"They've crossed the finish line!!"
Amidst the announcer's shouts, Tokai Teio crossed the finish line with an overwhelming lead of six horse lengths. She waved her arms, jogging a victory lap with an easy smile on her face. Even with such a massive lead, Tokai Teio hadn't gone all out. This showed that even without many skills, her stats were enough to crush the competition.
Did Teio even use any skills during the race? Whether in VR or the real world, Luo Cheng had no way of knowing if the skills he painstakingly taught her were even put to use. But he did notice a moment where Teio's speed increased for a brief period during her final sprint.
He'd take that as a yes for now. Teio's stats were already more than enough, and Luo Cheng was ready to go find Darley to teach her a unique skill. The fact that a unique skill was taught by the Three Goddesses was different from the game.
"Your horse girl is really amazing, Trainer," the AI next to him said admiringly. "I wish I could be as good as her."
"You want to race too?"
"Huh? Me... Well, my main purpose is to be a sparring partner for horse girls and get utterly crushed."
To save on system resources, the AIs were set to be un-trainable. They couldn't get stronger through training, and this particular AI was a rookie-level AI to help new horse girls. Once a horse girl passed her debut race, AIs like her became obsolete.
Luo Cheng turned to look at the track. "It seems we're all just tools being used. We're given attention when we're useful and thrown aside when we're not."
"Yes, but even so, I'm happy," she said.
"Why?"
"Because at least I still exist in this world, Trainer," she replied with a smile. "There are many things we can't change. If we think too much and constantly look over our shoulders, it only brings pain. It's better to let go of all worries and live each day to the fullest. Do everything you want to do, so at least you won't have too many regrets when you look back."
As she spoke, she looked at Tokai Teio on the track. "That girl is happy every day. The Trainer is seriously helping her reach her goals. I'm sure that when she achieves her dream, she'll be very grateful to the Trainer."
"Maybe," Luo Cheng said.
"Trainer!" Tokai Teio waved at Luo Cheng and gave him a peace sign. The proud expression on her face seemed to say, Wasn't I awesome, my great Trainer?!
"Your horse girl is calling for you. You can't keep her waiting."
Luo Cheng waved back at Teio and went to meet her.
"Did you see that, Trainer? Did you see how amazing I am!" Tokai Teio puffed out her chest proudly, her rosy lips curved into a smile as she spoke.
"I saw it. That's my Teio," Luo Cheng said.
"Hehe, you can praise me a little more."
"My Teio is invincible."
Tokai Teio's bright blue eyes looked at Luo Cheng. After a moment of hesitation, she tiptoed, her cheeks slightly flushed, and whispered in his ear, "Reward..."
A reward for a practice race? "What do you want?"
"Last time, I couldn't get a high score on the dancing machine. This time, I want to beat that AI's score!"
"Alright."
Hearing this, Tokai Teio's ears perked up, and she wiggled them. She hugged Luo Cheng's waist and nuzzled her head against him.
"Now, the eighth group of contestants, get ready!"
"Let's go, Teio. It's time to log off."
"Actually, there's no need to rush to log off," Darley's voice suddenly chimed in. Her red figure appeared next to them.
"Darley? You came to watch the race too?"
"Of course. The Three Goddesses are wherever there's a race," Darley said with a smile. She looked at Tokai Teio in front of her. "She's a great prospect. Little Lamb has cultivated her well. With her potential, she might really be able to defeat the Three Goddesses."
"Hmph, of course! I am the great Tokai Teio," she boasted.
Luo Cheng stroked her head. "What now? Can't you wait to race against Teio?"
"No, I'm not that impatient. Teio's abilities are already good enough. I want to teach her the running style that suits her best, what you call a unique skill, Little Lamb."
"Hey." Darley read his mind again. Just as I was thinking about her, she shows up. "Right now?"
"Changing running styles isn't something you can learn in a moment. It'll take at least half a month. Let's go to the training field first." With a snap of Darley's fingers, the world spun around them, and in the next moment, the three of them were back at Tracen Academy.
"How's my new cutscene? Isn't it smoother than a white screen transition?" Darley asked with a smile.
"You Three Goddesses should just become programmers."
"Maybe in some other world, the Three Goddesses are programmers. They designed the Uma Musume game, and Little Lamb stumbled into it. But the game was incomplete and full of bugs, and all of us had to live in a broken system."
"...Is that true?" Luo Cheng asked.
"It's just a guess. I'm not a real god; how could I know? If I were a real god, I would have gone to your world to find you instead of staying here," Darley said, looking up at the sky. "This world is too boring."
Luo Cheng didn't want to get involved with the troublemaking gods' melancholy. He urged, "Let's teach Teio how to run first. No matter where this place is, I'm not going to be content with the status quo."
"That's my Little Lamb. I'm falling for you all over again," Darley said, holding her flushed cheeks. "Alright, Teio, let's train."
Tokai Teio was a little dazed. Her little brain couldn't understand what the Three Goddesses and her Trainer were talking about, but she was happy that the Three Goddesses were personally teaching her to train.
"Little Lamb, you should learn too. It might help you with your training later."
"I'll just listen in," Luo Cheng said.
Seeing Luo Cheng come to her side, Darley's eyebrows arched. She explained the techniques to Luo Cheng while teaching Tokai Teio with her hands.
In the Student Council office, Godolphin Arabians was preparing tea and pastries, watching the three figures on the training field. "I wonder if Little Lamb will be happy when he finds out I made these myself," she thought. The idea that Little Lamb might "love her" even more because of it made her tremble with excitement. She wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth and was about to bring the food over.
Just then, the door opened, and a black figure walked in, unceremoniously stuffing a pastry into its mouth.
"Hey! Those were for..." Before she could finish, Godolphin's pupils contracted into pinpricks.
Black long hair, golden eyes, pale white skin, and a very distinct, wild smile.
"What are you doing here... Sunday Silence?" Godolphin's expression was one of extreme alertness.