Later, Xu Zong returned to the Spica clubroom to plan for the night's Test of Courage with everyone. Spica had declared a challenge against Team Rigil and Team Canopus to see who could scare the other the most. Rigil was a team of heavyweights, including Grass Wonder, Taiki Shuttle, Maruzensky, T.M. Opera O, and Symboli Rudolf, though Rudolf usually acted as a manager and didn't participate.
"This is bad! McQueen fainted!" Gold Ship shouted anxiously.
"I told her not to be so stubborn. Locking herself in a dark room to watch horror movies... isn't she just scaring herself?" Xu Zong was exasperated. This plump horse was trying to desensitize herself ahead of time.
"Is McQueen going to be okay?" Spe-chan asked, worried.
"She should be fine." Suzuka helped McQueen out. The Mejiro family's young lady looked pale, scared half to death.
"Actually, it was my fault too," Gold Ship confessed, pretending to cry. "Right at the most terrifying part, I snuck up behind the TV and shined a flashlight on my face. That's what made McQueen faint. Gold Ship is reflecting on her actions." She was truly a menace.
"You're a menace to society! I feel like I should punish you on McQueen's behalf," Xu Zong said, speechless. How had the horse girls in his Team Spica become such trolls? But then he remembered it was Gold Ship. Never mind.
"What's the beef? She's always picking on McQueen-senpai," Vodka said, shaking her head.
"It's normal. It's Gold Ship. Considering the antics of the Gold family, this is pretty standard behavior. The truly terrible ones have already been suspended. Like Stay Gold. Yesterday she was chasing other horses and biting their tails again," Xu Zong said, exasperated. Stay Gold had been chasing after Neo Universe and his kin, and was now under close observation.
"She's so vicious! She should be put in solitary confinement," Spe-chan agreed. She had read the log; she knew she was also a potential target for tail-biting.
"Biting tails is definitely over the line, but Gold Ship would never make a mistake in a race. She's a very stable runner. Stay Gold, on the other hand, deserves to be judged." Gold Ship spoke like a loyal fan of herself, but her confidence was misplaced. The 12.1 billion yen "high-leg kick" incident was about to take a whole lot of spectators down with her.
"Sigh, Stay Gold sounds terrifying," Special Week said with fear in her eyes.
"Don't worry, Spe-chan. If Stay Gold ever comes to bite you, I'll run her over with my Segway," Gold Ship gave a thumbs-up.
Spe-chan immediately decided to stick with Gold Ship. Gold Ship had a peculiar trait: when you were in danger, she would appear to solve the problem. When you weren't in danger, she was the biggest danger.
Daiwa Scarlet had just arrived at Spica. She had also received her training reward. She got a mental-recovery potion that relieved fatigue. The reward for her real-life counterpart was a heavyweight: a fifty percent reduction in childbirth pain. Daiwa Scarlet was shy, but she figured she would eventually have foals. After all, in the real horse world, she already had a great-granddaughter named Azuki. So when she saw the reward, her heart beat so fast that she was a little late coming to Spica.
However, Azuki's personality was nothing like Daiwa Scarlet's. Daiwa Scarlet was very sensitive as a child, while Azuki was a little tyrant.
Xu Zong stepped out for a moment and began to write in his log again.
[I can only say Gold Ship is the most biased fan of herself. She actually said she runs races very stably. If I hadn't read today's real horse report, I would have almost believed her.]
[I'll write more later. I just saw something about the "Great Hanshin Comedy Show." The Gold family is full of talent.]
[I've been alive for a while, but this is the first time I've seen an entire family of eccentrics.]
[Oh, right. On my way to the school gate just now, I ran into old auntie Maruzensky.]
[She said she's making a move at the Test of Courage tonight.]
[Her sports car is pretty cool. I'm a skilled driver myself, I should show off my skills someday.]
[Old auntie Maruzensky offered to take me for a spin. I said I'd take her flying, and she could sit in the passenger seat.]
[Just kidding. I know auntie Maruzensky gets carsick in one second in the passenger seat. Going 70 km/h would be enough to send her to the next world.]
[She stubbornly claims she's trained herself out of it. Do you believe her? I don't.]
At that moment, everyone who read this burst out laughing.
Tracen Academy, Team Rigil's room.
