Twin Turbo's plan worked.
Well....almost.
There were plenty of Horse Girls attending the race, and among them stood one whose presence made the crowd instinctively part: Rudolf Symboli, known as The Emperor.
Griseo didn't so much sneak in with Twin Turbo as she did blend in beside this regal figure. From the way others reacted, it was clear Rudolf Symboli held immense status.
Griseo followed quietly at her side.
No one questioned them.
Until-
"You're not a Horse Girl, are you?"
Rudolf Symboli's voice cut through the air midway down the passage.
Griseo and Twin Turbo froze.
"Th-that…"
While Twin Turbo scrambled for an excuse, Griseo calmly spoke the truth.
"Tokai Teio and I planned to watch her race together, but something went wrong… so we had to come in this way."
"Don't be nervous." Rudolf said, her lips curving into a gentle smile. "So you're Teio's friend?"
To her, Griseo was like a blank canvas—pure, sincere.
Knowing Teio had such a friend pleased her.
"I'll take you in. There's a second checkpoint ahead. You won't pass it alone."
She walked forward, and Griseo followed.
Behind her, Griseo whispered to Twin Turbo, "She's so gentle… I thought she'd be scary."
"She is...if you're not like you." Twin Turbo replied. "Last time, a creep tried sneaking in and got kicked into the hospital."
"Impressive…"
"Of course! The Emperor is the first undefeated Triple Crown Horse Girl in history!"
Griseo blinked.
"Wait… isn't that Teio's goal?"
"Exactly. When Teio was little, she said in an interview she wanted to be just like the Emperor. Most people thought it was childish dreaming. But now… there's real hope."
Twin Turbo smiled.
"The Emperor's like Teio's silent guardian. Her presence here means more than any words."
They chatted all the way through the passage.
Griseo learned so much about this world.
Then, they stepped out—and the world exploded into color.
The roar of the crowd was deafening.
Commentators shouted with passion.
Streamers danced in the sky.
Sunlight bathed the grass in vibrant green.
Crowds layered like frosting on a cake filled the racecourse.
It was like a festival.
Griseo's heart raced.
Her cheeks flushed.
She leaned on the railing beside the Emperor, eyes wide.
"So lively…"
The colors here were so different from the Honkai World.
There, even during festivals, peace was never guaranteed.
"Will Teio win?" she asked softly.
The broadcast introduced each Horse Girl.
This was a G1-level event...no weaklings will be here.
Each had a decorated history.
Teio's undefeated streak made her stand out, but nothing was guaranteed.
"Don't worry. She'll win."
A confident voice came from behind.
Griseo turned to see a man with reddish-brown hair in a tracksuit.
He looked like a friendly neighborhood uncle.
"Haha, hello! I'm Okino, Trainer of Team Spica—Tokai Teio's team. Haven't seen you before. Are you joining Tracen Academy? Want to join my team? You'll get close to Teio!"
"Um… I'm not a Horse Girl."
Griseo quickly clarified, removing her hat to reveal the cosplay ears beneath.
"This is just… a disguise."
"Oh! I misjudged." Ryu said, surprised. "But you have a powerful potential… not something ordinary people possess."
Griseo blinked.
He could sense her physique?
There were no Honkai Beasts here.
And he was just a Trainer.
"You can sense that?"
"Don't call me 'uncle.' Okino is fine." he grumbled.
Then, with a proud smile:
"As a top Trainer, spotting potential is key. As the saying goes, 'A thousand-mile horse is common, but a Bole is rare.'"
"Many Horse Girls miss their chance because no one sees their worth. Our job is to make buried gold shine."
Griseo nodded, half-understanding.
"So Teio-jiejie is gold you discovered?"
"No." Okino said, his tone shifting from playful to reverent.
"She's a gift from heaven. Even without me, she'd shine."
"She may be the only undefeated Triple Crown Horse Girl I'll ever train. There were none before. Maybe none after. I bask in her glory."
He looked out at the racecourse.
"Today is the first leg of the Triple Crown—the Satsuki Sho. She'll announce to the world that the legend of invincibility has begun."
His smile was radiant.
Unshaken by doubt.
"Because her name is Tokai Teio."