Symboli Rudolf felt more nervous now than during any race. Only when facing Mejiro Ramonu and Tokai Natural had she ever experienced such tension.
The Platinum before her was even more terrifying than Secretariat!
Just then, Gold Ship glanced left and right before sneaking up to Symboli Rudolf and slipping a voice recorder into her hand.
Leaning close to Rudolf's ear, Gold Ship whispered, "I only recorded this for fun at first… but now it looks like it might just save your life."
"Next time you catch me causing trouble, remember to go easy on me, 'kay?"
Without a word, Rudolf shot a sidelong glance at the winking Gold Ship and discreetly took the recorder from behind her back. A secret, illicit transaction had just taken place.
Well… since there was no other way out, she might as well try this desperate remedy. Steeling herself, Rudolf brought the recorder forward, glanced at Platinum—who was still turned away sulking—and pressed play.
A muffled voice emerged.
The first voice was Tokai Teio's.
"Please… race against me."
"I just want to know where I fall short compared to you."
Hearing just that one line, Teio's face flushed red from her collarbones to the tips of her ears.
"P-P-P-President?!"
Symboli Rudolf looked at Teio with a knowing half-smile. So that's what was going on in that girl's mind.
Seeming to realize something, Platinum also turned her head, staring intently at the recorder in Rudolf's hand.
"No. Too much trouble."
That was Platinum's languid voice.
"Tokai Teio… could it be you're jealous of me?"
"Are you jealous… that I'm the one who signed with Symboli Rudolf, and not you?"
Platinum's eyes widened instantly, and she began glancing around nervously. But Gold Ship, who had drifted over like a ghost moments earlier, had already vanished without a trace.
Who? Who's plotting against me?
"You think doing this will make Symboli Rudolf change her mind? Let me tell you a little secret—"
"Symboli Rudolf came looking for me without a moment's delay. She asked to sign me herself."
That was enough. Symboli Rudolf switched off the recorder, her half-smile fixed on Platinum.
Gold Ship, you're an absolute genius.
Rudolf immediately understood Gold Ship's intention.
When you can't explain your own mistake, the best solution is to drag someone else down with you.
Devious, but effective.
"Miss Platinum, how would you care to explain this recording?"
Symboli Rudolf enunciated each word deliberately.
Hmm? 'Change her mind,' you said?
Hmm? 'Jealous,' you said?
Hmm? 'She came looking for you,' you said?
So the one who dug this hole for you… was yourself all along, Platinum.
So venomous with your words? What do you live on, a diet of scorpions?
Really, these young Uma Musume these days… they're something else.
Just like that, the tables had turned.
After a moment of silence, Platinum lifted her head high, chest out, facing Symboli Rudolf with bold dignity.
"Everything I said was the truth—Ow!"
A karate chop landed on Platinum's head, making her ears spin.
A vein bulged on Rudolf's forehead as she delivered another chop to the same spot.
"'The truth,' was it?"
"'Everything I said,' was it?"
"'She came looking for me without delay,' was it?"
"Who was it that came to me crying, saying she'd rather die than join someone else's team?"
Platinum waved her arms in protest. "I object! Symboli Rudolf, you can't slander me like this!"
"I wasn't crying back then!"
"Huh?" Tokai Teio's ears twitched, immediately catching the implication. "So that means…"
"Indeed." Symboli Rudolf pressed down on Platinum's head. "This one sobbed and begged me, 'Please, President, if you make me join a team with other Uma Musume, I'll just die!' It was only because she clung to me so desperately that I signed her."
"I! Was! Not! Crying!"
Now Platinum's face was completely red too.
"Hmm—really now, Platinum, how could you scare me like that?" Having heard Rudolf's explanation, Teio—whose doubts had already been cleared—fluttered her ears and looked at Platinum with newfound sisterly affection.
You little rascal.jpg
"You two are really—!" A flustered Platinum stamped her feet in frustration. "You're not even listening to me!"
With that, Symboli Rudolf quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Crisis averted.
She'd made it through again!
Hah! Behold the undefeated Emperor!
Come and witness the Emperor's divine might!
Even if Tokai Natural and Mejiro Ramonu were standing before her right now, she'd still find a way to slip free!
Meanwhile, among everyone gathered on the training field, no one noticed a brief flash of light in the distance that flickered and vanished.
In the distance, Agnes Digital looked at the results captured in her camera, then raised her monocular telescope to peer back toward the training grounds.
Ughhhh, Platinum, don't let that Emperor deceive you with her underhanded tricks!
Symboli Rudolf, you scoundrel!
Agnes Digital gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.
"That damned Emperor must be sweet-talking you and Tokai Teio, trying to take you back as her little girlfriends!"
A playgirl—a complete and utter harem queen!
Using her authority as Emperor to mess around with junior students!
Fussing over her own 'unofficial favorites' while deliberately neglecting her own charge!
Watching her own charge and a dear junior fight over her—you must be loving this, you scoundrel, aren't you!?
Poor Platinum and Tokai Teio, being played like fiddles by Symboli Rudolf.jpg
This is just—this is just—
Agnes Digital bit down on her handkerchief, tears welling in her eyes.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
A breathless Okino, who had just jogged over, was speechless at the sight of Agnes Digital lying flat on the grass.
Ah, such slender, well-shaped legs… She must have real potential as a runner.
Without a second thought, Okino's hand landed on Agnes Digital's leg.
"Ah, this firm texture. She looks delicate, yet her muscles are so taut and full."
His hand slid effortlessly from her calf upward, stroking her thigh.
"Ah, such heaven-sent legs."
Okino marveled. He'd discovered another promising talent.
Then, the sole of a shoe came flying toward his face.
"Y-You creep! Where do you think you're touching?!"
Agnes Digital's backward kick struck Okino square in the chest, sending him flying backward.
Oh… such a powerful, well-executed kick… I misjudged her…
As he soared through the air, that was Okino's final thought.
This was no mere 'promising talent.'
This was the strike of a fully bloomed, G1-grade champion.
"Oh no… Sorry, sorry! You're not dead, are you?" Agnes Digital rushed over and frantically patted Okino's cheeks. "Don't you die on me!"
"Hey, did anyone else just hear a screamin' from a trainer?" That was Daiwa Scarlet's voice in the distance.
"I heard it too." That was Vodka's voice.
"Hah? Pretty sure I heard it first!"
"Liar, it was definitely me!"
Their bickering grew louder and louder.
Crap, crap, crap…! Agnes Digital hurriedly slung her camera over her shoulder and took off running.
"Sorry, random trainer I don't know!"
"Hey, look! Who's that running over there?"
"Whoa! She's already gone!"
Chasing the morning sun, Agnes Digital began her great escape to victory.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 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.