Chapter 123
Chapter 123
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Those Who Wish to Become Fixers (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
There was an unusually high number of otherworldly animals around.
Was it only after hearing this from Alice that their perspective finally broadened?
David and Lisa's eyes widened in surprise, as if they were just now realizing it.
"Oh my, don't tell me..."
"The goal of the treasure hunt is..."
"That's right. Perhaps... the treasure we need to find is one of these otherworldly animals."
Alice whispered, careful not to let her voice carry.
All the other examinees were competitors, after all. She likely saw no reason to help them unnecessarily.
In any case, her intuition was spot on.
The first test was, in fact, deeply connected to the animals from another world.
To be precise, the answer to the test was a rare ingredient from another world.
The crucial clue was that the examiner, Mira Valentia, was a Fixer specializing in gastronomy.
When the task was announced as a 'treasure hunt,' the key was to deduce from whose perspective it was a treasure.
It tested one's ability to think outside the box, not getting bogged down by the word 'treasure.'
And it was a rather tricky test, designed to assess their skill in securing the ingredients faster than their competitors.
"I see... When you hear 'treasure,' you usually think of precious metals or artifacts. This must be a test of whether we can shed those conventional notions to achieve our goal."
"Wow, I never would have guessed. To think the treasure was these cute little things... Well, once one person figures it out, I suppose everyone else will just follow suit."
"Then it's important we get this done before someone else beats us to it! Yuria! Thanks to you, this first test will be a breeze! Thank you so much!"
“...”
Squeeze. Alice pulled me into a hug so tight it nearly took my breath away.
It seemed she was quite nervous about her first Fixer exam.
She seemed genuinely grateful to me for providing such a clear answer to the test.
Of course, from my perspective, it wasn't really anything to be thankful for.
After all, within an hour or so, everyone would have figured out the nature of the treasure anyway.
It was strange from the start for animals that should be in a conservation area to be wandering around a place like this.
And with no other treasures in sight, it was a natural conclusion to reach.
So all I did was hasten the inevitable.
Plus, I'd already snagged an easy target that could be lured with a simple snack.
Still, getting a hug from Alice felt nice. No need to refuse.
Hehe, go on. Praise me, adore me.
"Yuria, I'll be back!"
“...!”
After a tight hug, our cheeks practically touching, Alice straightened up.
This test was strictly first-come, first-served. There was no benefit to taking it easy.
Now that she knew the answer, she intended to move immediately and complete the task.
Her gaze shifted to David and Lisa.
"David! And... Lisa? Let's go, quickly!"
"Understood."
"Hee hee, thanks for letting me tag along."
"Who said you could tag along! This is for this test only!"
I giggled at Alice's wariness toward the suddenly-included Lisa.
Was it because I knew that, despite her words, her kind heart would lead them to team up in future tests as well?
Just watching them was enjoyable. They were good people; I hoped they'd become closer.
I waved enthusiastically at the departing group, wishing them well.
They were some of the most capable people taking the Fixer exam. I had no reason to worry.
"Squeak!"
“...”
As I waved at the group's retreating backs, an adorable sound came from my hand.
The source of the sound was the three-tailed Thunder Squirrel I had caught so easily earlier.
Was it asking for another snack?
I offered the squirrel a snack, gently stroking its fur with my fingertips.
The Thunder Squirrel stood up on its hind legs, nibbling the snack and calmly accepting my touch.
It must have been handled by people before. It didn't have any of the ferocity typical of wild animals.
But to think the tail of such a small squirrel is considered a delicacy.
Does being cute make it taste better? I couldn't quite imagine it, and a flicker of curiosity arose.
"S-squeak?!"
“...?”
But just then, the squirrel, which had been calmly nibbling its snack, bristled its tails and clung to my finger.
It looked like a small animal that had sensed danger.
Did I make it uncomfortable while my mind was wandering?
I wasn't sure what was wrong, but I gently tickled the squirrel under its chin as if to apologize.
I hadn't passed yet, so it would be a problem if it suddenly ran away.
I had no choice but to try and soothe it, to reassure it.
In truth, I could just submit it to the examiner as is and be done.
But if I passed in first place by a huge margin, I'd attract unnecessary attention.
