I'm Ornn, and I'm about to be beaten to my knees by the Man-eating Horse Girl!

One must retain rationality, but not completely lose it; one must follow instinct, but not surrender one's body entirely to instinct...

So annoying.

So stuffy.

I also feel a little dizzy and hungry.

A scorching, oppressive heat settled in Oguri's chest. Even the strong wind carrying the fresh scent of grass couldn't soothe the heat; on the contrary, the cool breeze seemed to make the temperature on his chest rise even higher.

The rise in body temperature intensified the burning restlessness within Xiao Li Mao, causing her to exhale a breath of hot air.

White mist spewed from her mouth, but this time it was different from what she had done in Kasamatsu. This heat was not produced by her violent breathing, but rather by the spontaneous heat generated by her body's uncontrollable warming.

Whether it was Oguri Hat's imagination or not, the golden four-pointed star on her chest seemed to shine even brighter.

Hearing her heavy breathing, the woman in wooden clogs in front of her turned around and glanced at her.

His eyes seemed to hold astonishment, confusion, and intense fighting spirit.

Why is she looking at me like that?

Oguri Hat's mind seemed to be enveloped by that fiery emotion; her blood began to rush, and her slow heartbeat grew faster and faster, like a war drum being struck.

Her body felt as if it were being pulled by some unseen force, each step becoming lighter, as if an invisible hand was lifting her up, as if she could easily win the game simply by surrendering her body to the other.

Let go, rest, and you'll win.

It's very simple and easy. After winning, we'll go out for dinner together.

Who should I have dinner with?

In a daze, the horse girl with reeds stepped onto the sand.

She looked towards the bend a hundred meters ahead. At the end of the bend, there were three figures: one tall and two short. The tall figure waved to her.

He smiled and raised the hammer in his hand, saying, "Xiao Li, use the trick I taught you, and I'll give you a good massage afterwards, and then we'll go eat together."

"Crack——!"

It was as if an invisible barrier had been shattered; my racing heart began to slow down again, and my red scarf fluttered in the wind, revealing a hint of purple amidst the crimson.

【Arc-shaped Dance in Full Bloom】

This skill was used by Oguri Hat almost instinctively. Under Ornn's tempering, Oguri Hat's body was not only hard but also very flexible.

Her exceptional physical abilities allowed her to navigate the curves in an acrobatic fashion, while simultaneously dissipating most of the uncontrolled force through her supple body.

Without the same level of flexibility and resilience as Oguri Hattori's body, no other horse girl could use this skill. In other words, at present, Oguri Hattori is the only one who possesses this skill!

In the instant she entered the bend, she finally understood what Ornn meant by "instinct."

Instinct is not just her talent for running, nor just her accurate judgment on the field, nor just her obsession with winning.

Rather, it is her deepest desire as a horse girl.

Before enrolling in Kasamatsu Tressen, Oguri had no particular ambitions.

If she had to say, her wish was simply to have enough to eat every day.

But she was also aware of her own appetite and her mother's family situation, so she restrained herself before starting school.

Four months ago, when Oguri Hat arrived in Kasamatsu Tressen, he still had no desire for anything.

If I had to say what my wish is, it would be to follow my mother's instructions and run freely on the track.

But at that time, she didn't understand the game, and didn't even know what a gate was.

She only put on her running shoes and started running on the sand because she wanted to run.

The turning point came three months ago when Oguri Hat and Shining Bright got caught up in a conflict and subsequently encountered that mysterious young man.

She put on the shoes the other person had given her, and then she saw the view from the summit.

Although it was only a fleeting glimpse, and although she had no idea at the time how she had managed to see the scenery ahead, deep in her heart, a wish arose.

She wanted to improve herself, to keep improving, until she could match that power; this was her initial wish.

But now, her desires are no longer limited to these.

She wanted to sneak snacks with the brand new brilliance, she wanted to run with the Fujimasa March, and she wanted to share her joy of victory with her mother.

She wanted to study alongside Kasamatsu's classmates, she wanted to move forward with her supporters, and she wanted to compete with true champions...

Finally, she also wanted to go to a buffet with Orn and share her secret recipe for grilled meat with him.

