Chapter 1654: with translation of chapter title

No. 269: You know, we're not that fragile.

The manor.

Still the manor.

Indeed, for the World‑Noticed Dream Cup, eagerly vying for hosting rights is the duty of any racecourse, but unfortunately, the Dream Cup is a celebration ordained by the Three Goddesses, and naturally it is entrusted to a racecourse designated by the Three Goddesses.

Thus, once again, the Manor Racecourse was designated.

In a sense, this is a choice of intensity.

Because the five major racecourses have no strict ranking, each has its own advantages over the others, a fact commonly voiced by experienced riders; and among them, the Manor Racecourse's advantage is the most subtle—here lies a negative energy field called the "Manor's Monster" that hinders, and overcoming it in its domineering designated course is a valuable credential worth noting in a horse girl's record.

A certain opera singer who wishes to remain unnamed is one of its beneficiaries.

Considering that GI races are merely a stepping stone into the intermediate tier for horse girls, only a win counts as a genuine ticket to the upper class; the fact that one can compete in triple‑crown events such as the Classic Triple Crown, the Triple Glory Crown, and the Ancient Horse Triple Crown…… this advantage of achieving by challenging the Manor's Monster truly circulates only among the industry's upper echelon.

For most GI participants, this is actually a debuff, adding a high difficulty coefficient that makes confidence hard to come by. But fortunately, the Manor's Monster does not trigger equally in every race, as mentioned above with the concept of a "designated racecourse".

That negative energy field, which originally appeared only at the Autumn Emperor (now Terra) Prize, has over a century merely spread to a few GI races held in the Manor.

Yes, a century.

As a Japanese tectonic‑plate site salvaged over the past century, Kyoto Racecourse, along with the entire Tokyo and Jidong area's plates, is indeed both ancient and novel.

What is ancient lies in the fact that the Three Goddesses first descended upon the land that originally covered East Asia's boundary‑division Tokyo.

The history of horse girls likewise began from there.

And the novel aspect lies in the fact that Tokyo has been submerged in water.

No matter how faithfully restored or inherited, the fact of a broken lineage cannot be denied.

Many things after the reconstruction are considered different from the past.

Thus the Manor Racecourse became the youngest of the five major racecourses, yet it still enjoys the Goddesses' favor, quickly taking charge of numerous GI races and even being allotted the hosting rights for heavyweight events.

This is a blessing, yet it also turned into a curse.

The many frequent partings and reunions cause the negative energy that ought to have dispersed with the water to regroup; at this point, maintaining the racecourse is like cultivating a gu poison—even if the riders on the track can momentarily break through, it exerts no suppressive effect, and instead, at the instant the race results are decided, that negative energy field gains even more nourishment.

"Actually, this phenomenon is precisely the intended result."

At the perch of the bright‑plumed raptor, a member of the URA Association's Expedition Support Committee sighed out a rumor rarely seen even on forums.

"Oh?" the raptor opened its beak, yet its voice came from all directions.

"The Expedition Support Committee always recommends that horse girls wishing to venture to other regions first try their running style on the Manor Racecourse," Dream Journey gazed at the athlete demonstration segment, her eyes somewhat vacant, "if they cannot achieve good results, they should not consider overseas, let alone extraterrestrial, racecourses."

"That sounds just like what the Goddesses would think," Magabasa sighed, "have you also advised Sirius in the same way?"

"Symbolic‑family horse girls can reach extraterrestrial venues without the Expedition Support Committee's help."

"We have no overlap."

"That's truly a pity."

Seemingly fanning its wings as if unable to balance, Magabasa gazed with increasingly hollow eyes toward the surroundings.

"Since you can step onto the Dream Cup's course, there's nothing to regret," Dream Journey said lightly, "your strength already matches your means, and luck is not lacking either."

"Rather than thanking luck, it would be better to thank those esteemed horse girls who didn't enter the race." The fluffy bird's neck swayed—this is why it always avoids appearing before Aimu Zhiji.

