Volume 1 Chapter 26 Hidden Route Techniques
"Whoa!"
"Look over there! It's the ocean!"
Ran and I surfaced from the clear, deep water, and a commotion erupted from the beach on the small island.
"What are those guys? Where did they come from?"
"They just appeared right before the finish line."
"Come on, that can't be. It's been less than an hour and a half since the start. There's no way they swam that fast."
At the finish beach, besides the judges and teachers, quite a few students from the academy stood watching—all in swimsuits. Probably the early retirees were sent ahead by boat.
"I don't get it, but maybe they used magic to shortcut?"
"No way. Instant teleportation magic is only for top-tier archmages. That takes decades to master."
"Even the legendary guy became a great sage in ten years and was called a miracle. Normal students can't do that. Maybe they used a teleportation item."
"If so, I get it... but those are super rare."
"More importantly, who are those guys? Is that the SSS-level Dragon?"
"I still can't see clearly."
"...That's Z."
"Huh?"
"No way. They were planning to have a party on the beach."
"Exactly. They're probably still over there, eating and drinking. They look ready to retire."
"No, it's Z. The one who defeated the genius Blaze with that mysterious technique during the entrance exam."
"Are they Mobu? Then the other must be Ran?"
"Yes. I just saw the girl's face clearly. That's Ran. So, the partner is probably Mobu."
"They're already partying? Rumors say they're lovers even outside school."
"And Mobu, how did he manage it again..."
The crowd was getting rowdy. Was I wrong to think Ran and I were lovers? Well, honestly, I'm fine with it.
"Ran, are you drinking water?"
"Yeah. I'm okay."
Ran floated nearby, smiling.
"That was fun! When I went through that crack in the rocks, I was sucked smoothly underwater. Hey, remember when we were kids jumping from the rocks into the creek? It felt just like that."
"Yeah, I remember."
"So, where are we now?"
I looked around. Ran's blonde hair was wet and shining in the sunlight.
"That island is the finish line."
"Wow. Just like Mobu said, we really did shortcut."
"Yeah... let's finish quickly now."
"Got it."
We started swimming toward the beach. Actually, Ran was dog-paddling, but she moved quickly and cutely, darting through the water. Surprisingly fast for a dog paddle—mysterious.
Because Ran was so fast, about half of our classmates, who aimed for breaststroke, fell far behind mid-swim. Too bad. But everyone probably caught a glimpse of her adorable backside—just forget about that.
"Oh! They're starting to swim!"
"No way, this is gonna break records."
"Definitely top of all time. Both of them."
"It's not just a record. This won't be broken for a hundred years... because it's impossible."
"How did Mobu and Ran actually pull this off?"
This shortcut wasn't a bug. It was an Easter egg hidden by the game developers for testing. Like in shooting games where devs have invincibility modes triggered by commands, used to test routes. Same idea here.
A certain gamer found it, and it spread as a way to beat the mini-game.
The devs didn't patch it. Arena battle bugs, which affected game balance, got fixed fast. But this was a small, temporary issue in a mini-game. Even if players got an advantage, it wasn't a big problem. It wasn't really a bug either. The devs were busy fixing real bugs popping up constantly.
So, this loophole stayed.
"The sea feels amazing, Mobu."
Ran glided smoothly through the water, clearly happy.
"Yeah, it does."
I felt the same. Even in my past life, when I was struggling, I faked a cold to skip school, took a train the wrong way, and spent hours staring at the Shonan sea. Of course, I got scolded the next day.
"This is my first time seeing the sea. It's so vast with huge waves. Just watching it feels amazing."
That makes sense. Ran grew up in a cold mountain village, so she probably never really saw the sea, only heard stories.
"Well, I think I can stand now. Let's get out quickly. Grab cold drinks, see the sea for the first time, and enjoy summer."
"Wow, that sounds fun. As expected of Mobu."
The water was about waist-deep. When we stood up, cheers erupted.
"Whoa! Less than a minute to the finish!"
"Look. That's amazing."
"At the start, she was covered in a black robe."
"The goddess's swimsuit..."
"Her figure is miraculous. Might be a divine blessing."
"I'm just glad to be alive."
I don't know if these guys are S or SS rank, but their impressions are no better than the lowest Z rank.
"Come on, Ran, hold my hand."
"Yeah, Mobu. Don't let go."
"Don't worry. I'll protect you forever. From now on too."
"...Mobu."
Hand in hand, we reached the shore and crossed the finish line with bright smiles.
"Finish!"
The referee shouted excitedly.
"First place: Z Mobu. Second place: Z Ran. No need to check the time—both are Hector records."
A staff member brought a towel and guided us to the finisher's table, where the top swimmers rested. Sitting on a simple wooden deck chair, Ran looked at the sea while holding my hand.
The drinks served were from the VIP lounge—chilled by magic, they tasted incredible.
"Feels amazing, Mobu."
"Yeah, Ran."
Ran rested her head on my shoulder, looking content.
"...Hey, I see someone coming."
Had she been relaxing for half an hour? I noticed the distant water's surface rippling white. A rescue boat was nearby, so someone must be swimming.
"Whoa—!"
From afar came barking while swimming. That was Blaze. As always, his cry was full of passion. Blaze was admirable. Even after drawing hate from other classes, being slowed by magic, and using speed to escape, he never gave up. As expected of a true protagonist.
The figures grew larger. About a minute behind Blaze, several people appeared. They moved in pairs or trios, each from different classes. Probably the SSS Dragon protecting Blaze, and SS or S classes trying to catch him. Behind them, a group of about ten trailed slightly. Their class mattered a lot.
"Yay! I kept first place!"
Blaze raised his fist and stood up. Running up the beach, splashing water everywhere, he crossed the goal marker and collapsed on the sand.
"Hah... hah..."
Breathing heavily, shoulders rising and falling, he looked utterly exhausted.
"Goal! Third place: SSS Dragon, Blaze."
The referee raised his hand.
"T-Third place!?"
Blaze, still lying down, just lifted his face. He couldn't stand yet. His expression showed disbelief.
"No way. I dove in first, and no one passed me. What's happening?"
"Are you saying the referee made a mistake?"
The referee stared sternly.
"No. It's just... could it be a mistake?"
He silently pointed to the finisher's seats. Blaze turned to look.
"No way..."
Seeing Ran and me resting on deck chairs, drinking calmly, he moved his lips but said nothing. He must be at a loss.
It was obvious. Ran and I had come out of the sea long ago. Ran's hair was dry, gently swaying in the sea breeze.
"...Why?"
Blaze's face looked like he might cry.
Notes:
• 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.
• 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.
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