"Run, Ignis!" Chapter 1 [Creative Award 2024 - Manga Original Story Category Entry]

Synopsis
"Dragon Racing," a competitive sport featuring jockeys riding dragons, is widely practiced around the world. In the far-eastern island nation of Zipang, it has long been cherished by many citizens as "Kyoryu" (Dragon Racing). Dragon Racing In the far-eastern island nation of Zipang, it has long been cherished by many citizens as Dragon Racing. To protect the small ranch his grandfather left behind, "Guren Ranch,"
Enjin Guren bravely dives into the world of dragon racing with the only remaining race dragon at the ranch, "Ignis". Humans and dragons... a hot-blooded youth sports story of "one human, one dragon" starts here!

* "Hashire" (Run) is the intended reading for the title.

Main Story

0

"Now, passing the Great Zelkova, the 18 dragons are approaching the final corner! The pack is bunched up! The leader—is it struggling a bit, the one that was in front—is making a move here! Or wait, oh! Guren no Ignis has moved to the outside here! A bold move by Enjin Guren!"

The Tokyo Racecourse, packed with a crowd of 200,000. The main event of the day, the 11th race, is finally reaching its climax. Just as they are about to enter the straight from the final corner, a slightly small, crimson-bodied dragon makes a big move, drawing a roar from the spectators in the stands. Countless eyes are fixed on the dragon and its jockey, who wears a racing suit with a design so fiery—red flames layered over a red background—that it looks like it might burn just by looking at it. The spectators in the stands are cheering, screaming, and shouting. It is a crucible of excitement. And no wonder. Because this race is the "
100th Zipang Derby"... The race that everyone involved in "Dragon Racing" in this nation of Zipang—or to borrow the term from the birthplace of this sport, "Dragon Racing"—dreams of. Who will enjoy the supreme honor of conquering this important race, the Derby? 18 colorful dragons, carrying jockeys in equally colorful racing suits, spread their wings and dash across the turf. The race is about to reach the front of the stands. The excitement and noise of the crowd become a great rumbling that inevitably reaches the jockeys racing. Yet, the head of the jockey riding the crimson dragon was strangely calm. The young jockey, with reddish-brown hair peeking out from a pink helmet and a face that still retained a somewhat boyish innocence—though it was hard to tell clearly because it was hidden by goggles—had found it: the
path to victory. He was able to calmly adapt to the constantly changing race situation and secure the perfect position. The feel of the reins connected to the dragon's bridle was solid. There was still stamina left. The inside was a bit crowded with other dragons, but they were the only ones on the outside. The view ahead was as open as it could be. With less than 500 meters to go, this Tokyo Racecourse has a long slope with a 4-meter elevation difference and a distance of 220 meters. This is where the toughness of the dragons is tested. The young jockey gives the crimson dragon's body a whip. The dragon's muscles twitch, and its speed increases by another notch. The jockey immediately handles the reins. At that signal, the dragon spreads its wings and tries to dash up the slope all at once. A good response. The young jockey whips the dragon's body once more and shouts loudly. That shout, without being drowned out by the great cheers of the stands, resonated surely with the dragon.

" Run! Ignis!"

This is the story of a young man named Enjin Guren and his partner dragon, Guren no Ignis.

