I'm in Teresin, dedicated to playing badly

After all, directly and forcefully rejecting Alice at this point would be similar to telling a child who comes home with good grades and wants to share them with the adults, "What does that have to do with me?" or "Go play by yourself." It's a bit excessive no matter how you look at it.

Moreover, he deserves some credit for Alice's current victory. Seeing the seeds he sowed successfully sprout, he is genuinely happy and should be rewarded.

However, even after making this decision, Shinji Kitahara remained rational and added a condition to the reward.

It's essential to add it; otherwise, it's not feasible.

After all, Alice was a well-known prankster at Treson Academy. If he were to impulsively agree to let her do whatever she wanted now, he might end up dead the next day.

However, all of this is based on the premise that Alice is planning a whole big event.

If it were just some small, ordinary, and not excessive requests, Shinji Kitahara would have done them anyway, and it probably wouldn't have had much of an impact.

Shinji Kitahara, engrossed in his own thoughts, didn't notice that after he gave an affirmative response, Alice, who was opposite him, was taken aback for a moment.

what's the situation?

Alice was stunned by his straightforward response.

Although she sounded very willful and confident when she said it, she didn't actually expect Kitahara Shinji to agree to her request, which was clearly just her being childish.

After all, she had known him for quite some time, and she was actually quite aware of what he was capable of.

Knowing that he was quite wary of her, she never expected him to agree to this obviously capricious request from the beginning. She was simply happy and wanted to joke with him.

Moreover, even if she is rejected, it doesn't really matter to her, because the outcome will be the same whether he agrees or not.

Because she knew from the beginning that he would definitely not agree to the things she really wanted him to do, and that even if she didn't succeed in the other things, he would generally not refuse as long as she asked him for help properly. After thinking it over, she chose a very conventional option.

Sending shoes.

The so-called "giving away shoes" refers to the practice of a female horse giving away the shoes that accompanied her to victory to her trainer as a souvenir after winning a race.

This may sound a bit awkward, but it is actually a very common and normal courtesy, and it is more likely to happen in relationships with people who are on good terms with each other.

The reason is very simple.

Although everyone knows that racehorse girls and trainers are usually paired up, there is usually only one trophy or medal after a victory. After all, the trainer doesn't participate in the race, and it costs money to create an additional trophy or medal.

This creates an awkward situation: even though the victory is achieved through the joint efforts of the racehorse girl and the trainer, only the racehorse girl gets a commemorative trophy, while the trainer gets nothing.

It's alright with trainers who have an abnormal relationship with you, since trophies can be considered marital property and shared by both of you, so it doesn't matter who gets them.

But for those who have a normal relationship with their assigned trainer, they will naturally take the trophy with them once the trainer leaves, since it is something they earned with their own hands and a carrier of their precious memories—but what about the trainer?

With his departure, the trophy that carried his past glory also vanished.

Sitting alone in the office, looking at the empty room, all the memories of the past began to blur, as if none of it had ever happened. This was too cruel for a trainer.

Thus, the idea of ​​giving shoes as souvenirs came about.

Because they were worn by the horse girls during their victories, the shoes are just as commemorative as the trophies, and in some ways, they are even more valuable as personal equipment.

There's no need to worry about the cost being too high, because in reality, the shoes worn by the horse girls, especially those used during races, are consumables.

The reason is simple: the load on the shoes is just too great when the horse runs at full speed.

While it's not impossible to create indestructible shoes using modern technology, especially with the influence of the Three Goddesses' mysticism, the problem is that while such shoes are sturdy, they will hinder running speed.

While it's possible to spend a lot of money to make shoes that are durable and suitable for running, the cost of manufacturing them is much higher than simply buying more of these consumable items.

Furthermore, as this custom spread, the act of giving shoes gradually became more than just a matter between normal relationships between trainers and their partners. Those with less normal relationships also began to imitate it for various reasons, eventually making it a very common phenomenon.

This time, although it was just a basic tournament without any prize money, it was the first match the two had played together, and their first victory at that. It would be strange if they didn't give away shoes as a reward for a win of this nature.

