Chapter 1503: NO. 119: Goal Gains and Losses

NO. 119: Goal Gains and Losses

Please rest assured about this one point.

The visual shock formed by the stacking of a huge number of people is truly a realm so ancient it feels unfamiliar.

But precisely because the number of people here is so vast, it instead lets the Moon‑chase Symbol feel a slight sense of 'being protected'.

In this sense of reassurance, he turned his gaze to the location of the lower arena, where the No. 6 competitor, whose face had been displayed on the huge projection screen just a few seconds earlier, the Sirius Symbol, had just walked from the very beginning of the short exhibition passage into the competitor passage; that confident appearance was also so ancient it felt unfamiliar, causing a feeling of having crossed worlds to rise again in his heart.

Or perhaps it cannot be said to be 'seemingly'; after all, it truly is a crossing of worlds, just not a lifetime in the sense of reincarnation, but a genuine separation of one world from another.

In this world, that girl could still have such vibrant energy.

Also in this world, the other girl could still have the leisure to sit in the spectator stands… His gaze shifted back, from the lower arena to the ground seats at the east‑side two‑o'clock position, and in the Moon‑chase Symbol's amber eyes, sharp as a hawk's in an instant, he saw one of the response points ordained by fate.

One is the Sirius Symbol, the other is the Ludaofu Xiangzheng.

That upright‑backed figure sat there, together with the irritable‑looking Ailisuzhi, Chengtian Bairen, and others, and moreover laughed and chatted with a group of unfamiliar girls and women.

All were different.

All are no longer gloomy, and they all make him feel extremely unfamiliar.

He instinctively wanted to find the youth who had changed everything, but seeing no trace, his gaze could only turn toward the third direction indicated by fate, a direction that cannot be looked at straight on, so he could only let his sight graze the edges via the refraction of light.

Even so, that gaze that struck suddenly and would meet his even if delayed by 0.001 seconds still made him jerk back half a step, gasping heavily, and the sudden damp chill behind him only later became a cold sweat soaking his back.

...? What's wrong? Are you alright, High Priest?

The Department Head beside him asked with concern; from his perspective, this collaborator must have some hidden ailment, or perhaps a slight mental disorder.

Having just finished a sentence and glanced twice at the crowd below, he suddenly stepped back half a pace, his whole body seeming like a palpitation spasm, yet it lasted only a few seconds before subsiding, so brief that he didn't have time to genuinely express concern, making it seem like some kind of performance.

... Nothing… just saw something that shouldn't be seen.

Oh, I see.

This reason is actually quite ordinary, even making it seem somewhat amateurish.

But the Department Head also knew that such a rookie mistake wasn't exclusive to newcomers.

After all, in reality, many so‑called veterans who have passed the novice stage have plenty of reasons to make the same rookie mistake, and this High Priest…

For those who deal in religion, being a bit neurotic is reasonable—and the Department Head, who is aware of this, unconsciously glanced at everything in this wide field of view, but he simply relied on his naked eyes, never using any source energy or technology.

Although this is also the foolish psychology of 'Any snipers? Let me take a look,' even naked eyes don't guarantee safety, but he indeed encountered no problem, and having a leisurely mind he asked:

"Is it something that must be seen?"

Besides the 'Any snipers? Let me take a look,' the obstinate insistence of 'I can't avoid this glance!' is a common reason for elders to make mistakes, letting the Department Head, who often hears similar news while surfing the net, dare to speculate.

"We don't dare to casually use special vision on such a large gathering of life."

"Yeah, I really want to pay my respects, but I've never had the qualification," he sighed, and the Moon‑chase Symbol immediately shifted tone: "However, it's indeed been far too long since I've had such a field of view."

Department Head: "I hope it won't cast a shadow on you; I actually kinda want to recommend some horse girls to you—you might like their running."

"No need."

The High Priest waved his hand, which was scar‑free and callus‑free, naturally smooth yet oddly with muddled fingerprints.

"I'm long past the age when I'd be interested in watching horse girls run."

"But I think that no matter the period, you can always find something moving in horse girls' running~" the Department Head said confidently and proudly, "Although I don't know whether you mean profession, age, or stage of life, the horse girls' persons indeed bear those various things."

Just like displaying merchandise, as the third Department Head of the Chasers of Light Club, he proudly boasted of having packaged several legendary horse girls, and he truly regarded those horse girls' achievements as his own masterpiece.

But he never expected the other party to ask: "Does that include suffering and aversion?"

"The suffering and aversion toward something can likewise be found in horse girls…" he spoke at length, but then suddenly realized, "You're not directly feeling suffering and aversion toward horse girls, are you?"

