Kays Translations

Chapter 185: Golem Olympics

Although the hangar is quite spacious, flashy maneuvering inside is impossible, so the event is held outdoors.

Since they can’t bring out the magic giant golems from the secret door of the saloon, which Isamu and his team usually use to enter the hangar, it seems there’s a larger hidden door at the back of the hangar. Norman mentioned that it’s been a while since they last used it, as they rarely take the golems outside.

The hidden passage, over five meters high and wide, slopes and curves once before leading outside, where the exit is at the base of the cliff behind the saloon.

“I always thought there was an unusually large space behind the saloon, but to think it was an exercise field…”

Isamu muttered as he looked around.

Before him stretched an enormous open space, large enough for about ten soccer fields.

“This hangar was found relatively early on. It wasnt crowded back then, so it became a training ground for the magic giant golems until Neo Tokyo was built.”

Norman explained.

Standing in front of the magic giant golems brought out from the hangar, Norman began explaining the events.

“This time, we’ll be doing a short-distance race, obstacle course, high jump, javelin throw, and a mock battle.”

There are only two functioning golems, so team events or races where multiple participants compete simultaneously are impossible. Its more of a record-setting event than an actual Olympic competition.

The short-distance race is straightforward: running one lap around a track roughly the size of an athletics stadium. The high jump is as expected. When asked about the absence of the long jump, Norman explained that it was abolished due to frequent crashes and damage caused by failed landings during heated competitions. 

The javelin throw is similar to the one on Earth, though the javelins are scaled to the size of the magic giant golems. The obstacle course is the most unique, featuring various terrain like walls, steps, stone pillar areas that mimic forests, muddy slopes, and sandy ground, simulating a battlefield.

After hearing the explanations, each participant got ten minutes to familiarize themselves with the golems, the field, and the javelins, performing brief individual rehearsals. Then, the record-setting event began.

Coincidentally, this day marked exactly one year since Isamu arrived in this world, Ethersia, according to its calendar.

With a thunderous rumble, a purple magic giant golem charged around the track at full speed. The short-distance race, the first event, was in progress, and the seventh runner, Tiramisu, was on the track.

There were 11 participants in total, including Sarah, who was there as a reference. So far, the fastest time was 22 seconds, set by the second runner, Julius. The fastest record ever, however, belonged to the first champion, Abel, with 16 seconds.

The track was confirmed to be 400 meters long, just like on Earth. Converting that to speed, Julius had run at an incredible 90 kilometers per hour.

“Oh! 21 seconds! Well done, young Tiramisu!”

Norman exclaimed, impressed as he recorded the time. The villagers, who rarely got to see such an event, cheered loudly.

A time of 22 seconds was already considered fast, so Tiramisus 21-second run was particularly impressive.

“Haha! I wont give up the top spot that easily!”

Tiramisu cheered enthusiastically, striking a victorious pose after hearing her time.

“If you hadnt lost your balance on the corner, you mightve been even faster. Alright, next up!”

As he took notes of the records, Norman timed the sand in the hourglass falling completely, then signaled the next runner to start.

Yes, hourglasses were used for measuring time.

These were also made at Abel’s request, with three types available: a 1-minute, 3-minute, and 10-minute timer. It seemed Abel, like Isamu, had worn a watch in his previous life. When Isamu checked with his wristwatch, he found that the hourglasses measured exactly 1 minute, 3 minutes, and 10 minutes. 

The hourglasses had graduated markings, so the 1-minute timer could measure time fairly accurately, down to 0.5-second intervals. In the past, when glassworking technology was less advanced, the hourglasses were much larger because the neck (called the “nozzle”) couldn’t be made very narrow. However, the modern hourglasses were now about the size of two wine bottles joined together.

As for the units of length, the metric system was in use. Isamu had worried that measurements might be in feet or yards, since the United States commonly uses the imperial system, but Abel, who had a science background, had adopted the globally recognized metric system.

Two rounds of the short-distance race were held, and Tiramisu’s 21 seconds remained the fastest time. Julius finished second with 22 seconds, while Drexler came in third with 25 seconds. Isamu clocked 28 seconds, tying for sixth place.

Even the slowest participants, Marcela and a knight from the Balsham frontier family, finished in 30 seconds, making the mid-field times quite close.

