Crossover: The Problem Human of [Arcadia]

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Little Garden, Outer Gate [2105380] — At the Edge of the World

Normally a quiet and unremarkable seven-digit Outer Gate known for its dying remnants of civilization, the city was now buzzing with unprecedented excitement.

At the center of the city square, a massive electronic screen—about the size of a school playground—hovered above a large fountain.

These screens were usually used by floor rulers or regional leaders to make announcements. Occasionally, they ran high-end advertisements too.

And today, displayed in full glory on the giant screen was a moon rabbit with blue hair, red eyes, and a beautifully tailored uniform.

It was Black Rabbit, currently announcing the rules for the upcoming "Harvest Festival" Gift Game:

"To celebrate the harvest granted by the Inari God, the regional ruler of the city has decided to host a grand, three-day Gift Festival: Harvest Season!"

...

People stopped in their tracks, drawn in by the enormous screen. And the moment they saw Black Rabbit, the crowd stirred in surprise:

"Wait… is that a noble from Little Garden?! Do we even have someone like that in this place?"

"She must be the moon rabbit invited by that new regional ruler from three days ago. Damn, that community must be loaded!"

"No, I've heard rumors there's actually a real noble living here in the Capital."

"For real? But she's a born divine being! A moon rabbit like her shouldn't be working with just any community!"

While the crowd buzzed with speculation, Black Rabbit continued her enthusiastic explanation on-screen:

"Participants must prepare food using harvest-season ingredients—grain, poultry, livestock, and so on—and the top 100 sellers will receive…"

"One-time permission to redirect a river!"

Silence fell over the fountain plaza for a few stunned seconds—then chaos.

"River manipulation? That's got to be at least a five-digit-level Gift!"

"Maybe not that crazy, but yeah—definitely needs a five-digit being to make it. Probably a gift crafted by some water god."

"Wait… the Water God from the Tritonis falls? I heard from one of the sages in the forest that someone defeated that water god recently."

"What?! Someone actually beat the water god?! Which community pulled that off? Who's their leader?"

"Rumor says it's one of those 'nameless' communities. The leader's name is… Ryo Yagami? Huh, wait a minute… isn't that the same name as the new regional ruler?"

"Same name my ass—it's clearly the same guy."

...

Meanwhile, Black Rabbit kept the energy high on the screen:

"To qualify, you must be a community based in the Capital at the Edge of the World. Temporary alliances are allowed, but all illegal trading is strictly prohibited!"

That last part got the attention of many small communities struggling with water shortages.

Those with wider connections had already started calling in allies.

If they could pool enough resources to crack the top 100, they'd earn the right to reroute a river—and with that, finally fix their water problems.

In a way, this festival was like a massive relief initiative for struggling communities.

As Black Rabbit finished reading the rules, she raised her fist on screen:

"Based on the principles of honor, banners, and the rights of the organizers, this Gift Game is now officially announced!"

Then she gave a playful wink and added:

"I'll personally be overseeing this event on behalf of Little Garden's central authority. Have fun, everyone~!"

As the screen faded to black, a chorus of cheers—both male and female—erupted across the square.

Some even shouted strange-sounding stuff like "Too cute, I can't!," whatever that meant.

...

Not far from the fountain, in the outdoor seating area of a quaint café—

Leticia sat with a coffee in hand, watching the broadcast with an amused smile as she turned to Ryo:

"From the look of things, your number of love rivals is about to skyrocket."

As a born divine being, the moon rabbit wasn't some seductive species like a succubus, but her flawless, almost ethereal beauty could stir admiration in nearly any living being.

No matter how much she tried to tone it down, Black Rabbit couldn't hide that natural charm—unless she actively used her powers to make herself less attractive.

But with Ryo watching the broadcast for sure, there was no way she'd ever do that.

"They're just a bunch of small fries," Ryo replied calmly, sipping his coffee.

Leticia was clearly just teasing. Even if the crowd got a little rowdy now, once the hype died down, they'd remember the truth—

A divine moon rabbit was way out of their league.

Their only real option was to participate in the Gift Game and try to win the reward of river manipulation.

Leticia knew that, of course. She was just trying to provoke a little possessiveness in Ryo.

If the younger generation in their community had a thing for Black Rabbit, then as their elder, it was only fair she offered a little… encouragement~

"When the festival kicks off, Black Rabbit's probably going to be swamped. Maybe you should go comfort her," Leticia suggested playfully.

"Best to do that late at night," Ryo shot back, smirking. "Unless you want me to comfort you instead?"

"Wha—?" Leticia froze, then gave a dry laugh and waved him off. "I think I'll pass."

But a moment later, her smile faltered just a bit. Looking at Ryo's face—dead serious, not joking—her heart skipped a beat.

Clearing her throat, she quickly shifted the subject:

"Once the festival starts, a ton of communities will be flocking to the city, and foot traffic at night is going to spike like crazy."

"So just in case, I'm going to start nightly patrols—beginning tonight."

"Thanks," Ryo replied, sipping his coffee again. He didn't say something pointless like 'You should rest instead.'

This was a sensitive time. Patrols were necessary.

"What about the kids from our community?" he asked.

Leticia's expression turned more serious.

"I've already placed the younger ones somewhere safe. The older group—I've spread them throughout the city, taking on odd jobs as cover. They'll serve as our eyes and ears."

Ryo nodded silently.

The "older kids," even if still technically young, included quite a few six-digit powerhouses. Many of them were already close to adulthood, and that made them prime candidates for training.

He let out a quiet sigh. "Just make sure their safety comes first."

"Of course." Leticia smiled, but before she could say anything more, her expression suddenly shifted.

Ryo had already sensed them. He turned his head slightly as three figures approached.

Leading them was a tall woman with long black hair braided into a thick rope and piercing navy-blue eyes.

"Well, well," she said, a playful tone in her voice. "Thought I was seeing things—but it really is you, Leticia Draculea~"

Leticia frowned, clearly surprised.

"The Witch of Dún Scáith… Scáthach? What are you doing here?"

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