Volume 1 Chapter 25 Class Z, Ranking Behind Ran In Bottom Tier
"Well, it's about time to swim."
My classmates answered my call.
"Finally, the wait's over."
"Is it okay, Mobu? We're just swimming slow."
"Yeah, that's fine. Everyone, go at your own pace. If you can't keep up, signal the rescue boat and retire immediately."
"If too many quit, it affects our score... but honestly, Z Class is already guaranteed last place overall, so it's not a big deal."
"Who said we're last?"
"Isn't that how it is?"
"I'm aiming to win. Our bottom-tier Z Class will become overall champion. The biggest upset in Hector history—I'll show you a giant Qilin team."
"Seriously?"
Today, there were only about twenty of us—just our group—but the beach was more hyped than ever all day. Everyone looked half-doubtful... or maybe 100% no trust.
"How are we going to do it?"
"Well, obviously, Ran and I will finish first and second. Once that happens, no matter how many drop out, we can still win somehow."
With Blaze's serious strategy in mind, the top classes this year are about to clash hard. Each class will probably have more dropouts than usual. Even if the top classes get decent average times, we can still win with a clean one-two finish. That was my thinking.
"But how do you expect us to finish first and second? It's already been an hour. The leaders are probably halfway done. No matter how fast Mobu and Ran are, trying to catch up now from the back won't even get us near mid-rank."
"Did you forget? This race allows shortcuts."
"That's true, but..."
Raoh, the crest-obsessed guy, frowned.
"Using that trick only works if you can round a marker to change direction and then reach another island. But this year, because of the tide, the course is almost a straight line."
"Yeah, no way to shortcut, Mobu."
People tilted their heads, confused.
"That's the thing... not everyone can do it. Only my team, those strongly connected to me, can take the shortcut."
"That's Ran's skill, huh? I get it."
"Alright, got it."
One of the classmates stood up and looked around.
"Hey, everyone. Mobu's been entertaining us enough. Even if we lose with his strategy, no complaints, right?"
"Of course not. We're always last every year. Honestly, we're just happy to get this far."
"Yeah, yeah. Good food, Ran's swimsuit... A fun party with Ran's swimsuit. After this, long swim and Ran's swimsuit again."
No way. How obsessed are you with swimsuits?
"Well then, let's start. Ready?"
"Bring it on!"
"──You're solid, Ran."
"What's up, Mobu?"
Ran looked up at me.
"Ran can swim, right?"
I know from the long-distance swim event during the game, but I checked anyway.
"Of course. We swam together at the edge of the village creek, remember? When we were kids, naked."
I said it, but honestly, I don't know much. The game starts with the demon race invasion event intro. What happened before that, I as a player has no clue. In the game, Mobu was just a kid, probably having fun swimming with Ran despite being poor. I hopes that's true—for Ran's and Mobu's sake.
In the original game, during the long-distance swim, Ran is part of the SSS Dragon team. She swims alongside the protagonist Blaze.
That event is a mini-game where the player controls Blaze swimming through a sea full of whirlpools and interference magic from other teams. The SSS classmates follow Blaze automatically. If the player isn't good at controlling, teammates drop out one by one, lowering the points. The final rank compares the player's points against other teams.
It's not just about swimming fast—reading the obstacles, picking the right route, and keeping the teammates from quitting is key. Intense for a mini-game.
The top three classes earn in-game currency and rare items by their rank; fourth and below get just currency and consumables. Even last place gets a small reward, but most players reset and retry if they do badly.
By his third playthrough, a foolproof strategy was found. I plan to use it. Not a bug exploit.
"Listen, Ran."
I spoke quietly.
"When we start, head toward those two rocks."
I pointed at two rocky outcrops, one big, one small, a little distance away.
"But that's way off course. It's almost sideways," she said, confused.
"That's fine. Once we reach the rocks, I'll go ahead. Follow me. There's a small crevice on the side that you can't see from here. We need to go inside."
"Got it. I'll follow you once we get there."
Ran nodded.
"You ready?"
"Yeah, Mobu. I stretched well and warmed up singing and dancing earlier. Look."
She took his hand and placed it gently on her swimsuit-covered chest.
"See? It's warm, right?"
"...Yeah."
Oh no. It's soft.
I fought the urge to squeeze, holding onto all his self-control. Since she just danced, her heartbeat was still fast, and I could feel it thumping under my hand. To show I wasn't uncomfortable, I slowly pulled my hand away. I didn't want to hurt her.
It wasn't discomfort. Thinking back, this was the first time I'd ever touched a girl's chest, even in my previous life. I was secretly happy about this moment. But while Ran's innocence was charming, if she kept teasing like this, I might just lose control.
"Alright, Ran, you go ahead first. I'll follow after checking everyone's in the water."
"Okay, I'm going now."
"Yeah."
As she waded in up to her knees, she looked back at me.
"Please come soon. I'm lonely."
"Got it, Ran."
She nodded and started swimming.
"Alright."
I turned back to the others.
"Everyone, start swimming too. Don't worry about Ran going off course. Just follow the straight path—wait..."
Before I could finish, everyone dove into the sea with fierce looks, racing to swim behind Ran. The water exploded with splashes. Judging by the noise, you'd think they were faster than SSS Class.
Seriously, how much do you all want to see Ran's freestyle? Some even wore expensive magical goggles that let you see clearly underwater, like Poseidon himself blessed them. They must have been sent from home—they must be rich.
Dazed by the wild splashing, I thought about stuff like that absentmindedly.
Notes:
• Hector - A prestigious academy located in the kingdom, known for training adventurers. It is primarily for the children of nobles and wealthy merchants, with a few spots reserved for those with true ability. The entrance exam is practical rather than theoretical.
• Ran - Female. An orphan and a close friend of Mobu. She has a gentle appearance. Ran is kind and trusting, often relying on Mobu for guidance. She survives the demon attack by hiding in the secret base with Mobu.
• Blaze - Male. The protagonist of the game, born into the wealthy Rosinore family. He has blond hair and a heroic appearance. Blaze is kind and lacks arrogance despite his status. He is destined to become a hero and defeat the Demon King. His relationship with Mobu and Ran is complex, as they are not part of the main story.
• Raoh - Male. A crest-obsessed classmate in Z Class. He is analytical and points out the difficulties in Mobu's shortcut plan. His appearance includes furrowed eyebrows, indicating his serious demeanor. He is part of the team but remains cautious about their chances.
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