Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Reading Marathon (5)
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Ririn and Poten.
The two of them had clearly done what they thought was their best.
However, contrary to their expectations, things weren't going the way they wanted.
When Ririn tried to move the third sack of rice, his legs gave out.
He had misdistributed his strength, and the drop-off point was quite far away.
"Hoo, damn it."
In the end, he plopped down on the ground to rest for a bit.
Lying flat on his back, he stared up at the sky, lost in thought.
It wasn't something like wondering why he was doing this.
No matter how tough it got, he hadn't forgotten the spark that started it all.
Instead, he thought about the other participants.
"I was probably the fastest."
But this was a tough mission, tough enough to call it that.
By now, it wouldn't be strange if someone had already finished.
"There was that guy who came with me. He picked two easy missions, so he might've started first."
No, he definitely did.
So, was he just going to give up like this?
"No, no way. Give up? Ridiculous!"
He hauled himself back up and grabbed the rice sack again.
As he did, Don Quixote came to mind.
"Did he ever give up? No! He didn't. So neither will I!"
Even after getting battered, rolling in the dirt, and getting chewed out, he never quit!
Squeezing out every last bit of strength from his nursing days, he pressed forward.
The only thought swirling in his head was winning.
Of course, Don Quixote's story ended sadly, but that didn't matter to him right now.
What mattered was that it had given him the strength to keep going.
Meanwhile, Poten was still surrounded by people.
Unlike Ririn's thoughts, he hadn't completed a single mission yet.
"Hey! Come on out!"
"Just once! One touch! Let me touch your hand!"
Poten—no, even Edn didn't know—but a superstition had spread among the crowd.
If you touched a Reading Marathon participant— their hand, or even just their body—you'd get lucky.
Of course, it was nonsense, but people had their reasons to believe it.
With all the unpleasant events in the capital lately, they needed some comfort.
And right on cue, this rumor attached itself to the Reading Marathon.
It helped that the event centered on Prometheus's books, too.
But for Poten, who had no clue about the superstition, it was just a hassle.
"No choice. If you won't make way, then I have no option!"
He picked up the flower vase and started pushing through the crowd.
One hand hoisting the vase high, the other shoving people aside.
Impossible for an ordinary person, and even tough for most knights.
But he had a sturdy build among average knights.
He could hold his own against aura users without using his own.
Of course, beyond a certain point, he'd lose.
Still, his body was clearly blessed.
"Whoa! Don't push!"
"Oof!"
Groans rose here and there, but no one fell.
Poten was mindful of his surroundings as he pushed.
With superhuman strength, Poten successfully completed his first mission.
"Huff... damn, and this was just the first one."
Poten was already exhausted after one mission.
But he steeled himself and stood.
"Can't quit now, though. Hell, after coming this far."
Poten pushed through the crowd again toward the next guide.
His new mission: pick up a single flower from a florist and deliver it.
"Easy enough. If not for these people."
Poten was still mobbed.
He pondered forcing through again, then shook his head.
"Too slow. No choice."
He wrapped his body in aura and leaped high.
People gasped as he landed on the rooftops.
"Gasp! Someone's flying!"
"Idiot! It's a knight's aura!"
Below, the crowd buzzed, wondering if that was allowed.
Of course, it was by the rules.
Edn's missions weren't all about physical labor.
Unless you brute-forced your way to disqualification.
"Alright! Let's go!"
Poten bounded across rooftops toward the florist.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Ugh, so boring."
I couldn't stand it anymore and yawned from my seat.
The participants were off in other territories tackling missions right now.
Unfortunately, no such thing as video magic in this world.
Maybe they couldn't afford to develop it, or just no interest.
"Or maybe I couldn't find it."
Either way, sitting here meant no watching the action.
So not just me—everyone was idly resting.
"When's it gonna—. Huh?"
Dust cloud?
A cloud of dust rose along the path where participants would return on horseback.
As I squinted to see, Katiranya, who'd snuck up, spoke.
"They're coming. A knight and a commoner."
"When'd you get here? More importantly, you can see them?"
"Of course."
Katiranya looked at me like, why ask something so obvious?
Hmm, as expected of the vampires' queen.
Anyway, guides approached the two arrivals.
They got encouragement for their efforts, then wrote their book reports.
The judges would review them thoroughly, though.
A few minutes after they sat, other participants trickled in.
Second place: Ririn's group.
They got their instructions and quickly submitted reports.
Soon all arrivals gathered—about thirty percent of the starters.
Hundreds at the start, now just dozens left.
Enough to proceed, so we divided into teams as planned.
Final challenge: convince the audience and judges using the assigned books.
Team 1 picked Don Quixote, Team 2 Sherlock Holmes.
