At Tracen, Good at Doing Time

This had been a habit of her real-life counterpart ever since she was in the stable.

Incidentally, races run counterclockwise were also what her real-life counterpart excelled at.

That was why the game had given her the Left-Handed skill, which increased her stats in races with left-hand turns.

"These... all seem like things I could do."

Silence Suzuka found the scene strange. When she looked at herself in the game, she felt uncomfortable.

She had even forgotten about Zhou Yuang's wandering mouse from earlier.

The in-game version of her looked at the screen because of the game's perspective. Whenever their eyes met, Silence Suzuka had the strange feeling: If she's Silence Suzuka, then who am I?

Moreover, whenever the in-game version of herself looked back, she would nervously place both hands over her chest.

She had entered Happy Valley.

"By the way, I want to record this part and upload it to a website."

Zhou Yuang's mouse kept circling the spinning Silence Suzuka. Naturally, the mouse was rotating counterclockwise too.

"But before that, I'll have to edit it, add some background music, and extend it to three hours."

[Uma Musume Fan]: BYD, so it's Silence Suzuka spinning for three hours? You like torturing the moderators, huh? I'm a moderator—send it to me!

He just loved watching cute Uma Musume videos.

Whenever he saw an Uma Musume being cute, he would...

"Pfft—"

Staring at Silence Suzuka's serious expression as she spun around while making a cute, dazed little fist like a race walker, the pink-haired girl's nose suddenly started bleeding.

Cute. It hit him hard.

[Festival Girl]: I have a question for those who know nothing: What's the point of repeating this for three hours?

There was no point, but it was cute.

"Speaking of which, if you raise your friends or idols in the game, you'll most likely get to see personalities and preferences that are difficult to see in daily life, so..."

[Invincible Lord of Seaside]: So when is the game coming out? Send me a copy! I'm so anxious, so anxious, so anxious!

[Motherly Demon]: Me too. I want to see what certain girls are like.

"I know you're all anxious, but don't be."

I'm not the one publishing the game, anyway.

After casually clicking around and laying the groundwork for Zhou Yuang's debut race, he showed everyone some of Silence Suzuka's preferences.

She was an Uma Musume who looked extremely quiet and obedient—and in reality, she really was obedient.

Unfortunately, although Silence Suzuka got good grades in the liberal arts, she herself was an idiot.

An idiot who only knew how to run.

After a few more clicks, Silence Suzuka began complaining. She talked about how fun it was to run in the evening breeze, then mentioned staying out past curfew.

She also said that because she was so obsessed with running, she had missed certain scheduled times and ended up being apprehended by an Uma Musume named Air Groove.

[Tracen Cold-Joke Master]: Air Groove, huh? She really has it tough.

[Invincible Lord of Seaside]: That really is something she'd do. She can be pretty strict sometimes.

Quite a few viewers also recognized the Uma Musume Silence Suzuka was complaining about.

Air Groove's name was a little strange, but that wasn't a problem.

Racehorses in real life had all kinds of bizarre names. Some had Japanese names, some had foreign words, and some simply used memes as names.

He had even heard of horses named "Hey!", "momomomomomo," and "Don't Underestimate Me!"

They were practically like players who stopped acting like human beings when playing games.

Air Groove's real name was Air Groove. If one translated it faithfully and elegantly, it should be something like "Aerial Rhythm."

Her owner had chosen the name in hopes that it would make people feel cheerful and inspired.

However, the translation of Air Groove depended on a certain anime production team, and the players had gradually gotten used to that name.

"Who's this Air Groove?"

Zhou Yuang asked knowingly, watching the comments as he spoke.

He knew Air Groove was among the viewers.

[Tracen Cold-Joke Master]: She's the vice president of Tracen Academy. Her mother was an outstanding Uma Musume, and because she wants to become an Uma Musume like her mother, she holds herself to strict standards at Tracen and is extremely strict with the other Uma Musume as well.

"Oh, she wants to become like her mother."

Open the book: Ma Dongmei. Close the book: Ma what-mei?

That was taking things out of context—from "Don't take things out of context."

After reading the enormous Memorial to the Emperor, Zhou Yuang had only noticed the words "northern expedition."

No other reason. He had done it on purpose.

After watching a storm of question marks erupt in the comment section, only the Uma Musume criticized Zhou Yuang for taking things out of context. The ID representing Air Groove's own predicament, however, did not appear.

She's getting agitated. Or does she think jumping out would amount to exposing herself?

Zhou Yuang did not know whether Air Groove was anxious, but Empress, who could not even type a response, was already so furious that she was pounding on her desk.

"Tamamo's! Don't let me catch you!"

If I find you, then... you definitely won't get away with it!

Her mature eyes, which always carried a serious air, had lost their composure.

She stared intently at Zhou Yuang's avatar, pondering how to track the man down.

"Lamb-kun, I didn't expect you to be such a troll too."

Darley could not help commenting after watching Zhou Yuang amuse himself at the Uma Musume's expense before using the Uma Musume to amuse himself.

Zhou Yuang was not an honest man either.

"It's fine. The identities are still exposed anyway. As long as... you won't deliberately cause some kind of incident, right?"

