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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 8 Chapter 2.1

Episode 16: The Second Stage’s Conclusion –My Unwaivering Beliefs-

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After finishing everything, Saki Yoshino (aka M) sat down on a chair at her base. She was quite anxious during the Jenga and Rock Paper Scissors games in the final turns. She was relieved though that she had somehow managed to carry out <<God’s>> plan at the last minute. In any case, this confirmed her passage to the second stage.

Just a little more. There’s just a little more to go.

I glance at Tetsu at the Young Lady Team’s base. However, I also notice that Asumi Nishi standing in front of her. A vague feeling of unease arises in my heart. She shakes it off and changes her mindset. I start thinking about the third and final stage.

Besides Saki, there are only four people left. Ageha Kachyou with her <<crushing eggs>>. Juugo Yama with his <<Yugutoth’s one eye>>. Tetsunoshin Tsujimi with his <<Rattie’s double ring>>.  And then there’s Asumi Nishi who has <<blue dragon Izura>>.

The most troublesome one is the mythical beast Nanana collection, <<blue dragon Izura>>. <<Crushing egg>> is also scary. But the biggest problem is that Tetsu’s <<Rattie’s double ring>> could allow Sansa to invade again.

I don’t think Anego will be coming again… but if she does, we’ll just have to find a way to get Nanana to return as well.

With that in mine, I continue thinking.

So if we were to compete with these remaining members, which third stage would be best for them to compete in? That’s right, there are multiple stages prepared to be the final stage. The reason is simple: to steal the Nanana collection of the remaining participants.

Just as Asumi Nishi was unable to use <<blue dragon Izura>> in the second stage, there are many different rule options available to neutralize the troublesome Nanana collection possessed by the remaining participants.

And there is a surefire way to win in every third stage. Yes, from the very beginning, the victory of the organizer M was never in doubt. The plan given to her by <<god>> was perfect. In the last stage there was an irregularity in the form of Kurosu Sansa’s intervention, but with the help of Ryuugajou nanana, everything was resolved without incident. In other words, there is nothing that can threaten the organizer M‘s victory.

「It looks like your plan was successful, M.」

As Saki was thinking about this, her teammate Asumi Nishi called out to her.

「Yes. This solidifies our chances of passing the second stage.」

「Okay then, I’ll take care of the remaining matches.」

「Please do.」

Saki gratefully accepts Asumi’s proposal and turns her attention to future developments. She imagines a scenario in which she wins.

Just a little more. Just a bit more. Just a little more and I’ll be with Tetsu again.

1

The other three teams had completely lost their will in the face of the Cat Ears Team, who now had over 5000 coins. After M‘s begging time, Ikusaba-san and Haruto’s <<forced acquisition game>> ended with both players forfeiting. That’s only natural. No matter how many hundreds of coins they fought over in that game, the result would not have been enough.

「I’m sorry… It was completely my mistake.」

Even the strong willed Ageha-ojousama seems to be feeling depressed.

「No. It was my mistake for not noticing.」

「It was our mistake.」

Neither I nor Tetsu-kun intended to blame Ageha-ojousama.

The game is over now, but the fight must continue. I handed one of the three remaining dice tickets to the kumagoro. Turn 38 turned into a complete battle.

This turn would literally decide everything.

The ones who came out to roll were Tensai, Yukihime-san, me, and Nishi-san. Everyone rolled the dice and each team’s pieces moved, and three teams ended up landing on the same square. The Great  Detective Team, Sakura Team, and Cat Ears Team.

「A <<forced acquisition game>> will be held.」

The representatives who came out were Tensai, Haruto, and Nishi-san. It seemed that M was no longer interested in the match, and she sat in a chair at her base, not even paying attention to use. As I watched the three of them leave the great hall and head towards the robbery room, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

「Nishi-san, what are you planning?」

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The three of them proceeded silently to the robbery room. Halfway there though, Haruto (who was walking in front) stopped.

「I guess I’ll not be going after all. It’s a waste of time to do something like this.」

As Haruto turned on his heels and walked back between the other two, Asumi opened her mouth to call out to him.

