Note: I changed 'Black Jeanne' to 'Jeanne Alter', it was Black Jeanne before mainly because the original also recorded it that way and also to make it easier to distinguish from 'White Jeanne', but it doesn't really sound that good...
...
Chapter 84: Trap of Argalia: Down with a Touch!
"Gulp gulp gulp."
Under the utterly astonished gaze of Napoleon, and the look of sheer disbelief from the reserve players in the waiting area,
Eikou directly downed an entire bottle of Water of Life.
Thud!
He slammed the bottom of the glass down on the table.
[You have just directly downed an entire bottle of Water of Life, please make an Endurance check.]
[Check successful.]
[Your throat feels as if a raging fire is burning through it, your vision turns hazy, but you still manage to remain unbelievably clear-headed.]
[For your next drink, the difficulty of your Endurance check will increase.]
The hell, there better not be a next time!
"Can you let us through now?"
Eikou wiped the trace of liquor from the corner of his mouth and spoke seriously.
The staff at the checkpoint was so overwhelmed by his forceful aura that they couldn't say a word, hastily and obediently letting them pass.
"As expected of you, Sir Eikou, your drinking spirit is truly bold and unrestrained!"
Tristan and Gawain looked at him with newfound respect.
"Cut the crap, while the alcohol hasn't hit yet, let's move out."
Eikou muttered.
The three of them immediately got on their bikes again, pedaling with all their strength toward the next checkpoint.
...
The two homeroom teachers narrating the match in the Simulation Room—especially Napoleon—were left with nothing but admiration.
"Although this penalty game was quite terrifying, it didn't slow down Team Eikou's progress at all; they immediately set off again…"
Napoleon couldn't help but sigh:
"Mochizuki Eikou, this transfer student may look calm and gentle, but could he actually be a man of bold and free spirit?"
"Hahahaha, it's all thanks to my good teaching!" Finn said with a beaming smile.
"? When you were teaching, did you teach your students to drink or something?"
Napoleon stared in disbelief.
...
Sitting in the waiting area, Jeanne Alter watched Team Eikou pedaling furiously on the projection screen,
and let out a sigh with an indescribable feeling.
"…A bunch of idiots, I don't even know how to roast them."
At this moment, the two homeroom teachers narrating in the Simulation Room suddenly became excited.
"Oh oh, although Team Eikou has held the lead for a long time, the strong opponents behind them have finally started catching up one by one!
"Everyone, please look at the big screen—the first team to charge up head-on is the vanguard from Class France, made up of King Charlemagne's Twelve Paladins: Astolfo the Trap, Mad Knight Roland, and White Feather Bradamante!
"So… so fast! Both Astolfo and Bradamante are Servants with Quick-type Noble Phantasms; as long as they break through the encirclement, they can use their godlike speed to overtake Team Eikou!"
[You can feel your advantage steadily shrinking, as the teams behind are catching up one after another.]
[The first to catch up to you is the team composed of the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne.]
"Sir Eikou, the enemies are catching up from behind, how should we deal with them?"
Tristan asked.
"Being caught up to is normal, and besides, they're the Twelve Paladins—every one of them has Riding rank A—so it was only a matter of time before they caught up to us."
Eikou wasn't particularly surprised, since both he and these two Knights of the Round Table weren't exactly known for their speed.
Being caught by competitors with high Agility and Riding was only a matter of time.
But in terms of strength, Eikou was confident that his team would absolutely not lose to these opponents.
[You activate "Hero Creation E"]
[Gawain's Strength and Mana Burst have increased significantly.]
"Listen, Gawain Gorilla,"
Eikou said.
"If they catch up, we'll let them taste the cruelty of the adult world. If they dare to pass, we'll kick them hard. You must kick them hard. Do you guys like Violent Moto?"
"But… I think there's a girl in that team?" Tristan said with slight concern.
"Even better, their team has a girl—this makes our advantage even greater. Victory!"
"Sasuga Sir Eikou, truly a shameless scumbag willing to do anything to win!"
"Don't blame Sir Eikou, he's also doing this for another girl," Gawain said calmly, "Out of a gentleman's courtesy, we shouldn't trouble a lady—just focus on the two men… uh, men?"
Gawain glanced at the challengers clinging closely behind.
Mad Knight Roland and White Feather Bradamante's genders were perfectly clear, but the one in the lead—Astolfo—left him puzzled.
No matter the clothing or appearance, Astolfo looked every bit like a beautiful maiden in full bloom.
"Don't be fooled by his looks, this is a Trap!"
Eikou quickly reminded.
"In short, as long as they dare to get close to us, just kick them hard—even if they activate their Noble Phantasm, it doesn't matter."
"In terms of strength, in a one-on-one duel, we clearly have the upper hand."
The most important thing was to maintain first place for as long as possible, to widen the gap from second place, so as to avoid being obstructed and slowed down by the strange skills of other Servants.
...
The two teachers in the Simulation Room were narrating the battle between the two lead riders with great excitement.
"The Twelve Paladins team is about to close in on Team Eikou—getting closer and closer."
"They're already prepared to accelerate and overtake in one burst! But Team Eikou is also ready to face them head-on— even if it means body collision, they have no intention of giving up the lead!"
"Just looking at the screen, I can already feel the burning spirit of both teams—it reminds me of my glorious past when I challenged Nuda… cough cough, a hero doesn't bring up old stories—let's continue to watch their performance. What do you think, Napoleon-sensei?"
Napoleon took a drag from his cigarette, speaking with hidden meaning:
"I can guarantee that Team Eikou will lose in this direct clash."
"Why? In terms of Mana Burst and Strength, Team Eikou clearly has the advantage. In a straight confrontation, with their stats, how could they lose?"
"Oui (Yes), but battles between Servants aren't as simple as comparing stats. Some skills that seem unremarkable can be full of 'capability.' Team Eikou might unexpectedly lose everything here."
"Like your own Waterloo back in the day?" Finn asked.
"Hahahaha, why bring that up again? Honestly, that joke isn't funny at all."
...
Meanwhile, on the race track, Eikou could already feel the pressure from behind.
The Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne were about to overtake!
"Three, two, one…"
The moment the other team charged up, all three of them attacked without hesitation.
"Die, take my elbow!"
Eikou shouted, though in reality he lifted his leg, aiming to kick their bikes.
[You attempt to attack the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne.]
[In terms of strength, they are no match for you at all, but instead, they still charged straight into the clash.]
[At that exact moment, Astolfo activated "Trap of Argalia: Down with a Touch! D" on you.]
Eikou's eyes widened in horror.
Thud!
The two bicycles collided hard.
Immediately afterward, in the Simulation Room came the shocked cry of Homeroom teacher Finn.
"Team Eikou… has crashed again?!"
...
(Note: according to what I found on the wikia, [Trap of Argalia: Down with a Touch!] is Astolfo's NP, a spear, but here it seems the author has turned it into a skill?)