...
"Lucian."
"From China..."
"Senior Instructor..."
"And also, a senior trainer... but certified in France."
...
Toujou Hana, dressed in a gray-white uniform, finished reviewing the resume and lightly adjusted her glasses, her gaze settling on the black-haired young man standing before her.
[Toujou Hana]
Years of professional experience lent a faint pressure to her glance.
"Hello, Toujou Hana-senpai." Lucian's face showed little sign of nervousness.
Yet even after he politely greeted her, she remained silent, still staring at him...
...What? Still looking?
What's with you... Is there something on my face or something?
"Gulp."
His throat moved slightly as he swallowed quietly.
Internally, he was actually quite nervous and also found her gaze somewhat impolite.
Fortunately, it didn't take long for Toujou Hana's stern expression to soften into a slight smile. "My apologies... Hello, Lucian-kun. I know who you are."
"Toujou-Senpai knows me?" Lucian's eyes showed a hint of surprise.
"Mhm. When you moved in yesterday, some team members were talking about how a very handsome guy had arrived at the academy. They even secretly took photos of you."
Lucian smiled awkwardly.
However, Toujou Hana was telling the truth.
In his past life, Lucian had always been good-looking—
His cheeks were fair-skinned yet still carried a masculine vigor.
On this clean canvas, his white teeth gleamed, his star-like eyes sparkled, and his tall nose bridge and sword-sharp eyebrows were perfectly placed...
It should have been the vibrant charm of a carefree young man leaping off the page, yet Lucian's brow carried a faint trace of melancholy and regret.
Thus, in moments of stillness, the young man exuded a somewhat sorrowful aura.
Still, it didn't stop him from standing out in a crowd in his past life—and in this one as well.
Yes, Lucian was a transmigrator.
By a twist of fate, he had arrived in the world of Uma Musume, becoming the young master of the Lu family in China (with memories awakening at birth).
"Toujou-Senpai is too kind. I'll be in your care from now on."
Whether in terms of seniority or trainer rank, Lucian truly had to address Toujou Hana as his senior.
She was a special-class trainer and the trainer of Tracen Academy's strongest team, "Rigil," having guided multiple championship-level racehorses.
"Have you settled into your dorm?" Toujou Hana asked.
"Yes, everything's arranged." Having seen the anime, Lucian had initially thought Toujou Hana would be stern and hard to talk to with strangers. Now, it seemed he had overthought it.
"Welcome to Tracen Academy. Can you come to the training field this afternoon?"
"No problem."
Though Lucian was a trainer, he was still new and currently unqualified to form his own team.
Thus, he had to serve as an assistant for a probationary period.
"In the morning... It's a shame I have business to attend to, or I could have shown you around the campus."
"Thank you, Senpai, but I also need to visit the student council soon, so I wouldn't have time either."
"Alright." Toujou Hana suddenly recalled another license listed on Lucian's resume. "But you don't need to call me 'Senpai.' Just call me..."
She hesitated for a moment.
"Then how about 'Hana-nee'?" Lucian suggested.
"Sure." After agreeing, Toujou Hana seemed to remember something else. "Lucian, why are you from China, certified as a trainer in France, but ended up coming to Japan?"
"Well..." Lucian instinctively lowered his head, a flicker of gloom passing through his eyes. Clearly, he didn't want to face or answer this question. "It's due to some personal reasons."
"Alright." Seeing his reluctance, Toujou Hana didn't press further.
...
Tracen Academy truly lived up to its reputation as the top-tier training academy for Uma Musume.
Towering buildings rose from the ground, their walls seemingly freshly renovated, gleaming under the sunlight.
Among them were facilities like a swimming pool, gymnasium, and a comprehensive building—each with uniquely exquisite designs that could easily be considered first-class.
At this moment, it was class time for the students, so the pathways were quiet, with almost no one around.
Following the map's directions, Lucian walked leisurely, stopping occasionally, and arrived at the teaching building in about twenty minutes.
In front of the building stood a statue of three goddesses, solemn and sacred, representing the origin and faith of all Uma Musume in the world of Tracen.
Lucian had seen them before—in a dreamlike vision during his transmigration.
His ability to smoothly obtain a senior trainer license was also closely tied to them.
Lucian withdrew his gaze and, through one of the windows, saw a classroom full of horse girls listening attentively to their lesson.
He checked the time and, without lingering further, headed upstairs toward the student council office after entering.
When he had arrived yesterday, he had already met the academy's principal.
The principal had instructed him to collect some materials from the student council today.
Knock knock—
"Please come in."
Lucian politely knocked and entered.
Facing him was a tall young girl wearing an emerald-green earring shaped like a rhombus.
Her eyes were sharp as flames, her arms crossed, and a lock of white hair hanging over her forehead added to her commanding aura—like a general holding authority on the battlefield.
Lucian recognized her immediately: the one crowned as the "Emperor," Symboli Rudolf.
[Symboli Rudolf]
In the anime, the names of the Uma Musume were mostly derived from real racehorses. Lucian felt their names were more like unique titles.
"Hello." Lucian greeted first.
Symboli Rudolf seemed slightly stunned by Lucian's appearance, pausing for a second before snapping back to attention.
"Are you the newly appointed instructor, Lucian-sensei?"
"Yes."
"The principal informed me yesterday to hand you some materials. Please wait a moment."
"Alright, no problem."
Symboli Rudolf turned back to her desk to search for the documents, while Lucian casually observed the student council office.
A striking plaque hung on the wall:
"Eclipse first, the rest nowhere."
This was Tracen Academy's motto.
"Lucian-sensei, everything's here." Symboli Rudolf gathered the materials and handed them to Lucian.
They included the student roster for the class he was assigned to, his classroom location, textbook information, teaching priorities, and more.
"Thank you." Lucian held the materials in his arms.
"I didn't expect Lucian-sensei to be teaching culinary arts."
"Haha, actually, before getting my teaching certification, I already had a nutritionist license and a chef's certificate."
"In that case, Lucian-sensei's cooking must be delicious, right?"
Symboli Rudolf had initially thought Lucian seemed aloof, but after a few exchanges, she found him quite approachable.
"Haha... Saying it's bad would sound too self-deprecating, and saying it's good would sound too boastful. You'll have to try it yourself to know."
"Then I'll have to taste it someday."
After a few more polite exchanges, Lucian excused himself and left the student council.
Just then, the bell signaling the end of class rang.