Long ago, the gods and humanity were getting along with each other. People back then didn't suffer any hardship in their existence because of the affection of the gods. However, one individual changed the blessings. He blamed the gods for his daughter who perished because of famine. He disseminated terrible reports about the gods, and eventually, the gods disappeared because no one had faith in them any longer.
The humans now have to deal with the cursed demons from the abyss. Whether they like it or not. The gods have finally abandoned them.
***
(Krahn's POV)
There is so much noise in this race event. Today, the honey taffy race event will commence. My name is Krahn (Six years old) from the village of slaves. I got a chance to participate in this race contest, and now, I'm against noble children. They are much older than me but I don't care.
I will bring that honey taffy with me. I'll give it to my older brother, I'm sure if I do that, he won't scold me for participating in this kind of event again. He will let me go if I ask permission and he won't get mad. (I just slipped out to our home, and my work for this.)
Losing is not an option here!
"Krahn, are you sure we'll win this?" my friend who is such a pipsqueak asked. "Yeah. We can't lose this. Don't worry, they are nobles so they won't win to us if we're talking about stamina." I mumbled to him.
"B-but I'm sure they are good when it comes to strategy."
I hit his head.
"Are you saying I'm an idiot? I'm also smart even though I'm a slave. Geez! Just focus." I yelled at him. "So, here is the plan. You have to run slowly at first. Because if you use all your strength in the first lap, you'll get slowdown in the last lap."
"Ah. Right. Then what about you? I'm sure these people have their eyes on you."
"Jeez. Don't mind me. I can handle myself. Just do whatever you can. Remember, we will get whip if we don't bring the honey taffy with us. Understood?"
My friend nodded. He curved a weak smile to his face as he repeated what I said to him. "We will get whip if we don't bring the prize. I don't want to get whipped."
Even though he sounds like someone who'll collapse at any moment. I still believe in him and my honey taffy.
A few minutes after, the host finally announce the event is about to start.
"Alright, everyone! Please go to the designated line. That line will be the starting point. Alright, alright. Please go to the line now so we can start."
And so, like what the host told us. Hakurei and I went to the last line that was unoccupied.
"These shameless. They really joined this event for nobles. Have you two don't have an embarrassment to yourself?"
I just stared at the team that was mocking us.
"Not only that! Look at the girl, she's a white-haired person! Just like a grandma. Ahaha." they even laugh loudly.
"Krahn…" Hakurei was so affected by it. "Shh. Just focus. Don't mind those weaklings. They won't win on us."
"Hey! Who are you calling weaklings?!"
"Alright everyone is on the starting line now? Hm. Hm? Alright!" the host interrupted us so we didn't have much more time to have an argument with the duo who's mocking us. "When I drop my hand, that's the sign the race will start."
The first player that will run is Hakurei. I will be standing here for a moment as I wait for him.
"Okay! Is everyone ready?"
"Yes!" everyone replied accordingly.
"On your mark…
...Get set
...Go!"
Everyone frantically began running when the host gave his sign.
"Go, Hakurei! Go!" I shouted cheerfully. While I was waiting, my opponent began teasing me by sticking out his tongue.
"Aist!" I'm so annoyed with what he was doing but I can't let him distract me.
"Krahn!"
"Oh!" Hakurei is close. I prepared myself.
As Hakurei passed the wooden stick for me, I run as fast as I could. But my opponent suddenly bumped into me so I fell down to the ground.
"That guy!" I annoyedly muttered. Though, I was mad. I still tried my best to catch up. Standing up again and running, he was way too far from me. I searched for a route that will be able to catch him.
Luckily, there is the fastest route if I will use the market street.
I took that path for me and so, I was able to out win him.
"Woooo!" I can hear the sound of the people cheering. I'm more advantageous than my opponent. I will win this!
I tightened my breathing and, run as fast as I could.
"Yeah! Krahn! You can do it!" I see Hakurei cheering on me happily. Not too long when I reached the finish line. "Yeahhhh!" the cheering grew louder and the kids who were slaves like me began cheering happily.
While the noble kids were so disappointed that they lost this game.
"Krahn! You did it! You did it!"
I was jumping in happiness. I will be able to take honey taffy home with me. I'm sure my brother will be happy to taste those mouthwatering honey taffy.
The host went to us but it seems he was disappointed that I won the race.
"How dare these slaves to create ruckus like this!" he yelled at us all of the sudden.
"W-what do you mean?? I basically won the race!"
"I've heard from the spectres that you cheated! Instead of taking the race's track, you took the market street path!"
"But the rules say, you can take any path around the market! You didn't specify to us which path the racer will be taking!" I replied.
"No! There are no excuses! The winner here is the noble team!" the other team began cheering up themselves.
What the hell is this biased.
"No! We won the race! We will be taking home the honey taffy!" I began shouting to raise the sound of our victory. The slaves also yelled, cheering our side.
"Go away or we'll put all of you in jail!" the host angrily said at us. He even threatened us we'll be jailed because of this?!
We stopped because neither of us want to get in jail.
"The winner is the noble team!" and those rascals won just because the host decided it. This can't be happening?!
This shouldn't have been called race if that is the case.
But I got a bright idea.
I mumbled something at Hakurei. He was a bit surprised at first but in the end, he agreed.
Our team secretly smuggled the honey taffy. We changed the prize into rocks.
"Now, now… For the prize…"
"Quick. Move." I whispered to my team. We slowly, and tried our best not to get noticed as we are getting out of here with the honey taffy.
"Tadaaa!"
"Huh? These are only bunches of pile rocks!"
"What…!?"
They discovered it.
"Over there! The honey taffy thieves!" one of the noble kids saw us.
"Run!"
And the chasing race has begun.