Afterward, Mizuki went to Spica and planned the evening's Test of Courage with everyone. Spica had declared war on Rigil and Canopus to see who could scare whom.
Rigil included heavyweights like Grass Wonder, Taiki Shuttle, Maruzensky, T.M. Opera O, and Symboli Rudolf. However, Rudolf was in charge of management and usually wouldn't participate.
"This is bad! McQueen fainted!" Gold Ship shouted anxiously.
"I told her not to be so stubborn..."
Mizuki was exasperated.
McQueen locked herself in a dark room to watch horror movies. This chonky horse was trying to desensitize herself beforehand.
Unfortunately, as a pampered lady of the Mejiro house, she hadn't had much experience with scary things, leading to the current situation.
"Is McQueen okay?" Spe-chan was very worried.
"She should be fine."
Suzuka helped McQueen out of the room. The Young Lady of the Mejiro family looked awful, scared half to death.
"Actually, I'm partly to blame. Just as McQueen reached the scariest part, I crawled out from behind the TV with a flashlight. It scared her unconscious. Little Gold Ship is... reflecting," Gold Ship said, faking a cry.
"You're a menace to society. I almost want to teach you a lesson on McQueen's behalf," Mizuki said, speechless. Why were the Trainees in Spica getting more and more wild every day?
But considering it was Gold Ship... well, it all made sense.
"What kind of grudge do you have to specifically target McQueen-senpai like this?" Vodka shook her head.
"It's normal. It's Gold Ship. Given the track record of the Gold family, this is actually considered normal!" Gold Ship argued.
"The truly wicked one isn't Little Golshi, it's Stego. Yesterday, she was chasing others around trying to bite their tails again."
Mizuki was speechless. Yesterday, Stay Gold had chased Zenno Rob Roy and Neo Universe trying to bite them and was under serious observation.
"That's too vicious. It feels like she needs solitary confinement," Spe-chan agreed. She had seen the diary logs, she was one of the ones who would be chased and bitten.
If Stay Gold actually does face punishment, she'll get no pity from Special Week!
"Biting tails is indeed over the line, but Little Gold Ship definitely won't make any mistakes during a race. After all, Little Gold Ship races very stably! She deserves to be judged!"
Gold Ship spoke like a loyal fan, but her confidence was misplaced. The 12.1 billion incident was about to "stably" take out a whole wave of spectators.
"Sigh, Stay Gold-senpai sounds so scary," Special Week said fearfully.
"It's okay, Spe-chan. If Stego ever tries to bite you, I'll hop on my Segway and run her over," Gold Ship said, giving a thumbs-up.
Spe-chan decided to stick with Gold Ship. Gold Ship had a specific trait: when you're in danger, she'll appear to solve it, when you're not in danger, she is the biggest danger.
Daiwa Scarlet had just arrived at Spica's designated training room. She had also received her Training Reward— she got a reusable "Spirit Potion" that could relieve fatigue. The reward for her real-horse counterpart, however, was bewildering: Birth pain reduced by 50%.
Scarlet was very embarrassed, but she would eventually have babies, right? The real-horse world already had her great-granddaughter, Mame-chan. Seeing the reward made her heart race, which was why she was a bit late to Spica.
However, Mame-chan's personality was nothing like Scarlet's. Scarlet was sensitive as a foal, while Mame was a bully.
Mizuki stepped out again and wrote in her log.
[I can only say Gold Ship is a loyal child. She actually claimed she races stably. If I hadn't seen today's real-horse report, I might have believed her.]
[I'll write more about that later. All I can say now is that the Gold family are all true talents.]
[In all my years, this family of eccentrics is truly a first for me.]
[Oh, right. Just walked toward the school gate and bumped into Old Auntie Maruzen.]
[She said she's taking action in the Test of Courage tonight.]
[Her sports car is pretty cool. I'm an expert driver myself, so I'll be sure to show off my skills someday.]
[Old Auntie Maruzen said she'd take me for a spin. I told her, "I'll take you flying, you sit in the passenger seat."]
