Arriving at the Kyoto Racecourse, Luo Cheng followed Teio to the athletes' lounge while the others went to the stands. Inside the enclosed room, Luo Cheng could hear the clamor from outside.
"It's so lively."
"Hee hee~ They're all here to watch me, Tokai Teio-sama, race!" Tokai Teio put her hands on her hips, her expression excited. "I showed amazing power in my debut, and now I'm riding the momentum into the Classic Year prelude. These fans must have realized who the strongest horse girl is this year!"
With that, Tokai Teio excitedly clenched her fists. "After this race, I'm going for the Triple Crown. Do you know, Trainer? Chairman Rudolf raised one finger after winning the Satsuki Sho, as in, 'This is the first crown.' I'm going to be just like the Chairman and make my proclamation to the world!"
"Sounds great."
"Right?" She picked up a small snack from the table and handed it to Luo Cheng. "Then watch me, Teio-sama, race! I'll be back before you finish that snack."
With that, Teio was about to leave the room. Luo Cheng watched the high-spirited horse girl. "Wait a minute, Teio."
Luo Cheng reached out and hugged her, stroking her head. "Go on."
"Mmm... Trainer, as compensation for this morning, and a reward for my, Teio-sama's, victory, you have to play with me for two days after the race!"
"I'll try."
"Not 'try'! You have to promise!"
"Fine, I'll go out and play with you for two days."
Tokai Teio's ears perked up in excitement. After nuzzling against Luo Cheng's chest for a bit, she reluctantly left.
"I'm off, Trainer."
"Go on."
Watching Tokai Teio disappear down the tunnel, Luo Cheng also went to the stands. Dobe and the others waved to him.
"And now, please welcome our number one fan favorite, Tokai Teio!"
"Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh!"
With a roar of cheers from the crowd, Tokai Teio stepped onto the stage. She surveyed the stands, puffed out her chest, and put her hands on her slender waist.
"Teio seems to be very popular?"
"She's a top contender for the Triple Crown this year, and she's number one in the popularity poll," Agnes Tachyon said.
"A popularity poll?"
"Huh? Guinea pig-kun, you didn't know?"
"I rarely look at my phone."
Luo Cheng used to be inseparable from his phone, but after spending so much time in the game world, he gradually put that useless glowing brick aside. It was just dead weight that served no purpose.
"Trainer, it's quite an accomplishment to quit your phone at such a young age," Sky said leisurely. "Although I'm the same way."
"I think it's good. Without those distractions... a Trainer can settle down and enjoy life," Dobe agreed.
"Here, this is the voting website," Agnes Tachyon said, showing him her phone. It was a Japanese website with various information about horse girls: track compatibility, distance aptitude, race records, popularity ratings—essentially a horse girl's database.
"URA... the official website of the Japan Horse Racing Association?"
"It contains information on horse girls recorded by the central association, as well as popularity polls before races. Teio is in this one," Agnes Tachyon said, pointing at the screen.
"I see." Luo Cheng looked at the option for [Central Trainer], clicked on it, and saw his own name next to Tokai Teio's Trainer.
As soon as he clicked on his name, an [error] appeared. He refreshed the page, but the same message popped up. His personal information couldn't be viewed.
"And now, our competitors will enter the gates!" The announcer's voice shifted Luo Cheng's attention from the website to the racecourse. Tokai Teio trotted lightly and nimbly into the gate. Luo Cheng watched her from a distance.
Tokai Teio bent down, raised her arms, and took a starting stance. At that moment, her eyes became sharp.
Clang!
The gates opened, and eighteen figures galloped out. Tokai Teio moved into third place.
Watching her run, Luo Cheng recalled the first time he played the game and felt the tension of his horse girl being boxed in and the relief when she broke out. This feeling reignited the passion in Luo Cheng's heart. He gradually immersed himself in the race, no longer caring if these were real people or just programs. Luo Cheng raised his hand and, along with the crowd, shouted to Tokai Teio, "Go!"
"The race is entering the second turn! In the lead is Zettai Musha, followed by Kōmō Hanayaka! And in third place, it's Tokai Teio!"
Luo Cheng's eyes were fixed on the two horse girls in front. He suddenly felt that something was different. Before, he would only look at their legs and think how white they were. Now, Luo Cheng was consciously observing their movements and positioning. After being trained by Fumino for a while, he was now able to consciously observe the horse girls.
Does this mean I'm no longer just a "stand-in" Trainer?
"The final turn!"
The announcer's voice echoed across the stadium. Luo Cheng focused on Tokai Teio. He saw her crouch down and start to accelerate. In that instant, Luo Cheng felt as if he could hear the sound of her flying low to the ground.
Fast... So fast!
Tokai Teio's milky-white thighs pumped as she moved at a speed far exceeding the other horse girls. In just two strides, she caught up to the leader, who was three lengths ahead. But as if she had just started, Tokai Teio's momentum didn't stop. It only got faster.
This is a speed of 500!
The crowd's cheers grew louder and louder. Tokai Teio began to pull away from the second-place runner.
"One length, two lengths, three lengths! She's still pulling away! Tokai Teio is still pulling away! What powerful strides, what an agile form! Is this the genius who has graced the track in the Classic Year?!"
On the track, Tokai Teio's steps were light and swift. She still had power; she could still accelerate! Tokai Teio smiled. A race like this was effortless for her.
Did you see Teio-sama's magnificent form, Trainer! I, Teio-sama, am invincible! So—keep your eyes on me and never look away!
"And she crosses the finish line!"
"Winning the race with overwhelming speed, the victor of this race is, Tokai Teio!"
The stadium erupted. Luo Cheng applauded. Tokai Teio had opened up a seven-length lead over the second-place finisher, and even after crossing the finish line, her expression showed that she still had plenty of power left.
This was the absolute dominance of stats! There was no struggle, no battle of wits! There was only crushing strength.
Luo Cheng became even more determined to max out the horse girls' stats from now on. He would take every single horse girl and max out their stats using the items from the real world.
It was time to take them on a massive shopping spree.