In the end, Zero accepted her fate, and after setting the time for their outing, everyone dispersed.
Actually, it was nothing much; it was just that Heavy Gun and Marvelous Sunday, two children famous for being "full of vigor," might create a 1+1 > 2 chemical reaction when they got together. At worst, she could bring Alice Digital along to share the burden; after all, she would never refuse an invitation to go out with an Uma Musume.
And now Zero was going to find Air Groove; it was time to help her test medicine.
She basically went once every two months, and Manchester Cafe and Fuji Kiseki usually handled most of the drug testing.
It wasn't a big deal; those potions underwent strict testing, and she would only find people to test drugs that were confirmed not to have any bad effects, otherwise her small research institute would definitely be torn down by Rudolph.
And when she arrived at the laboratory, she found an unexpected figure.
"Rice Shower?"
"Ah, Z-chan, good afternoon," Rice Shower looked a little surprised.
Seeing Rice Shower and Chaza friendly drinking coffee, Zero couldn't help but feel a little confused.
"Good afternoon. By the way, when did you two become friends?"
"Ah, Rice Shower fell once before and scraped herself. Then the infirmary was temporarily closed because the staff had something to do. She wanted to borrow the key from the Student Council to get into the infirmary and apply medicine herself, but it seemed like the Student Council was all out that day…" Rice Shower's expression suddenly darkened as she recounted her experience that day, word by word.
"Then, Chaza brought Rice Shower here and asked Air Groove to help apply the medicine. After that, they became friends."
"I see. Chaza, I'm quite surprised you'd go out for a stroll or something. By the way, where's Suko?"
"…It's not like I spend all day in the lab =_=." Chaza rolled her eyes, holding a mug of coffee. "As for Suko, she went to ask Rudolph for funding. She'll probably be back in a while, looking dejected."
Air Groove and Rudolph Symbol's most frequent interaction was probably Suko asking for funding and Rudolph rejecting her.
"But it's good that you're here today, Little Zero. Suko just developed a new medicine today."
"Ah, well, I'll head back then." New medicines often have very strange side effects, and she didn't want to try it. Today, Chaza could continue to be the test subject.
But she was immediately caught by Chaza.
"You're not allowed to leave. I've tested so many for you; it's your turn today."
"No way! Let go! Suko is coming back!"
"Oh? What about me?"
"!!" x2
The voice from behind made the two bickering figures stiffen.
Turning around, it was, of course, Air Groove, accompanied by Rudolph Symbol.
"What? Rudolph, were you dragged here to be a test subject too?"
"No… Suko said she made a very useful medicine, and I came to see its specific effects." Rudolph coughed awkwardly.
"The truth?"
"The Chairman is in the Student Council Room. Air Groove is looking after her now. (whispers)"
"I understand."
Rice Shower, on the side, watched the incomprehensible development with an 'ovo' expression.
"So, what is this medicine?" Since the main person was here, Ling couldn't leave, so she simply asked about the medicine's effects. Although the side effects were unknown, at least she could have some idea.
"It's a medicine that can heal Uma Musume's injuries, made from the materials you gave me."
"Heh… what did you research?"
The system's treatment plan, of course, wasn't just about healing injuries; it also included various medicines. Ling had once given Suko several wound-healing potions to see if Suko could replicate them. If so, it would be a good thing for all Uma Musume.
"Hmm, so I just wanted to apply for a little more funding."
"Then first, explain to me what the tea and coffee bean expenses in the funding mean =_=." Rudolph unhesitatingly exposed her.
"Well, after all, we have to ensure the mental stability of the researchers, right? After drinking tea, everyone feels much better."
"Didn't I just give you a can?" Ling's eye twitched. How did she still write this into the funding application?
"Suko said those were too precious; she had to drink them slowly, little by little. And by the way, so did I." Chaza took a sip of coffee.
"ovo" Rice Shower looked over with curiosity.
"Alright, so, do I need to injure myself first?"
"No need for that. Based on my analysis and experience, the medicine you provided me with will give Uma Musume a special sensation. You just need to drink it and describe what you feel." Suko pulled a test tube with a blue liquid from her sleeve.
"Are you carrying it with you all the time =_=?"
"After all, if I don't bring some samples, this Miss Rudolph wouldn't believe me." Suko smiled proudly.
"Alright, anyway, let me see the specific effects. Don't worry, there will definitely be no accidents. At most, there will be some side effects."
Taking the test tube, Ling pulled out the stopper and drank it directly. Dragging it out would only waste everyone's time, and she also had the Three Goddesses system to back her up.
