Nanami, carrying Dust White, extricated himself from the crowd of staff. Due to Dust White's exhausted appearance, the staff couldn't bring up the Winner's Stage matter and could only watch Nanami's retreating figure, carrying the white Little Uma Musume, silently disappear into the distance.
"Tsk..." Nanami, carrying the feverish Dust White on his back, looked at the panel with some helplessness.
Dust White's body was fine, but due to the explosive sprint just now, all her muscles were sore and needed immediate relief. When Nanami had just put his consciousness into Dust White's body, the overwhelming fatigue and soreness almost made him fall to the ground.
He first turned off the panel, which had been constantly popping up messages and calling out, and placed Dust White on the large sofa in the lounge. This lounge was a common public lounge shared by all competitors. Now, due to the technical aspects of the race, only a few Uma Musume remained there, performing post-exercise cool-down movements.
As soon as Nanami put Dust White down, she was surrounded by several Little Uma Musume.
"It's Miss Dust Dust White, so amazing!" A Uma Musume wearing glasses smiled and waved at her. "You just zoomed past everyone on the track; I couldn't keep up at all."
Dust White's eyes flashed with a hint of light. "Thank you, sorry, my body is too tired right now."
"It's okay, it's okay. I'll definitely watch Dust White Miss's races in the future; that posture was incredible." The star-struck fan Uma Musume retreated at the appropriate moment, watching Nanami begin to massage Dust White's body.
Under the powerful effect of the skills provided by the system, Dust White's breathing gradually stabilized.
The phone rang, and Nanami had to answer it while massaging Dust White's legs. He could only turn on the speakerphone.
"Hello, Nanami." Nanami was all too familiar with this voice; it was the owner of the grocery store who had taken him in on his first day. "We all saw Little White's race, it was so exciting!"
"Huh?" Nanami showed a surprised expression. He had only told the fishmonger that she was taking leave to participate in the race.
"Oh, that guy Damatsu was announcing everywhere this morning that Little White was going to be an Uma Musume and participate in the Debut Race. Everyone on the commercial street knows now!" The proprietress's words blocked Nanami's thousands of words. "Little White is really amazing. We all thought there was no hope when she had a late start."
"Thank you for the compliment. I'll be there on time tomorrow." Nanami handed the phone to Dust White and spoke in her voice.
"Eh, Little White! That full-course sprint was incredible! Kasamatsu hasn't seen such an amazing newcomer in many years!" The proprietress's surprised voice reached Dust White's ears. "Little White, you should rest well tomorrow; you can just come over to get your money then."
"No, no, I can't just take other people's money. I'll come over to work." This was Dust White's, and also Nanami's, bottom Line: reward comes from labor; one cannot always accept others' favors.
"Alright, alright... then you can come any time tomorrow." After several rounds of conversation, the proprietress finally gave in and agreed to Dust White's request to definitely come to work tomorrow.
"Little White!" Oguri Cap rushed through the door and, seeing Dust White lying on the sofa, pounced on her.
"I'm here... I'm here... don't be nervous." Dust White gently stroked Oguri Cap's head, then she gestured to the idling Nanami beside her. "Trainer. Today was very lucky."
Nanami started acting again.
"More than that, what you need most now is rest. Who told you to run so recklessly? If you fail the Debut Race, you can just run again next time; your body is the only one you have." Nanami lightly tapped Dust White's head, and under her slightly displeased gaze, he stood up, "I'll leave you and Oguri Cap some time. I'll go outside for some air; you really scared me with how you were just now."
Then Nanami walked out by himself, found a chair, and went idle, handing his attention over to Dust White.
"So amazing..." Oguri Cap gently touched Dust White's firm calf muscles. "Little White's posture just now was even better than mine."
"That's not true. Originally, according to the Trainer's arrangement, it didn't have to be like this; I made a mistake. If I lost a race I could have won, I would feel bad." Dust White looked at the ceiling, somewhat distracted. She had to start covering up her lie now.
"Little White, run a race with me." Oguri Cap's sudden words surprised both Kitahara and Belno Light. "The race that's coming up soon."
Dust White was also a bit stunned; she didn't know why Oguri Cap suddenly issued a challenge. So, she didn't agree directly in the end. "Sorry, this depends on how well my body recovers, and the Trainer also has his plans, so I can't agree immediately. But I will bring it up to him."
"Mm-hmm..." Oguri Cap's ears, which had drooped because Dust White hadn't agreed, perked up again.
Just as the group was happily chatting, Nanami opened the panel, which was flashing with messages.
[Quest: Debut Race] Completed, ultimately defeating the second-place runner by three horse lengths.
Rewards obtained: 15 attribute points (freely assignable), 50 PT, one random skill draw opportunity.
[Quest: Heart of Desire] Completed.
Reward obtained: [Heart of Desire]
[Heart of Desire] (Unique): That desiring heart will continue to beat for you. When entering a running state, stamina consumption is reduced by 15%, and sprint ability is increased by 15%.
The Temperance light, which had been glowing blue, dimmed and was tinged with some blood red.
[Temperance/Lust] (Unique) (Core Trait) (Fully Unlocked): When not activated, it suppresses 30% of all attributes and converts them into energy in a special energy slot. When activated, the energy in the slot can be exchanged for an equal amount of attributes. Activating grants new abilities.
(In this path, people are distinguished by two schools: the Lustful grow stronger by indulging their desires, while the Temperate suppress their desires, only waiting for the day of their outburst. Now, you have discovered the power within.)
[Deterrence] (Core Bound Skill): Uses the break out of the power of desire to suppress all enemies on the field, reducing all their attributes. The power of this skill depends on the user's ability.
Nanami silently closed the event page, preparing to spend some, and then he saw a new message from the panel.
[Shop] function enabled, please click to view.
Nanami clicked in obediently. The shop page also had the feel of a gacha game.
A large area was empty, with only one section glowing.
[Mystery Shop]: As you can see, this is the most common shop. It randomly sells items and skills, and items are only available for a limited time.
As soon as Nanami clicked in, his eyes were dazzled by the glittering list of merchandise.
"A small Light Giant, huh? And it sneak-attacked and flashed me, this unlucky guy." Nanami covered his eyes and complained.
After dozens of seconds, his vision recovered, and he salivated a bit at the array of goods.
[Strongest Person] [Rage] [Racecourse Magic] [Laplace's Demon]
Four skills, which he could tell at a glance he couldn't afford, hung before him.
He silently closed the panel, then opened the big roulette and quietly pressed the draw button. "Let's get what I can first."
Dust White hugged Oguri Cap and, with a playful remark that completely shattered her aloof image in the hearts of others, said, "Let me rub off some of your good luck."
Nanami pressed the button in the void, and the big roulette began to spin.
Obtained skill [Puppet Strings].