[The final game is a relay race!]

A message window appeared. What’s this, so simple. At first glance our team had the advantage. With Yerim’s teleportation plus Noah’s and Peace’s flying abilities, losing would be bizarre. So perhaps flying is impossible. Maybe all skills are disabled.

“[You must move using your own body and skills. Teleportation, spatial transfer skills, and items may not be used.]”

“Huh? Only that? What about flying?”

“[The final runner who places the baton at the designated location first wins! The order is free to choose. However, the final runner must be the team leader.]”

“Wait a moment!”

What do you mean the final runner must be the team leader? You want me to run too? And if I must move using my own body, I can’t use a bike, car, or even a kickboard!

“No matter how much distance we create, they’ll reverse it in an instant!”

It was only natural to protest, so I shouted. My stats are F, theirs are S!

“If we can use other skills, we could interfere too!”

They could bind me with chains and overtake me at leisure. How is that fair?

“[Opponents may be hindered: when you hold the baton, and when opponents hold the baton]”

“[Baton may be stolen or destroyed; cannot be held in inventory]”

“[You may not leave your assigned section.]”

“[★Please choose☆

If Team Han Yujin forfeits flying, Han Yujin’s stats will rise to S (participant average)]”

An auxiliary choice appeared for me. Fly, or raise my stats. I looked at my teammates.

“What should we do?”

“I’m confident about running!”

Yerim raised her hand energetically. I appreciated the enthusiasm, but Yerim, you’re weak in close combat. If teleportation and flying are blocked, it’ll be dangerous. …No, there was a way.

“I’m more of a flying type, but I have four legs. I should still be fast on foot.”

“I can’t fly anyway~.”

I looked down at Peace, sitting obediently by my feet. He cocked his ears and tilted his head adorably.

— 끼앙!

Peace also has a sprint skill; even without flying, he could easily outpace an S-rank Hunter. Yuhyun isn’t flying so it doesn’t matter for him.

“I think it’s better to raise your stats. No matter how far we put distance, it won’t help if you get caught at the end.”

“That’s true.”

Besides, if my stats become S-rank… I glanced at Seong Hyunjae. Since it’s the participant average stat, it would still be lower than his. But it might be worth a try. Before talking about victory or defeat, backing down here felt… unsatisfying.

“Passionate gaze, indeed. At this rate you’ll try to eat me.”

“I’m deciding whether to roast, boil, or fry you.”

Once we decided to raise my stats, the system window expanded dramatically. A huge screen appeared, showing a wide forest, grassland, sand desert, and more.

“[Zone 1 ? Grassland

Zone 2 ? Desert

Zone 3 ? Forest

Zone 4 ? Swamp

Zone 5 ? City]”

The final destination would continue into Zone 5, the urban area.

“[The team leader may monitor teammates and issue instructions via dialogue.]”

“[The team leader may change a 5 ㎡ area of the environment once as desired. Team Han Yujin receives 2 additional uses as a fishing bonus.]”

Five square meters is about one and a half tsubo—a small room—but it could be useful depending on how it’s used.

“[Each team, please decide the runner order~.]”

A barrier rose between our team and Seong Hyunjae’s team, completely blocking sound.

“I think the swamp is best for me?”

Yerim said. It makes sense to choose the zone that suits your stats, but—

“We also have to think about the other team. They’ll expect you, Yerim, to go to the swamp.”

“Hyunah and I aren’t suited for the sand desert. If I use My Dragon Flame, I’d sink deeper because of the weight.”

“The temperature will be high, so I’m best. I can use Willow Leaves, so even loose sand isn’t a problem.”

Noah and Yuhyun spoke in ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ turn. By standard logic: the desert for Yuhyun, the swamp for Yerim, the forest with many obstacles for Peace who can shrink his body, and the city roads for Noah. However—

I looked at the zones on the screen once more. It’d be a waste to leave unused options.

“How about we do it this way?”

After discussion we set the order. A message popped up: the game would start soon. My teammates disappeared, and I was moved to a spacious room in the final zone. Seong Hyunjae appeared beside me as well. Two large monitors capable of split-screen were lit on the walls.

