74 - 03-13 Just before the start of the preliminary round
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The next day. Clear skies. It was the qualifying day for the Golem boat competition.
The harbor was alive with activity from the morning. The participants were all saying,
"Oh, I'm getting nervous.
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"I couldn't sleep well last night.
"I'm going to do it today!
"You guys all look so cool. I feel like abstaining."
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Some are nervous, some are enthusiastic, some are anxious. They showed various faces. In the midst of all this, Jin and the others were quite normal.
"Wow, there are all kinds of boats. There are many kinds of golems. But most of them specialize in arm strength.
"Comparing them to your father's is a stretch.
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Hearing this exchange between Hitoshi and Reiko, Marcia's self-consciousness is lifted.
"Hey, Jin!"
"Ah, Reinhardt!"
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Reinhardt comes running up to her. Behind him was a girl in a yellow one-piece bathing suit.
"I've never seen you before. This is my cousin Elsa, the ship handler.
Elsa Randall. Nice to meet you.
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She is a beautiful girl with semi-short platinum blonde hair similar to Reinhardt's but shinier, and light blue eyes. She is fair-skinned and tan.
"I'm Jin. This is my teammate and shiphandler, Marcia. This is Reiko.
This is Marcia.
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Nice to meet you.
The sailors shake each other's hands. Then Reinhardt makes a joke.
"Ha-ha-ha, Erza, you've already lost the breast. ......Wow!"
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Reinhardt, who had made a s*xually harassing remark, was silently kicked by Erza and fell into the sea.
"Oh my God! Rai should learn to have some delicacy."
Then someone approached them.
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"Hello, Mr. Reinhardt, Miss Elsa. And there's Marcia and ...... who knows who else."
It was Valentino, the crazy guy.
"This is Mr. Valentino. This is Mr. Jin."
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Reinhardt came out of the water dripping with water and called Jin's name.
"Oh, that's his name, I'm sorry. Well, Miss Elsa, and Marcia, how are you today?
Valentino looks at Elsa and Marcia as if no man is in his life. Reiko is too young to be of interest to him.
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Marcia looks annoyed by his gaze,
I'm doing well. I'm looking forward to the qualifying rounds.
And Elsa, as if she didn't feel his eyes on her,
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"I'm doing just fine. ...... how about you, Valentino?"
Valentino arched his thin, muscleless chest,
"Perfect! I'll take first place in the qualifying round."
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He said. Then Valentino appeared from behind him,
"Mr. Valentino, the preliminary round is about to start.
She was a petite beauty wearing a red one-piece swimsuit. This one was glamorous.
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"Oh, Reece. Okay, I'm coming."
Then she gave an impish bow,
"Good luck, gentlemen."
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With these words, he left the room.
"As usual, Mr. Valentino..."
Elsa looked half-amused.
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"Yes. But his confidence is not without foundation.
Reinhardt is more serious than ever.
And then a voice from a loudspeaker echoes through the harbor.
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"The 10th Golem boat competition qualifying round will start now. Participants, please board and prepare your boats immediately.
"I'm off then."
Marcia calls out to Jin.
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"Let's do our best."
With that, Reinhardt leaves with Erza.
Jin sees them off,
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"Once the competition starts, there is nothing more I can do. All I can do is trust Marcia and Arrow and watch over them.
"Yes, and your father's arm."
Jin and Reiko then headed for the staff seats.
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* * * *
"Well, the memorable 10th Golem Boat Competition, with the largest number of participants ever, including some from overseas, is showing unprecedented excitement.
The live commentary was provided by a loudspeaker system, so the voices were heard in every corner of the harbor where the event was being held.
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The commentary is by Mr. Bernardo, a young magecraftsman who is the pride of our country.
"I am Bernardo, and I am very much looking forward to seeing the various golem boats today.
"Well, Mr. Bernardo, since some of our guests are tourists from overseas, could you give us a brief explanation of the competition?
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The spectator seating area in the harbor was filled with more than half of the tourists and the rest of the locals.
"Yes, that's right. To put it simply, it is a competition to see how fast the boat can go, but what is special about it is that the boat is propelled by a golem and piloted by a human woman.
In this case, the performance of the golem is the deciding factor, isn't it?
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Yes. Of course, but we can't ignore the maneuverability of the golem either. Today's qualifying round is just a speed contest, but tomorrow's main race will require maneuvering skills as the boats will go through several checkpoints.
"I see, so you are saying that the ship's helmsman and the golem will have to work together?
That is correct. Just as a coachman and a horse work in unison to move the coach, it is also important for the boatman to know how to control the golem.
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"Thank you, sir. Now, it seems that the participants and their boats are about to be unveiled at the port.
As he said, the boats were lined up in the order of registration and followed the guide boats slowly around the harbor.
A large magic screen was set up in front of the main presiding table, which could be seen clearly from the audience seats.
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"This year, the boatmen are wearing custom-made swimsuits, and they are generously showing off their limbs to the audience," said Mr. Kurokawa.
"It's quite a novel swimsuit design."
I don't think Jin would have thought that a figure he made just for fun would be so well received.
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"Mr. Bernardo, can you name a team that you particularly like?
"Well, let's start with the first team, the
"Yes, I can imagine the strength of the golem with its huge upper body just by looking at it. If he wielded an oar with that arm, he would be able to generate tremendous speed.
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The image projected on the magic screen changes.
"We can't miss the team invited this time, the <
The boat is projected on the magic screen.
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"Propelling the shallow-bottomed boat is a mermaid-type golem, <
The presenter explained the situation while looking at the data on hand.
"The operator of the boat is Miss Elsa, the cousin of Mr. Reinhardt and the daughter of a viscountess. Lady Elsa is a mage herself.
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When she explained this, there was an especially loud cheer.
"Really, Reinhardt is a countess?
"I have a connection with the status of a count, don't I?
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After that, the introduction of the players continued, but there was nothing new for Jin. But..,
"What's that?"
It was number 27, a golem with giant wings on its back.
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"Mr. Bernardo, that's an interesting golem."
Yes, it is. I suppose it is based on the way waterfowls glide on the surface of the water when they fly away.
It is true that the width of a ship is limited to 4 meters or less, but there were no restrictions on the golem.
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"Yes, but with wings that large, it must weigh quite a bit.
The all-metal golem, looking at the ship, was sunken down considerably, so one could imagine its weight.
"Hmm? What is that?"
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Jin looked a little amused.
The number 28, Team <
"It's an interesting shape," Reiko said.
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Reiko said,
"No, it is fine in calm waves, but in rough waves, if the floats on both sides are lifted by the waves, the weight of the middle hull may be applied to the braces and cause them to break," Jin explained.
Jin explained.
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"I see, we don't have to worry about that with our team's catamaran.
Reiko is convinced.
"Yes. But it will be effective here in the calm sea. And that golem.
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What Jin was wondering about was the four-armed golem. Naturally, it has four oars. He looked at the obviously short handle of the oars,
"Maybe it's a desperate measure because the outriggers prevent it from carrying long oars, but it's not bad.
"And then there is a dark horse, or should I say a unique team, number 35, <
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Jin and his team are introduced last.
"The shape of the boat is different, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is. It is two narrow boats in a row. This is a form of two narrow boats, which is more important for stability. And the most notable feature is the propulsion system.
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"What is it? It looks like a water turbine.
The Cygnus (Swan) in full view. The spectators were astonished by its outlandish shape.
"A water wheel turns with the flow of water, but this is the opposite. It spins the waterwheel and kicks the water. This looks interesting."
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The introduction of the participating teams ended with the 35th car, Cygnus (Shiratori). The preliminary round will start soon.