Alice originally planned to tease him a bit after he refused, then, once they got to the training room and she changed into the spare shoes, she would give him the pair she was wearing while he looked bewildered, and then tease him a bit based on his expression at that moment.

but now......

Alice came to her senses. Although she was a little annoyed that he wasn't following the plan, after thinking about it, she felt that this was a rare moment of his thoughtfulness, so she didn't dwell on it and prepared to tell him directly that she was going to give him shoes.

But just as she was about to speak, certain scenes from before the competition flashed through her mind, and a new, bold idea emerged in her heart, causing the words she was about to utter to catch in her throat.

"What's wrong with you?" Shinji Kitahara noticed her unusual behavior.

"...It's nothing, let's go back to the activity room first."

Alice spoke with feigned composure, but the tail behind her swayed a little more dramatically.

Since they had just won, Shinji Kitahara didn't suspect her. He just thought she was probably excited about winning the match, so he nodded and took her back to the activity room.

Since it was a teammate's match, the other female warriors naturally went to the audience to watch. Moreover, since there would be a winner's stage after the match, it would be a bit troublesome to go back and forth, so they all stayed there. Currently, only he and Alice are in the activity room.

This sounds a bit dangerous, but Shinji Kitahara doesn't think it's a big deal.

On the one hand, he felt that the relationship between the two was simply that of a mad scientist and a guinea pig that she was curious about, and that she wouldn't have those kinds of thoughts about him.

On the other hand, even if Alice really wanted to do something to him, Kitahara Shinji wasn't without fighting power. It wouldn't be so easy for a sickly horse girl to ride on him.

As for medication? That is indeed a risk, but the problem is, Elisoko is not the only one who knows how to use medication.

Having wandered for so many years and experienced so much, he has quite a few gadgets at his disposal to counter the horse girl.

And the facts proved him right.

Even though she was alone in a room and almost certain that no one would disturb her, Alice didn't show anything unusual. She obediently went to the closet, took out a spare pair of shoes, and then sat down on a chair.

Then, she placed the spare shoes beside her, looked up at him, and blinked.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Shinji Kitahara looked at her, somewhat puzzled.

Upon hearing his question, Alice smiled amusedly, then placed the spare shoes aside and crossed her legs in front of him.

"Help me change my shoes."

"......What?"

Shinji Kitahara thought he had misheard.

"I said, help me change my shoes."

Alice looked at him, wiggled her raised foot, and a strange light flickered in her red eyes.

"Isn't this an unreasonable request?"

That's definitely not an exaggeration.

But why is that?

Shinji Kitahara looked at her with a puzzled expression, and it took him a while to realize what she meant.

Oh, she's probably upset that he didn't massage her legs himself before, and she's taking this opportunity to throw a tantrum.

But it's okay, it's not nursing work anyway, it's just changing shoes. Once it's done, I'll take her to the winner's stage and that's it.

With that in mind, he didn't refuse Alice's request.

Seeing that he agreed, Alice's lips curled up even more, and she began to plan how she would tease him when he helped her change her shoes.

However, she seemed to have forgotten something.

Although she always acts like a seasoned veteran, completely at ease, and seems to be able to easily manipulate Kitahara Shinji, in reality...

She is essentially a cloud player who relies on paper defense.

Chapter 68: Even gods need offerings, right?

As mentioned before, although Alice always appears very mature, as if she is experienced in matters of the heart and can handle all kinds of situations with ease.

She can even crack jokes from time to time or tease Shinji Kitahara. No matter how you look at it, she seems like a battle-hardened bad woman.

But in reality, all her actions and experience were based on observing the experiences of others.

Despite being in Trepp's environment, especially since she plays a role in selling troublemaking drugs.

Under such influence, one's heart, if not entirely pure, is certainly shrouded in darkness.

Moreover, because she has a habit of collecting feedback on the effects of potions, she often learns about the emotional stories between trainers and horse girls, and even between horse girls themselves, which naturally improves her theoretical knowledge and experience.

But the problem is that theory is, after all, just theory.

