“We will compete in groups of four once again! Let us begin with one each from the clans other than the Fa and Sudra, who are few in number!” Radd Liddo called out, and four hunters stepped forward.
In this competition, targets hanging from branches were sent swaying like pendulums, and the hunters tried to hit them with arrows. The targets were located ten meters away, and they had to fire three arrows in under ten seconds. As for the targets themselves, they were wooden boards about ten centimeters tall and wide with a mark drawn in the middle, and the competition was decided by how close to that mark their arrows landed.
Additionally, there were a few younger people standing off to the side who had been tasked with shaking the targets, while the little kids were given the job of counting the seconds. Personally, I found it really adorable to watch those little kids who were under the age of ten counting out loud with big smiles on their faces.
“I see. So it’s a competition of archery skills? That sounds like a fitting contest of strength for hunters,” Tia said, staring at the competitors with as much passion in her gaze as any of the women who were standing around us had. Of course, the women were getting excited because of how gallant all the men looked, but Tia seemed more interested in just seeing hunters like her in action.
“Oh yeah, you said the red people use bows when hunting too, right? Are you a good archer, Tia?”
“Yes. But unfortunately, my precious bow seems to have been carried off by the river,” Tia replied, her eyes positively sparkling as she watched the hunters compete. I even thought I could see her small body trembling with excitement.
“You look like you want to join in too.”
“Yeah, of course! But I’m not related to any of you, so I shouldn’t. I understand that.”
The competition was proceeding as the two of us chatted. As expected, the Sudra hunters, who were highly skilled with bows, all made it past the first round. Three more hunters who had put up good results last time—Masa Fou Ran, Jou Ran, and Toor Deen’s father—also advanced to the semifinals. My beloved clan head Ai Fa also made it past the first round with ease. She really was incredibly skilled in all kinds of ways, and her steady training had given her tremendous fortitude too.
Just the sight of my clan head firing off arrows was enough to elicit shrill cheers from all around us. It seemed that Ai Fa was as popular with the other women as always. Of course, I thought that she looked incredibly cool too as she shot her bow with a serious look on her face.
“All right, next you are to compete in groups of three!” Radd Liddo announced, having gotten knocked out in the first round but not sounding discouraged in the least. From what I had seen, hunters with large builds like him seemed to specialize in swords rather than bows.
The semifinals would narrow those nine hunters down to three. Ai Fa ended up getting matched with two strong opponents—Raielfam Sudra and Jou Ran, the latter of whom in particular was skilled enough to have competed with Cheem Sudra for first place in the previous archery contest.
“Those two are very skilled, but I’m certain that Ai Fa will win,” Tia said with a smile. Ai Fa never really acted sweet toward anyone, but Tia had gotten thoroughly attached to her after having lived with us for a few days. And sure enough, my clan head advanced, just as the young girl had predicted. Jou Ran lost first after missing the mark with one arrow, and in the rematch she also defeated Raielfam Sudra in a splendid display.
“You sure got the better of me, Ai Fa. I guess I should have expected as much from you,” Jou Ran remarked, smiling with drooping eyebrows.
Ai Fa didn’t say anything in response, but Raielfam Sudra glared at the young hunter on her behalf.
“You defeated me in the previous contest of strength, did you not?” he said. “You’re young, so you should be growing stronger over time, not letting an old man like me get the better of you.”
“That’s not so easy with a fine hunter like you, Raielfam Sudra.”
“I never said it would be easy...but you should be feeling more regret for your loss right now, and letting that motivate you to gain greater strength.”
“Ah, you have nothing to worry about, then. I’m just not the type to let that kind of thing show on my face,” Jou Ran explained with a smile.
With a strained smile of his own, Raielfam Sudra said, “Very well, then,” before turning the other way.
While they had been talking, the second round of the semifinals had already commenced. It ended with Cheem Sudra defeating a hunter from the Fou and one from the Sudra. Then, in the third match, Toor Deen’s father beat Masa Fou Ran and a young Sudra hunter. Toor Deen’s eyes welled up with tears of joy when she saw her father emerge victorious after having lost in the semifinals last time.
And so, the finals ended up being between Ai Fa, Cheem Sudra, and Toor Deen’s dad.
“Cheem Sudra is the only one among you who reached the finals last time! I must praise our two new finalists for having improved your skills so much since then!” Radd Liddo commented with a smile.
And with that, the finals began. It was once again a fierce competition. At the last one, it had taken only six rounds to declare the winner, but this time, all three of them were still in the running.
Ultimately, the match was decided in the eighth round. All three of them still hit the targets, but Cheem Sudra alone hit the mark in the center with all of his arrows, making him the champion once again.
“Splendidly done! Once again, the victor of the target shooting contest is Cheem Sudra!”
Men and women all cheered at that announcement. As for Cheem Sudra, he gave a big sigh, then turned to face Ai Fa and Toor Deen’s father.
“I was even more on edge than I am when hunting giba. You two are definitely worthy of being called champions as well, in my opinion.”
“Even so, you were the one to emerge victorious. I acknowledge your win with no reservations,” Toor Deen’s father stated with a very kind smile on his wrinkled face. He kind of reminded me of Ryada Ruu.
As she wiped the sweat from her brow, Ai Fa nodded and said, “Agreed.”
Hearing their exchange, both Ia Fou Sudra—Cheem Sudra’s wife—and Toor Deen broke out in huge smiles. I was certain I had a similar expression on my face too. In a contest of strength between hunters, there was no shame in losing, and their wonderful match was further proof of that.