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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 7 Chapter 6.5

Apparently among the last 3 cards which made up the old maids there was a pair. This means the winner of the final round will be the person who guesses the last old maid correctly.

「Tell me the numbers that make up that pair.」

The person who made this demand was Batako-san, who was the second player to go this time.

「No, that’s not how the rules go…」

 

「Let me tell you something first. I’m going to guess the old maid in one shot.」

 

Ikusaba-san was astonished by Batako-san’s declaration. Batako-san just smiled back at him.

「In other words, you’ll only get one shot.」

Hearing this I quickly moved behind Ikusaba-san.

Lady Ageha followed me and together we took a peek at Ikusaba-san’s cards from a distance behind him.

 

 Ikusaba-san’s perspective

Ikusaba-san’s hand (12 cards dealt): 4, 6, 8, J, Q, K. Discarded pairs: 2, 9, 10.

Batako-san’s hand (11 cards dealt): Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown. Discarded pairs: Unknown, Unknown.

Old Maids: 7, 7, Unknown.

 

「Well, this time there is only one old maid. Servant B’s sister has more cards in her hand than Ikusaba so that means the old maid is in her hand.」

In other words, none of the cards in Ikusaba-san’s hand are old maids.

So…

「OK, let’s start with you. If you draw the old maid then you win.」

Just as Batako-san said, if Ikusaba-san cannot make a pair with the card he draws then he’s won.

But the probability is 1 in 7. Ikusaba-san’s trembling hand reaches towards Batako-san’s cards, but he has trouble choosing just one. His forehead was sweaty as his outstretched hand moved back and forth from side to side.

Then Batako-san started doing something impossible again.

「I gueeeess I don’t have a choice. Here’s a big help.」

What did Batako-san think she was doing? She grabbed four cards from her hand and put them on the table face up.」

 

Ikusaba-san’s hand (12 dealth): 4, 6, 8, J, Q, K. Discarded pairs: 2, 9, 10.

Batako-san’s hand: Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, 8, J, Q, K. Discarded pairs: Unknown, Unknown.

Old maids: 7, 7, Unknown.

 

「The probability is now 1 in 3」, said Batako-san as she pointed at the 3 remaining cards in her hand.

I can only think of this as a total mockery of Ikusaba-san.

Batako-san only has 3 cards left.

And that wasn’t all.

Ton ton ton

Batako-san taps her fingers on the table in imitation of her opponent. She then whispers to Ikusaba-san, 「You need to pick which end you want.」

What a disgusting way to say it.

Normally when Ikusaba-san was giving suggestions he would say what card he wants you to pick. In this case  Batako-san was only mentioning the two cards on either end of the 3 cards she has fanned out. This was like reverse psychology, or was it?

Confronted by all this, Ikusaba-san’s face distorts again.

Internal conflict can be seen.

Is she trying to manipulate Ikusaba-san or not? What’s more, the opponent is Batako-san who has been saying whatever she wants since the beginning of the game. Should we believe them? No, you can’t… but then again…

As if wondering through a labyrinth with no exit in sight, Ikusaba-san was struggling with worry.

He must choose one card.

Ikusaba-san who was already looking exhausted from dealing with the mind games, ignored her words and drew the right card.

And yet Batako-san smiles wryly.

「Ah, you pulled it after all」, she says as if it was scripted.

Ikusaba-san, with sweat forming on his forehead, timidly turns over the card he drew.

The card was a 3.

 

Ikusaba-san’s hand: 4, 6, 8, J, Q, K. Discarded pairs: 2, 9, 10

Batako-san’s hand: 3, Unknown, Unknown, 8, J, Q, K. Discarded pairs: Unknown, Unknown.

Old maids: 7, 7, Unknown.

 

「….F..Fuahahaha, aaaaahahaha! What the hell did I draw? Look, I drew a 3, a 3 that I don’t have! I pulled the old maid! Look, I’ve won!」

Ikusaba-san shouts as if to clear out his frustration.

Ikusaba-san then declares his guess.

「The old maid is a 3.」

It’s an abrupt ending.

Or so I thought.

There was one person whose eyes were looking around as if at a loss like Ikusaba-san’s.

It’s President Yuiga, the banker.

「T..that’s incorrect.」

「…What?」

「That’s not the old maid. 3 is not the old maid.」

「…How can you say something so stupid? Look what I have in my hand!」

Ikusaba-san exposes his hand by slamming it down on the table.

