Chapter 678

NO. 47: How to say photon force ray, photon force ray (x

During the preparation phase of the campus selection competition, spectators often eagerly await alongside the contestants.

After all, the spectators here are usually only two types:

Those who come to watch senior/junior/peer horse girls, trying to scout outstanding horse girls for trainers.

Naturally, central trainers, due to the high entry threshold, have always been in a state of 'demand exceeding supply'; almost all trainers exist in the condition of having signed contracts with multiple horse girls under them, and on this basis, each new horse girl's contract considerations must be carefully weighed.

But newcomers still exist.

It's not that Aomo's situation is particularly special; rather, like some horse girls from local areas who transferred to the central racing scene—similarly, after passing the central certification from local horse girl schools, they come to central as new trainers.

The horse girl named Little Chestnut and her trainer named Kitaoka Takemi both transferred from the local scene, and even before transferring they had already been each other's counterparts; they can be called a textbook-level typical case.

Also because these new trainers transferred from the local scene are not truly newcomers in the trainer profession, Aomo inevitably feels awkward when they greet him.

It's hard to imagine that being employed just two or three months earlier would earn one the title of senior.

Even harder to accept that these colleagues, each looking older than him, some significantly older, with records of training multiple horse girls, nod and bow to him.

When turning away from worries like monsters and negative energy, and still having to face antiquated regional culture, the armored person inevitably feels a bit of wistfulness and fatigue, then, in that fatigue, puts down the book 'The Wisdom of Nutrition' in hand.

Instead, he lifts his own briefcase, fumbling with his clumsy iron hand, spending over ten seconds to feel out his own special insulated coffee cup, then awkwardly rubbing the straw.

"What are you doing! Aomo, in cosplay…?"

Suddenly, such a hearty greeting came from the noisy crowd; immediately after, a gust of palm wind swept from his left rear, causing him to instinctively steady his water cup and lean forward.

His hand stayed in place while his upper body leaned forward; this reflexive reaction alone was already a rare level of completion, but unfortunately, relying purely on instinct means he will miss the next logical step——

"Slap!"

A slap swung down from the right rear still landed on the back of the youth who avoided physical contact, followed by another voice no less hearty than before: 'What are you dodging for! Can Afeng still slap you over?'

"He indeed finds it hard to achieve, but becoming a Triple Crown winner is not impossible."

Turning his head to look at the brown-haired horse girl with black deer fur, Trainer Lindun finally let out a long sigh: 'Can this wind still blow you here too?'

"Since Luduo, Yamaxun, and Bairen are all here, how could I not come? And you—what's with this outfit?"

"That's also the question I wanted to ask."

Through the transparently manufactured chip, gazing at Qianming in her school uniform, Aomo initially restrained the urge to complain that she had already retired and graduated yet still dressed like that.

But now, being questioned about the taste of his armor, he retorted in kind.

"Saying that gives one the illusion, as if Miss Qianming had also once worked together in the student council."

"I think I can! And I often go to the student council, eh!"

"I cannot deny it.' The imposing iron face with silver light emitting from the eye crystals gave a slight nod.

As everyone knows, positions like student council require not only ability but also campaigning.

In other words, it demands popularity, especially for the highly self-governing central Tresen, where student support becomes even more crucial.

Based on this, MR. C. B, who was still an active Triple Crown winner back then, could easily take a seat in the student council.

Just as her current high-intensity visits to the student council face no objections.

Heh heh! Back then I was actually invited by both the previous and current student council presidents!

Hmph! I was once invited by the student council president of the two consecutive terms!

It's not hard to imagine, but please allow me to greet another person.

Not hard to imagine, but please allow me to greet another.

Auroux did not neglect the person beside him despite this conversation.

Aomo did not neglect the side despite the chat here.

Nishizaki Yutaka, still standing at the rear left, had several times wanted to speak but held back, trying to join the conversation without success.

Xi Qianfeng, still standing at the left rear, had several times wanted to speak but stopped, trying to join the conversation but failing.

In front of the mock race stands with many public eyes, Trainer Prince is naturally polite and composed, unlike a certain ill‑intentioned CB Mr.: 'Ah, Yutaka, you're still here? Don't hold back your juniors behind you!'

In front of the mock race stands with many public views, Trainer Wangzi is naturally polite and steady, unlike some ill‑intentioned CB mister: "Ah, A Feng, you're still here? Don't delay your juniors behind you!"

'I think they also want to greet Auroux.' With a slightly embarrassed smile, Nishizaki Yutaka steps aside a bit, revealing the line of little girls and a few soon‑to‑retire older girls behind him.

"I think they also wanted to greet Aomo." Showing a somewhat embarrassed smile, Xi Qianfeng slightly stepped aside, revealing the line of little girls and several soon‑to‑retire big girls behind him.

