Chapter 101
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 101
I looked up at Elena, who had gone out of her way to track me down, and spoke.
“You’re certainly enthusiastic. What did you draw that made you come looking for me?”
As I glanced at the slip of paper in Elena’s hand, she slyly hid it behind her back.
“Hey, that’s a secret, obviously. They said only the organizers are supposed to know.”
“Technically, I am one of the organizers.”
“Didn’t you hear the announcement? Only the announcer knows, and it’s a secret even from the participants. Hurry, we don’t have time.”
Elena grabbed my hand and pulled.
“It’s a sports festival. You should participate in at least one exhibition match, don’t you think?”
“…”
She had a point. Just because I was one of the organizers didn’t mean I had to be a mere spectator. After all, Freya, the lead organizer, was currently throwing herself into events like the triathlon with terrifying enthusiasm.
“Come on, let’s go.”
She was surprisingly strong for someone so slender. I was practically dragged to my feet.
As we left the VIP room and stepped onto the field, the heat and the roar of the crowd hit me with full force. The weight of the piercing stares and the hum of murmuring voices felt almost tangible.
I looked around the buzzing stadium and asked Elena, a hint of concern in my voice.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay running with someone like me? I heard you haven’t formed a pair yet specifically to avoid unnecessary gossip.”
For students of Seintea, pairing a Holy Knight with a Priest was practically mandatory. It was a measure designed to familiarize them with the classic tank-and-healer combination, allowing them to gain diverse combat experience. After all, Seintea’s students weren’t being trained as simple clerics, but as combatants meant to purge demons.
Yet, Elena hadn’t formed a pair with anyone, nor had she ever given a clear reason why. I didn’t know if it was a personal preference or if there were political motivations behind it.
Elena simply shrugged.
“Actually, it’s fine because it’s you. Who would dare entertain such a sacrilegious thought?”
“Ah.”
I gave a slight nod.
True. From the perspective of the other students, Roen and Elena were a completely mismatched pair. Gossip only spreads when the people involved are on a similar social level or if there’s even a sliver of romantic possibility. Between us, there was zero chance of any strange rumors taking root.
We arrived at the field where the exhibition match was being held amidst a fervent atmosphere. For the three-legged race, Elena took a silk scarf from a staff member and tied her left leg to my right. The fabric was soft, so it wasn't particularly uncomfortable.
“What’s our number?”
“We’re the last runners. Even though our turn is a bit away, we should probably warm up. By the way, you’re taking swordsmanship classes, right? You must be a decent runner.”
“I’m about average.”
“That’s good enough. Now, on ‘one,’ right foot. On ‘two,’ left foot.”
Following Elena’s count, I moved my feet forward in sync. Our timing was perfect, but a slight discrepancy arose due to our different strides.
Elena looked up at me from my side. “Were you always this tall?”
“The soles of my shoes are thick,” I replied with a shrug.
According to the game’s settings, Roen was about 175 cm tall. With these unnecessarily high heels, he stood at around 180 cm. He was still growing, so he’d likely get even taller later.
“Try shortening your stride just a little. I think that’ll make us a perfect match.”
“Alright.”
As Elena and I synchronized our steps and waited, the announcer’s voice boomed across the stadium.
“This three-legged race is an exhibition match, so all abilities and items are permitted! However, inflicting excessive harm or directly injuring an opponent will result in immediate disqualification! Don’t get too heated, and please have fun!”
Since this was an exhibition match and not a purely physical competition, I actually had a chance to shine. I didn’t have to remove my artifacts, and I could even use various potions for doping if I wanted.
Of course, since it was a relay-style race, my performance alone wouldn’t decide everything. But since I was participating, I might as well aim for first place. Sports are just another type of game, after all. It would be one thing if I hadn’t joined, but now that I was in, I couldn’t bring myself to do it half-heartedly.
“Let’s gather for a moment.”
I called over the members of Team 8 who would be running the track with us for a brief strategy meeting. Our team’s lineup wasn’t bad. Chepesi, who possessed excellent physical abilities, was with us, as was Eleina, who could use interference magic.
First, we decided the running order and established a basic strategy.
Our team’s strategy is to stick to the basics.
With Elena on our side, we could win simply by focusing on the run itself. Her unique divine magic, [Eternity], was the ultimate shield—capable of blocking not just the opponent’s interference, but all external intervention.
In a racing game, it was the equivalent of having an infinite shield in an item match. Banana peels, bombs, and missiles thrown by opponents would all be useless. As long as we didn’t trip over our own feet, we could easily secure the win.
Chepesi grumbled a bit in protest, but he was quickly silenced.
After our brief session, the announcer’s voice rang out again.
“Alright, strategy time is over! Will the first runners from each team please take their positions at the starting line!”
The first runners lined up. Without exception, they were the top athletes from their respective teams. In a relay, the initial burst of speed is everything. Our team’s vanguard consisted of Chepesi and Crowlin, the head of Jerome’s disciplinary committee.
“Okay, everyone to the line…”
Bang—!
“Go!”
With the roar of the mana cannon, the first runners shot down the track.
Swish—!
Since most of the first runners were students with outstanding physical specs, there was very little interference between them. Our vanguard, Chepesi and Crowlin, came in second and passed the baton to the next pair.
The problem started with the second leg. Runners of all kinds took to the track, depending on their team’s strategy.
“Bell! We were supposed to start with the left foot!”
“I’m sorry!”
Yuliana was participating in this exhibition match in place of Beatrice, who was absent from the festival. I didn’t know what was written on the slip she drew, but it seemed she had been paired with Bell. Unfortunately, neither of them was particularly athletic, and they were moving at a snail’s pace.
But in a situation like this, mages had their own way to compete against warriors.