“Please take care of this.”

In various ways. Seong Hyunjae nodded in acknowledgment.

“[5 minutes until start]”

With that message, the grassland zone appeared on the monitor. Then our two teammates appeared at the starting point.

— 크흥.

Peace and—

“What should I call you? You’re a mount, but you’re on the opposing team… Peace?”

It was Samir. Since the grassland has no obstacles, the pure fastest runner would have the advantage. If he chose Peace, he must be fast. Peace shifted to adult size. Metallic scales wrapped around Samir’s legs and arms. Focusing skill enhancement on parts of his body. That would certainly make him faster.

“Peace, can you hear Dad’s voice?”

— 캬릉!

“As hard as you can, run forward.”

Peace flicked his tail as if answering. In front of them, a blue and a red baton appeared. Peace took the blue baton in his mouth. Samir wore one at his waist.

“[10, 9, 8–]”

The count began. The Flame Horn Lion tensed his whole body, crouching as if about to spring. Samir also took a running stance.

“[Go!]”

Pat! Claws sliced through grass blades. Through flying leaves, Peace dashed forward. He looked like a feline predator, a famous subspecies of unicorn known for speed. Samir also began running at tremendous speed, but the distance between them widened instantly. His golden-mixed mane fluttered like flames. Just as the sprint skill was about to activate—

Whoosh–!

A metal wire flew from Samir’s fingertips. Peace dodged swiftly, but the wire chased him tenaciously as if alive.

— 크릉!

Peace burst flames, trying to burn the wire wrapped around his neck. But the wire didn’t budge. Using the pulling force, Samir leapt up above Peace as if flying.

“Samir, you’re dirty!”

Other Hunters would cut or break the wire, but Peace couldn’t easily. If it had been a leg, maybe, but around the neck was trickier.

“Is that your skill, Samir? Weren’t skills disallowed during movement?”

“I can’t comment on another Hunter’s skill, but as you see…”

Samir landed on Peace’s back. The metallic scales that had covered only his limbs now coated his whole body thinly. At the same time, blaze—fire roared violently. The grassland caught fire. Yet Samir didn’t fall off.

‘Does it have fire resistance too? The metallic scales’ defense is higher than expected.’

Dungeons and monsters are influenced by the environment, and Samir’s hometown has few deserts. Unless it was Yuhyun’s flames, Peace’s fire wouldn’t work unless it was a breath.

“Peace, roll!”

Peace rolled his body across the grass—no, the fire. Samir bounced off Peace’s back as if repelled. Peace immediately stood and bared his teeth at Samir.

“No, let’s keep running while removing it!”

Peace is a powerful monster, but putting him one-on-one against an S-rank Hunter isn’t beneficial. In a simple physical clash he’d have a chance, but Hunters use various items, while Peace only had mount equipment. No need to risk it.

— 크르르.

Peace gave a warning growl at my words, then turned and started running again. However, Samir threw another wire this time too.

Pat!

Prepared, Peace dodged nimbly. The wire’s tip gouged the ground, slowing Peace’s speed. Samir used that gap to close the distance, though he still couldn’t fully catch up.

“Go, our Peace! Fighting!”

While clapping, I glared at Seong Hyunjae who was just sitting quietly.

“Aren’t you awfully quiet for a teammate? Here.”

“Hmm.”

I handed him a tambourine. Then I took a maraca. Both were glittering with ribbons and gaudy decorations. It would catch the little monsters’ attention with sound and sparkle. They like it—Seong Hyunjae did too.

“What are you waiting for, shake it quickly. As team leader, you have duties.”

“I gave enough instructions during the planning.”

“Nope, cheering is our duty too! Go! Peace! You’re over halfway, just a bit more! Awesome, our Peace!”

The wire tangled around Peace’s hind leg. Peace whipped his body, biting and pulling it free. While he did so smoothly, Samir dashed ahead. Peace, annoyed, flicked his ears and overtook Samir in an instant. Seong Hyunjae gave a light shake of the tambourine.

