Chapter 239: NO.1: Keeping Pace

NO. 1: Keeping Pace

Unlike what many people think, a horse girl's trainer is not merely the glamorous figure standing in the stands.

What needs attention, what needs care, is not just the track, but also beyond the track.

Thus, in the dead of night when all sounds have ceased, he still pondered over the schedule before him.

This schedule, obtained by registering as a trainer on the Ura Association's official website, recorded all the events of the year.

This year's events were ordinary, but if you adjust the time to 613, 614, 615, you can see at the end the shining 'Dream Cup'—its name, even the size of the characters and font color, differs from other events.

It is not any of the grades in the event classification standards set by the Ura Association, yet it is called 'the true pinnacle'.

'All horse girls, all aptitudes, all distances can showcase their talents in this joint event'—such promotion is enough to depict its charm.

It is a dream event convened by the Three Goddesses, consisting of three races arranged at year's end.

These three years likewise correspond to each horse girl's 'golden three years' in her racing career, hence the saying 'let retired horse girls live a second life'.

Retired horse girls can go to the Three Goddesses' statue in Central Trésen to receive the factor that triggers 'authentication' again.

This does not affect the already-formed bodily growth, but the inner qualities will be noticeably adjusted—namely, exchanging weakening for a 'certain degree of starting over' growth potential.

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Thus, on the Dream Cup one can see the legends of old.

And for newcomers, this is a chance to challenge the strongest.

To prove that in this racing era, one is not only first among peers but also capable of surpassing those illustrious predecessors!

In every horse girl's bones lies the pursuit of the strongest, and also the yearning for victory.

Even though they are at a clear temporal disadvantage—as horse girls who debuted in the end‑of‑year 612 race, participating in the Dream Cup that begins at the end of 613, compared to predecessors who had 'weakening, but weakening was for adjustment to seek a stronger opportunity,' they possess a natural disadvantage.

But when Aomo stood behind the sofa and mentioned this to the horse girls sitting or lying on it, their responses to participating were all affirmative.

Their ears twitched slightly, but their gazes were not fervent; their words were as stiff as Miura Bourbon, as languid as Ailisuzhi, and as low‑toned as Manchester Tea Seat.

But Aomo understood their yearning.

Ordinary people think desire is something that makes eyes sparkle, but that emotion really depends on the person.

For example, the lively, spirited natures of Tokki, Bi Ze, and Tenshi are usually like that, but these three under Aomo's command clearly won't be so direct, just like him.

True yearning should extend from the bones to the limbs, not fade in a moment nor lightly wane.

It is more direct than 'dream,' yet more obscure than 'want,' because its essence is 'indispensable'.

Curiosity about otherworldly culture twists into a deep yearning.

Curiosity about the front of the grass field gives rise to the pursuit of speed's peak.

This yearning can truly be called the devil's instruction.

The devil then brought him to the highest mountain, pointing out all the nations of the world and their glory, saying, 'If you bow and worship me, I will give you all this.'

Excessive yearning, like desire, can turn a person into a demon; thus we can understand why the bodies of Triple Crown horse girls always house a ghost.

As a mercenary who wields monster power, Aomu Lindun does not view this as negatively as ordinary people do; he naturally understands better than most that 'reaping itself requires a price,' and having contacted several Triple Crown horse girls, he essentially knows living examples of those who ride 'ghosts'.

He does not reject his horse girls reaching that realm; rather, whether they can get there remains unknown.

But as horse girls, if they intend to set foot on the track, they ought to give it a try, shouldn't they?

Whether they can reach that step depends not only on the horse girls' effort but also on the trainer's assistance.

So… regarding the race goals of my three horse girls since their debut race…

Recalling the conversation after dinner an hour ago, he and the three horse girls discussed scheduling in the living room; the three horse girls' attitudes toward different Triple Crown races prompted Aomo to pull up the Ura Association's schedule draft again.

As Chairman Thus we output: Thus we output: Thus we output: QiuChuan mentioned on the call, the events are high‑value G1 Triple Crown races; ordinary races aren't worth noting, and what needs recording are long‑term goals, even the ultimate goal.

Considering that his horse girls are from the Jidong environment, not like the foreign‑prize horses of Maruzen Sukī that earn G1‑level rewards, he wrote down the classic Triple Crown, the Sankareka Crown, and the consecutive wins of the Spring and Autumn Emperor's Prize, then turned his pen toward the Japan Cup, the Arc de Triomphe Prize, and the Dream Cup.

But he did not click to register; instead he hit save, then sent the original schedule draft to the three horse girls, adding the suggestion 'try filling it out.'

Scheduling is certainly not something the trainer alone can decide; compared to his own markings, he also wanted to see the three girls' choices.

As for whether those three are asleep at this point—

Aomo glanced at the lower‑right corner of the screen showing 9:30 p. m.; even a child with exceptionally healthy habits might not be asleep then.