Maruzensky was fuming. She pouted her cute lips. She was being nice and offering to take him for a drive, and he had to run his mouth, calling her "old auntie." She wasn't old at all! And anyway, she had trained herself out of it. Besides, if he was calling her "old auntie," then the old auntie getting carsick has nothing to do with Maruzensky, right? Wow, as expected of Maruzensky, her reflexes were sharp.
Hishi Amazon was dying of laughter and started her repeater mode: "You don't believe her? I don't."
Narita Brian followed suit: "Do you believe her? I don't."
Fuji Kiseki also chimed in: "Do you believe her? I don't."
Maruzensky wondered when these girls had become so annoying. She retorted, "Are you all broken records?" She gritted her teeth. She had to find a chance to prove herself. The truth was, old auntie Maruzensky was very stubborn.
However, just then, Xu Zong's diary updated again.
[But, old auntie Maruzensky's strength is still very formidable, including her real-life counterpart. Unfortunately, her real horse's luck was also terrible. She was known as a genius buried by the rules.]
[Starting in 1971, Japanese horse racing classified horses conceived abroad and born in Japan as "mochiikomi uma." Like foreign-bred horses, they were not eligible to participate in the classic races.]
[It wasn't until 1984 that "mochiikomi uma" were given the same racing qualifications as domestic Japanese horses.]
[And Maruzensky was exactly that, a "mochiikomi uma." Her racing years were 1976 and 1977. Before the Japan Derby, she had a brilliant record of 6 wins in 6 starts, yet she still wasn't eligible to participate in the Japan Derby.]
[Her jockey, Kiyoshi Nakanowatari, even said: "It doesn't matter if Maruzensky starts from the outermost gate, we don't need the prize money, I just want to test this horse's ability."]
[But this request was rejected. Rules are rules.]
[And when the 1977 Arima Kinen came around, as Maruzensky charged towards the most exciting Arima Kinen of the year with the conviction of a phoenix rising from the ashes, another accident occurred. Maruzensky was forced to retire due to injury.]
[She missed the chance for a showdown with Tosei Boy and Ten Point in the 1977 Arima Kinen. If she had participated, the 1977 Arima Kinen would have surely become a classic among classics.]
[The 1977 Arima Kinen is considered a legendary race in JRA history. Tosei Boy and Ten Point were locked in a death battle from the start of the Arima Kinen, fighting until the very end to determine a winner.]
[The commemorative stamp for the 50th anniversary of the Japan Racing Association features this "TT Showdown." Ten Point and Tosei Boy can be said to represent an era, showing the weight of their significance.]
[In the end, Maruzensky retired. Looking back at Maruzensky's career, from 1976 to 1977, she had 8 wins in 8 starts, winning by a total of 61 lengths over the second-place horses, an absolutely terrifying record.]
[If she could have participated in the Triple Crown classics, history might have been rewritten.]
At this point, everyone who read this was stunned. They never knew Maruzensky's real-life counterpart was so powerful, but they also sighed with regret, because her luck was just too bad.
Tracen Academy, Team Rigil's room.
Maruzensky's expression was sorrowful. She had hoped her real horse would have better luck, but it turned out to be even unluckier than her. At least she had chosen not to participate herself, in a moment of rashness. But her real horse wanted to participate but was bound by the rules.
"What an unlucky child," Maruzensky sighed. But now she had a new URA goal. She could help her real horse by gaining fans, perhaps giving it a chance to run the Derby once.
Hishi Amazon was a little angry after reading it. A racehorse only has a few years, and they were wasted just like that.
However, when Tosei Boy and Ten Point saw it, they were also stunned.
In the Tracen Academy gym.
"Actually, I've always wondered, Tosei Boy is clearly a girl, so why is your name 'Boy'?" Green Grass said, scratching her head. Green Grass had finished third in the 1977 Arima Kinen and was also very cute.
"Ahem, well, that's something you have to feel, not explain," Tosei Boy said mysteriously, earning a roll of the eyes from the young Green Grass.
"Hmph, I bet you just don't know," Green Grass retorted.
"Hehe, then let me ask you, is there a 'wife' in a 'wife cake'?"
"Um... no."
"Is there fish in 'fish-fragrant shredded pork'?"
