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Part 9 

--- [Underwood], a distance away from the flood gates. 

At the end point of the race, [Underwood] flood gates, a crowd had grown to fill the whole area as the audiences awaited to welcome the victor. And those two contestants that were competing for the final stretch were the most highly chosen choice for the bets and was naturally the reason for holding the audiences' attention for so long. 

Who would be the first to reach and claim the top place? The audiences were holding their breaths as they continued to watch the race intensely. 

Waiting in front of the flood gates, Kuro Usagi happily announced when she saw two figures that were furiously churning water sprays in the distance. 

"Everyone! The contestants have appeared and taking the lead is [Will-O'-Wisp]'s Faceless! Coming in close behind is [No Name] Kudou Asuka! The supporter, Kasukabe Yō is still in play as well!" 

Hearing Kuro Usagi's commentary, Ayesha and Jack also cheered: 

"Yay! Just rush to the end point in a breath to claim an overwhelming victory, Faceless!" 

"Yahohoho! Just a few steps more!" 

Both of them waved the flag of [Will-O'-Wisp] while shouting their encouragements. 

Even Lily who was vending the portable snack booth was not to be outdone by them. 

"Asuka-sama! Yō-sama! Gambatte!" Lily used her all to wave her hands and her two tails as she continued to shout encouragements. 

Whereas Percher and Leticia who stood beside Lily were assessing the situation seriously. 

"Asuka's situation seem quite precarious." 

"Nn. I see that she's maintaining a certain distance from her opponent and that should be the attack radius of Faceless……" 

"If she wants to get pass, she'd better be mentally prepared to have her swimsuit stripped……Ehehe, the games of Little Garden are quite indecent." 

To be unable to respond with a "No, there's no such thing." should also be a sad thing to note about the conversation. 

But from Percher's point of view, whether Asuka lost the race or get herself stripped, either scenario would be ideal material to tease Asuka. 

Being a bystander in this situation, she showed a victorious smile as she watched the race in a relaxed manner. 

 

Having followed the original plan and arriving at the straight lane, Asuka and Yō steeled their resolves, to initiate the plan of their last battle. 

"Be it life or death, it all comes to this now!" 

"No Asuka, that's not right. You only have victory or getting stripped as the options." 

"If I get stripped, I would rather die!" 

Asuka shouted in despair. It would seem that she had set her determination about that. 

Yō pondered over the newly added burden to the task before accelerating. 

"No worries, I will never let Asuka… be stripped…" 

Sparkling with the light of the Pegasus and surrounded by the whirlwinds of the Gryphon, Yō started the assault on Faceless. 

Faceless did not even turn her head when Yō entered her whip sword attack radius but she still managed to target Yō's swimsuit as she launched the attack. Could it be that she could detect anything that came within her attack radius just by judging the presence of her opponent? That really made her out to be more like a monster than she already was. 

As they were still a distance apart, Yō successfully dodged the blade but knew that she wouldn't be that lucky next time if she got any closer. 

Up against the spectacular sword skills of her opponent---Kasukabe Yō made mental preparations for getting stripped. 

"Asuka! Go!" 

"Got it! Zipopo-san, let's give our all for the last stretch---!" 

The Hippocamp gave a magnificent neigh as it shot forward. After countless escapes from dangerous situations, his strength was almost at its limit. This was truly the last defense line to breach. 

Faceless wanted to use her whip sword to attack Asuka who was gaining on them from the left but her attack was thwarted by Yō's shining whirlwind defenses that stood in her way. 

If it were a normal blade, it would have been able to cut through the whirlwinds. However, the whip sword had more similarities to a whip and was of a soft blade tip that could be redirected in its trajectory by the control of whirlwinds. 

Immediately analyzing the situation, Faceless aimed for the point where Yō would not be able to move away from to land her next attack. 

"…I see it now. So accept my slash." 

Using her Gift card to switch weapons, she targeted Asuka who was fast closing the distance behind her and wielded her Steel spears. 

"Asuka! Watch out!" 

Just as Asuka was about to get hit, the Pegasus armor suddenly blocked her view of Faceless. And Yō having taken the hit for her lost her balance from the impact. 

[Heavy…what a heavy impact!] 

Even with the use of her Titan enhanced strength and the sparkling whirlwinds from the Gryphon and Pegasus abilities combined, she barely managed to defend the hacking blow. But Faceless herself didn't seem to be affected at all as she continued with her second strike. 

