Awakening to a Special-Grade Explorer
Vol. 5 - Ch. 219 - The Breakdown of Final Preliminaries Challenge

"Well then, let's move on to the main topic now that we've had our nostalgic reunion, Tenji-kun."

Gouta Kusatsu and Tenji, having met after a long time, unwittingly spent more than tens of minutes in their silly banter. Kusatsu re-adjusted himself on the two-seater sofa across from Tenji, implying to move forward with work he had been doing here.

He took a tablet from the bag he had been holding and placed it on the coffee table. As Kusatsu adopted a professional attitude, Tenji felt a slight nervousness seizing him.

"Starting over, I'm Gouta Kusatsu from Japan's Explorer Association's Seeker Olympic Players Enhancement Headquarter, a member of the contestant supervision committee overseeing the support for U-22 contestants. I hope it would be alright if I speak in a more uptight tone as formal scenario."

"Of course."

"I'll be explaining the overview of tomorrow's final preliminaries, which will take around one hour. After that, you will have dinner, and starting around 7 PM, the contestants will take turns boarding the bus to the tournament venue. Please remember this rough schedule."

With these words, Tenji understood the irregularity of the situation.

Typically, for these final preliminaries, contestants would gather on the day of the event. However, this time they were meeting the day before, an unusual arrangement that hinted at some irregularities. Nevertheless, a different venue was something he hadn't expected evne in his wild dreams.

It would have been anyone guess that the preliminary would be held in the arena when they were being called there. it seemed this was a deliberate mislead by the association.

But at the end of the day---whether it was because the association was hyped to hold the tournament this year, or that they had somehow received some substantial sponsorship following the participation of top dogs like Fuyuki---it really didn't matter to Tenji. Plus, it was clear to his eyes that the budget of the Seeker Olympic this year seemed more than before. Just knowing that the best stage had been prepared was enough to make Tenji's heart race with excitement.

"Will we be having dinner in the dining hall or somewhere?"

"I apologise, but you’ll have to eat here in the waiting room. The organisers hope to prevent the contestants from meeting each other beforehand."

Tenji fall into his thoughts hearing the reply. Then, seemingly recalling something, he abruptly looked up.

"Oh wait, does this have to do with that incident a few years ago where contestants had rigged the game by working together? I recall it making the news."

"It's precisely due to that. So the effort has been to remove any unfair advantage as much as possible. If possible, we just want contestants to display their abilities in the match only, plu---ack. I ended up with an informal tone because you're so casual in words, Tenji."

'Ahaha, I fumbled,' Kusatsu chuckled sheepishly, looking a bit embarrassed.

Tenji really didn't care what kind of tone Kusatsu uses, but maybe the work with association have its ups and down. His mind diverted to thought about some unnecessary details.

"I'm sorry to interrupt."

"You don't have to, and well, I guess it's alright to talk normally since it's just two of us here."

Kusatsu said and then proceed to loosen his necktie, perhaps to unravel the build up awkwardness. Immediately after, he took a sheet of paper from his bag and placed it on the low table for Tenji to see.

"Continuing from earlier, you can order anything and as much as you like from this menu. Just use the internal phone over there to place your order. If there's anything else you want, we'll do our best to get it for you."

"As much as I want......?"

"Of course, though, make sure you don't overeat, alright? I know you have a big appetite, but remember, tomorrow is the main event."

"Y-Yes."

The menu included a variety of dishes, from sushi to Western cuisine, and they could also order delivery from nearby restaurants.

For Tenji, whose appetite had been going ahead of himself lately, this was like an invitation to heaven itself. Plus, borrowing the words of President Limey, it's the telltale sign his desire for appetite had started to become stronger under the influence of his calling.

"We're scheduled to arrive at the venue the next morning. I recommend getting some good sleep on the bus."

"Oh, we'll be sleeping on the bus?"

"Yes. Some people can't sleep on buses, but I believe those people aren't suited to be explorers. This isn't just my personal opinion; it's also the stance of the Association and the Professional Explorers' Guild. ......Well, It might sound harsh though."

Kusatsu scratched his head a bit awkwardly. Tenji responded seriously.

"No, I believe you're right. You will never become the best explorer if you don't know when to exploit the opportunity to make yourself comfortable. The sound sleep turns into a fleeting dream the higher you leap up in your, the world of explorer isn't so sweet. The best is to choose a common route."

"I expected nothing much from you, Tenji-kun. I have also learned a great deal from my seniors; it's easier to get through the veterans but beginners, basically the one who lacks any sort of experience much, are often the tough nut. I believed someone like you, who's been to Mallorca, would surely understand it."

"Can you not throw such straight words? It's embarrassing."

"But I'm serious, I am one of those who have high expectations from you, Tenji-kun. It's only after entering into the society of explorers that I have realised the golden opportunity Mallorca had."

Kusatsu was quite ignorant about Mallorca when Tenji was set to go to Mallorca. It wasn't until he started in the Explorer Association that he was made to widen his horizon, facing the realisation the incredible place Mallorca was. It was the golden nest that only kept the brightest of fledgling explorers.

The exposition was why Kusatsu truly was in awe of Tenji. It wasn't as if he was basing everything on his achievement to Mallorca either, instead his demeanour was so composed and professional that it belied his young age.

