「The rules are simple! Compete to see who can dig up the most sweet potatoes in ten minutes!」
I glanced at Dori and the others, who nodded in understanding.
It seemed they got the rules.
I’d already set up the timer on my phone.
「Hey, Papa?」
「What’s up, Yuri?」
「Since we’re doing this, wouldn’t it be fun to have a prize for the winner?」
At Yuri’s words, Dori nodded vigorously.
Maybe Dori wants something too.
「Oh, that’s a great idea! It’ll give everyone more motivation!」
After all, without a prize, there’s not much point in competing.
But what kind of prize would be good?
「Hmm, maybe a trip somewhere?」
「Mawnten!」
Dori pointed to the nearby mountain.
We haven’t really gone mountain climbing before.
Honestly, I’ve avoided it because of my lack of stamina.
But I doubt she’s asking for the whole mountain.
If Dori wins, we’ll go mountain climbing.
「I’d like to go play with Papa too.」
「Huh? You want to play with me?」
「Yeah!」
It seemed Yuri wanted to play with me if she won.
I could play with her anytime, but she wants to win fair and square against Dori.
There’s probably some kind of girl rivalry I don’t understand.
Plus, if I play with Yuri, Haruki would get mad.
That guy’s more sensitive than you’d think.
I can already picture him muttering, “I wanted to join too”, in my ear for days.
Looking at my phone, a few comments scrolled by.
Lady of Decay ・Just now
I’d love to join too!
Iron-Walled Saintess ・Just now
Please let me go on a date with Dori-chan!
Nameless Ordinary Person ・Just now
Don’t slack off at work, you guys!
Solitary Samurai ・Just now
We promised to patrol properly de gozaru yo!
「Nuuuaaaaaah!」
In the distance, Sena and Lady were shouting.
It seemed many viewers wanted to play with us too.
If everyone’s so eager to play, maybe I’ll make that my prize.
「Then, if I win, let’s all go out and play together.」
I decided to suggest a group outing.
Once winter hits, snow makes it hard to go anywhere, so we should make the most of autumn.
Unmarried Mother ・Just now
Please do a live stream when that happens!
Farm Diary Lover ・Just now
It’d be great if we could join too…
「But you all can’t participate, right?」
Since we haven’t shared our address, even if we plan an outing, the viewers wouldn’t be able to join.
「If we’re talking about where we live, it’s nearby the highest difficul—」
『Yuri, shh!』
Surprisingly, Potato hushed Yuri.
What should Potato’s prize be?
「If Potato wins, I’ll play with him—」
『Grrrrrr!』
Potato growled, baring his teeth with a glint.
It seemed he wasn’t too keen on hanging out with me.
「Then, how about Grandma makes some sweet potato chips for you!」
『Wha!?』
「Grandma’s potato chips are great, but sweet potato chips this season are the best!」
『Wooooon!』
It seemed Potato’s prize for winning would be sweet potato chips.
「Alright! Now that the prizes are decided, let’s start the sweet potato digging!」
I set the timer for ten minutes.
The other two and one furry participant took their positions.
「Ready, set, go!」
As soon as I pressed the timer, everyone dashed toward the sweet potato field.
♢
-Saintess’ POV-
「Sigh… I wish we could have joined too.」
「We should’ve asked Papa-san about the schedule beforehand.」
I, along with Lady, watched Dori-chan and the others through binoculars.
If we’d joined that sweet potato digging contest, I’m sure I would’ve won a date with Dori-chan.
It’s frustrating that I still can’t go on a mountain date with Dori-chan.
「Hmm? What’s that over there?」
「They’re busy with the sweet potato digging right now—」
「Do your job properly!」
Lady seemed to have noticed something.
She turned my face toward a different field.
There was a suspicious-looking old man sneaking around.
He was circling the field, stopping occasionally.
「That’s not how an old man usually moves.」
「Didn’t we see him watching Papa-san’s sweet potato digging earlier?」
Lady and I exchanged glances.
「Fufufu, this is my chance to go on a date with Dori-chan.」
「No way, I’m not giving up my chance for a close-up date with Papa-san and Haruki-san.」
That man was likely the culprit who sprayed the herbicide.
Sparks flew between Lady and me.
We’re both S-rank adventurers.
If we don’t hold back, we might blow away the entire field. But this is a battle I can’t afford to lose, even if it costs me my life.
As the sweet potato digging contest continued, a battle between S-rank adventurers began right next to the field.
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