……

Since one is setting out on the journey toward one's dreams, one ought not to miss the race at the dream's end—even if the youngest sister at home also chooses to enter, that shouldn't be a reason to hold back; rather, in the horse‑racing world, sisters fighting side by side on the battlefield is always a welcome development.

The crowd enjoys it, and the participants are never polite; even if they are on very good terms, it doesn't hinder them from vying for superiority on the track, thereby establishing their family ranking.

And in Aomo's eyes, the Golden Master and Dream Journey—these two sisters—have no real conflict, yet they cannot be said to treat each other with mutual respect; but when faced with his words that almost name‑call, someone remains silent in reply.

"Ha……"

"Miss Dream Journey must also have been advised not a little by the master and the household."

Someone also sighed, then spoke bluntly.

This naturally drew a sharp glance, and the tone of the following sentence showed obvious dissatisfaction.

"I thought Trainer Aomo would pursue the demeanor of a mature trainer."

"Unfortunately, I was only twenty a month ago, and I cling to an extremely immature answer to some questions."

"That really opens one's eyes," Dream Journey sighed, exhaling a murky breath; her pale‑blue eyes, reflected in the mirror, looked down upon the birds on the ground, and with her subtle height of 144 she cast a glance that conveyed the pressure of 180—"just a week without seeing him, Trainer Aomo has changed his appearance."

"That coincidence is exactly this point," Magabasa, who seems oblivious to atmosphere and unable to read expressions, shook her head and waved her arms, "when I couldn't see you on the participant list at the start of the month, I also felt that Miss Dream Journey had changed her appearance."

"……" This unresponsive attitude also left the other party silent for a moment, then they raised a finger past the bangs and pushed up the glasses on the nose bridge, saying, "It's not much of a coincidence."

"It's that we each lack understanding of the other, but there's no need to have that kind of understanding, right?"

"After all, we've cooperated for not a short time—this remark really hurts the heart."

"That's right; in my student days, it was popular in the dormitory to describe a person's personality with animals, and your words…"

She sized up the creature before her—no matter how you look at it, it's purely a raptor—still silent, when she heard the other party answer themselves:

"Snake?"

You're quite self-aware.

I also thought you only just refreshed your impression today.

Indeed, before today, I was quite satisfied with your performance in our cooperation.

You don't want to know why.

You're usually sensible, but today you suddenly refuse to continue.

Because I saw a soul pulling at itself.

Having known you these days, this is the first time I've heard you say something that fits the racial data.

After all, before this, I had thought you were a respectable retired horse girl.

In the midst of speech, the Magabasa raised its head again, looked around, and then spread its wings and rose.

Although I've always known my observational ability is limited, suddenly realizing I've missed so much feels really unpleasant.

Then, compared to the possible hidden dangers in this match, you choose to waste your time here?

There are plenty of guardians in this event, and if my sincerity here could earn a brand‑new Dream Cup player, it would be worth it, wouldn't it? Perhaps it could change her whole life.

""

You denied it bluntly; that's the person I used to know.

"What do you want after all?" Dream Journey furrowed their brows, gazing at the raptor that wanted to leave but had temporarily perched.

A confrontational snake, stubborn enough to not care about provoking disgust with its words, just to climb up and cause trouble for others—and for his subordinates' horse girls?

What a change to one's life… This person, who has sat in the Expedition Support Committee's position for several years, has seen all kinds of trainers and horse girls, and even before graduation there were plenty of horse girls with complex experiences; they are very clear that that is merely an excuse.

Even if that confident appearance seems genuine, it's merely a pretense to conceal the true purpose.

But when she asked that question, she hadn't expected an answer, especially since the other party had already prepared to leave.

She had braced for a sneer, or at least some empty talk, but instead she waited for a response that still came from all directions.

Compete, in the Dream Cup.

Let go of worries, leave no regrets—you, your younger sister, your fans, your opponents.