Chapter 24

We five moved to the children's section of the soap tube for the race. Since it's for children, it's only on the first floor, but it's quite intricate with its winding S-curves and bumps.

For the older kids, the tube extends up to the third floor, with a complex track. There's a dedicated center for adults to play the floating race, a bit further from this park. It features mid-air flips as a matter of course. The tubes are interrupted, and there are jumping sections, which look fun, but they don't let 9-year-olds play there yet. It's a shame, darn it.

The "Floating Race" has specific regulations, using a "floating board" with magic power allocated to acceleration, top speed, and turning performance. The allocation is free, but from accumulated experience, it generally falls into a few patterns.

It's a game that both mages and ordinary people can enjoy together. Well, mages have body enhancements and faster reaction times, so they're inevitably stronger.

In the pro races, there are magical interference races for mages and regular races for non-mages. The races can take place in entire forests, and they're quite spectacular. The pro tracks can float dozens of meters high, so they can be held anywhere.

There are various types of races, like collecting targets placed in designated areas or navigating caves. Of course, with such intense races, there's a risk of the protective barriers breaking and causing injuries, but that's the same in the previous world. Once you get up to speed, it's easy to flip a car over in a race. The passion people have for racing always surpasses the danger.

I like playing but not watching, but this sport is quite popular. Compared to other sports, it only requires a "floating board" and has simple rules.

Simple rules and minimal equipment are important. That's why soccer, which involves flying through the air, is also popular, but this is even more so.

"Today, I won't lose, oh!"

Tamamo raised her hand, and Kon-chan on her shoulder chirped in agreement. Tamamo exhaled forcefully, looking very determined. She seems intent on winning. Hmph, I won't lose that easily.

"We won't lose either!"

Sei-chan and the others raised their hands, determined not to be outdone.

"Hehe, I won't lose either!"

Miharu also got excited, snorting and taking her place at the starting line. Young girls take their play seriously.

So, I'll take it seriously too.

'Floating Race - Please select your character type'

'Hero'

'Demon King'

'Princess'

'Dragon Knight'

'Jester'

A status board only visible to me appeared in front of me.

'Demon King'

I chose 'Demon King.' My body filled with mana, and I became a sturdy, bottom-heavy figure suitable for the 'Demon King Board.' But my appearance didn't change, probably due to gravity or something. Miharu, the cute girl, remained adorable. The laws of magical physics must have changed.

At first, I thought, "What's this?" But I quickly realized it was a sub-game. The game's title is Final Dragon World Tree... it's so long, we don't need the full name.

The open-world design isn't just for show; it's packed with sub-games. In the original, these games were minor elements, only mentioned in background news, but they were included in the game.

The 'Hero' has average acceleration, top speed, and turning performance. The 'Princess' focuses on turning performance, the 'Demon King' on top speed, the 'Dragon Knight' on acceleration, and the 'Jester' can use interference magic from the start. No need to nitpick. There are no boxes with interference items, but you can use interference magic when your gauge fills during the race.

A bit unfair, but I'm the game's protagonist. I'll take this body seriously.

We lined up at the starting line, and a holographic signal appeared. The race is shown on the park's monitors, so gentlemen and children start watching, hoping to be entertained. Hey, those gentlemen are supposed to be supervising the kids, right?

Beep, beep, beep, start!

The signal turned green, and everyone launched their boards.

"I won't lose!"

Hoku-chan, on the Dragon Knight Board, took the lead.

"I'll follow!"

"Yah!"

"Wait, wait!"

Nan-chan and Sei-chan, also on Dragon Knight Boards, accelerated and charged ahead. The gap widened quickly, but it couldn't be helped. Tamamo was fourth, and I was last, moving slowly. The 'Demon King Board' is top speed focused, but it's peaky with the lowest acceleration and turning performance.

This sub-game doesn't have a start dash cheat. So, I'll fall behind. In the game, I could only start dash once in three tries, so I don't think I'll use it.

"I'll catch up!"

The disadvantage is only at the start. I have a secret strategy.

While accelerating, I stopped the board, then immediately restarted it. I repeated this. The board, pushed by inertia, accelerated each time I restarted. It might not seem like much, but it will pay off later.

I call it the RTA Stair Climbing Method. It's named after the RTA challenge in zombie games, where you can climb stairs faster by repeatedly aiming and lowering your gun. The name doesn't matter.

