A car can travel several kilometers in a few minutes without accounting for traffic, and an Uma Musume can undoubtedly also do the same.
Due to the existence of Uma Musume, "Uma Musume-only roads" have long since been constructed alongside normal roads so as to avoid traffic accidents.
However, the reason cars have not been completely eliminated in this world is not because the government imposed restrictions on Uma Musume, but because a car is not a living being; it is a machine that can continue to travel as long as it has enough fuel.
This allows it to travel distances that would make even the best long-distance Uma Musume feel daunted.
Perhaps an Uma Musume's top speed can surpass a car's for a while, but as the distance slowly extends, it would become increasingly difficult for them to maintain that speed. Thus, even Uma Musume would choose to hire a taxi if their destination is far enough.
Unfortunately, Orfevre, who clearly had bricks for brains, foolishly chased after them on foot.
But fortunately enough, Maruzensky and Ikezoe's destination was only three to four kilometers away from Tracen.
Orfevre managed to push her stamina to its absolute limits until she finally caught up to the already parked car, before she could regret her rash decision.
"Huff… huff… huff…"
"Damn that hag... Why the hell did she drive so fast... I'm exhausted..."
Gasping for breath, Orfevre ignored the curious and fearful gazes of the people around her. Due to her wavering emotional state, she was unable to suppress her Aura as it slowly leaked out of her, emanating an extremely unapproachable aura.
Her mask had already been pulled down a long while ago because she couldn't breathe. The current Orfevre was less like an Uma Musume and more like her nickname, the "Golden Tyrant."
It even seemed as if her Aura was affecting the surrounding environment; the traffic lights nearby flickered as if malfunctioning, though they returned to normal after a short while.
After managing to slowly compose herself, Orfevre pulled her mask back up, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and then slowly walked towards the building Maruzensky and Trainer Ikezoe had entered.
Clang.
"Welcome—Oh, Orfevre is that you?"
As soon as Orfevre entered the store, Ines Fujin, who was working part-time there, immediately recognized her.
However, upon seeing the terrifying, sweat-soaked Orfevre with blood-shot eyes, this Senior-year Uma Musume who had even run in multiple GIs showed a rare hint of fear.
On one hand, Orfevre's appearance would definitely traumatize any children who looked at her. And on the other... was because of her own mindset.
Although Ines Fujin can be considered a Senior who had even achieved multiple major wins, she was actually quite self-deprecating deep down.
The reason… was because she believed she had no talent, and even if she won a few big races, her future was limited in the end.
This leads to Orfevre: Orfevre was a full-on bonafide genius who even the likes of Symboli Rudolf and Mr. C.B. recognized; there was no one in Tracen that didn't know the title of "Golden Tyrant." Ines Fujin included, which made her genuinely not dare to provoke Orfevre.
After all, the "Emperor" Symboli Rudolf was a pretty approachable figure, and the "Overlord" T.M. Opera O was also quite a friendly person even if she has her quirks.
The "Golden Tyrant," on the other hand... seemed like someone who would beat people into a pulp over the slightest offense.
Orfevre, however, didn't know what kind of terrifying creature she was in the eyes of Ines Fujin and the others as she immediately asked, "Ah, Ines-senpai, are you working here?"
"A- ah, yes, I usually work here on Sundays…"
"—Then did you see my Trainer and Maruzensky enter here?"
Orfevre grabbed Ines Fujin's shoulders and asked without a second thought. However, as she became excited at finding a clue, her Aura began to uncontrollably leak again, scaring poor little Ines Fujin, whose face turned pale.
'She... really is the "Golden Tyrant"... she already has such strong Aura in her Junior-year...' Although Ines Fujin also wanted to push back with her own Aura, she usually didn't like to use hers, as it would scare away the customers.
Moreover, she worried that if she pushed back, Orfevre would think that she wanted to fight her, and then she'd either be beaten blue and black or be dragged into a race or something... Ines Fujin certainly didn't want that.
Thus, having considered the pros and cons, Ines Fujin chose to decisively sell out Maruzensky—after all, Maruzensky only said that she couldn't spread this matter outside, and the other party was Ikezoe's Uma Musume, so it should be fine, right?
