Having trained real horses, why are we now training racehorse girls after time-traveling?

Chapter 108: The Media Trouble That Followed

"That's great, Nutao. Your body is fine. After you rest for a while, you can return to the competition."

After Good Opera interrupted the ambiguous atmosphere between Nutao and Wada in the ward, it began to discuss things with Nutao as a friend. Moreover, this time it wasn't just Good Opera who came along; outside, several horse girls who were close to Nutao, such as Aiko Orihime and Naritaji, also followed closely behind into the ward. Clearly, they were all very worried about Nutao's condition.

"Actually, Senior Jinlang and Chitian had heard about Nutao's situation and had come before, but I sent them back this time. After all, we can't let our situation delay their training progress."

He Tian also explained to Nu Tao, "Everyone brought gifts. Nu Tao, you've been exhausted lately. Once you're sure you're alright, after we return to Teresen Academy, you should rest well and be observed for a while."

"Trainer, I actually think I'm all better now..." Nu Tao cautiously raised his hand, trying to fight for his right to train.

"No, rest is also part of training, without question." Wada decisively rejected Nutao's request. He had now mastered some ways to deal with Nutao—that is, to directly and firmly refuse Nutao on matters where there was absolutely no room for compromise, and Nutao would definitely not argue back.

As expected, upon hearing Hetian's words, Nutao's horse ears drooped in grievance, but he remained silent. Nutao's friends around him smiled slightly, quite pleased with Hetian's gesture.

Nutao really needs to rest now. Narita and Aimo Orihime don't know why Nutao is exhausted. The racehorse girls themselves can't perceive the clash of momentum, so they just assume that he is overworked or that he collapsed because he exhausted all his strength in the race. Of course, they came to visit Nutao with apologies. After all, no matter what happened on the racetrack, they are still friends.

"But the most urgent thing right now is... Trainer Wada, are you aware of the rumors circulating outside?"

"...Rumors?"

However, Narita's words startled everyone else in the ward. Narita glanced at their expressions and knew they were completely unaware of what had happened outside in the past two days. He then took out a newspaper from his bag.

"Actually, I didn't know about this at first. It was Orihime's trainer who told my trainer about it, and that's how I found out. I was planning to tell you about it while I was visiting Nutao."

"Trainer Wada, regarding the news of Nutao collapsing after the recent competition, there are some... um... not-so-friendly comments in the newspapers..."

Narita was trying her best to find a milder wording, but before she could finish speaking, her admirer Orihime immediately took the newspaper from Narita's hand, and soon her eyes fell on the headline that occupied a considerable space.

"The Treson Academy Scandal—Suspected Trainer Abuses Racehorse Girls, Causing Them to Collapse During Races—What is this?!"

"What?!" X2

However, Ai Musou's words, spoken with such devotion, surprised both Good Opera and Raging Waves. Raging Waves struggled to get up but failed, while Good Operas immediately went over and soon saw the report.

"In the ongoing Japanese derby, after Treson Academy's Uma Musume Kou Kaigeki won the competition, Uma Musume's star rider, Noutou, who belongs to the same team, fell into a coma after the match and had to undergo emergency treatment, which is worrying."

"Afterwards, according to some insiders, the reason why the famous Nyutō trainer, Ryūji Wada, was so optimistic about the newcomer, Hōgeki, forced Nyutō to give up the competition for the three championships and subjected him to a brutal training program."

"The renowned Nyutō, who achieved outstanding results at the Satsuki Sho, chose to draw the attention of Orihime and Narita Ryūji during the All-Japan Derby due to Wada Ryūji's tactical objectives, in order to cover Oiran's breakout. After the match, he fell into a coma due to excessive fatigue."

"—Ryuji Wada did not give a direct response to this. Rudolf, the student council president of Tressen Academy, stated that Tressen Academy's trainers would never commit such a despicable act, and that trainer Ryuji Wada had absolutely not acted as alleged by the informed source, demanding a direct response from that informed source… The specific situation is still under investigation…"

Good Opera read these reports aloud word by word, but the more she read, the deeper her brows furrowed, until finally, even someone as good-tempered as Good Opera's face began to darken slightly.

