Chapter 120: Departure
"Mochizuki Eikou's team, and Baobhan Sith's team, I grant you permission to depart for the next checkpoint!"
Finn solemnly declared,
"But before that, please, those who succeeded in the challenge, receive your reward. Contestant Barghest, and contestant Baobhan Sith, this is the proof of your splendid victory, the memento of glory!"
As he finished speaking, the staff at the checkpoint respectfully presented two Silver Apples, handing them to them.
After eating a Silver Apple, one could quickly recover physical strength and magical power, though its effect was not as great as a Golden Apple.
Just by eating it, many of their skills could be reused.
"Hahahaha, I hope you all can continue striving, training yourselves to become even more radiant ladies!"
Homeroom teacher Finn laughed heartily.
The staff had reopened the checkpoint's door, signaling that they could proceed to the next checkpoint.
"Your race is about to reach its conclusion. Unless something unexpected happens, the winner will be chosen from among three teams — you, and the Twelve Paladins team."
Finn continued,
"There isn't much road left. One of your two teams must seize the championship! As we said before, as long as our Britain Class takes the crown of victory, then next time on the school trip, I will take you to Hawaii!"
"Leave it to me! I will win!"
Eikou responded eagerly.
He had already been going all out, never once thinking about losing, but after hearing Finn-sensei's cake-painting promise, he grew even more desperate for victory.
"Such a spirited answer,"
Finn nodded with satisfaction,
"I place great expectations on you, Mochizuki Eikou, I wish you a triumphant return! Think of the girls, the ladies, the onee-san, the married woman in swimsuits on Hawaii's beaches!"
Truly, a scene that stirred one's heart!
If possible, he really wanted to invite Jeanne Alter along as well, to see how she would look in a sexy bikini. After all, he had already helped her with such a huge favor, surely she would be embarrassed and unable to refuse his request, right?
It was time for her to shed the heavy knight's armor and reveal the alluring curves of her body!
"No no no..."
Eikou waved his hand,
"Swimsuit is not important, my main wish is to dedicate the glory of victory to Finn-sensei, only a splendid crown would be worthy of you."
"Hahahaha, flattery has no effect on me."
Finn was so delighted that his eyes narrowed into laughter.
"You two," Napoleon said, "one is good at flattery, the other obsessed with hollow fame, your teacher-student relationship is truly harmonious."
Eikou quickly ran back to his teammates, hastily pushed the bicycle forward, and sat right down on the front seat.
"Let's set off quickly, the Twelve Paladins team is waiting ahead!"
Just as he said this, he noticed his teammates' gazes at him had grown somewhat cold.
Barghest: "..."
Jeanne Alter: "..."
"...What's the matter?"
Eikou asked cautiously.
"No, nothing..."
Barghest cleared her throat, muttering indifferently,
"Just never thought you would fall under Baobhan Sith's charm... Now we not only have to deal with the Twelve Paladins team, but also the Baobhan Sith team."
"Uh..."
He cursed inwardly, Barghest, could it be you're jealous?
Jeanne Alter, clad in heavy armor, also stepped forward, muttering in a voice only he could hear: "Your weakness is the soft lips of a girl, isn't it?"
"???"
[The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.]
[Yet despite this, you all quickly set off toward the next race track.]
[The third track, also the final track —— was the water race.]
[This would be the track to determine the ultimate winner!]
[Bathed in direct sunlight, your skill 「Numeral of the Saint E」 was restored, and under the sun, all of your abilities were significantly enhanced.]
What met their eyes was a stretch of shallow, jade-green water.
The three-man bicycle struggled forward through the shallows, its wheels slicing through the surface as it charged ahead.
Eikou raised his head to look at the road ahead, already seeing the water growing deeper and deeper, making the bicycle harder and harder to ride.
"Thought the terrain and temperature of the second track were tough enough, but turns out the third track is the real trial..."
Before long, the three of them would have to find a way, using every kind of skill, to forcibly make their vehicle cross this water.
"No problem, leave it to me when the time comes."
Barghest declared firmly,
"Though I don't have the Riding skill, as a Fairy Knight, I absolutely will not fail in a place like this!"
As expected of Barghest, her spirit was indeed not bad.
If it weren't for the fact that he had already seen her take off her sportswear, comfortably revealing the three-piece swimsuit underneath, he might have thought this blonde-haired female knight could appear even more dignified.
"Umu, that's true, there will always be a way through any difficulty..."
Eikou said,
"Speaking of which, recently I've been planning to learn how to ride a motorcycle, and I even went to ask Gawain to teach me some riding techniques. He said I've basically grasped them already. Whether it's treacherous terrain or all sorts of vehicles, even driving a heavy truck in the mountains I have confidence, let alone just this small little water track!"
"Driving… a heavy truck…?"
Hearing that keyword, Barghest's face flushed slightly red.
(Note: Um, I don't understand the joke…)
"To know so much, and even diligently learn… That is indeed a very good thing, Sir Eikou, next time please teach me how to ride as well."
It seemed she was once again starting to spin some incomprehensible fantasy.
This female knight was not only a head full of romantic affairs, but also deeply bashful and reserved.
Who would have thought she could extract those few keywords out of such a long line of dialogue.
Eikou was a bit speechless, wanting to make a sarcastic remark, but on second thought, better to focus on the race.
"Ahem... But our team not having the Riding skill really puts us at a huge disadvantage. Everyone in Baobhan Sith's team and Twelve Paladins team has Riding A, their speed will forever be faster than ours, so the distance between us and them will only keep growing."
"That means," Barghest said, "what you mean is, before the gap widens completely, we have to find a way to defeat them, right?"
"Exactly."
Eikou nodded seriously.
Conveniently, a portion of his magical energy had recovered, so he could once again use some of his skills.
[You activate 「Charisma B」]
[Activation successful, your team's Strength is enhanced to a certain degree.]
"That brat Baobhan Sith just ate a Silver Apple to recover stamina, plus she has Gareth supporting her, so for now she's really hard to deal with. But Charlemagne's group is in a much worse state, all their skills are spent, and the only one who still had a Noble Phantasm, Roland, is already drunk and collapsed."
"Therefore, we... will go defeat the Twelve Paladins team first!"