"Here, President, this part of the paperwork is done; you only need to sign the rest."
Inside the Student Council office, Gold Legend placed the finished documents on Symboli Rudolf's desk.
"Oh, thanks for the hard work, Legend."
Wearing glasses, Symboli Rudolf looked less imposing than usual, more refined and elegant.
"…Amazing, finished so quickly. Looks like inviting you into the Student Council was the right call. Ah, I'll leave mine to you too."
Narita Brian marveled at Gold Legend's efficiency, then handed over half the files from her own desk.
"It's just that my major matches the work."
Gold Legend took them casually; this level of workload had been daily life in her previous existence—never underestimate a corporate slave!
"Still, you're a huge help, Legend. At last the Student Council has someone who actually gets things done instead of freeloading."
Miss Air Groove happily said that after Gold Legend joined the Student Council, her workload dropped by a full third, making the exhausted vice-president's fondness for the new recruit soar.
"Uh… is that really necessary?"
Mei Representative scratched the back of her head, embarrassed—at least she had the self-awareness.
"You all know exactly why!"
Air Groove's face went black.
Pinned under that low-pressure aura, Mei Representative could only give an awkward laugh, while Narita Brian and Maruzensky frantically sped up their work.
"Still, why is the Student Council buried in so much paperwork?"
Gold Legend wondered; a normal school shouldn't generate this kind of volume.
"Ah, this is all the backlog from the summer training camp, and since the Director delegated authority to us, we actually end up with a bit more on our plates."
Symboli Rudolf looked up, adjusted her glasses, and explained.
"Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever met the Director."
Mentioning the Director piqued Gold Legend's interest; since waking up, she hadn't run into the petite Chairman at all.
"The Director's schedule is packed; it's normal not to see her."
Rudolf nodded.
"Speaking of which, Legend-chan, how's training been lately?"
Maruzensky finished her current task with laser focus, changing the subject before Rudolf could launch into a lecture.
"Same as always. Lately, though, I'm not getting much out of it."
Gold Legend's training had always leaned toward technique and response; for her, physical conditioning paid off far less than the stats that kept rising on their own.
Maruzensky often ran alongside her and knew exactly what she meant.
"So Legend-chan's hit another wall?"
"If you insist on phrasing it that way, sure."
"Oh? Do tell."
Instantly Mei Representative perked up; this was her kind of topic.
"It's nothing major—I just feel like I can't bring out my full power. Like grinding for a platinum trophy and getting stuck at 99%."
Gold Legend offered a less-than-perfect analogy.
"?"
The ever-serious Symboli Rudolf couldn't parse it.
Mei Representative, however, got it at once.
"Haha! For an Uma Musume, output comes down to Mind-Body-Technique: mood, physical condition, and skill mastery. Which one's giving you trouble?"
"Mentally? There's some lingering stuff, but lately it hasn't been a problem."
Gold Legend mused; the confusion was still there, but since she could already open her Domain, it clearly wasn't holding her back.
"Physically, I'm perfectly fine."
Ever since waking, her body had only grown stronger.
"Which leaves… skills, right?"
Maruzensky picked up the thread.
"May I ask—since you were invited into the Student Council, that means you've mastered a Domain, correct? What's your Exclusive Skill?"
Narita Brian stood, walked to the window, plucked a blade of grass and stuck it in her mouth.
Yikes, Big Sis Air Groove's glare is terrifying.
Seeing that murderous look behind Brian, Gold Legend's ears flattened.
"Exclusive Skill? What's that?"
"…"
Silence fell; even Air Groove forgot to throttle Brian, exclaiming, "You don't know what an Exclusive Skill is? But you've unlocked a Domain!"
"I have. What does that have to do with Exclusive Skills?"
Newbie Legend-chan voiced her innocent question.
"Seriously? How on earth did you unlock a Domain?"
Brian rubbed the lump Air Groove had given her, voice rising in shock.
"As I've said, a Domain is the sublimation of Mind-Body-Technique."
Rudolf stepped forward, removed her glasses, and began to explain.
