It wasn't strange for a game character to offer a greeting, but it was bizarre for them to use his name. In Tracen, he only had the identity of "Trainer." Everyone addressed him that way. Hayakawa Tazuna was the first to add his name to the title.
Luo Cheng stood dazed for a long while before responding.
"The Chairwoman says she has some matters to discuss with Trainer Luo Cheng. Please follow me."
For a split second, Luo Cheng thought he had transmigrated back. He followed Tazuna, asking along the way, "What is it?"
There was no answer.
"Miss Hayakawa?"
No response.
Luo Cheng simply grabbed her hand. Tazuna paused like a doll. She wasn't real; she was just executing a system task, much like her daily routine of standing at the gate to greet students. However, this time her task was to bring Luo Cheng to the Chairwoman's office.
Even so, it was enough to shock him. After six months, these people were finally initiating contact with him. Just as he was about to let go, he found Tazuna's hand gripping back. Her strength was even greater than Tokai Teio's; he couldn't break free.
"Tazuna..."
"Please follow me." She repeated the phrase, just like an NPC in a game leading the player, repeating the same lines over and over.
Looking at the eternal, gentle smile on her face, Luo Cheng's eye twitched twice. He walked beside her, let himself be led right into the Chairwoman's office. Akikawa Yayoi was sitting in her chair. When the two entered, she stood up.
"Welcome!" She used her signature catchphrase. "Trainer Luo Cheng, the academy is preparing to use Virtual Reality equipment for training. We would like to invite you to be an early tester."
Virtual Reality equipment?
Could it be—
Luo Cheng immediately thought of the [Masters Cup], a training scenario set in a virtual world where one competes against AI Uma Musume.
So the current script is the Masters Cup? Have I triggered the plot? But I didn't enter a story quest.
Luo Cheng stroked his chin. This was likely a plot triggered within the game world. And a "Virtual Reality world"... I'm already in one! The programmers finished the world but forgot to put the AI in, leaving everyone as low-intel NPCs. At least put their brains in to fool me! Luo Cheng complained bitterly in his head.
"What specifically do I need to do?" Luo Cheng asked. However, Akikawa Yayoi remained motionless in her fan-waving pose, offering no answer, as if she didn't understand the words.
Is my question outside the script...? Or does she just not know?
Luo Cheng sighed. "Fine. I agree."
"Then I'll leave it to you, Trainer Luo Cheng."
The moment he spoke, a prompt appeared before his eyes: [Entering Story Training: Masters Cup].
Wait, does this mean I can choose to enter other stories?
The Uma Musume game had many plot routes: the original URA, the Climax Cup, the L'Arc Cup, the Grand Live, and so on. There were many paths to choose from. He had now entered the VR training storyline. The only benefit of this route was being able to meet the Three Goddesses—though Luo Cheng suspected they were also game characters or AIs here. To him, this world was almost unsolvable; there was no way forward but to complete the tasks.
"The testing begins next week. You will be notified then."
With that, Yayoi became motionless again. A few seconds later, she returned to her seat and began reviewing documents as if nothing had happened.
The task delivered, Luo Cheng prepared to head back. He realized Tazuna was still holding his hand.
"Tazuna?"
Her body was motionless. She wasn't his horse girl, so he had no command authority over her. But this was clearly a problem. Why would she suddenly grab him and not let go? As Tracen's "hidden boss," Tazuna's strength was absurd.
Trying to break free with brute force was unrealistic. Even if her palm was soft and tender, smelling fragrant and tasting sweet—once they caught you, it was like being in handcuffs. Since talking didn't work, Luo Cheng had to resort to physical action.
Green pupils reflected Luo Cheng's face. Soon, Tazuna's breathing grew heavy, and her grip on his hand loosened slightly. Brushing against her hot, damp fingertips, Luo Cheng arched an eyebrow.
Apparently, that's not enough. Hayakawa Tazuna had quite the composure. In that case, Luo Cheng had to try a different approach.
He undressed her uniform. Milk-white skin formed a sharp contrast with her black lace lingerie, firmly capturing the man's gaze. It had been a while since he'd paid attention to Tazuna; it was time for a refresher.
...
"Trainer Luo Cheng, I will come to notify you when the time arrives."
A glowing, supple-skinned Hayakawa Tazuna spoke to Luo Cheng. She looked as if she had grown several years younger, appearing no different from the students at Tracen. She would blend in perfectly. Luo Cheng had helped her back into her green uniform.
Only, her undergarments had been accidentally "stained" by him. Her black tights had also been accidentally torn by Luo Cheng, leaving two rips that revealed her rounded, shapely thighs. Tazuna bowed slightly to Luo Cheng, her face beaming with a smile.
In truth, whether their clothes were stained or torn, these horse girls would fix themselves up; by tomorrow, they would be pristine again. He didn't have to worry about her walking around like that forever.
"Okay," Luo Cheng replied, his voice faint. He had pushed himself a bit too hard today. Between Teio and Cafe earlier, he had already spent a lot, and then he'd spent even more to get Tazuna to let go. Now, he could only hope for the nightly refresh.
Incidentally, the ears hidden under Tazuna's hat were quite large. Luo Cheng felt like his soul had nearly been drained out of him.
Leaving Tazuna in a daze, Luo Cheng headed to Tachyon's lab. He'd intended to get there while the food was hot, but now it was stone cold.
"Tachyon, I brought you something good to eat."
Looking at the figure busy at the lab bench, Luo Cheng spoke. She stood in place, delivering her fixed lines. Luo Cheng took the flyer from his pocket and set it on the table. He didn't know if Tachyon could understand him right now, but she was the only one who might have answers. He was grasping at straws.
"The writing on the flyer is gone. Also, these food items from the outside have special effects. I'm leaving them to you."
Luo Cheng sat for a moment and then left. A few minutes later, Agnes Tachyon picked up the flyer and examined it intently.
────────────────────────────────────────
Support me here: https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Spring Sale Special – 20% OFF!
Uma Musume: Inside the Game (71 Chapters – Ongoing)
Join the journey and become part of the story!
────────────────────────────────────────