We were also making good progress with the 13-and-over category. We had people from 13 years old and older.
We considered holding the 12-and-under and 13-and-over matches at different times. But because the venue was large, we decided to hold them together.
This was also the reason why there was a need for many guild staff members.
There were some acquaintances among the participants in the 13-and-over category.
Lurina-san and Gil.
Apparently, when _RURINASAN_ came to the store and saw the Kumayuru and Kumakyu stuffed animals on display, she decided to participate.
So, to increase her chances of winning the stuffed toy, she asked Gil to join in too.
When I heard about it, I thought Gil wouldn't participate, but it seemed he agreed.
I thought that if _RURINASAN_ wanted a stuffed toy, I would give one to her as a gift, but since there weren't many people attending at the time, I didn't suggest it. If she couldn't get one, I would give it to her.
Some of the participants were people I had seen before in the Adventurer's Guild.
I had heard about it, but I heard that they decided to participate because they were attracted by the all-you-can-eat offer.
If you looked to the right, you would see Uncle Rem, who helped me buy honey for Kumayuru and Kumakyu.
Then there was the familiar gatekeeper.
Is the entrance to the city okay?
It's not an unauthorized absence, right?
There were Anzu and Seno-san over there.
Just like the Bear's Relaxing Shop, the _KUMASANSHOKUDO_ was closed today.
Forne-san and Bettle-san from Mileela did not seem to be participating, but I could see them cheering on the two of them.
The reason the two were participating was that they heard about Tilmina-san when there were not yet enough participants and decided to apply.
When Anzu heard that the number of participants had increased, she wanted to decline but felt pressured by Seno-san so she went ahead and participated.
According to Fina, Gentz-san also wanted to participate in the all-you-can-eat event, but he couldn't take time off work and couldn't attend.
Apparently, he was now working and unable to support his daughters.
The competition of the 13-and-over category was also coming to an end.
Among their acquaintances, Lurina-san lost and Gil won.
I was surprised when Gil's big hand went up. I never thought he would win.
Then, Uncle Rem won, Anzu lost, and Seno-san won. The gatekeeper lost.
Gil's victory was unexpected, but he might have intimidated his opponent.
It would be scary if your opponent was a big guy like Gil, right?
If it were me, I wouldn't like it.
And the ones who lost would have to leave the venue.
Those who lost split into two groups. Those who stayed to support their winning friends and acquaintances, and those who went home.
There was nothing we could do about the fact that some people were going home.
"It was disappointing for Shuri-chan, but it looks like Fina-chan won." (Mylaine)
Her opponent was bad.
Suddenly he turned out to be an older boy.
She had been practicing hard, but success comes down to luck.
"And it looks like Noa and Misa won too." (Yuna)
"Noir-chan and Misana-chan?" (Mylaine)
Mylaine-san tilted her head at my words.
"Are they participating?" (Mylaine)
Mylaine-san turned her eyes to the competition venue.
"Where are they?" (Mylaine)
Apparently, she couldn't find them.
"They're both in disguise." (Yuna)
"Disguise?" (Mylaine)
I explained that they were disguised so that no one would know they were the lord's daughter, because if Noa, a noble, participated, it might cause a commotion or her opponent might go easy on her.
Someone might know about Misa, so I told Mylaine that she was also in disguise.
"I have no idea where they are." (Mylaine)
"You probably wouldn't be able to tell from far away. By the way, the girl with the dark brown hair on the right is Noa, and over there is Misa." (Yuna)
Mylaine-san looked in the direction I pointed with the bear puppet.
The two of them sat close together.
"That girl with dark brown hair?" (Mylaine)
"They dye their hair, change their hairstyle, and wear normal clothes." (Yuna)
"From here, it's impossible to tell they are Noir-chan and Misana-chan." (Mylaine)
"You can't tell even close by." (Yuna)
Even the children from the orphanage who were playing against them did not notice Noa's disguise.
I only realized it was Noa from her voice tone.
Cliff and Gran-san saw their disguises but didn't even notice right away, as they were so perfect.
"That's amazing. Maybe I'll try changing my hair color next time?" (Mylaine)
That's not a way to escape work, right?
After the first round of matches was over, Lianna-san stood in the center and the next opponent was announced.
Their opponent was next to them.
The seats were arranged like a tournament.
The winners would then fight each other and advance to the next round.
"Well then, please begin." (Lianna)
The second round began with Lianna-san's words.
Shuri, who lost, was cheering on Fina together with Tilmina-san.
Fina's opponent seemed to be an older boy.
Lurina-san cheered on Gil, shouting "Don't give up!"
The children at the orphanage were also cheering.
And the second round ended smoothly.
The results of the second round were that Noa and Misa won, and Fina lost.
Even from here I could see the disappointed look on Shuri's face.
Maybe that was all she wanted her older sister to do her best.
Both children from the orphanage survived.
In the 13-and-older category, Gil and Uncle Rem won, and Seno-san lost.
"I lost."
"Onee-chan, because I put it in that spot."
