Some time later.
Tokai Teio brought two little followers with her to Spica's clubroom and sincerely delivered bad news to Chubby McQueen and the others.
"I'm very sorry. The mysterious umamusume who has appeared in this world is actually someone we know. And the power she possesses is far too dangerous for all of you in this world. Although I want to capture her and bring her back immediately, things cannot go that smoothly."
Tokai Teio held a lollipop in one hand and looked at the news on her tablet: [Mysterious Umamusume Intrudes Into Regional Race]! It also included a record of Symboli Rudolf accepting an interview.
In the interview, the stern Student Council President stated that the other party was an extremely dangerous person. She recommended that anyone who encountered this mysterious individual in a race should flee the track, even if it meant breaking the rules, and abandon that race.
"Kitasan, you were my fan when you were little."
This world's [Tokai Teio] tried to get a kind expression from a certain destroyer, but received only an eye roll.
[Mejiro McQueen] pretended not to care as she asked, "Is the other me very busy? Why haven't we seen her for this incident?"
"Yes. After all, she is the next head of the Mejiro family."
Tokai Teio was somewhat embarrassed to tell the truth.
When she found McQueen, the other girl had merely said "oh" and offered no follow-up. When Tokai Teio asked why she was so cold, McQueen had answered as if it were only natural: what did this matter have to do with them? The Overlord was going out to harm some other world. What did that have to do with them, the transmigrators?
When Tokai Teio said that letting the Overlord escape was their responsibility, McQueen merely gave a disdainful snort.
As long as they defeated the Overlord, would that not stop everything? In the end, this was only because they could not beat the Overlord. But racing was a world where the weak were prey to the strong. Were they supposed to treat the Overlord specially just because she was the Overlord? Besides, how were their own methods any different from hers? They all crushed worlds by themselves. They simply did not take their opponents' power away.
Tokai Teio could not tell her fans about that version of McQueen.
[Gold Ship] sat in the corner turning a Rubik's cube, though her eyes were on Tokai Teio. A thought rose in her heart: this Teio really was as fussy as the old-timers like the President. She had none of the energy of a young person. When they had first met, she had praised herself like a narcissist. But at some point, this Teio had become filled with a sense of responsibility, as if she were carrying something on her shoulders.
What a tiring way to live.
Come to think of it, did this incident really require her to worry so much?
If they stood on their side, they should certainly be grateful for Tokai Teio's support. But [Gold Ship] truly could not understand why the other girl was so tense about their situation. After all, this was not some crisis that would destroy the world. It was only an umamusume with strength crossing into their world and causing trouble. Even if that umamusume's ability was dangerous, did this really require the Student Council President of another world to worry about it?
After listening to the news and learning about the Overlord's ability from Tokai Teio, Nishizaki Ryu said with a troubled expression, "Even if you suddenly come here and tell us all this, there's nothing we can do. Honestly, telling us about it doesn't help much."
"Do you understand that her next target is you?" Tokai Teio had no choice but to state it directly. "According to our investigation, the Overlord has obtained official entry qualifications for the Twinkle Series through the backing of higher-ups. Judging by the attitude she has displayed so far, her next step is definitely to take [McQueen]'s power, because among the current runners of this world, only [McQueen]'s power can allow her to undergo another transformation."
"Hmm..."
Nishizaki Ryu scratched the back of his head.
"Don't tell me you want us to choose to withdraw from the race?"
"..."
Hearing his question and noticing the slightly stiff movements of everyone else, Tokai Teio immediately understood. They were actually already aware of all this, but they were unwilling to make the rational choice.
Sigh.
Even if they knew hope was slim, they still did not want to admit defeat.
That persistence would be excellent if they were facing any other opponent. Or rather, as a professional umamusume and her Trainer, they ought to possess that fighting spirit that refused to lose. But the opponent this time was far too special.
After all, this was the Overlord.
That power had already been so dangerous when it was in Rice Shower's body. Now that it was in the Overlord, its original owner, this was not an ordinary crisis at all.
"Then let me race in place of this world's me."
"What kind of joke is that!"
Before Nishizaki Ryu could speak, [Tokai Teio] shouted her objection.
"If you want to enter the race, then race under your own name. I won't hand my entry qualification over to you!"
"If I could, of course I would. But the paperwork takes time, and someone among the Association's higher-ups is interfering. Under these circumstances, having you cooperate with my actions is the most efficient option."
"Trainer, if you dare agree to this, I'll terminate our contract!"