My plan was to wait, at least until Alice's group returned.
"Squeak!"
“...”
I sat near the clearing, passing the time playing with the squirrel.
Of course, there were other examinees around.
But perhaps because they were all so desperately searching for the treasure...
...they didn't seem to pay me much mind.
After all, to anyone who didn't know the nature of the treasure, I must have looked like someone who'd given up on the test and was just playing around.
They probably thought it wasn't worth getting involved with me while they were so busy.
From my perspective, this was a relief. And playing with the squirrel wasn't boring at all.
It would have been difficult to deal with if someone suddenly tried to snatch the squirrel.
As far as I knew, there was only one Thunder Squirrel.
I'd have to cry and beg for it back, clinging to their leg.
Or I'd have to ask Alice to get revenge for me. In any case, it was a good thing.
"Yuria! We're back!"
And after about thirty minutes, Alice's group returned, laden with various things.
Alice had a large, golden-furred tiger.
David had a vibrant mushroom that looked for all the world like a poisonous one.
Lisa was carrying a section of dirt-caked bamboo.
"What is that? A tiger? There was something like that here?"
"Are they idiots? Wasting time on that nonsense when they should be looking for treasure..."
"Hmph... Wait a second, that's strange, isn't it? Why would an animal like that be in a place like this, on the outskirts of the city..."
The examinees murmured amongst themselves, staring at the undeniably suspicious group.
A few with sharp intuition seemed to have immediately grasped the truth of the treasure hunt.
But most just clicked their tongues as if to say, 'What a waste of time,' and went back to their own business.
Ignoring the other examinees' reactions, I trotted over to them, squirrel in hand.
“...!”
"Sorry to keep you waiting. We actually finished a while ago, but David said it would be better to find something valuable, so it took a little longer."
"Ultimately, the name of the task is 'treasure hunt.' I thought it best to find something truly precious."
"Miss Alice, please be sure to mention that my knowledge was helpful too!"
"Ugh, th-thank you, Lisa."
Hmm, it seemed they had all grasped the core of the solution.
In short, the important thing wasn't just to find any otherworldly ingredient.
It had to be an ingredient rare enough to be called a treasure.
And Alice's group had each brought back a rare ingredient that would be difficult to buy even with money.
In that case, passing the first test was a sure thing.
"Well then, you all pass. Examinees 631, 632, 633, and 7 will be ranked first, second, third, and fourth, respectively, in the order you entered the clearing. Any objections?"
"We... we did it!"
"No objections!"
"Alright. A staff member will collect your treasures. You may sit and rest until the test is over. Good work."
Naturally, the result was a pass.
The confident Alice and David, who had led the way, took first and second place, respectively.
I, who had deliberately entered later, was third. And the outsider, Lisa, became fourth.
Having the title of 'first place' would inevitably make her a target, so I felt a bit sorry for Alice.
Though she was the type of person who could crush any opposition head-on, so she'd probably be fine.
"Th-that worked...?!"
"The treasure is ingredients!"
"Of course! The examiner is a gourmet Fixer, so the treasure is ingredients! We have to find some, quick!"
It seemed the news that we'd solved the task in less than an hour had spread.
The examinees appeared to have realized that the treasure they were looking for was a special ingredient from another world.
The result was a chaotic scramble for ingredients that could only be described as pandemonium.
Snatching what others had hunted and running away was a common occurrence.
In more extreme cases, some would ambush and attack others on their way back to steal their finds.
With a time limit of only three hours...
...they chose to take from those who had already found something rather than tire themselves out searching.
Of course, those who fought hard to steal an item only to have it rejected as a common ingredient vented their fury.
"Alright, you are the 100th and final person to pass. Congratulations."
Two hours and forty-four minutes after the start of the test.
The 100th person to pass appeared, covered in minor wounds.
The examinee right behind them screamed in despair.
It was a pity, but it couldn't be helped. You should have been a little faster.
'Wow... The number of people dropped in an instant. Only 100 out of several hundred. A huge number of people failed the first test. Similar things must be happening in the other groups, so I guess that leaves about fifteen hundred in total.'
As expected of the world's most difficult exam to pass.
To eliminate thousands of examinees in the very first test.
