"Smack!"
The Director slapped her fan on the desk, waking everyone from their thoughts.
"Let's stop here, Luna. Since your 'other self' has already given up on it, why don't we trust that other 'you'? Besides, I feel that the ability 'Little McQueen' has mastered, should be just like a domain (Zone). If a horse girl truly possesses the potential to step into that realm, I believe everyone can reach that state through their own power, just as you all discovered the domain in the first place."
"Director..." Symboli Rudolf fell silent for a moment upon hearing this. But she was no longer a reckless youth. She quickly understood and nodded. "You are right. Let us believe in the possibilities of the new era."
As expected of the Director, Mejiro McQueen looked at her with admiration. Although her usual style was that of a rather chaotic leader, when it came to adhering to her core principles, this Director was truly remarkable.
The Director smiled and said, "Little McQueen, you're a bit bad, you know? Using this to test us. Aren't you afraid Luna would have actually agreed?"
"I'm not. I don't care."
Mejiro McQueen looked at Symboli Rudolf expressionlessly.
"We agreed at the beginning. It's not that I won't give it to you; it's that you don't want it. Therefore, you can't take back the request you promised me. Prepare to show me the power of the one who was once the strongest in Japan, Emperor!"
Okino and the others tensed up as they watched McQueen's provocation of Symboli Rudolf. This Mejiro McQueen really has guts.
"Oh? McQueen, you wish to challenge the Emperor of Chuuou?!"
A powerful aura radiated from Symboli Rudolf, and crimson lightning seemed to crackle around her. That terrifying aura was like that of a dictator, a tyrant. The surrounding horse girls all felt uneasy and moved away from the two. Only the Director and her secretary were unaffected. They watched with smiles, not feeling offended by McQueen's actions, but rather finding it interesting. In fact, even Symboli Rudolf herself wasn't angry.
If you looked closely, you could see she was smiling. After all, she was never the type who liked sitting on a throne alone. She only took this position because it needed her, and she wanted to do something for the horse girls of the new era.
The Emperor is a cold and unapproachable figure?
Those rumors were completely false.
It was only because she held the power of Chuuou, combined with the fact that she didn't know how to interact with the younger horse girls, so that such a rumor became popular at Tracen Academy. But in reality, Symboli Rudolf wasn't like that at all. The "hot-tempered Emperor" was ancient history. Rudolf had always considered herself an approachable horse girl.
In fact, if any student did challenge the student council, the Emperor would only be happy. (Although, if too many students tried to challenge the student council, Air Groove, as the vice president, would certainly have a lot of opinions.)
At this moment, facing this young one's challenge, she was genuinely happy. Her only regret was that this was the Mejiro McQueen from another world, a junior belonging to her "other self."
At this thought, Rudolf suddenly felt a pang of jealousy for her other self. Why didn't her Tracen Academy have such an outstanding junior? Although her Teio and [McQueen] were cute, in her eyes, they were still children. They didn't meet the requirements of a successor.
Mejiro McQueen also unleashed her "Aura" to counter the Emperor's "Aura." In everyone's eyes, Mejiro McQueen's aura was not as powerful as the Emperor's, but it was incomparably solid; the Emperor's aura couldn't affect her at all. The red and purple auras clashed in the student council room. Although a clash of auras doesn't physically affect the real world, to everyone present, they were witnessing a truly fierce battle!
Mejiro McQueen said calmly: "Emperor, no need to test me. My mastery of ZONE has also reached the same realm as yours."
"Excellent. You truly are outstanding, McQueen."
Symboli Rudolf nodded, satisfied.
With that, both of them retracted their auras.
"But are you sure you want to race me in this state? You can't use your full strength right now, can you? Although I hate to say it, our [McQueen] will not allow you to use your full power."
At this point, Rudolf felt they could stop. She really wanted to test this outstanding junior's strength, but if it meant having McQueen use [McQueen]'s body to race her, she felt it was unnecessary. Because there was no way
she could test McQueen's full power like this.