"Um, Senior Maruzensky and Trainer Ikezoe are in room 001 upstairs. They seem to be discussing something important."
"I think it's best if you don't disturb them, okay? They must have something very important to talk about, and if the commotion gets too big, I'll definitely lose my job..."
"—Don't worry, it definitely won't get big."
Orfevre, hearing this, smiled slightly and made a promise. Of course, the expression on Ines Fujin's face clearly spelled out "Bullshit."
Just as Orfevre was pulling up her sleeves and about to go upstairs, the door to the building was opened again. Two recognizable Uma Musume quickly rushed in and immediately blocked Orfevre's path.
"Orfevre-nee! Calm down!"
"Gold Ship?! Why are you here? And why is McQueen here too?"
The ones who arrived were Gold Ship and Mejiro McQueen, who also ran here on foot. Though the both of them also had monstrous stamina, they were both exhausted from the run. Gold Ship, panting, pulled on Orfevre's arm, and, after swallowing hard, said with difficulty:
"Orfevre-nee, calm down. Have you forgotten that Trainer Fumino Nase was an assistant invited by a 'Senior'?"
"Yeah, so? What does that have anything to do with this?" Orfevre tilted her head, clearly not having connected the dots yet.
Gold Ship looked at her sister with a face of genuine exasperation. If Gold Ship was a smart person pretending to be a dumbass, then Orfevre was straight up a dumbass.
But even so, Gold Ship earnestly tried to persuade Orfevre:
"Don't you understand? Maruzensky is that 'Senior.' Trainer Ikezoe must have given up a lot to ask for that favor. It's not good for you to barge in and disturb them like this."
"What?! So you're saying that hag is the one who sent Fumino Nase to be Trainer Wada's assistant?!"
Upon hearing this, Orfevre also reacted, but not in the way Gold Ship intended. She immediately said:
"Then all the more reason I have to know what they're talking about! Who knows what that hag is forcing that guy to do to get her help!"
"Gold Ship, don't stop me. I won't break down the door, but I must know what they're talking about. If you want to follow, that's fine; just listen in from the other room. You guys can probably hear from there…"
Orfevre said as she began to walk upstairs on her own. There was no need to guess; she was definitely going to press her ears to the door to eavesdrop.
Downstairs, after exchanging glances with each other, Gold Ship finally spoke:
"So... we go up too?"
"Wait! McQueen! Gold Ship! Wait for me!"
At this moment, not far away, Tokai Teio had rushed into the building as well, stopping in front of Gold Ship and McQueen before stomping her foot and excitedly saying:
"Seriously, how could you two not call me for something this interesting! I love these romantic dramas the most—and McQueen, I didn't expect you to be interested too."
"E-e-eh-ehhhhhh-e—Teio, it's not Mejiro McQueen who is here now. If any of you spread what happened today, I will never speak to you again."
Mejiro McQueen also didn't expect that her rare moment of eavesdropping on love would not only be known by Gold Ship but also by Tokai Teio. She was so embarrassed that she wanted to crawl into a hole.
But in the end, her curiosity overcame her shame. For the future of the Mejiro Family, what's a little shame in comparison? It's merely a necessary path on this journey that is life!
"Then let's hurry upstairs. We can definitely hear something in the next room." Tokai Teio also ran upstairs impatiently, with McQueen and Gold Ship following closely behind her.
"Phew… Thank goodness, I can keep my job..."
Ines Fujin, seeing that the troublemakers had gone upstairs, breathed a huge sigh of relief. This was simply the most troublesome incident she had encountered since working part-time here, but fortunately, everything was settled.
Clang.
"Ah, welcome…"
"—Excuse me, did you see a couple of Uma Musume enter here earlier? If so, which room have they gone to?"
Immediately after the three went upstairs, Wada arrived with T.M. Opera O and Meisho Doto, followed by Imanami, who had been left behind by Tokai Teio, as well as Curren Chan.
Ines Fujin's professional smile finally froze… With this amount of people, are you guys trying to have a game of mahjong here?
Ines Fujin finally resigned herself to fate, only feeling that there's not a single normal person in this team.
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World building? In the anime horse girl fanfic?
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.