Hill training.
An advanced program developed by Western horse-girl organizations for horse-girl running training.
Its feature is long up-slope sprints—wringing out stamina limits to hard-forge body and will. Typically, two to three hill sessions a week guarantee good results.
However…
"Four hill sessions in one day?!"
Stardust Mirage stared at the deliberately lengthened uphill track, stunned.
She didn't fear high-intensity training, but after reading the hill-training brief Hushan had given her, she had to wonder.
"It clearly says two to three times a week is optimal. Even if we increase volume, how do we go from two or three a week to four a day?!"
"Bourbon already finished four hill sessions while you were being examined this morning."
The trainer's face was ice-cold.
Stardust Mirage had realized: when it came to training, Hushan turned into a demon. No trace of mercy.
"Miho Bourbon already…"
She held her tongue and didn't directly oppose the plan.
"If there are no other questions, let's start. We're only doing afternoons today because of your tests. From now on, you'll do hill training with Bourbon every morning—right now, your top priority is raising your fitness with this."
Hushan jerked her chin: to the line.
"You really aren't afraid of breaking Bourbon…"
Stardust Mirage sighed and took her place.
"This is Bourbon's choice—Ready, run!"
At the signal, Stardust Mirage charged up the slope.
Western organizations champion hill work because proper uphill running can raise Power, Stamina, and Speed simultaneously, effectively train leg muscles, adjust knee joint state, and even lower knee injury risk.
But four sessions a day is extreme. Without proper technique, you can't adjust knee state at all—and may even grind them down, diving into endless knee pain.
Luckily, she didn't need to worry. The gamified body's greatest gift was absolute immunity to injury. So as long as she could endure, this high-intensity program would be only beneficial.
Running, Stardust Mirage adjusted her breathing and recalled an anime clip from before she crossed worlds.
In it, Special Week learned two key techniques from paired runs with Taiki Shuttle…
"I think it was…"
With that thought, she began changing her form—lifting her torso slightly instead of leaning forward, shortening her stride, quickening cadence, landing more on the front half of the spikes shod with horseshoes…
Da-da-da-da-da-da!
Rapid footfalls echoed on the slope. At first she was flustered—extra expending strength just to keep balance.
But with persistent attempts, that peculiar grip on the ground slowly came to her. Paired with hurried steps and forefoot landings, her body clearly felt lighter!
In an unnoticed corner of the system, a line of gold flashed:
[Skill acquired: Mountaineer.]
"She actually learned uphill technique on her own…"
On the sidelines, Hushan's eyes widened.
She'd planned to teach this tomorrow, to give Stardust a deeper understanding.
She hadn't expected Stardust to master it on the very first prolonged uphill—without any reference. Was this the "high comprehension" the old man had praised?!
It's absurd. First long up-slope, no examples, and she picks up a new gait…
…
But by the third hill session, Stardust Mirage clearly hit a stamina wall.
Even with uphill technique, she couldn't change her physique. Her whole body—especially her legs—started to scream. Her breathing turned ragged.
By the fourth, every step challenged her limits. The moment her body wanted to slacken, Hushan's bloodless roar came from ahead:
"What do you think you're doing, Stardust Mirage! What's with that face—those eyes—and those soft steps!"
"Want to give up? With a half-baked mindset like yours you dare to publicly declare you're challenging the Classic Triple Crown?! And you—wearing that 'Oguri Cap II' glory!"
What is this, training Ultraman? Boot up the CPU just to rattle off routines?!
She grumbled silently.
But griping was one thing. She drove her legs on without hesitation.
Hushan's chicken soup was harsh, but not wrong. If you want the Triple Crown, you must seize every chance to improve.
With a system that steadily strengthens you through training—and with the old man and Oguri pinning hopes on you—are you going to get crushed like in your debut again?
Impossible!
Sweat poured off her. Her face went pale. Her feet felt like lead. Her chest heaved like a bellows, every breath burning her lungs.
She clenched her teeth and kept going, not slowing a bit. At this point, there was only one thought left:
I will see this through!!!
Thud.
"Good. Done!"
At the finish, Hushan shouted and lunged to catch Stardust Mirage as she collapsed. Under that stern face flickered a trace of satisfaction.
"You did it, Stardust Mirage. Four hill sessions—complete!"
"This… this is… uh… a piece… of cake…"
She was too spent to form words. Her heart pounded like war drums.
On her system panel, "Stamina +20" flashed once.
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