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>>>[Red Dragon Emperor With The Villain System!]<<<
For the first time in a while, Kuroha's biological clock failed to wake him up on time.
When he finally cracked open his sleepy eyes and tried to sit up, he immediately sensed something was off.
Not only was he not lying in his own bed, but beneath the blanket there was a large patch of soft, warm smoothness pressed against his chest.
Then last night's memories came flooding back, and he rubbed his temple with a groan.
He couldn't remember exactly how late they'd gone on, but one thing was clear—his G1-class stamina was definitely not just for show.
Modern medical conclusions aside, the physical abilities of Uma Musume far exceeded those of humans.
To put it bluntly: with a human body, he had kept up with a Uma Musume. Kuroha might well have been the first in history to manage that.
Looking down, he saw Fujimasa March still asleep in his arms.
Her silver-white hair gleamed in the morning sun, falling in slight disarray across her cheeks, partly hiding skin as pale as fine porcelain.
She seemed to be in a deep sleep, nestled in the crook of his arm, light as a feather.
Her small horse ears twitched faintly from time to time, as if she were dreaming something pleasant.
Kuroha simply watched her quietly, hardly daring to move for fear of waking her.
After a while, perhaps sensing the weight of his gaze, March's lashes fluttered before slowly lifting.
Her crimson eyes were at first a little hazy with lingering sleep, but when she registered Kuroha's face just inches away—and their undeniably intimate position—the haze evaporated, replaced by the rush of last night's memories.
"Ah—!"
Her ears shot upright, her blush surging from her neck to the tips like a kettle steaming over.
But after a moment, she relaxed instead, pressing herself even closer.
"Good morning… Trainer," she murmured, looking up with only her shining red eyes and small nose visible above the blanket.
"Good morning, March."
His voice was back to its usual gentle tone, soothing and warm. "It's still early—want to sleep a bit longer? Or… maybe eat something?"
She shook her head lightly against him, still burrowed in place.
"…Not sleeping," came her muffled reply, before she added even more softly,
"…Trainer smells nice…"
"Just ran a race, today's my rest day. I don't want to move. Wherever you are, that's where I am…"
Her voice was languid, and she nuzzled into him as if she might drift back to sleep.
Kuroha, knowing what she was thinking, couldn't resist teasing,
"Inari's probably awake by now, March."
At that, the warmth in his arms stiffened for a moment, but soon her muffled voice returned. "…Don't care."
"That won't do."
He chuckled, shaking his head and gently patting her hair.
"Alright, up you get. There'll be plenty of time later. I still need to get you a leave of absence from the academy."
Reluctantly, she sat up, the blanket slipping away to reveal a great expanse of "holy light." (Insert To Love Ru moments censored by light beams xD)
Once they dressed, the two stepped out into the hall.
The place was just as messy as after the banquet last night—Inari One was nowhere to be seen.
A thought struck Kuroha, and he headed for her guest room.
Click!
Inside, the little twin-tailed fox was sprawled out in a less-than-graceful sleep.
The blanket was kicked aside, an unknown droplet glistened at the corner of her mouth, and her lips smacked now and then as she dreamed of who-knew-what.
Shaking his head, Kuroha closed the door quietly.
March had been peeking in as well, and when their eyes met, she instantly hid the smirk on her lips—though the tips of her ears still glowed red.
"Looks like we worried for nothing," Kuroha said with a quiet laugh.
They returned to the cluttered living room, banquet remnants still plain to see—scattered streamers, empty drink cans by the table, jackets tossed over the sofa, and half-eaten plates of food.
"What a mess. Let's clean this up before the dorm turns into a rat's nest."
"Got it, Trainer!"
March followed behind to help, her movements brisk and capable.
Watching her work, Kuroha once again marveled at Uma Musume recovery rates.
Seiran Nichirin had gone from barely able to walk to singing and dancing on stage in just half an hour.
And March—after several hours of being "ridden" last night—looked even more energetic this morning!
Opening his system panel, he glanced at the "G1-Class Stamina" stat.
…Brother, how long before I can't keep up with you anymore?
That was when he noticed a system notification—apparently from last night, overlooked in the middle of all the "horseplay."
[Achievement Completed: The Beginning of the Galloping Road] (Spend one night with a member of your team)
Reward: Shop Function Upgrade — More items now available.
An achievement?
He vaguely remembered that his system had an achievement panel—used only once before, when recruiting March, which had unlocked the skill [Professor of Curvature].
It had been silent ever since. This was only the second time.
Shaking his head, he went into the shop.
Good news: there were indeed new items.
Bad news: there were only two…
After scanning the store from top to bottom, he confirmed it.
[Panacea] — 100 pt. Unlocks the recipe for Panacea.
A perfect cure that eliminates all ailments in an Uma Musume's body, restoring full health.
Must know the individual's precise condition and use immediately—only works for that state at that time.
"So it has to be paired with [Body and Breath Perception]… and made on the spot, huh?"
The limitations were many, but the effect was priceless.
He always trained March and Inari One carefully, adjusting their regimens to their real-time condition and never overburdening them. He measured hoof weights, specialized strength sessions, and always ended with massage to relieve even micro muscle strain.
Still, Uma Musume bodies endured extreme strain in pursuit of speed—there was always the risk of hidden injury.
With this Panacea recipe, the risk could be countered—if only under strict conditions.
"I did study some medicine and pharmacology alongside nutrition back then… though I'm a bit rusty now."
He set the dishes back in the cupboard, thinking he'd need to study again—not just for the Central Trainer exam, but now also to master this skill.
The second item was trickier:
[Fortifying Tonic] — 100 pt. Human use only. Unlocks recipe.
A traditional herbal formula: one bowl a day for enhanced health, strengthened core, mental focus, and several-fold training gains.
Must know the individual's exact condition and tailor it—effective only for that person.
"…What's this supposed to mean?"
He looked from the listing to his "G1-Class Stamina" stat and fell into thought.
One was an endless path of learning. The other—endless training.
The system had really laid it out for him.
"Trainer?"
March's voice pulled him back from the system menu. She was holding a stack of freshly washed plates, smiling as she handed them over.
"…Thanks, March."
Smiling back, he put them away.
Soon, the once-chaotic living room was spotless again.
Glancing at March beside him, he replayed the past few days' plans and last night's events in his mind.
There was so much to do.
"Buy a car, get new training equipment, set up new plans for March and Inari One… Oh, and for Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen, too…"
"Prepare for summer training camp, study for the Central Trainer exam, brush up on medicine and pharmacology…"
He let out a quiet sigh. "Why do I feel like my to-do list just keeps growing?"
(End of Chapter)
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