149
Chapter 149
Is the first-place prize really that good?
They seemed to be thinking that.
The Participants had ambiguous expressions on their faces.
However, public opinion shifted to one side in an instant.
Toward the belief that it was indeed a very good prize.
And now, everyone was looking at the tournament Winner, Princess Doll, with envious eyes.
This shift in opinion was all thanks to Fox's fuss.
"I'm so jealous! I want to go on a date alone with Gom-jjang too!"
Was she doing that on purpose to help me out?
Or was she genuinely jealous?
...Well, only she would know.
Anyway, thank you, Fox.
I'll never forget this favor.
Now there was only one problem left.
Getting Tosuni's permission....
"Wooong."
Tosuni was still staring intently at me.
Fortunately, she had already eaten the pointy Carrot.
I guess she wasn't holding it to stab me, but just to eat it herself.
I approached Tosuni.
And cautiously asked for her permission.
"Gom-gom, gom-gom-gom...?"
"Wooong."
"Gom-gom-gom, gom-gom."
"Woong, woong."
Surprisingly simply,
Tosuni's permission was granted.
Saying it was fine for me to go on a date alone with Princess Doll.
What, so she wasn't jealous?
"Wooong, wooong, wu-hoo-hoong."
Tosuni added.
She said her fierce glare earlier was just a joke.
Our Tosuni is surprisingly cool.
She has a bit of an obsessive side, but she didn't seem to be overly jealous.
Anyway.
Now that I had Tosuni's permission, I explained the first-place prize in more detail to the Winner, Princess Doll.
About the One-Day Date Ticket.
It's called a date ticket, but you can basically think of it as a one-day free pass.
It's a ticket that lets you boss me around to your heart's content for a whole day.
Of course, I would do everything Princess Doll wanted.
As long as it wasn't an unreasonable request.
If she wanted to be alone with me, she could. If she wanted to hang out with everyone while treating me like a servant, she could. It was entirely up to Princess Doll.
Princess Doll could also decide which day she wanted to use the date ticket.
Also, there was no expiration date.
These were all things I had just come up with.
"...! ...!"
Ailee relayed all of the above information for me.
Princess Doll nodded her head vigorously.
She couldn't speak, but there was a way to ask for her opinion.
"Baby, when do you want to use the date ticket? If you want to use it tomorrow, nod your head. If you want to save it for later, shake your head."
Like this, for example.
When Ailee asked the question, Princess Doll thought for a moment, and then,
"...!"
Nod!
She dropped and raised her head energetically.
She was saying she would use the date ticket tomorrow.
Then tomorrow during the day....
No, I should assume she'll use it from morning until night.
Since we are always together anyway at night when everyone is asleep.
"So you're using the date ticket tomorrow... Next, if you want to be completely alone with Bear Baby, could you nod your head?"
"...!"
This time, there was no hesitation.
As soon as the question was asked, she nodded her head vigorously.
You wanted to keep me all to yourself too, huh.
"Where do you want to go for our date? Inside the Dungeon? Or outside? If inside, nod your head, and if outside, shake it."
"...!"
Shake, shake.
Princess Doll shook her head.
Hmm. Then it's decided that we'll be going out just the two of us tomorrow.
After that.
After communicating through a barrage of questions.
The date location wasn't clearly set; it was simply decided that wherever Princess Doll's footsteps led would be our destination.
In other words, I just had to follow Princess Doll.
"...! ...!"
Princess Doll looks happy, too.
Judging by her expression, she seems to be looking forward to our private date.
She was swept up by Fox's instigation, too.
To be honest, it really isn't that great of a prize.
"I'm jealous! I'm so jealouuuss!!!"
Fox, that's enough, so please stop.
"I'm just so jealouuuuuss!!!"
.......
...Seeing her keep going like that, it seems she really was genuinely jealous.
***
Belatedly, we announced the second and third place winners as well.
Second place went to Turtle, who received a total of 20 points.