Zhou Yuang imagined himself making one careless remark, immediately getting punished by the Three Goddesses, and then having the other party's Uma Musume plastered across his face...

Wasn't that response a little too fast?

"Of course not. How could we possibly do something like that?"

Godolphin was still smiling cheerfully as she raised her index finger.

"We'll simply watch you keep fooling around, then wait for you to crash and die."

Questions About This Novel's Plot (Please Don't Skip This; Also Please Bookmark and Vote)

(This explanation was originally meant for a later chapter, but considering the circumstances, I moved it here. Since this section was added temporarily, the comments may be out of order in this chapter.) I originally wanted to put it in a postscript, but there was too much to say.

Someone asked how many chapters each livestream would take. Since each livestream has a different theme, the exact number of chapters depends only on the complexity of the story, not on any fixed range.

The goal is to write an Uma Musume people will remember, or an interesting story that happens to an Uma Musume.

Short stories will end quickly. If it is a long plotline, the first half may be told during the livestream, followed by the story linking up between reality and the livestream, with the second half being completed during another livestream.

I like stories with a little more detail. The more complete a story is, the better. I do not like stories that rush in and leave just as quickly, like short videos.

This novel's pace will be slow to warm up, but it will not drag. There will not be situations where something appears, gets stared at for ages, and ends up being completely useless.

There will be more description and atmosphere, with the main purpose being to tell one story after another well.

I hope to make everyone like the Uma Musume, as well as the stories behind them, while also teaching some common knowledge and interesting facts about the real-world horse-racing scene. (They will not take up too much space.)

Of course, that does not mean I want everyone to like that stupid game system. (I can't take it anymore—punching Cygames!)

Incidentally, because of the premise and the main direction of the story, this novel is expected to reach four million Chinese characters, barring any surprises.

The livestream content will include the Uma Musume mobile game, Uma Musume spin-off anime and manga, and that hot-blooded Uma Musume series. There will also be tabletop role-playing games themed around Uma Musume.

Some readers were wondering whether I would explain the real-world horse-racing background behind the Uma Musume.

All I can say is that I am considering it. The anime clearly states that the Uma Musume are reincarnations of the souls of real racehorses.

In other words, we can say that this idea is an urban legend in the world of Uma Musume.

Since the theory is valid, it also provides an excuse for them to observe reality.

The Uma Musume being shocked by real-world horse racing could also be an interesting plot point, but it would become boring if it happened too often.

Whenever an online historical novel starts showing signs of explaining history, it begins padding the story horribly. That is not good for either the author or the audience, so I can only mention it briefly. Otherwise, it would affect the reading experience.

Of course, there will also be plenty of scenes in reality. Since the story alternates between four types of plot, reality will take up the largest share. The main events will advance in reality and be resolved through the livestream, so everyone can rest assured.

The protagonist learns about and resolves the Uma Musume's troubles through the livestream, uses his livestream experience to avoid bad ends in reality, and handles the difficulties that arise at Tracen in the real world. While resolving various incidents, he will also fulfill the wishes of those thirty Uma Musume wives.

That is roughly the plot of this novel. I hope everyone enjoys it.

Incidentally, the first livestream will probably end after around 80,000 to 90,000 Chinese characters. First, it will resolve Silence Suzuka's Silence Sunday problem. Next, it will raise the favorability of the Uma Musume in the livestream and Silence Suzuka herself, while establishing the protagonist's characterization.

The protagonist is a goofy internet user. He cannot be said to possess any world-shaking wisdom, but he is serious when the situation calls for it, acts like a goofy internet user in daily life, and is a good-natured person who cares about most people's feelings.

So please continue to support the novel. I'm begging you here.

ORZ

Empress, Air Groove

"Sorry, but I don't know how to fool around."

I was only being a little eccentric and causing trouble as a streamer. I was not some damn scumbag!

Zhou Yuang silently turned his head away and continued the livestream.

After another turn, the story animation began.

Zhou Yuang felt a flash of white before his eyes. When his vision cleared, Silence Suzuka and the Tracen library were standing before him.

He was standing in the library, with Silence Suzuka right in front of him?

Zhou Yuang could not help rubbing his eyes, then turned to look around.

Some Uma Musume stood or sat with books in hand, immersed in a sea of knowledge.

Silence Suzuka before him looked as though she were standing there in person.

When Zhou Yuang turned his head, he saw a floating UI interface beside him, like something out of Sword Art Online.

It contained an explanation of how to speak separately with the viewers and the characters in the game.

The function was quite convenient.

Zhou Yuang could see it, and so could the rest of the audience.

Curious, Zhou Yuang looked at Silence Suzuka across from him, then waved.

"Trainer, what is it?"

Seeing Zhou Yuang wave, Silence Suzuka asked in confusion.

Zhou Yuang immediately lowered his hand.

Rolling around on the floor and constantly switching equipment during cutscenes was probably no longer possible.

"Nothing. I was just wondering how much information you're planning to look up, Silence Suzuka."

Like someone who had only just started using a chat app, Zhou Yuang operated it somewhat awkwardly.

"Um, probably not that much."

Silence Suzuka was not entirely sure either. She shook her head, then looked apologetic.

"Sorry. Was there something I should have asked the Trainer directly?"