Shinka no Mi Chapter 40

Obeying the words of the official, each of the participants started to move to the start line.

Moreover, so, the ones on the start line already have an advantage, and the ones further away are disadvantaged.

The other participants have large horses, made me look smaller because I’m riding on a donkey. As well as unfortunately having to start all the way at the back.

As I’m not really interested in the race itself, I easily got on Rurune’s back, and was slightly impressed as we can properly move.
If it were the me before my evolution, I wouldn’t have been able to ride Rurune in the first place…….

While I was thinking that, the group of horses is suddenly entered my line of sight.

At this time, the official also noticed that and called out.

But, the people who’re addressed by the voice didn’t hear it as they were desperately calling out to their horses.

[Why aren’t we moving, Kelly!]

Even the horses’ names are human-like.

But still…… What’s up with them? I wonder what’s the reason why the horses suddenly don’t want to move?

Somehow, I looked towards the people riding the horses.

And I finally understood the cause of this ruckus.

[Really, what in the world happened……?]

[I’m not having you to run the impossible……]

Thud.

Moreover, if you look closely, all that remained were that useless expression of pride.

In other words, all the horses that suddenly stopped moving were——.

This Stuuuuupiiiiiiiiiiid horseeeees!!!!

No matter what you do, there’s no salvation for the horses’ lives. The official, who’s face expresses an ‘I don’t know what to say’ look unpleasantly says.

The number of people participating this race is that many!? Even with that many high-spec horses, isn’t this already a problem, right!?

Ever since I came to this world, there’s nothing that I haven’t made a tsukkomi at.

Being in a good mood, Rurune says something while drooling.

[Rurune-san. That joke isn’t funny, ya know.]

While Rurune and I were having a silly conversation, the official said so and blew the whistle.

[Everyone, you’re in your respective starting positions? Well then, I’ll now start the count! 3!]

Somehow, it took a long time to start the race, but now, let’s just focus on it.

[2!]

[Well then Rurune, I leave it to you.]

After hearing Rurune’s firm response, I thought that we can really win this thing.

That’s right. Ever since we’ve been here, we have been treated as useless so far. However, I can’t let them treat Rurune as an ordinary donkey.

C’mon, our race has———-.

———Only begun!

As the cloud of dust soared, my vision was instantly obscured.

My Rurune is, dashing towards all of the horses———.

[Haa,haa,haa.]

Rurune’s speed is, surprisingly slow, was being left behind by the other horses in a blink of an eye.

Pa-tsu………ka, pa-tsu………ka.

[Hey~? Rurune-san? We’re the last, you know? Hey, you need to get serious!]

However, Rurune’s pace still hasn’t changed one bit.

[Ah, this is no good.]

Let alone giving up, I don’t give a damn anymore! While thinking like that, I hear the official’s voice.

[Whoa!? Players Seiichi and Rurune pair aren’t progressing much! As I thought, using a donkey in this tournament is impossible!? They are in last place in a blink of an eye!]
It’s useless.

[While player Seiichi is still on the starting line, the top 10 players are already halfway through the entire course!]

Already halfway!? Getting 5th place is absolutely impossible!

[Kuh…… haa,haa.]

And, I also know that you’re slow.

[……My……Stomach……is……]

[……My stomach is…………hungry…………!]

I unintentionally cried out. Well, it can’t be helped.

While I didn’t try to accept that, I asked just to be sure.

[Master, you’re making me eat like the other domestic animals……!?]

Why the hell did I say that!? Just why the hell did I say something stupid to her!?

[Wait! For now, eat all the grass you can find here to your heart’s content to satisfy your hunger! You can run if your stomach is full, right!?]

[LIKE I ASKED, AREN’T YOU A DONKEEEEEY!?]

Even though I tried to motivate her by bringing in the Bahamut on the conversation, but she still won’t eat it. It seems like she won’t eat anything other than things that humans tend to eat even if it meant dying.

And for me, who was too late to realize that, really regretted it.

[Argh! At this rate, I’ll definitely lose and in this way, I definitely look like a loser……! Is there something that I can give her food with……!?]

Aah, I’m completely finished…….

[……Hmm?]

That is—–the [The Real Cultivation of the Fruit of Evolution Set].

If I recall, the contents are how to properly cultivate the seed of evolution, and the fruit of the seed of evolution and so on and so forth…….

While having a pale hope on it, I took out the [The Real Cultivation of the Fruit of Evolution Set]

When I looked inside, there really is a booklet of instructions on how to cultivate the Fruit of Evolution, and there are 15 Fruits of Evolutions in it too. ………Huh?

Even though I’ve scurried on the contents, the Fruits of Evolution are here, but the seeds aren’t.

[……Ah, come to think of it, when I ate the fruit of evolution, the seed never came out, right……?]

In other words, I didn’t see the seeds. My skin is really lucky.