This is the world's only newspaper with complete coverage of "Uma Musume Pretty Derby," so all the news on it is about Uma Musume Pretty Derby in Japan and even the world. The fact that it occupies such a prominent place in this newspaper is, in a sense, a very serious issue.

"That's utter nonsense!" Ai Mu Shiri exclaimed indignantly upon hearing this, almost swearing at the icy beauty.

"How...how could this be?" Nu Tao also realized that things hadn't gone as she expected; instead, they had caused enormous trouble for her trainer and fellow opera enthusiasts. She couldn't help but wail as she said:

"I... I did it voluntarily! It's not the trainer's fault—this tactic was my own idea, and the trainer was clearly teaching me diligently and never abused me!"

"...Sometimes, whether you are guilty or not does not depend on the truth, but on the fact that when everyone thinks you are guilty, then you are truly guilty."

However, Wada took the newspaper from the opera enthusiast and read it through carefully from beginning to end. With a rather helpless expression, he said, "...Japanese newspapers really do have this same feel no matter where they are."

"—Trainer, I, I can go and explain to them."

Nu Tao, however, anxiously said to He Tian, ​​tears welling up in his eyes, "I can explain to the reporters that I did it voluntarily, the trainers didn't mistreat me, and my skills are indeed not as good as Hao Opera's..."

“…Nutō, it’s no use responding now. After all, you’re the racehorse girl in charge of the Wada training camp. Everyone will just think you were threatened and said those words. The news will probably be even uglier then.” Narita explained helplessly to Nutō. His friend really didn’t understand Japanese newspapers at all.

This situation is quite obvious; the Hotan trainer and the opera enthusiast's partner have touched a nerve with someone. That's why someone is making a big fuss about it, attempting to crush Hotan through public opinion.

If it were a typical rookie trainer, they would probably have lost their composure in the face of such a situation, desperately trying to clear their name, only to make things worse. Then, due to excessive pressure, they might neglect the training of the racehorse girls, or worse... they might even contemplate suicide.

Unfortunately, while the young Wada was not defeated by external criticism, the current Wada, who has long been familiar with Japanese journalists and news agencies, has no interest in these minor public opinions.

It's just disgusting. But no newspaper that's so unscrupulous and only cares about sales isn't disgusting; after all, all they care about is big news. They lead the charge in criticizing, and when it comes to whitewashing, they're the most diligent than anyone else.

"Then, what should we do?" Nu Tao was completely panicked. She hadn't expected that her willfulness would cause such a huge consequence. She felt extremely guilty and remorseful.

"Don't worry, Nutao, Good Opera and I will handle this matter properly."

Wada gently rubbed Nutao's head. He knew that at this time, he absolutely could not say much to the outside world, but he could not say nothing at all either. Wada already had a general idea of ​​this.

As for who exactly was behind this underhanded tactic... Wada didn't care. After all, his relationship with many people in the media and the central government was already strained, but it couldn't have been that bad.

Beside Hetian, Haogeju was unusually silent, but the confident smile on her face was gone, replaced by an unusual anger that made her unconsciously clench her fists.

Chapter 109: Even good opera can get angry.

A few days later, after confirming that the famous general Nu Tao was no longer in serious condition, He Tian led his group back to Treson Academy. However, this time, before they could even enter the academy, they were surrounded by a group of reporters who seemed to be lying in wait.

However, this time, He Tian did not pay attention to the reporters. Instead, he had Good Opera and Raging Waves follow him back to the academy. Normally, unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter the Teresen Academy, not even these reporters.

Wada didn't care how some people would imagine his relationship with the two racehorse girls, or how many people would be misled by the media's misunderstandings. These days, people are willing to believe what they want to believe, and big data and journalists are good at telling people what they want to hear.

Therefore, many pointless defenses will only make things worse. It is best to simply state your position and after about a week, everyone will forget about it again.

"Trainer... I'm so sorry... Because of me, the trainer and the opera student have encountered such a huge problem..."