Next up was the high jump. Using the markings carved into the cliff, the competitors jumped without a running start, and the height where their hands touched was recorded. It was a simple event, but mastering the timing and force to jump high proved more difficult than expected.

“Haha! Im the best at handling these magic giant golems!”

Tiramisu boasted, striking a triumphant pose once again. 

Two rounds of the high jump were completed, with Tiramisu taking the top spot again, jumping nearly 3 meters. Julius came in second at 2.7 meters, making it a repeat of the short-distance races top two. 

After two events, the group broke for lunch, ready to take on the obstacle course in the afternoon.

The obstacle course tested not only precise control of the golems but also tactical decisions in navigating various terrains. However, despite her earlier confidence, Tiramisu ended up dead last in this event.

“Why am I last when Im the fastest!?”

Tiramisu cried out in frustration.

“Youre too reckless. You cant just go straight through obstacles like that…”

Marcela chided.

“Grrrr…”

Tiramisu had to accept the harsh truth, her earlier enthusiasm now dampened.

In contrast, the veteran knight Drexler claimed first place with his efficient route choices, followed by Marcela in second. Drexler’s experience gave him an edge in finding the best path through the course.

In this competition, to ensure fairness in route selection, participants cannot observe others during their run. This means that competitors must make accurate decisions on the spot about which path to take. Drexler, with his extensive combat experience, skillfully applied that experience here. Other seasoned competitors like Larem also placed high, while younger participants like Elis struggled, reflecting the value of experience.

Marcella, despite relying on intuition, remained calm in her decision-making, which created a clear gap between her and Tiramisu, who prioritized momentum. Julius, though lacking experience, ranked fifth, compensating with his impressive piloting skills, a testament to the training he received from Selfars and Nicolette. Unlike the impulsive Tiramisu, Julius carefully selected his routes, showing his thoughtfulness despite being new to the task.

The final event of the day, the javelin throw, was about to commence, with mock battles postponed until the following day due to time constraints. Everyone had completed their first throws, and now the second round was about to begin. The current rankings had Elis in a commanding lead after a massive throw of over 350 meters. Drexler held second with about 270 meters, and to everyone’s surprise, Isamu ranked third with a throw of 260 meters.

Even Isamu was astonished by his performance, though it wasn’t just pure luck. On Earth, javelin throwing remains part of track and field, but historically, spears were rarely a primary weapon in wars. While some tribes used them for hunting, stones were far easier to obtain and more efficient. Additionally, long-range weapons like bows reduced the need for spear throwing, much like in this world of Ethersia, where even knights had little experience throwing spears.

Elis, however, had frequently practiced javelin throwing, as the spear was her weapon of choice. With her training, it was no surprise she took first place by a wide margin. For the second throw, it was more a matter of extending her record than securing victory, which was already certain.

Drexler, having thrown spears a few times in his long career as a knight, naturally placed above the others. As for Isamu, his experience with “throwing” in everyday life likely played a key role. While he had never thrown a real spear beyond playful attempts, Isamu had played baseball in elementary and middle school, throwing balls almost daily. Although he switched sports in high school, the motion of throwing was ingrained in his body.

Throwing a javelin is quite different from throwing a ball, but compared to those who rarely threw anything beyond stones in battle, Isamu had an advantage. Moreover, Isamu, a fan of sports, had watched many Olympic and World Championship events, which was not a minor factor. Since piloting the magic giant golem involves moving with one’s soul rather than body, having a visual reference from past experiences was surprisingly helpful.

After the first round of throws, the competitor in last place was…

“Why isn’t it flying properly…?”

Tiramisu, who likely put too much force into her throw, had the embarrassing result of a mere 30 meters, with the spear striking the ground almost right in front of her.

“You’re so clumsy. Or rather, you’re trying too hard in the first place…” 

Marcella sighed in exasperation as she watched Tiramisu, who had already been disappointed with her performance in the obstacle race, now standing dazed after another unsatisfactory result in the javelin throw.

And so, the second round of throws began.

First up was Elis, who had already all but secured first place. Taking a light run-up, she released the spear with a perfect form, and the javelin soared through the air with a sharp sound, cutting the wind. It flew even farther than her first throw, landing at the 370-meter mark.

