Chapter 653

The Bear Watches the Award Ceremony

Published: 5 November 2023

 

"Eliza-chan finished third! It's over. Everyone, please stop dismantling. We'll start scoring." (Moderator)

 

The three people had finished dismantling everything, so it's over.

Everyone stopped and the staff checked the state of the dismantling and scored them.

After all, it's a little disappointing that Fina wasn't there. However, since it seemed like she couldn't dismantle a spider, I didn't think it would have been a good idea to make her to the finals, but somewhere in my heart I might have wanted to see Fina make it to the finals.

 

"Sorry to have kept you waiting. The rankings have been decided. Many of you may have guessed that the first place would be Dedd-kun, and you're right, the first place is Dedd-kun!" (Moderator)

 

The venue was filled with excitement as expected.

In everyone's eyes, he would be the winner. If it were different, maybe there would be an outcry.

 

"Congratulations on winning. It's your second consecutive victory." (Moderator)

"Thank you. I didn't have to show my embarrassing side to my seniors." (Dedd)

 

He waved to the adventurers at the venue.

Probably his party members.

 

"I was very lucky." (Dedd)

"Is it luck?" (Moderator)

"If I had been born a little later, I wouldn't have been able to win two consecutive championships." (Dedd)

"What does that mean?" (Moderator)

 

Dedd-kun looked at Fina next to Sanya-san.

 

"When I was that age, I couldn't do dismantling. So, I was lucky." (Dedd)

 

He might be saying that he might not have been able to beat the grown Fina.

 

"I see, then please give us one last word." (Moderator)

"Next year I would like to challenge my seniors, so please support me again next year." (Dedd)

 

He would be 20 years old next year and it seemed he would challenge the veterans.

I was curious as to how good the winner Dedd would be in the 20 and above event.

 

"Thank you very much. Now it's time to announce the second place. As expected, second place is Gard-kun!" (Moderator)

 

This result was also as expected.

 

"Next year, I'll be number one." (Gard)

"Gard, you did a great job." (Moderator)

 

An adventurer who I thought was one of the same adventurers as him spoke up.

 

"Next year, there will be no rival Dedd-kun. Next year you will be the winner."

"Up until now, I've only been looking at the top. I'm glad to know that next year there will be people coming from below to catch up." (Gard)

 

He glanced over at Fina who was in the commentary seat.

Maybe everyone was aware of Fina?

 

"Also, I was late in dismantling the spider, but next year I will win!" (Eliza)

 

This time, I looked at Eliza-san and made a declaration.

Maybe he thought he lost to Eliza in dismantling a spider.

1st and 2nd place were announced, and the results were as expected. However, the third place winner was someone that no one expected at first.

 

"And third place goes to Eliza-chan, who quickly rose through the ranks by dismantling a spider." (Moderator)

 

A loud roar erupted from the venue.

The final catch-up was amazing.

I was sure no one expected her to finish in 3rd place. And because she dismantled carefully, just as she had done from the first round to the fourth round, she did not lose any points and finished in 3rd place.

 

"Eliza-chan, that's disappointing. Just in case, if the finals were all about spiders, Eliza-chan would have won." (Moderator)

"It's certainly disappointing. Even if my favorite monster happened to come to the finals and win, I wouldn't be happy. Even if I did win, I don't think anyone would recognize me as the winner. " (Eliza)

 

Indeed, she could only say that she was lucky.

Eliza was good at dismantling, but she had never won first place in any dismantling. No matter who we looked at, Dedd-kun and Gard-kun would be seen as the winners.

Thinking about it that way, it might be fair to dismantle all the monsters from the first round to the fourth round, as it would allow them to measure their total ability.

However, there was no doubt that dismantling the secret spider gave Eliza an advantage.

 

"However, if the spider had appeared in the fourth round instead of the final, it would be a shame to think that I could have taken revenge on Dedd-san and Gard-san." (Eliza)

 

If that were the case, Dedd-kun and Gard-kun wouldn't have been able to take first and second place in all their dismantling.

If we thought about it that way, the two of them were saved by the rules.

However, if a spider had appeared in the fourth round, Fina might not have been able to take on the challenge and might have declined. Considering Fina, I was glad that the spider was dismantled in the final.

I was sure she would be more satisfied if she fought and lost than if she didn't fight and lost.

Of course, maybe it's still frustrating that she lost.

 

"I have a question for Eliza-chan. I’m sure everyone in the audience is curious, but are you good at dismantling spiders?" (Moderator)

"Yes, I have seen spiders dismantled many times since I was a child." (Eliza)

 

Eliza-san laughed.

I was a little scared of smiling.

 

"Um, since you were a child?" (Moderator)

"Several times a year, a spider that strayed from the depths of the forest would appear near the village where I lived." (Eliza)

"It's a dangerous village." (Moderator)

"More or less." (Eliza)

"But I don't think you'll be good at dismantling spiders." (Moderator)

"Also, I've been playing with insects since I was little, so I'm not afraid of insects." (Eliza)

"I think the size is different..." (Moderator)

 

The moderator looked at the spider that remained undismantled.

