The Overlord and Tokai Teio faced each other.
"It was you, wasn't it?" Tokai Teio said through gritted teeth. "You're the one who stole my power!"
The Overlord didn't answer Tokai Teio's question, continuing to look at her coldly, as if watching an insect.
Accompanied by heavy pressure, The Overlord spoke only two words: "Move aside."
"..."
Affected by the intense aura, Tokai Teio looked at The Overlord's empty eyes. Her flames of anger suddenly extinguished as she felt immense powerlessness and fear. Now she didn't even have the courage to maintain confidence before this opponent.
Tokai Teio backed down.
The Overlord ignored this defeated dog, picking up the training equipment and walking into the activity room, treating Tokai Teio as if she didn't exist. Facing such cold indifference, Tokai Teio no longer knew how to bring up the matter of getting her power returned.
It's useless.
Tokai Teio bit her lip in frustration.
Was she really just going to give up like this?
Just then, a voice suddenly asked: "If possible, could you tell me about that matter?"
The one who appeared here was P, who had been following behind the two. Though the situation wasn't entirely clear, P felt that as 'Rice Shower's' trainer, he had an obligation to help handle this matter, because it clearly seemed related to 'Rice Shower.'
At least P believed Tokai Teio's current state wasn't unreasonable complaining. Though his perception didn't work on 'Rice Shower,' it still worked normally on other horse girls.
Tokai Teio originally hadn't wanted to discuss this with a third party, but looking at P before her, she suddenly felt this person could be trusted—perhaps because of his eyes, which gave a feeling of reliability.
So the two walked to the back of the activity room.
Tokai Teio told P everything about what had happened during the Arima Kinen race and the problems she was now experiencing.
Just when Tokai Teio thought P might not believe her either, she heard P say: "I see..."
So that's what happened.
P believed what Tokai Teio said.
Because ZONE was already a domain he didn't understand, with very limited knowledge from books.
Even a senior high-level trainer like Kuronuma didn't deeply understand this area.
ZONE was a power that couldn't be taught or explained to others.
Because its effects were so powerful and it couldn't be obtained through ordinary means, it was called the Supreme Domain. Since it was such an extraordinary power, the appearance of even more unusual powers within it wasn't impossible.
Moreover, he could feel Tokai Teio wasn't lying to him, which basically confirmed this as truth.
Though it was also possible that Tokai Teio's abilities had simply declined during her injury period, this degree of decline was even more unreasonable. Horse girl bodies weren't that fragile, so eliminating all impossibilities left the truth.
"I'll try to discuss this matter with 'Rice Shower,' but there's one thing I think you need to prepare yourself for mentally—are you certain the power that was taken can be returned to you? I don't understand ZONE's principles, but is there a possibility that stolen power cannot be returned? I think you need to prepare yourself to accept this possibility."
Of course, P thought the most likely scenario was that even if the power could be returned, the current 'Rice Shower' wouldn't do so.
He couldn't change 'Rice Shower's' mind.
So the best approach now was to strengthen Tokai Teio's resilience.
"..."
Tokai Teio froze.
Because she had never considered this possibility.
No.
Perhaps she actually had thought of it but hadn't dared think further.
Because if things were really like that, didn't it mean she truly could no longer run?
P looked at the despairing Tokai Teio and organized his words.
"Also, there's something you need to confirm first—whether the power you lost can be trained back."
Hearing this, Tokai Teio's eyes regained a trace of light.
"You mean..."
"Yes, if power can be trained back, then even if there's nothing to be done on 'Rice Shower's' end, you can still return to your peak."
Tokai Teio was moved by P's words. Her eyes regained their fighting spirit.
That's right—it wasn't time to give up yet.
Even if the stolen power couldn't be returned, she could definitely return to her peak.
No.
She would become stronger than her former peak self!
"Thank you, Rice Shower's trainer."
"You're welcome. I should be the one apologizing."
"No, 'Rice Shower' did nothing wrong. In the end, I was simply outmatched."
'Rice Shower' hadn't used any illegal or cheating methods—she had defeated her fair and square in the race.
Was 'Rice Shower' supposed to be forbidden from using her abilities in races just because her power had such effects?
That made no sense.
If that were the case, they should also be forbidden from using their abilities. So everything was reasonable. Tokai Teio hadn't had the confidence to get angry at The Overlord earlier partly because she knew deep down she had no grounds to do so.
The two exchanged contact information.
Tokai Teio hurried off, wanting to immediately begin special training.
P still needed to ask 'Rice Shower' about this matter.
He didn't hesitate long before deciding to be direct with The Overlord.
Because meaningless probing would only worsen their already strained relationship.
Facing the trainer's question, The Overlord didn't avoid the topic but directly gave P the answer.
"Yes, Tokai Teio's power was taken by me. The power I possess is called [Fusion]—a power that can absorb opponents' power as my own. Is there something wrong with that? In competition, strength is justice."
If not for this, why would the people of this world worship her, The Overlord?
Facing The Overlord's attitude, P couldn't bring up the topic of returning the power.
Though The Overlord's words were cruel, she wasn't wrong.
Strength was justice. Victory was everything.
No matter how many pretty words were spoken, this essence couldn't be shaken.
Taking opponents' power—it certainly sounded evil.
But this power didn't violate competition rules. Since it didn't violate rules, it was permitted.
"Can the taken power be returned?"
P finally said it.
After all, he had promised Tokai Teio.
Even though saying this might worsen his relationship with 'Rice Shower.'
But since he had made a promise, he had to fulfill it.
This was P's way.
The Overlord looked at the trainer with some surprise. She had thought he wouldn't dare bring up this topic, but he actually did. As expected of a trainer both McQueen and Rice Shower had approved of.
But though her evaluation of P rose slightly, The Overlord's thinking wouldn't waver because of it.
