I'm Ornn, and I'm about to be beaten to my knees by the Man-eating Horse Girl!

'Hmm, I'll make a call when I get back.'

Chapter 198 Conversation of Two Reeds

"Ugh! Training was so tiring today!"

Shining brightly, he rubbed his bulging belly and let out a satisfied burp, saying, "But I'm so full, burp!"

"Hehe, my benefactor isn't here today, so I'll have a little treat! Otherwise, he wouldn't have let me eat so much!"

Fujimasa March said speechlessly, "Is it possible that even if Orn isn't here, he could still know you ate so much?"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Shining Bright wagged her tail smugly and held up her finger, saying, "I already had a plan! When we were getting the food today, I put all the extra plates on Ooguri's head!"

"Even if our benefactor comes back, he'll only see in the cafeteria logbook that Oguri took a little extra food! He won't suspect me at all!"

Then, she raised a second finger and said, "Second! I've figured out why our benefactor knew how much cake we stole!"

"Even if he disguises himself well, he can't escape my brilliant deduction!!"

As she spoke, she turned to look at the members of Dolan's team, a smug expression on her face saying, "Come ask me!"

Fujimasa rolled his eyes, pretending not to see the yearning look in New Glory's eyes.

However, Megumi Ardan, who came from a prestigious family, was more humane and gave the newly radiant Ardan a way out.

She asked with a smile, "So, our clever and radiant new lord, what is your reasoning?"

Two puffs of hot air shot out from her brand-new, gleaming nostrils, and she said rather smugly, "Heh heh, actually the answer is quite simple!"

"While Trainer Sato wasn't looking, I quietly asked Sakura Chiyo if her trainer was spying on us from upstairs,"

"At first, Chiyo was very resistant. She kept shaking her head and wouldn't say anything, so I took a few of the cream puffs we had left to lure her, and threatened her at the same time! If she didn't tell the truth, I would tickle her!"

"Not long after, Chiyo confessed everything!"

"......"

After these words, a silence fell over the members of Dolan's team.

After a long silence, Megumi Ardan hesitated and said, "Doing this... isn't that just lying?"

Shining Radiance waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Hey! Aldan, you're mistaken!"

"This isn't deception; it's a creative and efficient communication method between horse girls, based on the fundamental needs of both parties. It's reasonable and legitimate!"

Meguro Ardan was still somewhat hesitant. She asked, "But...but this is still a lie, isn't it?"

"No, no! This is not a lie, but a transaction that was voluntary on both sides!"

The newly radiant figure continued spouting fallacies, seducing the audience: "As long as no one finds out, I'm not committing a crime, am I?"

"Ouch! It hurts! March! Let me go!"

Fujimasa, annoyed, reached out and pinched the deer-haired boy's ears, who was spouting nonsense. She sneered, "Hmph, don't lead Aldan astray. If the Mejiro family holds you accountable, Orn and I won't protect you."

The newly radiant woman, who was still trying to argue, shuddered when she heard what she said, and her struggles lessened.

Little Deer Hair turned her head mechanically, looked at Ardan with a slightly stammering voice, and asked, "R-really? Ardan, you...you won't hurt me, will you?"

"Right...right?"

Meguro Ardan said with a smile, "Oh... I didn't know?"

Shining Radiance shook her head, wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, and with a quick glance, changed the subject, saying, "By the way, does this year's festival not start until August?"

"I've never participated in a formal festival before, I'm really looking forward to it! I just wonder if our benefactor will give us a day off..."

"It's impossible that he still wants us to train even though it's already a festival, right?"

Ardan tilted his head and said, "I don't think Mr. Orn would be so... mean, would he? He'll definitely rest when he needs to!"

The new radiance seemed to suddenly remember something. She turned to look in Aldan's direction and asked, "Aldan, you should have attended the festival held in Central Tresen, right?"

"Why don't you tell us? We can prepare accordingly."

Meguro Aldan thought for a moment and said, "Hmm... I did participate in the festivals held in Central Treson before, but I probably participated in more of the festivals held by my family."

"To provide a platform for these aristocratic upstarts to exchange ideas, the families of the board members of Treson will jointly fund a festival, usually held after national holidays, that is, after the festival held by the central government,"

"Last year's main host family was the family of the First Ruby student. In order to satisfy the requests of all the families to hold the ball together, they directly bought a mansion left by a 19th-century daimyo to invite everyone to participate."

The 19th century? Aren't those all antiques?! You can even buy and sell these things?!

Shining Bright swallowed hard, carefully choosing her tone, and asked softly, "Um... Miss Aldan, as far as I know, this mansion... isn't some kind of memorial hall or museum, is it?"

Meguro Ardan recalled for a moment, then nodded very naturally and said, "Yes, it is indeed a group of ancient buildings under preservation."

"But don't worry! We can't actually hold our party in such a historic building. We've just rebuilt a European-style building in the garden behind the protected building to host the ball!"

Shining Radiance was momentarily speechless. She said, "No, the key issue isn't that it's just about dancing; why would you buy an entire old residential area?"

"Damn rich people! Damn capitalism!! Damn it..."

At this moment, Little Deer Hair transforms into a staunch anti-capitalist fighter, determined to overthrow the local tyrants, redistribute land, and then become the new tyrant himself.

Meguro Ardan smiled and said, "If you want to go, let's go together after the summer training camp this year. I think the mistress will agree."

"Not only that, you can also visit the Mejiro family's manor!"

The newly radiant figure shuddered, and the resolute expression he had just displayed vanished without a trace.

She shamelessly flattered him, saying, "Great! I've been wanting to enjoy... no! I mean, to criticize this decadent life!"

"Yes! Criticize! Criticize them severely!!"

