Part 5[แก้ไข]
--- On the river bank, taking the lead for the Supporting group.
A herd of Hippocamp churned up lots of water spray as they travelled forward in the river.
Due to Faceless's stunt, the contestants have been reduced to a mere one tenth of the original number. And thanks to her, Izayoi and the other supporters' battle had quickly ended, further reducing the contestants by another 50%. Izayoi, who threw the stone to help Asuka, was running while laughing to the point of clutching his sides.
"What was that about! That masked fellow! Was actually an interesting person!"
"Hey, aruji![7] This isn't the time to joke around! That woman was the one who shredded my clothes!"
Shirayuki-hime's voice came from a Gift card held by Izayoi.
Without being able to get out of the way of Faceless's sword slashes, her swimsuit had been shredded. But just a moment after the shreds fell away, she had escaped into a Gift Card like a rabbit diving into its burrow.
"But isn't it such a waste? I never expected that the subordinate relation you have with me will be such a troublesome thing."
"Are you a Baka or what! I would rather commit seppuku[8] than let other random people lay their eyes on my body."
"Oh? But I've seen it all."
"……"
Shirayuki-hime fell silent, seemingly throwing a tantrum.
Izayoi's tongue may be unforgiving, but he would not deny the fact that Shirayuki-hime would have been a great help for Asuka.
After all, Shirayuki-hime is a water god to say the least, but being forced to retire so early in the game would leave much of a problem in the later portion of the game.
To grasp the latest news, the contestants had to constantly keep an ear out for Kuro Usagi's commentary.
"Currently there are five groups in the lead! Taking the lead is [Will-O'-Wisp]'s Faceless! Followed by [No Name]'s Kudou Asuka! Third to fifth positions are currently taken by Riders of [Two Wings] that are pursuing relentlessly!"
While running along the river bank, Izayoi digested the information in detail.
It would seem that Griffith had registered multiple teams from [Two Wings] for the event.
To leave them be in the race would be quite a bother and it would make perfect sense to rid of them early…To tell the truth, even if it wasn't about the race, he also wanted to get rid of them.
Izayoi was educated in this way from childhood---When punched, pay back with twice the punches. If insulted and shamed, pay back ten thousand times before calling it even.
(Though it may be so, if I do not continue to help out here, there shouldn't be any other way to defeat that masked rider right?)
How do I go about this? Izayoi racked his brains for a solution.
At this point, the race was still on and the situation on-scene was changing.
"The leading groups have reached the conflux[9] of the river at the Forest of Al Pisano! It is now time for them to make the decision between the two paths before them, for it would be the choice that would determine their victory or defeat! So please believe wholeheartedly in your instincts and go forth!"
Continuing to go against the flow of the river, they finally reached the Forest of Al Pisano.
The dense canopy overhead weaved together so closely that it blocked all sunlight from sifting through, forming a dark and shadowy forest. And that made it worse for Izayoi if something did happen and required his assistance since it would be difficult to protect Asuka as effectively in here.
"Hey! Oujo-sama! Move closer here and choose the narrower canals if possible!"
"Got it!"
Asuka used her reins to steer her Hippocamp closer to the river bank that Izayoi was running along. Just as Asuka wanted to relay the message to Yō and turned her head to the other opposite river bank---There was naught a soul in sight.
"…Kasukabe?"
Though Asuka had much questions in mind about Yō's disappearance, she did not stop her Hippocamp.
And so the two of them continued to progress further into the depths of Al Pisano forest.