After finishing the report, we quickly left the tent.
I was a little wary, wondering if the young adventurer was still waiting at the entrance, but it seemed he had given up and gone somewhere.
“… *Phew*.”
I let out a big sigh. Events where large sums of money are involved always make me a little nervous. I thought I had built up some resistance after the “Thief Meri’s Legacy” incident, but the amount this time was on a completely different scale. It would have been problematic if the delivery items were stolen, aside from the Crystals, but that worry was now gone. As soon as the report was done, I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
Defeating Golden HAGURE NYORAIM normally yields a lot of money and experience, but completing subjugation and delivery requests also naturally brings high rewards. Specifically, subjugation yields 10,000 E per monster, and a 1 Nyoraim Gold Coin drop grants a 100,000 E reward upon delivery.
Just defeating one monster and reporting it earns more money than 10 nights at that rip-off inn, or more than 6 nights for Ringo and me combined. If that still doesn’t paint a clear picture, in terms of Fingerless Gloves, it’s equivalent to 50 pairs. They say that defeating 20 monsters surpasses the rewards from “Thief Meri’s Legacy,” so you can see how exorbitant this is.
However, encountering a Golden HAGURE NYORAIM outside of its mass spawning period is extremely difficult. Some people even argue that it’s not worth it for 10,000 E, considering the balance of things. Perhaps I should just be grateful for the good fortune of Golden being chosen as the mass spawning monster.
If this were the real world, I might have to be wary of Guild staff pocketing the proceeds, but in this world, the more distinct the game system, the more it tends to operate faithfully according to the game. While it’s not absolute, I think it’s safe to assume that things that wouldn’t happen in a game, like discrepancies in tallying or the Guild being reluctant to pay, won’t occur here.
That’s why I can finally relax. Even if we don’t make it into the top three, we’ll get enough money to buy accommodations without worrying about the cost. Even if we place third, it’s 20,000 E per monster subjugated and 200,000 E per Gold Coin…
(Ah, I see.)
At that moment, I finally understood the young adventurer’s earlier words and Raiden’s intentions. He mentioned buying Gold Coins. Of course, he was talking about the delivery item for this event, “Nyoraim Gold Coins.”
Regular participants can earn 100,000 E by delivering these Gold Coins to the Guild. But what if Raiden and his group approached them, offering to buy them for 130,000 or 150,000 E? Participants who don’t expect to rank high would easily sell their Gold Coins for immediate profit.
Meanwhile, Raiden seemed confident that they would secure a spot in the top three. The rewards for ranking first, second, or third are multiplied by 10, 3, and 2, respectively. This means they are certain to receive over 200,000 E per Nyoraim Gold Coin. Even if they buy a Gold Coin from another team for 150,000 E, they won’t lose money. In fact, they stand to make a profit of 50,000 E.
Furthermore, unlike subjugation, which requires the individual to defeat the monster, delivery doesn’t question the method of obtaining the item, as long as you have it. This applies not only during the tournament but also at other times. Whether you obtain the item after accepting a request and defeating an enemy, obtain it from someone like Raiden, or already possess it before accepting the request, as long as you submit it, it’s fine. In other words, even if you increase your reward amount by collecting drop items from others during the tournament, it’s not a violation of the rules.
They misled us about their team’s subjugation count to instigate our complacency, while simultaneously planning to collect drop items from other participants to overturn the rankings. Should I call them seasoned veterans, or just petty? They certainly employ rather intricate schemes.
Well, Raiden always had a knack for that, even in the game. In crucial moments, like when lives were at stake or facing a powerful enemy, he’d show true grit, but otherwise, he’d play the fool, lazing around, or try to pull some minor trick to make a quick profit. Usually, though, whenever he pulled one of those tricks, someone far more formidable would be nearby and easily crush him. That’s why he can’t seem to escape the role of a stepping-stone character.
(Well, whatever.)
Considering our current score of 74, I doubt they can easily surpass us with such minor tricks. I have no intention of competing by buying Gold Coins ourselves and, frankly, it’s too late to make a difference now. The opponent we need to be wary of is still just one person.
“You’ve taken quite a while. I was getting tired of waiting.”
She, the sword-wielding girl with twitching cat ears, stared at us with cold eyes.
Ringo tensed at Hisame’s sudden appearance and casually pointed the tip of her Koganezakura towards her. I casually reached out towards Ringo, blocking her line of fire, and responded with a deliberately provocative remark.
“You came back rather quickly. Don’t make any excuses about how you could have won if you’d stayed until the end after losing to me, alright?”
Hisame remained expressionless, but her cat ears twitched. “Of course. In the first place, it’s impossible for me to lose.”
She has an immense amount of confidence, but that confidence can be her downfall. I spoke to Hisame as if to admonish her. “I’ve told you many times, you never know who will win until the race is over. Do you know the story of the Tortoise and the Hare? While you were lazing around in town, we continued to work hard. This difference…”
“No. Nevertheless, you absolutely cannot beat me.”
