On the stretch of track closer to the trainers' office, the atmosphere was noticeably calmer.
"Posture correction. Adjust the rear-leg drive angle…"
Mihono Bourbon ran with a blank expression. She still hadn't fully grown into herself, yet her machine-precise form was already taking shape.
Unlike Rice Shower and Silence Suzuka nearby, who were still working on basic conditioning, little Bourbon was trying to weave some of the advanced power-application techniques Kuroha had taught her into her own still-developing "pillar."
Every push-off, every arm swing, felt like the execution of a meticulous program.
It was still a little raw, but that astonishing stability already had Nase Fumino, who was recording the data at the side, quietly rattled.
Over the past half year, Fumino had been overseas most of the time.
So in today's Central Tracen Academy, most of the promising True Blooming youngsters had already been picked clean. There were hardly any suitable new-generation prospects left for her to raise.
With nothing else to do, she'd started dropping by Kuroha's place often.
As for getting all cuddly…
She was a normal human, not like the Chasing Light horse girls whose physical specs were easily ten times that of an ordinary person.
She couldn't keep doing that "dangerous sport" that left you dehydrated at the drop of a hat.
So aside from the occasional moment when the mood just happened to be right, she only took the initiative to "dance" with Kuroha once a week.
"Besides little Bourbon, Rice Shower and Silence Suzuka have ridiculous potential too," Fumino muttered while keeping a close eye on the three youngsters, grinding her teeth.
"Kuroha really does have insane luck and an eye for talent."
…
While Fumino diligently watched over the three of them, out on the wooden corridor outside the trainers' office, Godolphin Arabian sat on the edge of the floorboards with zero goddess airs.
Her pale calves, tucked into sneakers, dangled in the air as she swung her legs back and forth.
Her long hair swayed with the breeze. With both hands braced at her sides, she watched the running figures below with a gentle gaze.
Sweat. Ragged breaths. Shouts. That life force that felt like it could pierce the sky.
Every bit of it made the goddess feel giddy to her core.
"Here."
A cup of steaming hot tea was offered to her.
Godolphin turned, accepted it, then smiled sweetly at Kuroha as he sat down beside her. "Thanks, Yu-kun."
"What're you watching so intently?" Kuroha asked, cradling his own cup as he followed her line of sight.
He happened to catch Tokai Teio finally reaching the top of the slope. She was panting hard, yet still threw her arms up in excitement and cheered.
"I'm watching 'hope.'"
Godolphin took a small sip of tea and closed her eyes in contentment, her voice turning faintly dreamy.
"They're so bright, these kids."
"That bursting vitality is exactly what I, Darley, and Byerley wanted to see back then."
She swung her legs lightly, as if drifting back into memories from a very long time ago.
"Three hundred years ago, we never planned on becoming gods."
"We just ran across the wilderness, and we hoped the joy of running could last forever."
Godolphin tilted her head toward Kuroha, a soft warmth in her eyes.
"If it means I can keep watching this scene… then losing my freedom and being trapped up in the heavens…"
"…That's honestly a pretty good trade."
"…"
Kuroha's grip on his teacup tightened slightly, words failing him.
He looked at the girl beside him, smiling like a flower in bloom, and an indescribable reverence rose in his chest.
In this world, about a hundred thousand horse girls "Jero-ize" every hundred generations or so.
And with Classic Year, Senior Year, and the peak phase, at least four generations of horse girls are active at the same time.
Which meant that, at any given moment, Godolphin and the other two goddesses had to maintain the operation of nearly four hundred thousand instances of Blessing Power without pause.
They split their strength into countless motes of light, illuminating the path for every horse girl as she ran.
For the children who had already been born, and for the children who would be born in the far-distant future.
As progenitors, they had silently endured nearly three hundred years of confinement and loneliness.
"…It's incredible," Kuroha finally murmured.
"Hm? Yu-kun, what did you just say?" Godolphin asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"It's nothing." Kuroha smiled and shook his head without explaining.
Then he turned to her and voiced the question that had been circling his mind.
"Speaking of which, Godolphin. Since you're here, there's something I want to ask you."
He extended his right hand.
A cluster of seven-colored Blessing Power flickered in his palm, pulsing softly.
Even though he'd compressed it down to about the size of a tennis ball, the energy inside it was still enough to make your skin prickle.
"Back when my power was weak, a single blessing could only keep Inari and the others in peak condition for half an hour at most."
"But now it's swelled dozens of times over…"
Kuroha frowned, looking down toward McQueen and the others on the field.
"It's stronger, sure, but now I'm even less willing to use it casually."
"Because you're worried power that strong could affect them?" Godolphin asked with a quiet laugh.
"Yeah." Kuroha nodded.
"Godolphin, if it's this upgraded version of the power… can it be used on retired horse girls who've lost the 'Three Goddesses' blessing?"
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]