In a Different World with a Smartphone Chapter 374: The Snowfield Course, and the Obstacle Course.

Guoooo!?

The [Steel Axe], which was running at the front, collided first with the 2m-diameter snowballs that came rolling down the slope. Seeing as how those snowballs didnt break upon crashing into the [Steel Axe], which broke through all those ice walls earlier, theyre probably strengthened with magic.

The weight of the large snowball pressed down on top of the [Steel Axe].

Gununununununu!

The driver, Griff, upped the output of the [Steel Axe] further. The tracks on the vehicle raised a loud sound as they tried to bring the [Steel Axe] upwards, but it seems that just staying still on the slope is taking all of its power.

And then, as if to finish off the stalling [Steel Axe], another snowball rolled down from the top of the slope and collided with the snowball that struck the [Steel Axe] earlier.

Nuga!?

That instant, the tracks on the [Steel Axe]s wheels slipped, and it finally became unable to withstand the weight as the entire vehicle started sliding down the slope together with the two snowballs stuck to its front.

Dowaaaaaaaaaaah!?

The [Steel Axe] dropped all the way to the bottom in an instant, and after passing through my side while being pushed by the snowballs, it fell out of the course at the right-angled curve right behind.

Oohh! The first-placed [Steel Axe] instantly dropped to last place, and fell out of the course on top of that-nya! It crashed into a wall of ice just like that, and overturned-nya! The driver, Griff, has been sent back to his garage via the emergency transfer function-nya!

Uwa. While the driver sounds like hes alright, I worry about the ether vehicle in that case Well, even if he manages to get back here, I dont think its possible to get back on course and clear the area before the given time limit. The [Steel Axe] is practically-speaking retired at this point.

To retire like that is Oops!

Dangerous! I barely dodged the snowball that had approached without me noticing. The snowballs that appeared at first had rolled down all the way here. This isnt the time to be worried about others, I guess.

Everyone else also continued driving up the slope with a renewed wariness after witnessing the tragedy that occurred earlier.

Lapis-sans [White Bird], which had become the first place thanks to the [Steel Axe] falling off, has cleared the slope area, it seems. Following her, the [Trihalan] and the [Strain] crossed over as well.

I climbed up the slope steadily while turning the steering wheel here and there to dodge the snowballs that continuously dropped down from the top. Damn, the tension is killing me. If I get hit once, its back down to the bottom for me, after all.

Once I managed to reach the top of the slope, Im greeted with a downhill road this time. As its not that steep a slope, I simply slid down while braking (its basically useless on this road, though) from time to time.

Once I reached the bottom, the course returned to a normal one. Well, besides the road surface still being frozen, that is.

The first place [White Bird] has cleared the frozen hairpin curve section-nya! And now, the biggest hurdle of this course, the snowfield maze section awaits-nya!

When I was looking at the map, I was like Are they idiots?, but I guess they really did make it

The goal of this entire snowfield course lies beyond the maze created with snow blocks as walls. As long as we can get out of here, we can say goodbye to this slippery hell altogether.

The [White Bird], which headed into the maze ahead of everyone else, had already met with a dead end early on-nya! It makes a U-turn and went back on the path it came from! This is plain-nya! Its plainly annoying-nya!

However, it can also be said to be a logical obstacle. Since if you waste too much time navigating through this maze, you run the risk of exceeding the time limit for clearing the area and getting retired as a result.

Theres that classic maze clearing method which involves placing one hand on the wall and walking while continuously touching the latter, but that is rather time-consuming as well. Now then, what to do

Following the [Ferzen] in front, I also headed into the maze, surrounded by walls of snow.

Immediately, Im met with a T-junction in front of me. Since the [Ferzen] turned to the right, I chose the opposite way and headed left.

Afterwards, another cross-shaped junction showed up in front of me, so I turned left here as well. And after I drove for a bit on the road surrounded by the white walls, the same white wall showed up in front of me. Damn, a dead end.

At least the roads are wide enough to make U-turns with; I turned back towards the cross junction earlier. Etto, which way did I come from again?

I thought to check the tire tracks, but theres quite a few of them on the ground and its all jumbled up; apparently some other vehicles have also passed through this place.

Now, with the [Red Cat] entering the maze, all active participants have begun the maze clearing segment-nya! Its exciting to think about who would clear this maze first, isnt it-nya!

