CH 131

“The princess-carrying competition is over, and this class competition is coming to an end! Rosalia-sensei, please give us the rules for the next round of the stuff-all-you-can competition.”

“Okay, okay. This is the same competition we had last year. All you have to do is fill the basket that is given to you with vegetables, meat, fish, seasonings, sundries, and other items that are available on the field. There are three rules: you have a time limit, you have to fill the basket to a certain level, and you can’t unload the basket.”

“So, what will happen to the winner?”

“It’s a stuff-all-you-can competition, so it’s decided by the amount of stuff you put in the basket. Then, you could put only small items in the basket, but that would take a long time, wouldn’t it? The fact that you have to pack a certain amount is also a key point.”

“Thank you very much! You all understand now, don’t you? You must stuff it on time.”

After the explanation, the teachers came out to arrange the items on the desks and shelves. When they see what’s in there, Makina says in a dumbfounded tone.

“…… There’s an awfully big fish in there. You can’t put that in, no matter think see it is.”

It is true that there are obviously large fish on display. But I think there’s a meaning to that, too.

“That’s it, you can shove it into the other class’s basket and sabotage them.”

“Oh, so that’s how it is!? But why would you do that when there’s a time limit?”

Ryuuze tapped his head as if he had just seen the first thing, while Yogus fixed his glasses.

“That’s the delicate point, isn’t it? Are you going to sabotage them, or do you want to quickly meet your quota. I think that’s what they’re testing us on, based on past trends.”

“I see ……”

Urka voiced his understanding, and Kudelica was impressed and hits her hand. I think it’s fun to put things in the basket without looking at it, but I think it’s pretty serious.

And while I’ve told Nora and Luciel to sabotage them or to be careful them, but I don’t think they’ll sabotage because of their personalities, so I think it’ll be a speed game.

“So, first pair, begin!”

At Verna-sensei’s signal, Nora runs out onto the field. The other kids in the class were also running towards the items at once.

“This looks interesting! Let’s fill it up!”

“Let’s fill up our own first, then ……!”

“Apples …… If it’s apples, we can put many of it!”

Nora filled her basket with mostly meat and fish. The other classes are all girls, and some of them aim for fruit, while others fill their baskets indiscriminately, making them quite unique.

“There’s a time limit this time, so it’s hard to pay attention to the other classes, right?”

“There’s still time, so why not start here?”

“Is Nora-chan okay?”

“She’s been practicing with Luciel, so maybe that’s a strategy. Meat and fish are flat, so if you stack them on top of each other, you should be able to fit quite a bit. But the other classes is ……”

“Oh, we serve fish, too! Nemigo complained that it was hard to wrap the meat in wrapping paper, but the fish was easy because it was intact.”

Compared to fish, meat deteriorates faster because it’s been cut, and since it’s headmaster, he probably doesn’t intend to throw it away.

While I was thinking about this, I noticed a change in the kids in B-Class, and their movements changed.

“……”

As he passed the C-Class kid, he gently put a large crab in, making it look like he was going to pick up something else.

“Hm? I just felt something heavy ……”

But, C-Class didn’t notice.

The reason we are so quiet is because we are not allowed to talk to each other in this competition. It must be resolved by the players on the field alone.

In addition, this is a competition where you have to be on your guard against the possibility of being hit by something like the big fish I mentioned earlier.

“Hm? The guy from D-Class also put something in E-Class’ basket. Aren’t they in a joint alliance?” “Maybe they’re worried about the points? C and E have a little more points. Maybe they’re trying to average out the points?”

“No, but even if that were the case, why don’t the C and E classes just cut back?”

Yogus is right, but the truth is unclear, so we watch Nora’s movements again. There’s a casual hint of interference on Nora’s part, but she’s doing her best to fill her basket and doesn’t notice. Putting a watermelon is pretty nasty …… but I’m frustrated because I can’t say it.

“That’s it!”

“Whew, I wonder if it’s filled up?”

Verna-sensei tells them to stop and everyone stops in their tracks. They put the items back in their hands and the teachers start counting.

“Everyone packed a lot of stuff.”

“It’s interesting to see how individual characteristics come out in this competition. A-Class had a lot of meat and fish, B-Class had a lot of fruit.”

“C-Class had a lot of different things to put in, like spoons and vegetables like cabbage. It’s probably to balance out the large and small items.”

E-Class had a lot of mushrooms, and D-Class had a lot of long, thin vegetables such as leeks and carrots, and when they ran out of it, I think they turned to fish.

“Huh!? I didn’t put any crabs in here!? Who it is!”

