Chapter 869: with translation of chapter title

No. 238: Only Zhouri Ningjing doesn't understand the conversation.

On the surface of the Boundary Gate District, in front of ZS City Racecourse, an armored hovercraft bearing the association's insignia was slowly descending.

"We've arrived, Aimu Zhiji athlete."

When the driver made that greeting, the first to react was actually Zhen Jiling sitting beside Aimu Zhiji.

"Oh~"

Although she is a horse girl, this is the first time in her life she has reached a racetrack outside the mansion; as she poked her head out the window and gazed up at the imposing building, she naturally let out an exclamation of amazement.

When she turned back, however, she saw her roommate still sitting there, gaze likewise resting on her knees as before, yet not focusing on anything in particular.

As if her mind had wandered elsewhere.

"Aimu Zhiji athlete?"

The association's driver also noticed this, raised his volume a bit trying to wake her, but saw that the horse-girl student beside her had already opened the car door.

"Driver, from now on Karen will take Ayabe-chan."

The child's gentle and obedient smile directly took Aimu Zhiji athlete's hand, and at the same time waved a hand in front of her vision.

"Ayabe-chan, let's first register at the racetrack then find a place to wait."

Facing the startled purple eyes and the slight reaction of lowering the headset, she said this, guiding her out of the car, but also not forgetting to wave at the driver.

"Thank you, driver."

"You don't need a guide?" the driver said, somewhat surprised.

The association driver's role is not just to drive; when necessary, he also acts as a guide, even as a protector.

This is the association's consideration of Aimu Zhiji athlete's current delicate popularity.

"No need, I'll take responsibility for her condition."

A cold voice cutting into the conversation made all three turn their heads, and they saw two black-haired horse girls who looked as if carved from the same mold, one large and one small, standing at the doorway, while the one who spoke already had her credentials flashed in hand.

"Zhouri Ningjing committee member? Does the association have new orders?"

"Ah, I'm now in charge of Aimu Zhiji's safety; any objections?"

"... No, none."

After turning back to check that the work status on the vehicle platform had indeed been completed, the driver simply nodded.

"Then, I wish you all success, and I wish Aimu Zhiji athlete to take the lead and have enduring martial fortune."

"... Thank you."

Having just adjusted her headset, Aimu Zhiji saw him speak again and tilt it slightly aside, thus she clearly heard the following sentence.

This response also made the driver show a hint of surprise, he nodded and immediately restarted the vehicle.

Aimu Zhiji athlete seems somewhat different from the image I had hastily gathered.

——

"... He actually went back."

Chazuo, who had just greeted Aizhi and her sister San, turned back to see the vehicle's body slowly rising, feeling somewhat surprised.

"Even if he wanted to stay and watch the race, he'd have to go back and finish reporting first; the old… superiors above in the association insist on this sense of ceremony." Zhouri Ningjing, who almost habitually cursed old things, said angrily.

"However, there are still three hours until the race; there's plenty of time to rush back, provided he managed to get a ticket."

On-site tickets for this kind of race have always been hard to come by.

"Do such staff members also have no connections for on-site tickets?" Zhen Jiling tilted her head.

"The notion that working for the association gives you association channels to get tickets is the most common misconception." Zhouri Ningjing put on a P face, making Zhen Jiling curious how many people had asked her for help.

But unfortunately, the other party swiftly avoided the topic.

"Alright, never mind that, let's go confirm the competing athletes," Zhouri Ningjing said displeased, "I'm actually taking initiative to take over someone else's work for the first time."

The resentment of voluntarily taking on extra duty was about to overflow…… Zhen Jiling was somewhat speechless, yet at that moment she heard Chazuo senior say:

"Friend…"

It didn't carry a specific meaning, merely a worried call with a hint of concern, which caused that impatient, fierce woman's face to retract her fangs.

"Ah! This job is actually not bad, better than watching that hot-blooded idiot in the infirmary."

"... Friend."

"Alright, alright, I won't say more, okay!" Zhouri Ningjing, who felt picked on everywhere, raised a hand to her forehead, "Do we really have to talk here? Does that girl not need to register?"

"Mm-hmm, Ayabe-chan, let's go register."

With palms together, Zhen Jiling cheerfully said, not caring that Aimu Zhiji had put her headset back on; indeed, because the other had done so, she could more naturally take her hand.

