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On the drive back to the clinic, Kitano flicked on the car stereo. A nostalgic enka tune crackled through the speakers, a remnant of the truck's previous owner—the clinic's former veterinarian.
Two years ago, fresh from Hokkaido University's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kitano joined the practice. Veterinary work wasn't a glamorous or sought-after profession in Japan. Perhaps that explained why his predecessor had so readily handed over the clinic and retired early last year.
After parking at the clinic, Kitano lingered in the driver's seat.
"Whoa!" He slumped back, pressing his fingers hard against his temples.
*[Horse Racing Tycoon System Activated. Do you want to start the game?]*
The mechanical voice from the surgery resounded again, precise as a metronome, chiming every minute.
Kitano let out a wry chuckle. His reason for becoming a veterinarian was simple: poverty. It was a blunt excuse for most seemingly irrational choices.
The Kitano family had once been notable in certain circles, but that was a distant memory.
At thirteen, Kitano's father, drowning in debt, vanished into the streets. The next winter, his mother passed away. Through part-time jobs and scholarships, he clawed his way through high school. With a 73-point deviation score, he could've enrolled in any national university, but the lure of a low-interest JA (Agricultural Cooperatives) loan and special support from Hokkaido University's veterinary program proved decisive.
Six years of rigorous study, a national veterinary exam spanning over twenty subjects, and a hard-won license later, he was a junior veterinarian earning a modest 5 million yen a year.
His hourly consultation fee was 13,000 yen, with JA-subsidized agricultural services requiring further discounts. For a graduate of a prestigious university, it was a textbook "3K" job—kitsui (grueling), kitanai (dirty), and kiken (dangerous).
Still, it sufficed. Kitano's next ambition was to open a pet hospital in Tokyo within ten years, then relax while junior colleagues handled the workload. To that end, he saved diligently, subsisting on bean sprouts and expired bento boxes.
And now, this system has appeared.
His fists tightened reflexively. After a moment's hesitation, he made his decision.
"Start the game," he murmured.
A translucent, glass-like panel materialized before his eyes, displaying four bold options:
[Abilities] [Assets] [Mall] [Missions]
The interface was strikingly minimal. He mentally willed the panel to close, and it vanished instantly. Kitano exhaled, relieved. Though it didn't fully obscure his vision, the floating display was distracting.
Rubbing his temples until they stung, he stepped out of the truck. Work came first. He disinfected and disposed of the surgical tools, then filed the patient records. Only then did he sit to examine the system.
Despite his composed exterior, his heart raced—a primal reaction, he supposed.
He began with [Abilities]. A simple panel appeared:
[Kitano Sachi]
[Horse Judging: C]
[Bloodline Knowledge: E-]
[Taming: D+]
[Health Management: B+]
[Inspiration: E-]
[Specialized Breeding Direction: None]
[Title: None]
[Available Titles: 2]
A "C" marked the professional baseline. Except for Health Management, his stats were underwhelming. For a veterinarian with little horse racing experience, though, the ratings were surprising.
Focusing on each attribute revealed details:
- **[Horse Judging: C]** The ability to evaluate a horse's strength and condition. Higher ranks yield sharper insights. Kitano doubted he possessed this skill.
- **[Bloodline Knowledge: E-]** Knowledge of thoroughbred pedigrees, useful for breeding. Irrelevant for now.
- **[Taming: D+]** The skill of taming colts, shaping their personality and pre-debut training. Outside his expertise.
- **[Health Management: B+]** The ability to monitor a racehorse's weight, injuries, and fatigue. This matched his veterinary role.
- **[Inspiration: E-]** Intuition for spotting a horse's potential. High levels could reveal talent instantly. Relying solely on instinct was a dead end.
- **[Specialized Breeding Direction: None]** Expertise in breeding specific racehorse types. Currently inaccessible.
He shifted to [Titles]:
[Available Titles: 2]
- **[Rookie]** Slightly boosts rapport with industry insiders but reduces auction invitations and racehorse popularity. Why choose a title with mostly drawbacks?
- **[Horse Racing Famous Family: Mejiro]** Slightly enhances insider connections. Horses named "Mejiro" gain a minor popularity boost in overseas races and the Emperor's Grand Prix.
Kitano had little connection to the "Mejiro" legacy, beyond a few horse racing trinkets at home. Still, it lacked negative effects. He equipped it.
Next, [Assets]:
[Horses Owned: 0]
[Ranches Owned: None]
[Clubs Owned: None]
[Total Assets: -3.02 million yen]
The numbers were bleak, especially the debt from student loans and the clinic transfer fee. His chest tightened.
Then, [Mall]:
[Detector: 20 Green Amulets]
[Advisory Support: 50 Green Amulets/Use]
[Note: Green Amulet = 50,000 yen; Bronze Amulet = 200,000 yen; Silver Amulet = 1,000,000 yen; Gold Amulet = 10,000,000 yen; Colored Amulet = 100,000,000 yen. Lower-tier amulets can be exchanged for higher-tier ones in the fourth week of January.]
The rest was hidden behind a mosaic. Converting the prices to yen left him reeling.
Finally, [Missions]:
[Daily Tasks]
1. [Watch a horse race live: 0/1] Reward: Green Amulet × 3
2. [Browse horse racing news: 0/30 minutes] Reward: Green Amulet × 1
3. [Practice ability training: 73/30 minutes (Completed)] Reward: Green Amulet × 1
The tasks were straightforward. Earning five Green Amulets daily could yield 90 million yen annually—far surpassing his veterinary income. House calls counting as training was a pleasant surprise.
He claimed the Green Amulet for the completed task, but no cash appeared. Disappointing, but unsurprising.
[Regular Tasks]
[Register as a JRA (Japan Racing Association) horse owner (individual/joint/corporate): Incomplete] Reward: Green Amulet × 1
The first task halted him—a novice trap with a paltry reward.
But he noticed several completed tasks:
[Make friends with one person in the industry: 32/1 (Completed)] Reward: Green Amulet × 5
[Make friends with five people in the industry: 32/5 (Completed)] Reward: Green Amulet × 20
[Make friends with ten people in the industry: 32/10 (Completed)] Reward: Bronze Amulet × 5
[Make friends with fifty people in the industry: 32/50] Reward: Bronze Amulet × 20
For now, his veterinary work had its perks.