“Oh, she extended her record. If she keeps training, she might surpass the boss’s record,” 

Norman muttered as he noted down the result. Abel, who particularly loved javelin throwing, held the title for this event with a record of 450 meters, so Elis was certainly within range of that.

Next was Julius. He had achieved 210 meters in the first round, placing him in sixth. Throughout the first round, he had been closely observing everyone’s technique, moving his body as if trying to mimic them. His second throw extended his record by 20 meters, reaching 230 meters, and temporarily pushing him up to a tie for fourth place.

As the competition progressed, most competitors slightly improved their results compared to their first throws. However, Tiramisu made another blunder.

“…That’s a foul.” 

Norman declared. Although her javelin flew over 200 meters, she had clearly crossed the line by a large margin, resulting in a disqualification. Without a hint of emotion, Norman recorded the foul on his sheet. Meanwhile, beside him, Tiramisu collapsed to the ground, crying with her hands and knees on the dirt.

Now, only two competitors remained. Drexler, who had thrown 270 meters in the first round and was in second place, couldn’t improve his record and remained at 270 meters, leaving the final throw to Isamu.

“Nyaff!” Isamu sat in the cockpit, feeling more determined than before, with Orihime by his side. He connected the magic link and, as he began his run-up, he could feel Orihime’s presence above him. Perhaps due to Orihime’s full effort, Isamu felt a clearer image of the javelin-throwing form he had seen on TV.

The javelin flew through the air, surpassing his first throw and landing at 280 meters. Isamu claimed second place, and with that, the first day of the competition came to a close.

“Julius and Drexler are both well-balanced and excel in their skills. The fact that they don’t have any weak points shows how smoothly they can pilot,” 

Norman remarked as he led the debriefing after the competition.

“Isamu also did a solid job. I was surprised to see how far he could throw in the javelin event,”

“Haha, since we aren’t physically throwing, just having a clear image of the motion might have helped adjust my technique. Plus, I have Orihime with me.” 

Isamu replied, stroking the curled-up Orihime resting on his lap.

“Indeed, Orihime seems like an exceptional partner. You two must have a strong compatibility.”

“Yes. With her by my side, it’s a completely different experience,” 

“Everyone else performed well too. With a bit more practical training, they should all be able to pilot competently.” 

Norman said, noting that all ten participants, selected for their high mana pass levels, had the potential to become excellent pilots.

“Well, if there’s one issue, it’s Tiramisu-san.” 

Norman sighed. At this, everyone but Tiramisu herself gave a slight nod and turned their eyes toward her.

“W-What is it!?”

“There’s no doubt she has top-tier potential to bring out the machine’s abilities… but, well, her handling leaves something to be desired.”

“…Norman, feel free to just call her not too bright.” 

Felix, the captain of the guard, bluntly stated.

“Wait, I’ve officially been labeled as dumb? Even though I came out on top in two events!” 

Tiramisu slumped her shoulders, shocked.

“She’s surprisingly competent when fighting on foot, but the moment she gets into any kind of vehicle… it’s disappointing, to say the least.” 

Isamu chuckled.

“Now I’m the ‘disappointing one,’ too? And you said ‘surprisingly’ like it’s a rare occurrence!?” Tiramisu groaned and collapsed onto the table.

“Well, if we’re aware of it from the start, there are always ways to make the best use of her. We’ll factor it into our strategies.” 

Felix assured.

“Right. We’re counting on you.” 

Isamu responded with a slight bow.

“Just you wait… I’ll show everyone what I’m capable of in tomorrow’s mock battle.” 

Tiramisu muttered, eyes teary but determined to redeem herself.

—

The next day arrived, and with it, the mock battle that Tiramisu had been eagerly awaiting to restore her honor. The matches were one-on-one, using wooden weapons. The winner was determined by scoring three hits deemed valid by the judge or by landing a decisive blow that made further combat impossible, similar to judo rules.

With the addition of Sarah, there were 11 participants. Greg also joined the mock battles, making it a 12-person tournament. Apparently, Norman, who couldn’t participate due to his role as a judge, was rather envious of the competitors.

After a brief explanation of the rules and guidelines, the participants drew lots to determine their matchups, and the mock battles finally began.

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