Pendragon's Infinity Gauntlet

Page 180

"Hey... does that bald, muscular woman over there count as an admirer? That guy seemed to be staring at you the whole time, constantly sending you loving messages."

"What nonsense are you talking about—Aa ...

Hearing Jing Shen's indifferent remark and discovering the true identity of the lover who had sent the teleportation message from afar, the blue-haired girl with the earring was stunned. Attacked by the explosive projectile, she was sent flying vertically backward. Jing Shen looked back in surprise to see the blue earring caught by an invisible telekinetic ability emanating from one of her own.

A burst of cheers and applause erupted from the cheering stands usually used by the general public.

(Ah, if I get hit, I'll fly quite far. I don't want to be forced to perform in such an extra segment! Speaking of which, what's with that "this is the real Daihasei Festival" atmosphere in the cheering section?!)

Jing Shen turned her gaze from the blue hair and earring that had flown behind her back back to the front.

The enemy camp is just ahead.

There were still ten meters until the fierce confrontation with the other side. Jing Shen Tuo Mo secretly clenched his right fist.

They then charged into the very center of the enemy camp.

In conclusion, Jing Shen and her team won the competition.

They knew perfectly well that a direct confrontation would be futile, so before the battle, they used all their abilities to create dust and smoke on the ground, obscuring the enemy's vision and launching a blitzkrieg tactic. Previously, the instructors had tried to prevent the dust from rising before the competition, but that couldn't withstand the continuous attacks that dug up the ground. The male class monitor, who had proposed the idea, held down the front of his jacket and divided the students into "the dust-generating barrage group," "the dust-smoke-knocking stick-tumbling group," and "the group that gives commands for creating dust and smoke and relays the timing of retreats to their comrades in the dust," thus becoming the commander of the entire group.

Along the way, because the telepathic ability used to issue commands when rolling up smoke could not be transmitted, Jing Shen, who rushed into the enemy army, was not only thrown away by his companions' bullets, but was also beaten up by the enemy in the end, but he still won in the end.

The brave warriors, covered in scrapes and bruises, seemed completely unconcerned about their victory and injuries, and walked from the contestant exit into the school grounds. There, their teacher, Xiaomeng, who was on the verge of tears, waited for them with a first-aid kit.

"Why...why does everyone have to work so hard! The Daihasei Festival is meaningless if everyone doesn't have fun, winning or losing doesn't matter at all! The...the teacher isn't happy at all to see everyone so injured...!!"

P.S.: The new book has been released; there's a link to it in the author information section of the book details.

Chapter 315 Borrowing

Chapter 315

Faced with Teacher Xiaomeng's tearful plea, the students seemed to think it was best not to explain further at this time, and dispersed in twos and threes. After leaving the players' rest area, Jing Shen began searching for the figure of the Forbidden Book Catalogue on the cheering stand.

-

Misaka was running through the streets.

It wasn't a segregated arena, but a wide-open road teeming with people. The road had neither restrictions on entry nor had it been renovated.

Even so, Misaka is currently in the middle of a race. Looking around, there are several other runners running on the nearby sidewalk across the main road.

There are no restrictions on the entry and exit of ordinary attendees—it should be said that this is the only competition that requires their presence.

Race against time using objects.

The arena covers the areas of the 7th, 8th, and 9th school districts of Academy City. Of course, public transportation such as automatic buses and subways are prohibited. The process of starting from the arena, finding a designated item, and returning to the original arena feels like a significantly more complex marathon. Unlike a regular marathon, there is no fixed route; participants must mentally construct the shortest route. This kind of mental training is also important, as it differs from simply thinking at a desk. Long-distance running will constantly deplete the participants' stamina. Just like the vastness of the arena, this competition is renowned for its high level of difficulty in finding the items.

(Tsk, this must be Kuroko's specialty, since she can use teleportation! Seriously, it would be better to gather everyone in Academy City together first!)

Misaka's abilities possess immense power, but they are difficult to utilize effectively among people unrelated to competition. To protect ordinary people, the Academy City Council has set a condition for competitions: "Abilities with an interference value exceeding five are prohibited." Given the nature of her abilities, no matter how she adjusts them, she will exceed that limit.

Misaka passed a water station, but ignored the sports drinks placed there and continued running. In long-distance running, excessive hydration can actually slow you down.

He unfolded the note in his hand again.

Please reconfirm the specified item name written above.

(I've drawn something troublesome again... Ugh!!)

While running through the crowd, he suddenly spotted the target "item" in front of him.

The conditions for the competition are as follows.

"When the designated item is held by a third party, the third party's consent must be obtained before the third party can go to the arena."

(Watch this!!)

Misaka kicked the ground hard with the soles of her shoes made of highly reactionary materials and ran into the sea of ​​people in one breath.

While talking to the Forbidden Techniques Index, Jing Shen was suddenly grabbed by the back of the neck and quickly ran to the left.

"Great! You've got my victory condition! Wahahaha!!"