"... I'm not quite clear."

Once again, a blurry figure flashed in his mind—not like the Sirius Symbol, not like the Ludaofu Xiangzheng—and the Moon‑chase Symbol merely shook his head, then turned his gaze once more to the arena that was being warmed up by commentary but still had no competitors appearing.

His gaze deliberately avoided that pitch‑black, bone‑chilling spot.

"However, you can indeed rest assured; I will surely leave a deep impression of this match."

"I really wish it were horse girls, though I feel what you're saying is that the existence you mentioned gave you a lesson," the Department Head said regretfully, "but I've always been devoted to showing the charm of horse girls to all collaborators; this counts as the club's goal since its founding."

It's a pity that the actual work situation is often like this now—using horse‑girl matches as a cover for meeting and holding discussions.

The only difference compared to usual is that this time everyone arrived earlier, and the other collaborators haven't come yet.

"I thought it would be something like exhausting every means to fabricate results, for example using monster power to interfere with the match."

"How could that be? The first generation never had contact with that terrifying power; it was only from the second term onward that aliens were added to the team, and the team composition began to shift."

"That doesn't sound too late."

"Yeah, it's been about ten‑odd years, and although we've always tried to stay low‑key, as the club's business grew, our reliance on this has become increasingly excessive."

"You're telling me this doesn't matter, right?"

"Of course it doesn't matter, because I've figured it out from the start, High Priest."

"What did you figure out?"

"You don't want to live, do you?"

"..."

"I also can't see any dream in your eyes; forgive my boldness, but I want to ask what you're living for now."

……

Stepping into the competitor passage, walking straight from backstage to frontstage, the woman with brown long hair remained vibrant, striding like a shooting star; walking down the lit corridor was like walking on a banquet's red carpet.

But most women on that red carpet are either dignified and luxurious or gentle and composed, whereas she clearly walks a man's path.

She wore spring everyday clothes, yet looked as if she had already put on the heroic decisive outfit carried by the trainer behind her, and she would urge:

"Can't you walk faster, trainer?"

Just like a knight urging a lagging attendant, but obviously that trainer is not an attendant, has no delay, and even says lightly:

"You can speed up; I can keep up."

Or are you saying you hope I walk by your side, even lead the way?

You really are getting more and more overbearing.

I actually hold a different view, but my superior specifically told me to be less courteous toward you, which really makes things difficult for me.

Is this stirring up trouble? Although I have no conflict with that science club madman from the senior high, but mentioning other horse girls on the way to the race for the horse girls—doesn't that also deserve a beating?

If it's just a matter of deserving a beating, I think there's no problem, after all you aren't very polite either. The bracelet on his wrist held the Sirius symbol's winning outfit and running shoes; Aomo followed Sirius as he opened the changing room door, placed the equipment on the table, then immediately stepped back half a step.

Besides pure fighting spirit, dissatisfaction is also good fuel; as for my superior's remarks, frankly, not only her, but Chazuo, Aizhi, and Bourbon also initially tried to secure spots for the Canaan Cup.

You just debuted and want to enter the Spring Ancient Horse? Sirius, sitting in the chair before the table, gazed at his healthy reflection in the mirror and at the person beside him with only a side profile, who remained composed.

A wisp of white hair on his forehead seemed to allow him to hallucinate another person.

As long as the rules can be passed, it's always worth a try; for this kind of event where it's all seniors and losing doesn't affect morale, I also think the more the better.

You really are messing up from top to bottom.

I think this would please Miss Sirius more.

Huh? If it's only me, then I'd be satisfied.

I'm glad you now have an aura of supreme dominance, but it would be better to display it on the track rather than keep it within the team.

You mean what I said earlier doesn't count?

I've thought it over three times and can't recall saying such a promise to abandon the present; I suppose my memory wasn't erased.

So if I win, the claim that I'm the one and only Sirius is false?

That statement is indeed correct, but it refers to the track and horse racing history.

I'm obviously talking about the track; what did you think I was saying?

Then it was my misunderstanding, a false alarm, my fault; please allow me to apologize.

No need! Take back your apology, because your understanding is also correct! Whether it's your superior or Rudolf and the others, everyone will eventually face off on the track, right?

That's far too early, even if it's bound to happen sooner or later.

It won't.

It's already late, especially since I'm only just going on stage.

Indeed, you're about to retire. Aomo remarked with feeling.

?

It caused Sirius to turn his head, glance at him with a subtle look, then immediately raise his hand to push him.

Hurry up and get out, I need to change clothes!