Chapter 863: December 20th: The "Right" to Challenge, Currently on Sale at the Kiosk for 30,000 Mani Each!
Wondering what was going on, the gazes of the players gathered more and more.
It seemed there were also players mixed in who knew who I was, and I could spot a few taking screenshots. Get permission, get permission first.
That being said, standing here alone just makes me a crowd-drawing panda. I need to make them clearly understand that the point is to engage in a one-on-one fistfight with the panda... which is why you use a plant at times like this.
"Hey, hey, hey, Tsuchinoko-san! You show up out of nowhere talkin' 'bout an Infinite Kumite and prizes! You gotta give us the details, or we ain't gonna be interested, ya know!?"
While glaring half-lidded at the player who was trying way too hard to pick a fight, I cleared my throat and re-stated my reason for being here. That damn radish actor... should I hang him up and dry him out like a pickled radish?
Half out of desperation, I raised my voice and shouted what I was about to do here, and what they needed to do to participate. Immediately, an amplification magic spell was deployed over my mouth. Only at times like this are you well-prepared; thank you so much, DeepSlo!! (Desperate sarcasm)
『Ahem, participation is voluntary! The content is an Infinite Kumite, just like I said! Any player who has the right to challenge will have a PvP match against me... Sunraku! As for why I'm doing this here, I was threatened by the mastermind of the Former King Faction to work to make up for slacking off!』
"What the hell is this 'luxurious prize'!?"
Why is this guy acting so aggressively with such radish-y acting? Even so, it was following the script, so I operated the Inventoria and... pointed down at the deck of the treasure ship.
『The prizes are......... highly rare drop items from high-level monsters that I've been stockpiling! As a rough estimate of the total value...』
I selected "Deploy." The items stored within the storage space gained physical form and... appeared in this world.
Right after, something fell from the void with a thud. At the very least, since I'm standing on the deck, the players looking up from the ground can't see this. Can't be helped, I'll temporarily pause the drop, jump down to the ground, and...
『It should be worth around five billion Mani, right?』
The next moment, a massive amount of items erupted from the void with enough momentum to nearly fill the canyon.
Materials from Crystal Scorpions, materials from the Alexand Scorpion, and furthermore, materials from monsters that don't even exist on the Old Continent. How should I say this... perhaps because I've only been farming monsters with mineral-type outer shells, an enormous quantity of items was scattered all over while making a loud, clattering noise.
When it comes to five billion Mani's worth, we're not talking about just ten or twenty items. The gazes of the players present are glued to the items that continuously pour out in droves.
『This is what you call a massive blowout sale! To the guy who beats me......... literally! No lies! Exactly as you see it! I'll give you all of this!! It's a whole month's worth of my farming, don't screw with me, dammit!!』
When I pointed at the mountain of materials sparkling like jewels with a slightly overly dramatic reaction, the eyes of the players who heard my amplified voice burned with the flames of desire. I felt like I was throwing all my household belongings into a pond just to catch a fish. Honestly speaking, I have absolutely zero intention of giving it to anyone, so I am fully prepared to beat every single one of them down.
...According to Pencilgon, "That's the kind of thing you don't say out loud even if you're thinking it. If you want to draw a crowd, you have to show off your deep pockets even if you have no intention of paying out," so I kept my mouth shut. The persuasiveness really hits differently when it comes from a person who's used to playing the mastermind.
That radish is a plant, but... a plant and a radish... sounds kinda like pickled radish. Well, that doesn't matter. He did manage to create the flow of 'players are allowed to throw questions at Sunraku,' so I'd say he fulfilled his role... even if it was ham acting. Why did that guy go with such a stereotypical retro-thug persona anyway? [*1]
"Tsuchinoko-san! Is that seriously all of it!!"
『I won't go back on my word! Only if you win, though!!』
In response to my declaration, a stir resembling a cheer arose with an "Ooh." Among them, there were some who seemed to have realized what the crystal-like materials amidst the items shining like gold and silver treasures were from, as they looked back and forth between the top of the canyon and the items.