How to describe it… the taste of the medicine… "Ugh…!" Ling's eyes suddenly widened, and she quickly got a glass of water from the dispenser nearby and drank it.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Rudolph was a little worried.
"So sweet!"
It was exceptionally sweet, sickeningly sweet. For someone like Ling, who diluted honey water ten times, this sweetness was like someone who never ate spicy food eating extra spicy chili number five.
"So, what are your thoughts? Any special sensations?" Air Groove was more concerned about the medicine's effect.
"Emmmm… nothing, I just feel… a little…?" Suddenly feeling a dizzy spell, Ling collapsed directly.
"Eh!? Little Zero!?" This was the last sound Ling heard.
The protagonist is gone, the end (mist).
After an unknown amount of time, when Ling came to, she found herself on a sofa.
"Ah! Little Zero is awake!"
"Tsk tsk, unexpectedly cute."
"Suko, I advise you to apologize to her first."
"Got it~"
"Ugh… so noisy…?" Rubbing her head, Ling sat up and realized her voice sounded a bit off.
Looking up, even Rice Shower, who was a bit shorter than her, seemed very tall. Could it be!?
She looked at the mirror beside her; it was a very familiar appearance.
Yes, it was how she looked when she first came to this world, a five-year-old pony.
"Suko, I think… you could research how to solidify this side effect more deeply. You're sure to win an award."
"Unexpectedly calm. It seems her mind is still the same?"
"Pretty much. Also, Rice Shower, can you let go of me?"
"No… no! Little Zero is so small now; it would be very dangerous if she stumbled around here!" Rice Shower firmly rejected her.
Seeing the stars and hearts in the other party's eyes, Ling could only give up.
"Also, solidification is impossible. When I tried it myself, I only had a headache for a day; that situation didn't happen." Suko also looked a bit troubled now, after all, the same medicine producing different effects on different people… [We did it!]
[It's been a while since we've seen Little Zero like this. Let's refine her!]
Hehe, it was indeed you unscrupulous Goddesses… Now Ling felt her body was abnormally weak, or rather, powerless. It wasn't the effect of any medicine; it was mainly because her physical quality was too high before, and now that she had reverted to the low-quality body of a toddler, she couldn't adapt.
"So, how long will this situation last?"
"I'm not sure. At least, based on my own headache, it will last about 24 hours. I don't know about you."
[It's also 24 hours~]
That last question was, of course, asked to the Three Goddesses, but asking Suko also gave her a little psychological preparation, and at the same time, hinted to the Three Goddesses not to go too far.
"Sorry, I should have figured out the specifics before coming to you…" Suko's ears drooped now, looking very dejected.
"It's alright, nothing happened to me anyway. Let's talk if it's not better after 24 hours." After subtly signaling Chaza to comfort Suko, Ling broke free from Rice Shower's embrace and landed on the ground.
Comforting her herself wouldn't be very effective. It would be more convenient to avoid her for now and come back to show her that she was fine tomorrow… What the heck!?
Thump.
And then she fell directly.
Damn it, her legs felt so weak!
In the end, Rice Shower took her back to her own home. Speaking of which, everyone from Spica was also training today; going there in this state felt like it would cause a big problem… "Hehehe… I feel like Rice Shower has become an older sister~" Rice Shower looked very happy on the way back, holding Ling.
"Well…" Since Rice Shower was so happy, Ling just went along with her.
"But I really have no strength now, so I humbly ask Sister Rice Shower to protect me well~" It was just playing along a bit; she wouldn't lose a limb, and Rice Shower's smile was very cute. Ling felt it was worth pretending.
"Mhm! Leave it to Rice Shower!"
It was also thanks to her mind being preserved; otherwise, her image would probably be completely ruined.
In her previous life, wouldn't she know what her personality was like when she was a child? Even if she didn't know, her own mother would have exposed it when pulling out photo albums to reminisce.
Fortunately, the Three Goddesses hadn't gone to that extent of depravity.
Someone was unaware that in a mysterious place, four Goddesses were secretly discussing something.
"Eclipse, this time it didn't work. How did it go wrong?"
"I couldn't help it. I didn't expect her to drink it so directly; I didn't have time to finish adjusting."
"It's okay, next time, next time we'll make her mind turn into a child's too. Then we'll have Rei Bo to dote on!"
"Good idea!"
"Rei Zai's doomsday is here, hehehe…"
"From now on, it's Rei Bo's era!"
So, having such Three Goddesses following Ling was tragic in many ways.