When Zero-chan woke up, she found herself with her head on Maruzensky's lap.
"Mmm... What happened?" Rubbing her head, she sat up.
"Huh? What's this?" She found a strange Emperor doll in her arms.
When she saw the doll, the events that had happened before came flooding back like a tide.
———
[Therefore, you need try and go further.]
"What do you mean by that!?" Zero was startled by the sudden appearance of the light screen from the system.
She was in the middle of her daily training when the Goddesses suddenly popped up and said something about trying to go further, out of nowhere.
[To be honest, your strength should have already reached the point where you can touch THAT. No, it's actually quite strange that you haven't been able to touch it until now.]
"That?"
[Full awakening, emmmmm, or what the Emperor would call it: 'Domain'.]
What the heck? Aren't skills enough? Are we finally starting a real superpower race?
[Although it sounds grand, there's a more commonly known term for it: a 'Zone'.]
"You mean like a 'clutch player'?"
[I just realized you have talent to make some grand concepts sound incredibly down-to-earth.]
"Thank you for the compliment."
[Anyway, it's something similar. For Uma Musume, Domain is a hidden goal, but only a very few can actually achieve it.]
"That certainly feels like it. So, why bring this up suddenly?"
[If you still want to win the Tenno Sho, it's quite necessary.]
"?"
[If nothing unexpected happens, you'll encounter Mayano Top Gun in this Tenno Sho. She's on a completely different level from any opponent you've faced before.]
"Because she… can activate her Domain?"
[Exactly. Although it's not a complete activation of her Domain, but for you it will be a huge struggle fest.]
"Even if I activate monstrous whirlwind?"
[Emmmm, honestly not quite sure with how it's completely out of specs. Besides, your body still can't support you fully activating it. Unless you want to stage a miracle in public where you suffer a severe injury requiring retirement but still heal within a month and participate in the Takarazuka Kinen.]
"You mean, if I want to win, I only have a small chance if I fully activate it?" Hearing the Goddess's words, Zero couldn't help but become serious.
[Of course. The mere act of 'touching the Domain' can significantly widen the gap between yourself and other Uma Musume. Even you can face the fate of failure.]
"...Then, let me ask." A few figures flashed through Zero's mind.
"How many of those in the Student Council have activated their Domains?"
[All of them.]
"As expected…" It seems she still needs a challenge ticket to challenge them.
"So, how do I activate it?"
[I don't know. (Shrugs)]
"?" I'm ready to start special training and you tell me this? Although she didn't say it out loud, her bewildered expression was visible to the Three Goddesses, on Ulta 10k resolution.
[Each Uma Musume activate their own Domain differently. Some activate it during races, some during training, and some are even born with their's activated.]
"I see…" Speaking of which, if that's the case, could she personally experience others' Domains to help activate her own?
[It might not help,] One of them said, as if reading zero's thoughts. [-It's mainly because this is ultimately the manifestation of an Uma Musume's own soul. Whether you can activate it depends entirely on your own self.]
One's soul… This truly becoming too metaphysical. However, she had some vague ideas in her mind, and the specifics of it still neededs to be tested before implementing. Anyway, since that person named it, she must know something.
The Goddess had gone silent after her last sentence, and asking further would likely yield no more information. Or perhaps this situation was exactly what they wanted to see?
She acts on her thoughts; she wouldn't procrastinate on such matters.
As such, as soon as she opened the door to the Student Council Room, she saw an incredible scene.
Maruzensky was seen holding something high in her hand, while the Emperor was anxiously pouncing on her, trying to take it away, and Mr. CB (Mr. CB, also a Triple Crown Uma Musume who never beat Symboli Rudolf in her life) was laughing and rolling on the floor.
"Z-chan! Catch this!" when Maruzensky saw who it was approaching, she immediately threw the item in her hand.
"Eh?" Zero effortlessly caught it from the air and saw that the item was an Emperor doll, but its expression seemed a bit strange?
Not to mention, it was both short and chubby, it's face holding a sorrowful expression on its face, something completely unlike the Emperor people knew.
(TL: check replies to see the image)
"Give it to me!" Then she looked up and saw the Emperor pouncing on her.
Although their strengths were similar, but die to their angle of position, the Emperor's pounce directly knocked Zero to the ground, causing her head to hit the floor hard.
A loud thud sounded in the room.
"__"
The entire Student Council Room instantly fell silent.
——End of Flashback——
"So it's just a doll from her embarrassing past, but why is she so anxious about it?" After hearing the whole story, Zero looked at the Emperor with a =_= expression. Rudolf on the other hand was still squatting in a corner of the Student Council Room, covering her face.
The whole incident started when a bored Maruzensky was going through her stash and found this 'Sorrowful Emperor' doll, which had been completely discontinued.
At the same time, she happened to see Mr. CB, and a plan suddenly came to mind. She decided to thoroughly prank Symboli Rudolf, wanting to see her long-unseen 'Luna mode.'
Undoubtedly, Maruzensky succeeded and Mr. CB had a great time watching, all the while Rudolf, having unconsciously activated her Luna mode, was now questioning her life. Yet, only the innocent head of Zero suffered the consequences of their actions.
Speaking of Mr. CB, she was also a remarkable person. While she was also Triple Crown Uma Musume, she never won a single race against the Emperor.
Even in the one race where they both participated and the Emperor didn't win, Katsuragi Ace came in first, and Rudolf, seemingly feeling unwell that day placed third, while Mr. CB, as the favorite in that race, achieved her worst career placement, tenth.
It is said that Mr. CB was initially as impolite to Rudolph as she was, but at some point, she became as free-spirited as a husky. Although she no longer directly opposed the Emperor, she would definitely be the first to approve if there was an opportunity to mess with her.
In short, she was particularly happy today.
"Well, this doll is for you. It's a limited edition! You know, the first thing she did after becoming the President was to demand that this doll be completely taken off the market." Maruzensky smiled, revealing something incredible.
"Isn't that an abuse of power?" Zero's eye twitched as she looked at the doll in her hand.
Although it was a bit odd, it was still quite cute. If it weren't the Emperor, it would probably be even cuter (her personal opinion), but precisely because it was the always calm and composed Emperor, it was exceptionally comical.
"My power as Student Council President is absolute!" The Emperor, who had somehow returned to her usual self, said, though a slight blush still lingered on her face.
"Power makes people lose themselves. I think it's better for the Chairman to… " Zero stopped halfway, and everyone in the Student Council Room fell silent.
Although the Chairman was a good Chairman in every sense, and kind to people and all… To be honest, she really lacked authority.
Her favorite thing to do was slack off, often disappearing during work hours, causing Ms. Hayakawa, her secretary, to spend almost three-quarters of her workday catching the Chairman and supervising her work.
"Ahem, anyway, is there something you suddenly came to the Student Council Room for? As compensation for my immaturity hurting you just now, I will tell you everything I know, unless it's too private or something I don't know." The Emperor cleared her throat to dispel the awkward atmosphere.
"Alright, I just want to ask one thing."
"What?"
"About [Domain]."
Hearing the word that came out of Zero's mouth, the expressions of the three people present in the Student Council Room all turned serious.
==========
I'm a newbie translator and wanted to add more uma fics for more people to read. if there are any errors, multiple of the same text or sentence, let me know.
The credits and orginal story is: 传奇马娘想好好谈恋爱 and belongs to: 起始之零