"Hmm, was hoping for a different matchup."
Wanted them to pick other authors' works.
Might've heard about books I hadn't read.
And win without extra points, too.
"Oh well, can't be helped."
I pushed aside my regrets and watched the debate.
Team 2 started—fewer members.
If we'd formed teams here, it'd be even, but we hadn't.
Team 2's argument:
"Sherlock Holmes brilliantly captures the extraordinary in our everyday lives! And it unravels that extraordinary with razor-sharp logic. No reason not to pick it!"
Short and punchy.
Definitely extraordinary, like murders.
Surprised at their eloquence.
Argument brief, but they could expand on evidence.
Team 1's turn:
"Don Quixote dreamed ideals and chased them. Even shattered, tumbled, fallen. Have we ever dreamed such ideals? No, never as adults. Don Quixote teaches us to dream again, warns against sinking into reality. Why not choose it?"
Team 1 solid too?
They skipped noble-sensitive parts, highlighted strengths.
And Don Quixote tugs heartstrings for sure.
Sherlock Holmes does too, but less so.
Esili, MC and judge, took over.
"Excellent arguments from both sides. Now, based solely on these—if you had to pick, which team gets your vote?"
Audience split fifty-fifty on Esili's cue.
Esili gave Team 1 rebuttal.
Team 1 rep Poten stood.
"If you've read Don Quixote, you know! The brave Don Quixote of La Mancha! He charged heedless of stares. We all mind others' gazes, but not him! When we suppress ourselves, he was free. And he fought for the poor. How is this not a valiant, gentlemanly knight?"
"Hmm, yeah, Don Quixote was like that."
Some flipped signs for Team 1.
Poten nodded, satisfied smile.
Now 6-4.
Team 2's rebuttal.
Rep Ririn stood.
"Sherlock Holmes may differ from Don Quixote. But remember: Don saw illusions, Holmes saw truth! Don chased falsehoods, Holmes coldly faced reality. It shows that if we snap to reality and see straight, no problem unsolved. That's how we should live!"
"Not bad."
"But must novels be as harsh as reality?"
"Holmes solves it stylishly, though."
Mixed reactions this time.
Audience murmured, few sign flips.
Ririn sat, frustrated.
They traded questions and critiques.
Esili mediated when tempers flared.
An hour later, results: 8-2.
Esili nodded at the crowd.
"Seems decided. Winners: Team 1! Don Quixote!"
"Wooo!!"
Team 1 jumped, hugging.
Team 2 calmly consoled each other.
But not over.
Esili announced more.
"Team win goes to 1, but individual prizes remain. First, team prizes.* Team 1 gets 10 million gold, Team 2 5 million."
Individuals: 1st 100 million gold, 2nd 50 million, 3rd 20 million, 4th/5th 5 million each.
Rest get 1 million participation.
Generous sponsors.
Everyone wants 1st, especially the broke ones.
"4th and 5th: Hurrent and Bivim!"
"Yes! We did it!"
"Mom! I earned money!"
Commoners, beating nobles by luck.
"Fine. Still in it."
Remaining eyed 1st-3rd.
3rd announced: a noble.
But focus on 1st/2nd.
Esili smirked playfully—calculated acting.
"Who first, 1st or 2nd?"
"1st! 1st!"
"No, 2nd first!"
Esili's teasing drew shouts.
She flinched theatrically, then:
"2nd it is!"
Defying the crowd.
As they rose in protest, she cut in.
"2nd: Poten Hyper! Fell at second puzzle—should've been a trap-out, but wow, he passed!"
Exaggerated tone surprised some—early dropouts.
"No way. Someone passed that?"
"Whoa, missed it in the chaos. That was the early guy."
Poten took 2nd bittersweetly, but basked in awe.
Even waved like a fan favorite.
Esili paused, then:
"1st... Ririn Porta! Nailed every puzzle, tough mission, perfect report! For 1st, a quick word."
She beckoned; he strode center, took mic.
One word:
"Easy."
Chaos erupted.
Arrogant 1st-place talk.
Took time to calm.
Even tempted to withhold prize.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Edn's Reading Marathon wrapped up successfully?.
The dark blue robe hummed cheerfully.
"Preparations complete. Experiment success."
He nodded at a dapper gentleman—now monstrous noble.
Appearance intact, but experiment left speechless.
Fixable, but screams would follow—later.
"Th-this okay?"
"Fine."
Ignored the scared noble beside.
He'd crossed the point of no return too.
"Ceremony day nears. Edn Rlangbur falls as you wish."
"Ahem. Good."
The noble hid fear.
Dark blue robe just chuckled softly.
Darkness began rising in the empire's shadows.