However, Hisame interrupted me. I wondered if she was still fixated on a rematch and had blood rushing to her head, but her cat ears were still. With cat ears that seemed slightly dejected, Hisame opened her mouth. “I had low expectations for you. That match back then. The content was certainly the worst, but I felt there was ‘something’ in you that might surpass me.”
“‘Something’?”
Hisame didn’t answer my echoed question. She simply shook her head once and continued her story. “However, it seems that was a misunderstanding. You said you continued to work hard while I was resting. You may have made the utmost effort after I returned to town. But that’s too late. You should have acted before I ‘finished.'”
With that, she turned on her heel. “The announcement will begin soon. All the answers will be revealed then.” Neither I nor Ringo could stop her as she walked away.
“Alright, everyone, your wait is over! We will now announce the results of the ‘Golden HAGURE NYORAIM Subjugation Tournament’!”
The announcer’s voice, amplified by magic, echoed through the crowded plaza. The number of spectators seemed greater than I expected, perhaps due to the high stakes. It’s also possible that some of the townspeople who went to hunt Golden HAGURE NYORAIM contributed to the crowd. In any case, the results of the subjugation tournament were finally about to be announced.
“As everyone knows, the target of this tournament, the Golden HAGURE NYORAIM, is a monster with an incredibly high payout. I’m just an employee, so I don’t know the details, but there are tournament records being broken left and right, and I hear some rumors that the Guild might go bankrupt from the rewards paid out. Who will be the winner of this tournament? And what will happen to the Bounty Hunter Guild’s finances? Everyone, please stay tuned and enjoy!”
Speaking on stage was a female announcer that I’d seen several times in the game. Her frivolous yet witty speaking style immediately got the crowd gathered in the plaza all hyped up.
“Now, without further ado, let’s call out the three teams that have been blessed with incredibly high rewards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Teams whose names are called, please respond loudly and come up to the stage!”
At her words, the lively plaza fell silent. Some looked around with undisguised curiosity, wondering which lucky teams would be in the top ranks, while others clasped their hands in prayer, hoping to be among those three teams. The first name called was…
“Next, for our first team! Team ‘Raiden’, please come to the stage!”
It was Raiden and his team. Following Raiden, who maintained a somewhat nonchalant demeanor, the two seemingly shrewd individuals I saw earlier in the plaza ascended the stage. The surrounding people watched them with envious eyes as they cleared a path for them.
Since Raiden’s team was called, it’s almost certain that we will be called too. Even as I thought this, my heart wouldn’t stop pounding. While I was in that state of mind, the next to be called was…
“Our second group is, remarkably, not a team but a solo participant! Mitsuki Hisame! Please come to the stage!”
It was Hisame. She leaped out from the crowd and sprang onto the stage in a single bound. She shouldn’t be one to favor flashiness, but she’s someone who stands out no matter what she does. As Hisame took the stage, cheers of “Waa!” and “Kyaa!” and “Hisame-samaaaa!” erupted. Surprisingly, Hisame seems to be popular in this town. Well, that’s fine and all…
Only one spot remains. Will we really be called? If it’s the same as the game, I thought there would be no problem, but could there be a mistake and we aren’t called… Just as I was overtaken by such anxiety,
“Now, finally, we will announce the last group.”
The moment of destiny had arrived. What the announcer said last was…
“The last group is… Team ‘Sagara’! A rare duo team. Please come to the stage!”
It was us. Of course, I knew we’d be called, but hearing our name called brought a profound sense of relief. Meanwhile, as the last group was called, murmurs of distress came from the participants who had hoped to be called themselves.
“Shall we go, Ringo?”
While relieved to hear our name, there’s no point in just standing here. Ringo and I walked down the path naturally cleared by the crowd.
“Yo. So you made it.”
As we stepped onto the stage, Raiden was there with a smirk, and Hisame with her usual composed expression. I gave a casual wave in return and was subtly guided by the announcer to stand next to Hisame. Ringo, despite being a former princess, seemed to dislike being in front of people and quickly slipped behind me.
“Now, once again, we will introduce the three teams that achieved excellent results in this tournament. From the left, Team ‘Raiden’. ‘Mitsuki Hisame’. And Team ‘Sagara’.”
With all three groups on stage, it was time for explanations. The announcer, in addition to introducing us, reiterated the basic details: that rewards of 10,000 E per subjugation and 100,000 E per delivery would be paid, and that the total reward amount would be multiplied by 2 for third place, 3 for second place, and 10 for first place.
Naturally, I’m tired of hearing such explanations. In the meantime, I took the opportunity to steal glances at the other participants on stage. First, Raiden and his teammates. Raiden was grinning the whole time for some reason, and his teammates showed no signs of pressure. I suppose this is what an experienced adventurer looks like. Next is Hisame, beside me. Her expressionless face remained forward, her posture rigid. Her ears stood proudly erect. She didn’t seem nervous. Ringo, behind me, stood frozen like a statue, gazing vaguely at the back of my head. I doubt there’s anything particularly interesting there, but that’s her business. Given her cuteness, which rivals her in popularity rankings, you’d expect her to be met with cheers if she came forward…
(Ah, no, that’s right.)