"Where is Tilmina-san?"
"Lianna-san called her."
So that's why they two came here, huh?
"It's unfortunate that we lost, but we both did our best."
"I didn't win even once. I wanted the bear badge."
Shuri looked a little sad.
The winning badge was a bear badge.
It was like a participation prize.
But you couldn't get it unless you win once.
"Let's try harder next time, okay?" (Yuna)
"Next? Is there a next one?"
I only realized it after saying it.
"That's up to Lianna-san." (Yuna)
This was not something I could decide on my own.
Even if it was not possible to do it every year, once every two or three years might be okay.
"For now, let's cheer on everyone who's still winning."
The ones who made it to the top 16 under the category 12-and-under were Noa, Misa, and two children from the orphanage.
Gil and _REMUJISAN_ were the ones remaining in the top 32 for those in the 13-and-over category.
Surprisingly, Gil and Uncle Rem were the survivors.
"Yuna-oneechan, look over there." (Fina)
Fina pointed.
Noa and Misa were at the same table.
I expected that since they were seated close together.
"Over there, too."
The two children from the orphanage sat at the same table.
As a tournament, if you keep winning, you'll meet each other.
However, I also felt like I would have liked them to face each other in the finals.
"Which one should we support?"
"I think they both are good." (Yuna)
Fina and Shuri nodded at my words.
"Noa-neechan! Misa-neechan! Do your best!" (Shuri)
"Noa—" (Fina)
The moment Fina made a sound, I covered her mouth with the bear puppet.
"Don't call them by name." (Yuna)
I took the bear puppet out of Fina's mouth.
"Right. I almost called her." (Fina)
If she called out Noa's name in a loud voice, someone might notice. Shuri called her -oneechan, but Fina uses the honorific -sama.
Normally, you don't call friends -sama.
"Good luck, both of you!"
Perhaps she noticed Fina and Shuri's voices, as she looked towards us and waved.
Looking at the children at the orphanage, some of them were being looked after by Liz-san and taking care of the Kokekkos.
It looked like I made it in time.
The third round began amid loud cheers.
"Noa-sama, Misa-sama..." (Fina)
Fina looked anxiously at Noa and Misa.
Whoever wins would advance to the top eight.
The placement of the stones couldn't be seen from here, but Noa was contemplating it carefully.
Perhaps it was because she knew the person well, she was unable to move.
Noa placed a stone and turns it over.
Misa was also looking at the board seriously.
It was just like shogi or go.
I had only seen those in anime and manga, but they seemed like a professional shogi or go player.
Everyone who has stayed this far was serious.
"Just watching it makes me nervous."
It was just a flip game.
That might be interesting.
Someone early on would raise their hand, and from then on, more and more people who win raised their hand.
"Noa-sama has won!"
That was right. Noa raised her hand.
It looked like the orphanage rivalry had come to an end.
They were shaking hands with each other.
It was like a sport.
"I lost to Noa-Oneesama" (Misa)
Misa who had lost came.
"Good job."
"Misa-sama, that's too bad."
"Noa-Oneesama was stronger than usual. She had a serious expression." (Misa)
Just like when studying magic, Noa's concentration was incredible.
In the 13-and-over age group, Gil and Uncle Rem won.
Gil's opponents were not intimidated by him, were they?
Uncle Rem was unexpected.
This would also determine the top 16.
This left eight people in the 12-and-under category and 16 people in the 13-and-over category at the venue.
I knew four of them.
"Even though there were so many of them, it gets lonely as the match progresses."
Mylaine-san said while looking at the venue.
There were nearly 200 people at the venue, but only 24 people showed up.
Only about ten percent remained.
There were a lot of unused match tables.
"You're right. Next time we do it, maybe we should change the rules."
"For example?" (Mylaine)
Mylaine-san asked.
"Maybe they should fight over this badge?" (Yuna)
I took Fina's badge.
"A battle for a badge?"
"At first there are three, and when you win you get a badge from your opponent, and the person with the most badges got to participate in higher-ranking matches?" (Yuna)
"Sounds fun. I'm sure they could play against each other at least three times." (Mylaine)
"Well, there are downsides. Like people you know losing on purpose, or transferring badges without your knowledge. There could also be blackmail." (Yuna)
If you have 10 friends, you can get 10 badges.
It's possible to lose on purpose in a tournament, but in that case it's a matter of luck whether you get to play against someone.
"That certainly seems possible." (Mylaine)
"Well, I don't think there's anyone who would go to such lengths to win a Reversi tournament, though." (Yuna)
It would be one thing if the grand prize was a huge amount of money, but the prize is just all-you-can-eat food and a stuffed animal.
While we were talking, the fourth round began.
Author's Note
Now only Noa remains.
Unexpectedly, Gil wins. His opponent may have been scared.
...
*Thank you to everyone who reports typos.
Some of the kanji have been corrected to match the book, so please understand that there are some parts that have not been corrected.
Translation Note
I'll use terms "12-and-under" and "13-and-over" to make the category clear. I should've done it since the beginning, though.