[Tokai Teio] chose to attack Nishizaki Ryu.
After all, she could not win an argument against this irritating version of herself. That was the lesson she had drawn from countless failed attempts at resistance. But even if she could not deal with this other self, surely she could solve the problem at its root.
"This method really doesn't seem viable."
Nishizaki Ryu did not even dare speak loudly.
He was in trouble no matter which side he chose.
Although he wanted to side with his own [Teio], when he looked at that identical face, he simply could not bring himself to say anything harsh. All he could do was choose this embarrassing response.
Tokai Teio said seriously, "No. It seems you still don't understand the nature of this incident. This is no longer an ordinary race. Although it does not appear fatal for now, based on what I know of her, if such a need truly arises, she will never show mercy. If I had to describe the current situation, this is a dark race. The so-called spirit of sportsmanship does not exist inside it. In a dark race, only victory allows you to survive."
"Teio-oneechan..."
Hearing Tokai Teio say that, Rice Shower could not help wanting to refute her, because the Overlord was not that sort of irredeemably vicious person.
But she could not say it.
Her relationship with the Overlord still needed to remain secret.
"Sorry."
Tokai Teio gave Rice Shower an apologetic look.
But at a time like this, she could only say something frightening. She needed to convince them to let her enter the field.
She had to personally enter the field and bring the Overlord back.
As Student Council President, she truly could not accept the Overlord's methods. Attacking other umamusume without restraint for the sake of becoming stronger was far too dirty.
It trampled on the efforts and dreams of other umamusume!
"So she's that dangerous? [Teio], why don't you let Coach handle her?" Daiwa Scarlet was frightened by Tokai Teio's explanation and immediately turned toward Tokai Teio's side.
Vodka looked speechlessly at her foolish rival. She felt there was something strange about this matter. She was not that smart, but her intuition was sharp. Unlike Daiwa Scarlet, who was a complete airhead.
[Tokai Teio] glared mercilessly at Daiwa Scarlet. What kind of thing was that to say? So because it was not your race qualification being replaced, you can stand here and say that?
"In any case, I don't agree. Absolutely not. I am entering this race no matter what. [McQueen], you are not allowed to run away!"
[Tokai Teio] chose to drag [McQueen] into it, because she understood this rival of hers. Although McQueen's attitude still looked firm right now, if that irritating other self brought up the other McQueen, she was afraid this girl would switch sides instantly.
"...I would never say that. What are you talking about?"
[Mejiro McQueen] said with feigned seriousness.
But her eyes looked toward Tokai Teio's side.
What are you expecting?
[Tokai Teio]'s expression twisted in pain.
This girl really was hopeless!
Tokai Teio, for her part, could only pretend not to notice the hostility. If she could, she would very much like to bring up White McQueen right now, but the problem was that she truly could not. White McQueen held far too high a position in these people's hearts compared with her.
She was an existence like moonlight.
Although the truth was that White McQueen was indifferent to their affairs.
"Um..."
In the end, Nishizaki Ryu, as the Trainer, had to interrupt the atmosphere and ask Tokai Teio, "The President should be on your side, right? With her influence, can she really not help you get an entry qualification?"
Hearing this, Tokai Teio's face grew heavy.
"I did ask the President to help with that, but the paperwork has been blocked. At first, we did not expect that someone inside the Association would be helping her. So even if I want to use a special channel now, I can no longer force it through."
Although she did not say it explicitly, Nishizaki Ryu already understood.
There was a major figure in the Association powerful enough to contend with the Symbolis standing on the opposite side this time. And such a major figure was probably not local. After all, the Symboli family's influence in this country was equivalent to that of ancient emperors. In other words, that higher-up had probably come from the international Association. If they truly fought the Symbolis, even a powerful outsider might not be able to suppress the local power. But if they only wanted to make things difficult over a small matter like this, that would be very easy to accomplish.
Thinking this, Nishizaki Ryu immediately felt that these waters were deep. He did not really want to get involved.
But the problem now was not whether he wanted to.
The other party was coming straight for them.
Tch!
"If that's the case, I can agree to you racing in [Teio]'s place. But I don't think this will pass. The other side won't have failed to consider that possibility."
Before Nishizaki Ryu finished, he noticed [Tokai Teio]'s emotions and quickly strengthened his tone to finish the rest.
He was sincere.
Although he did not want to say it plainly, in his view, [Tokai Teio] forcing her way into the Tenno Sho this time was a willful decision. He had only agreed to let her enter this race, which she absolutely could not win, because he saw that [Mejiro McQueen] had no objections and thought it would allow [Tokai Teio] to recognize reality.
