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Do you wish to continue participating?

Narantuya...

She hasn't returned yet.

Do you wish to seek a specialist consultant? I can bring you to the chief judge to discuss—

No need. What I seek is not a suggestion.

I will continue my participation.

Hello? Anat, listen to me! You can start preparing the victory feast now!

Hm-hm, of course, I would <i>never</i> take for granted the generosity you’ve shown by lending me the general!

I promise you that I'll stick the gem in when we get back tonight. If Zubayr goes through any changes, you'll be able to see them for yourself.

...Relax, I've been taking good care of him. No stains or damage, I promise.

...Y-You want to speak to him? No, nonono, he... he's under my protection, right? How can I just give him a communicator when everyone's staring at me?

Why don't we talk about something else?! You don't know how hard I've had it! I've been talking up these old pedantic judges all morning just to guarantee second place.

Listen, they're about to declare the winner at the big meeting spot. Once I get the gem, I'll head right back to the museum, where it's nice and quiet—

Sorry.

Ah, it's fine...

...Weird, not like the sidewalk's narrow here.

*phew* I can finally rest easy. Pepe's handled the gem issue, and Zubayr is just fine too.

Should we have a drink together later?

Is there something you wanted to say?

You're not going to want to hear it.

I <i>do</i> want to hear your suggestion, Titi.

You might think this is ridiculous, but... I feel like we might have to start the exhibition over, and keep the accident under wraps.

Just treat it as some sort of performance gone awry, then display it in a more vivid and... true-to-life manner?

So display a walking mummy and some artifacts, push up ticket prices a little while we're at it?

More or less, I guess...

You do know what our people use to scare crybaby children, right?

The exhibits being a bit odd isn't a bad thing!

My old Columbian museum had an exhibit: 'Has Science Gone Too Far? Creative Ideas That Would Be Scarier Successes Than Failures'.

But Titi, that's the idea behind a business whose number one goal is to make money. If we tried that here, a lot of people would be mad. A <i>lot</i> of people.

History itself is the foundation of this city!

Isn't the foundation that vein of gemstones that's nearly dried up?

You really shouldn't say things like that when we go to meet the nobles later.

That family is as ancient as the bricks in the tomb in the museum's great hall. They can be rather conservative.

Meddling here and there... What's wrong with those high-ups anyway?! Can't they just fork over a sum of money every year and forget about the museum like Pepe's family?

I worked hard to become acting curator, Titi. I really don't want to cause any sort of inconvenience.

Inconvenience?! You're <i>seriously</i> calling this an 'inconvenience'?!

That's not what I meant...

Have it your way, then. I'm leaving.

Titi, I...

(Are you okay? You're sweating buckets...)

(A-Am I? It's rather hot outside, haha. You're sweating too...)

Next up is a descendant of a glorious clan of historians, the one who shares ballads of kings and heroes, explorer of all Sargon, purveyor of knowledge, a respected Padishah's daughter—

Hatshepsut Hanim and her rare treasure!

(Are you, err... Are you going to announce the result?)

(Oh, no, this is a rather important occasion. I leave it to you.)

(...Haha, well, I guess I can't get out of this one.)

Ahem...

Uh, this golden slipper is adorned with a lotus flower woven of gold thread, specially designed to accommodate the sudden changes in the Sargonian climate at the time, with distinct characteristics from the era.

Not only that, but it comes from an illustrious family of imperial historians.

It would be difficult to find a slipper so well-preserved in the marketplace, and it's a submission rather uncharacteristic of a family of historians, at that—

For past ceremonies, such families would usually submit letters, manuscripts, and other pieces of writing.

But today, this sole slipper reveals to us another side of the life of a noble past. Its value is incalculable!

Okay, thank you for the commentary. Next, I will announce the judges' decision.

Disregarding the highest and the lowest marks, Hatshepsut Hanim's final tally is...

—94.95 points.

Ah, what a shame, resplendent Hatshepsut Hanim, off by a mere 0.05 points. You are in second place, for now...

This result was born in the interests of fairness and our respect for history. I do hope you understand, Hatshepsut Hanim.

Oh, don't worry about it. I expected as much, heheh.

Menat-Ha'mait is honored to undertake your challenge... L-Let's move on to the next item, shall we?

Very well. Next, we have the last, but certainly not the least, entry into our competition...

A foreign treasure, a set of silver medals from Minos. We invite our expert to give an assessment.

We are all aware that places far from Sargon also possess their own brilliant civilizations. The art and culture of Minos has proven to be harmonious with Sargonian social mores.

This set of medals embodies not only the Minoan love of sports, but more importantly, unlike most of the other entries, its year of manufacture can be determined with precision.

Indeed, our lives are well-adorned with gold, but products fashioned from silver are a rarity.

In fact, some historical periods saw silver considered the more precious metal.

What a fascinating analysis! Well then, which three contestants will win the opportunity to represent the city in offering these treasures to the river? Do allow me to announce this particular treasure's score...

Disregarding the highest and the lowest marks, hailing from Minos, Aspasia Hanim's final tally is...

—94.60 points.

This level of fierce competition is unprecedented! Your final position is third place, Aspasia Hanim. Though I regret you did not place higher, you have still secured the chance to perform the offering.

I thank you. This was precisely the approval I sought.

However, if you so permit, I would protest your arrangement of these prizes after we conclude. I believe a golden Minoan goblet should rank higher than a third place prize.

Very well, Hanim, but please come up to the stage first with your treasure. Go with our attendant there.

In third place, Aspasia Hanim.

In second place, Hatshepsut Hanim.

In first place, Rashad Hanim.

I ask that our three winning contestants take care not to damage the treasures they are holding—

Oh no!

Terribly sorry about that. It's far too hot, and I collapsed for a moment... I couldn't hold it steady. This is quite embarrassing.

*sigh* It's a pity this ancient clay pot I brought shattered to pieces. I assume that offering pottery chips would be an affront to the river god?

I... don't believe this has ever happened before...

This is heartbreaking. I fear I will have to give up first place.

Resplendent Hatshepsut Hanim, daughter of the Padishah, you hold the highest title among all attendees. To bestow first place upon you is only fitting.

And so I voluntarily renounce my position and withdraw from the competition.

...Huh?

Err... What an unexpected turn of events! But I do believe everyone is in agreement that our resplendent daughter of the Padishah should be awarded first place!

And so, our second, third and fourth place contestants will become our new first, second, and third place respectively.

Let's all give them our heartiest congratulations!

♪The papyrus reeds sway by the river, its waters of purest lazurite♪

♪It wends its way by the golden dunes, fed by our gifts of gems♪

♪May I see Him by the waterside, may I follow Him to eternity♪

Amidst the ardent applause and passionate singing, the winners stiffly walk along the shining, bejeweled street.

A reed boat bearing the heavy weight of history slowly sinks into the river. Golden slipper and Minoan silver medal alike become no more than a string of bubbles.

Regret? How could I possibly have any regrets? Meeting you has been the best thing to happen to me this entire competition, Hatshepsut Hanim!

What worth would a competition ranking hold compared to such privilege...? If I may be so bold, I believe a group photo of us losers with the champion would be fittingly commemorative.

Would you do me the honor of having a photo with me, resplendent Hatshepsut Hanim? If you would hold the first-place prize statue as well, that would be perfect.

Haha, of course... Thank you for your kind words...

I joined in a most absurd competition.

Yeah, that was absurd indeed.

I intended to seek history, honor the feats of heroes past, be steadfast in my pursuit of victory, and confront fate itself.

Yeah, confronting fate and... the other thing. Basically, your ten old silver medals are a single shiny new one.