When Rei-chan woke up, she found herself with her head on Maruzensky's lap.
"Mmm... What happened?" Rubbing her head, she sat up.
"Huh? What's this?" She found a strange Emperor doll in her arms.
When she saw the doll, the events that had happened before came flooding back like a tide.
"Therefore, try to go further."
"What do you mean by that!?" Zero was startled by the sudden appearance of a light screen.
She was in the middle of her daily training when the Goddess suddenly popped up and said something about trying to go further, out of nowhere.
"To be honest, your strength should have already reached the point where you can touch that. No, it's actually quite strange that you haven't been able to touch it until now."
"That?"
"Complete liberation, emmmmm, what the Emperor would call 'Domain'."
What the heck? Aren't skills enough? Are we finally starting a real superpower race?
"Although it sounds grand, there's a commonly known term for it: 'Zone'."
"You mean like a 'clutch player'?"
"I just realized it's your talent to make some grand concepts sound incredibly down-to-earth."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"Anyway, it's something similar. For Uma Musume, Domain is a hidden goal, but very few actually achieve it."
"That certainly feels like it. So, why bring this up suddenly?"
"If you still want to win the Tenno Sho, it's quite necessary."
"?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, you'll encounter Maya Heavy Gun in this Tenno Sho. She's on a completely different level from any opponent you've faced before."
"Because she… activated her Domain?"
"Exactly. Although it's not a complete activation of her Domain, for you, it will be an absolute struggle."
"Even if I activate Divine Speed?"
"Emmmm, that's something completely out of spec. Besides, your body still can't support you fully activating it, unless you want to stage a miracle in public where you suffer a severe injury requiring retirement but still heal within a month and participate in the Takarazuka Kinen."
"You mean, if I want to win, I only have a chance if I fully activate it?" Hearing the Goddess's words, Zero couldn't help but become serious.
"Of course. The mere act of 'touching the Domain' can significantly widen the gap between yourself and other Uma Musume. Even you would only face the fate of failure."
"...Then, let me ask." A few figures flashed through Zero's mind.
"How many of those in the Student Council have activated their Domain?"
"All of them."
"As expected…" It seems she still needs a challenge ticket to challenge them.
"So, how do I activate it?"
"I don't know."
"?" I'm ready to start special training, and you tell me this?
Although she didn't say it out loud, her bewildered expression was visible to the Three Goddesses, even through the screen.
"Each Uma Musume activates their Domain differently. Some activate it during races, some during training, and some are even born with it activated."
"I see…" Speaking of which, if that's the case, could she personally experience others' Domains to help her activate her own?
"It might not help, because this thing is ultimately the manifestation of an Uma Musume's own spirit. Whether you can activate it depends entirely on yourself."
Spirit… This thing is too metaphysical.
However, she vaguely had some ideas in her mind, and the specifics still needed to be implemented. Anyway, since that person named it, she must know something.
The Goddess had gone silent after her last sentence, and asking further would likely yield no more information. Or perhaps this situation was exactly what they wanted to see?
She acts on her thoughts; she wouldn't procrastinate on such matters.
As a result, as soon as she opened the door to the Student Council Room, she saw an incredible scene.
Maruzensky was seen holding something high in her hand, while the Emperor was anxiously pouncing on her, trying to take it away, and Representative Chiaki (Mr. CB, also a Triple Crown Uma Musume who never beat Rudolph Symbol in her life) was laughing and rolling on the floor.
"Z-chan! Catch this!" Maruzensky saw someone approaching and immediately threw the item in her hand.
"Eh?" She took it and saw it was an Emperor doll, but its expression seemed a bit strange?
And it was short and chubby, with a sorrowful expression on its face, completely unlike the Emperor.
"Give it to me!" Then she looked up and saw the Emperor pouncing on her.
Although their strengths were similar, due to the difference in their physiques, the Emperor's pounce directly knocked her to the ground, and Zero's back of the head directly hit the door panel.
A loud thud, it hurt like hell.
The entire Student Council Room instantly fell silent.
=========== End of Flashback ===========
"So it's just a doll from her embarrassing past, why is she so anxious about it? = =" After hearing the whole story, Zero looked at the Emperor with a = = expression, while the other party was still squatting in a corner of the Student Council Room, covering her face.
The whole incident started when a bored Maruzensky was going through her stash and found this "Sorrowful Emperor" doll, which had been completely discontinued. At the same time, she happened to see Representative Chiaki, and a plan suddenly came to mind. She decided to thoroughly prank Rudolph Symbol, wanting to see her long-unseen "Luna mode."
Undoubtedly, Maruzensky succeeded, Representative Chiaki had a great time watching, and the Emperor, having unconsciously activated Luna mode, was now questioning her life. Only innocent Zero's head suffered the consequences.
Speaking of Representative Chiaki, she was also a remarkable person. Also a Triple Crown Uma Musume, she never won a single race against the Emperor. Even in the one race where they both participated and the Emperor didn't win, Katsuragi Ace came in first, and the Emperor, seemingly feeling unwell, placed third, while Representative Chiaki, as the favorite in that race, achieved her worst career placement, tenth.
It is said that Representative Chiaki was initially as impolite to Rudolph as she was, but at some point, she became as free-spirited as a husky. Although she no longer directly opposed the Emperor, she would definitely be the first to approve if there was an opportunity to mess with her.
In short, she was particularly happy today.
"Well, this doll is for you. It's a limited edition! You know, the first thing she did after becoming Student Council President was to demand that this doll be completely taken off the market, www" Maruzensky smiled, revealing something incredible.
"Isn't that an abuse of power?" Zero's eye twitched as she looked at the doll in her hand.
Although it was a bit strange, it was still quite cute. If it weren't the Emperor, it would probably be even cuter (her personal opinion), but precisely because it was the always calm and composed Emperor, it was exceptionally comical.
"My power as Student Council President is limitless!" The Emperor, who had somehow returned to her usual self, said, though a slight blush still lingered on her face.
"Power makes people lose themselves. I think it's better for the Chairman to… " Zero stopped halfway, and everyone in the Student Council Room fell silent.
Although the Chairman was a good Chairman in every sense, and kind to people and all… to be honest, she really lacked authority. Her favorite thing to do was slack off, often disappearing during work hours, causing Ms. Hayakawa, her secretary, to spend almost three-quarters of her workday catching the Chairman and supervising her work.
"Ahem, anyway, is there something you suddenly came to the Student Council Room for? As compensation for my immaturity hurting you just now, I will tell you everything I know, unless it's too private or something I don't know." The Emperor cleared her throat to dispel the awkward atmosphere.
"Alright, I just want to ask one thing."
"What?"
"About [Domain]."
Hearing the word that came out of Zero's mouth, the expressions of the three people present in the Student Council Room all turned serious.