Thanks to Alice, for the time being, I knew that the flyer Hina-chan got wasn't a scam, so I was relieved... but I'm worried about the fact that this competition is filled with enthusiasts.
The only one here who knew about this Flying Board was Alice, so I guess I'll ask her for an explanation about this.
[So, Alice. What kind of competition is this Flying Board?]
[The competition itself is simple. As can be seen on the flyer, it's a race to reach the goal on a disk-shaped board magic tool. The name "Flying Board" is derived from the fact that this board magic tool floats when magic power is put into it.]
[So it's a race to reach the goal on flying saucers?]
[From what I heard, it sounds like a pretty normal competition to me.]
From Alice's simple explanation, just like Aoi-chan said, it felt like a normal competition. Because racing is a competition where there's a clear distinction between victory and defeat, it's no surprise that there are people who are passionate about this.
In fact, I have the impression that a competition like this might even be a major sport. Watching a race of flying saucers does sound like fun...
[...Indeed. If they're "flying normally"... that is.]
[Eh? What do you mean?]
[Flying Boards don't fly straight. You can control the direction to some extent, but it flies in a strange way, such as unsteadily flying or flying about in a meandering way. In the first place, this Flying Board competition started when I tried playing around with a failed magic tool. Thus, in accordance with its origins, they intentionally broke the flight techniques engraved on the board magic tools.]
Now the suspiciousness of this thing was getting a little thicker. A competition aiming to reach the goal on a flying saucer that flutters and flies strangely... It does seem like you can control it to some extent, but from the way Alice spoke, it didn't feel like you could control it properly.
[The Flying Board used for the competition is prepared by the organizer, and since the techniques engraved in them were deliberately broken to make it unstable, you can't know what kind of strange flight it will do until you actually ride it. Well, in that sense, that means there's a possibility that even a beginner can beat an expert but... Well, the actual race course is surreal. If you don't do well, you may end up unsteadily wandering around here and there before you can reach the goal.]
[...I'm beginning to understand why it's so minor.]
[Incidentally, the use of magic is prohibited. It's to prevent people from rewriting the magic technique or using Wind Magic to operate the Flying Board. Ahh, by the way, the safety measures they have, such as Fall Prevention techniques, are solid, so you don't have to worry about that.]
[I see, thanks for telling us.]
The Flying Board competition that comes to my mind after Alice's explanation is, well, certainly surreal. I guess it would depend on what kind of race course it will be, but I imagine that there will be lots of trouble occurring along the way.
After thanking Alice, I looked back towards Aoi-chan and Hina-chan... and there I saw Aoi-chan with a complicated expression on her face, and Hina-chan with a bright one, a sparkle seemingly visible in her eyes.
[That sounds interesting!]
[...Eh? Hina-chan, we're really gonna join that?]
[It looks like even a beginner can win, so doesn't it sound fun!? It looks like we need groups of 3. Just thinking about 3 people riding on the saucer sounds like fun.]
[W- Why do you look so into it... Errr, Kaito-san, what are you going to do?]
It seemed that Aoi-chan was gonna throw the hot potato... or rather, the final decision to me, the older one between us two. Glancing at Hina-chan... I saw her eyes shining with a very expectant expression on her face.
Unfortunately, it seemed like I have no choice but to let this smile cloud my judgment, so there was only one answer here.
[...Well, it looks like it isn't dangerous... so why don't we try it out?]
[I knew Kaito-senpai would say that! I'm looking forward to it~~]
[Well, I suppose so... Let's just participate and do our best.]
Hina-chan happily jumped, while Aoi-chan, even though she had a wry smile on her face, perhaps because she hated to lose, looked a little motivated.
Well, things were turning out strangely... but it certainly looked kinda interesting, so I guess it may not be that bad.
[...Now this is a rather interesting turn of events. Very amusing indeed... Erhem. It looks like we'll be able to see a heated battle, so this unworthy Lunamaria will be there to cheer everyone on.]
[On that day written on the flyer, aren't you supposed to be working?]
[I can always take a day off... or if I can't, skip work...]
[…..As the head of the household, I order you. You are to accompany me to the castle on this day, is that clear?]
[No way. How can you be this cruel...]
Luna-san, who probably wanted to see us being tossed around by the Flying Board and was going over to come over for a laugh in the name of cheering us on, was stopped by Lilia-san. What a splendidly fine play that was.
Though I say that, even if Lilia-san didn't stop her, would she really go out of her way to Hydra Kingdom just to laugh at us... Unnn. Well, Luna-san might really do just that.