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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 6 Chapter 6.1

Episode 6: The End of the First Stage. Win and Advance, Lose and Stay.

1

《Physical Fitness / Steps The Run》

The first person to run up the stairs to the 8th floor from the starting point on the first floor wins. There are no other rules, anything goes. Just whoever gets there first wins.

「All right!」

Having overwhelmingly defeated my opponent, a young looking butler wearing a collar, I raised my fist in the air.

《Physical fitness / Chicken Race》

Ride a roller while standing without any safety bars. It’s a game to see who can remain standing the longest. However, since we cannot guarantee your life, you should sit down immediately if you feel unsafe.

「Phew, how did it go?」

Tetsu-kun, who was able to return safely with the victory, breaths a sigh of relief. The game itself was decided when his opponent fell into his seat just before the coaster reached the top of the first hill. The roller coaster didn’t stop though and Tetsu-kun ended up experiencing the roller coaster ride without the safety bar.

We both won games for four coins, and rejoiced in each other’s victories.

「But I didn’t expect Juugo’s strategy to work so well.」

There was approximately twenty minutes left. With the time running low on the first round, the participants are no longer able to faithfully follow the winning strategy taught by M, so they offer to compete in fair matches. That was the strategy I came up with.

But the key is to choose a battle area where you think you will have an advantage, even if you say it’s fair. I don’t worry about being turned down. When that is the case I just find someone else. Eventually other participants who are anxious will accept reluctantly.

So how could we be so steadfast with our strategy?

That’s because Tetsu-kun and I both had 6 coins at this point.

With less than 20 minutes remaining, we only had to win 1 game with four coins bet to reach the goal. But other participants are in different situations. The participants who still only have four coins must hurry up to play at least 2 more matches. Unless they win both they will not reach the goal of 10 coins.

With so little time left, the difference between the two participants is enormous.

That’s why we could negotiate with an advantage.

「I don’t know if I’d call that cunning or what.」

「Please tell me you are good at negotiations, Tetsu-kun.」

Well I was still actually a bit nervous about this. I thought I would be able to find my opponent right away, but I couldn’t see any participants wondering around. It took me a while to find someone.

But we still managed to find opponents, negotiate a battle in our favor, and win.

With over 10 minutes left, both Tetsu-kun and I had 10 coins. We had cleared the first stage.

「Well, let’s head to the castle Tetsu-kun.」

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

Let’s go back in time a little to 1:43.

The members of the 7th High School community led by Asumi Nishi, had gathered to review their progress so far. However, there were only five people present, and all of them had difficult expressions on their faces.

「What is wrong? We can’t contact Masaaki?」

Misao responds to Haruto’s question, who was speaking broken Japanese.

「I don’t understand. I have called many times, but there is no reply.」

「It seems like Masaaki has been screwed over.」

Haruto’s exasperated sigh made the atmosphere heavy.

Even in this mood Asumi continues.

「I am sorry to hear about Kishitani-kun, but let’s sort out the situation for now. At this point I have 14 coins, and Haruto has 10. As for Kuroko-kun…」

「0 coins.」

Misao glared sharply at Kuroko who was grinning.

「How did even Kuroko lose? You and your 《Dream Pillow》 ability should be able to beat even the Chairman and Dai-chan if you are good enough!」

「Yeah that’s true, but I was battling with a man in a coat who had a fearless smile, and I was crushed. I don’t even understand why I lost, lol.」

The atmosphere gets heavier with the defeat of Kuroko, who was considered one of the best they had.

Next Misao shows his coins.

「Let’s see, so I didn’t participate but I paid for two people to attend the Guaranteed Victory Strategy Seminar, so I still have three coins.」

Then, everyone’s eyes fell to the one person who was kneeling with his back to everyone.

「So Taisei. Why are you still on five?」

When Asumi’s eyes narrowed, Taisei simply hung his head.

「If I remember correctly, before the first stage started this guy said ‘I’ll collect 20 coins’.」

Haruto’s comment hit’s Taisei right in the back.

「Tai-chan, during the check-in call you said ‘Leave it to me’.」

「You were just trying to sound strong weren’t you asshole?」

After the worried look from Misao and the final blow from Kuroko, Taisei finally spoke.

「…no one would battle me.」

「? What was that?」

「It’s because no one, not a single person, was willing to battle me.」

Everyone in the room was stunned by Taisei’s desperate words as he stood up.

「Does that mean…. that you were too picky about your opponents?」

「That’s not it! It didn’t matter who the other person was, and I challenged everyone from one side of the park to the other!」

Even when being told that directly, Asumi and the others couldn’t honestly believe it.

「Is it possible that out of all the participants who were looking for an opponent at their chosen battle area, that no one would take you on? And only Taisei was being treated like this? That’s just impossible.」

「What are you saying Asumi? Are you saying that I’m lying?」

「I’m not saying that, but… it’s hard to believe that such a thing could happen.」

「Um.」

It was MIsao who couldn’t help but raise her voice.

While everyone was staring at her, Misao’s face became more and more pale.

「I have an idea why.」

「What do you mean Misao-kun?」

And so Misao told everyone about Taisei’s actions during the Guaranteed Victory Strategy Seminar.

「He used his Nanana collection at the seminar!?」, said everyone together.

「I’m sorry, I wasn’t being careful.」

Misao bows her head apologetically.

「Of course, if what Misao-kun says is true it wouldn’t be strange for people to be wary…」

Haruto, who was listening to everything, grinned.

「Immediately after using Taisei’s Nanana collection, he picks a fight with a big guy, while the attention of everyone in the venue is on this, he picks the perfect moment and reveals Taisei’s true identity. If he did it all with that in mind… the man named Ikusaba is someone to keep an eye on.」

「I see, so a way of keeping a strong opponent from surviving. That is by keeping him from increasing his coins by making sure he doesn’t battle anyone. I never would have thought it would be possible to make all the participants refuse to battle against Taisei」, groans Asumi.

Daisei holds his head in his hands.

「Jeez, Ikusaba. Give me a break!」

「Calm down Taisei. There is a hole in this strategy.」

「A hole? …what is it?」, asks Taisei.

Asumi smiles.

「Taisei has all of us.」

「Asumi.」

「We can fill in Taisei’s holes. That’s the power of our team.」

Everyone smiled as they heard their leader’s proud words.

「I mean, really. Asumi is just Asumi, isn’t she?」

「What’s that mean? Are you making fun of me Taisei?」

「Who knows.」

Taisei looks away. Asumi continues while looking at Taisei suspiciously.

「Let’s be realistic. As of now, if you include Haruto, myself, Misao-kun, and Taisei’s coins, there are a total of 33 coins. In other words, currently only three of us can advance to the second stage.」

「In that case it should be the chairwoman, Haruto-san, and Tai-chan.」

「Is that ok MIsao? In that case, not only I but Misao would be out.」

「It’s ok, Tai-chan. I’m just the liason this time. Kuroko is ok too right?」

「I’m too tired to go any further.」

Even though everything was decided, there was still a feeling of unease. That’s because it is not possible for everyone to advance to the second stage as originally planned.

Trying to turn around the atmosphere, Taisei says, 「No, there is still time. If we look for a person who will accept an 8 coin wager, we could get one more person to advance.」

「It’s ok Tai-chan.」

「Shut up, it’s too early to give up!」

Haruto smiled bitterly as Taisei raised his voice.

「Gah, you are the only one who hasn’t done anything, and you want to change that.」

「Haruto-san, please don’t provoke Tai-chan. Chairwoman, please help stop Tai-chan too.」