The board made loud thumping sounds, moving up and down violently, but I didn't fall off. I might have hit the wall and fallen, but my driving was genius... no, I didn't fall in the game.

"Hey, I'm catching up!"

Once I reached top speed, it was my game. I'll overtake them.

The gray-haired girl, with her ice-blue eyes sparkling and her beautiful hair flowing, scattered soap bubbles as she raced through the soap tube.

The audience, watching on the monitors, focused on the children's race. The staff and children were captivated.

"Wow, that girl is fast!"

The girls, despite their youth, raced without falling off their boards or hitting the walls.

The leader was a girl with a side ponytail and a fox on her shoulder. Her golden hair shimmered in the soap bubbles, and her face was mischievous and cute. She had been leading by overtaking her friends.

"She's good at the S-curves. She uses the outside-inside technique to take the shortest route."

"For her age, she's quite skilled. She barely slows down, maintaining almost top speed."

"For her age, yeah."

The adults, pretending to be veteran race spectators, discussed enthusiastically. They were fathers who had brought their children.

The children, seeing an opportunity, begged their dads for ice cream, and the dads, to avoid disturbing the race, gave them pocket money. The children would definitely skip dinner, running to the burger place for "ice cream." The dads would surely be scolded by their wives.

"Hey, that girl is still slow."

"Yeah, the Demon King Board is useless."

The naughty kids laughed at Miharu, who was last, but only until the S-curve.

The gray-haired girl, with a fierce look, entered the S-curve and almost hit the first slalom wall. It seemed she couldn't control it at top speed, but she grazed the wall, jumped, and flew to the next slalom, hitting the wall again and using it as a stepping stone to advance.

"Wow, amazing!"

The naughty kids were amazed and cheered, their mouths open wide, fists clenched, watching the dynamic driving.

"Hmm, that girl is quite something. She's aiming for the edge where the protective bubbles don't activate."

"Her rough driving is impressive; she doesn't fall off the board."

"She's overtaking the others."

"Dad, I want juice."

The self-proclaimed experts nodded in agreement, and the children, with their pocket money, ran to the takoyaki stand. They definitely wouldn't eat dinner.

The gray-haired girl smiled and approached the side-ponytailed leader.

"Gotcha!"

"Oops, sorry!"

She passed Sei-chan and the others, sticking out her tongue, and charged straight ahead. With the top speed-focused Demon King Board, my body was Demon King-focused, closing in on Tamamo.

The soap bubbles floated around, creating a fantastical scene as the distance closed. Tamamo, noticing Miharu catching up, pouted.

"Turning performance can't beat top speed!"

"Is that so? I won't lose! Transformation!"

With a mischievous smile, Tamamo transformed into a fox girl, wagging her tail. It was a body enhancement, so it wasn't against the rules.

"This is the power of Tamamo as a fox girl!"

She entered the next S-curve without slowing down, leaning into the wall.

"Ah, Tamamo, be careful!"

"Hehe, this is my new move!"

Tamamo stuck to the wall, leaning so far that she seemed to fall, sliding up to the ceiling and spiraling through the S-curve. The soap bubbles she released filled the tube.

Normally, sliding on the ceiling is impossible without exceptional balance. The body enhancement from transforming into a fox girl made it possible.

"I win!"

I also used the wall-jumping technique, but the distance didn't close much.

But I couldn't lose. The final L-curve was my chance.

I advanced, closing the gap on the straight, but couldn't quite catch up. Then, I entered the final L-curve. Tamamo, as expected, slowed down.

But I didn't.

"Whoa!"

I hit the L-curve wall with my board, bouncing off like a pinball, zigzagging and flying.

Spinning, I flew forward.

"Ah!"

I overtook Tamamo and reached the finish line.

"Yay! Yes!"

I spun, raising my finger. This was the forbidden wall-bouncing technique. By using the rebound to advance and quickly regaining my balance, I avoided slowing down.

The gray-haired girl smiled and continued spinning, the soap bubbles clinging to her, creating a beautiful, fantastical sight.

"The Demon King is amazing!"

"I want to be like that!"

"I'm a fan now!"

The naughty kids, inspired by the dynamic driving, rushed to get Demon King Boards.

"Not bad."

"Quite a show."

"I'll be in trouble with my wife..."

The self-proclaimed experts were impressed and critiqued the race.

The Demon King Board. Miharu had shown its potential.

Later, the wall-bouncing technique was banned.

I don't understand.