This is a place where so many people are watching. If we were to win first place, we might stand out as that wealthy duo. That would be a bit of a nuisance, I mused, starting to count the raccoon furs I didn’t even have in my boredom.
“Alright, you’ve waited long enough! We will now proceed to the results announcement!”
The announcer declared the main event of this tournament.
“Now, from the left. Announcing the reward amount for Team ‘Raiden’!”
At those words, a drum roll sound rang out from somewhere, inexorably fueling the audience’s anticipation. After building up the anticipation, the female announcer finally spoke.
“Subjugation count: 37! Delivery count: 11! The total reward amount is… a staggering 1,470,000 E!”
As the reward amount was announced, the crowd erupted. A figure like 1.47 million is not something even adventurers commonly encounter. It would be even rarer for ordinary townspeople. However, this high reward amount is not solely the result of Raiden and his team’s hunting. With a subjugation count of 37, a delivery count of 4 or 3 would have been statistically probable. Increasing it to nearly triple that indicates they bought Gold Coins from other individuals. It can be considered impressive negotiation skills, considering they likely couldn’t buy from Hisame, us, or teams aiming for the rankings.
But… (I won!!) Even so, they couldn’t reach us. For a moment, I felt a chill, but this confirmed at least second place. Now, everything depends on how many Golden HAGURE NYORAIM Hisame defeated.
“Alright, this team will be the provisional leader for now. Will any team exceed the reward of 1,470,000 E?!”
The announcer hyped them up, but it was obvious someone would. Perhaps the announcer knew that too.
“Now then, let’s announce the reward amount for Mitsuki Hisame.”
The moment she said that, the venue was engulfed in an even greater commotion than during Raiden’s announcement.
“Mitsuki Hisame is, as everyone knows, a supremely skilled adventurer. How many Golden HAGURE NYORAIM did Hisame-sama, with a single stroke, send to their demise?! I, the announcer, have high expectations!”
Despite likely knowing the result, the announcer relentlessly stoked the audience’s excitement. The cheers grew louder in response. And then, “So, so, so, so, finally, we will announce Hisame-sama’s reward amount!!” Will we win, or will Hisame win? In the next few seconds, everything will be revealed.
“Mitsuki Hisame’s reward amount is…”
I strained my ears, waiting. The previously buzzing crowd had fallen silent, and an almost painful silence and tension dominated the air. Ringo’s voice, “Eh, edage,” as she muttered while staring at the back of my head, strangely echoed in my ears. And then, finally…
“Subjugation count: 251! Delivery count: 52! Total reward amount: 7,710,000 E!! To our immense surprise, she has significantly outpaced the Raiden team and is the provisional first place!”
The venue erupted with cheers at the unexpectedly excellent results. In contrast, I exhaled slowly and let my shoulders drop. (I see. More than half, huh.)
Actually, I hadn’t completely failed to anticipate this situation. Hisame repeatedly used the word “finish.” This meant she defeated more than half of the 500 existing Golden HAGURE NYORAIM, specifically 251. If she defeated 251 first, even if another team defeated all the remaining Golden HAGURE NYORAIM, they would only manage 249. Furthermore, when Hisame defeats Golden HAGURE NYORAIM, she aims for Critical Points to increase the drop rate of Gold Coins. Even if they defeated a comparable number, they would never be able to catch up in delivery count with their usual methods. Hisame’s word “finished” meant that victory for anyone other than herself was completely out of the question.
However, even with such calculations, it’s impossible for an ordinary Human to defeat 251 monsters. Moreover, she accomplished this all by herself, without forming a team. Her skill is extraordinary. (Truly remarkable.) No matter how much my level increases in the future, I probably won’t be able to do what she did. In this situation, I feel I can honestly praise her.
“And astonishingly! This subjugation count of 251 is a new record for the Subjugation Tournament. Everyone, please give another round of applause for this great achievement that has significantly surpassed the previous record of 105!”
The announcer said something, and the crowd erupted again, but I no longer cared. (It’s over.) The result was clear. There was no need to hear our record, and the gathered spectators weren’t interested either.
“Ev-Everyone! There’s still one more group’s announcement left! Please, please be quiet!”
Perhaps the current excitement was unexpected. The announcer, who had overhyped the crowd, was flustered, but the commotion showed no signs of subsiding. Moreover, from various parts of the crowd, “Hisame! Hisame! Hisame!” cheers for Hisame erupted. No one was paying attention to our reward amount anymore.
“Th-Then!! The third group!! Team ‘Sagara’s’ reward amount will be!! Announced!!”
Perhaps giving up on controlling the situation, the announcer made the announcement with a somewhat desperate volume. As I listened to the announcer’s resigned, booming voice, I casually glanced at Hisame. And then…
“Subjugation count: 87!! Delivery count: 74!! Total reward amount: 8,270,000 E!! Therefore, the winners are these two!! Congratulationsssssss!!!!”
On the strangely silent stage, I stood dumbfounded, watching Hisame. You see, Hisame. — This is the power of those who never give up (and Bug Skills)!!
