise, you wouldn't have forgotten that I arrived in Little Garden less than a week ago. And I don't live here in Arcadia. I'm still living back home on Itogami Island."
Ryo's face went completely dark.
'What is wrong with you girls? Is teasing me really that fun? Kurousagi does it, and now you too, Natsuki?'
Ryo helplessly shrugged and looked down at her. "So, you came here specifically to find me?"
"That's right." As she spoke, Natsuki reached into empty space and pulled out a letter. "The goddess of wisdom who's acting as my teacher here in Little Garden just received a letter. Since I happened to be there at the time, she asked me to temporarily serve as a messenger."
With a flick of her fingers, the letter vanished from midair and appeared on the balcony railing in front of Ryo.
"A letter? Why was it sent to Athena first, and then passed on to..."
Ryo looked down.
Then his gaze stopped.
There was an emblem stamped into the wax seal.
It depicted three hornless, legless black serpents, arranged side by side, each biting its own tail.
The emblem of Ouroboros.
.
.
.