"I'm willing to become Urara's trainer, and I will do everything I can to help make her dreams come true. I will carefully create suitable training plans for her, prepare clean towels so she can wipe away her sweat, provide proper drinking water when she's thirsty, take her to the infirmary if she gets hurt, buy her ice cream when she's sad, divide race prize money fairly, and seriously handle all the support work a trainer ought to do."
Tang Han placed a hand over his chest and made his vow with complete sincerity.
"Trainer Tang Han, you really don't have to say that much," Rudolf reminded him. "You only need to answer, 'I do.'"
No, saying it this way at least meant there would be no misunderstanding and no risk of getting sent to jail.
"Haha, is that so? Then I won't do that next time."
Tang Han scratched his head awkwardly like a harmless fool.
Of course, it was all an act.
Tang Han had different strategies for dealing with different horse girls.
For someone like Rudolf—both highly intelligent and highly capable, and someone who wielded real authority over part of Tracen Academy—his strategy was to play dumb.
Because leaders loved talented people with distinctive qualities. Such people could shoulder great responsibilities. Rudolf was no different. The more exceptional someone was, the more likely they were to catch her attention.
Tang Han could already imagine the consequences of being noticed by Rudolf.
She would start asking him to interact with other horse girls and help solve their problems, and then somehow, one of those girls would end up falling for him. For someone who wanted to keep his distance from every horse girl, that was a terrible outcome.
The scariest possibility of all was one of those weird-story scenarios where Rudolf personally appointed him as Tokai Teio's trainer, leading straight to the "Teio basement" ending.
That was why Tang Han needed to act as ordinary and foolish as possible, like a perfectly average trainer who made mistakes easily. Only that way could he avoid catching Rudolf's eye.
Unfortunately, his acting did not seem to have had the effect he wanted.
"Trainer-san Urara's so moved"
With teary eyes, Urara threw herself into Tang Han's arms.
In Urara's mind, the more someone said in a vow, the more sincere they were. It was just like effort: the more effort you put in, the stronger you became. Tang Han had said all that just now, so to her, it could only mean that he cared deeply about their relationship.
To meet a trainer like Ninja-san—someone both amazing and considerate—made Urara so happy that she started crying.
"Ah, uh..."
Tang Han could not bear to push the little angel away, so he froze with both hands hanging awkwardly in the air.
That was bad enough, but the real problem was that Rudolf also gave him an approving nod.
"Trainer Tang Han, I have high hopes for you."
Unlike Urara, Rudolf had not misunderstood him quite so completely.
In fact, she thought she had understood half of what he was doing.
The Hermit.
Someone with real ability, who for some reason deliberately pretended not to have any.
Judging by the outfit that lowered his presence, Tang Han's background was definitely not simple. Japan did not have technology like this, so he was most likely the descendant of some famous trainer family from China.
Because trainers at Tracen Academy disappeared from time to time, the school had been suffering from a serious shortage of teaching staff. As a result, the academy had no choice but to recruit larger groups of new trainee trainers every year to replenish its numbers, but that had also led to a decline in overall quality.
These rookies tended to be arrogant and conceited, believing that simply being hired by Tracen proved how strong they were. They looked down on their seniors, ignored guidance, and frequently broke school rules.
That alone was not too bad. At worst, they were just a bit too cocky and ended up dragged into a basement by their own horse girls. The scenario usually went something like this:
New trainer: Look at that senior. He can't even handle a few horse girls. What a loser.
Horse girl: You sure sound confident. So you're pretty brave, huh?
New trainer: Of course I am. I'm super brave. I'm amazing at training horses.
Horse girl: Then let me see it.
And then he got absolutely wrecked. A happy ending all around.
But some trainers simply did not love horse girls at all. They only saw them as money-making tools and future wives.
Rudolf had seen scumbag trainers take a horse girl straight to a hotel on the very day they confirmed their partnership. Of course, under the blessings of the Three Goddesses, those scumbags never ended well.
And Tang Han—he was clearly a rare breath of fresh air in today's trainer world.
Unlike those genuine idiots, Tang Han was deliberately hiding his brilliance.
