"Hello, everyone. I'm Darley, the assistant trainer. Starting today, I'll be responsible for supervising your training."
The fiery red-haired uma musume stood before everyone and spoke.
"Our Trainer has an assistant trainer now?"
"If an assistant trainer is supervising training, then what about Trainer? Is he not coming?"
"Trainer Chiya is in the library. He'll come tomorrow. For now, I'll be looking after you in his place. If you have any questions, feel free to come to me anytime."
Everyone whispered among themselves until Shirayuki spoke up. Only then did they quiet down.
"All right, then let's begin according to the training plans Trainer gave you."
Darley gave the instruction.
After everyone dispersed, Rice Shower quietly came beside Darley.
"Um… Assistant Trainer-san, has Onii-sama been very busy recently?"
"He's busy studying trainer courses. Are you disappointed that he isn't here to train you?"
"Eh? No… I was just a little curious…"
"He should come out of the library in about half an hour and sit on the bench over there. During that time, he'll buy a drink. You can go find him then, and maybe even share a drink with your Onii-sama."
Darley winked at her.
"If you go keep Trainer company, I'm sure he'll be very happy."
Rice Shower's ears swayed. After a while, she said,
"Rice understands. But how did Assistant Trainer-san know? That Onii-sama would come out, I mean."
"I guessed."
Darley stroked Rice Shower's head.
"I have high hopes for you, little one. Uma musume should bravely pursue their own happiness. You're already doing very well in that regard."
Hearing her encouragement, Rice Shower's heart burned and beat faster.
She nodded hard.
"Yes. Rice will definitely pursue her own happiness!"
After sending Rice Shower off, Darley began supervising each uma musume's training.
Shirayuki stood not far away, secretly watching.
She knew her team better than anyone. After Chiya's guidance, the problem children in the team had gradually improved. Agnes Tachyon no longer skipped class. Mejiro Dober was no longer afraid of strangers. Meisho Doto and the others had also become much better.
But in the end, that was only when Chiya was present.
If it were someone else, these uma musume would not be so obedient.
Seeing Gold Ship swinging a large hammer over there, Shirayuki immediately knew that girl was about to cause trouble again. She was definitely planning to give the assistant trainer a little welcome test.
Gold Ship, I advise you to behave.
"Oh my, if it isn't Assistant Trainer-san?"
Gold Ship swung the hammer and struck the wooden stake as she spoke to Darley, who had walked over.
"Trainer isn't here, so don't work yourself too hard. Our Trainer's style is all about going with the flow. Training is casual, and everything else is casual too. And the reason he developed that personality is entirely because of me."
Gold Ship put down the large wooden hammer and wiped her nose.
"If you run into any trouble, just tell this Gold Ship-sama. If Trainer dares to bully you, I'll teach him a lesson for you. I'm not bragging, but Trainer and I are tight. If I say I'm climbing into his bed at night, he wouldn't dare say no."
"That really is impressive."
"Right? Also…"
Gold Ship secretly leaned closer.
"You're not trying to become our Trainer's assistant because you're interested in him, are you? If that's the case, I'll give you some advice. Just attack directly. Don't be fooled by his polite, refined look. In reality, his desire is super strong, and his defenses are thinner than paper. If you're forceful enough, you can take him down."
Gold Ship patted her shoulder.
"So be brave and push him down."
"Actually, I came here mainly because I found Trainer Chiya interesting. As for the rest, I don't really have any special intentions. And regarding his desires, I think as long as those children like him, that's enough."
Gold Ship's hand stopped moving.
She looked into Darley's emerald eyes, as if she had sensed something. The corner of her mouth twitched violently. Then she showed an exaggerated smile.
"Yeah, you're right! Since that's the case, I won't bother Assistant Trainer-san anymore. I'm going to train!"
After saying that, Gold Ship turned and fled.
What the hell is that person!?
Gold Ship screamed in her heart.
For the first time in her life, she had met someone with such a frightening aura. It felt as if, if she kept acting reckless, she would be crushed into dust in the very next moment.
Looks like I need to behave myself for a while.
Gold Ship had even wanted to get Darley into the harem too, but she was too scary. She would leave that to Trainer himself. In any case, she did not dare provoke her.
Her instincts were warning her.
Keep your distance.
On the other side, Shirayuki watched from afar as Gold Ship mysteriously started training after running away. She was deeply shocked.
That Gold Ship.
The Gold Ship who toyed with everyone and spun them around in circles.
She had actually been subdued!?
How was that possible?
I spent more than a year half-threatening and half-bribing her, and finally had to use a free-range method just to make Gold Ship listen a little. But this person only needed a few sentences to deal with the most troublesome uma musume in the whole team?
After Gold Ship fled, Darley went to Meisho Doto, then Agnes Tachyon. As if their usual impurities had been washed away, everyone began training seriously.
Unbelievable!
Shirayuki had never seen such a scene before.
Her uma musume were actually being this obedient.
Am I going to be overthrown from below?
Finally, Darley walked up to Shirayuki.
There was a strange affinity radiating from her body. Several times, Shirayuki felt an urge to get closer to her. That impulse seemed to come from this body. Chiya's side did not feel it.
Thinking back to Gold Ship and the others' behavior just now, Shirayuki suddenly had an even more terrifying thought.
Don't tell me I've been tamed by her too!
Without realizing it, she had already been shaped into Darley's form.
Britain placed great importance on the relationship between uma musume and trainers. They even had specialized teachers responsible for maintaining those relationships. Through excellent communication skills and powerful affinity, they eased various conflicts between uma musume. The discipline of British Tracen ranked among the best in the world.
If there truly existed someone born with the ability to close the distance with uma musume, then without a doubt, the Darley standing before her was the representative of that type.
Shirayuki patted her cheeks and forcibly pulled herself together.
She could not let the other woman influence her judgment.
"Shirayuki!"
With a childish voice, Tokai Teio pounced onto her from behind. Pressing close to Shirayuki's cheek, Tokai Teio sniffed her scent.
She really liked coming to Shirayuki halfway through training to replenish her energy. The scent on Shirayuki's body made her both physically and mentally happy.
Especially when Shirayuki had just finished training, Tokai Teio wanted to stay stuck to her forever. But recently, some thoughtless juniors kept coming over to wipe Shirayuki's sweat and hand her water, making it impossible for Teio to get close.
Tokai Teio had seen it.
Those juniors who wiped Shirayuki's sweat secretly hid the handkerchiefs afterward. It was obvious what those girls were planning to do!
While Teio was hugging Shirayuki to replenish her energy, she glanced at the red-haired uma musume standing nearby.
For some reason, there was an amused smile on Darley's face.