1

"Just get out of the way already!"
The middle-aged man's shout echoed. The slightly small boy with reddish-brown hair and a blazer, surrounded by adults, flinched for a moment but retorted without backing down.
"No, I won't!"
The boy spread his arms as wide as he could, trying to prevent vehicles and people from entering the premises.
"Hey, you, what's your deal since a while ago?"
Another man, different from the one who shouted, looked at the boy with an exasperated expression.
"I, I am related to this ranch!"
On the rusted gate diagonally behind the boy, there was an old nameplate. It bore the words "Guren Ranch" One of the adults surrounding the boy tilted his head.
"Related?"
"Yes!"
"What's your name?"
"Enjin Guren!"
Hearing the name Enjin, the adults were startled.
"Could it be, the President's..."
"Yes! I am the grandson of Entaro Guren!"
"Oh, I see... My condolences for your loss..."
"Please accept my deepest sympathies..."
At Enjin's words, the adults acted formally and expressed their condolences. Yes, Enjin's grandfather, Entaro Guren, who had managed this ranch, had passed away just the other day.
"Thank you very much for your kindness!"
Enjin responded energetically to the condolences. His choice of words was safe, but it was hard to call his attitude appropriate. While bewildered by Enjin, the adults resumed their conversation. "I'm sorry to bring this up before the mourning period is even over, but it was so sudden, you see... A promise is a promise, so we will be seizing this ranch."
"Please wait!"
"No, we can't wait. This is business for us, too..."
The adults slipped past Enjin and tried to open the closed gate. Enjin stopped them in a panic.
"W-wait a second, please!"
"Like I said, we can't wait."
"Why are you doing this!"
"Well, why..."
"Because your grandfather didn't pay back what he owed."
"What he owed... you mean money!?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Then please wait a little longer for that payment!"
"Huh?"
The adults stared at Enjin with puzzled faces.
"I, as the joint guarantor, will definitely pay that amount!"
"Joint guarantor...?"
"Yes, my name should be on the documents I signed with you all!"
Following Enjin's words, the adults each took out documents from their bags and checked them.
"Oh, he's serious... The name Enjin Guren is here..."
"That old man, of all people, he made his own grandson the guarantor..."
The adults wore expressions of confusion.
"I have the will to pay! Therefore, the seizure of the ranch is invalid!"
"...Kid, how old are you?"
"15 years old, a third-year middle school student!"
"Hey, open the gate already."
One of the adults called out to the man who had his hand on the gate. Enjin panicked. "W-wait! Why is it turning out like this!?"
"He's just a brat, he doesn't have the ability to pay!"
"I'll be in high school next year! I can work a part-time job!"
"That's not an amount you can cover with a high schooler's part-time wages!"
"Ehh!?"
"What do you mean 'Ehh!?'! I'm the one who's surprised!"
"...It's open."
The gate was opened. The adults began to discuss.
"So, what do we do?"
"It's in the mountains of Saitama, but the access from the city center isn't actually that bad... Wouldn't it be best to clear the land and build a campsite or something?"
"C-clear the land!? A campsite!?"
Enjin was astonished. The adults continued their discussion without paying any mind to him.
"Looking at the map, it seems like a pretty large piece of land."
"Let's drive around and take a quick look."
The adults started to head back to their cars.
"Like I said, please wait!"
Enjin shouted, closed the gate, and stood in front of it again with his arms spread wide.
"Ugh... Hey!"
"Yes, sir..."
When one of the adults called out, a large man got out of a car and approached Enjin.
"Wh-whoa, he's huge!?"
"Should I take care of this brat?"
"Are you stupid? Violence is bad. Just hold him by the scruff of his neck."
"Got it... here we go."
"Whoa! Wh-what are you doing!"
The large man literally grabbed Enjin by the scruff of his neck and easily lifted him up with one hand.
"Is this okay?"
"Yeah, keep him like that for a while."
The gate was opened again, and the adults tried to enter the ranch by car. Enjin, who was left in a state of being suspended in mid-air, kicked his legs and arms while shouting even louder than before.
"Th-this ranch is something Grandpa cherished! I won't let you do as you please!"
"We don't need your permission anymore!"
One of the adults shouted back from the driver's seat.
"Guh..."