After finally breaking free from the reporters' swarm and finally asking Ms. Suguru Tsuna to close the gates of Tressen Academy, the renowned general, Nutsuo, who had been extremely uneasy throughout, gripped Wada's hand and timidly spoke:

"I...I guess I'm hopeless now, having caused everyone so much trouble..."

“Nu Tao, don’t wallow in self-pity. This matter is clearly not just aimed at us. It could be aimed at our team that is now making waves, or even at Treson Academy. We are just a trigger point for this. There are people outside waiting for us to collapse on our own.”

As for Nutao, Hetian patted Nutao's cheek quite solemnly and seriously, hoping to help the little racehorse girl regain some of her energy, and then continued:

“We can’t let them have their way. If we disintegrate from within, the only ones who will be happy are those who are secretly plotting against us. So now, trust yourself, trust us, and we will handle this.”

"...If possible, you should postpone your participation in the Chrysanthemum Festival. After you've rested well, I'll arrange other GII or GI events for you."

"But, but if I'm not at the Chrysanthemum Appreciation—what if my opera friend…"

Nu Tao couldn't finish her sentence, so now that Good Opera was right next to Hotan, she really couldn't bring herself to say it. If it weren't for her covering for Good Opera at the Chrysanthemum Awards, would Good Opera's dream of winning three crowns be cut short at the most challenging Chrysanthemum Awards?

While the Japanese Derby is the race that requires the most luck among the classic Triple Crowns, there is a fundamental difference between the Japanese Derby and the Kikuka Sho. If the Japanese Derby is the race that requires the most luck, then the Kikuka Sho is the race that tests the hard skills of the horse girls the most.

First of all, the distance of the Kikuka Sho race is enough to deter a large number of female racehorses – a full 3000 meters. For female racehorses that can only run miles or short distances, this distance alone is enough to discourage them.

Even Oguri Hat, the star racehorse from Tresson College, is only good at miles and middle distances. A 3000-meter race is a considerable challenge even for this legendary predecessor.

Both Raging Waves and Good Opera are well-suited for long-distance races, which puts Raging Waves at ease. However, she hasn't forgotten that there's also a racehorse named Mejiro McQueen participating in the Chrysanthemum Sho!

Mejiro McQueen, this name can represent so much, the most representative of which is the surname "Mejiro". The Mejiro family aims for the Emperor's Prize, a fact known to all racehorse girls. It can be said that every racehorse girl from the Mejiro family has a unique advantage in long-distance races.

Add to that Orihime's love and Narita-kun's protection—without her cover, could Kōgeki-kun really have defeated so many formidable opponents?

Perhaps in terms of explosive power, Good Opera can definitely beat Mejiro McQueen, but in long-distance races, Mejiro McQueen's terrifying endurance, coupled with his already impressive explosive power... makes Nu Tao's thoughts somewhat pessimistic.

"Hahahaha! My most beloved minister, you should have more faith in me, the overlord!"

However, Good Opera laughed confidently upon hearing this, patted Nu Tao on the shoulder, and then casually patted He Tian beside him, saying:

"I have my most loyal subjects! And the strongest overlord of this era! With this combination, we will undoubtedly rule this era! Therefore, Nutao, you don't need to worry about us at all. Now you just need to take care of your health and wait for the upcoming competition to become a strongman who can stand shoulder to shoulder with me, the overlord!"

"Good opera student... be careful."

Nu Tao was still somewhat uneasy upon hearing this, but Hao Geju's words made sense. Even Nu Tao believed that the combination of his trainer and Hao Geju would be invincible.

Perhaps I'm just worrying unnecessarily...

"In that case, I'll go back and rest now... Good opera students, trainers, you guys keep it up!"

"You must do your best! I'm really looking forward to it. Even if I can't play in the Chrysanthemum Appreciation, I will definitely send my blessings to you all."

Nu Tao waved her hand gently before slowly leaving the scene. Her recovery was going well, but this period of rest was definitely necessary for her. It might slow down Nu Tao's training progress, but He Tian hoped that Nu Tao could recover to a completely healthy state.

"--Well then, I should go and rest for a bit. Ryuji, if you need me regarding the reporters, just let me know." Good Opera bid farewell to Wada as if nothing had happened; she wasn't very good at handling issues related to the reporters.

