The earth wedge is 3 km wide and 2 km long.
　Including the underground, it is a huge ruin with a width of nearly 100 meters.

　The first test is simple and straightforward: run in a circle around the ruins.

　However, there is no indication as to how many laps are required to reach the goal.
　In addition, an examiner runs at the tail end of the race.
　It is a different examiner from the cell.

　The examiner running at the end of the line seems to increase his speed little by little.
　If you are passed, you are disqualified.
　At that point, you fail the test.

　In other words, you have to keep running at a constant pace and try not to be passed by the examiner.
　There is no goal in sight, and the psychological pressure of being constantly chased.
　This is not only a test of your physical strength, but also of your mental toughness.
　It's going to be quite a difficult test.

　



----------



Hmmm, I'm faster than you!
I still have a little bit of energy left. I have a certain amount of pacing to do.

　The tests have begun and...
　Kanade and Tania were at the front of the pack.

　As long as they didn't get passed by the examiner running at the back of the pack, there was no need to compete with them...
　Their fighting instincts are stimulated, and both of them are running, buzzing and sparking.
　Their speed is increasing and their backs are moving away from each other.
　Sooner or later, they'll start running for real...?

　Well, both Kanade and Tania have a lot of strength, so I'm not worried that they'll get battered and get passed by the examiner.
　It's just........

"Oh, oh oh it's Tania. A little slower........up and down so much......ugh.
'Ka, Kanade...?　Sola's going to get into a lot of trouble if she's made too hard...

　Luna and Sora, who were being piggybacked by the two of them, were pale in the face.

　This marathon, the rule is that you can use any method you want.
　You can use magic or special abilities.
　As long as the examiner doesn't overtake you, that's fine.

　Since Sora and Luna didn't have the strength, they decided to have Kanade and Tania carry them on piggyback.
　Kanade and Tania have plenty of energy, so they're not at a disadvantage.

　In fact, Kanade and Tania continued to run at the front of the pack.
　They were healthy enough to compete with each other.
　It was just too much energy.
　They were running so hard that the two on their backs were wobbling and shaking...

Oh my God I can't take this shit I'm at my wits' end Oh my God, I'm in serious trouble.
'Luna are Sola and the others no longer good?　No more ... ugh.

　They were completely drunk and looked like their souls had been drained.
　Without noticing them, the competition between Kanade and Tania became more and more intense.
　Their momentum did not wane, in fact, it accelerated even faster.

　Even though they were bombing at the top, did they still have some extra power left?
　You're both ridiculous.

'Ugh, Tania, you do it.'
The Kanade.
Hmph, that's my rival. That's what makes it all worth fighting for.
Do you think it's time for me to show you what I'm really made of?
I'm going to win this game!　I'm serious.
That line is mine!　I'm going full force!
"'Stop it!

　Kanade and Tania moved into top gear, their backs gingerly getting farther and farther away.
　Sola and Luna's screams overlapped and disappeared as a Doppler effect.

　.........Maybe I shouldn't have said anything about piggybacking.
　There's magic too, so maybe I should have let Sola and Luna fly through the air.

　I wish them both well.
　I can't help but pray for that.

'Um, you know........Rain.
Yeah?

　A pomp, and a tap on the shoulder.
　It was Nina.

　I was carrying Nina on my back.
　She has more stamina than Sora and Luna, but she's still a child.
　I couldn't force her, so I had to carry her on my back.

　By the way, Tina is sitting on Nina's head.
　I give Nina a piggyback ride, and Tina sits on top of Nina's head and....
　It was kind of a parent-child turtle-like composition.

I'm... heavy?

　I look over my shoulder at my back and see a squirming Nina.
　She has a vaguely apologetic look on her face.

"It's not heavy at all. It's more like a light weight. Are you eating well?
'Eh ... ah, yes. I'm eating it. The food Luna makes ... is delicious, so I like it.
That's good to hear.

　But still, Nina is so light.
　She's like a feather, she barely weighs anything.
　Is this what all kids are like?

Eat well, and you'll get bigger.
Well that's, uh... that's, uh... yeah.

　For some reason, Nina gets a troubled look on her face.

'Oh no, Rain's husband,'
Yeah?　Did I do something wrong?
Spirited. You don't need to tell a girl to grow up. The girls who care about it will care about it. I mean, it's the kind of thing that every girl cares about.
Oh, yeah.

　Maybe he meant the weight thing.
　As for me, I wanted him to grow up fine and healthy, but....
　I don't know if it could be taken as a reference to my weight.

'I'm sorry, Nina. "I'm sorry, Nina, I didn't mean it like that. I just wanted you to eat a lot and be healthy...
"Uh, yeah ... it's okay. I think I know how Rayne feels, so...
Yeah, thanks.
Nina is a cute girl. It's not easy for her to say such healthy things.
Heh heh ... that's a compliment.

　Tere Tere and Nina are embarrassed.

'But ... am I really not heavy ...?　Are you okay?
It's no big deal. It's no big deal.
Good....
If anything, Tina's probably heavier.
'Hibernate!　Why are you suddenly turning on our house!
Sorry, sorry. I'm sorry.
Totally. If it weren't for Rain's husband, I'd be suing him for s*xual harassment.
I'm sorry. I'll do whatever you want to do to make up for it.
Ho-ho, that's great to hear. What can I have you do for me?　Hey, Nina. What do you think is good?
Well ... patted?
Why are you asking Nina?
Hmm. Ours and Nina's are a match made in heaven. Our wish is Nina's wish!
That's because you're using it in the wrong place, isn't it?

　They keep rambling and talking so much that it's hard to believe they're in the middle of an exam.

　Considering that this is an endurance race, it's better not to waste your energy...
　But there was still room for more.
　So far, it's like I've consumed 10% of my energy?
　If it comes down to it, you can use 'Boost' to strengthen your physical abilities and you can still keep running.

　Besides.........

　It's more empowering to talk to everyone like this, in contrast.
　It's more fun to run with others than to run alone.
　I was able to naturally relax and run with a more relaxed mind.
　I can run at a calmer pace and I don't have to waste my energy.

'Well, let's get on with it,'
Hang in there, Mr. Lane!　We'll be right behind you.
Good luck, okay?　I'm rooting for you........
Oh!

　With the two of them cheering me on, I'd be able to run as much as I wanted.
　I regained my spirits and increased my running speed a bit.



----------



　The examiner, running at the back of the pack, increased his speed a bit.
　He passed one more person.

"That's eight disqualified.

　It's been an hour since I started the test.
　I've been running at a reasonable pace, but there are still less than ten people who have failed the test.
　It is usual that about twenty people have been eliminated from the test in the past year.
　This year's examiners might have a bumper crop.

　........no.
　Beyond a good harvest, it might be an aberration.

''Nyaaah, we got passed out!
Yeah, you'll never be a match for me!

　I saw a pair of guys running next to the examiner at a tremendous pace.
　The examiner had been lapped.

　That wasn't the only unusual situation...
　Looking ahead, a young man with a fox-eared girl on his back is running around chatting and laughing.
　Take it seriously, I thought, and the examiner increased his speed, but.....
　For some reason, we can't seem to catch up with them.

　If we increase our speed, they will increase theirs as well.
　If you try to bite them, they'll slither away.
　Moreover, they can easily do such a thing while chatting and laughing about it.

What's going on with this year's candidates...?