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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 7 Chapter 5.4

The contenders in this match are the Great Detective Team versus the Cat Ears Team.

What emerged here was…

「I’ll go」Declared the Phantom Thief, Hiiyo Ikusaba. At his appearance, most of the participants tightened their expressions.

In contrast, the representative for the Cat Ears Team was Cat Ears-chan (AKA Nishi-san), who had rolled the dice this turn.

There’s an order to who rolls the dice, but maybe now’s the time for M to step forward since she knows the true nature of Ikusaba-san’s Nanana collection. Or has Nishi-san already received some instruction?

While musing over various possibilities in my head, I realize that all of them are mere conjectures.

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M has yet to show any signs of moving.

That alone is the undeniable reality in front of us.

「So I’d like to decide on the method of the match」, announced Yuiga the banker. He is managing the robbery room and has spread out the cards to be drawn. Picking the card is Ikusaba, who holds more coins representing his team.

Confronting Ikusaba, Nishi stays cautious.

「The rate is one.」

Although many teams have raised the rate to the MAX, she declares the lowest rate.

Having observed the first turn’s 《forced acquisition game》, Nishi has also completed her analysis regarding Ikusaba’s Nanana collection. It is a type that compels others. However, exactly what item is the Nanana collection, as well as its activation conditions, remains unknown.

Therefore, every single move made by Ikusaba sitting across is viewed with caution. The slightest hand movement, a glance this way, a change in expression, anything could trigger his ability.

Knowing what ultimately triggers it (Ikusaba giving directions) does not clarify whether it simply happens upon being told or if circumstances are already manipulated to obey his words.

Consequently, Nishi is too preoccupied with Ikusaba’s actions outside of the match to focus on the match itself.

Nishi’s concerns extend beyond that.

Indeed, this second stage is proving to be exceedingly difficult for her.

In terms of the 《game》 for the Nanana collection, Nishi-san is completely outmatched in this second stage.

The Nanana collection Nishi brought was the 《phantom beast》. It was one of the numerous spirits and mythical beasts that Nanana Ryugajou had once commanded in life.

In particular, a guardian dragon from the East that Nanana Ryugajou had once subdued and commanded in her territory which is named Tanabe… (naturally, a moniker given by Nanana) suggesting its true name is something else.

Normally a creature the size of a small snake, it sleeps nestled between the substantial cleavage of Nishi. However, its true form is a colossal dragon of several tens of meters.

Its power is immense. One might say Tanabe could overpower anything with a single demonstration of its strength.

Yet, employing such a formidable Nanana collection in the second stage is virtually impossible.

The Nanana collection must not be revealed to those unfamiliar with it.

This rule of the second stage acts as shackles, preventing Nishi-san from utilizing Tanabe the giant dragon.

Her previously unbeaten Nanana collection is rendered useless before the rules of the second stage.

In this vein, Ikusaba’s Nanana collection (which is also undefeated during the first stage) remains undetectable to observers. That makes it highly suitable for the second stage.

The stance of these two individuals represents a distinction in choice of Nanana collection.

Without this disparity, could Nishi triumph over Ikusaba?

「It’s my win, isn’t it?」

Ikusaba declares victory, smiling confidently.

There was no perceivable moment in which Ikusaba gave Nishi an order.

Of course, Nishi was unable to utilize her Nanana collection. Perhaps the excessive caution towards the opponent’s tactics prevented full concentration on the match.

However, even without considering that… Ikusaba is powerful.

4

「This is bad, very bad,」

I candidly think, watching the two’s 《forced acquisition game》 on the great hall’s monitor.

No openings to exploit are visible.

Unlike the recent match with Haruto, no countermeasures come to mind. Not knowing the nature of Ikusaba-san’s Nanana collection indeed plays a significant role. It’s something that compels obedience. But being overly cautious becomes a disadvantage, as exhibited by Nishi-san just now.

Finding a counter-strategy is challenging.

First and foremost, he’s not an opponent I can defeat alone.

So what should I do?

Like in the first turn, should I ally with other teams and challenge Ikusaba-san together?

But the conditions are undeniably harsh.

Launching a 《forced acquisition game》 requires having at least three teams involved as a minimum. Furthermore, we must seize as many coins as possible when the opportunity arises. In other words, the best time to strike is towards the end, when the coin stakes in the 《forced acquisition game》 has inflated after each round. Regrettably, until then there’s nothing to do but silently endure Ikusaba-san’s moves.

Of course, there’s the simpler route of ignoring Ikusaba-san’s Detective Team and aiming for a safe second place… but it’s hardly a good strategy.

If we are aiming for victory, it’s inevitable to engage with Ikusaba-san and his Nanana collection.

Worst case, I’ll need to find a counter to his Nanana collection during this second stage. Otherwise, advancing won’t even result in a contest.