Even though I said that, I somehow found something for Rurune to eat. Well, even though she has her preferences, at least it’s not grass that she doesn’t want.

[Rurune! Can you eat this!?]
[T, this nut is……?]

Rurune asked with a weak voice. And, just why the hell she doesn’t want to eat grass?

[This is the fruit which saved me from dying and Saria from a pinch. It’s name is the [Fruit of Evolution].] (TLN: should I name Shinka no Mi here as Fruit of Evolution? Or Seed of Evolution?)

[Fruit of Evolution……?]

[Yeah, that’s right! My thanks can’t be summed just with that; I can’t thank it enough. It had that much of an effect!]

[That was a fast revival!?]

While listening to me, Rurune instantly took a Fruit of Evolution and ate it.

[Hey, what’s happeni——]

[Ah, I see.]

However, the effect is amazing.

Right, the Fruit of Evolution whenever you ate one, it has an amazing effect which is that it instantly fills your stomach full.

[All right! Well then, I’ll leave it to you!]

Well, I do feel that I’m now too late again!

[Master, are you holding the reins firmly?]

To be honest, I’m not really holding the reins properly.

However, because of that optimism, it turned into something dreadful in an instant.
[Then—– Here I go……!]

[Uh! ——— AHHHH!?]

While I still didn’t understand what’s happening, then all of a sudden, I felt a strong impact on my ass. (TLN: maybe because he only bought reins, not including a saddle.)

[-tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu!!] (DAT –tsu’s.. hahahaha. His Ass really must’ve hurt like hell.)

While I still don’t understand what’s developing right now, I desperately racked my brain, noticed something.

Rurune made a great leap, is now running through the race’s course.

FAST! IT’S SPEEDING UP EVEN MORE!

As I sometimes didn’t hold the reins properly, it made me feel like I’ll get thrown off on Rurune’s back several times.

[There is no one who can stop this Rurune……!]

As I involuntarily screamed, I still can’t match up to Rurune’s speed, ended up being dragged on her back while continuing on the race.

◆◇◆

The reason is that I’m watching the race of the one who gave me the courage to participate in the painting tournament, the one who participated Seiichi-san.

While in such a state, the one watching the video on the magic projector with me, the son of Marquis Berger, Clay Berger sighed.

Clay-san has absolute confidence in his paintings, and it is true that he competed with me because of that, but that doesn’t make him a bad person, or rather I’d even say that makes him a good person.

[Mei. What happened to Seiichi is unfortunate, but…… you are you. You can make a great work to compete with me at the Kyarasuti Art Competition! ]

[That in your imagination!]

Just after having that conversation.

[Na!? What should I say about this……! Suddenly, in front of the leading racer groups, a pack Grand Wolves appeared!]

[What?]

Indeed, there were sightings of a pack of Grand Wolves within the vicinity of Teruviel recently.

However, the security countermeasure is perfect, they would’ve suddenly dispatched a subjugation force to deal with it but…….

Well, just as I thought that shouldn’t be a problem, after hearing that, indeed it’s worse that I thought.

Hell Wolf…… is similar to this race’s 5th place prize, Bahamut’s value is enough to buy a small castle, or make a town, is a really strong monster.

Acting basing on its wild instincts, if it’s determined to eat, it’ll really attack without hesitation. In short, it’s an aggressive monster.

For this kind of things, we can only pray that nothing bad will happen on to the participants.
[Why did something troublesome appeared at a time like this! I still haven’t prepared countermeasures for the punishment of taking that spy photos of Riesu-sama! And with this, if the king misunderstood that I neglected the security of the town of Teruviel I’d get more scolding!]

Um……wasn’t the official’s name, name Luna-san, right?

In my mind, I prayed for Luna-san. But, she reaped what she sowed by secretly taking photos. When I thought about it, it can’t be helped.

[N? ……Hey!? J, just what does this mean!]

Some people were still confused as to the sudden change in the video and was more confused as to the one who’s projected in the video.

[Hahaha! This is becoming interesting!]

Clay-san is laughing next to me.

I mean, the man projected on the video is——-.

[SOMEONE STOP MEEEEEEEEEEEE!]

As Rurune-chan zooming in, Seiichi-san’s appearance was swaying!

◆◇◆

[BAHAMUTOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!]

[THIS ISN’T GOING WELLLL! ONLY THIS HORSE……!]

Seriously, someone stop her! Or else…….

[My Bahamut is only a few steps away!]

While my face is bright red, I’m still swaying on Rurune’s back.

As I continued to fight desperately with nausea, I suddenly saw many horses up ahead.
[W, what’s that!?]

While I’m still in a foul mood, as I looked closer, it seems like up ahead a pack of wolves suddenly stand in the way of the race’s course. Uh oh, the nausea got stronger……

Moreover, the wolves are about to attack, closing their distance to the horses looking for an opportunity.