「Hey Englishman. I remember you scolding me in the first stage for saying that I didn’t believe in myself. You said ‘Is that all you can do?’」

Actually it was Tensai that spoke first before Asumi.

Haruto stopped and turned around.

「Did I say that?」

「Isn’t there something you believe in before that?」

Even after those words from Tensai, Haruto just snorted.

「I don’t understand what you mean. Please speak Japanese. Bye bye then.」

Haruto waved his hand dismissively and headed back towards the great hall.

Tensai lets out a ‘Hmph’ as she watches him leave.

「This was a stroke of unexpected luck. I guess in the end it’s the person who doesn’t give up who wins.」

Asumi is confused by Tensai’s muttering and happy smile.

「Tensai-kun, are you …」

「Let’s go, Asumi-dono. Let’s settle all this.」

When the two arrive at the robbery room, they come face to face with Isshin Yuiga, the banker.

Asumi asks Tensai, who is standing proudly with her chest out, 「Tensai-kun, you haven’t given up?」

「Well, there’s still a chance we can win.」

The one who acted surprised was Isshin Yuiga, who was present at the scene. Asumi smiled bitterly.

「Is there a chance of winning?」

「But it’s absolutely impossible for me to do it alone.」

「You noticed then?」

「I noticed this because Asumi-dono appeared during this turn and didn’t reach the finish line.」

「Because I didn’t reach the finish line?」

「Well, it’s a big thing. The outcome is already decided. Unlike Juugo and the others, who were wary of M the whole time and didn’t reach the finish line despite being in the lead, there’s no point for the Cat Ears Team to continue playing this game of <<sugoroku de pon>> any further. However, Asumi-dono rolled a 10, which was a roll that would have allowed her to reach the finish line without a doubt.」

「I see.」

「In this game of <<sugoroku de pon>>, it seems like there’s no point to reaching the goal. Of course. Reaching the goal only earns you 100 coins. There’s a good chance that more people will complete the course. But there are certainly reasons to try to reach the finish line.」

「There are?」

「It means that you won’t lose coins anymore. This is the strongest defense method because it locks in your coins and prevents other teams from stealing them.」

「Exactly.」

「So why didn’t Asumi-dono finish?」

「Why?」

「It’s to help the other teams win. More specifically, it’s to commit suicide in this game and take M with you.」

Isshin Yuiga (the banker who was observing all of this) opens his eyes wide when he hears Tensai’s theory.

Tensai continues.

「I don’t believe in god, but the guy who beat me in the first stage apparently does. But there’s one thing he doesn’t believe in.」

「What’s that?」

「Friends. That’s right Asumi-dono, I’m talking about you.」

「….」

「The person who was supposed to deal the final blow to Asumi-dono was supposed to be that Englishman. But he never came here. That’s because at the last moment he didn’t trust Asumi-dono, who was supposed to be his true ally.」

As Tensai finished speaking, Asumi gave her a round of applause.

「As expected of the Great Detective.」

「Hmm, feel free to praise me more, Asumi-dono. After all, it’s being broadcast on TV tonight.」

「And it seems a shame to reveal the secret at this point. If that happens, I’ll have no choice but to lose to you here. After all, even if I go back like this, my plan will have been exposed to M.」

「Well, I wish you’d refrained from saying that. It’s being broadcast after all.」

Seeing Tensai’s troubled expression, Asumi chuckled.

「That was rude.」

「I’m sorry, but we don’t have much time either. After all, our Great Detective Team has already sold one of their dice tickets. Therefore, we will finish one turn earlier than everyone else. In other words, this is our team’s last chance.」

「I see, I understand. But I will correct you on one point. Haruto is not at fault. This is my own decision. I didn’t tell Haruto about the possibility of doing this in advance.」

「Well, then why did you suddenly decide to do it now?」

「If M would accept me as a friend and fight alongside me, then I thought we could fight together in the second stage. But  it seems M doesn’t think of me as a friend.」