「Look, I don’t have a single 3 in my hand! If this isn’t the old maid, then what is?」

「You did it Batako-san」, I thought to myself as I watched Ikusaba-san screaming.

As if hearing she heard me, Batako-san reveals her hand.

The other two cards held by Batako-san were 3 and 6.

In other words, this is the situation.

 

Ikusaba-san’s hand: 4, 6, 8, J, Q, K. Discarded pairs: 2, 9, 10.

Batako-san’s hand: 3, 3, 6, 8, J, Q, K. Discarded pairs: Unknown, Unknown.

Old maids: 7, 7, Unknown.

 

「D..don’t be stupid! You can’t get away with cheating!」, Ikusaba-san barks.

「This is why you are an idiot, stuuuupid. What is this game all about? The aim is to guess the old maid right? If that’s the case, then not discarding a pair is a good idea. Oh by the way, since guessed, it’s my turn to answer. The old maid is 4. You just revealed your hand so I know for sure.」

Batako-san has been making fun of Ikusaba-san endlessly this whole time. She is truly despicable.

「It’s fraud! This is cheating!」

Batako-san bursts out laughing again.

「This is nice. I never thought I’d hear such cheap words coming out of your mouth. I thought your motto was win at all costs.」

Ikusaba-san sobbed, as if someone poured cold water over his head.

Batako-san approaches Ikusaba-san.

「I promised to reveal the truth after the 10th round. So I’ll let you decide. If you win the 10th round from disqualification then it ends here. But if you graciously accept defeat I’ll tell you the answer.」

Ikusaba-san grumbles at the choice presented to him.

Choose to win and get the coins, or lose and find out the answer.

Ikusaba-san eventually regained his composure and opened his mouth.

「…It’s ok, I lose.」

It’s settled.

Batako-san had a complete victory  in one-three group old maid, with 10 wins and no losses.

「Please tell me, how did you know what the old maids were?」

As Ikusaba-san is impatient for an answer, Batako-san smiles beautifully.

 

「It’s easy. It’s because I’m far superior to you, stuuuuupid.」

 

That concludes Batako-san’s revelation.

Yeah, this person. She’s just awful.

 

 5

 

After completing 《one-three group old maid》 the calculations are complete.

The banker Yuiga announces the results.

「W..well then, in accordance with the 《trade》, 300 coins will be transferred from the Great Detective Team to the Young Lady Team.」

With this, our Young Lady team jumped into the lead with 394 coins. Meanwhile the Great Detective team only had 85 coins, dropping them to last place.

「I mean, it’s impossible. It’s really impossible, Batako-san.」

A flawless victory over Ikusaba-san is just too much.

After being beaten so badly by Batako-san, Ikusba-san just stood up from his chair as if to signal he was done and just wanted it to end.

「That’s a cool ring. I’ll buy it for 400 coins.」

Batako-san said this to the already exhausted Ikusaba-san.

Batako-san was smiling as she asked this, but Ikusaba-san didn’t seem to understand.

「What’s wrong with you? You look like an idiot.」

「T… this ring has nothing to do with this sugoroku…」

「Don’t tell me what to do. I already know that. So this is a favor from me.」

「A favor?」

「No, I was just trying to give you a light pat on the head, but you were too weak and I ended up crushing your neck. So, to make it up to you I’m saying I’ll buy your ring for 400 coins.」

Batako-san speaks each word as if it were engraved in metal.

「How could we do such a thing…」

「With a 《trade》. Hey banker, give me another sheet of paper.」

「This is trivial.」

Ikusaba-san spits that out in anger. But watching her, even I understand. That ring is one of the Nanana collection.

Ikusaba-san no longer had the energy to let it slide. He was thoroughly beaten up by Batako-san.

「I see.」

Hearing this, Batako-san’s attitude changed, as if she’d never been so vile in the past.

「…There’s no way.」

「Then could you please pay me the remaining coins immediately.」

 

Ikusaba-san, who was about to quickly leave the room, stopped.

「The rest?」

「The 300 coins we just made is from our 《trade》. However my settlement has not yet been paid.」

Batako-san said this while pointing her thumb at President Yuiga.

「W… what do you mean?」

「It’s the amount you owe from the original rules of the game. The team with the fewest coins can decide the rate, so I’ll decide. Of course it’s 20 coins. We played 10 rounds, and the result was a complete victory for me, so it’s the same as if I won all 5 rounds and lost none. In other words I need you to pay me another 100 coins.」