But Symboli Rudolf didn't know that Mejiro McQueen wanted to challenge the "Strongest of the Old Era" precisely because she knew this. Because McQueen genuinely believed she was too strong now. If she didn't give herself a handicap, today's races simply had no pressure.
"Emperor, what are you misunderstanding? On the contrary, this is better. It's because I'm in this state that I want to race you. If I could use my full strength, then this race would be very boring."
Everyone present: "..."
Seeing that Mejiro McQueen genuinely believed this, Rudolf started to feel a headache. She had just been thinking what an outstanding child McQueen was. If she wasn't from another world, Rudolf would have even considered training her to be the next student council president. But now she realized, this child's true nature is this arrogant?
Everyone saw Rudolf's eyes lower. That gravity-like aura appeared around her again. Clearly, her mood was not so calm.
No matter how easygoing she was, to be looked down on like this... her dignity as the Emperor couldn't take it. The only reason she didn't explode on the spot was thanks to her years of self-cultivation. But those who knew her knew she was genuinely angry now.
"How young, McQueen. It seems I will have to teach you a lesson today."
For this little horse girl who knows no reverence, the Emperor, as student council president, felt it was her duty to correct that twisted personality!
"Whatever. If you can do it, then bring it on."
Seeing that Symboli Rudolf finally had the will to fight, Mejiro McQueen was very satisfied with this result.
"Hayakawa, send out the order! Clear the track immediately! Also, send a notice to all students and staff. Tell them to come and spectate this race! Oh, and if anyone is interested in participating, tell them spots are limited, first come, first served! This is a chance to experience the strength of two of the 'Strongest' firsthand, you know!" The Director "devolved" in an instant and was already planning an event. This state was the one people were most familiar with.
Several horse girls in the room immediately jumped out.
Tokai Teio shouted excitedly: "Me, me, me! Director! Miss Hayakawa! I, Tokai Teio, want to register!"
"Us too!"
The other members of Spica also didn't want to miss this opportunity. Although they knew they would just be "along for the ride" in a race of this level, it was in their nature as horse girls. No horse girl could refuse.
Trainer Okino looked at them.
He felt Teio and the others were overestimating themselves, but he had to admit, he was tempted too. After all, only in an official race can you gain experience you can't get in training. And for a race of this level, even if it's not "official," he believed Teio and the others could learn a lot. Even if they learned nothing, it would certainly broaden their horizons.
"Please let them participate, on my behalf!"
Air Groove frowned.
"This level is too high for you, isn't it? I believe even if we open registration, we should prioritize high-school division students."
Letting these rookie-level horse girls participate in a race of this level... they might end up with some psychological trauma. Especially since Luna and Mejiro McQueen would be using Zone. The mental pressure from that ability is terrifying.
The Director didn't refuse, but instead asked Mejiro McQueen: "Little McQueen, do you think it's okay for them to join?"
Air Groove sensed this was bad, and quickly said to McQueen: "You need to think this through. This may not be a good thing for their development." After saying that, she looked at Luna, hoping the president would say something.
But Symboli Rudolf looked intrigued.
Air Groove's mood instantly worsened.
"Then let them join."
Mejiro McQueen looked at the pleading eyes of Teio and the others and didn't hesitate, agreeing immediately. She really didn't see the problem. Air Groove's way of thinking was, as always, too conservative.
"Yes, I think we can let them participate."
Symboli Rudolf also backstabbed Air Groove. Air Groove stared at her, expressionless. Though this made Rudolf a little uncomfortable, she was a master at playing dumb and pretended not to see.
Maruzensky then raised her hand with a smile.
"Then let big-sis help out too! It's been a while since I've had a serious run. So, Little McQueen, please treat me well~"
"You're joining too?"
Symboli Rudolf suddenly felt a bit of pressure.
"Yep! Because it sounds fun!"
Air Groove looked at the two of them, grit her teeth, and said: "Then I'll join too."
"Huh?"
Rudolf and Maruzensky looked surprised.
"Air Groove, you..."
"What? You two don't think I'm as good as you, do you? Damn it! Even if I haven't entered Zone, it doesn't mean I'll lose to you!"
Air Groove snapped, exasperated.
...
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