"No, either."
"Is there a squirrel in 'squirrel-shaped mandarin fish'?"
"No."
"Then I, Tosei Boy, am not a boy either."
"Oh... that's right." Green Grass scratched her head, successfully confused. It seemed to make sense. But she no longer cared about the name. All this talk of food had made her hungry.
Ten Point was also there. She said with a straight face, "Speaking of which, Green Grass, do you want to know why I'm so amazing and was even recorded on the 50th-anniversary commemorative stamp of the Japan Racing Association? Transfer 300 yen to my phone, treat me to a meal, and I'll teach you."
Green Grass rolled her eyes again and said with disdain, "If you want a free meal, just say so. Let's go, I'll take you." She knew that after all this talk of food, Ten Point must be hungry too. They had to eat quickly. There was still the Test of Courage tonight.
"Hey, are you really not treating me? Your friendship seems a bit crowded with just the two of you," Tosei Boy said, extending her hand. Luckily, she was thick-skinned and just followed along.
Time passed quietly, and it was finally around 11 PM.
Howling Ghost Cave, behind Tracen Academy.
Horse girls from Spica, Rigil, Canopus, and others arrived one after another. Everyone was terrified for a moment. Matikanefukukitaru looked solemn and dignified. Under the lights, she had an aura that was filled with divine light. She was very confident. With the props she had prepared, she wasn't afraid at all. This was Lord Byakko, after all.
Everyone who saw Matikanefukukitaru's costume was at a loss. This wasn't a Test of Courage; this was a ghost-busting expedition. However, Air Groove mercilessly confiscated her divine light, as the rules didn't allow it.
She also explained the rules of the Test of Courage. After everyone arrived at the Howling Ghost Cave, they would be dropped off at a cemetery and then walk three separate routes: 2000 meters, 2400 meters, and 3200 meters. These three routes would pass through a shrine, ruins, and another, larger cemetery. Of course, the scaring team would be prepared inside, dressed as monsters, skeletons, and the like, creating all sorts of scary sounds to make the participants scream in fear. If they were scared, points would be calculated based on the degree of fear.
President Hayakawa Tazuna, Secretary Akikawa Yayoi, as well as Symboli Rudolf and Narita Brian would monitor the whole process to see who was the most scared in the end. Air Groove was in charge of maintaining order.
To set the mood, on the way to the Howling Ghost Cave, she even told everyone a ghost story, saying that the cemetery and shrine in the Howling Ghost Cave had once been a battlefield, filled with countless resentful hundred demons. Some evil ghosts would raise a black sickle, like a fierce beast. Some evil ghosts were burned by the aura of death. If you looked at it in the eye, you would be dragged into the abyss. Every move here needed to be careful, especially the green-faced evil ghost. You must not be caught by it, or... you would surely die.
And on the three routes, she had placed specific lucky bags. Only those who got the lucky bags would be considered to have reached the end. Otherwise, they were cowards.
To be honest, some of the timid horse girls were scared to death. For example, Matikanefukukitaru, who had lost her divine light, was now completely panicked. Meisho Doto was also trembling. Rice Shower was the same, very scared, as if she had a disease that prevented her from going up the mountain.
However, Xu Zong was listening with great interest. He memorized the appearance of the ghosts described by Air Groove. He remembered everything she said and even took notes. With his diary system, he had obtained the Underworld Special Effect. Never mind a green-faced, long-toothed evil ghost. We'll see who dares to mess with him then. He'll unleash a Hundred Demons' Night Parade on them. A green-faced white ghost holding a black sickle, a ferocious snake-headed demon, and a ten-headed demon, he would conjure them all, all accompanied by a chilling laugh.
"Jie jie jie..." Xu Zong let out the laugh of a Soul Palace elder. Pain's words echoed in his mind: From now on, let the world feel pain. And this Underworld Special Effect of Xu Zong would only scare the horse girls and would not cause any physical or mental harm to them. It would be automatically filtered out, which was very good.
Soon, the first Test of Courage began. The golden generation, including Special Week, Seiun Sky, King Halo, El Condor Pasa, and Grass Wonder, started walking together. They first took the 2400-meter route, which was similar to the distance of the Satsuki Sho.
The Howling Ghost Cave was filled with a chilling wind.
