Student Council Office, Tracen Academy.
A stunning Uma Musume with long dark brown hair streaked with white gazed out the window toward the academy’s main gate.
There, under Miss Hayakawa’s guidance, a rookie Trainer was touring the campus.
She was none other than Symboli Rudolf, the legendary Uma Musume of Tracen Academy who bore the title [Emperor], and had earned the historic honor of being the first undefeated Triple Crown winner.
She also served as Student Council President.
With her arms crossed, Symboli Rudolf stared silently out the window.
Beside her stood Air Groove, a sharp, capable Uma Musume with a side-parted short haircut, known as the [Empress], and serving as Vice President of the Student Council.
She leaned in and asked:
“President… Is he really the ‘seed’ you mentioned?”
Symboli Rudolf nodded, her expression unreadable.
“Yeah… Even if he did absolutely nothing, even if he just lounged around as a useless waste of space, he’d still live in luxury.
Yet he insists on throwing himself into this brutal racing world… Who knows what kind of agenda he’s playing with.”
Just moments ago, she had been reviewing Kenji Aoyagi’s file.
It detailed his background and experiences: born as the offspring of a legendary Uma Musume; survived an attack by one during childhood…
Given that incident, it wouldn’t be strange at all if he harbored resentment toward Uma Musume.
Yet he chose to join Tracen Academy as a Trainer tasked with educating and developing them… It was utterly baffling.
In Symboli Rudolf’s eyes, this was practically “walking straight into the lion’s den.” A classic case of “Heaven has paths you refuse to take; Hell has doors you walk right through.”
That’s why his application had caused trouble, not just for Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa, but also for Student Council President Symboli Rudolf, who was openly opposed.
However, under pressure from the Mejiro family and with his mother’s personal guarantee, the Academy ultimately decided to accept this unprecedented “seed” as an assigned Trainer at Central Tracen.
Air Groove glanced at the unremarkable Trainer through the window and hesitantly said:
“Maybe… he simply doesn’t know about his lineage?”
“Impossible.
He’s the offspring of ‘her.’ It’s said the Three Goddesses always inform a mother before bestowing their blessing, and she can choose to accept or decline.
So that lady definitely knows what giving birth to him means…”
But then Symboli Rudolf thought: given that lady’s naturally airheaded personality, maybe she just forgot to tell him about his bloodline factor… No, even if she was that clueless, something this important wouldn’t be completely left out, right?
(A certain airheaded mother: Oh my I guess I forgot to tell little Kenji about his constitution… Eh Whatever~)
Air Groove deeply respected “that lady” as well.
Plus, she was a total mama’s girl herself, so she felt somewhat sympathetic toward someone of such noble birth who had the courage to overcome psychological trauma and dive into the racing world anyway.
So at this moment, she chose to defend him:
“But I heard he graduated from Trainer School with grades second only to top rank.
Even judging him as an ordinary person, he’s fully qualified to enter Central Tracen as a Trainer.
Just that level of dedication alone puts him way ahead of those other ‘seeds’ who coast on inherited status and live like parasites.”
“Heh… Rare to see you defending a specific Trainer.
Did you take a liking to him?”
As everyone knows, the Empress is notoriously harsh on Trainers.
She’d often point at incompetent ones and scold: “Don’t let your title go to your head!
I won’t give you any special treatment!”
That’s why Symboli Rudolf teased her with that line.
A faint blush dusted Air Groove’s cheeks, revealing a rare glimpse of the youthful side of this usually cool and composed Uma Musume.
“President!
Don’t talk nonsense!
I just think if he’s truly the offspring of ‘her,’ he must have received excellent education like me, and entered the racing industry with ideals in mind.”
“I’m not denying his efforts… It’s just that his very existence will bring chaos to the Uma Musume.”
Symboli Rudolf desired a world where all Uma Musume could live happily.
Conversely, anyone who might bring them misfortune… had to be quietly eliminated.
Kenji Aoyagi… Was he truly a blessing or a curse for the Uma Musume?
“But what if he’s more like a strong medicine?”
Air Groove took an optimistic stance and smiled:
“It’s been so long since another Uma Musune worthy of being compared to you, President.”
Hearing this, Symboli Rudolf let out a soft laugh.
“Heh… Being merely comparable to me isn’t enough.
What I want to see is an Uma Musume who surpasses me.”
She turned her gaze toward one corner of the Student Council office.
There hung a motto representing the entire racing world:
Eclipse First, The rest Nowhere.
“As a Trainer, you not only need excellent training skills and tactical knowledge, but also personality, character, and moral alignment that match your assigned Uma Musume.
Just so happens there’s currently a lost Uma Musume who needs guidance… So I’ll assign her to him as a test.
Hmm… Then we’ll see if he’s truly ‘stable.'”