"Trainer, are you asking me to give my power to an opponent?"
Though her tone didn't change at all, P could feel the surrounding atmosphere shift dramatically the moment The Overlord spoke, as if he would be killed by The Overlord in the next instant.
Even knowing rationally this was just psychological pressure and The Overlord wouldn't actually attack, his body still couldn't stop sweating. This was The Overlord's power—a strength that could make weak-willed opponents retreat on the spot through aura alone.
"No, that was originally Tokai Teio's power."
But even with his body trembling, P still voiced his conviction.
Indeed, The Overlord's actions didn't violate rules—they were reasonable skill usage. But this approach was definitely wrong.
If it was just for victory, simply absorbing opponents' power during races would have been enough. But The Overlord hadn't done that—she hadn't returned Tokai Teio's power even after the race ended.
This wasn't normal.
Even if it made her stronger, how could power obtained through plunder be called justice?!
"..."
The Overlord was silent for a moment.
"But this is my way. If you can't accept it, then leave."
"I won't leave!"
Because his original partner wasn't the current 'Rice Shower'—how could he leave before the real Rice Shower returned!
P's gaze was resolute. He believed Rice Shower would definitely return!
"I see, you still want to persist. But what impossible thing are you hoping for?"
The Overlord's eyes seemed able to see through one's heart.
Under those eyes' gaze, P only felt chilled throughout.
"You—!"
P sensed something was wrong.
What did The Overlord's words mean?
What did she mean by "impossible thing"?
"Rice Shower won't come back. Your persistence is meaningless."
The Overlord made her cold declaration.
P's determination did make her think slightly better of him, but his rating was still negative.
Failing to act in time, now only persisting meaninglessly.
Nothing but willpower.
But this was perhaps the limit of a trainer.
Having neither the power to contend with her nor the ability to truly enter the spiritual space and contact Rice Shower.
The relationship between trainer and horse girl, though called partnership, ultimately had a great wall between them.
"...I believe in Rice Shower!"
The Overlord ignored the words from behind.
"Rice Shower won't lose to you!"
Heh.
Unfortunately, Trainer, your thinking has been wrong from the start.
The Overlord walked out of the activity room, leaving P alone inside.
One person eliminated.
As expected, hoping the trainer could save Rice Shower like a game protagonist was merely fantasy.
Then we can only hope for the next one.
The Overlord thought of Mihono Bourbon, who had been watching her closely after the Arima Kinen. That one should take action.
'Don't disappoint me.'
If everyone connected to Rice Shower failed, it would prove this world no longer had value existing.
At that time, she might have to use forceful means to break through this Story Mode.
After all, if they all failed, it would prove this world no longer had the means to save Rice Shower. Then she would have to seek out those three.
Just as The Overlord passed by the central pond, the Three Goddesses' statues suddenly seemed to manifest.
The statues' eyes flickered.
The Overlord whipped her head around.
"Don't meddle in this!"
The Overlord looked coldly at the Three Goddesses' statues. She had just sensed a strange power trying to contact her domain—power that couldn't possibly belong to any horse girl in this world.
After warning the Three Goddesses, The Overlord left.
The horse girls who had been resting nearby all looked as if they had seen ghosts.
The Three Goddesses manifesting was already extraordinary, but that horse girl had actually refused the Goddesses' grace.
At this moment, Rice Shower deep in her spiritual space suddenly found she could contact the outside world. When The Overlord controlled the body, she normally couldn't contact the outside—she could only see it when The Overlord allowed her to.
And The Overlord had now sealed Rice Shower's access to outside information. After all, seeing all the cheering for The Overlord everywhere would only hurt Rice Shower more—at least that's what The Overlord believed.
So Rice Shower had been protected in the depths of the spiritual space.
It wasn't dark there—it was a garden full of blue roses.
But now Rice Shower suddenly found she could see outside.
A library?
How strange.
Did her other self also like reading?
She wondered what kind of books she would read.
Thinking of The Overlord's cold demeanor, Rice Shower was quite curious what she would read.
Probably not fairy tales and hero comics like me?
But suddenly she noticed 'herself' wasn't reading—she was making a picture book.
Impossible!
Rice Shower was shocked.
How could that cold person make picture books? And with such warm colors!
"...Um, who are you?"
The body's owner nervously put away the picture book and asked the empty air.
Though The Overlord couldn't see Rice Shower's form, she could sense another presence beside her.
This feeling was very strange, but it absolutely didn't feel like a mere illusion.
"...This is Rice Shower's question. Who are you? Why are you using Rice Shower's body?"
What had The Overlord done?
Rice Shower was certain the consciousness controlling the body now wasn't The Overlord.
"Eh?!"
Rice Shower's exclamation drew disapproving looks from others in the library. She quickly bowed in apology to everyone, then hurried out of the library with a red face.
"Are you a Rice Shower from another world?"
Because of Mejiro McQueen's precedent, Rice Shower immediately understood the situation.
Hearing Rice Shower's words, Rice Shower also came to her senses.
"This is another world?"
Just then, three figures appeared before Rice Shower.
The leader had the air of a yakuza princess—Mejiro McQueen. On the left was the arrogant-looking Gold Ship. On the right was the confident and dashing Tokai Teio. These three had come immediately upon learning Rice Shower had arrived in this world.
Rice Shower looked at these three with a terrified expression, then suddenly turned and fled without looking back.
"Stop!"
"Wait, we have something to discuss with you."
"..."
Mejiro McQueen didn't move, but the other two immediately gave chase.
Giving Rice Shower barely any chance to escape, the two quickly caught up and pressed down on Rice Shower's shoulders from either side.
Gold Ship said menacingly: "Why are you running?"
"You being so fierce is definitely why you scared her."
"Shut up, second-rate!"
...
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