"What's with that look? If you want to hold a grudge, hold it against your grandfather who didn't fulfill his repayment obligations."
"Like I said, I'll handle the repayment!"
"We don't have time to deal with a brat's selfishness!"
"!"
Enjin fell silent at the adult's shout.
"This land is effectively ours now, so give up and go home."
"Gnnn..."
Enjin bit his lip in frustration. Just as the car was about to pass through the gate, a loud horn sounded.
"Wh-what is it!?"
When the adults turned around, surprised by the sound of the horn, there was a large trailer with a flashy pink body. A woman stepped out of the passenger seat with elegant movements.
"Did I make it just in time?"
A beautiful woman with a small build and a short bob haircut featuring pink highlights murmured with a smile.
"What's this, sister, showing up all of a sudden...?"
"...It is true that I am the older sister of my siblings, but I am not your sister. I have a proper name, Mizuho Nadeshiko."
"Nadeshiko... Mizuho!? Wh-why are you here!?"
"The debts held by this 'Guren Ranch' will all be assumed by us, 'Nadeshiko Farm'. We will contact you later regarding the details of the repayment. For today, please leave promptly."
The woman who called herself Mizuho announced in a dignified voice.
"Tch..."
"Have a good day~♪"
Mizuho waved and sent off the group that had come to seize the ranch as they drove away with bitter expressions.
"...Phew."
Confirming that the several cars were out of sight, Enjin finally let out a big sigh and sat down on the spot. His tension must have eased.
"Hehe, good work to you too♪"
Mizuho smiled and called out to Enjin as she watched him.
"Oh, y-yes!"
"?"
After Enjin responded to Mizuho, he immediately looked away. Mizuho tilted her head at Enjin's behavior. However, that was understandable. Mizuho, dressed in a sharp black pantsuit with perfect makeup, exuded an atmosphere that was truly that of an "adult woman." Above all, she was a beauty with well-defined features. While wondering how he should respond, Enjin slowly stood up and bowed vigorously to the woman who was smaller than him.
"Grandpa's treasure, thank you for protecting this 'Guren Ranch'!"
"Oh, yes..."
Mizuho seemed surprised by Enjin's loud voice. Enjin continued without minding.
"If the ranch had become a campsite, I wouldn't have been able to face Grandpa in the afterlife!"
Enjin said with a laugh while looking around the ranch. Seeing that smile, Mizuho asked, "Could it be... is this ranch a 'treasure' to you as well?" "! Hehe, that's right, it's a place filled with memories of Grandpa and Grandma."
Enjin answered Mizuho's words while rubbing his nose, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Hmm, I see, a treasure... Hey, won't you show us around that treasure?"
"Oh, y-yes."
"Asada-kun, we'll walk around, so you go ahead to the front of the office."
"...Yes."
At Mizuho's words, the young brown-haired man who peeked out from the driver's seat nodded and moved the car.
"Then, please lead the way♪"
"Y-yes, this way please..."
Enjin guided Mizuho.
"Oh, you have two types of 'dragon tracks', turf and sand. They're a bit small, though."
"Y-yes, that's where the dragons do their 'chasing exercise', what you'd call a warm-up..."
"Yes, I know that."
"Oh, I see, of course you do..."
He was confused and didn't understand well earlier, but this woman named Mizuho had said 'Nadeshiko Farm'. It was natural for her to know about ranches. The moment Enjin thought about whether he even needed to guide her, Mizuho pointed to the grassy area beyond the turf dragon track.
"That is the 'grazing pasture', right? It's quite large."
"Dragons are basically carnivores. Grandpa... the President and Ranch Manager, had the philosophy that 'a balanced diet builds a good dragon body,' so he made them eat pasture grass as well."
"Just looking at it, it seems like you're using pretty good pasture grass."
"Oh, i-is that so? Sorry, I'm hands-off when it comes to the types of grass..."
"Hmm... Did you come here often?"
"Yes, in elementary school, I came almost every week, and during summer vacation, I was here all the time except for Obon..."
"So you were helping with feeding them."
"After I started middle school, I was occasionally entrusted with 'breaking in' as well."
"Ehh!? You were also doing the dragon breaking-in!?"
Enjin answered the surprised Mizuho.
"Yes. Of course, I did it in teams with the Ranch Manager and the staff."
"I-I see, even so, isn't it dangerous? Didn't you have any 'dragon falls'?"
"I rode about ten of them, but there were almost none. They were all good-natured..."
