Awakening to a Special-Grade Explorer
Vol. 5 - Ch. 220 - Rules of Final Preliminary and Moments Before the Debut

The video about Renji Ukai narrating the explanation about the rules was roughly 50 minutes long.

The final preliminary was about the battle of speed, with contestants racing for hoarding point in the battle of......watermelon splitting.

This was the general gist for the final preliminary.

Clutching the notebook, in which he had made sure to write down every details, in one hand, Tenji repeated the rules in his mind to make sure he could alway have them at the tip of his tongue.

"I guess there are just seven rules."

———————

No.1 - Participants are strictly prohibited from engaging in attacks against other participants. If such actions are confirmed, the offender's tournament participation rights will be permanently revoked, and their explorer licence will be revoked. However, this does not include cases of legitimate self-defence.

No.2 - Participants may expend 100 points from their possession to challenge a specific participant to a 'duel' through the mediation of Supervising Professional Explorer.

No.3 - Participants may declare their opt-out of final preliminary shall their total point counts exceed 100 points. But, no further changes shall be allowed to the points afterward.

No.4 - The competition will last for 6 hours at minimum and 48 hours at maximum.

No.5 - The act of destroying the objects or harming the environment would be subjected to a special points deduction act.

No.6 - The top twelve contestants based on accumulated points will be granted the right to participate in the main event.

No.7 - The final judgement regarding the rules shall lie in the hands of Supervising Professional Explorer - Renji Ukai.

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In contrast to the lengthy video, the rules were quite few. The seven rules basically sums up the entire explanation.

(This video hardly went off-topic, though Renji-san still was his usual self..)

While sorting out the details of the video in his mind, Tenji shifted his gaze at Kusatsu who was quietly watching from the sideline. Kusatsu replied to the gaze of his friend with a serious expression, as a staff who had been granted the duty to see the duty to the very end.

"Kusatsu-san, these seven rules are what I can make out of that video, but......are there only these rules?"

"Why do you think there should be more?"

"I know I'm the one posing the doubt, but how should I say......everything feels a bit too rough. The details were far more elaborate in the event last time."

Tenji spoke out his doubt about the situation. He truly had only a vague understanding of the qualifying rounds. It seemed simple enough for spectators: gather points and play out the image of exemplary explorer while the two twelve participants would move to the main stage.

Everything was according to Ukai's statement; this preliminary final would test the contestant's quality as a professional explorer.

The ability to gather necessary information, the observational acumen to discern essence from subtle hints, and undoubtedly, the physical stamina and agility to navigate the vast venue. These and other essential qualities for professionals would clearly come to the forefront in this qualifier.

As Tenji expressed his reason, Kusatsu, seemingly finally making up his mind after a mental debate, started speaking.

"This is what Ukai-san wishes for."

"He does?"

"Ukai-san has always been vocal about how he wants 'A Seeker Olympic that everyone can enjoy.' So we thought, how about we just tone down the extra intricacy and make it simple? .....But if it's too simple, then it wouldn't be enough to assess the contestant's quality as an explorer."

This was indeed the case. Tenji, who knew about the delicate balance, nodded.

If the rules are too detailed, it would only invite enthusiastic fans, like in the sports, but in vice-versa case, too much simplicity would render the reason for holding a tournament meaningless.

"I see, so that's why there's a casual rule in the end."

"You caught up fast. That's right, Ukai-san said 'Does it really matter if I can reason things out on the spot?' when we offered our idea. So we decided we will have only a few absolute rules while the rest would be dependent on Ukai-san to take care of.”

Finally clearing his doubts via Kusatsu's explanation, Tenji put the notebook in his hand at the low table and stood up from the sofa, stretching to relax his stiff muscles.

Following Tenji's action, Kusatsu also got up his position in the same vein.

"This is all from me. I should get going now."

"Oh, alright. Thanks for everything!"

Kusatsu had already explained beforehand that the explanation session would only happen once. So, he placed the dinner menu on the table and packed the other tools into his bag.

Once he had packed everything, Kusatsu then chuckled slightly.

"You know, I really didn't feel that much of a deeper impression when I first met you, or when I came to learn you have left for Mallorca."

"Huh? Why are we suddenly talking about this?"

Tenji was slightly perplexed at the sudden topic. Though Kusatsu ignored him and continued to spin his words.

"However I can now vividly feel it. The heart that it takes to traverse through the dungeon as a mere first-year, able to be qualified for that famous Mallorca and the fact that you're standing here at this moment—It all goes to show off your incredible abilities."

With a bright expression, Kusatsu put forward his right hand.

"Not only as your friend, I will be there to support you as your fan too. I am awaiting for tomorrow, where you will finally get your stage to spread your wings."

Tenji gladly accepted his clear praise. And slowly, but firmly, hold on to that big hand.

"Thank you, Kusatsu-san. Make sure to watch me tomorrow, because...I will definitely snag the top spot for myself."

With Tenji's innocuous gaze, his unwavering confidence over his excellence without any eclipse, backed by the rough skin on his small hand, Kusatsu didn't doubt that he was lying.

His friend was clear about himself that he would surely win this match. He held no doubt that he could even pull one over Fuyuki Kuro.

The world would soon discover the young man named Tenji Amagi if he really did surpass all of them. Kusatsu, too, decided to support his friend with everything.

†　†　†

"—An extra-large serving of Unaju and...another extra-large serving of fillet katsudon please. Also, add a 500g steak lunch-box and a Genkotsu Hamburg Steal lunch-box."

A rattle could be heard from the other side of the phone as Tenji made his order, holding nothing back. That said, Tenji further added fresh salad bowl or dessert etc to his order unfazed.

Within thirty minutes, the dishes were carried to Tenji's waiting room where he wolfed them down as if there was a black hole in his stomach.

After the dinner, Tenji boarded the bus meant for the venue, made himself home on the spacious seat and ventured into the dreamland. As the sun started to rise up, and the horizon was covered by a pale purple hue, Tenji woke up.

Listening to favourite music through earphones, he relaxed in the bus's gentle sway. Opening the curtain and cracking the window slightly, a refreshing breeze passed through, as if resetting his internal clock.

"Heh, so we're in some countryside area huh. I wonder where we're heading."

Tenji mumbled as the scenery of endlessly continuing farms outside reflected into his eyes.

It was just a wait of a few more moments until Tenji made his debut on the stage. So far, Kaido and Leon had been making sure to hide his existence. But even that blessing would end today. No, for better wording, he would no longer need to cling to their blessing.

"It's also time to part away with this disguised blue stone."

It was the blue stone he had received in the hospital to falsify his calling as <Swordsman> that day.

He put that stone into the bag, seemingly no longer wanting to keep it nowhere by his side.

†　†　†

The opening theme of Seeker Olympic echoed within the whole venue. It also signalled the beginning of final preliminary.

"So it's finally the moment. Though before that—"

Tenji gently rubbed his head.

"Alright, no change today either."

It was the single horn that had grown on his forehead ever since that head. Right now, it had been regressed enough to stay only as a bump that he managed to hide with his hairs. But seldomly, when using too much strength, the horn returned back to its usual appearance from that day.

"It's fine. I just need to act like usual and that would be enough."

Tenji murmured his monologue to rouse his spirit and strongly held onto the Book of Enma floating in the mid-air. Then, as if chanting something, he made the demon's cover shine in ominously deep green glow.

A hell gate covered in moss appeared before him.

"Summon—Demon Fire <Ancient Caged Fire>!"