[Just kidding. I know Auntie Maruzen gets motion sickness the second she sits in the passenger seat. Driving at 70 km/h would send her to the afterlife.]
[She stubbornly claimed she's trained herself out of it. Do you believe her? I don't.]
A group of people saw this and started laughing hysterically.
Inside Rigil at Tracen:
Maruzensky was fuming. She pouted cutely.
'I was being nice offering to take you for a drive, and you're the one with the big mouth! And calling me an "Old Auntie"? I'm not old!'
'Anyway, I HAVE trained myself out of it!'
Hishi Amazon laughed so hard she could hardly breathe. All she managed to get out was one question:
"Do you believe her? I don't."
Narita Brian followed: "I don't."
Fuji Kiseki too: "I don't believe her either."
Maruzensky wondered when these girls had become so wicked. She immediately snapped, "Are you guys parrots?!"
She grit her white teeth, she had to find an opportunity to prove herself.
It turned out Old Auntie Maruzen was also quite stubborn. However, Mizuki's log continued to update.
[But Old Auntie Maruzen's strength is still very great, same for the real horse. Unfortunately, her real horse had terrible luck— he was known as the 'Genius Buried by Rules.']
[Starting in 1971, Japanese horse racing classified horses bred abroad as Gaiyūma. Like foreign-born horses, they didn't have the right to participate in Classic races.]
[It wasn't until 1984 that these horses were granted the same eligibility as Japanese-born horses.]
[Maruzensky happened to be one of those horses. His racing years were 1976 and 1977. Before the Japanese Derby, he was already 6 for 6 with a brilliant record, yet he still wasn't allowed to enter the Derby.]
[The jockey, Seiichi Nakanowatari, even said: "I don't care if Maruzensky starts from the outermost gate, and we don't need the prize money. We just want to test this horse's strength."]
[But the request was rejected. Rules were rules.]
[By the time the 1977 Arima Kinen came around— when Maruzensky was charging toward the year's most exciting race with the conviction of a rebirth— tragedy struck again. He was forced to retire due to injury.]
[He missed the chance for a showdown against Tosho Boy and Ten Point in the 1977 Arima Kinen. If he had participated, that race would surely have become a classic among classics.]
[The 1977 Arima Kinen is considered a legendary JRA showdown. Tosho Boy and Ten Point were locked in a death match from the start, fighting until the very end to decide the winner.]
[The JRA 50th Anniversary stamps selected this duel. Ten Point and Tosho Boy represented an era, you can see the prestige.]
[Ultimately, Maruzensky retired. Looking at his career from 1976 to 1977, he was 8 for 8, winning by a staggering combined total of 61 lengths over his runners-up. Terrifying.]
[If he could have run the Classic Triple Crown, history might have been rewritten.]
Everyone was stunned. They hadn't expected Maruzensky's real-horse counterpart to be so powerful, but they also felt a pang of regret for such terrible luck.
Inside Rigil:
Maruzensky's expression turned somber. She had hoped the real horse had better luck, but it turned out the real horse was even unluckier than she was.
At least she had simply chosen not to participate in some things in a moment of impulsiveness, the real horse wanted to participate but was restricted by the rules.
"What an unlucky kid," Maruzensky sighed.
But now she had a new URA goal, she could help the real horse by gaining fans. Perhaps she could give it a chance to run the Derby once.
Hishi Amazon felt a bit angry reading this. A horse only has a few years, and they were wasted like that...
However, when Tosho Boy and Ten Point saw this, they were also stunned.
Inside the Tracen gym...
"Actually, I've always wondered: since Tosho Boy is a girl, why is your name 'Boy'?" Green Grass asked, scratching her head.
Green Grass had finished third in the 1977 Arima Kinen and was quite cute herself.
"Ahem. Well, that... is something that can only be understood, not explained," Tosho Boy replied cryptically, causing the young Green Grass to roll her eyes.
"Hmph, I bet you just don't know yourself," Green Grass teased.
"Heh, then let me ask you: is there a wife in a Wife Cake?"
"No... there isn't."
"Is there fish in Fish-Fragrant Shredded Pork?"
"No, not that either."
"Is there a squirrel in Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish?"
"No."
"Then I, Tosho Boy, am not a boy either!"
"Oh... that's true." Green Grass scratched her head, successfully bamboozled. It sounded logical, but she stopped caring about the name, all those dish names were making her hungry.
Ten Point was also there. She said with a straight face:
"Say, Green Grass, do you want to know why I'm so amazing that the JRA put me on the 50th Anniversary stamps? Transfer 300 yen to my phone and treat me to dinner, and I'll teach you."
Green Grass rolled her eyes again. "If you want a free meal, just say so. Come on, I'll take you."
She knew that after that list of dishes, Ten Point must be hungry too. They needed to eat quickly, the Test of Courage was tonight.
"Hey, are you really not including me? Let me be a third-wheel!" Tosho Boy reached out— luckily she was thick-skinned enough to just follow along.
Time slipped away, and it was finally around 11:00 PM.
Ghost Howl Cave, Tracen Back Hills.
Uma Musume from Spica, Rigil, Canopus, and other teams arrived one after another. Everyone was terrified. Matikane Fukukitaru looked solemn and dignified, under the lights, she had an aura that was almost divine.
She was confident, with her prepared props, she wasn't afraid at all— this was Shiraoki-sama's protection.
The group looked at Fukukitaru's outfit and were speechless. This wasn't a Test of Courage, it looked like an exorcism.
However, Air Groove mercilessly confiscated her "Divine Light," as the rules didn't allow for such advantages.
Air Groove then explained the rules: After arriving at the Ghost Howl Cave, they would start at a cemetery and choose one of three routes: 2000m, 2400m, or 3200m. These routes passed through a shrine, ruins, and another larger cemetery.
Naturally, "scares" were prepared along the way— people dressed as monsters or skeletons, making terrifying noises to make the participants scream. Points would be calculated based on the level of fear shown.
Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa, Secretary Tazuna Hayakawa, along with Symboli Rudolf and Narita Brian, would monitor the entire event to see who got scared the worst. Air Groove was in charge of maintaining order.
To set the mood, Air Groove told a ghost story on the way to the cave, claiming that the cemetery and shrine had once been a battlefield filled with the grudges of a hundred demons. Some ghosts wielded black scythes like ferocious beasts, others were wreathed in the aura of death— one look into their eyes would pull you into the abyss.
Every movement had to be careful, especially regarding the "Blue-Faced Demon." If you were caught by it... it was certain death.
She had placed specific "Blessing Bags" along the three routes. Only those who retrieved a bag were considered to have finished, otherwise, they were just cowards.
To be honest, the more timid girls were already scared to death. For instance, Fukukitaru, having lost her "Divine Light," was now completely frantic, and Meisho Doto was shivering uncontrollably.
Rice Shower was the same, looking like she had developed a "disease that prevents her participating in the Test of Courage."
Mizuki, however, was listening with great interest. She memorized the descriptions of the ghosts Air Groove mentioned— every word of it. She even took notes.
With her Diary System and the Gloom Special Effect, never mind blue-faced fanged demons— if anyone tried to prank her, she'd unleash a full Night Parade of a Hundred Demons on them!
A blue-faced ghost with a black scythe, a hideous snake-headed demon, a ten-bodied ghoul— she'd bring them all out, accompanied by a chilling laugh.
"Kekekekeke..."
Mizuki let out a laugh like an old ghost.
To clarify, the Gloom Special Effect would only scare the Umas without causing actual physical or mental harm, the system would automatically filter that out, which was perfect.
Soon, the first round began.
The Golden Generation— Special Week, Seiun Sky, King Halo, El Condor Pasa, and Grass Wonder— started together. They took the 2400m route, similar to the distance of the Satsuki Sho.
In Ghost Howl Cave, chilly winds blew in gusts, carrying a biting cold.
"Wuu wuu... Grass-chan, walk slower."
"And Seiun-chan, Halo-san."
Special Week and El Condor Pasa were acting like total cowards, huddling close to Grass Wonder and Seiun Sky, terrified of any evil spirits appearing.
King Halo was actually scared too, but as a First-Rate Uma Musume, she refused to panic.
"Wa... so scary... Seiun-chan is in a big crisis." Seiun Sky felt it was too much.
She wasn't scared at first, but after 1000 meters, they passed the shrine. When a demon head popped out right as she remembered Air Groove's story, she started trembling.
"Ohohoho! It's just a little ghost! Is there a need to be this scared?" King Halo was still talking tough, but she could barely keep the smile on her face.
Nearby, many people covered in white sheets were already in position, including Twin Turbo, Mayano Top Gun, and Nice Nature. On the other side, Daitaku Helios and Mejiro Palmer were wearing demon masks, ready to move.
Just then, a chilly wind howled past King Halo's group, making the leaves on the ground rustle loudly. In the darkness, it sounded like ghosts wailing and wolves howling— truly like spirits in mourning. Even Grass Wonder couldn't help but shiver.
In that moment of despair and silence, Nice Nature led the charge, rushing out draped in white cloth, carrying a speaker playing demonic sound effects. She approached Special Week step by step.
She let out a ghostly voice: "Run... run... the third person I catch, I will drag them to hell!"
Spe-chan's face went white instantly. She screamed: "Ah... ah... Mommy!!!"
Special Week was scared senseless. In this situation, she was completely paralyzed with fear. Seiun Sky was also terrified, screaming:
"Everyone, if you catch my friend, don't catch me!"
Despite Seiun's words, the four of them picked up the fainted Spe-chan and bolted. Their running speed was instantly triggered, their potential exploding.
Trainer Mizuki, watching this, silently exclaimed:
'Eureka! I got an idea! This could be useful for the girls' training!'
'Stamina +5, Speed +5!'
They hadn't run far before Twin Turbo and Daitaku Helios's group surrounded them, scaring everyone.
The good news: they escaped the first ghost.
The bad news: they ran straight into the ghosts' nest.
Poor Special Week had only just recovered from her previous scare when Twin Turbo jumped into her face, still wearing a demon mask.
Just like that, the General of Japan went back to sleep.
Mizuki watched all of this silently.
'Fine, fine... so you guys are the ones scaring my beloved Spica girls, huh? Especially you, Nice Nature, leading the charge...'
"Kekekekeke..."
Mizuki decided they had already found their way to death.
She observed other areas as well. On the 3200m route were Gold Ship, Mejiro McQueen, Vodka, and Daiwa Scarlet. The ones scaring them were Mejiro Bright, Mejiro Dober, and even Mejiro Ramonu was there.
Furthermore, Old Auntie Maruzensky was there too, playing a blue-faced fanged demon— terrifying to behold. When McQueen saw her, her tail stood on end and she bolted.
As for Vodka and Scarlet, they didn't even say a word— they just did a U-turn and ran faster than anyone else, despite their tough talk earlier.
As for the 2000m route, that was Fukukitaru and her group. Those three were caught immediately— truly tragic.
Soon, the roles swapped. At this moment, Mizuki set out.
Mejiro Ramonu didn't think she would be scared. First, she was part of the scaring team. Even if she wandered onto a different route, so what? These were just people in costumes scaring kids.
However, just then, an invisible palm suddenly patted Ramonu on the shoulder. Her pupils shrank, and she instinctively jumped in place.
'What... what's going on?'
She whipped her head around but saw nothing. The moon was dark, the wind was high, and crows were calling. She swallowed hard.
In this moment, she admitted she was rattled.
As she prepared to leave, something even scarier happened. She felt something pulling at her calves— like a lingering grudge making it difficult for her to move. Ramonu's heart skipped a beat.
She wondered: 'Could this be real?'
Ramonu was now truly sweating. Who would have thought the noble and elegant Mejiro Ramonu would have such an embarrassing day?
Actually, she had it relatively easy.