Moreover, among these three someone loves coffee—he even brewed a cup for himself and sent it over.

And someone is devoted to book study and hands‑on practice—even if the experimental equipment is lacking, that researcher can still find reasons to stay up late.

The last one is a heavyweight exam‑king; even in this city she plans to go on the horse‑girls‑only expressway to run a few laps to keep her condition, for which she even asked a certain low‑quality monster researcher to impose on her, and on returning she asked him to bring a few bags of snacks from the supermarket.

Miura Bourbon, who seems mechanical but is actually quite enthusiastic, doesn't mind helping her save on supermarket delivery fees.

Everyone has their own busyness, except that monster researcher—Aomo had already seen her friend notification when the game went online.

Shinjo Akane is indeed the only student here who can truly enjoy summer vacation, and she does not fit in with the rest of the household.

So to help her fit in, Aomo plans to knock on her door later with monster cards and the secret key.

Come join the overtime, you!

Of course, this frivolous motive is just a joke; in fact, Aomo already intended to have her ponder the cards and the secret key, especially the latter.

In that impression, the secret key of the Kaikyōō version differs directly in appearance—either it is a later‑developed model, or it is simply another model with different functions—when that merchant was caught, the latter did not elaborate.

I had hoped to obtain information from the police after further interrogation, but instead I heard within two hours that the other party had been rescued.

Now I can only figure it out myself first.

As for what actual functional differences the two secret keys have, Aomo still remembers that she was previously the monster consultant for Kaikyōō and those two mercenaries, so she should have some cognition of that version's appearance.

And before that, he had been waiting for the three girls' fill‑in results; during that wait he also happened to flip through the three horse girls' training schedules.

This thing always needs frequent adjustment, after all horse‑girl training often encounters unexpected situations, and the training outcome is either better or worse than expected.

Whether to add drills or fast‑forward to the next segment naturally requires dynamic adjustment of the training schedule.

Moreover, the team has a recent recruit, Manchester Tea Seat, who joined only a few days ago.

Her training plan needs even more adjustment; if she isn't diligent, Zhouri Ningjing might even grab the terminal probe and give her a punch.

It's really awesome, totally matching everyone's imagination of the new era's ghost.

Zhouri Ningjing: 【Today is Potian Lingxiang being visited by the Symbolist……no, I'll look again! At least three more, then we'll talk!】

The chat log looks unwilling to back down, still holding onto the earlier bet that 【Symbolists will frequently visit the central trainer recently.】

Looking at this brief message, they probably haven't even noticed their own latest big news; it seems they've been surveilling and investigating with enough focus.

After withdrawing attention from the chat log and readjusting the action plan, three minutes later Aomo received the earliest responding proposal—originating from Meipubofang.

She swept the classic Triple Crown, her persistence as expected, then came the Jidong Cup.

Aomo replied with one sentence: 【Approved】

Received a reply of 【Please don't tease me】, couldn't help but burst into laughter.

His speaking habits occasionally improve a bit, which counts as some result from effort, but this electrical killer problem……he glanced at the other two in the chat log.

Dazhenhan and Xizaki Feng, the veteran horse girl and veteran trainer, should have some understanding of this.

While he was still pondering the wording after knocking on their contact, he also simultaneously received a message from Ailisuzhi and Mancheng Chazuo.

Indeed, there's no distinction of order; on the chat log, likewise using 21:41 as a boundary, they respectively outline the classic Triple Crown, the ancient horse Triple Crown, and the Dream Cup that needs no further explanation.

Very good.

Quite consistent; what is being referred to is not the target, but Aomo's submission.

This unrehearsed drawing ultimately traced the same pattern; to Aomo, it was like a satisfactory answer sheet, proving his understanding of the pursuit of the three girls under his command was sufficient.

This put his mind at ease a little.

As a newcomer trainer yet burdened with three promising horse girls, what he will face is not only criticism from the world, but also some pressure stemming from his own existence.

What one can attend to is always limited; most trainers start with one-on-one guidance, and only after accumulating some experience in training their first horse girl do they begin to take on more training.

Starting out with three horse girls, and they're even horse girls with G1 potential……

Aomo usually doesn't express pressure outwardly; he only mulls over how to ease the fulcrum of balancing pressure.

Just start from these little acknowledgments.

Trainers should embrace the horse girls' dreams; a distant goal like the Dream Cup always requires enough victories to serve as steps.

Usually, this step requires the trainer's support to move forward, while at the same time, chest out, head up.

If one's eyes see only gravel, they won't understand gold's value; having tasted the extreme speed of a horse girl, they won't tolerate sluggish progress.

People always need to step on something to reach a new, higher realm, before they develop the desire to understand even higher and deeper.

Such heights inevitably bring pressure; horse girls must become accustomed to it, and trainers must as well.