I had quickly racked my brain and come up with a prize while Ailee was asking Princess Doll various questions.
The second-place prize was a White Mana Stone.
Namely, I decided on a Top-grade Natural Mana Stone.
And a whopping ten of them, at that.
Butler Fake Doll brought the White Mana Stones from our Dungeon.
And we presented them to Turtle as a prize.
"Geobuk, geobuuuk!"
Turtle was visibly delighted as soon as they received them.
It seemed I made the right choice for the prize this time.
"The second-place prize is good, but it's nothing compared to the first-place prize! The gap is too huuuuge!"
Fox, please stop mentioning it.
Anyone can see that the White Mana Stones are a better prize.
What if the others compare the second-place prize with the first-place prize and realize something is wrong?
So just be quiet for a bit.
I tapped Fox's leg with my Cane to give her a hint.
"Huh?"
Fox tilted her head, then tapped my leg in return.
"Are we playing tag?"
Sigh.
Let's just ignore her for now,
And quickly give the third-place prize.
Since everyone is waiting with eyes full of anticipation.
For reference, there were three people tied for third place.
The combined scores of the three were tied.
The joint third-place winners were Ailee, Heuksuni, and Little Yellow Dragon.
They were the Participants who received a total of 19 points.
And I decided the third-place prize would be my Button.
The metal button attached to my face.
After popping one off with a *pluck*!
[Repair Module activated.]
I used Repair Mode.
*Whirrrr- Bzzzt!*
Mechanical Tentacles shot out from all over my body, using my stuffing to create a new button.
I have no idea how stuffing turns into a button, either.
Anyway, taking advantage of the fact that repairs were possible even without the torn-off part, I plucked off two more buttons.
*Pluck!*
[Repair Module activated.]
*Pluck!*
[Repair Module activated.]
A total of three metal buttons.
I handed these out to Ailee, Heuksuni, and Little Yellow Dragon.
"Oh my, such a precious thing... I never thought you'd tear off a part of your body to give us... Thank you, Bear Baby. I'll cherish it."
"■■□, ■■□□...!"
"I got Papa's Button! I'm so excited!"
This prize seemed to be a good choice as well.
Ailee and Little Yellow Dragon looked very satisfied, and Heuksuni even shed tears, as if she were deeply moved.
I'm glad they like it.
The Button is just a part of my body and doesn't have any special effects, so I was a little worried they might not like it.
"Whoooa!? The third-place prize looks good too! Can I touch it too!?"
"Mama Fox! Don't be greedy!"
This time, it was a prize even Fox acknowledged.
***
After the prize presentation ceremony ended.
The Rabbits and we returned to the Portal Square.
And the Rabbits went back through the Portal to the Rabbit Dungeon.
We didn't close the Portal connected to the Gacha Field.
Because Mr. Scarecrow said we didn't have to close it.
I considered closing it out of security concerns, but I figured Mr. Scarecrow would be disappointed if I did, so I left it alone.
Oh, and.
I also introduced Mr. Scarecrow, White Spider, and Black Fox from the Gacha Field to Miss Vampire, who was on duty in the Portal Square.
The introductions were made after Miss Vampire crossed over to the Gacha Field.
I explained to Mr. Scarecrow that as long as the Portal is connected, there's no problem with the Owner crossing over to another Dungeon, but he said he was anxious and didn't come over to our Dungeon.
Regardless of trust, it was a perfectly natural reaction for a Dungeon Owner.
***
The night grew late.
The Portal Square Duty Room.
I took over the shift from Miss Vampire.
Princess Doll and I were on duty tonight.
Unless something special happens.
We will probably continue to take the night shifts normally from now on.
Since we, the Doll Tribe, have bodies that don't need sleep.
What's the point of making the others stay up all night when we're here?
And so, on a night when everyone was asleep.
Princess Doll and I sat side by side on our chairs.
And I stared blankly at the Talking Pumpkin resting on the desk.
"Hobak! Hobabak!"