"Wait...wait a minute...it's so uncomfortable! At least...explain something first...!!"

The pure spirit, trampled by the crowd like a dirty rag, entered the arena with Misaka and crossed the white ribbon at the finish line.

The scale of this arena is completely different from the one where Jing Shen and his group just held their wrestling match. This seems to be the entire campus of the Sports Engineering University, with white lines marking the orange concrete surface, resembling a formal track and field stadium. The spectator seating is also tiered like a professional stadium, and the number of cameras used for reporting and the number of guards are also completely different.

The high school student operations committee members who were on standby immediately covered Misaka's head with a large sports towel after she finished the marathon. Their gestures of handing her a drink and using the small oxygen canister were also quite efficient; these actions were not only practical but also seemed to be taken into account that it would be broadcast on television. There will likely be an awards ceremony and a brief interview afterwards. Before the subsequent runners arrive, the runners who arrive first must wait elsewhere.

(Completely different... Even the movements of the operations committee members seem to have undergone extreme training in kinesiology.)

After finishing with Misaka, the high school student operations committee member stared intently at Jōjin's face. "What's going on?" Jōjin wondered warily. At that moment, the operations committee member whispered:

"...(Purifying the spirit and exorcising demons. The 'borrowing' part is definitely the right choice, but you really have a way with boys!)"

"...(That voice is...Wow! It's the class monitor!?)"

Upon closer inspection, Jing Shen realized the person before her was indeed the male class monitor. Wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt and shorts, with a light jacket over his upper body, the monitor instantly stopped moving. However, because they were on duty, he couldn't pull her away loudly as usual. They whispered:

"...(I'm so sorry, because of my oversight in cleansing my mind and exorcising demons, I accidentally saw you changing clothes...)"

"...(I've been trying so hard to forget this, so please don't bring it up again, cleanse the spirits and exorcise the demons!)"

"...(Oh, I'm so sorry. Um, speaking of which, class monitor, is that sheep-shaped far-infrared machine we ordered by mail really that good?)"

"...(—What do you want?)"

"...(No...no, I'm just a little concerned. I didn't say I wanted it!)"

"...(Quiet down. Everyone's focused, so don't disrupt the athletes or the competition!)"

The class president completely ignored what Shirogane was saying. He picked up the scoreboard that was on the ground with the beverage box and wrote down the game records on it with a ballpoint pen. Incidentally, no one noticed Misaka, who looked unhappy, standing next to Shirogane and the others.

From the conversation and the atmosphere, Jing Shen sensed that the class president didn't want to continue the conversation with her, so she turned to Misaka, who had dragged her over, and said:

"Speaking of which, Misaka. I'm drenched in sweat, and my calves are swollen and sore. I remember the rule was that I needed a third party's consent. Did I misread it?"

"Ah—you must have misread it. But it doesn't say anything about not being able to make promises afterwards."

"..."

"Okay, okay, stop sitting on the floor like that. Honestly, it looks awful."

Misaka covered Jōjin's head with the sports towel she was wearing. Then she vigorously wiped the sweat off his face with both hands.

The action looked like a child letting an adult wipe their wet hair. Although Jing Shen felt a little humiliated by Xun, she couldn't shake him off because Misaka's power was too great. Thinking that it would look even more childish if she waved her hands around, she could only silently let him do as he pleased.

After helping Misaka complete his match, Sogami naturally left the arena.

Since she was currently in a location quite far from the area separated from the Catalogue of Forbidden Books, Jing Shen decided to take a bus there.

Seventy percent of the buses currently in operation are driverless, automated buses. Jingshen pressed a button temporarily installed at the bus stop, and the electric bus glided silently towards them.

Chapter 316 It's You Again

Chapter 316

Among the development of unmanned technologies for passenger aircraft, trains, and ships, automobiles are said to be the most challenging. Roads, encompassing land, sea, and air, demand the most complex maneuvering and judgment. Therefore, currently, they can only be used under traffic restrictions, such as during the Daihasei Festival.

Jing Shen entered the vehicle through the automatically opening door. Because ordinary vehicles were prohibited from entering, the interior was quite cramped. Although there was a driver's seat, it was surrounded by reinforced glass panels, like a phone booth. Just watching the smooth movements of the steering wheel and accelerator in the driverless seat was astonishing.

Without using gasoline, the extremely quiet automatic bus made several stops along the way before arriving at its destination.

This is still some distance from where we parted ways with the Index of Banned Books. Some roads were closed due to a band parade, so bus routes were slightly altered.

Jing Shen walked briskly along the road, amidst the clamor of the crowd, with announcements about the competition heard everywhere. In addition to the stadium's loudspeakers, various media were used, including large screens on the walls of department stores and the belly of spaceships, as well as a temporary outdoor live broadcast studio set up by the television station.

"Regarding the results of the men's obstacle course race just now, after evaluation—"

"The arenas for the upcoming matches over the next hour are as follows. Once a match begins, entry will not be permitted. Please take note."

