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Nanana’s Burried Treasure Volume 5 Chapter 3.5

「No problem. 」

「Finally, rule 3: nanana collection is prohibited from being used at all. 」

「What do you mean? 」

「We shouldn’t use nanana collection here. So please don’t use any you have. …Oh, correction. Let’s change the rule to: ‘If a player uses a nanana collection, he or she must resign from the game and exit the 《ruin》 immediately. 」

「Tell us why. 」

「I just thought it would be too risky to play with all the different nanana collections while the trap mechanisms are still in operation. Like I said to begin with, what we want is to avoid as much risk as possible. We want a short term solution that avoids risk as much as possible. We would prefer not to use any nanana collection if we can help it. Of course if you feel in danger you should use it to avoid the traps. That’s why we changed the rule to if you use it you are disqualified though. 」

「If you use any nanana collection you are disqualified immediately huh? 」

Well, we don’t have any nanana collection with us.

「What do you think? I think it’s fair. 」

「…I’m sorry, but we are going to need a little time. 」

With that the vice-chairman and the others began a discussion. He was surprisingly cautious.

If you look at it a different way though, it means that they have brought a nanana collection we could assume that they would use it to clear the 《ruin》. As a matter of fact they may have more than one.

「What is the fair rule for discussion? You are just trying to talk your way out of it, you scoundrel. 」, Tensai whispered to me as I watched Nishi-san and the others discussing the situations.

「That’s rude. It’s negotiation. 」

「Hmmm, but it’s a good move. When it comes to a contest of strength, the side with all the nanana collection has an overwhelming advantage. If we want a win we need to block our opponent’s nanana collection. That’s just the way it is. In addition to that, the reason why you insist on the formality of ‘winning’ is for something later. 」

As usually, the great detective sees through my intentions immediately.

「Even if we could steal it, I can see that it would definitely be taken back because our opponents are stronger. Therefore, we need to play a proper game, to have a proper outcome, and to get our opponents to be ok with giving us the nanana collection if we win. 」

「I have to say, as expected of my worthy rival. 」

「I am honored to receive your praise. 」

Before long the vice-chairman, who had finished the discussion, returned.

「I’ve kept you waiting. 」

「So what did you decide? 」

「It’s fine. Let’s go by your rules. 」

Yes, I did it. I couldn’t help but grin on the inside. Of course, on my face was a smile.

「Let’s battle. Fair and square. 」

 

5

 

The curtain is about to be drawn on the competition between Third High School’s Adventurers Club and the Seventh High School Student Council.

First Tensai and Nishi-san went to the entrance. Of course, as with the previous sites, we had to remove the nanana collection from the treasure chest for the door to the exit to open. The two who weren’t participating were asked to wait at the door until the nanana collection was removed from the chest. In the mean time the teams were divided for strategy meetings.

「You sure thought of something interesting Yama. I never thought this would go so well. If we can’t compete on even footing then we don’t compete at all. With that kind of strategy  we can negotiate boldly. 」

「It’s all in the mind. 」

「Yama is absolutely right. Before we didn’t stand a chance. However now that we can compete on an equal footing, I feel like we have the upper hand. 」

「It’s still about 50/50. 」

「It’s ok. Without their nanana collection we can’t lose. 」

It’s strange but when Ibara-senpai is smiling and saying something like that, it makes me feel like she really means it. Perhaps this is what you would call a good team atmosphere.

With my two senpai like this, this has become strangely fun. Oh no, I think the tension is rising. This sensation from the depths of my body makes me feel relaxed.

「Let’s go with the plan. Just one last question, what is the highest priority? 」

「You mean our lives, right? 」

「If it gets bad, let’s just throw out the nanana collection and get the hell out of here. 」

「That’s not good enough. Cherish your life, protect the Nanana Collection, and win. That will be our result. 」

Ibara-senpai was smiling. She is truly greedy. However this command she gave had a certain power to it. Tsurezure-senpai and I have no choice but to laugh at that.

「Well I don’t blame you Yama. 」

「So with that. 」

The three of us bump fists and get ready for the challenge game.

 

After confirming that Tensai and Nishi-san have reached the exit, we get in position.

There are four people in the treasure chest room on the second floor at the far end of the warehouse which is the 《ruin》. Tsurezure-senpai and I are standing in front of the treasure chest. The vice-chairman and Masaaki Kishitani-san, who has a distinctive scar on his eyebrow, are standing by the wall. We are facing each other.

Before the battle begins, the vice-chairman opens his mouth.

「This is a final confirmation. This is a game where you will either escape the 《ruin》 with the nanana collection, or we will take it away. It’s a game of ‘You keep it or we take it’. We can attack, we can interfere, we can do whatever we want. However, the use of any nanana collection is forbidden. If you do you will be disqualified. You will have to give up and exit the game immediately. The nanana collection in the chest will go to the winner of this game. 」

「No problem. 」

「The moment you take the nanana collection from the treasure chest the game starts. Until then we will not move from this position. You may start whenever you are ready. 」

「I understand. 」

The vice-chairman and Kishitani-san are about six meters away from us. Still, I keep my distance from that wall.

「Just to confirm, is it really ok that we are so close? We don’t have to start in the warehouse downstairs? 」

「Let me ask you something. Are you sure you want to stay there? Since you’re such a good attacker, wouldn’t it be better if you just stuck to the exit of the 《ruin》 and waited for us to come down? After all we have to go there. 」

「The advantage of being close to the exits would go to you defenders. We win when we take the nanana collection, so there’s no point in staking out the exit where there is the danger that we could be pushed out. 」

I said, 「If that’s the case, then ok」, but inwardly I couldn’t get relaxed.

I regain my composure and turn my attention to the treasure chest in front of me. It is exactly the same size and color as the treasure chests we have seen before. When we open the lid, which is still covered with the same beautifully colored flower, we will find the nanana collection. The moment we take it out the traps will be triggered.

According to what the vice-chairman said dolls in the cargo in the warehouse will attack us, but do we really believe him? We will have to wait till we open the chest to find out.

「Well then Tsurezure-senpai, please open the treasure chest as planned. 」

「Got it」, said Tsurezure-senpai as he stood in front of the chest.

I’m standing next to him, and tension is running us and the two standing by the wall.

「Before I do though, I’m  checking with Ibara. 」

Well, I was surprised to find myself being chastised by my senpai. He suddenly turns his back on the treasure chest, ignoring me and the two people by the wall who were giving him death stares, and moved across the room to the window. He opens it looks out into the warehouse. From here we could see the entire warehouse. It looked like a maze of large wooden boxes and packages stacked in various places.

「Ibara, are you ready? 」

Ibara-senpai, who is standing in an open space with few piles of goods, slightly ahead of the center of the warehouse, raises her hand in response to Tsurezure-senpai’s loud voice.

「Kagetora! You better be able to bring it here! 」

Beside Ibara-senpai, who was waving her hand, stood a woman. This was the last member of Nishi-san’s team. She was a big sister-type, and as far as I could tell form eavesdropping on their discussions, her name was Misao Imawano.

「Don’t worry! I’ll get it there myself! 」

「Don’t mess with me! 」