Life and Death at Top Speed in the Northern Reaches - Port Turltukha
My dad has always been my pride.
He was so majestic, so gentle, so powerful, and so famous.
I hope to become as amazing as my dad someday.
So from now on, we must remember every glorious moment of Dad's life.
For example--
Dad set a new record and was interviewed by reporters;
Dad won the championship again, laughing heartily as he held the trophy;
As Dad stood in the garage, introducing his car to the guests;
As Dad held his certificate of honor and gave his acceptance speech;
Until later--
Just 100 meters from the finish line,
The engine exploded with a roar.
The car crashed violently into the guardrail.
Flames and thick smoke filled the air.
Thousands of spectators screamed in terror.
I just stood in the stands, staring blankly at everything.
Givinia Sorel, the beautiful young woman I helped, called herself that.
After that, we naturally started chatting on the deck.
"Miss Ye, you're really skilled! Are you here to watch the competition too?"
"I'm not here to watch the game, I'm here to participate."
"Competing!? So you're part of a racing team too?"
"No, I'm currently a free agent. I plan to join a small racing team once I get to Turtuka."
"I see... However, if I may be frank, the chances of success are very slim. After all, changing generals on the eve of battle is a major taboo. Unless an important member of a team suddenly falls ill or some other accident occurs, it's impossible to recruit new people temporarily. Not to mention that most teams have substitutes, so even if an accident does happen, the chances of recruiting from outside are very small."
"Well..."
"Ah, don't be too discouraged. With your skills, you should be able to be an extra combatant. There are also many teams that are just trying their luck and are temporarily formed. Try looking for those kinds of people; they certainly won't refuse talented individuals."
Seemingly sensing my disappointment, she quickly offered me advice. Wow, what a great girl!
"And you, Miss Soler? Are you here to watch the match?"
"Hmm... I do hope to see a great match, but if possible, I'd also like to participate."
"What!?"
Looking up and down, this girl named Givinia probably couldn't even do basic wilderness survival, let alone participate in a rally race... Those fair and flawless hands don't look like they're capable of heavy work at all.
"I know I don't look like someone who can compete, so it's just a thought. Besides, my abilities would be very useful as a navigator."
As she spoke, she swayed, and a large group of girls who looked exactly like her appeared around her. Some of the girls smiled, and some walked around, just like real people.
"My ability— Mind Projection —allows me to Mind Projection anywhere. I can precisely control each projection. Although they have no physical form, they are extremely reliable for both reconnaissance and communication!"
It's definitely a super convenient feature...
"Also, I prefer people to call me Givinia rather than Miss Soler."
"Ah, then I won't stand on ceremony, Givinia. You can call me whatever you like."
"Is that alright? That would be impolite. Let me think... Liu Ye... how about I call you A Ye from now on?"
A Ye? I've always been called "Xiao Ye" before, so being A Ye suddenly feels quite novel.
"Then, please take care of me from now on, Givinia."
"You too, please guide me, A Ye."
So, on the last two days of my trip, I successfully made some friends.
The piercing sound of the ship's horn woke me from my bed. I was stunned for a moment, and then a cacophony of noises poured into my ears through the porthole, and I came to my senses.
We've finally arrived!
I hurriedly put on my clothes and had just wrapped my scarf around my neck when there was a knock on the door.
"A Ye? Are you up? We're about to disembark!"
"Certainly!"
While responding to Givinia, he haphazardly stuffed his belongings into his suitcase, tidied his unruly hair, and rushed out of the room, almost bumping into Givinia.
Today, she was still wearing that elegant dress and capri pants, holding a parasol in her left hand and a small, exquisite suitcase in her right, looking every bit the refined lady on a trip.
"Is everything packed?"
"No problem!"
"Let's go then~"
We walked together from the accommodation area to the deck, chatting and laughing along the way. After two days of getting to know each other, we had become quite close and would occasionally visit each other's rooms. Thanks to her, the remaining two days weren't so boring.
"Don't be scared when you disembark later!"
"Scared? Why?"
You'll see soon enough.
We were swept into the massive crowd, crawling along among a huge group of fans wearing team-themed shirts. The sweltering heat of the crowded streets almost suffocated me, and the feeling of being groped along the way only added to my annoyance. In contrast, Givinia, even amidst such a throng, maintained an elegant gait, as if it were a casual stroll after dinner, leisurely and carefree.
"Hoo hoo~~~~~~~~~"
Finally, I squeezed through the crowd and onto the deck. I took a deep breath of fresh air, and after my eyes adjusted to the sunlight, I looked down at the ship, and what I saw was...
People, people, people, it's all people!
There were parents with children, young people accompanying the elderly, affectionate couples, porters carrying large and small bags, vendors pushing carts and hawking their wares, and staff shouting into loudspeakers. I almost wondered if everyone in the world had gathered here! Everywhere I looked was covered with banners about the race, and flyers, posters, and newspapers were everywhere. Drivers in racing suits were drinking and boasting about their victories, while suspicious-looking individuals appeared and disappeared to solicit customers for hotels. Vendors were loudly hawking snacks and souvenirs. But the real stars here weren't the people, but the race cars! Rally cars of all sizes and colors were parked all over the streets. Some looked like ordinary off-road vehicles, while others were completely modified. Each car was surrounded by a crowd of people: drivers, mechanics, car detailers, and onlookers...
However, Givinia had already told me that most of the teams that parked their cars outside were relatively unknown, while the organizers had already arranged accommodations for the real heavyweight teams.
I struggled to squeeze off the ship, finally setting foot on land again after a month and a half. Before I could even stand properly, a surge of people swept me away, the stench of sweat and other strange smells assaulting my nostrils. When I finally managed to squeeze through the crowd, I realized—I had lost Givinia.
"Givinia? Where are you?" I yelled at the top of my lungs.
"Here--!"
Her voice came from far away, from the other side of the human wall.
"You—go find—a fleet of vehicles that needs—manpower! I—also—need—to—find—a place to stay!"
"Okay--alright! Then--goodbye--! It's a pleasure to know you--"
Before I could finish the second half of my sentence, the loud broadcast drowned out my voice.
"Attention all teams that haven't registered yet! Registration closes at noon, that's four hours left! To reiterate, four hours left!"
Only four hours left?
Oh no, we have to act quickly!