Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

Bear-san Observes the Finals

While I was talking to Deborane, the finals had already started.

“Everyone has started dismantling the monsters, each starting with the ones that each of them is good at! It’s like the participants have split into Wolves team and Horned Rabbits team, haha!” (Master of ceremony)

Just as the master of ceremony said, the participants had split up, each began dealing with Wolves and Horned Rabbits. None of the participants bothered to dismantle the spider’s carcasses.

“Guildmaster, what do you think of this decision?” (Master of ceremony)

“Well, it’s a fair judgment. Wolves and Horned Rabbit are basic, and easy monsters to process. With the members who have remained so far, the margin of error will not be so great.” (Sanya)

“If Fina-chan was up there on the stage, which monster would you have first dismantled?” (Master of ceremony)

The master of ceremony asked Fina, pointing the microphone to her, who was standing next to Sanya-san.

“Umm, I think I will start with the wolf, because I am the best at dismantling wolves.” (Fina)

Fina looked embarrassed as the microphone was pointed at her and replied in a small voice.

“Thank you very much. Now let’s take a look at the venue. There is little difference as the guild master said, but aren’t these two participants exceptional? Deed-kun and Garde-kun are fast. They have been battling for first place since the first round. Even in the finals, it’s going to be a contest between these two!” (Master of ceremony)

If things continue as they were, one of those two would probably win, but looking at it from the first round to the fourth round, Deed-kun would probably win. But you never know; Garde-kun might take the lead, or Deed-kun might make a mistake. And depending on the dismantling of the spiders, who knows what might happen.

If Deed-kun was not good at dismantling spiders, he could possibly get flipped over.

“The other participants will not want to be outdone in the dismantling competition. I would like to see Eliza-chan, the only woman who made it to the finals, do her best.” (Master of ceremony)

Eliza-san worked hard to dismantle, but she seemed to be one step slower than those around her.

It wasn’t that she was sloppy or bad at disassembling, but she was still slowly losing ground. But after 5 or 10 minutes, the difference became larger and larger.

I felt the same way with Fina, but the difference was very minor but easy to see.

Whether it was a difference in strength, physique, or technique, I did not know.

“Deed-kun has finished dismantling his first monster which was a Horned Rabbit, and had already started with his second monster. Oh, and Garde-kun following behind him also finished his Horned Rabbit and was preparing for his 2nd monster. Can you give us your comments Guild Master about how they proceed with their dismantling?” (Master of ceremony)

“Well, I expect the two of them to dismantle everything, so it doesn’t really matter which order they follow, so I have no comment about it.” (Sanya)

Wasn’t it that the event will be called to an end when the first to third participant finishes dismantling every creature?

If so, then the two candidates for the championship were better off finishing the dismantling of what was in front of them than having time to think about what to start with if they were going to finish it all.

“But in the case of Garde-kun, he will probably dismantle the same monsters as Deed-kun in order to put pressure on him in his pursuit.” (Sanya)

“Then it’s a psychological battle.” (Master of ceremony)

“Besides that, we don’t know if they were both capable of dismantling spiders, and they will probably deal with it last.” (Sanya)

Well, it would certainly put more pressure on the one that was running ahead. The one in pursuit should finish off the prey when it was caught off guard.

Even in a game of tag, if the speed of the two players were the same, it would be easier for the “it” than the one being chased.

A short time after the two started dismantling the Horned Rabbit, the other participants who were lagging behind started dismantling their second monster.

As expected, Eliza-san was a little behind. She was probably the least skilled among them.

Soon enough, the finals were reaching its end, and Deed-kun finished the scorpion, which was the fourth monster to be dismantled.

“Deed-kun is the first to start dismantling the spider! After all, will the winner be Deed-kun!” (Master of ceremony)

Garde-kun, in second place, was also doing his best, but was lagging behind. In total, it seemed he was trailing behind a bit.

“But it seems like Deed-kun’s hand movements have slowed down. Is he not good with spiders?!” (Master of ceremony)

Indeed, his movements were not as sharp as when he was dismantling the other monsters.

“It seems like he has taken down some, but I’m sure he hasn’t worked with as many as Wolves and Horned Rabbits.” (Sanya)

Sanya-san responds as if to explain.

So spiders weren’t monsters that showed up that often?

“Wouldn’t that be true of gators and scorpions as well?” (Master of ceremony)

“Gators and scorpions are more likely to be encountered because we know the areas where they appear. But spiders are harder to find because they are often deep in forests, and they seldom come to inhabited areas, so the chances of encountering them are low.” (Sanya)

“I see, so just because someone is a veteran adventurer party member doesn’t mean they have a lot of experience fighting spiders.” (Master of ceremony)

“And if one of the party members doesn’t like spiders, they might not be willing to take on the job.” (Sanya)

Sure, I’ve encountered Wolves and Horned Rabbits many times before, but this was the first time I’d encountered spiders.

