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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 6 Chapter 2.7

「In the event that I, as the organizer, win this 《game》, you will all forfeit the Nanana collections that you have brought. 」

The noise level rose at discussion of the unexpected rule addition.

「Don’t mess with me! 」

A large tough looking man stood up and yelled angrily.

「We participated because we were told we could win that rare Nanana collection, we weren’t told of any penalties like that! 」

There are cheers of agreement from the people who agree with the big man.

I was afraid that the loud criticism would make the very timid M start to panic.

「If you don’t like it you are free to leave. 」

「W..what? 」

Contrary to expectations, M tells him this calmly. It was the big man that had stood up that was surprised.

「We have prepared a rare Nanana collection as a prize for the winner. Didn’t everyone here participate in the game because they wanted that? I believe it is written in the rules that only those who are prepared should participate. 」

The big man looks angry at the small M’s strong statement.

「Shut up! 」

The big man tried to grab M but someone stopped him.

It was the black snowman next to M who grabbed the giant man’s outstretched arm from the side somehow to stop him. I don’t know how those thin arms had so much strength, but the big man who was grabbed couldn’t move at all.

「Kyaaaaa! 」

At the same time its mouth, which didn’t exist until then, opens wide revealing a row of vicious fangs along with a threatening voice. The sudden appearance of fangs scared me quite a bit, to say the least.

In addition, black snowmen appear one after another from M’s cloak. In an instant 10 black snowmen surrounded the big man baring their fangs as if to say ‘How dare you! How dare you!’ It’s like a movie scene where a victim is getting surrounded by a group of aliens.

「I’ll say it again. If you don’t like it you are free to leave. If you would like to go home, please get off the tram now. 」

As soon as M said that, the doors of the moving train all opened at once. The black snowman who was holding the giant man’s arm grabbed his face with its other hand. It then easily pushed him out the door.

「Uuaaah! 」

Outside the door of the moving tram, the large man is fluttering his legs in the air, desperately clinging to the arm of the black snowman and screaming.

「I’ll do it! I’ll participate, so please wait a second. 」

Hearing this, the black snowman throws the big man back into the tram. At the same time all the doors close again.

「As the rules state, violence is prohibited. Since it’s your first time I’ll just give you a warning, but there won’t be next time. 」

The large man on the floor was being glared at by M as he nods over and over again.

The participants were speechless after this series of events.

I understand what M is saying. It was the big man that broke the rules.

「But even still…」

Even so, the voices of criticism and confusion start to be heard.

「The organizer is right, if we don’t like it we should get off. I would gratefully do that if I could. 」

With a grin on his face Ikusaba-san says, 「It’s still the same as before, you have to take risks to get the rewards. In fact, the only loss is that you will lose your Nanana collection you brought if you fail. It’s better than risking your lives. 」

He was then talked down to.

「In fact, it’s an eyesore. I want you to refrain from unseemly behavior. 」

Yukihime-neesan’s cold words were the final blow.

The big man, who had spoken out and looked dumb, is turning red with anger and fear that he might soon be dropped out of the moving tram.

The other participants fell silent, but their expressions were still gloomy.

「May I ask a question? 」

My arm was raised.

「What is it Juu… that person with the mean eyes over there? 」

Don’t correct yourself when you know my name…

「The way you worded the rule earlier means that if the organizer doesn’t win, we don’t have to forfeit our Nanana collection right? So if someone out of the 30 other participants win then we won’t be penalized and won’t forfeit our Nanana collections. 」

「That’s right. 」

When I got an answer to my question I could hear relieved voices saying things like ‘Ooooh’, and ‘It’s ok then’. The man who had lunged at M also backed down saying, ‘Oh that’s all? You scared me.’ I mean you should really listen to what people have to say.

However, even in this situation there are quite a few people who still have a gloomy look on their faces. For example, the great detective sitting next to me.

「Hmmm, this is getting even more suspicious. 」

I have the same opinion as Tensai.

There’s something I’ve been curious about for awhile now. Why are the leprechauns holding this 《game》? Why would they organize this event? And why did they advertise the Nanana collection that could be won? And why was it such a rare and useful one?

So, the purpose of the leprechauns, and by extension organizer M is to collect the Nanana collections we have brought with us. They were going to dangle a rare and useful prize as bait to gather the participants, and take away their Nanana collections.

Indeed, the leprechauns are a busy bunch. Why would they go to each 《ruin》 to get a collection when they could try to take them all at once? Well I was convinced that was the case.  On the other hand I was concerned about the condition that M would have to win the 《game》 for them to collect the Nanana collections.

The reassured participants around me must think that the probability of that happening is quite low, that it would be hard for her to achieve. There for the criticism of this additional rule has been silently put to rest.

Is it really OK  that M had kept her purpose hidden for so long, just announced her participation, and used intimidation and force to get agreement? No, it’s not OK.

M is the organizer. M has the rules for the 《game》 and she should know all of them.

「This is going to be tough. 」

I thought it was just going to be a battle royale between participants, but apparently this 《game》 isn’t all that simple.

And one more thing. I narrow my eyes as I evaluate Saki Yoshino (aka M) who was acting completely uncharacteristic and running this event with the mindset of a completely different person.

I could definitely feel a strong presence of someone hidden beyond Yun-chan.

Yo, person who is controlling Yun-chan. Who the hell are you?

*********************************************************

「This is Tanuma. I’ve arrived at the detached tram. Several students were found unconscious inside. 」

「This is Fuma. A female student has been caught fleeing from the tram. Requesting permission to open fire. 」

「Permission denied. Why are you trying to shoot a girl? You’re going to get sued for sexual harassment. 」

Shiki, who was listening to the report in the trailer of the mobile headquarters, let out an exasperated sigh.

「But I’d like to hear more about what you have to say. 」

Shiki nods, ‘yeah, right’ to Kiyomi’s advice, standing next to her.

「Nonomiya-chan, go get her. It’s a girl so be smart about it. 」

「Roger. 」

A few minutes later, the rampaging Ibara was quietly subdued by Himeko Nonomiya and captured by Nanaejima General Security Services.