"I only just found out about this myself."
"Thank you. Barbatos is one of our academy's most outstanding Uma Musume."
"The academy will be issuing her a formal commendation in due course."
"A commemorative banner?"
Symboli Rudolf stood at the entrance of the training grounds, speaking with the person on the other end of the line.
She had originally stepped out after receiving a message from Maruzensky, but as luck would have it, she picked up a call regarding Barbatos just as she arrived.
Her gaze drifted toward Barbatos, who was already approaching. Since Rudolf was still on the phone, the two of them—having already spotted each other—hadn't yet exchanged greetings.
"Barbatos," Rudolf said, lowering the phone slightly.
"The driver you stopped and the grandmother of the child you saved want to send you a silk banner to express their gratitude. They wanted to ask what kind of inscription you'd like on it."
"A banner?"
Barbatos didn't seem to care much. "It was just a split-second reaction. Besides, the grandmother already said she'd treat us to some coconut cakes. There's really no need for a banner."
"If they're determined to send one, it's best to accept the gesture."
"Fair enough. But I really don't know the first thing about these things. Maybe just something simple, like 'For Brave and Selfless Action'?"
She had simply stepped in to stop a car; in her past life, she had never sent a banner to anyone, let alone received one. She was completely out of her depth.
However, she figured Symboli Rudolf would be far more experienced in this department.
"Actually, President, do you have any suggestions?" Barbatos asked.
"…This situation is indeed quite unique," Rudolf mused, falling silent for a moment.
"Since you say it was a simple 'helping hand,' and considering your actions saved a life, perhaps a banner reading 'A Miraculous Touch' would be appropriate."
"A... A Miraculous Touch?!"
Barbatos froze. She wasn't the only one; Seiun Sky, King Halo, and Taiki Shuttle all looked equally dazed.
While Symboli Rudolf's logic seemed sound on the surface, was that really how you used that phrase?
Wasn't "A Miraculous Touch" the kind of thing you wrote for a doctor who brought someone back from the brink of death?
A sudden tension gripped Barbatos's heart. Wait... has Rudolf figured out I have the [Heal] summoner spell? Is she throwing shade, or is this some kind of coded message?
"Pfft! Rudolf is always like this. You'll get used to it," Maruzensky giggled, covering her mouth. Having worked and competed alongside Rudolf for decades, she had long since grown accustomed to the President's peculiar sense of humor.
She could even—somewhat—find the punchline in the dry delivery.
A pun?
Barbatos and the others, seeing this side of Symboli Rudolf for the first time, didn't quite catch the humor. It was, by all accounts, a very "chilly" joke.
"Alright, 'A Miraculous Touch' it is then. I think the President's logic is sound," Barbatos agreed immediately.
Truthfully, the words on the banner didn't matter much to her. She was more interested in figuring out if Rudolf actually enjoyed these corny puns or if she really had seen through her secrets.
After another brief exchange on the phone, the details for the "Miraculous Touch" banner were finalized.
On the other end, the parties involved expressed their gratitude to Barbatos once more, with the grandmother reiterating that Barbatos could bring her friends over for coconut cakes and fresh coconut juice anytime—completely on the house.
Through the call, Barbatos also learned that the grandmother hadn't pressed charges against the driver.
However, a police report was still filed, and the damage to the pavement had to be reported to the authorities for repairs.
The silver lining? Barbatos wouldn't have to pay for punching a hole through the man's car or for cracking the concrete road with her stride.
With the matter settled, the group followed Symboli Rudolf into the indoor training facility. There, they saw Grass Wonder and several other legendary Uma Musume currently in the middle of their sessions.
"You did a fine thing today. As a member of Rigil and as the Student Council President, I want to offer you my sincerest thanks," Rudolf said, her tone heavy with earnesty.
"When the Appreciation Festival comes around in the second half of the year, the academy will issue a public commendation."
From her perspective as President, this was an incredibly positive PR boost for the school.
"I think I'll pass on the public praise," Barbatos declined. "I wouldn't want every Uma Musume in school to start camping out by the roadside, waiting for their chance to show off their 'Miraculous Touch.'"
After all, not every girl was built the same. You couldn't generalize the physical limits of one Uma Musume to another.
Hearing those four words again, Symboli Rudolf couldn't help but let out a genuine laugh.
She really did love her puns—especially when they were treated with such deadpan sincerity by someone like Barbatos.
"I'll take that into consideration. But as a token of my personal thanks, if there's anything you need, feel free to ask the Student Council."
Since Barbatos had brought honor to the academy, Rudolf felt this was only fair.
Barbatos was momentarily stunned by the offer. She realized that the Rudolf standing here was quite different from the one who spent all day buried in paperwork in the council room.
Perhaps this was her true self. Or maybe both were real, and she was simply seeing the "off-duty" version of the Emperor.
"Being able to train here with everyone during the summer camp is already a win for me. I don't really need anything else," Barbatos said, pausing for a few seconds.
"Actually... if it's possible, I'd like to race you again."
For the current Barbatos, only a true rematch with Symboli Rudolf could show her where the gap between them lay—or if that gap even still existed.
Back during the Winter Dream Cup, she had been too weak. Even standing on the same track as Rudolf, she hadn't been able to see the full picture. But now, she was the "Number One in Japan."
How did she measure up now? Would she still feel that same sense of utter powerlessness she felt during the Dream Cup?
Being the best in Japan sounded impressive, but a new "Number One" was born every generation. There was, however, only ever one "Emperor."
It was just like what El Condor Pasa said before heading to France: you only get stronger by facing powerful enemies.
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was El's chance to grow; for Barbatos, the upcoming season might seem easy to an outsider, but she knew that while the Sprinters Stakes and the Shuka Sho might not offer much of a challenge, the Japan Cup was waiting for her with two terrifying rivals: Seiun Sky and Silence Suzuka.
"Another race?"
Symboli Rudolf fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Before the summer camp ends, I will grant you a practice duel."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.