The Dolan team arrived at the elevator. Fujimasa pressed the button, and while waiting for the elevator to descend, she turned to look at Oguri, who had remained silent the whole way.

She asked, "Xiao Li? What are you thinking about? Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Ah...no, it's nothing."

Little Chestnut Hat gently shook her head; judging from her expression, she seemed to be deep in thought about something.

"Ding--"

With a soft click, the elevator doors opened.

The other three members of Dolan's team entered the elevator, but Little Chestnut remained outside.

With a puzzled look, she stood on tiptoe and asked, "Little Chestnut?"

"call......."

Little Chestnut Hat breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at her three friends and smiled, "You guys go up first. I want to go outside and call Xiaoyu."

Fujimasa glanced at Oguri Hat, but didn't say anything more, only nodding slightly.

With a casual wave, Zhanxin Guanghui said, "Okay! We'll go to the dorm and wait for you! Be quick and come back!"

As soon as the elevator doors closed, Oguri Hat ran towards the hotel entrance.

Summer nights come late; even at seven o'clock in the evening, the sky is still bright with a white light.

The indigo night sky enveloped the white-haired girl, and several twinkling stars appeared above her head.

Although Oguri Hat is a bit clumsy with words, her intuition about certain things is surprisingly accurate.

When Tamamo Cross left school to go to the summer training camp, she was clearly heading to Kanagawa, so why was her trainer here?

Oguri had great confidence in his eyesight and intuition; that figure was definitely Trainer Komiyama, and he was absolutely certain he hadn't mistaken him for someone else.

But...Wachinai City is almost halfway across Japan from Kanagawa! Why would her trainer come here?

The only explanation is that Tamamo Cross... must have also come to Hokkaido with her trainer!

Thinking of this, Oguri Hat reached for her phone.

"If you came to Hokkaido, why didn't you tell me...?"

Thinking it over, the girl placed her thumb on the touchscreen and dialed her roommate's number.

At Yejin Ranch, the children are sitting obediently around the edge of the playground.

Holding a straight wooden stick, Xiao Mei, amidst the envious gazes of the other horse women, led the shouts: "Big sister! Go! Big sister! Go!"

Hearing the leader of the children speak, the remaining horse women began to shout along.

A white figure was darting across the track at incredible speed. Bathed in the twilight sunlight, the figure looked like a bolt of lightning streaking across the black gravel-strewn ground.

Not enough! It's still not fast enough!

'Still not enough...not enough to reach that level!!'

The intense trampling caused the small horse to begin breathing heavily. Even though the outside temperature was nearly thirty degrees Celsius, her breath still turned into wisps of white smoke.

She took a deep breath and accelerated forward again!

Her petite frame unleashed astonishing power, propelling her forward like a truck! She kicked up a massive cloud of smoke! Finally, she crossed the finish line!

"Wow! That's amazing! Big sister is so fast!"

"I think it's already as fast as many of the legendary horse girls we've seen on TV, it's really fast!"

The children were chattering noisily, but they didn't notice the gloomy expression on Tamamo's face.

The girl leader, Xiaomei, came up behind Tamamo Cross and excitedly said, "Big sister! Have your grades improved again?!"

"Ah...yes, of course we've improved!"

Tamamo Cross laughed heartily, reaching out to rub the head of the junior in front of her who was only five centimeters shorter than her, and grinned, "Hmph, with you guys around, we're absolutely invincible!!"

"Alright, kids! Time to go back and do your evening lessons! Don't even think about skipping tonight's self-study session!"

As she spoke, Tamamo-no-Mae reached out and grabbed Xiaomei by the back of the neck, coaxing and cajoling the group of kids back into the classroom.

She then returned to the playground alone, her expression turning somber.

'Our speed seems to be decreasing every day compared to the first three days, although the decrease is very slight, it is definitely decreasing,'

Is there something wrong with our body? Or did something go wrong during training?

'No...no, we must speed up, we must increase the speed even further, we must...!!!'

Tamamo Cross felt a growing anxiety. In the sweltering summer heat, her mind felt as if it were being repeatedly scorched by the air, causing her to involuntarily clench her hands.

Her fingernails dug deep into her palms; only the piercing pain could keep her focused for a short time.

Of course, a cell phone ringtone is also acceptable.

Ever since she returned to the playground, her phone has been ringing nonstop; it seems it will keep ringing as long as she doesn't answer.

But Tamamo Cross hesitated. She took out her phone and looked at the unique nickname on the screen with a complicated expression.

She finally sighed and answered the phone.

"Hey? Koguri? What do you want? Did you get separated from your trainer?"

Little Chestnut Hat's ears twitched, and she asked, "No, I'm not lost, I'm right on the beach."

"Xiaoyu, I just saw Trainer Komiyayama come to the hotel for dinner,"

"You...you've come to Hokkaido too?"

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone, but no answer was given.

Little Chestnut Hat asked, somewhat puzzled, "Little Jade, are you injured? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I still want to train with you. Is it because I did something wrong that you're not telling me?"

"...No, Oguri, you did nothing wrong. It's just that we didn't know how to tell you, so we didn't tell you."

Tamamo Cross didn't tell Oguri Hattori about her ranch, not just because she was worried Oguri Hattori would take over the ranch's cafeteria.

More importantly, she didn't want her friends to feel unnecessary pity for her.

As a racehorse girl from a humble background, Tamamo Cross possesses a set of principles unique to her, one of which is her strong personality.

But being strong to an excessive degree becomes mere bravado.

Especially after that night, after overhearing those conversations, Tamamo Cross's personality became even more extreme.

She was afraid of Little Chestnut Hat's concern, she feared Orn's help, and she dreaded the final fate of Wild Brocade Ranch.

She was afraid that her strength and perseverance would ultimately amount to nothing, serving no purpose whatsoever.