Chapter 59: Just Lucky

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“Now, runners from Group 1, please take your positions.”

Upon the announcer’s command, the participants began to take their positions at the starting point.

Karot from my class, 1-A, was also participating.

“Don’t get too worked up, Karot. Just follow the practice routine,” Ladhy said.

“Y-Yes…!” Karot replied nervously.

Receiving advice from Ladhy, Karot took a few deep breaths and made her way to the starting point.

There were numerous obstacles visible on the course.

To clear the course, participants had to overcome all these obstacles and reach the finish line.

The use of teleportation magic was prohibited, and high-impact magic with lethal capabilities was also forbidden.

However, limited contact between students within reasonable limits was allowed, so various hindrances were expected.

Especially the second and third-year students, who had already experienced many simulated battles, would have extensive knowledge in dealing with magicians.

In such a disadvantageous situation, it was impossible not to feel nervous.

Nevertheless, Karot arrived at the starting point with a determined expression and assumed a focused stance.

“Take your positions. On your marks… Start!”

With that command, the sprint race of the Superhuman Sprint Spirit Sprint began for Group 1.

The runners darted out from the starting point simultaneously, while starting their magic incantations.

Up to this point, everyone’s movements were the same.

However, from here, differences gradually began to emerge.

Some attempted to enhance their running speed with body enhancement magic.

Others immediately tried to hinder other students.

“The runners have started their magic incantations while running! Even before colliding with obstacles, intense clashes are already taking place!”

The course formed an oval-shaped arena, encircling it completely.

Under normal circumstances, without obstacles or hindrances, one could complete the race in about two to three minutes.

By using body enhancement magic, it should be possible to run in under a minute.

Using body enhancement magic from the beginning was considered standard, as it also improved response to obstacles. However…

“Slip Chain of the Successful Stumbler!”

Out of the seven runners, five activated body enhancement magic, and at the same time, transparent chains wrapped around their feet.

Instantly, the movements of those who were bound by the chains became sluggish.

That was “Slip Chain of the Successful Stumbler,” a weakening magic that reduced the target’s speed.

Once caught in those chains, even if they had become stronger with body enhancement magic, their speed would hardly increase.

The strategy seemed to prioritize personal enhancement and prevent others from surpassing rather than pushing oneself forward.

One third-year student successfully executed that strategy, impeding the movements of other first and second-year students.

Meanwhile, our 1-A runner…

“Well done, Karot,” murmured Ladhy, who was quietly observing the competition near me.

Karot had anticipated the use of hindrance magic and was running slightly behind the other runners.

And while others were fighting in the front, she was quietly casting her body enhancement magic at the very back, without being disturbed by anyone.

That way, she could enhance herself safely without being affected by hindrance magic.

It was a cautious strategy befitting Karot, who was somewhat timid and careful, and it fit perfectly in the first race, where aggressive individuals gathered.

As planned, while other participants were engaged in a struggle in the front, Karot finished casting her body enhancement magic.

The moment the magic effect flowed through her entire body, Karot surged ahead, leaving the other runners behind.

Even the third-year student who had been leading with hindrance magic couldn’t catch up with Karot because he was unable to finish casting his body enhancement magic in time.

“Oh! The one who broke through is a first-year student from Class 1-A!”

Karot carefully crossed over the obstacles, maintaining the forefront without being hindered by anyone.

She had surely dedicated herself to training for the competition, as she effortlessly navigated through various obstacles like adhesive nets and paralyzing boards, protecting her position at the front until the very end.

However…

“Surprisingly, a student from Class 3-B surpassed her right before the finish line!”

In the nick of time, a third-year student caught up and overtook Karot, resulting in her finishing second.

Though she felt frustrated, it was still an impressive achievement.

With this performance, there was hope for a good score in the competition.

Karot returned, showing a mix of excitement and fatigue, and called out to Ladhy with a smile.

“I-I did it, Ladhy…! I managed to get second place!”

“See, didn’t I tell you? The early groups aren’t that big of a deal,” Ladhy replied.