“……”

“……”

“That’s a big one. I don’t remember putting a watermelon in mine either, though ……”

“Oh, there’s a big pumpkin in mine!? No wonder It felt heavy ……”

Classes A, C, and E also had cooking utensils such as pans and pots, as well as round shields that just barely fit, so there was plenty of room for interference. You wouldn’t even know it, because they put the jammed items in at the perfect time, just as the kids in the other classes were putting things in. I can’t throw away the possibility that they have been practicing like that.

“Well, it looks like the rankings have been decided.”

Rosalia-sensei tells us in an indifferent manner, and we see Sherry from B-Class waving her hand, holding the flag for first place. As a result of the interference, B-Class was in first place, D class was in second place, and A was in third place.

◆ 　 ◇ 　 ◆

“Kuh ……! Those guys are sabotaging us!? If they’re going to do it, it’s should be on the A-Class!”

Class C’s Berg Reiss became agitated at the sight of the interference, and Lux muttered to himself with his hand on his chin.

“B and D didn’t go along with my plan, huh …… What does this mean? But I can’t tell them to be careful, so I guess I’ll just have to trust Nancy here.”

“We’ll see what they do next and see if the 10,000 Beryl competition stops them from cooperating.”

Hope said so, Lux nodded, and C-Class decided to observe.

◆ 　 ◇ 　 ◆

“Damn, the bottom three are so close!”

“That Sherry girl, she packed a lot of apples. I don’t know if she likes fruit or not, but there were some pears in there.”

“No, it’s the sabotage technique that should be praised. I didn’t notice that while she is putting apples on her own basket, she’s also putting it in the basket of the girl standing next to her ……”

Makina blurted out, but she was that good at putting things in other people’s baskets. So it wasn’t hard for her to fill her own basket, and she was able to do so while obstructing others.

“I wonder how the second pair will react to the current situation? I can’t give you a live report, but please keep an eye on them.”

“Luciel’s face is unusually motivated.”

“Looks like it. She usually have a soft expression, though.”

“She’s been practicing filling various containers, so I think she can do it without looking at the basket.”

Luciel clenching her fists tightly was unusual, but it must be because she was confident that she had practiced hard. And to win.

“Begin!”

This time, Rosalia-sensei gives the signal and they all start at once. Luciel immediately goes to the fruit shelf and starts putting in round apples, pears and peaches. It was very fast.

“Whoa, that’s fast!?”

“I guess she knows the weight and the position of the basket by feeling. Maybe she was practicing with the fruits she bought at the trade fair ……!”

“Ah!? Luciel-chan is amazing …….”

It’s no wonder that Kudelica was surprised, because Luciel had sensed that she was about to be obstructed and had thrown the item at the child who was about to.

“Ow!? The lid of your pot just flew off!”

“I-I’m sorry!”

I could understand if that was all, but the scary part started here. While Luciel and the other kids in the class were scurrying around looking for something.

“Hmm-hm-hmm♪!”

“Humming optimistically? I wonder if that’s okay?”

Nancy from C-Class, annoyed at how relaxed Luciel was, said this and threw a carrot into Luciel’s basket from an angle she couldn’t see.

…… It was supposed to be, but.

“!?”

“J-Just now, she intercepted the carrot!?”

“Probably because she was watching Nora’s competition. …… And look at that. ……”

Yogus pointed to Luciel with a trembling hand, who was using a spoon and fork to play with the items that the other class kids had tossed to put in their own baskets, making them spill out of the baskets. It must have been a mistake to see the young miss, Onette with the skill of [Accuracy], was pulling her cheeks. 

“She’s been working hard on her throwing, so maybe she’s getting the hang of it.”

“Oh, yeah, she was good with a boomerang, right.”

While Urka and Ryuuze were laughing and talking, the time came.

“That’s it!”

And–

“No way!? Why is this the only one in here!?”

“M-Me too …… Did I miss that much ……?”

“There’s crab a that I don’t recognize ……”

“There’s a lot …… of sea urchin ……”

” ~♪ “

The result was a complete victory for Luciel!

It was clear to see who would be the winner between Luciel, who had a full basket, and the other classes, who were just barely able to fill it.

“Wow, Luciel-chan!”

“I wanted to avenge Nora-chan after all, so I gave it my all. Lars-kun, I won!”

“You’re amazing. You’re always so calm, but you can throw so fast.”

“I’m sometimes amazing too, you know? Just kidding♪”

I was a little nervous because Luciel looked so cute and happy when she said that.

And for now, I want to take the next 10,000 beryls to make sure. This is another thing where I want to rely on Luciel.

Luciel’s throw is actually a flag here ……!

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“I never thought she’d use a throwing motion here ……”

That might be surprising?