"Oh, I see... Oh, that over there is the 'stable', right?"
"Yes, that's right."
Mizuho pointed to the stable. Enjin nodded. The two headed toward the building with the white triangular roof. "...It's kept quite clean."
"The Ranch Manager never missed cleaning it every day, even on the day he collapsed..."
"Hmm... Oh?"
Mizuho found a dragon peeking its head out from a stall at the end of the stable and approached it.
"This is the one dragon left at the ranch... Its name is 'Ignis'"
"Ignis, Latin for 'fire', fitting for a dragon body."
"Since it's a 'fire dragon', I named it simply."
Enjin reached out and stroked the red body of Ignis, who was sitting quietly in the stall. Racing dragons are categorized by their body color as 'fire dragons' or 'water dragons,' etc. Since this Ignis has a red-toned body color, it is a fire dragon.
"...Wow, quite an impressive pedigree. The father is that 'great sire dragon, and the mother was 'Guren no Megami'. She didn't win a G1, but she was a 'famous mare' that achieved excellent racing results."
Mizuho murmured while looking at the plate hanging on the stall.
"You're very knowledgeable..."
"Well, that... that is my job... Asada-kun."
"Yes..."
"Whoa!"
Enjin was surprised because the brown-haired man was standing behind him before he knew it. But Mizuho began to talk about something even more surprising.
"I wanted to increase the number of new breeding and training ranches in the Kanto region, so this place is just right. However, the facilities are old overall. Let's tear everything down once. Proceed in that direction."
"Understood."
"Ehh!? W-wait a second, please!"
Enjin raised his voice. Mizuho and Asada turned their gazes toward him.
"What's wrong?"
"Tear down the ranch? Isn't it just a seizure?"
"That's right, we'll seize it and then tear it down."
"By what authority!?"
"Didn't you hear? Nadeshiko Farm has assumed all the debts of this ranch. Do you understand?"
"I-I understand that..."
"In other words, we took over the debt. Furthermore, we will pay the appropriate amount, so we will have the land and rights of this 'Guren Ranch' transferred to us."
"S-such a thing!?"
Enjin was bewildered by the sudden turn of events. Mizuho tilted her head and asked.
"Can't you accept it?"
"W-well, that is..."
"Then, can you pay it? The massive debt your grandfather left behind."
"M-massive?"
"Yes, massive."
"Guh..."
Enjin looked down. Mizuho signaled to Asada. Asada asked.
"Young Lady Mizuho, what shall we do with this dragon?"
"Let's see... for a yearling, its build is solid. It's small, though... shall we move it to Ibaraki for now?"
"Understood."
"Wait a minute!"
Enjin shouted. Mizuho looked at him with slightly weary eyes.
"What is it this time?"
"That dragon alone... I can't hand over Ignis! It's the hope of this ranch!"
"After treasure, now it's hope... Are you that attached to it?"
"I was there for the egg-laying, witnessed the moment of hatching, and was the one in charge of breaking it in; it's the first dragon I've ever done that for, so it's more than just attachment!"
"Eh? Wait a minute! You did the breaking-in for a yearling, a zero-year-old dragon!? Usually, it's from one year old!?"
"Maybe because it was born early, its build became solid quickly. Grandpa told me to try it... and when I did, it was a quick learner and got used to it right away... Grandpa also said that maybe it trusts me..."
"...What is that?"
Mizuho pointed outside the stable window. Enjin answered.
"It's a training dragon track with a 1000m lap..."
"You, what about training?"
"Eh? I've walked it lightly... I've only let it run a little bit."
"What about racing experience?"
"O-of course not."
"What about sports experience?"
"I was selected for the Saitama City soccer team..."
"Hmm..."
Mizuho crossed her arms and pondered. Enjin asked.
"Um..."
"This is also some kind of fate, let's decide with a race. If you win, the ranch can be yours."
"Ehh!? A race!?"
"What do you think?"
"...I-I understand! I accept that race!"
"Asada-kun, prepare the dragon."
"B-but, Young Lady Mizuho..."
"Hurry up."
"...Understood."
Asada headed toward the car. Enjin tilted his head.
"Hmm?"
"I'll use the office as a changing room, OK?"
"Are you going to race? Not that man?"
"Hehe, I guess I still have a long way to go. Will you understand if I do this?"
Mizuho put on the helmet that was hanging on the stable wall and looked at Enjin. Enjin was startled when he saw it.
"Ah!? Y-you're one of the top female jockeys, Mizuho Nadeshiko!?"
Enjin showed the biggest surprise of the day.