When I looked up, one of my summoned Valkyrie was flying overhead with a mass-production model smartphone in her hands, probably filming us. I can easily understand the structure of

the entire maze if I synchronized my sight with hers, but I suppose thats a bit too underhanded.

I cant use magic too, and the map Pola has doesnt have the detailed structure of the maze (obviously) as well Nn?

I met eyes with Pola sitting besides me. Then I turned my sight upwards.

Pola. Stuffed animal. Light. Overhead.

I think this should work?

As Polait apparently realized what I was trying to dotried to run away, I extended my hand out quickly and grabbed it.

Its alright, its alright. Its just for a bit. I wont do anything like letting you fall on the ground.

Pola swung its head sideways with a fierce momentum. Ignoring Pola whos expressing

NOOOOOOO with its whole body, I built up force in my arms before throwing it straight upwards.

Look carefully, okay!

Pola flew up to a spot far exceeding the height of the snow walls, stopped for a moment in the air, then started to fall downwards.

I managed to catch the falling Pola without any issues.

So? Did you see it?

Pola raised its hands upward and expressed its anger at me silently for a while, before sitting down at the passenger seat besides me with a *hmph* and pointing towards the road directly in front of me.

Got it, my dear navigator. Let us proceed then.

I kept driving in the [Brunhild], while relying on the Pola-Nav whenever we meet a crossroad. Well, I just threw it upwards every time, though.

Its kinda late to be asking this, but Polas got a decent memory, doesnt it? Since it can remember the location of the dead ends within just that one instant where its in the sky.

That reminds me, according to Leen, it can apparently now do things that shes sure she had never [Program]d it to be able to do before.

While it sounds unthinkable, could it be that thanks to Leen becoming my dependant, Pola, which is something like Leens familiar, also received some of that influence?

The dependant of a dependant of god Would that be somewhere at the level of spirits? I dont think its possible though. I mean, Im not even a full-fledged god myself.

After several experiences of being thrown upwards, Pola had become somewhat lethargic; even so, it still pointed out the roads I should take, towards which I turned the steering wheel each time.

Just as I was worrying about whether Pola can manage to stay sane until the goal, the view in front of us suddenly cleared up.

Ooo, we got out!

Nyanya! The first one to get out of the maze is the [Brunhild]! Its on a straight line towards the snowfield courses final gate-nya!

While ruminating on the fact that I somehow climbed all the way to first place, I stepped down on the gas panel and drove the [Brunhild] towards the snowfield courses goal.

Its weird, isnt it. Even though I didnt want to bother myself over rankings in this race, when I actually hit first place, I start wanting to keep my current rank.

The [Brunhild] clears the snowfield course in first place, and finally heads into the last area, the obstacle course-nya!

Ohh. When you hear someone saying youre the first to clear the area, it really does feel good.

As I proceeded towards the next course, the ice coating the road surface gradually disappeared, and the road returned to a normal state. Alright, since Im in first anyway, lets speed up a bit, shall we? Gotta widen the gap a bit while I can.

Even though this section is called the obstacle course, I dont really see anything resembling obstacles so far. I was expecting something like caltrops scattered all over the place Nn?

Something appeared on the road surface as I made a turn. Uh Is that something drawn on the road? White on a black background Wait, isnt that a skull mark!

It was too late. By the time I realized it, the [Brunhild]s front wheel has already drove onto the panel with the skull mark drawn on it, and a clear *click* sound reached my ears.

The next instant, an impact sent me upwards, and my body floated in the air for a moment. Together with that, a loud exploding sound reached my ears.

When I came to, myself and Pola had already been transferred back to our garage, where we fell head-first onto a prepared mattress.

Nyanyanyaa!? The [Brunhild] exploded-nya!? Wha, wha, what about the driver Ah, the driver is fine-nya! The transfer is successful-nya! What a terrifying course-nya!

Isnt that a bit too much no matter how you look at it!?

I shouted from on top of the mattress. Is a landmine really ok!? Is it really ok!? I know part of the purpose of this race is about testing the performance limits of the ether vehicles, but were not trying to make APCs mainstream here, you know!?

The figure of the [Brunhild], which is reflected on the small monitor installed in the garage, is horrible beyond words.

While its not completely impossible to repair fully, thats definitely not something I can manage within the races time limit. Its unfortunate, but I have no choice but to retire from the race. Damn it.

I contacted headquarters and relayed my intention to retire.

And the [Brunhild] has decided to