"Ooh, Grass-chan, slow down."
"And Seiun-chan, King Halo-san."
Spe-chan and El Condor Pasa were timid, huddling close to Grass Wonder and Seiun Sky, afraid that some demon would appear. King Halo was actually scared too, but she was a first-class horse girl and wasn't panicked at all.
"Wow... so scary. Seiun-chan is in a big crisis." Seiun Sky felt it was terrifying. She wasn't scared at first, but after walking a thousand meters and passing the shrine, the appearance of the demon head on it, combined with the ghost story told by Air Groove, made her tremble.
"Ohohoho... it's just a little ghost. Is it necessary to be so scared?" King Halo was still putting on a brave face, but she could hardly smile anymore.
However, nearby, many people covered in white sheets were already hiding, including Twin Turbo, Narita Brian, and Nice Nature. On the other side, Dai-Taku Helios and Mejiro Palmer were wearing demon masks, ready to strike.
At this moment, by King Halo's side, a gust of wind howled, and the ground began to rustle. In the darkness, it sounded like ghosts crying and wolves howling, or truly like the wailing of the dead.
Even Grass Wonder couldn't help but shiver.
At this moment of despair and silence, Nice Nature led the charge, rushing out wrapped in a white cloth, carrying a player that emitted demonic sound effects, and approached Spe-chan step by step. She also made a ghostly voice: "Run, run, the third person I catch, I will drag her to hell."
Seeing this, Spe-chan's face instantly turned pale, and she shouted, "Ah... ah... Momma...." Spe-chan was completely scared out of her wits at this point.
Seiun Sky was also scared and said, "Everyone, if you catch my friend, please don't catch me..."
However, although Seiun Sky said this, the four of them still picked up Spe-chan and ran, instantly unleashing their running speed, their potential soaring.
Stamina -5, Speed +5.
Wow, so you can even practice running like this?
And they hadn't run far when Twin Turbo, Dai-Taku Helios, and the others surrounded them again, scaring them all into meme faces. Good news, they ran away. Bad news, they ran into a ghost's nest.
Xu Zong watched all this silently. Good, good, so you're the ones scaring our beloved horse girls from Team Spica. Especially you, Nice Nature, leading the charge.
"Jie jie jie." Xu Zong indicated, You have found your path to death.
Of course, Xu Zong also observed many other places. At the 3200-meter mark were Gold Ship, Mejiro McQueen, as well as Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet. The ones responsible for scaring them were Mejiro Bright, Mejiro Dober, and even Mejiro Palmer was there. Mejiro Palmer was very cooperative with Spica's activities. After all, she even went down the slide, so this was nothing. And old auntie Maruzensky was also there. She was playing the role of a green-faced, long-toothed evil ghost, terrifyingly.
When McQueen saw it, her tail stood on end, and she quickly ran. Needless to say, Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet turned back directly. These two had tough mouths, but they ran faster than anyone else. As for the 2000-meter mark, it was Matikanefukukitaru and the others. The three of them were directly caught. So tragic.
Soon, the positions were swapped.
At this moment, Xu Zong set out.
Mejiro Palmer, at this time, did not think she would be scared. First of all, she was in the scaring group. Even though she had changed routes, so what? These were just people in costumes, just to scare little kids.
However, just then, a formless hand suddenly patted Mejiro Palmer's shoulder. Her pupils instantly shrank, and she took a step back abruptly.
Wha... what's going on?
She turned around abruptly but saw nothing. The moon was dark, the wind was high, and a crow cawed. She swallowed hard. At this moment, she admitted she was panicked.
As she was about to leave, something even more terrifying happened. She actually felt something pulling on her calf, as if it was a resentful spirit, making it difficult for her to move.
Mejiro Palmer's heart skipped a beat. She was thinking, could it be real? What's more, at this time, Spe-chan and the others could also come out to scare people. Now Mejiro Palmer was completely sweating. She never thought that the noble and elegant Mejiro Palmer would have such an embarrassing day.
Actually, she was relatively lucky.
And on the other side.
Nice Nature and Twin Turbo were walking happily. Until they reached the cemetery, Twin Turbo was a little scared and moved step by step. Nice Nature also followed.