Just like her trainer level, although she has a wealth of theoretical knowledge and there are no apparent problems on the surface, she should know what it means to be full of loopholes when it comes to actual operation.

Even as Shinji Kitahara walked toward her, Alice remained completely calm.

She was still thinking about how to tease him later, to get revenge on that mere guinea pig for daring to refuse her kindness, and to let him know who the master was.

But when he actually knelt down to help her take off her shoes, especially the moment he held her ankles.

Her smile froze.

No matter how rich her theoretical knowledge, how skillful she is, or how experienced she seems, it cannot hide the fact that she has zero practical experience.

Not to mention practical experience, since enrolling in Treson, apart from possibly talking to some trainers while selling medicine, she has had no experience with male contact.

Even the trainers, out of fear of her reputation, would rush away after buying the medicine, not daring to say a single word to her.

Furthermore, because she is so engrossed in scientific research (and causing trouble), she rarely goes out and is too lazy to engage in social activities.

Before joining Shinji Kitahara's team, she had fewer than five friends to talk to, even fewer than Kusakabe, and none of them were male.

The combination of excessive theoretical experience and zero practical experience gave her the illusion of being a "cloud player" who thought, "I could do it too."

She had actually learned this lesson the first time she picked out clothes at a clothing store, but since it didn't get out that time, and she thought it was just an exception, she didn't pay much attention to it.

Not only did she not care, but that defeat actually stirred up her rebellious spirit. She felt as if she had been tricked by Shinji Kitahara, so she kept looking for an opportunity to get revenge.

But the result...

The moment her brain received the powerful warmth and touch from her ankle, although Alice could barely maintain a calm facade, the speed at which her tail swayed increased dramatically, and she felt a faint warmth in her ears.

A prank? A plan? Something to cause trouble?

She came up with some really good ideas; in the few steps it took him to walk over, she even came up with three or four plans on how to tease him once he got there.

But when he actually arrived, the words he had planned to say got stuck in his throat.

When those hands grasped her ankles, she became even more stiff and unable to move.

You mere guinea pig, I'll let you off this time...

Realizing something was wrong, Alice immediately surrendered, extinguishing all the chaotic thoughts in her mind.

Just getting through this shoe-changing phase is a victory; there will be plenty of other opportunities in the future...

woo-

If Alice hadn't covered her mouth with her sleeve in time, she would have screamed.

Just now, she felt a subtle, electric-like sensation on her legs and feet.

She looked down at Kitahara Shinji, who, instead of immediately changing her shoes after taking them off, was intently stroking and kneading her ankles and calves with both hands. A sense of panic began to surface in her eyes.

This, this, this—

What are you doing, Guinea Pig?!

She couldn't understand Kitahara Shinji's behavior at all, and subconsciously wanted to stop him.

But before she could even speak, the strange pleasure surged through her legs again with the pressure of her fingertips, shattering her already dwindling rationality.

A strange sensation traveled from her legs to her mind, intertwining with certain indescribable feelings, breaking the long-maintained calm, and a large blush began to bloom on her face.

Alice did not try to stop him again. She just looked down at Shinji Kitahara's focused expression, and a strange light gradually appeared in her eyes. Some inexplicable emotions began to churn in her heart.

So, the guinea pig likes this...?

If it's a guinea pig, then it probably doesn't matter...

and......

Looking at his serious expression, Alice felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

Sure enough, compared to that little brat, the Emperor of the East Sea, her legs are definitely better, right?

Thinking of this, she unconsciously lifted her leg slightly and leaned into Kitahara Shinji's hand to make it easier for him to move.

What she didn't know was that the thoughts swirling in Kitahara Shinji's mind might be slightly different from what she imagined.

These legs are absolutely awful!

As he kneaded Alice's ankles and calves, Shinji Kitahara felt a surge of urge to make sarcastic remarks.

Well, how should I put it.

Just as he avoids watching the horse girls train because it makes him feel uncomfortable, his reluctance to touch the horse girls' bodies is partly due to similar reasons, in addition to the concerns mentioned earlier.