"Well, even though it’s a bus, all the seats are private rooms, and they’re not cramped either. The bus is so luxurious that it only fits six people per large vehicle. By the way, this is off the record, but… the bus was donated by the guild [CLASS] for promising future explorers."

Tenji's eyes peeled back in surprise when he heard that. The guild <Class> had been the guild of his idol explorer after all.

"---Anyway, this is basically the general gist. The details are in this schedule so take a look later."

"I see, understand."

"Alright, since we don’t have much time… let’s watch the video on this tablet."

"What's it about?"

"The rule explanation for the final qualifiers."

　†　†　†

After taking a brief break with black tea, they prepared to watch the video.

Confirming Tenji was prepared, Kusatsy clicked on an application in the tablet and opened a file titled 'Final Qualifiers - Professional Explorer Explanation Archive Video.'

"You can only watch this once due to the rules, so pay attention."

"Understood. Can I take notes?"

"Of course. Just remember that recording is against the rules and could get you disqualified."

Tenji nodded solemnly to the reminder of Kusatsu.

Kusatsu then touched the triangular play button with his rugged finger.

An opening video for the Seeker Olympic, featuring music from a famous composer who had also worked with many idols, began to play. At two minutes mark---abruptly, the video scenery changed to show a certain famous explorer.

<......Ohh, are we recording already?>

<Yes, so if you may Renji-san!>

The scene in the video turned to show Renji Ukai---widely known as the leader of guild <Class>, and also the professional explorer Tenji had always admired.

In front of the media, he was refreshingly affable, leaving a friendly impression that garnered broad support from children to adults alike, admired by everyone. The visage of his admired idol unwittingly quickened the heartbeat of Tenji.

<Cough, Cough. La-la~......is this volume okay for my voice? My voice isn't cracking, right? I often have people mad at since my voice is quite booming.>

<Everything is all okay! Please continue with the same pace!>

Renji corrected his posture and then flashed a vibrant smile facing the camera.

<Hello, ladies and gentlemen, and kids. Good morning, or if it's good night for some, or Ahoy for our foreigner friends! Though I believe It needs no explanation, I'm Renji Ukai, leader of the Japanese guild <Class>. As the supervising Professional Explorer, I will be keeping an eye on everyone's performance. Do your best, so will I!>

Tengi couldn't contain his delighted expression at his unchanging coolness from the past.

Kusatsu, who was looking over at him, broke out into a wry smile seeing his child-like reaction.

<Let's save the details for later. First, let me explain the content of the final qualifying round that everyone is curious about. Including the seeded participants who qualify from this final round, there are a total of 52 participants—>

(52? ......This is slightly more than the last event.)

<Only 12 of them will advance to the main event. Seems few, right? But it's the brunt of the moment, aye. We just have too many excellent students this year in contrast to our last event. With four of those outstanding students already taking up the seeded spots, only 12 spots remain. And—>

Renji made various hand gestures with his hand and body movements, seemingly to keep the viewer's attention. Abruptly, he vanished from the video and the next moment he appears, he was carrying a large, round green fruit in his hand.

<I'm sure everyone must be impatient to know about the challenge for the final round. Well here I reveal---Watermelon Split!>

(The what?)

Tenji's mouth opened agap in surprise when he heard Renji bringing up the name that was very much familiar to everyone, but it couldn't have been any more foreign for explorers. As if seeing through such viewer reactions, Ukai grinned slyly.

<But of your, everyone doesn't believe it would be the typical watermelon split, right? Just as the term 'explorer' suggests, we professionals always seek specific things. We chart unknown territories and piled up achievements with nothing but a single straw of clue and information. It is indeed like seizing the cloud in your hands--->

It might appear a joke, but when the words were coming out from Ukai, a being scoring achievements like the hero of fairy tales for so many years, one could feel the gravitas from his words.

There was no one unaware about his calling in Japan. His abilities had never been specific for the combat like The Hero, nonetheless he was the top achiever in Japan.

He was a hero for the masses, continuing to lead the forefront of explorer's society. His name rang widely when he cleared the first dungeon era's zero-grade sub-dungeon, that no one was able to conquer and shut it, in a single night.

The explorer society was rough at that time, lacking any unity, each working to act independently. As the dark clouds hovered above their head, he collaborated with the association and restructured scattered professional explorer offices into cohesive organisations within a few short years, showcasing his undeniable leadership skills.

Among Japan's seven dungeons, his guild <Class> holds records for reaching the deepest floors in the three of them. However this was just the start as the man called Renji Ukai continued to accumulate countless achievements as the leader of the new generation.

Tenji unconsciously clenched his fist tightly. The excitement within him was surging again and again like a tsunami.

<---That's why, in this final qualifying round, I want you to demonstrate your exploration skills. Or rephrasing myself, this is the most essential aptitude for activities as a professional explorer.>

(A match that revolves around exploring, huh. I think it's just tailor made for my current self.)

<Watermelons have been placed all over in the destination you will soon be heading to. Of course, they're not real thing but machines made to imitate them. As soon as you find them, you can earn point by performing fingerprint authentication in the central indention of it.>

Ukai demonstrated the fingerprint authentication process, providing a model for the players watching. Once authenticated, the display on the watermelon showed "Renji Ukai 5P," followed by a dramatic split from the centre.

"You need to collect 100 points like this. That's the minimum requirement to advance to the main event."