Let's Make the First Semester Break Productive!
"Even though it's vacation, our graduating class isn't taking a break."
"Because I'm a failing student and this one's the next repeater."
"They're even talking about it in the department meeting now—giving full scholarships to first-years who can advance and promoting us in exchange for grades."
"Eek~?! Do they really have to go that far?!"
"Considering the complaints from parents if we repeat a year, that's the option with the least damage."
"I kinda wanna see that, though."
Even with vacation here, I was still stuck in the graduating class dorms wearing my uniform, sweating it out alongside Kaoru-senpai, who they'd apparently dragged in to force one problem child through graduation. The Divination Professor was laughing it off, saying professors don't get breaks either so it was fine... but for some reason, it made me want to cry.
I was on track for a definite repeat, so to advance somehow, I'd decided not to care about "means or methods" anymore. They were piling on every special privilege, even pulling rules from other academies. Their terrifying obsession left me sticking out my tongue in awe.
At home, my mom was this sweet, clumsy pushover... but out in the world, she was a walking natural disaster. I'd thought she was just this big overgrown kid begging her son for lap pillows and hair-brushing every day... I'd sent letters, but maybe she was too busy to reply? Thinking of her suddenly made me miss Mom.
"I miss Mom..."
"I'll buy you something tasty and expensive, so hang in there."
"Wanna use senpai as a punching bag?"
It wasn't stress buildup, so no need for either of you to do that.
"So, what are we doing now?"
"We're going to get our Adventurer Licenses. It's essential for external dungeon expeditions."
The topic had shifted a few times, but hearing it was a race this time made a question mark pop up over my head. Surprisingly, fast driving was a key adventurer skill. For dungeon floods and evacuations, you needed to escape or regroup quickly without crashing. Plus, in a world overflowing with superhumans, adventurer licenses were a lax difficulty—basically, if you had a driver's license, you could renew it. My stomach churned with mixed feelings. Dungeons were dangerous; was it really okay to be this casual?
"Veterans can't stand seeing noobs act sloppy."
If a cutie like me pulled newbie moves, they'd charge in on all fours yelling "Noob smack!" or something. I didn't want to understand what that meant, but I got it—get the license and done. It was basically like buying dungeon entry tickets, so whatever...!!
"Lucky Kaoru has a license! I've prepped a four-wheeler! Bought it with academy funds for this exam!"
Was it really fine to melt student tuition like this? At least the professors had chipped in voluntarily—small mercies. That was even more shocking... How badly did they want me to graduate?!
"Sending the Herbology Professor packing lit a fire under everyone."
The fear of who might get wrecked next unified their resolve.
"Alright! Let's hit the road! The sooner you finish, the better your score!"
"Uh... you said she has a license, Professor...?"
"Knew it'd be like this."
"If you predicted that far, wouldn't a normal bike have been better?"
"Can't launch Witchcraft like a missile."
"What kind of bike is that?"
The main purpose of a two-seater bike, per the Professor, was launching your partner☆. Since we couldn't fire off Witchcraft, Kaoru-senpai got it, but I was still lost.
"A two-wheel license... means using just two wheels. Say the other two are spares—no problem."
"Is that legit?"
"I'm an elf, you know... I've overcome all sorts of trials over long ages!!"
Couldn't ride the car, so Kaoru-senpai casually hoisted it with one arm. Felt iffy, but everyone was lifting or levitating their rides naturally. Parking shortages causing this? Or maybe the mountain location.
"With the dungeon surge, adventurer license seekers are flooding in."
"Whoa... first time seeing that reporter."
"No reporter's gonna trek to where your mom's at."
A pretty reporter lady was mic-in-hand filming the exam grounds. Multiple networks made it chaotic, but none came near us. Our number was called; as we approached, a reporter shoved a mic our way.
"Rare vintage four-wheeler! Any reason for challenging with that old junker?"
"Grab those sunglasses, junior."
"Why?"
"The guy ahead might terror you with lights."
Competitor stomping was everywhere... I buckled up in the passenger seat with a grim face and used Hardening to add weight. The car naturally tilted. Senpai gripped the wheel unfazed and started the engine...
"Professor, you riding?!"
"Best spot to feel the incoming waves."
"This right, senpai?"
"Adventurer licenses are a joke anyway. It's party-based... so it's formality."
I thought I'd seen a lot living long, but this world kept surprising me. Start signal—vehicles rocketed past us: cars, flying mounts, familiars. But on roads, nothing beat a mechanical iron horse.
Vrooooom──!!!!
Adventurer License. Easiest to get, but tests change whimsically. Renewal requires steady reasons, varied scenarios—hardest to rank up. Felt like they let everyone in then weed 'em out due to shortages.
Scrudge Kihochi from Radamu Academy jumped into this "race" exam. She was a speed demon, after all.
"Who can beat a dwarf-tuned hot rod?!"
She overtook everyone on straights, cornered smoothly without slowing. Perfect exam track: complex roads, but empty—ground-dwellers' unity of rider and horse unmatched by flyers or familiars!
"Heart's pounding!! Haha!"
Radamu Academy was buzzing with Witchcraft drama lately. Sure, Witchcraft blew up her ancestors, but second-gen? She'd never met 'em—none of her business.
"Witches don't even like speed races!"
Witches hated machines anyway. Preferred teleport over flight—third-rate teleporters. She'd leisurely held first, assuming no witch ties.
"...Something's tailing me?"
Something stuck right behind. She shook it on straights, but corners? Caught up like magic.
"86?! Losing corners to a museum relic?! Worst shame for a driver!!"
Gear shift, throttle up, boosters—even downhill no-brakes madman was untouchable.
"Damn, what the hell?!"
Why only two wheels? Elf balancing atop? Mirror glances drove Kihochi nuts.
"This ain't right!! Secondary turbine busted? Can't lose to a two-wheeler!!"
"Professor, quick question—why's this thing moving?"
"Elf secret technique. Back in the day, they surfed logs."
Pro surfer riding land-waves. Divination Professor explained to curious Kaoru-senpai: blend spirit and divination arts for driving. Ten thousand paths lead to the same end (nope).
Second place was passable, but academy cred needed overwhelming win.
"Time to adjust stance."
Just flowing with the current, said the Professor, steadying up.
Sharp curve ahead!
Acceleration neck-and-neck! Both at full throttle!
"Hairpin with no slowdown?! What're they planning?!"
Insane speed diving inside—suicide to anyone watching!
But─
Narrow pass overtake in a flash.
"Ditch-surfing on mountain road...! Planned two wheels from start?!"
Normal car? Bottom shredded. But powered, two wheels only? No issue! Bike would've bounced, but elf balancer, witch counterweight, mushroom driver—perfect formation success!
"Guh! Heard parties matter most for adventurers, but solo gap like this...!!"
"You get that lesson from there?"
"Taunting me after overtaking?!"
"No, genuinely curious..."
Wiyu's innocent question made the fuming dwarf girl oddly pitiable; he just scratched his head.
"You'll learn in second year! Riding divination flows!"
"What's divination even...?"
Beating sky-divers, flawless first!! Team-snagged Adventurer License (Party)!!
But this was just the first step in vacation's grand adventure.
"First, snag dungeon-clear creds! Then straight to Tamer League! Got it, Wiyu?!"
"Yes, Professor! But can I ask one thing?!"
"What?"
"Dungeons usually like this?!"
Vrooooom─ Deep underground, god of death descends... wait, wrong spot?
"Fight without losing limbs, junior!"
"Feels like wrong dungeon..."