However, Xu Zong seized the opportunity. Another gust of cold wind blew. And just as they were observing their surroundings, suddenly, Xu Zong made a ferocious and terrifying evil ghost with long hair appear in front of them in an instant. The green-faced evil ghost stuck out its scarlet tongue, and a pair of extremely sharp fangs were about to bite Nice Nature and Twin Turbo.
"Aaaahhh!!!"
Twin Turbo's face instantly turned pale. She fell down on the spot and fell into a baby-like sleep from fear.
"Run, run, I'll kill everyone except the one in third place," Xu Zong deliberately scared them.
Nice Nature also cried out in fear. She hugged Twin Turbo with Ikuno Dictus and ran. Third place, she was familiar with that!
"Tannhauser-san, run!!!" Nice Nature shouted.
"Eh? Wait, my hat is gone." Matikane Tannhauser was still in a daze. However, the next moment, an even more sinister aura descended. Countless creepy sounds were heard, and many skeleton soldiers actually appeared, converging inside. They brandished the swords in their hands, their greedy eyes looking at Nice Nature and the others.
"Fresh blood and flesh, a good choice..."
"Jie jie jie..."
Wow, Tannhauser was also stunned with fear at this time. She finally got her hat and quickly ran with Twin Turbo. This was too scary!
Xu Zong was having a lot of fun, instantly creating countless demons and monsters. Even a little girl like Mejiro Palmer was scared half to death by him. It was mainly because Xu Zong was multi-threading. Otherwise, if he just focused on scaring one person, he would definitely break them.
And after they ran out, they hugged each other and cried, as if they had survived a disaster. Of course, if it were a normal person, they would definitely suspect if there were real ghosts. But because of the diary, they would not have any doubts.
"Where's Twin Turbo?" Nice Nature looked at her hand and found that Twin Turbo was gone.
At this moment, in the windy mountain road, Twin Turbo had just woken up and found that there was no one around. She fainted again from fear.
And soon, everyone was on their way home. As for Twin Turbo, she was also found.
Xu Zong also wrote in his log on the way.
[I didn't expect this Test of Courage to be so much fun. I created a lot of ghosts and scared whoever I caught. It was so satisfying.]
[Is this the legendary physical salvation?]
[Seriously, I just love King Halo's ability to talk nonsense with a straight face. She says she's not afraid, but her face is whiter than anyone else's. As expected, when you're out and about, you make your own face.]
[I had a great time today. I can go back and sleep again tomorrow.]
[This is life.]
[Let's see what kind of reward I can get today, haha.]
Xu Zong uploaded the log, and then his reward arrived. But this time, the reward that came made him jump in surprise.
[Hint: Diary upload successful.]
[Hint: The injury rate of the horse girls in Team Spica during training has been reduced.]
Xu Zong's reward was this, which was very good. His beloved horses couldn't have any accidents.
After returning, everyone chatted for a while and then went back. Xu Zong also went to sleep. He had fun today. He hoped to have this kind of special effect more often. It was quite fun.
However, elsewhere.
Mejiro Palmer was still in shock. She finished reading the log and only then did she know that these ghosts were Xu Zong's doing. She was filled with grief and indignation. She never thought that the great young lady of the Mejiro family would fall to this state. Her mood in her entire life had never changed so drastically as it did tonight.
Mejiro Palmer was really angry. There was still the fan festival and the new student ceremony later. She would always have a chance for revenge.
And Nice Nature. She returned to her dormitory, washed up, and hugged her beloved bed. It was so good to be alive.
The next day.
Xu Zong woke up and started writing his log again. He was laughing his head off.
[Today, let's write about Gold Ship. Another great general of the Gold family.]
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (270 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (240 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (110 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (120 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (290 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (120 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (140 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(70 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (180 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (140 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (100 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (70 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (100 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (120 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (120 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (85 Chapter)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (60 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (70 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (110 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (110 Chapter)
Survival in Blue Archive (60 Chapter)
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (80 Chapter)
The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (80 Chapter)
Heartbreak Simulator: I Broke Them and Made Them Cry (60 Chapter)
The Talentless Trainer Doesn't Want to Restart (60 Chapter)
A Journey Starting as a Quincy (60 Chapter)
Uma Musume: The Master of Romance Obstruction (60 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.