Liberi Reader

Without further ado, let's begin the first joint Zeruertza-Acahualla-Rhodes Island swimming competition!

I'm Croque Diamondface, Zeruertza's business representative. This broadcast is brought to you by Deculture Silvermint's newest high-definition camera.

First, let's take a look at the course.

The race will take place on an underground lake that stretches from here, all the way to the tunnel.

Here are the rules:

Anything goes, and whoever gets to the other side of the lake first is the winner!

The winner will get an unlimited supply of my special craft ale for one month!

The Rhodes Island representative is—

The Wind of Iberia, Rhodes Island's sexiest man, Elysium!

What's up, Durins?

Was that introduction why he pulled Croque to the side to talk to her?

The Acahualla representative is—

Gavial!

Go for it, Gavial!

Hey everybody!

And we have a surprise for the Zeruertza representative—

Master Edge, our environment and climate representative!

......

How did a tunnel survey turn into a swimming competition?

It's a rare opportunity, isn't it?

We're still waiting on the equipment, after all.

Plus, it's not easy to go back and forth with the railway out of operation. If we're going over anyway, we might as well do something fun with it.

Sigh... have it your way.

Aren't you coming?

Not interested. I would rather check up on Tomimi and Deculture's progress.

What a boring Ursus woman.

I'm not Ursus!

And how did you convince Master Edge?

I volunteered, Avdotya.

But...

I just wanted you to help me out while you're having fun.

Now that you've helped me, I certainly won't object to this little event.

We have plenty who like to play in the water, but not a single one who's actually a good swimmer.

This is about the pride of Zeruertza, after all, so I've got to put this sack of old bones on the line.

......

Don't sweat it, Master. It's all friendly competition.

You say that, but I can't have people talking about how Zeruertza lost to a bunch of surface-dwellers!

Avdotya said she's not interested. She didn't say she wouldn't do it.

Durins aren't a pushy people. If she doesn't want to join, I won't force her.

......

Plus, Avdotya isn't a native of Zeruertza. Makes sense she wouldn't want to represent us.

Looks like it's up to me then.

...Alright, alright, I'll compete on behalf of the Durins!

Happy now?

Really?

How can I not, after what you said?

That's more like it!

Croque!

Are you really going to participate, Avdotya?

Is there a problem?

(Whisper) Unlimited supply of craft ale for one month. It will be a real hit for me if she wins this.

Well, it's just friendly competition. No need to be too serious about it.

I'll win this! For Zeruertza, and for the ale!

Er, alright, good luck.

Excuse the interruption. We have an announcement to make.

Avdotya will be subbing in for Master Edge as the representative of Zeruertza.

Let's give her a round of applause!

You still have to come with us across the river, though, Master Edge.

How about you ride on my back during the competition? I'll take you across.

Oh?

Was that intended to be an insult, Gavial?

Hm? No.

I just don't think I'll lose.

......

Speaking of which, you should probably get changed if you're gonna race.

Since you're carrying extra weight, these clothes will do just fine.

Oh?

Just because I don't exercise often doesn't mean I'm out of shape.

I'm not so weak that I'll lose to a Sargon.

Ha. There it is, that's the face. Haven't seen you make a better one yet.

Dúra.

Contestants, please take your positions.

They're calling us.

I have ears.

Maybe this isn't the best time to interrupt, but did they forget that I'm competing as well?

Whatever. They'll find out who has the real skills when the action starts.

On your marks.

Ready.

Hang on tight, Master Edge. Things could get a little rough once the race starts.

Don't underestimate the wisdom of age.

Get—

Damn it, I got provoked into letting my Ursine slip.

I'll beat you, Gavial.

Set—

Oh, come to think of it, I should have asked Croque to add the title 'Lone Ranger' to my name.

I'll remember for next time.

It just occurred to me... don't I have to follow them if I want to get a good angle with the camera?

But I don't have a boat, and I can't exactly hold a camera while swimming. What do I do?