[Is that true, master? Then there will be many horses that’s stuck.]

[I see, this is our chance! To regain the time that we lost, I will speed up even more!]

[I am Rurune! A proud donkey knight! Well, for the Bahamut’s sake…… I shall press on!]

As my restraints were in vain, Rurune raised her forefoot high, like as what she said earlier, she sped up, and we’re dashing in on where the horses and the pack of wolves are.

As I regained my sanity, I tried to look around on my surroundings…….

I jumped over the horses and realized that I’m about to land in the middle between the horses and the wolves.

[Small fries…… DON’T GET IN MY WAAAAYYY!]

I never thought that a donkey’s legs are this fast. Ahahaha, the wolves are getting kicked.

And, for a while, Rurune became peerless against the wolves…….

As the howl resounded, a jet-black wolf confronted us.

This wolf will be a difficult opponent for Rurune———.

[GYAN!] (TLN: is this the Hell Wolf’s yelp? LOL)

Indeed, this wolf had a last-boss atmosphere but, got blown around 20 meters away when it received Rurune’s jump hoof kick in the face.

[……Come to think of it, my All Language Comprehension maybe didn’t activate because he got kicked.]

As I am swaying on top of Rurune, I calmly talked about it. It might be related to one’s ability.

And, I noticed that we’re closing on the goal tape——.

Rurune made it into the goal in her peerless state.

◆◇◆

[T, they really won first place……]

I…… Mei Cherry still don’t understand what happened on the projection screen.

As the Hell Wolf, the pack’s boss got defeated, the remaining wolves panicked and fled.

[Anyway, with this, can you now freely draw a picture then?]
[Yeah……]

Right, as I looked on the video, I have decided…… on what to draw.
[After this, I will hurry to get home to paint my work!]

[I see…… Well then, I shall not lose too! It’s because your work is very formidable. The next time we meet will be at the Kyarasuti Painting Tournament? Let’s do our best!]

From the time, we met for the first time, despite having been falsely charged, to recognising the skill of my picture…. a person, whom I don’t really understand really well.

That, Seiichi-san and Rurune-chan saved a lot of players in that predicament.

[……Alright!]

At that time, I suddenly realized something and thought it out loud.
[Ah. In the end, he won the first place……Seiichi-san, didn’t he aimed for the Bahamut?]

◆◇◆

In front of me now, I…… Hiiragi Seiichi am in front of a donkey named Rurune, bawling in sadness.

Right, Because of Rurune being peerless, as a result—— We won the race.

[I don’t really, want to spend my time with the Valkyrie Knights!]

As I hear Rurune’s heartbreaking voice, it also hurt me too.

[My…… My Bahamut is……]

Furthermore, as I don’t want to add to Rurune’s mental damage as it already was so big, for her sake, I didn’t participate in the awards ceremony.

But still…… I never thought that the top-runners would’ve avoided them. Surely it’s because I originally thought that they would’ve outrun the wolf pack.
But, as Rurune kicked them off, it seemed like the jet-black wolf was an annoying opponent, and so they didn’t want to advance further.

Because of that, Me and Rurune misunderstanding being late, and reached the goal at a breakneck speed.

Rurune was more depressed than expected, that even for me to stay calm was impossible.

[Well…… It’s useless to think about it now. It’s not like the Bahamut is only one in the world, right? That’s why, if we ever meet a Bahamut, we’ll defeat it, and eat it together!]

[Yeah! And also, besides the Bahamut, there are also many delicious food around too. Since we’re going to travel around anyways, we’ll visit other lands and we’ll find something more delicious than the Bahamut together?]

Rurune jumped onto my chest and started to cry out loud.

While I am hugging her with that impression, I gently stroked Rurune’s head.

[Eh? Wait, what now!?]

Before long, the pale light was gradually getting stronger and……!

[MY EYES ARE BURNIIIIIIING!]

I, who was wriggling due to the intense pain while hugging Rurune, felt like I had faced a similar phenomenon before.

And then, I noticed something.

Timidly, I lowered my gaze and——-.

Having brown hair and reddish brown eyes which were tearing badly, a girl who can be seen as a beauty or beautiful girl, looked at me with upturned eyes, and came hugging me. ――――And while being naked.

I wonder if my hallucinations are getting severe to the level it became perverted that it transformed Rurune to this beauty? If that’s so, then please let it stay like that…….

No, could what happened to be understood?

In other words, it’s like that? Rurune evolved? She did eat the Fruit of Evolution. And kicked many wolves.

You know, the hair color, her eyes are similar to Rurune the donkey. It’s certain that the girl I see in front of me is definitely Rurune.

In other words, as I’m the only one talking here, only one word came out from my mouth.

Yeah, the only thing I can do is yell!

Chapter end