As if afraid anyone might miss her pun, Symboli Rudolf deliberately emphasized the last word.
Air Groove deadpanned:
“President, drop the dad jokes.”
“N-Not funny?
I came up with that one myself…”
“If Tamano Cross hears it, she’ll start screaming ‘Someone stop Rudolf from telling puns!’ again.”
“Pfft… Air Groove, your impression is spot-on.
You even stuck out your tongue like her.”
“That’s my signature move.”
As the Student Council’s straight-man role, the cool Empress seemed more naturally gifted at deadpan comedy than Symboli Rudolf anyway.
“But… president, are you really going to assign her to him?”
“Mhm.
I’ve already asked for her opinion, and she accepted the Academy’s arrangement… Are you worried about her?”
“I’m her friend after all.
The way she runs headstrong toward everything is both inspiring and terrifying…”
Running was etched into every Uma Musume’s bones by nature, but that particular racer’s style… made onlookers feel their hearts ache just watching.
“Plus, I see traces of Senior Maruzensky in her.”
“Hoohoo… Maruzensky, huh?
Indeed, they’re the same type of Uma Musume.
But right now she’s still just a foal.
Compared to Maruzensky, she’s still far off.”
“I hope this new Trainer can bring some clarity to her.”
…
Meanwhile, after touring Tracen Academy’s main facilities under Miss Hayakawa’s guidance, Kenji Aoyagi returned to his dorm room.
Unfamous rookie Trainers basically lived in the Trainer Dorms.
It was far from both the Ritto and Miho student residences, tucked away in a corner of campus, basically just a place for broke Trainers to sleep.
Don’t let the brutal Central Trainer exam fool you into thinking salaries are huge.
In reality, rookies like Kenji only made slightly more than average office workers… or maybe even less, since there was zero room to slack off.
If your assigned Uma Musume failed to perform, your performance review would be ugly too.
Three consecutive failures meant demotion to regional academies, requiring re-certification before returning to Central.
The pressure was immense.
Kenji hadn’t gone to the Trainer Office yet.
Mostly because most Trainers were busy preparing for their racers’ second races post-debut, or regrouping after debut failures… Either way, the office would likely be empty.
Plus, it was summer break.
Following Tracen tradition, Uma Musume headed to training camps for summer retreats, so the usually bustling training grounds had gone eerily quiet.
Kenji originally planned to report directly to Chairwoman Akikawa.
His mother had specifically told him to greet “Little Yayoi,” and he wanted to make an appearance, build some connections, standard social maneuvering.
But Miss Hayakawa said the Chairwoman was away on business for the URA Finale series project, and Acting Chairwoman Riko Katsushika had left campus with the summer camp students… So Kenji’s onboarding was effectively ignored.
Right now was probably Tracen Academy’s emptiest period of the year.
With that out of the way, might as well examine this newly unlocked System.
Kenji had nearly jumped when those system pop-ups and “Uma Coins” appeared earlier, but since he was still touring with Miss Hayakawa, it wasn’t appropriate to investigate on the spot.
He’d held back his curiosity for now.
Since they were called “coins,” they were obviously currency meant for… no!
Spending!
I mean, used for purchases.
Just unsure of the exact mechanics yet.
[Uma Coins] [Uma Coins can be exchanged for Uma Musume-exclusive items or to assign skill missions.] [Congratulations on completing your beginner task: “Join Tracen Academy.” You have been rewarded with 50 Uma Coins.] [New Task Unlocked: “Lead Your Assigned Uma Musume to Victory!” Reward: 100 Uma Coins] [Upon completing an Uma Musume’s training, you may inherit one-tenth of her five stats (Speed, Stamina, Power, Guts, Intelligence) as a reward.]
“I see…”
Kenji finally grasped the entire System’s logic.
Spend Uma Coins to train your Uma Musume → make them win races → earn more Uma Coins → strengthen them further… Repeat until all training goals are met.
Once completed, Trainer Kenji would receive one of his charge racer’s five stats as a reward.
Even if it was only one-tenth, that was a solid numerical boost… Meaning, if Kenji successfully trained ten top-tier Speed racers, he’d gain top-tier Speed himself!
Then if another horse-faced auntie tried to attack him, he could easily dodge her hooves!
And once Kenji fully understood the System, his ambition began to swell.
The System didn’t state any cap on this inheritance mechanic.
What if it wasn’t just ten?
For example… If he trained fifty Uma Musume, wouldn’t that mean he’d gain five stats rivaling the absolute best racers?
What about one hundred?
He’d become twice as strong as the strongest Uma Musume!
That was exactly the power Kenji wanted, the strength to stand against monster-level Uma Musume!
No man could resist the thrill of becoming stronger.
None at all.
The man who surpasses Uma Musume… I’ll be him!