Ah well, never mind.

Go!

Gavial has taken the lead.

Ever since she came to Zeruertza, Gavial has wowed us with her superb athleticism.

She's gotten ahead of the pack, even with Master Edge on her back!

They're having a little too much fun.

Why don't you join them, Stitch Canvas?

Deculture?! Why are you here? Aren't you working on repairing the railway?

No problem, I've put the bots to work there.

Keep your distance. I have Oripathy.

Oripathy doesn't spread so easily, does it?

Plus, I like the peace and quiet of your place.

......

Well, there's a surprise. Gavial is still in the lead, as expected.

But how many of us would have expected Avdotya to be hot on her tail?

Who could have guessed that the elegant lady of Zeruertza has such power within her?

She's keeping pace with Gavial, who hasn't been able to shake her.

Oops, I can't see. Can someone give me a shoulder to stand on?

There we go. Thanks.

I've read in 'Stranger Things' that the people of Ursus are a hardy folk, able to live on nothing but ice for three months. I still didn't expect Avdotya to really keep pace with Gavial...

You sure are interested in what's going on there. Why don't you go over and have a look?

Not interested. It's a waste of time.

Really? You've hardly touched your sketch since the race started.

......

What do you want, Deculture?

I'm just curious, Stitch. What's troubling you?

Because you felt like you deceived Gavial and her friends?

Things don't have to be so complicated. Everything will fall into place if you agree to fix the dome.

You don't want to fix the dome, so you're using the vote results as an excuse not to do it. Instead, you made the proposal to demolish the slide and repair the railway.

And I'm not wrong! Blowing up the slide and fixing the railway will allow us to detect the spread of active Originium!

I didn't say you were wrong. While machine surveying of Originium has fallen out of fashion, the equipment we have is still usable.

Master Edge's problems will be solved once we build a boat and set things up.

He won't be pestering you about the dome anymore. You can continue your design work in this hut of yours, competing with Catch, and everybody lives happily ever after.

Why are you anxious?

What are you anxious about?

I...

We're at the halfway point, 300m point.

What's that? It's 400m already? Alright.

Anyway, the order hasn't changed since the start of the race, with Gavial in the lead, Avdotya in second place, and Elysium in third.

Al-though Elysium has not overtaken the others, his form is a thing of beauty!

Is he staying in third place on purpose?

I just feel uneasy.

Like I've dumped everything on them.

I agreed to compete with Catch on a design for a new Zeruertzan landmark... but how can I convince the people? I have no confidence there.

You'll get along so much better with Catch if you're being honest about your feelings with him.

...It won't happen.

I'll never like him, and he'll never like me.

Hm... well, I'm just looking for a place to take a break. It's none of my business if you want to keep staring at a blank piece of paper.

But if you want to check things out—

Deculture, Deculture. The first boat for the railway project is complete and ready by the lakeside.

The excavation and survey equipment that Master Edge asked for. You can help me deliver it.

......

Thanks.

Deculture, Deculture, taking care of Stitch.

I'm not the only one taking care of him.

Well, I can take a nap now that he's gone.

I'll leave the rest to you and the surface-dwellers.

Do not worry. Zumama, our friend, will help. Do not worry.

You like her that much?

Zumama cares for us. We like Zumama.

What a strange surface-dweller.

We're here by the lake to get a better view!

Hey, is that Stitch the architect over there?

Wait, stop fidgeting! I'll lose my footing!

Whoa!!!

Ouch, my butt...

The robot said the boat is parked around here.

This is the equipment that Master Edge asked for?

I'll load Gavial's equipment onto it as well, and ask someone to bring the boat across.

Hff... phew...

This is the boat?

Stitch? I think so.

Off I go then.

Huh?

Oh, he just got onto the boat that the robots brought to the lakeside, and he's sailing across the lake!

Did he come to join the competition?

Come to think of it, the rules don't say you can't use vehicles!