What Nishizaki Ryu did not know was that this world's [Tokai Teio] had avoided the misfortune of bone fractures and had also received outside assistance to gain powerful strength ahead of time, but precisely because of that, she had missed part of the process of growth. Aside from [Mejiro McQueen], whom she could not defeat, the current [Tokai Teio] had no opponents in today's major races. [Mejiro McQueen] had even lost around her debut because of that condition, but [Tokai Teio] had remained undefeated the whole way. That was why [Tokai Teio] had developed this current personality.
Of course, part of the blame also lay with Tokai Teio, this "other family's child," pressuring her from the side. After all, even the President she worshiped had been taken away by the other Teio.
Hearing Nishizaki Ryu's consideration, Tokai Teio nodded in agreement.
"Even so, we can only try now."
Of course, the best method would be for them to withdraw.
The problem was that they would not agree to that decision.
After all, without facing the Overlord's power personally, without true despair, how could they understand fear?
Come to think of it...
Is it you helping her, Demon King?
Although she had no evidence, Tokai Teio was certain of it.
There were only a few people capable of doing such a thing. Rice Shower and Kitasan Black did not have that ability. Even if King Halo had both the ability and the intention, she had not had enough time to develop influence in this world.
McQueen would not interfere, but she would not actively do such a thing either.
That left only the Demon King.
Surely it could not have been something Tokai Teio did while sleepwalking?
Even if that possibility existed, her influence in this world consisted only of the President's help. She could not accomplish this.
After all, she had once dreamed of truly intervening in this world's affairs, but behind the Demon King was the support of an entire world.
And the Demon King had been conducting transactions with this world involving skill-training manuals, so the Demon King really did have the ability.
As for whether that higher-up knew the danger the Overlord posed?
The Overlord was not harming that country's umamusume.
On top of that, the current [Mejiro McQueen] was something of an obstacle to other countries, because she was too strong in this world.
So they would likely be quite happy to help the Overlord deal with [McQueen]. As long as the Demon King told them that [Overlord] did not belong to this world, that would be enough. In that case, she was no threat to them.
You really did it, Demon King.
Tokai Teio had not expected that girl to be wicked enough to let the Overlord commit evil unchecked. She had originally thought the Demon King was only a willful brat. But now it seemed that the other girl truly did not understand what should or should not be done. It was one thing not to advise the Demon King against this, but she was even pushing things from behind.
This matter absolutely could not be left like this.
Tokai Teio had already decided that once this incident was resolved, she would go to Demon King Gold Ship's world and educate that troublemaking Demon King.
...
At that same time, in the top suite of a five-star hotel, Demon King Gold Ship was examining the Overlord, who had changed into a brand-new race outfit.
She shook the cola in her glass.
"Heh. Looks like the Three Goddesses have a very broad range of acceptance. I was already prepared to have you enter wearing Rice Shower's original race outfit. I didn't expect the Three Goddesses to actually acknowledge the existence of a person like you. So merciful it makes me want to puke."
Facing the Demon King's malice, the Overlord remained expressionless.
"How long do you intend to stare?"
"Hmph. Is that any way to speak to your boss? Don't forget, I am still your Trainer in this world!"
"..."
The Overlord silently stared at her.
She had previously thought Demon King Gold Ship would drop a generous investment and then make a stylish exit. Could someone tell her why this person also had a Trainer license in this world?
"Hahaha! This view is truly excellent. Go and crush those small fry as my disciple. I wonder if that useless girl will try to enter the field by replacing someone's identity? Hmph, if she really does that, it will be hilarious."
Demon King Gold Ship laughed so hard she held her stomach. On the table beside her lay the application Tokai Teio had submitted.
Tokai Teio would never imagine that the Demon King was not merely supporting the Overlord from behind. She also intended to step into the field personally.
After all, Demon King Gold Ship was not a pure schemer.
How could she possibly restrain herself when something this fun was happening? Besides, she had long wanted to see that useless girl's face after falling into despair.
What are you pretending to be a good child for? Who are you hiding your true nature from?
Did you see what McQueen said this time? A useless girl like you wants to play the good person? Then I really do want to see you cry!
The Overlord had nothing to say.
She only felt that Demon King Gold Ship's style clashed completely with her own.
But right now, the Demon King was stronger, so she would endure for the time being.
...
Get 20+ chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "RoseWhisky"