"To be honest, the world is changing so fast."
Lying blankly on the training field grass watching the clouds, Legend said listlessly.
"It's like playing a gambling deck and getting wiped out by the opponent's god-tier character rolling two sixes. The feeling of ten updates in a single day is truly indescribable."
Though I am still the child of the version.
"Qi... is it?"
Use your body to experience the flow of breath in nature; if you can perceive something, that is [Qi].
"Practicing Qi or something, it feels like immortal cultivation..."
"Strictly speaking, it's martial arts training."
Invincible's words still echoed in her ears.
"This power is actually a byproduct of researching the Ultimate Attainment realm; it's a weakened manifestation of Ultimate Attainment mastering the authority of nature, just named 'Qi'."
As expected, are we actually traversing some weird high-martial world?
Forget it, that's not important. The core problem now is...
"I can't feel it, that 'Qi' thing."
After an afternoon of effort, Legend did not feel the flow of so-called breath.
The changes and flow of nature, however, could be felt quite clearly.
[Tsk tsk, didn't expect there would be something even we couldn't learn...]
[Flower]'s tone was full of surprise.
[Perhaps this is a matter worth rejoicing over?]
This at least proved that we are not gods.
[Feather]'s words held no discernible emotion.
"Is this a good thing? Perhaps."
Legend stood up and dusted herself off.
"I'm hungry, let's go get dinner."
No need to dwell on effectiveness and results; let nature take its course.
Legend turned around on her own and walked leisurely toward the school gate.
She had promised Senior CB to eat BBQ today.
If asked what Legend's favorite change was after moving to Mr. C.B.'s house, it would probably be the road from the house to the school.
Getting from Tracen to Mr. C.B.'s house required passing through a long slope.
This slope belonged to the grounds of Tracen Academy; there were no buildings on either side, and usually, no cars passed by, with very few pedestrians.
Legend really liked the quiet of this slope.
It was just like the road home during childhood.
But today, someone broke the silence of this road.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!"
The sound of panting was harsh in the empty, silent slope.
Legend looked in the direction of the sound.
The first thing she saw was the earring with a strange mechanical texture on the right ear.
Then, that exquisite but wooden face.
Gold Legend remembered this iconic poker face, machine killer, high-cut leotard, gap moe, member of the escape sisters, Rice Shower's eternal CP, the one she could never pull no matter what, known in the community as "Cyborg"...
"Mihono Bourbon?"
Confirmed by the look in her eyes, it was a horse she didn't have.
Legend's understanding of her was only what was shown in the anime.
The biggest impression was being backstabbed by Rice Shower and losing the Triple Crown, as well as the line "Booing is a medal for the challenger".
Seems to be an honest and pure child?
"?"
As if hearing Legend's call, Cyborg's ears twitched, and she stopped.
She turned around and saw Legend.
"Judging by the clothing, the target is a student of Tracen Academy. Nice to meet you, my name is Mihono Bourbon. May I ask if you were calling me?"
Mihono Bourbon walked up to Legend and said indifferently.
"What are you doing?"
"As you can see, I am currently using my break time to exercise alone, which is what is called [Autonomous Training]."
Legend raised an eyebrow.
"Autonomous training? Where is your Trainer?"
"Answer: The Trainer's body seems to have some issues, so he has gone home to rest."
In other words, her Trainer was not here.
"You should understand what training alone means, right?"
Training alone means no supervision, no standards, no prompts—a 'three-no' situation. It looks free and easy, but for an Uma Musume, it is a very dangerous thing.
No supervision means being unable to prevent danger; no standards means being unable to prevent overexertion; no prompts means being unable to correct errors.
It's fine for veteran Uma Musume like Symboli Rudolf or Maruzensky; their seasoned experience can handle these issues in time.
But for Uma Musume like Mihono Bourbon and Rice Shower who haven't debuted yet, it is a dangerous behavior that could lead to injury if one is not careful.
"Who is your Trainer?"
To actually let a responsible Uma Musume do such a thing; at worst, it's even dereliction of duty.
"Yes, my master is Trainer Kuro-numa."
"That Kiryu Kazuma in human form?"
Legend remembered this Trainer, the guy her own Trainer complained was too serious. Because his voice was the same as a character from a game in her past life, the impression was very deep.
"Confusion: Who is Kiryu Kazuma?"
Mihono Bourbon tilted her head blankly.
"That's not important. I remember Trainer Kuro-numa is known for training that is strict to the point of being harsh. Did you get his permission for your training?"
"Answer: I added this training to the schedule on my own; the Trainer does not know about this."
Holy crap, are you really this brave, kid?
Legend looked at Mihono Bourbon in front of her, surprised.
"I think you need to have a serious talk with your Trainer..."
"Hm, five minutes have already been delayed. Then, excuse me."
Mihono Bourbon turned and ran, leaving Legend dumbfounded on the spot.
"Hm?" Legend, who hadn't reacted, blinked blankly.
"You f***ing wait for me!"
She started running and chased after her.
"You f***ing wait a second!"
Running to Mihono Bourbon's side in a few steps, Legend tried to make her stop.
"...?"
