The next day, December 16th, was the opening day of the Golem Games (Gompetition).

Jin and his team had breakfast at 7:00 a.m. and headed for the stadium with the Minister of Magical Technology, LeGrey Gibbs von Vesuvius.

Accompanying them were Reiko, Hope, Edgar, Blitz, Donner, and Yuana.

"Are we on the shores of Lake Tosmo?"

Rhodes asks, looking at the path of the wagon.

"Yes, well. We'll see when we get there.

"Hmm?"

Seeing LeGrey's chuckle, Rhodes stopped asking further questions. Meanwhile, Jin and the others asked,

"I wonder what kind of competition it will be?

"I wish I could have participated, too!"

"I'm not a citizen, so I guess I can't."

They were talking about such things as "I wonder what kind of competition it will be?

We arrived at the shore of Lake Tosmo. At first glance, there was no stadium that looked like a stadium.

"Hey, hey, where is the stadium?

LeGrey smiled at Rhodes' question,

"That's where we're going," he said.

He pointed to a certain facility.

It was a large gymnasium-like building. However, Jin analyzed the mana that he could feel from the building and sensed that it belonged to some kind of a large magi-machine.

He then ordered Reiko to investigate with a .

(...... Warp Gate.

Reiko reported in a low voice.

"I see, so it will be held in another place. Perhaps in a remote place.

The huge Warp Gate is said to be capable of transporting a dozen or so carriages and several hundred people at once.

(It is the same method as that found in the Keuwan ruins in the Kingdom of Egelea before.)

In the past, Jin, Reinhardt, Erza and I casually visited the ruins with the intention of sightseeing on our way to the Shoro Kingdom.

It was the site of a former fortress, a place of relaxation for the local people, but also a legacy of the past.

The name of the legacy is . He is a mad warrior who absorbs magical powers.

Unfortunately, Gigarth was unleashed, but thanks to Reiko's efforts, he was able to destroy it.

What remained in the ruins was such a transfer magic circle for mass transportation, although it was missing.

Let me digress.

It seems that the Shoro Empire has reproduced this magic circle for mass transportation.

"My men and I have been working on it for two years.

LeGrey was proud of his work.

（It's quite a feat. Unfortunately, it's only one ...... or two, but it's a good one).

Jin saw that the magic circuits around the perimeter of the magic circle were inadequate.

Jin saw that the circulation of magic power was insufficient and that a large amount of mana would be needed.

（What a waste, father!)

Reiko also noticed and spoke to Jin in a voice that only he could hear.

(But it is a great achievement that you have reproduced it so well without anyone's instruction.)

Jin was in awe of the feat that LeGray and his subordinates had accomplished.

While Jin and Reiko were having such a conversation, the carriage carrying them entered the area of effect of the transfer magic circle.

Five minutes later.

.

A voice rings out, and mana is injected into the magic circle. The magical formulas that make up the magic circle begin to glow.

It travels around the magic circle, and the brightness of the magic circle increases.

And then...

The light burst for a moment, and the 15 carriages and 120 people in the building disappeared.

* * * *

The next moment, the 15 carriages and 120 people were in a land far away.

"This is ......"

The people who had just emerged from the building with the shifting magic circle were astonished. The landscape had changed drastically.

Jin and the others were ...... well aware of the transition, so their surprise was small, but they were amazed that they had moved to such a remote place.

"We are in the southern foothills of Mount Baksa, on the outskirts of Bullek.

Mount Baksa is a mountain that rises in the western part of the Shoro Kingdom. To the west of the mountain is the rocky desert of Harihari.

Bullek was a town developed at the southern foot of Mount Baksa.

We chose this location because of its suitability for our competition.

"Hey, why don't you tell us what the competition is all about already?

Rhodes demanded of the smug LeGray.

"Okay, okay. ...... In a word, it's a <>."

In this case, a battle royal is, in a word, a method in which all participants fight to determine the winner.

"But it is not just a battle royal. But it is not just a battle royal, because it is not a competition in the first place.

Rubina and Shu also listen to this explanation with shining eyes.

"This is how it works as a competition. ...... Basically, the contestants make a lap around a predetermined course and come back, but there are five checkpoints along the way where markers are placed. You go around the course while keeping the markers and competing for position.

"Sounds pretty interesting."

Jin also thought it sounded interesting, although he did not say so.

"So. There are about 50 golems competing, but only 20 markers are placed on each golem. That means there will be some who can't get one.

"Oh, I see."

No matter how fast you finish, if you don't have five markers, you don't win.

"So the rules allow you to take markers from others."

"Sounds fun!"

Rubina couldn't keep quiet and shouted.

"Ha, right?　We had a hard time coming up with the rules, didn't we?"

LeGray laughed.

* * * *

Of course, the audience had their own seats.

Jin and the others were led to the seats for guests, just as LeGray had said.

"fluaa......"

The seats were only one step below the royal family and thus had a very good view.

It was a box-like seat surrounded by transparent glass to protect it from the wind, and it was not cold at all.

Inside there was a table with tea facilities.

Jin and the others sat down at their leisure.

Rhodes, Shu, Jin, and Rubina sat down, while Reiko, Hope, Edgar, Blitz, and Donner stood behind them.

LeGray is seated in the boardroom as a convention official.

There is a huge magic screen directly in front of him. The competition is projected on this screen.

For this purpose, magic eyes are installed at various places on the course.

There is also a golem dedicated to filming the competition, and it is said that images are sent to it as it moves along.

"This could be used in the competitions on Onogoro Island.

Jin secretly thought, "This could be incorporated into the competition on Onogoro Island.

Finally, the competition began.