"In the joint obstacle course race organized by the four schools, Tokiwadai Middle School lived up to expectations and achieved an overwhelming victory. The first-place runner achieved the remarkable feat of leading the other runners by a full seven minutes—"

"Incoming report: Search for missing children. Ms. Charles Goncourt from Saint-Alpes, France, please proceed to the nearest security robot camera after hearing this announcement, presenting your face and the Daihasei Festival admission pass issued by Academy City. We will then transport the child of your heart to the location designated by your heart. VeuillezI'entendre.Nousvousannonconsunenfantman-quant.——"

Listening to the loud broadcasts coming from all around, Jing Shen looked around.

"Could it be that Index No. 1 guy just wandered around and got lost?"

If only I could contact him by phone, but unfortunately, the Zero Yen phone from Catalogue of Forbidden Books was out of power. Even though he has a perfect memory and can remember every path he's walked, I'm still worried. Jingshen walked along the path on this sweltering day, thinking:

"I should have bought him a souvenir when I passed by the stall."

But it's too late to turn back now. Jing Shen has another match coming up. In short, he needs to find the Index of Forbidden Books first, and then hurry to the arena where his classmates are. With that thought in mind, he quickened his pace.

She suddenly stopped.

He spotted a familiar face in the crowd.

She had dyed red hair, wore earrings, and had rings adorning all ten fingers of both hands. A cigarette dangled from her lips, and she had a barcode tattoo under her right eye. She was a nun who didn't look like a nun at all.

Tyre Magnus.

The true magician of the English Puritan Church of Necessary Evil.

"What's wrong with her? Did she come to see the Catalogue of Forbidden Books?"

It's hard to imagine that Tyrell from the magical world would be interested in an event like the Great Star Festival. She's probably here to see her old colleague, Index: Forbidden Books, whom she rarely sees.

For Jing Shen, there was no reason to refuse; having someone who knew Index Liberty around made her feel more at ease. She could ask her to look after Index Liberty during the competition, and Jing Shen unknowingly grew closer to her.

She seemed to be talking to someone.

"...So...that's how it is, right? —It's highly likely, isn't it?"

You can hear sounds.

Who was she talking to? Wanting to find out, Shirogane continued forward, and there stood her classmate, Tsuchimikado Haruka.

She is a double agent, infiltrating both Academy City and the British Puritan Church.

Tsuchimikado's expression seemed very approachable at first glance, but his voice was so soft that it was difficult for those around him to hear him clearly.

"Yes. That's... I heard—. Indeed, for those people, there's no better opportunity than now."

I have a bad feeling.

Their expressions, though seemingly lighthearted and humorous, almost blended them into the crowd at the Daihasei Festival… but something was missing. They didn't appear happy at all. Their smiles weren't born of positive emotion, but rather a forced, negative one. Such fake smiles had absolutely nothing to do with a major event like the Daihasei Festival.

To shake off these feelings, Jing Shen moved even further forward.

Tyre Magnus said quietly:

"Therefore, we must deal with the magician who has infiltrated this city."

The world created by science: purifying the spirit and vanquishing demons.

Because of this one sentence, the world instantly transformed into a world full of magic.

-

The next game is rolling the ball.

The students from the opposing schools, who were tasked with purifying the gods and exorcising demons, had already entered the arena. Within the not-so-spacious, asphalt-paved campus, the students from both schools lined up in rows, ready for battle, as if on horseback.

The rules of the competition differ slightly from the usual regulations. When the starting gun fires, participants must roll twenty-five balls from each side, totaling fifty balls, towards the finish line behind the opposing team. The school whose balls reach the finish line first with more than half of them wins.

The biggest difference from the usual giant ball rolling game is that your team's and the enemy team's giant balls must meet at least once. In other words, at the moment the giant balls meet, you can use superpowers to hinder the opponent.

Jing Shen, along with the other students, placed their hands on the large white team ball, which was over two meters in diameter. The smell of sweat and dust filled their nostrils. The tense air before the starting gun fired stung their skin; although the competition was almost like a game, the atmosphere still made everyone take it seriously.

However, under such circumstances, Jing Shen became distracted by other matters.

She was thinking about her conversation with Tsuchimikado and Tyr twenty minutes earlier.

"Is the Academy City now so focused on catering to the general public that it has to neglect security?"

"As a result, a magician managed to sneak in here."

The Pure God class was responsible for three large balls: one for girls, one for boys, and one for a mixed group of girls and boys. Pure God was responsible for the girls' ball. Himegami Akiha, who was playing a ball nearby, gave her a silent look, as if she wanted to say something. However, she was busy thinking and didn't notice his gaze.

"But why? Are those people here to seize the Catalogue of Banned Books again? If so, I will not stand idly by!"

P.S.: My new book is out! Go check it out, everyone! =-=

Chapter 318 The Sage's Nemesis

Chapter 318