Above all, the presence of M is alarming. I won’t survive with the complacent mindset of settling for second place.

5

At the start of the first and second turns:

– Great Detective Team (Blue Spades), Great Detective & Phantom Thief, coins: 285

– Sakura Team (Yellow Diamonds), Yamato Nadeshiko & Military Uniform, coins: 232

– Lady Team (Green Clubs), Lady & Servant A & Servant B, coins: 194

– Cat Ears Team (Red Hearts), Masked Cat Ears & Cat Ears-chan, coins 118

Following the two turns from Ikusaba-san and Nishi-san’s 《forced acquisition game》, we proceed to the first and second turns.

The pieces on the Sugoroku board are nearing the end of the second round…

「It’s a 《forced acquisition game》」

Moreover, the same square hosts Ikusaba-san’s Great Detective Team and our Lady Team.

And rising to the challenge for the Detective Team, of course…

「I’ll go」,

The undefeated Hiiyo Ikusaba steps forward.

Hey Tensai, isn’t it about time you join the 《forced acquisition game》 with a flashy entrance as a detective? The urge to say this rises, but the truth is that our effectively collectionless detective shows a remarkably quiet demeanor. She’s committed to her assigned task of rolling the dice, no signs of movement. She simply retreats without a fuss to sit and drink her coffee milk making churu churu sound.

「And who will it be from this side?」

I inquired to Lady Ageha.

Then unexpectedly,「Let me handle this」, out of nowhere Tetsu-kun steps up.

「Oh? What sudden gust has prompted you, Servant B? You’ve been so quiet until now.」

「I’d like to take charge here.」

「Why now?」

Lady Ageha is naturally suspicious of such an abrupt declaration. And yet, there’s a discernible air that Tetsu-kun is scheming something. Come on, Tetsu-kun. You’re making it obvious. Try to be a bit more subtle.

So, as a precaution, 「Lady Ageha. The truth is, Tetsu-kun had a girl he liked who was once in jeopardy because of Ikusaba-san. Tetsu-kun rushed to her aid and prevented a dire outcome but because of it, she vanished from Tetsu-kun’s life… 」

「Hey, Juugo. What are you blabbering about… well, even if that’s true.」

「….So, Tetsu-kun feels the need to defeat Ikusaba-san here and now, possibly to reassure the girl upon her return that ‘You can feel safe because I will protect you’.」

Hearing my somewhat embellished explanation, Lady Ageha…

「Very well, Servant B. I won’t say more. Settle your past here. Then, go and welcome her back.」

Wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, she sends off Tetsu-kun. Yep, Lady Ageha can be quite gullible at times.

「Sorry about this.」

「If worst comes to worst, killing that villain is permissible. Be at ease. Using the power of my family, this incident will be quieted in the media.」

Wow, such a bold thumbs up. As expected of Lady Ageha, her words are always over the top.

And thus, I see off Tetsu-kun on his quest for vengeance, accompanying him to the corridor.

「Juugo, I’m grateful.」

「Don’t mention it, but… do you have a strategy?」

Honestly this seems impossible, but it’s worth asking.

「I do」, Tetsu-kun asserts confidently.

「…Seriously?」

No way. Is that a joke, Tetsu-kun? He’s not one to jest. Does he truly possess the confidence to succeed?

Lost for words, I watch Tetsu-kun’s back as he walks away.

「Juugo, I’m leaving it to you.」

His figure seems to carry the determination of a man heading into a battlefield.

Having returned to the great hall my eyes gaze upon the monitor displaying the scene in the robbery room, already showing the presence of banker Yuiga.

The silent audience is fixated on the monitor. Representatives from other teams returning from numbered rooms also linger to observe, possibly hoping to discern a strategy against Ikusaba-san.

The first to enter the depicted robbery room is Ikusaba-san, followed shortly by Tetsu-kun.

In front of banker Yuiga, Ikusaba-san and Tetsu-kun stand face to face.

「Leave this to me.」

The earnest expression that was apparent from Tetsu-kun earlier lingers in my thoughts.

The unwavering assertion that he has a winning chance against Ikusaba-san.

What kind of strategy does Tetsu-kun plan to employ against Ikusaba-san?

Watching the unfolding scene on the monitor with bated breath, banker Yuiga begins to speak.

「Then, this is it…」

「It’s showtime!」

Out of the blue, someone bursts into an exuberant shout.

Who else but Tetsu-kun?

The usually serious and composed Tetsu-kun suddenly breaks into such exclamations.

And it doesn’t stop there.

「Zunzun, zunzun, zunzun♪」

He starts dancing with a hip shake.

Both banker Yuiga and Ikusaba-san are taken aback.

The robbery room falls into a frozen silence.