“Clap too! Clap, clap clap! Our Peace!”

Before we knew it they had passed two-thirds of the vast grassland. The screen split to show the end of the grassland and the start of the desert. Two people appeared there.

“Huh, Hyunah?”

In the desert? And next to Hyunah—

“Yerim?”

Moon Hyunah’s eyes went wide. Yerim fixed her shoes and grinned.

“Please take care of me, unni. Wow, I’m really sinking.”

When Yerim took a step the sand rose to her ankles. If the outskirts were this deep, the inside would be even deeper. The worst environment for running. A spear icon popped up before the two, showing their distance to the first runner. The gap narrowed quickly.

“Ah, Peace is ahead! Go, Peace!”

Yerim waved her arms wildly in support. The gap between Peace and Samir grew until Samir stopped completely. At that moment, the metal wire transformed into a bow.

“Wait! That’s cheating!”

“The rules were you may not leave your zone, and you win by placing the baton at the final spot.”

…There was no rule saying the runner had to run all the way. Still, isn’t a relay supposed to pass by hand?

Samir tied the baton to the bow. Then he drew and fired with all his strength. The arrow split the air and in a blink overtook Peace. Peace couldn’t throw anything, so that was dirty! As the arrow flew toward the baton, Moon Hyunah ran up.

Tap! She snatched the baton precisely and lifted the corner of her lips.

“Ah~ unni!”

“I’m going first~.”

Moon Hyunah landed lightly on the sand. Just as it seemed she’d sink, she stepped on air itself and began to run.

“Hyunah?! What is that?”

“Wind!”

In an instant a concentrated blast of wind supported Moon Hyunah’s feet and propelled her forward. Hyunah controls wind, but she couldn’t have done that level of control. And she kept running continuously!

“It’s hard to maintain in pure air. Maybe for an instant, but you need something—sand, whatever—for rebound to keep it easily.”

“You practiced in the meantime?”

“Settlement reward.”

I reflexively glared at Seong Hyunjae.

“You really trusted Guildmaster Sesung more than expected.”

“That’s not it. He made a pretty convincing argument.”

How on earth did he lure Hyunah? At that moment Peace arrived beside Yerim. Our Peace won the run, after all! Yerim quickly took the baton and shouted.

“Peace, great job! Mister!”

“All right, let’s go!”

Environmental change used. One of three uses.

“Water puddle. Maximum area, 5 ㎡.”

A puddle appeared in front of Yerim. It was really small. But—

“Depth 10 km.”

Only the area was limited, not the depth. The swamp has plenty of water, but it’s only puddles at most. Yerim drew water upward. A high wave rose. The small body lightly leapt onto it.

Jjeojeok—

The water beneath her feet began to freeze. A sleek oval ice plate formed—like a surfboard.

“Go!”

“Park Yerim fighting!”

I shook the maraca vigorously. The towering wave crashed down on the desert. A bright blue wave rolled across the hot sand. A silver ice board rode the raging wave at terrifying speed.

The wave behind quickly closed on Moon Hyunah, who led. Splash, splash—the sound of water beating the sand.

“Awesome.”

Moon Hyunah laughed. Admiring, she lifted a spear. Seeing that, Yerim didn’t back down.

“Unni, it’s like we’re on water!”

Jjeoeng, jjeok—water tucked into a wave hardened into an ice spear. Spear met spear with a kaang. Ice shards scattered like gems, wind and waves intertwined.

Peong! A gust of wind bore down on Moon Hyunah’s spear, parting the wave. As she nearly fell onto the sand, the water she had pulled up supported her. Simultaneously, a water mass flew toward Moon Hyunah like a fist. Dodging swiftly, Moon Hyunah couldn’t avoid the wave enveloping her back, and got drenched.

“So refreshing!”

Chwak—Moon Hyunah burst upward again, running on water with wind. Yerim too became one with the wave, charging forward. The two clashed and clashed, passing halfway through the desert. The third zone was the forest. The bottom of the monitor showed a dense wood.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep