"So, you encountered more than a dozen red lights in a row on your way, which is why you came back late... Is that right?"
After Kagura explained why she returned home almost half an hour later than usual today, the Head Maid finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Kagura never expected to encounter more than a dozen red lights in a row on her way back from buying lunch ingredients. She waited the full duration at almost every traffic light until after the Tracen Academy intersection, where she finally hit a few green lights. She somewhat suspected she might have been possessed by something inauspicious today.
"Yes, I'm really sorry, I delayed dinner preparation!"
"No... that's not important, your safe return is the most important thing."
Sighing, the Head Maid raised her hand and stroked Kagura's small head. The pleasant sensation was quite intoxicating.
Having a child run errands outside was always a cause for concern, both for the Head Maid and Speed Symbol. Moreover, Kagura didn't have a phone, so if she had been any slower, the Head Maids might have had to go out in full force to look for her.
Taking the bag from Kagura's hand, she took a quick look. As usual, it was filled with fresh and high-quality ingredients. And according to the shopping receipt, Kagura had spent less money than other Head Maids would have.
"By the way, Kagura, how exactly do you know how to pick good ingredients?"
Although such information could easily be obtained by spending more time in the nearby shopping district, Kagura had only been here for less than two months. Could such a young child already have the presence of mind to notice and utilize such information?
What the Head Maid found even more perplexing was that Kagura not only found good quality goods at affordable prices, but her eye for selection was also very professional. The ingredients she brought back were all of excellent quality, and the prices were lower than what the maids usually paid. The Head Maid never received any poor-quality ingredients from her. This alone already far surpassed the other maids in the household.
Moreover, not only was her selection of ingredients professional, but Inari Kagura's culinary skills also opened the eyes of the maids and Speed Symbol. Initially, Speed Symbol had thought of letting the child take it easy and prepare fewer meals. However, under the dual impact of Inari Kagura's enthusiastic undertaking and her superb cooking skills, Speed Symbol reluctantly gave in, entrusting Inari Kagura with the full responsibility for cooking and grocery shopping.
"I just took a few extra glances when I usually went, and just remembered it. Probably... all by feeling? There's no special method, right?"
Hearing the Head Maid's question, Kagura merely tilted her head in confusion.
For Kagura, who was once a food enthusiast, whether it was waking up early in the morning to get fresh ingredients at the market or discerning the quality of ingredients, these things were already ingrained in her DNA like instinct, so she didn't find anything strange about it.
"Is that so..."
The Head Maid felt that this child was a bit too mature for her age. The time it took her to recover from her amnesia-induced confusion was very short, unusually short. But considering Inari Kagura's current family situation, she indeed had to learn to be independent, and recovering sooner was definitely a good thing.
As usual, after transporting the ingredients to the kitchen, Kagura was about to turn on the gas stove when the Head Maid stopped her:
"Kagura, the Head of the Family is looking for you. I'll do it today."
"Head of the Family? Alright, I'll go right away."
Although leaving her work made Kagura a little uneasy, since it was Speed Symbol's request, she still had to prioritize that command.
Familiar with the route, she ran to the door of Speed Symbol's room, knocked, and after receiving permission, Kagura pushed the door open and entered.
"Head of the Family, were you looking for me?"
Speed Symbol was holding a newspaper, reclining on a lounge chair facing the French windows. On the small table beside her, a steaming teacup was placed, looking completely like a retired senior enjoying a leisurely life.
"Hmm, Kagura... do you have time after lunch?"
"Yes, I've finished my work for today, and I don't have any plans for the afternoon."
Because of the daily maintenance, the workload of cleaning every day was not very heavy. Even including all the miscellaneous tasks, it wouldn't take too much time. Inari Kagura currently didn't have her own mobile phone and couldn't surf the internet, so in her free time, she would usually find an open space to exercise. After all, it would be a bit of a waste not to use such a strong and powerful body that she rarely had.
"Good, then after this, you'll come with me... Hehe, Kagura, come a little closer, no need to be so reserved."
"Yes, then... excuse me, Head of the Family."
Speed Symbol did not explain what she was going to do next. Although Kagura felt strange, she also trusted Speed Symbol's decisions. Since she didn't want to tell her now, she wouldn't ask any more questions. She obediently walked a few steps towards the chair where Speed Symbol was reclining, then sat down properly in front of Speed Symbol.
This wasn't the first time Speed Symbol had asked her to do that. During this period, whenever Speed Symbol was free and not working, if Kagura happened to be there, Speed Symbol would ask her to sit in front of her like this, then hug her, pat her head, or rub against her a couple of times. At first, Kagura was a little nervous, but she had adapted to it by now.
"Oh dear... I always feel like there's some kind of magic about you, child. Being close to you always makes people feel so at ease, and all those worries seem to be momentarily forgotten."
Wrapping her arms around Kagura's small body, she picked her up and placed her on her lap, Speed Symbol gently stroked her head, sighing with emotion.
These were Speed Symbol's honest words. Kagura herself hadn't realized her unique qualities, but Speed Symbol had already noticed. Kagura possessed a unique aura that made people feel very comfortable and relaxed, coupled with her gentle and quiet personality, it was easy for people to unconsciously become immersed in it.
Originally, Speed Symbol had only intended to help a homeless, pitiful Uma Musume. She hadn't expected Inari Kagura to be a master of all housework, an excellent cook, and meticulous in her work, taking such good care of her that she was almost spoiled. Now, she was somewhat reluctant to send the child away.
"As long as you're satisfied, Head of the Family."
Inari Kagura sat quietly and properly on Speed Symbol's lap. She wasn't misunderstanding Speed Symbol's intentions; after all, she was an elderly person, and her granddaughter was away for many years, so it was normal for her to want to cuddle a child.
"Kagura, I've noticed you occasionally jogging in the courtyard when you're free. What are you doing?"
"Just trying to get some exercise. I'm free anyway..."
Since she didn't have a phone, Kagura couldn't surf the internet, so she had to focus her energy on studying her own body. The Uma Musume body was much healthier than her previous frail human body, making her feel like she had endless energy.
"A narrow place like the courtyard surely isn't satisfying for exercising, is it? Would you like to go somewhere where you can fully express yourself?"
"Huh? Is there such a place nearby?"
"You'll know after we finish eating. Just follow me."
Seeing Kagura express her agreement, Speed Symbol smiled, then rubbed Kagura's head a couple more times... After finishing her meal, Speed Symbol changed into a light and comfortable tracksuit and led Kagura in a direction she usually wouldn't go. Kagura had actually seen that area from a distance; it seemed to be a sports field with a long track. But because it had nothing to do with her, and that area wasn't within her maintenance scope, she hadn't paid much attention to it.
Walking onto the track with Speed Symbol, Inari Kagura suddenly felt an inexplicable stirring. Being in such a wide and open space, she felt as if she was getting excited, and even her tail began to wag uncontrollably, striking against the hem of her maid outfit with a series of sounds.
"Head of the Family, what are we doing?"
"How about you join this old lady for some exercise?"
"I'm fine, but are you sure you're up for it?"
Kagura wasn't afraid of exercise. After running to buy groceries so many times, she had a basic understanding of her current stamina. She was just worried that Speed Symbol, being so old, might be overexerting herself by running.
"Hehe... I was once the glory of the Symboli Family, and my body is very healthy. A run like this is no problem. Come, keep up with me, stay close, don't fall behind."
"Oh... Yes, Head of the Family."
Since Speed Symbol had said so, Kagura no longer worried and jogged behind Speed Symbol.
The Symboli Family's track was very comfortable to run on. Compared to the concrete roads she usually ran on, this soft grass, although a bit inconvenient for exerting force, was truly much more comfortable for her feet when running.
However, she wondered if it was her imagination, but it seemed like Speed Symbol's pace was getting faster and faster. To keep up with Speed Symbol, she also had to increase her speed.
'It looks like there are people by the side of the track?'
While running, Kagura's peripheral vision caught sight of several men in black suits standing by the side of the track. They seemed to be observing this area, or rather, watching her and Speed Symbol.
'What are they doing?'
Feeling a bit uncomfortable from being stared at, Kagura decided to ignore the people by the track. She guessed they were probably people Speed Symbol had hired, she just didn't know what they were supposed to do. Surely Speed Symbol wasn't trying to sell her and had people come to appraise her, was she?
Surely not?
Although the work was a bit physically demanding, Inari Kagura still liked being here. The Head Maid and Speed Symbol were both very kind to her, and the pressure of the job wasn't great. If she had to go out and change places, she didn't know how long it would take her to adapt again, and it was possible no one would even dare to take her in.
"Child, focus. If you get distracted while running, you might fall."
"Ah, yes, okay!"
Noticing Kagura was distracted behind her, Speed Symbol reminded her, then subtly picked up her pace.
Kagura stopped her wild thoughts and concentrated on keeping up with Speed Symbol. She finally confirmed it wasn't an illusion; Speed Symbol was indeed continuously accelerating. As Speed Symbol's speed increased, she felt a growing urge, an impulse that was pushing her—
—to charge past! To overtake her!
She recognized the thought in her heart, but she didn't understand why she had such an impulse. She was never a very competitive person, and besides, this was just a morning run. Why did she have the urge to compete with Speed Symbol?
"Hehe… Kagura, if you want to run a little faster, pick up your speed, and overtake me, you can."
"No, didn't I say I would run with you? If I run off by myself, wouldn't it defeat the purpose of accompanying you?"
"No, I'll continue to follow along. Watching young people run makes an old person like me very happy… Besides, you actually really want to go faster, don't you?"
As she spoke, the running Speed Symbol turned her head and smiled at Inari Kagura beside her.
As a fellow Uma Musume, Speed Symbol could tell that Inari Kagura was actually trying to suppress her competitive spirit. Her speed had already surpassed her own, and now she was fluctuating between fast and slow, clearly intentionally controlling it.
This was an instinct every Uma Musume possessed, regardless of age. Even an elderly Uma Musume like Speed Symbol still had that impulse, but she no longer had the young body that could allow her to compete.
"I heard you ran so fast on the Shopping Street that Trainers passing by were startled, and you almost got a speeding ticket. After that, you never ran that fast again, right?"
"Ah haha… My mind got hot at the time, and I just ran off…"
"You usually exercise in the courtyard in the afternoons. Now that you have such a wide track, don't you want to properly unleash yourself?"
Speed Symbol asked Kagura with a smile as she ran.
Ever since she gained such a strong physique, Inari Kagura was indeed eager to test her physical limits. However, she usually didn't have the conditions for it, so she could only bounce around in the courtyard a bit, but that was far from touching her body's limits.
It was like greatly leveling up one's character in a game and wanting to find a powerful monster to see the extent of the improvement. Kagura also wanted to know just how strong her body truly was.
"When you're on this track, don't suppress yourself. Relax, release everything you've held back. The finish line is over there; run freely towards the finish line."
The running Speed Symbol gently patted Kagura's shoulder, pointing out a sign by the track in the distance.
"Then… please excuse me, Head of the Family."
"Go."
After receiving permission, Inari Kagura no longer suppressed herself. Her feet suddenly pushed off with force, and the petite Uma Musume flashed out silently like a phantom. In an instant, Inari Kagura's figure was already three body lengths ahead of Speed Symbol.
"What astonishing explosive power. Can she have such terrifying acceleration even before her full maturation?"
Even in her old age, Speed Symbol was a formidable Uma Musume who had won many G1 championships. Even after retiring, she never slackened her training, maintaining a basic speed as a professional athlete. For an immature Little Horse Girls to so easily pull away from her by such a large distance and still be accelerating, this already spoke volumes about Inari Kagura's talent.
The distance she chose this time was 1600 meters, which was more suitable for Little Horse Girls. Kagura likely started to burst and accelerate at the 200-meter mark after being reminded by her, and began to widen the gap between them at a speed comparable to a Great Escape Uma Musume.
'My body feels so light… I've never felt this way before…'
As if breaking free from some kind of restraint, even in a maid outfit, Inari Kagura's steps remained light. The scenery around her was flying backward, just like when she used to drive a car on the road. Only then did she clearly realize how much better her body was compared to her former weak one.
The feeling of releasing herself made Inari Kagura feel inexplicably relaxed and joyful. That feeling made her subconsciously immerse herself in it, and she could clearly confirm that this was not yet her limit.
The moment she rounded the bend and entered the long straight before the finish line, Inari Kagura let out a soft cry, instinctively increasing her speed once more. She dashed towards the finish line at the highest speed she could unleash. Speed Symbol, who was far behind and had just rounded the bend, and the few men in suits by the track, could barely see a shadow flash across the track.
"Rudolph was indeed right. Those are truly enviable legs…"
As a professional athlete who had won many championships, Speed Symbol could feel her decades-extinguished desire to chase rekindle. She subconsciously increased her speed, but her aging body could no longer support her to reach higher speeds. She could only watch from afar as that tiny dark figure crossed the finish line, sighing with envy.
A while after Kagura crossed the finish line, Speed Symbol caught up from behind. She noticed that even after such a terrifying burst, Inari Kagura didn't show any signs of fatigue, only flushed cheeks and slightly heavier breathing.
"Excellent stamina and explosive power, child. You truly have an enviable body. How about it, after a run like that, don't you feel much more relaxed?"
"Mm… After running like this, I feel so relaxed."
This was true. After such an intense burst of activity, much of Kagura's worries and confusion accumulated over the past month had dissipated. She felt that the feeling of not having to think about anything while running was a rare experience for someone like her, who was immersed in work every day.
"That's good. This is probably your first time running that fast. Let's go get a massage together later. The Head Maid's massage skills are excellent."
"Eh? This… I probably shouldn't trouble you, senior. I don't really feel anything."
"An Uma Musume's legs are precious and fragile treasures. If you don't relax them properly, it will leave hidden injuries. Over time, if it's severe, it might make you unable to walk again."
Speed Symbol's expression was particularly serious, and it seemed she had no intention of allowing Kagura to refuse this matter.
"…Then thank you, Head of the Family."
Although she didn't want to trouble her senior, since the Head of the Family insisted, Kagura couldn't refuse any longer.
"Mm, you go back and inform the Head Maid to prepare. I'll be there shortly."
After letting Kagura leave first, Speed Symbol looked around, then slowly walked towards the several men in suits who had been standing by the track.
"Head of the Family."
Seeing Speed Symbol approach, the men in suits immediately saluted her.
"Mm, that race just now… that child, what do you think?"
"It was a truly magnificent Great Escape. Her adaptability to grass is extremely strong… And her stamina and strength are equally excellent. She didn't plan her physical exertion at all, yet she maintained a high-speed state for the entire 1600 meters and could still unleash such terrifying final speed on the final straight… For her current age, not yet fully mature, it's truly unbelievable. It's no exaggeration to say that she already has the ability to compete with some top-tier professional Uma Musume."
"It seems my granddaughter is indeed a good judge of character… I probably lost speed before the final straight, didn't I? How much distance did that child pull away from me?"
"About… nearly 12 body lengths."
"A significant gap… Ah, I'm getting old…"
Taking the detailed report from the men in suits and reading it, Speed Symbol sighed softly. Although she was well aware that she was old, even with psychological preparation, seeing herself running at full effort being significantly outpaced by an immature Little Horse Girls, as a professional athlete who had won many G1 championships and was called the "Symboli Family's Glory," Speed Symbol's mood was still a bit complex.
However, the purpose of testing Inari Kagura's talent today was achieved. Speed Symbol knew she had truly found a great treasure. She had originally only wanted to help a homeless poor child, but unexpectedly discovered a promising talent no less than her own granddaughter.
—Remember, this child is only 11 this year. Her age difference with Luna is large enough, so there's no need to worry about them clashing. When she's old enough, why not just let her debut under the Symboli Family name and see?
Looking in the direction Kagura had left, Speed Symbol thought to herself… "Um… Senior… Could you… be a little gentler…"
"No, if you don't feel anything, it won't be effective."
"Ah ah…"
Inari Kagura buried her face in the pillow, trying her best not to make any embarrassing sounds.
She had been massaged before, but Uma Musume's massages were clearly different from human massages.
Her small body was exceptionally sensitive now for some reason; both pain and other sensations were greatly amplified, and she felt dizzy, as if her whole body was about to fall apart.
"Speed Symbol didn't react like this... Is this also an effect of having a child's body?!"
Inari Kagura watched Speed Symbol, who had already finished her massage, sitting comfortably on a nearby lounge chair, scrolling through her phone.
She could only wail silently in her heart, her two ears on top of her head flipping over and then sharply perking up with the Head Maid's varying pressure, showing that their owner was in pain yet happy.
After exercising today, Speed Symbol said that whenever she wanted to exercise in the future, the field there would always be available for her to use, so she wouldn't have to stay cooped up in the garden doing high-knees in place anymore.
This made Kagura very happy—although she would have preferred a phone with internet access; she really wanted to understand what this world was like now.
Since she couldn't return to her original world anyway, she might as well understand and adapt to this place as soon as possible.
Her current life made Inari Kagura very satisfied; the work intensity was moderate, not heavy, and the maids and Speed Symbol were very good to her.
Although sometimes Speed Symbol would make her sit on her lap and then vigorously pet her, which caused her a little bit of trouble, she could understand it, as it was normal for an elder to want to pet a child.
"Ugh!!"
Before Kagura's thoughts could wander too far, the Head Maid's movements on her leg suddenly became more intense, and her ears sharply perked up again.
It seemed now was not the time for her mind to wander; it was better to concentrate on enjoying the Head Maid's massage.
Fortunately, the whole process wasn't long.
Although she was left feeling weak and limp all over, Kagura still refused the Head Maid's suggestion to help her bathe.
For some reason, the Head Maid seemed quite regretful.
Leaning against the wall, Kagura laboriously made her way to the bathroom, took off her clothes outside, and then, completely lacking strength, she swayed into the shower.
—Well done, Kagura, you've created a good opportunity for yourself.
As soon as she submerged herself in the water, Kagura saw this line of text appear on the surface, which then quickly dispersed with the ripples.
"What's wrong? What opportunity?"
—You ran very well today.
I wanted to give you a couple of pointers, but you didn't seem to notice.
I didn't expect you to run so well on your own.
"Although I'm happy to be praised... what does this have to do with the opportunity Miss Eclipse mentioned?"
—You silly child probably didn't notice how fervent Speed Symbol's gaze was behind you.
Your astonishing performance gave her another reason to keep you.
"I don't understand... I just went for a normal run with the Head of the Family, didn't I?"
—Uma Musume's perspective is still quite different from you humans.
This kind of thing can't be explained clearly just by talking.
For now, just know that your future days will be much easier, and you'll understand in time~
Eclipse's message was followed by a playful musical note, making it seem like she was in a very good mood, but it was a shame she couldn't see her current expression.
Still not understanding, Kagura gave up trying to figure things out.
After showering and getting dressed, she walked out of the bathroom.
Before she had taken two steps, she saw the Head Maid rushing towards her.
"Kagura, the Head of the Family said she's going out in a few days and needs you to accompany and take care of her."
"Huh? Me? Why?"
"The Head of the Family said that you've performed very well during this time, and your work ability is strong, so she wants to take you with her to take care of her."
Although Speed Symbol said she wanted Kagura to accompany and take care of her, the Head Maid, who had observed the run today, could see Speed Symbol's little intentions.
She also knew that Kagura, though usually quiet and reserved, was quite stubborn in some matters.
Therefore, she chose a way of speaking that would make Kagura feel more at ease accepting it.
"I see... Alright, I understand."
Since it was Speed Symbol's request, Kagura no longer refused.
She believed Speed Symbol must have her reasons for making such a decision.