[True Taste of the Foot] was the only initial skill the System granted Kenji as a Trainer.
Even with the System’s assistance, unlike in games, Kenji couldn’t directly view an Uma Musume’s stat panel.
And judging by its description, this skill wasn’t limited to racers, it could be used on anyone, or even any living creature.
There was no target restriction written anywhere.
The activation condition was simple: his tongue had to make contact with a foot.
No other body part would do.
Contact duration didn’t matter; even an instant was enough to pop up the stat panel immediately.
As for how Kenji knew all these details… well, he’d already run a few tests himself.
Awkward as it sounded, last night he’d tested the new skill on his own foot… Since using it on someone else right away would just get him labeled a foot fetishist anyway.
At the time, Kenji had twisted himself into a yoga master’s bizarre pose, cupped his own foot, and gave the instep a quick lick… It was absolutely disgusting.
Even though he didn’t have smelly feet, it still made him gag.
So much so that he skipped breakfast this morning, just thinking about it made him nauseous.
But yes, he did see his own stat panel.
Unsurprisingly, all five stats were practically bottom-tier Hs, with only Intelligence at a C.
In the Uma Musume system, the highest rank was SS and the lowest G.
An H meant his physical capabilities were far below even the weakest racers, any of them could easily crush him.
But that was unavoidable; Kenji was just an ordinary human, while Uma Musume had god-given physiques.
So as long as he successfully trained them, his own stats would gradually improve.
Even reaching a G would let him hold his own against the weakest racers.
He didn’t plan to actually race himself, of course.
Kenji just wanted to avoid ever feeling that helpless, powerless despair again when that horse-faced auntie kidnapped him.
As for track/distance/style adaptability and skills: since he wasn’t an Uma Musume, he had none.
Right now, his only skill was [True Taste of the Foot].
The Uma Coins system belonged to shops and missions; it didn’t affect him directly and would only be used during training.
Even though the activation method felt like a prank from the Three Goddesses, utterly perverted, it had to be admitted: this skill was incredibly useful.
It was the fastest way for Kenji to assess an Uma Musume’s potential.
He still wanted to complain to the goddesses, though: couldn’t they give him a normal “Appraise” skill like every other isekai protagonist?
Did it really have to involve licking feet?!
Great.
Now every time he checked his own stats, he’d have to go through this… Hmm.
Looks like he’ll need to wash his feet more often.
Once he gets paid, he’s buying a foot bath.
That said, while licking his own foot was gross, doing it on a beautiful Uma Musume felt completely different.
Kenji didn’t consider himself a foot fetishist, but staring at those pristine soles right in front of him made his appetite… no, made him utterly captivated.
Suzuka’s feet looked nothing like those of a professional runner who trained day and night.
No calluses, perfectly smooth skin, flawless shape, no deformities from pressure at all.
Normal track athletes’ feet were usually ugly: bulging veins, thick calluses, flattened arches under heavy impact.
They looked strong, sure, but not “pretty” in the slightest.
Her legs were the same, normal runners had abnormally developed muscles and bulky calves… completely different from Suzuka’s slender, elegant legs.
Staring at them, Kenji couldn’t help but wonder: Were these really an athlete’s feet?
Honestly, they looked better than some professional foot models’.
But then again, it wasn’t just her legs that defied common sense.
Judging by her build alone, she didn’t look like a sports-type girl at all, more like a quiet literary type reading in the library.
Who knew how such a slender body stored terrifying explosive power capable of reaching 60–70 km/h?
Maybe they only looked human on the outside, while their internal organs and muscle structure were completely different from humans’?
Whatever.
Poking at science in a world with actual gods was pointless anyway.
The only thing about Suzuka that actually fit normal expectations… was her chest.
Flat as a board.
Like, seriously flat.
Not even small, more like mini-cup territory.
Guess he didn’t have to worry about finding bras for her.
She might not even need them.
Eh, flat was fine anyway.
Less drag, faster running.
Honestly, huge boobs + elite sprinting speed defied biology and physics entirely.
Alright.
Staring at her wasn’t going to reveal anything.
Time to find an excuse to activate the skill.
With that in mind, Kenji asked seriously:
“Suzuka… May I take a closer look?”
“P-Please be my guest…”
Overwhelmed with shyness, Suzuka covered half her face with the back of her hand, turned away, and extended her trembling foot.
Her twitching horse ears betrayed how nervous she was.
She had no idea Kenji was already calculating exactly where to put his mouth… which worked perfectly in his favor.
Without hesitation, Kenji dropped to one knee, leaned forward, and moved in close.
Now that he was right next to her foot, a scent hit him.
Not a stink?
Wait, there wasn’t any foot odor at all?
With daily high-intensity running, feet sweated like crazy.
Over time, the sour smell should’ve soaked into everything…
But Suzuka’s feet didn’t just lack odor, they carried a sweet, fruity aroma.
He could even pick out banana… Was it her body wash?
He’d heard ballet dancers sometimes had “banana feet,” but that referred to movement and foot shape, not scent.
Either way, Kenji never thought those dinosaur-claw-like shapes were attractive anyway.
But these banana-scented feet… honestly made him a little drool-worthy.
Thinking this, Kenji lowered his head further.
Before he realized it, his lips had pressed against Suzuka’s instep, and of course, he didn’t forget to stick out his tongue to satisfy the skill condition.
A damp sensation spread across her skin.
As if an electric current surged from her foot straight up to her abdomen, Suzuka yanked her left foot back instantly.
Her entire face flushed crimson, hands flew to cover her face, and her eyes peeking through her fingers were wide with shock.
She didn’t even realize that the sudden movement had flipped her skirt up… right into Kenji’s line of sight…
Oh.
Pure white panties.
Suzuka was a traditionalist, huh?
“T-Trainer?!
Y-You you you…!!!”
Blushing furiously, she’d forgotten how to use honorifics, stuttering endlessly without managing even a single scolding word.
At her core, she was just too gentle.
If this were a hot-headed Uma Musume, Kenji would’ve already taken another kick straight to the chest and died under hooves for a second time.
Right now, Kenji had no interest in admiring Suzuka’s skirt view anyway.
The stat panel popping up confirmed the skill had activated successfully.
Excellent!
Training begins right here!