Just in case there's a misunderstanding, I didn't steal this Talking Pumpkin.
I didn't borrow it, either.
It is currently my property.
Little Yellow Dragon gave it to me as a gift earlier.
"Hobabak! Hobababak!"
But this....
I'm suddenly curious about how it tastes.
Maybe I should have asked Mr. Scarecrow how it tastes earlier.
I only heard from Mr. Scarecrow that consuming it didn't seem to have any effects.
Hmm.
I guess I'll find out if I eat it now.
It wouldn't matter if I ate it.
Since it belongs to me now anyway.
With those thoughts in mind, I stole a glance at Princess Doll sitting next to me.
"...!"
Princess Doll was beaming brightly as she looked at the Pumpkin.
She seemed to find it amusing just to watch the Talking Pumpkin.
Don't tell me she's already grown attached to it?
That would make it a bit awkward to eat.
Just as I was wondering if there was a way to ask her.
"Hellooo... I couldn't sleep and was bored, so I came over to playyy... You said earlier that I could visit anytimeee...."
White Spider came over, looking a bit hesitant.
Oh, perfect timing.
"Gom-gom, gom-gom-gom, gom-gom-gom-gom."
Welcome.
Black Fox must be sleeping.
If you're bored, hang out with us here.
I warmly welcomed White Spider.
"Thank youuu...."
"Gom-gom, gom-gom-gom-gom-gom."
And I made a request.
Princess Doll can't understand the words of monsters who don't use a systematic language like I do, so I asked White Spider to relay my words to Princess Doll.
"Understood... It's not a difficult request, so I'll do it...."
"Gom-gom-gom, gom-gom-gom-gom, gom-gom-gom-gom-gom-gom."
I said.
White Spider immediately relayed my words to Princess Doll.
"He wants to try eating this Pumpkin, but he's asking if you've grown attached to it... He said he won't eat it if you have...."
"...? ...!"
Princess Doll shook her head from side to side.
"Does that mean it's okay to eat it...?"
"...!"
Nod, nod.
This time, she bobbed her head up and down.
It seemed she hadn't grown attached to it.
That's a relief.
Alright, now that I've confirmed it, shall we eat?
"Gom!"
Bear-Bear Punch!
I threw a punch and smashed the Pumpkin.
The shattered Pumpkin could no longer speak.
"...!?"
"Huuuh... You're so cruel......."
It's better than eating it while it's talking.
I picked up a broken piece of Pumpkin and shoved it into my mouth.
Then I chewed slowly, savoring the taste.
Munch, munch.
Mmm.......
It doesn't have any special taste.
It wasn't bad.
It just tasted like a normal Pumpkin.
"You're eating it with such relish... Can I try some too...?"
"Gom-gom."
White Spider also picked up a small piece of Pumpkin and popped it into her mouth.
Chew, chew.
"...!"
Watching this, Princess Doll also sneakily picked one up and started eating.
It had unexpectedly become snack time.
Wait, maybe it's a late-night snack time.
"This is surprisingly good... Not as good as Carrots, though...."
Munch.
White Spider said as she chewed the Pumpkin.
"Gom-gom-gom, gom-gom."
Munch.
It's not delicious, just ordinary.
I replied while chewing the Pumpkin.
"Oaa, oaaa."
I'd say this is pretty tasty.
.......
...No, wait a minute.
Who just said that?
That wasn't White Spider's voice, was it?
An unfamiliar voice heard from nearby.
"Gom?"
"Eh?"
White Spider and I belatedly realized something was wrong, and we quickly turned our heads toward the direction of the voice with questioning looks.
Our eyes landed right next to us.
The place where Princess Doll was sitting.
Princess Doll was also staring at us with a questioning look on her face.
Right then.
"O, oaa...?"
The unfamiliar voice we just heard rang out once more.
It was a voice flowing from Princess Doll's mouth.
"Gom...?"
"Ehh..?"
"O, oaaa...!?"
The eyes of all three of us grew wide.