The intense emotions subsided, and Xiao Lima's heart gradually calmed down.

"Sprint, then go eat."

A dazzling streak of light shot from the golden four-pointed star. With 500 meters to go, Oguri Hat once again proved with her own two legs that her nickname was well-deserved.

【The Monster with Reed Feathers】

She took a step forward, the powerful force causing the grass of the Tokyo Racecourse to groan. Amidst the flying dirt and dust, she overtook Mejiro Ardan, who was in second place, and then passed Sakura Chiyo, who was in first place, and charged straight toward the finish line!

200 meters to go!!

"No!! I won't let you!! Go!!!"

The moment Oguri-hat passed her, Sakura Chiyo reacted immediately.

No, it should be said that her body, which was already exhausted, blossomed with new life under the guidance of her willpower and determination!

Pink cherry blossoms slid from her sleeves, and with a girl's shout, the pink light surged again, and two beams of light, one white and one pink, shot out towards the finish line at almost parallel speeds!

"Two domains?!"

Representative Qianming said in astonishment, "Impossible?! Oguri Hat only just stepped into the G1 arena for the first time?! She's already mastered a domain!!"

Rudolf shook his head: "No, Little Chestnut Hat hasn't entered the domain; more accurately, she hasn't even touched the edge of it."

"But she was already on the threshold."

Representative Qianming asked, "What do you mean?"

Gazing at the platinum line about to cross the finish line, Rudolf countered, "CB, do you remember what that point everyone had to cross before entering the realm was?"

Before she could answer, Rudolf continued, "It is 'clarity of the path,' like the ancient Chinese concept of 'enlightenment,' or the 'still water in a clear mirror' often mentioned in swordsmanship training."

"The change in Oguri Hat is that she has come to understand. She has come to understand her own heart. Although there is still a long way to go before she can reach that realm, she has already surpassed the level that most horse girls cannot reach in their entire lives."

"The one who truly unlocked this realm was Sakura Chiyo, and just like her name suggests, her color was indeed as beautiful as cherry blossoms,"

The plastic bottle in Maruzensky's hand was completely deformed from being squeezed, and liquid was dripping down her hand.

She looked at her junior, the cherry blossoms falling in the sky reflected in her indigo pupils, and nodded with satisfaction, saying softly, "She really did it, she stepped into the realm level."

"Do you yearn for me, running like cherry blossoms in full bloom...?"

"Although she's still quite inexperienced, she has indeed achieved her goal. Isn't this the reward that the Japanese derby gives to the hardest-working horse girl?"

Maruzensky glanced at the scoreboard, gave a wry smile, then turned and walked downstairs.

Just as Chiaki was about to give chase, Rudolf stopped her.

"Let her go. After all, Chiyo is the only student in the school who is willing to sit in the passenger seat. Let's not bother them."

The emperor looked up at the scoreboard and sighed, "It's a pity the distance was still too short. If I had reached that level with 500 meters left, perhaps the outcome would have been different."

"Should I say it's just bad luck? In this race, the luckiest horse girl is definitely her."

[Japanese Derby]

Small chestnut hat, one wear,

Sakura Chiyo-oh, 1/4 horse body, two moves.

Chapter 91 The Stage of the Winners

"The competition has reached a fever pitch, and the two contestants in the front row are about to determine the final winner!"

Misato Akasaka's hands trembled slightly as she gripped the microphone and shouted, "The final sprint has begun!! Oguri Hat actually accelerated a third time! Does she still have hidden stamina!? She overtook Yae Musou and Mejiro Ardan! Then she overtook Sakura Chiyo!! But Sakura Chiyo wasn't going to give up the victory so easily! She also accelerated a third time!! My God! Is this even something a human can do!?"

"The two are still racing!! They're almost running side-by-side! But Oguri Hat's acceleration is earlier and faster than Sakura Chiyo's!! She's now a full horse's length ahead! There are still 100 meters to go to the finish line! Sakura Chiyo can actually accelerate again?? She unleashed an amazing fourth burst of speed and caught up! She's reduced the distance between them to half a horse's length..."

"They've crossed the finish line!! Oguri Hats has won this year's Japanese Derby!!! This is an unexpected victory!!!"