On the other side, Nice Nature and Twin Turbo were walking happily— until they reached the cemetery. Turbo started moving forward step by timid step, with Nature following.
Mizuki timed it perfectly. Another cold wind blew through. As they scanned their surroundings, Mizuki suddenly caused a long-haired, hideous demon to appear right in front of them.
The blue-faced demon stuck out a scarlet tongue, its razor-sharp fangs aimed at Nature and Turbo.
"AAAAHHHHH!!!"
Twin Turbo's face went pale instantly, and she collapsed on the spot, falling into an infant-like sleep from the shock.
"Run... run... if you're in third place, I'll drag you down to hell!" Mizuki teased.
Nice Nature was scared to tears. She and Ikuno Dictus grabbed the unconscious Turbo and bolted.
Third place? She was very familiar with that!
"Tannhauser-san, run!!!" Nature screamed.
"Eh? Wait, my hat is gone!" Tannhauser was still dazed and searching the grass for her lost hat. But the next moment, an even more sinister aura descended. Countless hair-raising sounds rang out, and several skeleton soldiers appeared, converging on them.
They brandished swords and looked at Nature's group with greedy eyes.
"Fresh flesh and blood... a fine choice..."
"Kekekekeke.."
Tannhauser was dumbstruck with fear. She finally found her hat and sprinted away with Turbo.
'This is too scary!'
Mizuki was having the time of her life, conjuring up countless monsters. Even that girl Mejiro Ramonu was scared half to death.
Mizuki was multi-tasking her scares, if she focused on just one person, she'd definitely break them.
When the girls finally made it out, they huddled together and cried, feeling like they'd survived a disaster.
Normally, they might scoff and say "Ghosts aren't even real! There's nothing to be scared of!"
But because of the Diary, they wouldn't have any lingering doubts about the supernatural. Now, they were truly terrified.
"Where's Turbo?" Nice Nature looked at her hands and realized she'd dropped Twin Turbo.
Currently, on the windy mountain path, Twin Turbo just woke up. Finding herself alone, she fainted again.
Soon, everyone was on their way home. Turbo was eventually recovered. Mizuki wrote in her log during the walk back.
[I didn't expect this Test of Courage to be so much fun. I conjured up quite a few ghosts and scared whoever I caught. It was a blast.]
[Is this the legendary 'Physical Exorcism'?]
[Honestly, I love King Halo's ability to talk nonsense with a straight face. She says she's not afraid, but her face is whiter than anyone's. Talk about first-rate acting skills.]
[I had a great time today. I'll go back and sleep.]
[This is the life.]
[Let's see what kind of reward I get today, haha.]
Mizuki uploaded the log, and soon her reward arrived.
However, the reward that arrived this time gave her quite a shock.
[Diary uploaded successfully.]
[Training injury rate for Horse Girls within Spica has been reduced.]
Mizuki found this reward to be quite excellent. Nothing could be allowed to happen to her beloved horses!
After returning to the school, everyone chatted for a bit before heading back to their dorms.
Mizuki also went to sleep, she had a great time today and hoped to pull off these kinds of "special effects" more often— it was pretty fun.
Meanwhile, elsewhere:
Mejiro Ramonu was still shaken. After reading the diary, she finally realized that the "ghosts" were Mizuki's doing.
Her heart was filled with grief and indignation, she never expected that the dignified eldest daughter of the Mejiro family would fall to such a state.
Never in her life had her emotions fluctuated as violently as they did tonight.
Ramonu was truly fuming, but with the Fan Appreciation Festival and the Freshmans' Assembly coming up, she knew she would eventually have her revenge.
'Scaring me with ghosts?! Just wait! Next time there's an event like this, I'll personally introduce you to Manhattan Cafe!'
As for Nice Nature: She returned to her dorm, finished washing up, and immediately dove onto her beloved bed. It was truly good to be alive.
The next day, Mizuki woke up and began writing in her diary again. She was beaming.
[Today, let's write about Gold Ship— another formidable general of the Gold family.]