Run, Leopin

Leopin emerged from the “Special Training Class — Exclusive Rest Area” looking refreshed.

Seeing even his complexion improve, the vice principal glared at him with clenched teeth.

—Gugigi! I was going to show that trash “Hell’s First Block,” but…! Who would’ve thought reinforcements would come cheering for him—totally unexpected-zansu…! But since he enjoyed himself here, the hell ahead will be even, even more painful-zansu…!

Burning with obsession, the vice principal shifted his gaze to the male students who were carefully stretching.

—This time, we absolutely cannot lose-zansu, so I spent plenty of the academy’s operating funds preparing-zansu…! First, I mixed a “10× Endurance” potion into the water at this supply point-zansu…! These students are elites with an average Endurance of 50 points or higher-zansu…! Some even have exceptional parameters for their age—truly outstanding-zansu…! And now, with the potion’s power, they’re at 500 points-zansu…! At this point, you could call them tireless-zansu…! The side effects will be a disaster, but I don’t care-zansu…!

The vice principal then stared at their feet.

—And that’s not all-zansu! I had them change into special running shoes-zansu…! They’re magic items that grant “10× Agility”-zansu…! Now even their Agility parameters are at 500 points-zansu…! They’re practically running ghosts-zansu…! If they lose their legs and become real ghosts, I don’t care-zansu…!

The vice principal looked back at Leopin and grinned.

—These running ghosts will guide you into true hell-zansu…! Muhuhuhuhu…!

He didn’t know.

And perhaps he never would.

Just how enormous the stats were for the boy tying a new rope around his waist.

Once again, the students were linked together in a chain by the rope.

Nickbacca, standing at the center, shouted.

“Niku! Now we continue the Hell Marathon! But before that, we’re changing the rules a bit! From here on, every rest stop is off-limits, and we’ll keep running until everyone collapses! Also, no cheering of any kind is allowed!”

The vice principal immediately chimed in.

“Yes! Which means Domanna-san, we part ways here-zansu!”

Monaka and Kotone, who had been leaning out the window, made openly displeased faces.

“Wh-what, Vice Principal! We intended to follow along while cheering for Leo-kun!”

“Indeed! That is why we even donned these cheerleader costumes!”

“No! If you’re here, it becomes a ‘Heaven Marathon’-zansu! That goes against the purpose of this marathon-zansu! Go back quietly-zansu!”

Even so, the two girls protested with drawn-out groans.

“Monaka, Kotone, you don’t need to worry about me. Go on back first. I’ve received your feelings loud and clear, so I’ll be fine even without resting until the finish. Thanks.”

Only after Leopin soothed them like that did the girls finally accept it.

“Then let’s skedaddle on home! Leopin-kun, give it a big boom of effort! Hyah!”

Domanna’s carriage vanished like the wind.

Only then did the vice principal cry out in alarm.

“Gyah!? If rest stops are abolished, I have nothing left to do-zansu! Domanna-san! Take me too-zansuuuuuuuuu!”

He chased after the shrinking carriage with a desperate expression.

By that time, Nickbacca had already started running.

And so the Hell Marathon resumed.

Since all participants except Leopin had been doped, even a casual run made them as fast as Domanna’s carriage.

“Whoa, you’re really fired up.”

Leopin followed along cheerfully.

Taking advantage of the fact that Leopin was wearing real earplugs and couldn’t hear anything, the students laughed among themselves.

“Heh, you can keep that up for now!”

“He’s jogging along with that dumb face, not even realizing we’re going easy on him!”

“Right now, we’re the very gale of speed!”

“Think he can keep up once we really go all-out!? No way! We’ve got 500 Agility!”

“Come on—let’s drag him into the dirt!”

…Zah…!

The lead group signaled each other and kicked off the ground all at once.

Like racehorses, they sprinted without sparing even a glance sideways.

“Hyo! This speed is insane! I’ve never felt anything like it!”

“Of course! We’re wearing shoes that are banned in track and field!”

“And even at this pace, I’m not out of breath at all!”

“Of course! We drank potions that are banned in every sport!”

“Nikukukuku! Gentlemen! That guy should be getting dragged around like a filthy rag by now! Let’s enjoy the sight and take a victory lap! All right, we turn around together! Ready—go!”

What happened next hardly needs to be said.

“E-eh… EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!?!?”

The men in the lead group were so shocked their eyeballs and tongues looked ready to fly off.

The distance between them and Leopin hadn’t changed at all from the moment they restarted.

If anything, even his expression was identical—like a spot-the-difference puzzle.

Like he was on a light warm-up run…

No, like he was enjoying a pleasant stroll on his day off—still wearing that fresh, breezy face…!

“W-wha…!? No way! How is he keeping up!?”

“Our speed right now is faster than professional track athletes!”

“W-what the hell!? What is that guy!?”

“M-meat! No, he’s just acting tough! We’re overwhelmingly higher in Endurance! If we turn this into a battle of stamina, he’ll definitely wear out! Run! Keep running!”

Their composure vanished in an instant.

They stopped even looking back and focused forward, sprinting like their lives depended on it.

But it was pointless no matter how long they tried.

Because the difference between Leopin’s Agility and Endurance and theirs was double.

Leopin wasn’t even conscious of competing, so he kept running at his own pace…

But if he felt like it, he could pass them anytime and slam them into the depths of despair…!

And at last, that moment arrived.

“H-hah… haa… haa…! I-I… c-can’t…! I… can’t run… any farther…!”

“D-damn it! That trash is still keeping up!”

“Keeping up with us when we’ve got 500 Endurance—what is he, a monster!?”

“N-no… he’s a demon! A DEMOOOOOON!”

…Zudo—shyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

The lead group tangled their feet and wiped out spectacularly.

Leopin, who came up from behind with a light patter of steps, said,

“Hey, don’t push yourselves too hard.”

He lightly hopped over the fallen boys—

And ran on ahead without stopping.

The boys were barely breathing, but they screamed with what little strength they had left.

“W-wait! Leopin! Wait for us!”

But with real earplugs in, he couldn’t hear them.

And then, hell began…!

…Zazazazazazazazazazazaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

“F-fugyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?!?”

The lead group not only became the last-place group in an instant—

They began getting dragged along, as if in a public execution.