It was a sad moment, seeing the months of preparation and hard work of so many people turn to nothing in an instant.
But, as always, there were those who couldn't easily accept the situation.
A man who had been waiting anxiously with an ingredient in hand shouted in a voice full of anger.
"Hey, don't mess with me! I'm serious about becoming a Fixer! A childish game like a treasure hunt... There's a limit to how much you can mock people!"
The man who strode up to the examiner, Mira, was a beastman with a large scar on his face.
Judging by his mane-like hair, he was probably a lion beastman. The presence of his mane was overwhelming.
He seemed furious at the fact that he was eliminated over a mere treasure hunt.
He was certainly brave. To think he would confront an active Fixer who was also the examiner.
The evaluation was entirely at the examiner's discretion. Trying to pick a fight would only hurt his own chances.
However, perhaps because the examiner, Mira, was more flexible than her stern way of speaking suggested...
...she simply answered the threatening man without so much as batting an eyelash.
"A childish game, you say. Do you truly believe that? That this test has nothing to do with selecting Fixers?"
"Of course! Finding treasure is a matter of luck, not skill! Do you think I'm just going to stand by and watch someone far weaker than me pass just because they found some treasure?!"
Flick. The lion beastman's gaze shot toward me, sitting quietly in the corner.
What are you looking at? Is there a show? I'll rip that mane right off!
...Well, I could guess what he was trying to say.
Even if I had an army of a million, without my psychokinesis, beating that lion beastman would be impossible.
For me, who had just coasted through using knowledge from the original story, his words did sting a little.
But did Mira just think she'd heard something amusing?
Mira crossed her arms, a pose that seemed to accentuate her chest, and spoke to the man with a smirk.
"Hmm. I see. I understand why you're angry. It seems the other failed examinees feel similarly. Fine. Then let me ask you one more thing. What do you think a Fixer is?"
"They're the strong who have survived the competition, obviously! Look at the world! The ones called the strongest in the world are all Fixers! To be a Fixer means to be strong! It's not something decided by some ridiculous child's play!"
"Hm, a rather interesting take. Certainly, looking at the roster of Fixers, I can't say you're entirely wrong."
Mira gave a small smile as if she found the man's answer quite intriguing, stroking her chin with her fingertips.
His words strayed from the essence of the matter, but in a way, they also hit upon a core truth.
Most of the people known to be strong in the world are either wanted criminals or Fixers.
So the definition of a Fixer as 'the strong who survived the competition' wasn't entirely incorrect.
But by her standards, it was an answer worth only 50 points out of 100.
Mira pushed herself off the sports car she'd been leaning on and approached the man who had stepped forward.
"Vested interests, champions, entertainers, influencers... These days, Fixers have spread into all sorts of fields, which often leads to misunderstandings. But the fundamental nature of a Fixer has remained the same since their inception."
"What...?"
"A Fixer is someone who solves other people's problems. In short, a nationally certified, trustworthy problem-solver. Being strong, charismatic, beautiful... those are all just secondary traits, kid."
"Kh, ghhhk! You... you...!"
Rumble!
The air around Mira, who wore a confident smile, began to shimmer violently.
It was like the heat haze rising from scorching asphalt on a brutal summer day.
How powerful was the formless pressure she was exuding?
The lion beastman trembled and fell to his knees before Mira, a woman two heads shorter than him.
And perhaps because the lion beastman couldn't lift his head even after some time had passed...
...Mira, who had been waiting for him, scoffed lightly and addressed the entire crowd.
"Erasing an enemy you don't like from this world. Anyone can do that easily with a missile or magic. But rescuing a high-value target from troublesome kidnappers is something only human will can accomplish. If you don't understand that difference, you will never become Fixers."
So I hope this experience becomes an opportunity for you all to grow wiser.
Mira whipped a pair of sunglasses from her breast pocket, put them on, and turned her back with a charismatic flair.
"With this, the first test is concluded! All failed examinees are to return their watches and leave the test site immediately!"
Still, there's another chance in six months. They can try harder then.
I watched the departing examinees, offering words of comfort that no one could hear.
And so, the relatively easy first test, the treasure hunt, came to a close.
But what remained were far more difficult challenges.
The Fixer exam was only just beginning.