"Think of a Domain as a house: your raw physique is the foundation, your mental awakening the roof; skills are the load-bearing walls and pillars built from experience and sweat—the supports of the Domain. The Exclusive Skill is the central beam."
"A Domain is an ascension for an Uma Musume. In game terms, it's like a special class-change: every skill you already know is altered by the Domain's boost. The one you've practiced the most will evolve through the Domain and your own insight into a uniquely powerful, personal technique—that's your Exclusive Skill."
Mei Representative added a simple analogy.
I see.
"Basically get it. Next question: what exactly is a skill?"
Gold Legend asked like the textbook definition of clueless.
"…"
Absolute silence.
"Legend-chan, you…"
Maruzensky was at a loss for words.
"To be honest, Sister Maruzensky, I've never received a formal Uma Musume education."
Realizing she'd asked something dumb, Gold Legend clarified.
"Hah!"
With a sigh, Symboli Rudolf spoke.
"Legend, do you know the three major systems of Uma Musume?"
"My Trainer mentioned acceleration, recovery, and interference techniques."
"Those are the skills of an Uma Musume."
"Huh? Isn't that just a technique?"
That's not what I heard.
"To humans, they are indeed just techniques."
Rudolf explained.
"These techniques were once used by humans, small tricks for races, originally considered insignificant by humans."
They couldn't determine victory or change the outcome; they were merely icing on the cake.
"Until an Uma Musume used them."
The Uma Musume's miraculous physique allowed these small tricks to display effects beyond common sense.
"After that, these three systems were passed down and gradually perfected through generations, forming the Three Major Systems known today. To humans, they are still just techniques, but to Uma Musume, they are skills that can truly be called [Abilities]."
"I see."
I learned something new. I didn't expect the skills in the game to be so awesome.
I can definitely use this next time!
"Returning to the main topic, [Domains] differ because of the Uma Musume. It can be said that [Domains] possess specialized properties, and the best manifestation of this is the Exclusive Skill. That is something that forges the [Zone] and is born from the [Zone], and it is also the means to best utilize the [Zone]'s power. Theoretically, it is the foundation that every [Legend] Uma Musume possesses."
"In that case, it seems I'm an exception."
Gold Legend nodded happily.
Now that the problem was known, a direction for solving it existed.
Utter bliss!
"Yes, you are indeed an exception."
Rudolf's gaze was meaningful.
"In that case, President, is there any quick way to achieve it."
"No. Ultimately, skills are the accumulation of experience and the shaping of sweat. There is no other way except practice."
"Then it seems I'll have to remain in this awkward state for a while longer."
That's truly painful.
Gold Legend shook her head and resumed handling her work.
"It's not impossible to take a shortcut. We can teach you. Although you won't grasp it instantly like divine enlightenment, you can avoid a lot of detours."
Qian Ming Representative's eyes darted around, and she leaned over with a grin, patting Legend's shoulder.
"...So, what is the price?"
Gold Legend raised an eyebrow, looking at Qian Ming Representative's malicious smile.
"All of this!"
Qian Ming Representative handed her documents to Gold Legend. She believed this junior, who was quite to her liking, would understand.
"...I understand. I will handle Senior's work."
"Wait, count me in."
Maruzensky, instantly understanding their transaction, immediately declared, "How could Big Sister me be left out of something like this?"
"Me too!"
Narita Brian, whose reaction was half a beat slow, also joined in.
"Alright then. Seniors, you must properly [Instruct] me."
Looking at these three shameless seniors, Gold Legend gritted her teeth and accepted the documents.
This level is far from enough! Don't underestimate an Office Slave!
"You lot..."
Air Groove rubbed her brow, feeling her blood pressure rising slightly.
"No matter, this isn't bad either."
Rudolf said with a smile.
"President!"
"Take it easy, Air Groove. At least you don't have to re-read their three sets of documents just in case, right? Plus, without them, our work efficiency can increase even more."
"...That seems true."
Air Groove thought about Gold Legend's work efficiency, then considered the usual efficiency of the trio, and nodded.
"Well, let's work hard together."
Rudolf nodded.
Today's Student Council was business as usual.
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