Tokai Teio's results were improving steadily. With the help of the shoes, her training efficiency had risen markedly. However, for some reason, she always arrived in her standard athletic shoes. Even if Luo Cheng told her to swap to the racing shoes, she wouldn't listen, so he ended up changing them for her every day.
During the process, Teio's feet were always restless, kicking out and often landing on Luo Cheng's face. She would hook her soft toes around his lip, gently pulling at his face, a faint smirk lingering on her lips.
Even in a game world, Teio displayed an awareness far beyond the others in this specific area. It was clearly an anomaly. Besides that, the heart in her affection bar was also different. A normal horse girl's bond maxed out at a pink heart, but Teio's was a deep dark red. It hadn't started that color, but it had darkened with use. Luo Cheng didn't know if this was the final stage; it might get even darker.
But as the saying goes, worry about tomorrow tomorrow. Luo Cheng had learned to enjoy the moment. Aside from the tasks, he had given up on deep thinking. The less he thought, the happier he was. Who was to say tomorrow wouldn't be worse? Besides, Teio's feet smelled good; he didn't mind.
The attribute growth for everyone else, however, was concerning. Most only gained a single point every few days. Luo Cheng guessed it was because their "Chapter" hadn't started yet. In Uma Musume terms, they hadn't reached their "Priming Phase" of rapid growth.
But Luo Cheng had a bright idea: give Teio's shoes to others to use the attribute boost. He tried it and found it worked, but the moment the shoes were gone, Teio's mood plummeted to the bottom. Even head pats couldn't fix it. Only when he put the shoes back on and patted her again did her mood slowly recover. Clearly, the shoes had become Teio's "Exclusive Item."
Next time he returned to the normal world, he'd buy a pair for everyone. Once his team was fully geared, he wouldn't have to worry during races. Following this logic, Luo Cheng realized it wasn't just shoes; other things like clothes, socks, bracelets, or leg bands might have special effects, too—maybe even stronger than the shoes.
The thought gave him a sense of purpose. He finally felt like he was "raising" them. The joy of a game is in the growth of numbers; he didn't want affection to be the only thing growing in this world. Being overpowered is a lifelong pursuit.
"Alright, that's enough for today!" Luo Cheng told his trainees. The green bars over their heads were nearly empty. Further training would tank their mood and risk illness. Luo Cheng was always careful; Teio had never had a serious injury—just a one-day sprain once. A negative status and a timer would appear, and the injury would heal when the timer ran out. Training through it risked extending the time and reduced the effectiveness.
"Go back and rest well. We'll continue tomorrow." Even though he knew the words were mostly useless, he had to say them. Keeping everything inside made his own mood drop. Everyone needs a release.
The girls chorused "Yes!" and headed for the dorms. Luo Cheng headed to the gym. He needed to train. Unfortunately, there was no "stamina-boosting medicine" for humans in Tracen, so he had to do it the old-fashioned way. Luo Cheng hoped his stamina would grow to the point where he could take charge even if a horse girl initiated things. A man must have dreams: he wanted to be the first human to conquer an Uma Musume with pure stamina.
At the gym, Luo Cheng began his warm-up. He lifted a barbell, and after one set, he started to sweat, his condition improving. Just then, the six-plate barbell beside him was lifted with one hand.
Turning, he saw the wild, black-haired, orange-eyed girl: Narita Brian. Her slender arm erupted with power, lifting the heavy barbell with ease. Every time he saw this, Luo Cheng's face twitched. A horse girl lifting an adult was like lifting a chick.
"Good morning, Brian."
"Good morning, Trainer." Triggering the greeting dialogue, Brian spoke casually. she came here every day at this time for two hours of training. It was her habit, done even without commands. she had become Luo Cheng's "instructor"; he would sit and watch her form. Compared to a novice like him, a horse girl's form was flawless.
Soon Brian's body heated up, steam rising from her skin as sweat poured from her forehead and neck. Brian removed her top, revealing her black sports bra and the beautiful, slender curves of her midriff beneath.
Uma Musume were different from humans; their muscles were incredibly soft. No matter how much they trained, they rarely developed bulky "blocks." But Brian's definition was much clearer than the others. Anyone who liked a "toned" look would be captivated by her.
Brian set the dumbbells down and looked for a towel. Luo Cheng handed it to her. Brian stared for a moment and then stood in place. Seeing no reaction, Luo Cheng took it upon himself to wipe her down. From her forehead to her stomach, her body emitted a strong scent of perspiration that completely masked her original fragrance.
Once she was clean, Brian's face flushed, and she let out a heavy breath, her yellow eyes dazed.
"N... next set..." Her voice shook as she began doing sit-ups. After three sets, she paused and looked around. "The towel... where did I put it?"
Luo Cheng walked over and wiped her down again. This time, Brian proactively turned her body, raising her arms to let him wipe her clean armpits. Mixed with the sweat, a unique scent filled the air.
────────────────────────────────────────
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!
────────────────────────────────────────