That being said, once someone appeared to ask a question following the plant radish, it turned into a storm of questions as if a dam had broken.
"Why are you going out of your way to do something like that! There's no benefit for you!!"
『I was told it'd be fine as long as players acted as an audience or challengers here! In short, it means 'abandon the Kingdom Turmoil and kill some time with me'! I'm the only one taking a massive loss here!!』
"What's the right to challenge!?"
"Are rematches allowed!?"
"Are you seriously giving all of that away!?"
"Where's Saina-chan!?"
"Uwooooh Saina-chaaaaaaaaan!!"
『Hey, quiet down for a second! I'm going to explain right now!!』
Let's see, what I need to explain is the battle format, the right to challenge, and...
『First, the participation condition is holding the right to challenge! You can buy the right to challenge over there!!』
Most of the players' gazes turned toward the direction I pointed. The middle-aged man exposed to the pouring, piercing rain of gazes... Imron, slightly twitched the corner of his mouth but lightly raised his right hand. In that hand was a single sword.
『It's not the right to challenge, it's the Sword of Challenge... thirty thousand Mani per sword. Holding that is the condition for participation.』
"Is that a pun......"[*2]
『Easy to remember, isn't it?』
Apparently, perhaps due to my hearing also being enhanced, when I replied to that murmur after somehow being able to catch that muttered phrase, the guy, not expecting to be responded to, let his eyes dart around and shrank back.
『The battle format is 1v1! A sort of barrier-like thing will be set up... so, the winner will be decided by whoever gets killed or surrenders in there!!』
"Why are surrenders allowed!?"
『Because under the Kingdom Turmoil rules, if you die, all your items are scattered right there! It's a measure of mercy! By the way, dropped items will be added to the luxurious prizes.』
In other words, the earlier you challenge, the more of a head start you get on claiming the prizes... but if you don't lose skillfully, your items will essentially be completely lost.
『By the way, I'll be facing you with my serious gear.』
"That's not fair!"
『It is faaair.』
I have no reason to be called unfair when I'm putting five billion on the line, so if you're frustrated, you should bring your own serious gear too.
That being said, if you die during the Kingdom Turmoil event, all the items in your Inventory and on your person are scattered right there. I really hope they don't think they can beat me with gear prepared under the assumption they'll throw it away...
『Now, is there anyone who thinks they're the one!?』
Silence. Understandable; the Japanese are a species that prefers to go second or third... however, that's exactly why Sakura-Radish-kun is here. The plan is for Sakura-Radish to step forward, fight me as the first challenger, get appropriately beaten up, and bait other players into joining... Now come, Sakura-Radish. Since Pencilgon said, "Well, you can just kill him, I didn't give any of them important items anyway," I'll make sure you scream a dying cry that isn't acting...!
However, before Sakura-Radish could clear his throat and raise his voice......... someone else stepped forward, proclaiming themselves the one.
"If that be the case, then this one shall serve as the first spear... I challenge thee!"
『Eh?』
Some really intense guy just showed up.
Author's Afterword
・Sword of Challenge
30,000 Mani.
By purchasing one of the hundred swords Imron prepared beforehand, it acts as the right to challenge. The profits are split 1:1:1 among the three of them. By the way, the cost price is 5,000 Mani, but since it was made using not-so-rare ores Sunraku gathered while doing various mining, the actual cost is practically zero.
"Wait, am I the only one taking a loss here?"
"Did you have any plans to use it?"
"No... well, it was just sitting in storage, but still."
Translator's Notes
- [1] Sakura Daikon: In Japan, they call a really stiff, terrible actor a "daikon" (radish), and a fake planted customer used to hype up a crowd is called a "sakura" (cherry blossom). When Sunraku puts them together to call this guy a fake bad actor, he calls him a "Sakura Daikon". "Sakura Daikon" is actually the name of a real-life, super popular pink pickled radish snack in Japan.
- [2] Right to Challenge / Sword of Challenge: The Japanese word for "right" (権) and "sword" (剣) are both pronounced as "ken".
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