“Haste!”
They both cast the spell simultaneously, magically enhancing their physical abilities to boost their speed. However, even with the same spell, the effect varies wildly depending on the caster. Their mana capacity, magical efficiency, and basic physical strength were all different.
In the end, the Haste spell didn't increase their speed; it only created a greater imbalance.
“W-wait a minute!”
“Whoa!”
Crash—!
Ultimately, Bell and Yuliana flailed wildly before tripping over their own feet and eating dirt. Runners from other teams zipped past them.
“Slow!”
“Gnome, dig a pit in front of them!”
“O holy light, obstruct our opponents’ vision! Holy Light!”
Before long, the track was a chaotic mess of spells, and the stadium turned into a scene of pure pandemonium. Although direct attacks were forbidden, there were countless ways to obstruct an opponent’s path. The students filling the stands cheered at the sight of the free-for-all.
“Woooah!”
“Get up! Fight back!”
“Run!”
The sight of the usually dignified student council presidents tumbling around on a chaotic track alongside other students was quite the spectacle.
Of course, even in that madness, some runners advanced smoothly.
Swish—.
It was our team’s runners, cloaked in Elena’s divine magic, [Eternity], which blocked all interference from magic and spirits. The attacks launched by other teams were all deflected by the pure white divine shield, rendering them useless.
The race continued amidst a barrage of magic and pestering spirits that rained down like cannon fire. The rankings constantly shifted as students overtook one another. One moment a team was in first place, the next they fell into a pit and dropped to the back. A team in last place could seize an opportunity and quickly turn the tables. It was a series of absurd, amusing situations.
Amidst the fervent cheers, the three-legged relay race finally reached its climax as the last runners set off. The announcer shouted at the top of his lungs.
“The lead runner has entered the final lap! Still in the lead is Team 1, Kiriel’s team, with Team 8, Elena’s team, in hot pursuit! Who will seize victory?!”
“Here!”
Eleina stretched out her arm, passing the baton to me. I took the round baton, exchanged a look with Elena, and stepped forward.
Fwip—.
As we had practiced, Elena and I led with our tied feet.
Tap-tap—.
Our left feet followed at the perfect moment. We moved forward calmly, maintaining a steady pace. The nature of a three-legged race is that once you find your rhythm, it’s not that difficult. As long as you don’t get impatient or try to outpace your partner, you won’t fall.
Elena called out the count in a small voice as we advanced steadily.
“One, two. One, two!”
As we calmly closed the distance, Kiriel, who was ahead of us, noticed our approach and panicked.
“Silphy, R-Roen is catching up! Faster!”
Desperate to get away from me, Kiriel hastily thrust her tied foot forward. But a hasty move only invites disaster.
“P-President, if you go ahead first—!”
The sudden change of pace threw Silphy, who was running with her, completely off balance.
“Whoa!”
Thud!
With their feet tied together, Kiriel and Silphiette took a spectacular tumble onto the track. As I passed them, I turned my head slightly to look back.
“Hmph.”
With a small snort and a smirk, I watched Kiriel’s expression shift through a dozen shades of frustration as she lay on the ground. It was quite a sight.
“Hey! You, stop right there!” Kiriel yelled at me, firing off spirit magic.
Flash—!
Undine was summoned, and a water bomb similar to a game item was hurled at me, but…
Poof—.
It was blocked by Elena’s divine barrier and burst harmlessly in mid-air.
“Why would I stop? Catch us if you can.”
As I waved from behind the safety of the barrier, taunting her, Elena gently chided me.
“Roen, don’t tease Miss Kiriel too much.”
“It’s payback for all the times she’s annoyed me. She’s always picking fights.”
My ears ache every time I see her because she’s always looking for trouble. A little teasing like this is exactly what I need to feel better.
“But even that’s cute, isn’t it? Just think of it as a cute granddaughter acting out for you.”
What’s this about a granddaughter?
Watching Kiriel scream and shout from a distance, I pretended to go along with Elena’s words for now.
“Well, I don’t know about cute, but it’s amusing to watch her try so hard at something so futile. It’s almost pitiful.”
“…That’s a bit harsh.”
“She brings it on herself.”
She should have behaved better.
And so, Elena and I continued forward, perfectly in sync. Having overtaken Kiriel’s team, we were now in the lead. The finish line was only about 100 meters away.
But victory wasn’t guaranteed.
Thud-thud-thud-thud—!
That was because of the Freya and Ciel duo, who were charging from behind at an insane speed. To think that the two who had been competing in the triathlon yesterday were now a team, running together. The slip Freya drew must have said something like ‘A wonderful rival.’
Swish—!
The two of them were chasing us, sprinting at full speed as if their ankles weren’t tied at all. In just a dozen seconds, they would overtake us and claim first place.
Watching them close the distance menacingly, I asked Elena, “Is there anything you can do?”
“…I’ll try, but don’t get your hopes up.”
With a look of uncertainty, Elena extended her hand and summoned a massive divine shield in their path.
Thud-thud-thud—.
A series of translucent barriers of divine power erected themselves on the track. A normal student would have been blocked by those multiple layers of shields, unable to pass.
Vwoom—.
CRASH—!
But Freya and Ciel, cloaked in fighting spirit, charged forward, tearing through Elena’s divine shields as if they were wet paper.
“…”
Even if the divine shield was a technique specialized against monsters and demons, it shouldn’t have been shattered quite so effortlessly.
Elena shrugged. “Sorry.”
“No need to apologize.”
I let out a small sigh and fumbled in my pocket, pulling out a crystal. Elena tilted her head as she looked at the yellow crystal in my hand.
“What’s that?”
“Just a little something I prepared for an emergency.”