Chapter 1583: with translation of chapter title

NO．197：gear

"Looks like you failed."

And it's not just a small failure that's easy to bear…… Seeing the club minister's unstable expression, the high priest, who had been persuaded to step down and hadn't sat long, stood up and walked toward the exit.

As the competition decided the champion and a series of athletes, together with the spectators, each moved toward the inner-field stage, his actions appeared quite ordinary.

On the contrary, the club minister still seated, somewhat flushed, easily makes one suspect he's a life loser who went all-in on a horse‑bet and lost.

Or perhaps he really did bet……

After all, the threshold for buying horse tickets isn't high, and this guy is the type who tries to manually adjust race results, so Moon Chariot Symbol doesn't hesitate to guess what he's done behind the scenes, though these things ultimately don't matter.

What matters is that there's nothing left to see here.

"Failure… is just losing a small round, just a small round."

"Your expression doesn't look like that."

After all, he still pointed out the problem, and the high priest regretted the partner's lack of professional competence.

I don't know if it's because the blow was too great or simply because his narrow mindset makes him flush easily; looking at his performance after this match, Moon Chariot Symbol can only feel unable to understand.

"It's just anger, that's appropriate," the person kept explaining, "The club's ability to intervene under such close scrutiny has no effect, so shouldn't I be a bit angry?"

"Of course, as long as your anger doesn't become a new flaw under others' scrutiny," saying this, the high priest twirled his shirt cuff somewhat speechlessly, "but the delay has also been rather long."

"Aren't you planning to go greet the victor's stage?"

"The athlete I was expecting doesn't even have the qualification to stand aside; he can only jump around in an inconspicuous backup dancer uniform—what's there to see?" The minister waved his hand, "As for you, if you have something to do, just go quickly."

"... Then I'll go ahead first."

It's no surprise the other could see his intentions; Moon Chariot Symbol, whose initial reaction was already obvious, hurried away.

Leaving only the minister and a group of special‑natured spectators slowly rising.

Besides, there's no need to rush; those horse‑girls don't go straight to the stage to sing after finishing a race.

First of all, they need to simply wash up and consider changing clothes.

Although most final‑outfit designs include automatic stain‑resistant features, the venue still provides stage clothing of the same style for any horse‑girls who wish to change.

Likewise, as he complained—unless there's a special new rule for the victor's stage, horse‑girls outside the top three on the victor's stage must all change into the same backup dancer uniform.

This mandatory changing segment accounts for half the reason the stage‑preparation time is lengthened; the other half is, just like whether the top three change clothes, a random probability that could affect every contestant.

Yet it also guarantees that it happens at least once.

That reason is……

"Did you all do a simple resupply? The health check forms?"

At the edge of the athletes' preparation area, a door bears the East Yan characters for 'Resupply Area,' and Aomo Lindun is here greeting the horse‑girl squad that just walked out.

"Here, uh, wait."

He shook the stack of forms in his hand, showed them briefly, then offered them but immediately took them back before they could be received; Ailisuzhi's face bore her usual mischievous smile.

"Isn't it unsafe to let Guinea Pig‑kun handle these? After all, it's somewhat our privacy."

"Holding it in your hand is even less safe, right, Chazuo? You say so, Chazuo?"

"... Um, ah…?" The black‑haired horse‑girl at the back of the line lifted her head half a beat late, shrinking a little under the four gazes.

"Alright, ladies…" Taking advantage of the moment when everyone was thinking due to Chazuo's reaction, with an unusually swift hand he snatched the four health‑check forms from Miss Suzi's hand; Aomo didn't rush to look at them, instead waving them casually.

"Don't block the aisle, that's impolite."

"Huh?"

"Please make way…"

"Oh…"

Just as Miss Suzi, who seemed a bit dissatisfied, was startled when a horse‑girl suddenly darted past her, she immediately glared at her assigned trainer.

"I haven't laughed yet." The other innocently shrugged.

"Doesn't this statement prove everything?"

"That sounds a bit like shooting arrows and drawing a target, Ailisuzhi classmate—could it be that you're saying that because you think I'm laughing? But still, that saying…"

He yanked her over—she wasn't moving with the other teammates—then dodged a few horse‑girls rushing out; Aomo was somewhat concerned about the anger on the faces of those few girls swiftly passing by, but the post‑race athletes' circle's conflicts weren't within his concern.

"Don't stand here chatting; since the resupply has been checked, you should prepare to go to your stage."

"Huh, stage… third place?"

At least it's not third?

Moreover, the gap between third, second, and first is at most a neck‑length; honestly calculated, it's already about the same slight‑over record, and even if Chazuo came in fourth, it would equal the record, fully establishing the event's worth—but—

He couldn't say those words.

Although there's someone right in front who seems broad‑minded, you obviously can't conclude from her demeanor that her inner self is just as free of shadow.

And that's not even mentioning she's just an isolated case.

The current reactions of Bourbon and Chazuo are hardly good; on the contrary, the champion, who should be happiest… just like his usual aloof expression, makes the earlier smile before the finish line seem like an illusion, and instead one could criticize it as being overly forced.

—Although knowing she doesn't want to revel in a sea of sorrow, and that's her awkward way of caring for teammates, frankly, it's a bit excessive.

Someone whose emotions are unbalanced will find any reaction unbalanced; your expression of concern might as well be pouring oil on the fire, so it's better to let things take their natural course—after all, a heart destined to be pierced will be pierced.

If you ask why, it's because the victor's stage is right there.

"I won't comment on this; any complaints, excuses, or confusion must be put off until later, so don't keep the staff waiting too long."

Although it's often called the ultimate humiliation stage, horse‑girls rarely avoid it because of that.

Aomo also doesn't think his subordinates are all that fragile; worth mentioning is that Suzi is indeed a capable leader.

"Alright, want me to spoil the song title Aizhi‑kun chose?"

"Miss Suzi!"

"You'd better settle down."

Having such a laid‑back captain, the team's atmosphere could relax a little; especially Aizhi, who gave face by reacting in a completely unfeigned fluster, drew a subtle look from Aomo toward Suzi.

After that, looking again at the champion who had been meeting one's gaze, the champion instead turned his face away, and the trainer merely smiled and said:

"But I'm still looking forward to it a bit."

"Not ex... just expecting a little bit will do."

I'm not sure if it's because Miss San is putting in effort, but Miss Aizhi, even just being a little candid, could be considered a cosmic big bang that draws attention from both Chazuo and Bobang.

"Expecting the horse girls is also part of the trainer's duty, and I also want to congratulate you on this step."

"... Hmm."

"More talk can wait until later; you all, cheer up, next you'll have to face the fans supporting you."

He clapped his hands, urging the squad forward before the staff could come to prompt them; whether to go to the changing area or straight to the maintenance area was up to them, while he only had to watch those few step forward, then, holding those few sheets, turn toward the backstage exit.

Flowing into the excellent audience seats.