Then, when she was startled and wanted to resist, using the line "We're going to take Ayabe-chan to register next, but Ayabe-chan has been wearing her headset all along, so if we don't hold hands she might get lost," left the other with no choice but to accept.

"Right, we also shouldn't forget to thank you, Mancity senior." She turned back again, her words of gratitude carrying a touch of solemnity.

Those words instantly made Zhouri Ningjing glance at her, frowning due to the familiar, irritating aura.

Meanwhile, Chazuo remained silent, her dull expression seeming as if she hadn't reacted, or as if she hadn't heard the other's words.

"Zhouri… committee member, did you ask them to come over?"

"... No need for formalities," Chazuo said softly with downcast eyes, yet also frankly admitted, "Mm, I'm worried about Zhiji's condition, and I also had a friend bring me directly here."

Looking at the classmate whose hand was held by Zhen Jiling, who continually seemed a bit absent-minded while walking, she pointed to her left-ear headset: "Because the trainer's side… sounds like it's not going smoothly."

Not only unsmooth, there had been a period of hard-to-listen low growls, followed by heart-pounding, shaking screams, and Jetton's own mechanical operating sounds and muffled syllables.

Since one could still hear conversations from Asakura, Mr. Sai Luo, etc., one wouldn't be completely clueless about the situation, yet it's also hard to regard the situation as ideal.

Now the headset contains nothing but howling wind, light sounds, explosions, and booming noises from combat.

The frequency of speech on the battlefield has also noticeably dropped, as if everyone is focused on fighting, leaving little leisure.

In such a situation, Chazuo doesn't really worry about the trainer's condition.

Mancity Chazuo's trust in the trainer is enough to make her sister increasingly dislike Aomo Lindun; this trust does not stem from training ability, nor is it based on the horse girls' conventional view of trainers.

Rather, as the Mancheng Chazuo, she had confidence in that profound darkness that she longed for immensely.

She was even more worried about Zhiji's condition.

So she didn't meet up with Bopang, Suzi, Qi, and others who also came to watch the race, but instead entrusted the task to Friend-san.

She came by herself, arriving here in a faster, more efficient way.

"Huh? Not going well?"

Because her roommate was too focused on the earphones, necessitating someone to pay attention to the surroundings, Zhenjiling endured without listening to the drama livestream.

Although somewhat concerned and also a little worried, she could judge the situation as not optimistic by observing Aimu Zhiji's expression, but she could only suppress that anxiety and pretend to be very immersed in this novelty.

After all, ayabe-chan would occasionally glance at her.

The result was that the gentle upperclassman came over to spoil.

"Hmm… the trainer might come later."

"Chazuo classmate, aren't you worried about the trainer?"

Suddenly, Aimu Zhiji, who had fallen behind from focusing too much on the earphone content and hadn't joined the conversation, spoke up, instantly making the three turn their gazes toward her at the same time.

They had also exited the elevator and arrived at the front hall of the racecourse from a parking lot with few pedestrians, reaching a place crowded with spectators.

Thus, those gazing at her were not just the few Chazuo people; there were also crowds who had similarly arrived early at the front hall.

Or reporters waiting for news, or those who arrived early to avoid crowds, spectators waiting to see the horse girls appear, and also other athletes who came likewise to confirm the 'athlete arrival'.

Everyone appeared so sensitive, turning their gazes toward Aimu Zhiji the moment she entered their field of vision.

Although not the most popular, Aimu Zhiji was the top topic of discussion, and naturally she welcomed everyone's gazes.

But she herself was merely looking at the person ahead, that classmate who had previously only left her a beautiful black long hair to look at.

At the same time, she was also a senior who, although not a horse girl herself, had been interacting with the trainer and Umastar from the beginning.

Although Aimu Zhiji had considerable understanding of Aomo Lindun, that understanding mostly belonged to the past.

Past Umastar, present Aomo Lindun.

Although many things remain unchanged, such as still being annoying, still talking to oneself, and even interfering in one's lifestyle in a despicable way……

But when it comes to such a battlefield, it is a strangeness she cannot help but acknowledge.

And this is precisely why Chazuo came here especially.

"I believe in the trainer."

If it were Suzi speaking, she might retort; if it were Bopang, he'd likely give a blunt reply; but Chazuo's answer would seem to miss the point.

"How about Zhiji?"

"…I have no reason not to trust him."

"Hmm, that's good."