Silent Suzuka, Tokai Teio, Special Week, Gold Ship, Super Gulf Creek, Vodka, and Tokai Teio—these are the top trainer's lineup, and each has more or less met Auroux before, so they're not strangers.

Silent Suzuka, Special Week, Dazhenhan, Yamato Red Steed, Super Small Bay, Vodka, Eastern Sea Emperor — this is precisely the configuration under a top‑tier trainer, and they have more or less met Aomo before, so they are not strangers.

But now they are somewhat reserved—except for Tokai Teio, who remains as informal as ever, and Miss Gold Ship, whose standing in the horse‑racing world is similarly lofty.

But now, they are more or less somewhat reserved — except for the ever‑informal Eastern Sea Emperor, and likewise the Dazhenhan Miss, whose status in the horse‑racing world is transcendent.

Hello, Trainer Lyndon.

Hello, Linton Trainer.

Hello, Miss Gold Ship.

Hello, Dazhenhan classmate.

Noticing that the address differed from the former 'Miss' suffix, the refined young lady gave a light smile and, understanding the situation, overlooked his strange attire.

Noticing that the address differed from the former 'Miss' suffix, the gentle and refined girl lightly laughed, tactfully ignoring the other's strange attire.

... It seems you have fully adapted to life in Trésen.

... It seems you have fully adapted to life in Teresen.

Thanks to you. Auroux nodded.

Thanks to you. Aomo nodded and said.

The incident involving Dongzi Renjin was also his first official registration request as a trainer, and later as a mercenary; at that time he was new to both sides, so it left a deep impression.

The incident involving the Dongzi True Person was also his first official registration commission upon becoming a trainer, and even upon becoming a mercenary; at that time he was a novice on both sides, so it naturally left a deep impression.

Such a riddle caused Silent Suzuka and Super Gulf Creek to glance at him oddly, especially Gold Ship, who stared at his armor‑like, Gundam‑esque outfit as he said he had fully adapted to Trésen life, leaving both girls wondering, 'When did Trésen become like this?'

And such a riddle caused Silent Suzuka and Super Small Bay to cast a few bewildered glances, especially Dazhenhan, who, looking at the other's attire resembling a mecha or Gundam, said "I have fully adapted to life in Teresen," upon which both girls thought, "When did Teresen become like this?"

But before they could figure it out, another companion shouted:

But before they could figure it out, they heard another companion shout:

Hey! Hey! Bourbon's trainer, haven't you gone to see the president in a while!

Hey! Hey! Bourbon Trainer, haven't you gone to see the president in a long time!

Indeed, doesn't that match what you had in mind, Teio‑kun? The mechanical helmet with a V‑shaped spike gave a slight nod, looking toward the brown‑haired girl who is about 1.5 meters tall.

Indeed, doesn't this match what you had in mind, Your Majesty classmate? The one wearing the V‑pointed mechanical helmet slightly nodded, looking at the brown‑haired girl who is about 1.5 meters tall.

Inevitably, their gaze fell on the crescent moon on her forehead.

Inevitably, the gaze falls on the crescent moon on the other's forehead.

Facing him, who stands a full 1.9 meters tall—over two meters with his horns—the little girl showed the courage to openly disregard him: 'Mm‑mm! You giving up forcing the president back onto the track would surely be good, but giving up so easily—isn't that a bit spineless!!'

And facing him, who is fully 1.9 meters tall, and with the horns exceeding two meters, the little girl has the courage to nonchalantly ignore: "Mm‑mm! You giving up forcing the president to return to the track is surely good, but giving up so easily isn't that a bit spineless!!"

「？」

?

'Exactly, exactly, you really ought to try a bit harder~' Clearly one of the people helping to muddy the facts, he's now adding fuel to the fire with his agreement.

Right, right, we definitely need to try harder~ Clearly one of the people helping to confuse the facts, now also fanning the flames in agreement.

You see, even Senpai Chiaki thinks that way! Why are you so quick to give up on the president!

You see, even Qianming Senior thinks so! Why are you giving up the president so easily!

Is this statement being twisted into something even stranger? Auroux let out a deep, doubtful sound.

Is this statement being twisted into something even stranger? Aomo uttered a deep, doubtful sound.

Right, what are you saying!? Teio, Trainer Lyndon couldn't possibly abandon anyone! Gold Ship chimed in immediately.

Right, what are you talking about! Your Majesty, Linton Trainer couldn't possibly abandon anyone! Yamato Red Steed immediately chimed in.

Just thinking that his assigned horse girl is Miss Hayato, she felt twelve‑fold confidence in Trainer Lyndon's tenacity!

Just thinking that the other's assigned horse girl is Suzi Miss, she has full confidence in Linton Trainer's tenacity!

