01x06 - Mathematics Bare Knuckle

[bunniefuu]

Ten rounds total.

One-on-one bouts of mathematics and
brawling held at the same time.

The round ends when one side
solves the math problems.

So unless you can finish the math
problems, the fight goes on forever.

It's the only way to get bloodthirsty
adventurers to learn their arithmetic!

Each problem set will be
tougher than the last.

And at the start of the next round,

for each 10-point difference in your scores,

you get one free hit at the enemy brawler.

That's a heavy responsibility.

We'll use this to determine
the mathematics players.

Huh?

It's Curran.

N-N-N-N-N!

It's me, Nick.

Calm down.

I-I-I-I-I.

Yes, you can do it.

B-B-B-B-B!

You'll be fine.

Don't worry.

How can he tell what she's saying?

Hmph. I hope one screw-up
doesn't get everyone k*lled.

U-U-U-U-U!

She's saying "Uuuh."

Ningen Fushin: Adventurers Who Don't
Believe in Humanity Will Save the World

Ningen Fushin: Adventurers Who Don't
Believe in Humanity Will Save the World

"Mathematics Bare Knuckle"

"Mathematics Bare Knuckle"

"Mathematics Bare Knuckle"

"Mathematics Bare Knuckle"

"Mathematics Bare Knuckle"

"Mathematics Bare Knuckle"

"Mathematics Bare Knuckle"

"Mathematics Bare Knuckle"

Well?

Hmm, I think she's got potential!

What was my score?

Curran, you worked hard, didn't you?

Yup. So what was my score?

If you did this good before you even
started studying, I think there's hope.

What was my score?

Curran, let the poor guy off the hook.

It was no good?

That's not true.

Curran

I can't do this.

Curran, the most important thing right now

is that we were able to see what
you can do and what you can't.

So we just need to get you better
at the things you understand,

and help you learn the things you don't.

Can I do that?

Of course.

You should just let me help.

Kizuna, you're too strong.

But I want to help the Survivors, too.

Of course, we want your help.

Okay...

Not as a sacred blade,
but as a party member.

Leave it to me!

We spent the next week training
and coming up with plans.

Zem's been hanging out
with girls all day lately.

Oh, Zem, you pervert!

Eww!

Why don't you stop wasting everybody's
time and get to the point?

You knew, then?

It's no fun to drink with
someone who's so glum.

You've been like that all the time lately.

All right, if you insist...

I've heard more stories about that
Claudine girl breaking men's' hearts...

Beg? The creepy guy, right?

So Leon's not just strong,
he's pretty smart.

The Iron Tigers went too far!

Oh, that new girl, Rose, was
talking about some strange man.

So you know something about a strange man?

That's right.

Can you tell me more?

All right.

Hmm...

Wavy, flaxen hair,

beautiful soft blue eyes...

long, light pink fingers,

a sexy voice like velvet...

He wears a cassock that stands
out in a place like this...

Who are you talking about?

A strange man.

They're going to try some
kind of trick tomorrow.

Yeah.

The way they acted, the way they lured
us into this, they've done it before.

I've had Zem look into them.

So he wasn't just out getting drunk?

I had a lot to drink,
and asked lots of questions.

He's cheating. I know it.

But I can't figure out how.

He's sharp, like he's got eyes
on the back of his head.

And I can't figure it out!

What they do is share information
so they can outsmart their enemy.

They're probably using Thought Gems.

Those work like telepathy, right?

Not nearly as powerful, though.

What do I do?

Use all you've learned
to solve the problems.

That's all?

Until I give the signal.

I was pretty happy as a kid.

My parents worked at a carriage station,

but started embezzling small
amounts of money and got fired.

They were about to sell
me off when I ran away.

But then I had to survive.

I was pretty enough, which helped
me do enough fraud to live.

I was smart enough to do
enough cons to get by.

I met some decent enough guys
to earn a decent enough living.

And that's when I met Nick.

Happy Birthday!

I thought that the more people I could
steal from, the happier I'd be.

I just...

I'll get you yet, Nick!

Okay, let the Mathematics Bare Knuckle begin!

I know these!

They're the type of problems I've studied!

Don't look so happy.

These are problems a kid could do.

Sh-Shut up.

I'll finish this up fast to help Nick!

Get him, Nick!

