#802 Another Season of Orkubo’s Castle

Winter has come.

Another year, another winter.

It’s cold.

With the cold, crops don’t grow. Farming comes to a halt, and everyone braces themselves against the chilly winds.

This is what you’d call the farming off-season.

We rely on the grains and veggies we’ve stockpiled and relax until spring arrives.

But now that all the time we’ve spent on farming has essentially vanished, we’ve found ourselves with much more idle time. 

As such, we tend to make the most of it by hosting some significant events.

A prime example of this is Orkubo’s Castle, which has become an annual spectacle. 

Every year, volunteers from all over the world gather to try and conquer this castle, built in one corner of the Human Kingdom. It’s a massive festival of attack and defense.

That being said, it’s not like they’re actually laying siege to the castle. It’s an event where participants overcome various obstacles using their brains, brawn, and reflexes. 

Every year, changes are made here and there to keep participants engaged.

Bringing something fresh in this seasonal event’s sequel while retaining its original charm is crucial.

Still, it’s quite the challenge.

We, the event organizers, have been racking our brains as usual.

How can we make Orkubo’s Castle even more exciting?!

“Why not offer more lavish prizes, Lord Saint?! Bigger rewards might motivate participants even more!” one of the staff suggests. 

Although it’s tradition to reward participants who complete all the challenges with extravagant prizes, the current rewards are already pretty grand.

I mean, think about it. They all come from our farm, you know?

Items produced and made here are typically OOPArts outside. 

When used, they exhibit unbelievable powers and can overturn any situation.

 If sold, they could easily fetch hundreds of times an average salary.

Given the current state of rewards, making them any more opulent might mean gifting legendary weapons or the like.

That would just make the game imbalanced.

“Then we might need to revamp the obstacles! Make them more challenging, more thrilling! Let’s create a course that feels rewarding!!!” 

Well, you see...!

We hear that every year.

“Make it tougher! More intense! So hard that it makes the challengers livid!”

But every time someone says that, it makes me think.

By ramping up to hard mode, seasoned contestants who’ve been participating for the past few seasons might find it more challenging.

Running the exact same course as last year would probably feel tedious.

So, while it’s understandable to want something more challenging and more satisfying, we shouldn’t forget that there are newcomers, too, right?

For a newbie, an insanely hard course right off the bat would be disorienting and probably not enjoyable.

That’s why the obstacles at Orkubo’s Castle remain largely unchanged over the years.

The difficulty level remains consistent. 

At most, adjustments are made to be more user-friendly based on feedback from the previous year.

“I remember when we tried catering to our hardcore players by introducing the EX Ultra-Hard course for those who had completed the main course.”

That was... not well-received.

“Nobody completed it. In fact, almost everyone got wiped out in the very first stage.”

“Yeah, I remember.”

In retrospect, it wasn’t about the difficulty. 

The course was just sadistically designed so that no one could clear it.

That event felt more like the organizers were venting rather than trying to create something enjoyable. It became even harder to appreciate.

“That’s why we didn’t do it the next year.”

“Well, the following year had its own set of challenges...!”

Huh? Was the EX Ultra-Hard course introduced two years ago?

The subsequent year... Orkubo’s Castle had a complete makeover due to weather conditions. 

The EX Ultra-Hard course wasn’t held then for various reasons. This year, it’s planned to be a standard event.

...Should we do it? 

Should we reintroduce that advanced course?

“Some of the previous challengers said they wanted to give it another shot...!”

“Realistically, though, clearing it is impossible...”

True that.

To clear that course, you’d need at least the ability to fly, smash through walls, and cling to surfaces. Otherwise, consider yourself eliminated.

It feels like an endgame stage.

I personally think it needs a bit of a difficulty tweak...!

As we’re in the middle of this heated debate, someone decides to show up.

It’s none other than the very essence of our problem...!!!

“Hoh-hoh-ho...! Need a few words of wisdom from yours truly, do you?”

Zoth Syra!!!

The most notorious witch among the merfolk!

Also, she’s the Mermaid Kingdom’s Prime Minister! 

And, the woman who married Orkubo just recently!!!

She’s taken on quite a few titles recently, hasn’t she?

But why did she show up just now, of all times?

“There’s no way you, the owner of this farm, wouldn’t know, right? Orkubo and I are now married! Married!!!”

Okay, okay! No need to say it twice.

“It’s only natural I come back to this farm, where Orkubo is, every night! I’ve finished my duties as the Prime Minister for the day and am off work now!!!”

...I always thought being a prime minister was a back-breaking role, leading a nation and all.

Do they actually have such a lax work environment?

For a moment, I wondered if her marriage had made her careless in her duties.

But no, that can’t be it.

Because if she messed up her job, her mentor and sister-figure, the former Mermaid Queen Mahi, would definitely give her a piece of her mind.

Considering she’s faring fine, she must be doing her duties while also managing to leave work on time, right? 

Maybe happiness boosted her efficiency...

There are all kinds of people out there, I guess.

‘nyway.

If you’re wondering why Zoth Syra is the current topic, she was the mastermind behind that infamous EX Ultra-Hard course a year or two ago.

“Ah, those were the days...! I had so much fun back then...!”

“Yeah, right. Mostly at everyone else’s expense!”

After all, the course was designed to be ruthlessly brutal with no intention of letting players clear it.

Back then, Zoth Syra was stressed from being forcibly made the Prime Minister, and the event was meant to relieve her stress.

Everyone catered to her whims. 

You’d think that would’ve settled her spirits. 

At the time, at least.

But we’re in the present. 

She’s happily married to Orkubo and is at the pinnacle of her life.

She doesn’t need to destress anymore, right? 

Yet she’s planning to recreate that brutal event?!

“I want to taste the pinnacle of happiness even at the height of my glory.”

“What bottomless avarice!!!”

Zoth Syra sure is greedy, huh?!

But Orkubo’s Castle is an event for everyone! We won’t keep catering to just you!

Can’t you suggest something that promotes world peace?!

“Very well. I shall use my powers as the Prime Minister of the Mermaid Kingdom and present a fresh, new idea.”

Wait, seriously? 

That’s a big responsibility. Aren’t you scared of wielding it?

Let us hear it.

“I’m sure you know this too, Saint. There’s a huge event happening around this time in the Mermaid Kingdom.”

A big event? 

Oh, you mean the Martial Swimming Tournament?

In the deep-sea Mermaid Kingdom, once a year, mermen compete in a free-for-all brawl.

That’s the Martial Swimming Tournament.

But what Zoth Syra is referring to seems different. 

Recently, alongside the Martial Swimming Tournament, another event was introduced: the sumo tournament.

The current Mermaid King, Arowana, became obsessed with sumo wrestling after I introduced him. He set up the event soon after his coronation. 

A rather impressive achievement for a new king, if you ask me.

“The Mermaid King wants the sumo tournament to foster more interaction with the land. I thought that wasn’t something for the Prime Minister to handle, but I guess I’m the kind of mermaid who can’t help but come up with good ideas.”

Priding yourself much? 

What’s this idea of yours, then?

“How about a collaboration between Orkubo’s Castle and the sumo tournament?”

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just saw on top of the raw site's TOC that vol 16 is confirmed 😳