Has she crossed the finish line...?

The pink light emanating from Sakura Chiyo gradually faded. She turned to look at the scoreboard and involuntarily clenched her hands.

We lost... Ah.

A quarter of a horse's length—less than half a meter—felt to Sakura Chiyoko as an insurmountable mountain, like Mount Fuji.

The commentator's somewhat shrill voice, the surrounding audience's noisy shouts, the white sky shrouded in thick clouds—everything seemed both distant and incredibly close to her.

Her heart was pounding, and Sakura Chiyo blinked. Her vision was still blurry at the edges—the effect of adrenaline.

I lost.

She turned to look at the platform, but the red figure that had guided her forward in her heart had already disappeared from the platform.

'Is Maruzen-senpai disappointed in me?'

'That's right, I lost. I lost in the Japanese derby, a match I can only participate in once in my life.'

The girl patted her cheeks, shook her head, and said, "Phew, now's not the time to give up. Even winter buds will bloom in the warm spring. I'll pull myself together!"

'Let's change our clothes first and offer our blessings to the victors...'

She tried to move her right leg, but a sharp pain made her freeze in place.

Sakura Chiyo was stunned. She tried to move her right leg again, and the intense pain caused her to stumble forward.

'What is this? A fracture?'

'No, my leg is still fine. Is it a muscle strain?'

"Ugh, it hurts a bit, but I can bear it. I can't trouble others. I'll contact the trainer off the field first, and then..."

The girl thought resolutely, her lips pressed tightly together, intending to quietly move off the field.

Sakura Chiyo was just that kind of child. Just as Maruzensky liked her, she was innocent, straightforward, didn't easily trouble others, followed the rules, and even if she suffered in silence, she wouldn't say a word, bearing it all alone.

Even her trainer was somewhat helpless, and even she herself didn't know why her role had shaped her into this kind of personality.

The girl endured excruciating pain and tried to move towards the passage, but a white figure blocked her way.

"You're injured, don't move, I'll carry you on my back."

As she spoke, the girl with the gossamer-like hair squatted down, coldly gesturing for the other person to lie on top of her.

As her rival, Oguri immediately noticed Sakura Chiyo's unusual behavior, even though the other party concealed it well.

Every time Orn massaged them, he would explain the common ailments of horse girls' legs.

Having heard it so many times, Oguri Hat could recite it by heart. Sakura Chiyo's unusual behavior immediately alerted her.

"Huh? I...I'm fine, you don't need to carry me,"

Sakura Chiyo quickly waved her hand and said, "You still have the winner's stage to participate in. If I remember correctly, this is the first time Oguri Hat has won a G1-level victory, right? The reporters must be eager to interview you by now! I'm really fine! You don't need to carry me!"

Oguri Hat didn't speak, but she didn't leave either. The white-haired girl maintained her cold expression, half-squatting and staring at her.

"Well....."

Sakura Chiyo hesitated. The wild power of his final sprint still lingered in her mind, and coupled with that terrifyingly cold face that seemed to say, "If you don't come up, I'll beat you up," she felt a pang of fear.

Without further ado, just as Orn had said, since the buffet wasn't coming her way, she headed towards it.

She bent over slightly and reversed into the parking space at lightning speed, jolting Sakura Chiyoou onto her back.

Then she picked up the pink cow with its four trembling ears and ran towards the entrance of the arena.

Sakura Chiyo covered her face with her hands: "Oguri Hat Contestant! You...you're going the wrong way!! That's the entrance!!"

"......Feel sorry."

Little Chestnut Hat turned around on the spot and ran in the opposite direction.

"So that's roughly the situation. Na's trainer is here."

Orn looked at the earnest-looking girl in the chestnut hat and sighed, "If I'm not mistaken, the woman behind me biting her handkerchief should be her trainer."

"Sakura Chiyo, don't cover your face! Come and talk to your trainer. She thinks I sent Oguri Hat to kidnap you."

Hearing this, the pink-haired horse girl lowered her hand. She looked at her trainer, bowed her head, and said, "I'm sorry, I dragged you down. I lost, and my leg seems to be injured too. I also caused trouble for the other riders."