To be able to fight on par with her strength would require at least the Kirin's Lance or a weapon of that level. But if I were to release the defenses of the Pegasus, there would be no way for me to catch up to her speed… 

Yō clenched her teeth in thought as she was troubled with the choices that didn't seem very viable. 

---She was indeed a strong opponent. But I cannot lose as well. 

"Asuka……I'm leaving the rest to you!" 

She had agreed to help Asuka block for ten rounds. So at least for the ten rounds that was had just started, she cannot afford to lose. 


Condensing her energy in her leg guards, Yō decided to go on the offensive as she rushed towards Faceless. Having thought of the spear's characteristics, she had deemed close quarter combat to be the safest. 

Faceless immediately dropped a spear to change to close combat tactics. But to deal with an opponent in flight while the steed continued to travel in a predictable straight line was very tricky indeed. 

Seeing how her battle tactics seem effective, Yō hurriedly grabbed the chance to try land a consecutive chain of attacks. 

[As long as I can delay her! It will work…] 

Asuka had already sped past Faceless and was leading by a little. Since Asuka's speed was much faster, it would be safe as long as Asuka got out of the attack radius that would have stripped her otherwise. 

However, that relaxed thought spelt defeat for her. 

"---You are too naïve, Miss Kasukabe." 

Her chained attack of kicks with her Pegasus leg guards were stopped. This was because Faceless had thrown away her spear and used her hands to make a successful grab at Yō's legs. 

"No…No way!" 

"It was a very nice match. If there's a chance, let's fight again next time." 

Faceless used her monotonous voice to praise before pulling Yō down onto the river surface. With her out of the game, there was no one to protect Asuka now. 

All the [No Name] members that were watching from afar shivered upon the realization. 

"If this continues…Asuka will be stripped!" 

"Run Quickly! Asuka-sama!" 

Leticia and Lily's desperate shouts could be heard from the Audience Stands. 

Faceless summoned her Serpens Scorpius Sword and let fly the blade towards Asuka's swimsuit--- 

 

"---Burn it to crisp! That shameless sword!---" 

 

The swimsuit was intact. 

While the flames released by Asuka melted the metal off the Serpens Scorpius Sword. 

"This……" 

"Oh, it seems like you have fallen for it! Even without needing to see the blade tip, as long as I know that you will [aim at the swimsuit], I can naturally set a trap for you in advance!" 

Asuka loudly proclaim her victory. This was her last resort. 

There were a total of five gemstones on her gauntlet which she removed and hid in her swimsuit. Waiting for the moment that the blade tip comes into contact, the power of the gems activated to release the heat to melt the opponent's sword. Since the limitation of the Gift was that it required contact to have its most effective result, she had kept that as the last card up her sleeve. 

"Hu…" 

Faceless threw away the burnt whip sword and tried to urge her steed forward with all her riding skills in full play. And though she might have a high level skill in riding horses, the fate of the race had been sealed. 

 

"I see that you have enjoyed yourself! Masked Rider-sama! [Hippocamp Riders] ….is our win!" 

 

Asuka won the final gamble and she announced in her joyous mood. 

A deafening cheer erupted throughout [Underwood] as the residents welcomed the first rider to reach the end point. 

Kuro Usagi had also left her job as the commentator and jumped towards Asuka. 

"Asuka-san, Congratulations on the victory!" 

"Wa…Wait! Kuro Usagi!" 

"Kya!" Asuka gave a cry of surprise as both of them fell into the water with a big splash. 

The audience at the flood gates also began to laugh at that ridiculous sight. 

Smiling while observing the commotion, Shiroyasha clapped her hand forcefully to attract everyone's attention. 

"I hereby announce that the first place of [Hippocamp Riders] goes to Asuka of [No Name] and her comrades! Come now, Carry the winner up onto the stage! We will soon commence the ceremony of the Gift inheritance as well as the second half of the banquet!" 

Leading the crowd to congratulate the winner, the audience also cheered. 

Grabbing Kuro Usagi's shoulder, Asuka muttered in a daze: 

"….still going to eat?" 

"It's the harvest festival after all. Ehehe. Kuro Usagi will also display her skills tonight! To make up for the previous failure!" 

"NnNn!" Kuro Usagi encouraged herself. 

At this moment, Asuka suddenly gave Kuro Usagi a tight hug. 

"……thank you for all those times, Kuro Usagi." 

"Eh?" 

"Ehehe, nothing." 

Asuka smiled as she got back up onto the saddle with Kuro Usagi riding behind her. 

Cheers continued to pour from the sides as they travelled along the road to the Underground city of Underwood. 

 



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