Kick Leon's a*s!

This is a good opportunity for Curran.

She looks like she's bad at math.

They're not going to miss a chance
to take advantage of that.

He's not taking the bait.

Which means...

He's not attacking.

So he's buying time?

This much was planned for...

He's figured out some part of it.

Good luck figuring out the rest!

You'll never reach it without real smarts.

Focus, Curran.

What's important now is
getting the right answers!

I-I'm done!

Curran finished first!

We will now begin the judging.

Take a moment's break!

Claudine

Curran

Curran 86 Points, Claudine 98 points!

Yeah, that's the problem with going fast.

You get in such a rush that you get sloppy

and end up losing points.

You're better than I thought.

Let's see how long you can last.

S-Sorry, Nick!

It's fine!

Nobody gets worried about
a little pat from a kitty.

Penalty time already?

Here I go!

Come on, kitty.

Sorry, my hand slipped.

So this is what you've
got up your sleeve...

no, no, it's not.

Don't you worry about it.

What happens when you have to brawl
and do math at the same time?

You might think the math is
there to preserve your stamina.

You could try to save your brawler's strength

by ending the math part fast,
like Curran tried to do.

The math might seem less
important than the fighting,

until you realize that you can use
it to go on the offensive, too!

Round 2, start!

Abusing the penalties
might not feel very nice,

but it's a standard way to fight.

Nothing's as effective as an attack
your opponent can't block.

Especially, if your math player is good,
you can use it to get aggressive.

Theoretically, if you could answer
every question instantly,

you could inflict massive penalty
hits no matter how smart they were,

since they wouldn't get to
answer a single question.

It's not the brawlers who determine
the outcome of the game.

Hence the attempts to buy time.

And that's where they'll try to cheat.

And so will we!

Claudine

Curran

Claudine 98, Curran 79!

What a shame. I almost got him two hits.

Curran!

Wipe that look off your face.

You're not the one getting hit.

I know that!

But... but...

Don't worry about me.
Focus on the problems.

But it's my fault you're being hit!

Because I'm stupid!

I'll tell you the truth...

A week ago I couldn't even
imagine it would go like this.

I was ready to take dozens of hits.

But just count them.

How many times have I been hit?

T-Two.

Yeah. You started off getting
80 percent of the questions wrong,

and now you're a full-fledged
Mathematics Bare Knuckle player!

You're giving it your best! I can tell!

So don't call yourself stupid!

But I might start getting more wrong.

It's fine.

That's fine.

If you get one wrong, just use what you
learned to get it right next time.

Nick...

Curran, you're amazing!

What are you so excited about?
This is simple arithmetic.

I'm excited because I can do something
now that I couldn't before!

I'll pretend I didn't hear all that.

Any more talking and I'll treat
this as ill*gal stalling.

Round 3! Start!

Like I said, you're just some
Dragonian bumpkin who

won't be able to solve
these problems for long!

I was happy to be able to do
math I couldn't do before.

But I couldn't let myself show
it because Nick was getting hit.

But Nick was happy for my progress!

So I won't hesitate anymore!

If you want to run a con, you do it fast.

Most people would do it
right after the start,

and get things over and done with
before they had a chance to slip up.

But there's a reason they didn't.

Early in the game, you'd lose time repeating
the questions and answers to each other.

Which means...

They're trying to buy time and
let the problems get harder.

When Curran stops being able
to blaze through the questions,

they'll use the Thought Gems
to give Claudine a boost.

I'm getting tired.

If I want to use my speed to go on the
offensive, this is my last chance, but...

Stop running around!

Coward!

Let the crowd say what they want.

But buying time is part of our secret plan.

I'll last as long as my strength holds out!

That's strange...

I'm not seeing any traces of magic use.

Were we wrong?

Or is there some other plan?

The math's about to go beyond
what Curran learned.

In the next round, she'll...

Looks like I'll need to make more smoke.

Vilma.

What?

This is just wasting everybody's time.

Why don't we do all the
remaining problems at once?

Our leader's tough enough to take it.

Sounds like fun!

Do it!

You understand that means he'll take all
the penalty punches at once, right?

Sounds good to me!

I was going to say it if nobody else did.

Nick...

Is that woman stupid?

He might be strong, but only for a human.

With the damage he's taken,
does she think he can survive?

If he's lucky, it'll put him in a coma.
If he's not, he's a dead man.

Are they trying to stop us from buying time?

But it's too late!

Our plan's already complete!

Your struggles will only
make it easier for us!

I'll drive that alley cat from its hole!

Now begin!

Come on out, alley cat!

I've solved all the problems so far on my own,

but I can't let there be any
chance of me losing this.

She's fast!

Nice, Dragonian!

She's bluffing.

I've seen the scores she's gotten.
She doesn't really know any of this stuff.

She's trying to pressure me by
writing wrong answers quickly.

But this is my chance.

I'll speed up and get through this.

Beg, your turn.

I've been waiting for this!

We'll do these fast.

First, 78+594/3.

We've made a ton of money
with these Thought Gems,

but it's too dangerous.

This'll be the last time.

And then I'll leave the Iron Tigers...

Yeah. And then maybe I'll live a quiet,
normal life in some small town.

You ready?

Go.

First is 2, 7, 6.

Second is 3, 6, 8.

The third is...

So, I don't see the other member
of the Iron Tigers anywhere.

He's not sick or anything, right?

Oh, yeah. The guy said he had better
stuff to do than show up for this fight.

Wait, that girl made a big fuss
about changing the rules.

Where'd she go?

Did they figure part of it out?

No, it's impossible.

Even if they did, it shouldn't matter.

It shouldn't get them where they need to go.

Why do I have this awful feeling...

Don't tell me...

This whole thing's a trap?

Wait, Claudine!

Shut up and don't talk to me!

What are you talking about?

It's too dangerous, Claudine!

You're good enough at math to outwit
that Dragonian on your own, right?

Give me the whole thing starting
from the second problem again.

No, not that one. The one after 32.6!

Damn it! Just give me
the answer to that one!

I thought he'd be ruined
forever after I dumped him.

But now he's back as an adventurer.

What is he?

What's that guy's deal?!

This time, I'll get him hurt.

Um, I'm redoing the problem after 32.6...

So, um, wait...

I can't bear to watch this anymore!

That's the one Claudine wants!

Oh, right! Thanks!

Huh?

Here's why you're an idiot: you let
Vilma hear you propose the duel!

The guild's using this battle
for their own purposes.

We've got the alley cat by the tail!

He's taking too long!

What the hell is Beg doing?

Are you done yet?

Answer me!

You're taking too damn long!

You're taking too long!

Sorry, did we keep you waiting?

Sorry, I messed up.

Idiot.

So here's your tail.

That's a Thought Gem. I'm sure of it.

You've got one, too, don't you, Claudine?

I got a little worried when I
couldn't pick up any magic.

Sheesh... You waited too
long to try and cheat.

What?

They were cheating?

Too bad.

I was hoping you might continue
a fair fight until the end.

You screwed up, big time.

When?

When did you figure it out?

We knew from the start
that you were bad people!

Curran, that's not what he meant.

When?

I wasn't a bad person to start with!

I wasn't a bad person to start with, either!

That's enough, Claudine.

I wasn't...

We're finished.

I wanted to believe, too...

I wanted to believe!

Nobody's a bad person to start with.

Maybe you went off the right path somewhere,

but I don't have the right
to say that to you.

'Cause sometimes maybe it's wrong,
but you feel like you don't have a choice.

But if you realize you made a mistake,
you can go back and fix it.

You can't start over, but you
can correct your mistakes.

That's what I've been telling myself lately.

ELUSIVE AND STRANGE!
A mysterious creature appears!

A mysterious, elusive creature
appears in the Labyrinth City.

Seems neat!

You can't waste time on every
weird thing out there.

Oh? Are you scared?

No, I don't mean the creature,
I mean the article.

Don't believe that garbage.

You're so boring.

Nick's more of a realist than I thought.

Hey, Nick.

If I didn't need to get the right answers,
was there any reason for me to study?

It's not that simple.

We were only able to win in
the end because you showed

what you could do at the start.

You did a good job, Curran.

Y-Yeah?

And I think what you've learned
will help in your daily life, too.

W-Will it?

You might be able to tell at a glance who's
got the best deal on the extra-large size!

Oh, that's handy!

Next time:
"Gambling Lesson"

Next time: "Gambling Lesson".