When it came to scorpions, you could go to the desert and you’d see them. With gators, you could find them in areas where they breed, such as swamps and rivers.

The deeper the forest, the harder to find spiders.

“And since few people want spider material, they won’t go out of their way to go deep into the forest to kill spiders unless they are becoming a danger somewhere.” (Sanya)

That’s true. There was no point in putting in the time and effort if it didn’t pay off. There was no need to take such a risk.

I would never go into the forest to kill spiders unless they attacked a village where I was present, as they did the other day.

That would mean that the spiders appearing in that village the other day was just bad luck.

“By the way, Fina-chan, have you ever dismantled a spider?” (Master of ceremony)

The master of ceremony directed the microphone to Fina. However, since they were at a distance from each other, the microphone could not reach her, so Sanya-san pointed her own microphone to Fina.

“….Ummm, I’ve never dismantled it. So I don’t think I could do it.” (Fina)

“I see.” (Master of ceremony)

“And I’m not very good with big bugs.” (Fina)

She answered while fidgeting and looking embarrassed.

“That’s very girly of you.” (Master of ceremony)

Fina, like me, apparently hates bugs.

If I had asked Fina to dismantle a spider, she would have done it in tears, but because of her nature, she would not have refused.

That said, I was glad I didn’t ask her to dismantle the spiders. And the big bee I killed before.

From now on, I should only ask Fina to dismantle any new monsters I found after checking whether she hates them or not.

“After all, Fina-chan is no good at it either.” (Yuna)

“There are many people who don’t like insect monsters, you know.” (Ellelaura)

“Yeah, I don’t like them either.” (Tirumina)

“I can’t do it as well.” (Shuri)

“That’s right. I can’t do it either.” (Shia)

Shia, Shuri, and Tirumina-san nodded in agreement with Ellelaura-san.

I was glad to have so many like-minded friends.

I hate even ordinary insects, but I clearly couldn’t handle large insects. Especially spiders, which were my least favorite kind of insects.

If it were an ordinary butterfly, I could hold it in my hand. But if it were a giant butterfly, it would be impossible.

I tried to imagine it, but couldn’t do it.

Maybe the big eyes were no good.

“Ooh, there are the participants who want to stop the dismantling!” (Master of ceremony)

One person asked the attendant.

Apparently, they were not going to dismantle the spiders, but instead grade them up to what they have finished so far.

One or two others see this and withdraw from dismantling the spiders, as well.

“Wow, three people have declined to dismantle the spider so far!” (Master of ceremony)

The audience boos as the participants withdraw.

I guess when they got to the finals, they were expected to finish the job.

But what they couldn’t do, they couldn’t help. Everyone had something they weren’t good at.

“In the midst of all this, there is someone who was dismantling the spiders at a tremendous speed!” (Master of ceremony)

The audience groaned.

It was an unexpected person who was dismantling the spider faster than anyone else.

“Eliza-chan, that’s amazing. She’s taking things apart in a fluid motion.” (Master of ceremony)

The master of ceremony’s words brought the audience to its feet.

It was not that Eliza-san’s dismantling speed was fast. It seems faster, partly because the speed of dismantling around her had slowed down.

But it was still amazing.

“Why is this so? Guild Master.” (Master of ceremony)

“I’m sorry. I don’t know the details either. Usually in the guild, they let the men dismantle the spiders.”

She said that the men in the dismantling department often didn’t let the women do it. After all, Spiders belong in the creepy category.

“In no time at all, she has cut off the legs, finished dismantling all eight quickly, and is about to start dismantling the body!”

She was a step or two faster in her dismantling than the other participants dismantling the spiders.

Faster than both of those two potential winners, Deed-kun and Garde-kun.

“Is there a chance of an upset in this!” (Master of ceremony)

Even though she was faster in dismantling than the two of them, the difference between them was obvious. It was a gap that could not be filled by any other dismantling.

But Eliza-san’s dismantling was fast enough to make the audience feel that, maybe.

The audience’s eyes were drawn to Eliza-san and the two candidates for the championship.

“Deed-kun, the end is in sight. Can he keep it up and secure the crown for this year?!” (Master of ceremony)

After all, Eliza-san could not catch up.

“Deed-kun has raised his hand! He finished the spiders, which he was not good at, with flying colors!!!! Then, he gives a small gut-punch.” (Master of ceremony)

Garde-kun then also finished the spider carcass dismantling in second place, unable to make up the difference by dismantling Wolf, Horned Rabbit, Gator, and Scorpion.

With five carcasses to work with, the difference was more than I thought it would be.

After all, Deed-kun was faster in total performance as a whole.

“Two of you have finished, so we will finish when one more person is done.” (Master of ceremony)

The rest of the participants made their last spurt for third place.

And the one who finished all the dismantling in third place was Eliza-san, who managed to plow through the dismantling of the spider in one fell swoop.