Chapter 124: Adversity
『What? You're asking me why I have to help you?』
『How should I put it… strictly speaking, I have a kind of devoted personality. I like sharing joy with others, and if I can help someone, I myself feel happy. I also really like the version of myself who is striving for others.』
『Of course, normally I wouldn't go this far for someone unrelated. It's because I care a lot about you, Jeanne Alter.』
『Even though I don't intend to demand any repayment from you, if by chance it develops into a romance that brings joy, then all the better. Or maybe, as repayment, you could take me on a date. In fact, I've always wanted to go to a love hotel called "Until you is dry" with a girl, hahaha.』
『Just kidding, don't glare at me so seriously.』
『Anyway, you don't need to rack your brain about how to repay me, or ask yourself if you deserve my help. As long as you speak up, I'll help you. Or rather, even if you don't want my help, I'll still step forward on my own, because that's just the kind of stubborn guy I am.』
『...』
『Because I absolutely do not wish for you to drop out of school. I want you to always stay by my side, Jeanne Alter.』
...
"The finish line is right before their eyes."
"Only Team Baobhan Sith and Team Eikou remain ahead, and the winner will be decided between them!"
"Right now, Team Baobhan Sith holds the lead with absolute mobility, while Team Eikou has unfortunately lost a core member. In this adversity, can they possibly turn the tables?!"
Following Finn's commentary, the audience in the waiting area all raised their heads.
They saw Baobhan Sith completely dominating with her absolute mobility advantage, leading the charge straight toward the finish line.
Behind her, Eikou was pouring in all his strength to keep up, continuously releasing mana to increase his speed, but compared to a Servant's Noble Phantasm, the amount of mana he could supply was far too limited. What's more, his mana reserves were already severely depleted.
Even though he hadn't slackened for a single moment, the distance between them only grew wider and wider.
"Baobhan Sith!"
Eikou shouted toward the red-haired fairy leading the pack.
"Don't you dare call my name so casually, you filthy human trash."
Baobhan Sith turned her head seriously.
This time, she no longer wore that reckless, cocky little-devil smile of someone who didn't know the height of the sky or the depth of the earth. Instead, she stared at him with utter seriousness.
"For a human without even a Noble Phantasm, for an unlucky bastard who keeps pulling bad cards again and again, the fact you've lasted until now is already impressive. But too bad, first place is mine. As for you, shouldn't second place be enough satisfaction?"
After saying this, she turned back, continuing to drive her Noble Phantasm to increase her speed.
"Mochizuki Eikou, don't blame me for being ruthless. Because if it were you, you'd definitely do the same. We're both the kind who'll use any means necessary to claim victory… Besides, Barghest was originally someone you used tricks to snatch away from me, so now we're even."
But Eikou only blinked, smiling as he said: "I've never once blamed you for anything. What exactly are you feeling guilty about?"
"I am not guilty! Don't go overboard with your misunderstandings!"
Baobhan Sith couldn't help but turn her head again, snapping back in agitation:
"In any case, the victor and the Holy Grail Shard belong to me. You can only run behind me and regret it!"
"Wait, I have something to say to you—"
"I don't want to hear it, I won't be deceived by your words anymore. Either way, it's just another of your petty tricks or stalling tactics, right? This time I absolutely won't listen to a single word from you, farewell!"
Shit, since when did this Baobhan Sith grow an extra wrinkle in her brain?
Damn it, it's all because he spent too much time around her normally, so now she had figured out all his schemes.
"Ah, no… actually there is still one thing to add."
She suddenly opened her mouth, pointing toward his chest.
"I'm very sensitive to the smell of blood… that trash-grade body of yours has clearly been injured for quite a while now, hasn't it? Compared to this race, the most important thing for you should be treating yourself."
"What…"
Eikou suddenly realized, pulling at his shirt, and at some point, the undershirt beneath had been soaked through with a glaring patch of blood.
"Tss…"
It was the wound left from his earlier failed dice roll, when Charlemagne's strike had hit him.
Even though Charlemagne had held back, using only the flat of his blade, the blow had been no joke, and in the end left behind a severe wound.
Although Eikou had always felt the pain radiating from his ribs, he hadn't expected the injury to be this serious.
"Don't wait until you reach the finish line only to be a corpse."
Boom!
Right after, Baobhan Sith accelerated fiercely, her red hair streaming wildly in the storm wind.
She intended to rely on her overwhelming speed to leave Eikou completely behind, vanishing from his sight!
"Damn it…"
He muttered a curse, quickly clutching his shirt tight, as if doing so could staunch the bleeding.
What skills did he still have left to use? Disaster With Women? Instinct? Or Steam?
There was also Hero Creation, but that couldn't be used on Jeanne Alter.
"Uh, well…"
He addressed the system's simulated text:
"Excuse me, but can I activate the skill 『Steam』 and turn our bike into a steam-powered car or something?"
[Are you out of your mind?]
"Last time I even turned Babbage into big sis 2B, and that ridiculous thing worked. Why can't this one?!"
[Last time you had a workshop, what do you have this time?]
Alright, looks like it's not feasible anymore.
"Damn it, then next…"
Along the way they had already encountered all kinds of trials, skills that could be used, personnel that could make a difference—almost all had been exhausted.
Meanwhile, Team Baobhan Sith not only had two Riding skills, but also kept unleashing Noble Phantasm, and there was even a Gareth still in complete state—her skills and Noble Phantasm hadn't even been used yet!
Though on Eikou's side there was also a Jeanne Alter in complete state, unfortunately she couldn't be allowed to join the fight.
Because the moment she truly took action, revealing her signature 'Flames of Vengeance', her identity would instantly be seen through.
A dead game of chess.
Was there really no better way?
"There's nothing to hesitate about,"
From behind came the voice of Jeanne Alter.
"If I unleash Noble Phantasm, that red-haired bitch isn't even worth worrying about."
Eikou shook his head without the slightest hesitation.
"Have you thought about the consequences? A student of Class France helping the opposing class win—how will your classmates look at you then?"
"Eikou, now is not the time to worry about such things—"
"Don't rush, just give me a little more time, half a minute… just half a minute is enough… I will definitely come up with another way…"
But Eikou's voice was growing weaker and weaker.
He only felt his spirit harder and harder to focus, not because of panic, but because of blood loss and the pounding headache.
He lowered his head and looked down, blood had already seeped through his clothes.
"Hey, Eikou."
"Wait a moment, let me think a bit more…"
"Mochizuki Eikou!"
Jeanne Alter's armored gauntlet gripped him tightly, she pulled his body forcefully toward her.
"You're already injured, a gravely wounded useless one shouldn't be pushing himself too far.
"As for me, I'm a very selfish witch, I have no intention of following your thinking—but what I'm about to say next, you must listen carefully!"