I also agreed with the moderator. Absolutely no big insects.

 

"It's not that disgusting. Besides, I got paid to help with the dismantling, so I helped out." (Eliza)

 

Probably everyone in the venue had a tense look on their face.

I was sure I couldn't be friends with Eliza-san.

It couldn't be helped that our hobbies didn't suit each other, but if someone forced me to do something I didn't like, I would run away.

But I thought she's only 18 years old, so good at dismantling, and had a strong heart.

Maybe that's why when she joined the Adventurer's Guild, she was able to ask to be allowed to do dismantling work.

I thought Eliza-san had had the same hardships as Fina.

Respect.

 

The 10th place was then awarded, and the dismantling event for those 19 and under ended.

 

"It's over."

"Yeah."

 

Just when I thought it was over and was about to get up from my seat, the moderator continued speaking.

 

"Then, finally, I will announce the Fighting Spirit award." (Moderator)

"Fighting Spirit award?" (Yuna)

"Ah, there was something like that." (Ellelaura)

 

Ellelaura-san spoke as if she just remembered it.

 

"This is an award given to the person who worked the hardest this time." (Moderator)

 

There was such a thing.

Who was it? Was it Eliza who was the best among the women?

However, the moderator looked at Sanya.

 

"The Fighting Spirit award goes to Fina-chan by unanimous decision!" (Moderator)

"M-me?" (Fina)

 

Sanya's microphone picked up Fina's voice.

Fina was confused when her name was suddenly called.

 

"Fina-chan. Please come over here." (Moderator)

 

The moderator held out his hand to the side so that the participants could come next to him.

 

"Uh..." (Fina)

"Fina-chan, please go." (Sanya)

 

Sanya-san, who was standing next to her, called out to her kindly, and although she was confused, she got up from her seat and slowly walked towards the man who was the moderator.

 

"Fina-chan made the event lively. Above all, it was an amazing feat to reach the fourth round at such a young age. No one complained." (Moderator)

"Is it me? But if that's the case, I think Eliza-san, who made it to the finals and came in third place, is more amazing." (Fina)

 

Fina looked at Eliza-san.

 

"Thank you, Fina-chan. But I got it two years ago, so I can't get it this time." (Eliza)

"Yes, those who have received it once will unfortunately not be able to receive it. The Fighting Spirit Award is given to those who have never entered the prize in the past and have not received the Fighting Spirit Award. The reason is that this will be given to them as a gift." (Moderator)

 

The moderator took the cloth that was placed on the table next to him.

I wondered what it was.

I couldn't see well from here.

 

"What is this?" (Fina)

"This is a set of dismantling tools made by a veteran craftsman. It is given to you as a wish for you to continue working hard with this tool." (Moderator)

 

It's a prize typical of a dismantling event.

Fina looked around, confused.

 

"Fina-chan, take it. Are you going to doubt the eyes of all the judges?" (Sanya)

 

Sanya said it while looking towards where the judges were lined up.

 

"That's right. We all unanimously chose it. No one objected. So please accept it." (Judge)

 

When one judge says something, the other judges say, "Yes, please accept that," and "Are you sure you can't believe our eyes?"

 

"Fina-chan. None of the people who participated this time have any objections. So, accept it." (Eliza)

 

Eliza-san told her to check around. I could hear nods from the participants around her.

Fina looked around again and looked at us.

Tirumina-san and I nodded. Had Fina made up her mind? She looked at the man who was the moderator.

 

"Thank you for that. I will treasure it." (Fina)

 

When Fina received the dismantling tools, the people around her applauded. We also applauded.

However, because I was using the bear puppet, there was no applause.

 

"Then, this concludes today's event. Tomorrow, the dismantling will begin by those over the age of 20, so we look forward to your continued support tomorrow." (Moderator)

 

It's over this time.

Each began to move.

Fina was also surrounded by people who took part in the dismantling. It seemed like someone was congratulating her. In response, Fina responded with a big smile.

Somehow, it's sad that Fina seemed to have grown up all at once.

It felt like Fina was leaving.

 

"I thought she was still a child, but she's growing up so fast. I feel a little lonely." (Tirumina)

 

Next to me, Tirumina-san said what I was feeling.

Maybe it was parental love?

 

"Tirumina-san. Children are like that. My Shia is also learning and growing in a lot of ways that I don't know about." (Ellelaura)

 

Ellelaura-san said while patting Shia's head. Shia seemed embarrassed by her mother's behavior.

 

"Noah also grows up a little while I don’t see him.…I wonder if she hasn’t changed much?" (Ellelaura)

 

That's so sad.

Even Noah is growing day by day. She was doing it, right?

But all I could remember was Noah constantly shouting "Bear!"

That's weird.

 


Author's Note

Is it because Fina grows up and feels lonely?

 

It's already the end of July and it's August. (2021)

More than half of the year has passed.

It's fast.

 


Translator's Note

It's already November.

Almost at the end of the year. (2023)


*The spelling of the characters and places may be different from the official or any other translation website. Click here to see the list.