On the contrary, he might worry that if he lost control of his emotions, it might lead to extremely serious consequences. Therefore, Good Opera entrusted the matter with Wada without worry, so he didn't want to cause any trouble for himself.

After saying goodbye to Wada, Hao Geju did not head towards the dormitory to rest as he had said. Instead, he silently walked towards the training ground, his expression subtly changing.

"...Are you angry?"

At that moment, another "Good Opera" figure slowly appeared beside Good Opera, saying in a somewhat solemn tone: "Is it because your ability is being questioned?"

"...You should understand, the other me, the Overlord, will not get angry because of a few little dogs barking at my feet. That would be an insult to the glory of the Overlord."

However, the opera singer still wore a smile, but that smile was completely different from her usual confident demeanor, as if any words she heard could be taken as praise.

It was just a forced smile. If Wada were there, he would probably be shocked by the opera's expression; he never expected the opera to show such anger.

Good opera singers are indeed very good-natured. No matter how much hostility, jealousy, or even resentment others harbor towards her, she can get through it all as if nothing has happened. She can take all the malicious words as "praise" because all this jealousy is built on her strength.

However, this does not mean that people can lay a hand on their beloved trainers, ruin their reputation, or damage their bonds.

If you question Good Opera, you'll at most be met with a confident, even arrogant, response from Good Opera; but if you question Ryuji Wada, Good Opera might really lose its composure and good temper.

Even a tyrant has a temper, and once he gets angry, the consequences can be severe.

"My other self, can you help me? Help me become a true overlord!"

"—This is my purpose, another version of myself." Upon hearing this, "Good Opera" smiled slightly. However, even though she was just a phantom, her face showed an expression similar to Good Opera's smile at this moment—cold and full of fighting spirit.

"We're still the same as before, aren't we? I'm a little angry too."

Chapter 110: Did the Goldsmith Discover Ikezom's Help?

The commotion surrounding Wada had already spread throughout Treson Academy. However, after Rudolf, the student council president, declared with righteous indignation that the information from these so-called "insiders" was completely fabricated, and with the strong support of Nutsuo, Aimo Orihime, Narita, and others, the many voices within Treson finally subsided.

Following closely behind, Wada, as a person who has attracted much attention in this incident, had to be pushed forward to explain at this critical moment. However, facing the various questions from reporters, Wada, who was well prepared, remained calm and composed, and had already prepared to deal with all kinds of tricky questions.

"As Chairman Rudolf said, I still hope that the so-called 'insiders' reported by various newspapers can confront me face to face. But if they are unwilling to show up, then without solid evidence, please respect the efforts of my two racehorse girls."

"After Nutao fell into a coma, Good Opera and I stayed at the hospital almost all day, and while I was doing all this, not a single reporter or person involved spoke out. But when I returned with my beloved racehorses, some people questioned my indifference to their health. So, I ask you, is all of this a coincidence, or was it deliberately arranged?"

"As a trainer at Treson Academy and the only trainer in this Japanese Derby with two female racehorses qualified to compete, I take a responsible attitude towards the female racehorses I am responsible for. As for the doubts from the outside world—I think it is more appropriate to explain with the results of the Kikuka Sho."

—Wada Ryuji's answer was quickly publicized by the newspaper staff, and Wada was no longer concerned about how much of their reporting was embellished.

Instead of wasting time arguing with these reporters, it would be better to focus on good operas and Nutao. Nutao's recovery is going very well, and she returned to training a few days later. However, Hetian still does not allow her to undergo high-intensity training as usual, but instead starts with daily training.

The only thing that worried Wada was Good Opera. After returning from the Japanese derby, Good Opera took the initiative to ask Wada to also wear weights for training.

Good Opera's physique isn't as... robust as Nutau's. In Wada's memory, whether it's the original horse or the current Saima Musume, Good Opera is not as strong as the famous Nutau. The explosive power of Good Opera means that it can't be without strength, but whether that strength can be withstood by the bones... is also a serious question.

After all, in Hotan's impression, although good opera is an early-maturing horse, after it began to decline in later years, the frequency of injuries was actually not low.