Mihono Bourbon turned her head and saw Legend, who was wearing a school uniform and carrying a school bag, had caught up to her so easily. It was rare for her to show a blank expression.
Then she accelerated.
"#"
A vein popped on Legend's forehead.
Using a bit of force, she ran to Mihono Bourbon's side again.
"Didn't you hear me tell you to stop?"
Her tone was like a demon, and her eyes were flashing with red light.
"!?"
Mihono Bourbon's ears stood up straight, and she ran even faster.
"..."
At this speed, there was no way to intercept Mihono Bourbon.
Legend had no choice but to follow closely behind Mihono Bourbon, just in case.
Just like this, they ran for about a kilometer.
"Constantly accelerating slowly?"
It was obvious at a glance; even a layman could see it was a reckless way of running.
Can't watch this anymore!
Opening part of her domain, Belno's field quietly wrapped around Mihono Bourbon's legs.
Mihono Bourbon's pace became disordered.
Legend took the opportunity to accelerate in front of Mihono Bourbon.
Receive, neutralize, release!
Using her body and domain to neutralize the impact, Legend steadily caught Mihono Bourbon.
"Too reckless!"
Legend reprimanded with a dark face.
"Acceleration is imprecise, pace is weak, rhythm is a mess—not a single movement looks decent!"
Do you think you are me? Being this reckless?
Come to think of it, why does this footwork look so familiar?
"...Confusion. My footwork is based on that of this year's undefeated Triple Crown Horse Girl, Gold Legend. It shouldn't be wrong."
"...Damn it!"
So she really did learn it from me?
"You aren't Gold Legend, why are you learning from her?" Legend's eye twitched uncontrollably.
"She is a Triple Crown Horse Girl." Mihono Bourbon was concise, "The classic three crowns are my goal."
"Gold Legend's footwork isn't something just anyone can learn, at least not you."
Gold Legend had never systematically learned footwork or posture, and her Trainer had never reminded or corrected her.
Because Gold Legend didn't need them.
With Gold Legend's physical stamina and talent, even in a 3,600-meter long-distance championship, she could calmly finish the race, take first place in stride, and not even be out of breath.
In fact, up until now, apart from being a bit disheveled when she hadn't fully mastered her Domain at the very beginning, Legend had never been exhausted by a race.
Moreover, Legend's footwork wasn't as simple as it looked. It was a style re-learned during her Step of Dustless Excellence, which in a sense could be considered a return to basics; every step was a manifestation of Legend's path to [Ultimate Attainment].
The spirit within it wasn't something just anyone could imitate.
"...Why not?"
Mihono Bourbon was a straightforward child, without any twists or turns, and without overthinking, she asked directly.
"Because I am Gold Legend."
Legend stopped pretending.
Mihono Bourbon's pupils contracted.
"...Appearance comparison complete. Confirmed to be the Acting President." Mihono Bourbon tilted her head in a daze, "Confusion. Although the appearance hasn't changed, it is completely different from my impression."
"..."
This isn't going to end, is it?
Legend took a deep breath.
"Anyway, you aren't suited for my footwork, unless you plan to specialize in short-distance races. But looking at your talent and aptitude, maybe it wouldn't be a problem?"
It was clearly visible from her running just now.
"Rejected. My goal is the classic three crowns." Mihono Bourbon shook her head.
"...You should know your own aptitude, right?"
"I believe that effort can compensate for a lack of stamina."
"That isn't something that can be compensated for by ordinary effort."
Sweat can make up for a lack of talent, but the cost involved is not something an ordinary person can bear.
Although Legend was the least qualified person to say that.
"Please do not worry. Under the guidance of my father, who was a former Trainer, I have undergone high-intensity training and am already used to it."
Legend looked at Mihono Bourbon in front of her in silence.
There wasn't a trace of gloom in her eyes.
Legend felt a certain part of her heart being touched.
"Fine, fine... Anyway, I have no way to deal with hard workers like you."
Legend shook her head helplessly, "That's good. If you want to challenge the classic three crowns, the first thing to do is to control the pace."
"Control the pace?"
"Distribution of stamina, grasping the timing, and running steadily and consistently—these are the keys to all middle and long-distance races."
Legend said, recalling the content taught by the Student Council during their private tutoring sessions.
"...Understood. Information has been input. I will begin the measurement once my stamina recovers."
"Start with a mile first."
"? But..."
"No need to rush; just take it step by step."
"Understood, Master."
"Hmm? Master?"
"You are teaching me methods, so I address you as such. Is there anything inappropriate about that?"
"Then what about your Trainer?"
Legend remembered that this seemed to be how Mihono Bourbon addressed her Trainer.
"The Shifu is the Shifu, and the Master is the Master. There is no problem."
Legend only just noticed that her term for Trainer Kuro-numa was the Japanese word for Shifu.
"Fine..."
It was just a title anyway.
"Then, please continue to guide me in the future, Master." Mihono Bourbon said, extending her hand toward Legend.
"Huh? Oh, no problem." Legend nodded and took Mihono Bourbon's hand, "...Wait! Future?"
"Yes, please continue to guide me."
Mihono Bourbon held Legend's hand tightly.
Mihono Bourbon, who was nicknamed the [Cyborg], had a hand that was both powerful and so very warm.
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