"Number 35 has broken through! Incredible speed! It's currently neck-and-neck with Number 3 for second place!"
"Hmm, it seems Number 35 is finally showing its true potential."
The rapid ascent was enough to make both the announcer and the commentator wide-eyed. This was a team composed of an unknown shipwright and a magi craftman.
And yet, they were now battling for the top spot.
"Oh! Number 35 has finally seized second place! And now they're gunning for the lead!"
Leading the pack in Number 1, the Glory of Elias, Liche was starting to feel the pressure. Her boat was powered by a golem specifically designed for rowing by the renowned Sir Valerio.
Despite driving it at nearly full power, a boat from some upstart team was steadily gaining on her.
"I have my pride to think about," Liche muttered, subtly shifting the boat's heading.
"Tch! What a cheap trick!" Marcia spat.
Liche had maneuvered her boat to cut off Marcia’s path.
"But that just shows how desperate they are," Marcia added, regaining her composure as she adjusted her course. However, Liche anticipated the move perfectly, refusing to let Marcia pass.
"Number 1 is doing an excellent job of blocking! Number 35 just can't find a way through!"
"It would have been better to try and overtake from a wider course, but it's difficult when they're this close. This is the kind of technique you expect from a veteran like Liche."
Blocking an opponent's path was not a violation as long as the hulls did not make contact. Furthermore, if the hulls touched during an attempt to overtake, the boat in the rear was generally considered at fault.
While those two were locked in a tactical struggle, Elsa Randol in Number 3, Blue Marine, took a much wider line and sprinted ahead.
"Wait, Number 3 has made its move! While Numbers 1 and 35 were tangled up, Blue Marine has seized the lead! Number 28 is starting to drop back!"
The lead group approached the fourth stage: the turnaround point at the uninhabited island of Io.
＊ ＊ ＊
Meanwhile, Jin and Reiko were hurrying toward Io as well.
Since they had come all this way, Jin wanted to see Marcia’s performance up close.
"But still, those Death Sea Serpents... why were they out there?"
Death Sea Serpents were supposed to be magical beasts that inhabited much further northern waters. That was what Reinhard had told him afterward.
"Could they have been fleeing from something, just like the Hekatonkheir?"
"Hmm, I don't know. Anyway, the race comes first for now."
Jin decided to put it out of his mind, realizing he simply lacked enough information to reach a conclusion.
(I'd like to build an airplane...)
Just as he was thinking that, an unexpected accident occurred.
"Ah."
One of the paddlewheels Reiko was driving snapped at the axle and sank into the sea. At their current speed, it happened in the blink of an eye.
"I will go find it!"
As Reiko spoke in a panic, Jin stopped her.
"No, even for you, that would be difficult. It’s not like it’s imbued with mana. If it sinks in this deep water, who knows how long it would take to find."
They had already traveled dozens of meters from the point where it had fallen. No matter how capable Reiko was, it would take far too much time, even if it wasn't impossible.
Reiko looked dejected.
"I am so sorry. I cannot believe I lost one of Father's creations."
Jin spoke comfortingly.
"Don't worry about it. The material was lacking in durability to begin with, so it couldn't be helped. More importantly, remove the paddlewheel that's still intact."
"Yes."
Reiko handed the remaining paddlewheel to Jin.
"Ah, this one was about to snap too... Forming."
Under Jin's magic, the paddlewheel transformed into a small paddle. He couldn't make anything larger due to the lack of materials.
"Reiko, I’m sorry, but could you row with this?"
"I understand."
Reiko immediately began rowing with it, but they barely gained any speed.
"Is it no good...?"
Because the bronze was of poor quality, Hardening magic didn't take well to it. If Reiko tried to use even ten percent of her output, the rod felt like it would snap.
"We’re not going to make it in time..."
Seeing Jin's disappointment, Reiko made a decision.
"Father, I will swim and push the boat."
No sooner had she said the words than she quickly stripped off her clothes. Before Jin could say anything, she dove into the water completely nude. It seemed Reiko felt responsible for losing the paddlewheel in her own way.
In the water, Reiko gripped the boat and began kicking with her slender legs.
"O-Oh, this is fast."
Previously, when she had been flung into the sea by a malfunctioning Warp Gate while searching for Jin, she had reached speeds of over 100 kilometers per hour while wearing clothes and carrying a heavy bag.
Now that she had been further reinforced, she could easily maintain a speed of 100 kilometers per hour while supporting the boat with Jin aboard.
To an outside observer, the boat would appear to be traveling at an incredible velocity without any visible means of propulsion.
"That looks like Io island."
The silhouette of the island that served as the turnaround point appeared in Jin's sight. Several boats carrying tourists were floating nearby.
"Reiko, you need to slow down soon or people will think it’s strange!" Jin shouted at the top of his lungs, worried she wouldn't hear him underwater. However, Reiko’s hearing was far from ordinary—especially when it came to her father's voice. She distinguished it immediately and slowed her swimming pace.
Jin’s boat slowly drifted in among the tourist vessels watching the race. To make it look as natural as possible, Jin held the paddle in his hands, though the mere presence of such a small boat in the open sea was already suspicious.
Fortunately, the spectators on the tourist boats were far too busy watching the fierce battle of the approaching lead group to pay any attention to Jin's little craft.
＊ ＊ ＊
"The three leading boats will soon reach the turnaround point!"
"The key to this fourth stage is how quickly they can make the turn. Io is about one kilometer across and nearly circular."
The commentary continued.
"Since the island is volcanic and conical in shape, the shore is shallow and gets deeper as you move away."
"Which means..."
"Exactly. If they try to take a tight turn, they risk running aground. If they take a wide turn for safety, it will cost them time."
"So how they handle that is the key, then."
"Yes. But it looks like all three leading boats are choosing to make the turn as tightly as possible."
True to the commentator's words, the three boats seemed determined to round Io at a razor-thin distance of only a few meters.
＊ ＊ ＊
"We made it just in time, I guess."
The lead group was just coming into view.
"Numbers 3, 1, and 35. That’s a good position. Once they round this island, is the rest just a speed contest?" Jin tried to recall the race's stage configuration.
Just then, Reiko poked her head out of the water.
"Father, we need to talk."
"Reiko, what is it?"
"Yes. I saw two strange golems underwater."
"Golems underwater?" That was certainly an odd place for them to be. "And what are they doing?"
"For now, nothing. They are just staying still."
"......"
Jin couldn't grasp the intention. The location was wrong for something set up by the event organizers. He couldn't understand why they would be underwater.
"Do you know who they belong to?"
"One moment... Yes, the creator is likely that magi craftman called Valerio. I detect the same magical signature as the golem in Number 1."
"What?...Hmm."
If that arrogant man Valentino was involved, Jin felt something was fishy. This time, it might actually be sabotage.
"Alright, Reiko, don't worry about this boat. Monitor those two and stop them if they try to interfere with the race."
"Understood. May I destroy them?"
"Ah, no, don't do that. Taking out a leg or an arm is fine... Right, you can disable them, but make sure not to damage the golems' control cores so we can submit them as evidence."
"Roger."
Reiko disappeared back into the water.
Moments later, the lead group reached Io island.