Chapter 121: Decisive Battle with the Twelve Paladins Team
["The match is nearly over."]
["It is rare indeed that you could persist in chasing us this far, over and over enduring the punishments in the game without being left behind, instead clinging ever closer."]
["You are clearly just a human who doesn't even have a Noble Phantasm, are you not? That you could persevere until now is truly impressive, and so I wish to express my respect to you."]
["Fighting for the sake of a beautiful maiden about to be expelled? Pairing plan? You grit your teeth and endure just for such things?"]
["Haha, interesting indeed, you truly are a very pure person."]
["However, I also have my own position, and that is to fight for Britain Class, to dedicate victory to my noble King!"]
["Come then, Twelve Paladins!"]
["The finish line lies just before us, so face me – Sun Knight Gawain – and let us settle this match!"]
…
Eikou quietly checked his skill set again.
Most of his skills had already been used, leaving only useless ones like "Instinct," "Disaster With Women," and "Steam."
Even so, there was still "Hero Creation," and that skill was already available again.
But unfortunately, Barghest's swimsuit spirit origin could not receive the Buster enhancement from "Hero Creation."
Could using this skill set really be effective against the Twelve Paladins team?
There was also one leftover bottle of bonus Water of Life, but that was completely useless here.
"Sigh…"
Eikou couldn't help recalling the two Round Table Knights who had 'sacrificed.'
Tristan unleashed his Noble Phantasm and perished together with the other contestants — that was unavoidable.
But someone as sturdy as Gawain should not have fallen there; yet, at the very last moment, he shielded Eikou and left the field midway.
Judging by capability and strength, Gawain should have been the one to remain. To sacrifice himself to protect a human was truly not worth it.
Eikou gloomily scratched his head.
Forget it, at this point, overthinking was pointless. In order not to betray the expectations and sacrifices of his teammates, he could only stubbornly fight on until the very end!
Charge forward!
...
Inside the Simulation Room, the two homeroom teachers, Finn and Napoleon, stared tensely at the live broadcast of the fierce match.
"The speed race has entered its final stage, but the outcome is still unclear…"
"Currently, the Twelve Paladins team is in the lead, Baobhan Sith's team is in second,"
"And Team Eikou is in third place, with a considerable gap from the top two teams…"
"Wait—Team Eikou is suddenly accelerating!"
"Team Eikou seems to have temporarily changed strategy, no longer obediently pedaling the bicycle, but instead letting contestant Barghest unleash her Noble Phantasm, relying on immense magical energy to propel them forward at full speed, practically with the resolve of staking everything, surging straight ahead to snatch second place!"
"They clearly have their sights set on the leading Twelve Paladins team. It seems contestant Eikou intends to decide the victor right here and now!"
Finn explained excitedly:
"If contestant Eikou can defeat the Twelve Paladins team, then at the very least, the winner will still belong to our Britain Class! Go for it, Eikou-kun!"
...
On the large broadcast screen in the waiting area, it could be clearly seen that Team Eikou had surged close behind the Twelve Paladins.
Eikou had already spotted the Twelve Paladins team not far ahead.
Charlemagne was straining on the pedals, his face weary, while Roland still looked like a drunkard not yet sobered up.
What's more, the man wasn't even wearing clothes, shamelessly exposing his bare ass — a sight truly unbearable to look at directly…
But it was precisely at this moment, while Roland was still in his drunken state, that they had to seize the chance to defeat them in a single strike!
"Long time no see, King Charlemagne."
From the front seat of the bicycle, Eikou waved at the opponent.
"So you managed to survive as well, Mochizuki Eikou,"
Charlemagne smiled and said:
"I thought you had already been eliminated, but I didn't expect you could actually last until now."
"Haha, I've always been pretty stubborn. But sorry, I'm afraid this is as far as you go!"
"Hey now, aren't we allies?"
Charlemagne said, a little flustered.
"Too bad, our alliance already ended long ago. After all, the finish line is just ahead, so we should each go our own way! In other words, bastard, you've already lost your value of use!" Eikou declared.
Unexpectedly, Charlemagne set aside his fluster and instead revealed a confident grin.
"Such a short-lived friendship, you bastard. I knew for certain you'd betray me at the very end."
"Planning to calmly accept defeat then?"
"No no no, surrendering or admitting defeat isn't cool at all. Of course I must maintain the dignity of fighting to the very end."
With that, Charlemagne's face grew solemn, unconsciously radiating the aura of a leader:
"Roland, unleash your Noble Phantasm, sweep away the enemy before us!"
"Alright then!"
Roland, who had been sprawled across the seat, suddenly sprang upright.
"So you were still conscious after all?" Eikou said.
"He had actually been so drunk he'd passed out, but when we went through the checkpoint, we happened to draw a portion of super-spicy Mapo Tofu. After eating it, he sobered up completely!"
"That was supposed to be a punishment game, wasn't it? Who would've thought Mapo Tofu and Water of Life would cancel each other out?!"
"That's how it turned out!"
Charlemagne raised his sword, pointing it straight at Eikou:
"Now that our alliance has dissolved, we can fight without reservation, can't we? Brace yourself, Roland's Noble Phantasm Durandal is extremely powerful!"
"Tch…"
Eikou frowned nervously, not knowing what to do.
Barghest's Noble Phantasm had already been expended to power their bicycle, so she absolutely couldn't confront Roland's Noble Phantasm head-on.
And Jeanne Alter… if she used her Noble Phantasm here, then her true identity would be exposed to everyone.
In an instant, they had been forced into a dilemma with no way out.
"What's the matter? Could it be you never thought we still had a hidden trump card?"
Charlemagne said.
"No…"
Eikou let out a heavy sigh:
"After all, this is a speed race with more than its fair share of luck. I've already considered the worst-case scenarios, including Roland. But there's no other way, I've got no more cards to play — all I can do now is gamble with everything I've got."
"Is that so… that reckless look of yours is actually pretty cool!"
Charlemagne nodded at him.
Hiding inside Lancelot's armor, Jeanne Alter revealed a complicated expression.
"What should we do, Sir Eikou?" Barghest asked anxiously, "The enemy's Roland is about to unleash his Noble Phantasm!"
"I… wait a moment, let me think one last time!"
He strained his brain to think of a countermeasure.
Just what skills did he still have that could be used?
At this point, could it be that he had to let Jeanne Alter release her Noble Phantasm?
No, absolutely not!
If Jeanne Alter released her Noble Phantasm, then everyone would know her true identity, and at that moment the students of the France class would treat her as a traitor and isolate her, making it impossible for her to stay in school any longer!
However, if they lost here, Jeanne Alter would also be expelled!
Damn it, if only he could make Roland drunk again, that would be great!
"..."
Suddenly, Eikou thought of something.
He glanced at the naked Roland, then glanced at the Water of Life in his hand.
Fuck!
Suddenly—
In Eikou's mind flashed a feasible idea, but one that was utterly against the heavens…