He knew full well that he was far more capable than most others, yet instead of showing off, he concealed both his abilities and his face, hiding in plain sight like a true master.
On top of that, he understood exactly what responsibilities a trainer should bear.
And "a trainer's responsibilities" did not just mean the obvious surface-level duties like helping a horse girl pursue her dreams and handling support work. It also meant maintaining a proper trainer-horse girl relationship instead of viewing them as future wives.
Even now, with the adorable Urara throwing herself into Tang Han's arms, he had not taken advantage of the opportunity. Instead, he had subtly eased free while still keeping an appropriate distance.
Rudolf placed great importance on Tokai Teio because she believed Teio's talent would one day allow her to surpass even Rudolf herself. But that child was a little too proud and prone to stumbling, so she needed someone steady to help guide her path.
And more than that, Rudolf was afraid that pure-hearted little Teio would end up losing her heart to her trainer.
After all, no parent could accept hiring a tutor only for that tutor to make off with their child.
But if it was this Trainer Tang Han... perhaps he really was someone worthy of trust.
Rudolf hesitated for a moment, then said, "Trainer Tang Han, I happen to know a child blessed with extraordinary talent who still doesn't have a trainer..."
"No way!"
Tang Han instantly crossed both arms in front of himself in a big X.
There was no need to guess. The "gifted child" Rudolf was talking about had to be Tokai Teio.
What was going on? He had already made himself look as average as possible, so why was Rudolf still trying to hand Teio over to him? This made no sense!
"Haha, President Rudolf, I already have Urara. If I take on another horse girl too, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it."
"Hehe, Trainer Tang Han, with your abilities, I'm sure managing four or five horse girls at once would be easy."
Abilities? I haven't shown you a single thing, so how do you even know whether I have any?
"Haha, President Rudolf, you're too kind. I'm just a new trainer. There are still many things I only half understand. I still need to learn a great deal before I can become a qualified trainer."
But the more Tang Han resisted, the more Rudolf seemed to appreciate him.
"Hehe, Trainer Tang Han is far too modest. But that modesty is exactly your greatest strength. That child's trainer can only be you."
"Haha..."
"Hehe..."
Damn it all. She really was going to force Tokai Teio on him no matter what, wasn't she?
Tang Han cleared his throat and turned serious.
"President Rudolf, we only just finished the partnership vow. If I turn around and take on another horse girl immediately, Urara will be hurt."
Before Rudolf could say anything, Urara answered first.
"I wouldn't be!"
Urara looked at Tang Han with sparkling expectation.
"If I can run together with a friend, I'd be even happier!"
"Guh..."
Tang Han nearly had a stroke on the spot.
Hey! Why are you stabbing me in the back like this?!
"Hehe."
Rudolf looked at pure-hearted Urara with clear approval.
Well said, Urara.
"See? Even Urara agrees."
"No! Absolutely not!"
Tang Han shook his head violently.
He might consider other horse girls.
But Tokai Teio was absolutely, completely off-limits.
The situation was turning against him. He could not stay here arguing with Rudolf any longer. He had to retreat immediately.
"I'm the trainer, and I have my own judgment. President Rudolf should find someone else. I still have things to do, so please excuse us!"
Tang Han grabbed Urara by the shoulders and hurriedly pushed her out of the Student Council President's office.
Bang.
On his way out, he even remembered to shut the door behind them, making sure Rudolf could not chase after them.
But in Rudolf's eyes, that only looked like evidence of his impeccable gentlemanly manners.
As expected, Trainer Tang Han was no ordinary person.
"Hehe, Trainer Tang Han... you'll agree eventually..."
Looking toward the direction he had left, Rudolf's eyes took on a dangerous gleam.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 132)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter140)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter95)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter165)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 145
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 135
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 95
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 155
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 125
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 105
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 62
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 80
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 66
Uma Musume: From Beginner 80
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 62
Uma Musume: I Want All 65
I Can Copy Unique Skills 53
Summoning an Evil God, but the 41
Supernatural Multiverse 45
My Harem Is Indescribable 35
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 46
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 26
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 36
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