Furthermore, while sizing up his seemingly heavy armor, her eyes quickly swept over the obvious light shining from his eyes and joint gaps——

Furthermore, while sizing up the other's armor that looks extremely heavy, the gaze quickly swept over the obvious light shining from the eyes and joints——

——Based solely on that feature, she could roughly guess why Trainer Lyndon's outfit today is so 'vivid'.

——Based solely on this feature, she could roughly guess the reason for Linton Trainer's attire being so 'distinctive' today.

Surely, it's that one……

Sure enough, it's that, huh……

She thought so confidently, then she also heard Vodka, who always opposed her, actually say: "Exactly! Linton trainer couldn't possibly do that!"

"?" Being on the same team, the Eastern Sea Emperor, who also quite understood, immediately had a question mark above his head.

Recalling the last time she saw Vodka and Yamato Akaji united, it was probably still half a year ago when they confronted the Golden Ship.

"Vodka? Are you okay? If you're threatened, just blink."

Not only her, but also Special Zhou, who had been trying to speak to Aomo brother, as well as Silent Suzuka and Super Little Bay, all gave her concerned looks.

This pretty much was a scene that broke the person involved's heart, and was enough to make the horse girl, whose makeup style resembled that of a delinquent girl, fall into panic:

"What do you mean threatened?! You didn't see Linton trainer's super cool armor?! He also has a great motorbike! Liking armor and motorbikes definitely doesn't make someone a bad person!!"

"Ah... it's Vodka, right. Akaji, you take care of her." The Eastern Sea Emperor, who felt no aesthetic toward his teammates, said speechlessly.

"What do you mean?! You can't appreciate the sincere heart behind that hardcore super robot heavy armor?!"

"Super robot? What's that? I think it looks more like some beetle material." The Eastern Sea Emperor, who re-examined Aomo, lacked interest.

"As you said, this is the heavy beetle armor cosplay from Monster Hunter, but the design prototype is indeed a super robot."

"Ah, I see, no, this isn't important!"

"I think it's actually quite important; when watching cosplay, getting the source wrong not only upsets the cosplayer, but also upsets the enthusiasts."

"Uh..." He turned his head to look at the somewhat downcast Vodka; the lively and willful emperor instantly felt flustered, hurriedly turning his head to apologize.

And likewise, Yamato Akaji, who was also trying to comfort the other party, secretly found an opportunity to come over and whisper: "Um... Linton trainer... is that Miss Suzi?"

"As you said."

"I understand... I'll go explain for you."

"Thank you very much, I'm happy that Suzi can meet such a kind junior of yours."

"Oh oh, you... you're overpraising me... I—I'll go explain to everyone first, excuse me!"

The red-haired little girl, who seemed unable to stop praising, quickly turned and ran toward her own small group, causing the heavy-armor trainer to dodge the huge twin-tails she flung over with steps that were agile despite his appearance.

Not looking at the other's retreating back, he was even more eager to fiddle with the cup's straw—finally able to have a moment to drink coffee.

He raised a finger to press the inconspicuous bump on the edge of the face armor, causing a small hole to open in the mouth armor for the straw to connect; just as he took a sip, he heard: "Did you forget me?"

"Cough Cough Cough..."

"Oh oh oh, you really forgot? Geez, you can't even pat your back in this armor—how did you dig up this set of stuff." Qianming representative was somewhat speechless.

Trying to pat his back to ease his choking cough, but suffering from the low fidelity of his prop, after a few pats hearing the dull thuds, he knew it was useless.

He somewhat suspected this wasn't just a cosplay prop.

"It's... it's a prop made from my foster father's old armor that he exchanged years ago; its defensive performance has degraded to almost nothing, the only advantage being its sturdiness and built-in temperature control."

"It still sounds like something kept at the bottom of a trunk."

"It's been stored for a year and a half."

Standing still at the expo without speaking, posing as a statue, observing all kinds of passersby—even if occasionally someone asked for a photo, it didn't matter—this kind of environment where one could be present yet maintain an independent viewpoint, after going over a dozen times, eventually grew boring.

Especially after the 'Coser who always appears in the high-fidelity beetle armor set of Magician Z' became increasingly well-known, the observation environment actually got worse and worse.

"How bright is it this time that you can bring out this thing?"

Aomo, hearing that, fell silent for a moment, then squatted down again, pulled out a pair of sunglasses from his briefcase, and placed them on her amid her doubtful gaze.

Then he raised both hands and lifted her cheek.

"Oh~ what are you doing?" The speckled brown-haired horse girl, who didn't resist due to trust and had no misunderstanding but still pretended to misunderstand, witnessed the eye-hole crystals lowering and opening in this seemingly intimate gesture.

Then someone let out a scream the next second, covering their eyes that were still protected by the sunglasses.