The two reassured each other, and then Ladhy rolled up his sleeves and headed towards the starting point.

“Well, now it’s my turn.”

“Good luck, Ladhy!”

As I silently cheered him on in my mind, I unexpectedly overheard a faint conversation from the person next to me.

“Hey, that class…”

“So, that’s the runner from Class 1-A…”

“…”

It seemed that there was some attention on Ladhy as he headed towards the starting point.

A sense of unease began to grow within me, and that unease materialized in the form of the second race.

Encouraged by Karot’s good performance, Ladhy entered the second race with high spirits, but…

“N-No way…! Ladhy…”

The result was seventh place.

Last place.

Karot, who believed in Ladhy’s abilities, was left speechless by the outcome.

“In the second group race, the third-year students dominated the top positions! It seems the difference in experience is showing…”

Well, it was not surprising considering there were three third-year participants.

The difference in experience played a significant role, and above all…

Ladhy, who suffered a crushing defeat, returned to us, gritting his teeth in humiliation.

“…S-Sorry. I messed up.”

“L-Ladhy, it’s not your fault. After all, you were targeted by other classes…”

After Karot achieved a good result in the first race, Ladhy from Class 1-A became the target of everyone’s attention.

Perhaps it was thought that it would be easier to bring down the second-place first-year student rather than the first-place third-year student.

Numerous hindrance magic spells attacked Ladhy, resulting in his unfortunate seventh-place finish among the seven participants.

Well, since it was the Starry blossom Festival where competition points were being contested, it was only natural for other classes to come and try to take down the class that seemed likely to score high.

There was no help for it.

“Damn it! I was supposed to get first place and earn points for the competition…! At this rate…”

Second place and seventh place.

Indeed, with these results, we wouldn’t receive high scores.

We wouldn’t come any closer to our goal of winning the Starry blossom Festival.

Due to that, both Karot and Ladhy slumped down in a deeply dejected state.

They likely felt unable to face our classmates who were cheering for us in the spectator seats or our comrades participating in other events on the field.

“…”

Sensing their feelings, I called out to the two who were looking down.

“The competition isn’t over yet, you know.”

“…Huh?”

Ladhy and Karot’s gaze turned towards me.

Ladhy, seemingly unable to shake off the bitterness of his defeat, lashed out at me with a venomous tone.

“What do you mean it’s not over…? There’s no one else left…! What can you possibly do…?!”

He glared at me with that same disdainful look he often gave me in class.

“With a magic power value of only ‘1,’ the lowest in the school, and being a commoner without a family emblem, do you really think you can rely on tricks to somehow make it? I don’t need your worthless jokes!”

It seemed that I was still not trusted at all, and Karot also looked at me with a worried expression.

With the lowest magic power value in the school and no family emblem, I was just an ordinary commoner.

Certainly, it would be foolish to expect anything from someone like me.

But…

“…W-Well, I managed to get through the entrance exam and the end-of-term exams, and now I’m here in Class 1-A. Maybe I can somehow handle this competition too?”

I told Ladhy, despite lacking any basis for my confidence.

In response, he became even more infuriated, veins popping on his forehead.

“That’s just… luck with the entrance exam and end-of-term exams…! You can’t possibly win this competition with just that. The third group consists of talented second and third-year students. A magic power value of 1 commoner won’t stand a chance against them!”

“…Just luck, huh?”

It was a rather apt, unintentional remark.

I couldn’t help but let out a smile.

“Yeah, I guess it’s just luck for me. But with just that, I’ve managed to survive here as a student of Class 1-A. So, ‘magic power value this, magic power value that is not all there is to it, it’s better not to judge people solely based on that. Anyway, leave it to me and just watch from here.”

“…”

As they witnessed my confident behavior, Ladhy and Karot stared at me in surprise.

While feeling their gazes on my back, I headed towards the starting point of the third race.

Just before that…

“Oh, and one more thing…”

I suddenly stopped and turned back to Ladhy, a deep smile appearing on my face.

“Don’t underestimate ‘luck’ too much.”

I’ll show them the power of luck.