"Seniors, please forgive my earlier harsh words. It was my own overactive imagination that led to misunderstanding you both."
In the car, after chatting with Nearl for a while, Ardan finally confirmed the true identities of the two unfamiliar Uma Musume.
It turned out everything was just her own misunderstanding.
This made her blush, feeling rather flustered. After all, she still wanted to leave a graceful impression on Nearl's family.
"Ah, it's no big deal. Don't worry about it."
Godolphin responded cheerfully. She was the most easygoing of the Three Goddesses, her cheerful nature never bothered by trivial matters.
"By the way, little Nearl, while you were resting earlier, Byer... I mean, Whislash and I discussed something."
"I'm listening."
"Want to go on a trip?"
Without any beating around the bush, Godolphin laid out her plan directly. On one hand, that was just her personality; on the other, she deeply trusted Nearl's mature judgment.
Truly, the Uma Musume around Nearl had all fallen into a misconception.
They assumed Nearl was the type solely focused on hard work, setting aside all other forms of entertainment. But that was wildly off the mark.
No matter the situation, Nearl always prioritized others' feelings. Any invitation offered with genuine expectations could make Nearl set aside her training and studies.
"I hope to bring them positive emotions. Training and studying are also meant to set an example. If that ends up making them sad, wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse?"
Nearl had always thought this way, but perhaps her usual demeanor was too rigid and serious. So far, no one had been able to detect the voice in her heart, and even the desire to try had remained buried.
Sure enough, Nearl showed no sign of hesitation. Without even asking about the destination, after just a few seconds of thought, she agreed.
"No problem. After informing my trainer, I'll get the leave paperwork from the student council. If it's not urgent, we can leave tomorrow."
"Then tomorrow it is. It's settled."
Godolphin snapped her fingers with a 'click,' finalizing the matter.
Although the world's scenery was something they had created, experiencing it from this perspective was a first for them.
Moreover, it was to accompany their little sister, which gave her an unusual thrill.
Nearl was special. This held true for all three Goddesses.
Although they nominally had distinctions like older and younger sisters, in reality, there was no accurate way to determine who was really the oldest.
Apart from Darley Arabian, whose character commanded their respect, Godolphin and Byerley didn't really have a sisterly concept between them.
Neither acknowledged the other as her older sister.
That's why Nearl's existence was so precious to them. She was a genuine little sister figure!
"Um, may I ask a question?"
At this point, Ardan, who had been listening attentively, suddenly spoke up. The slight twitching of her ears atop her head betrayed her somewhat eager mood.
"Regarding this trip, where exactly are you planning to go? I have some experience with travel destinations and could offer suggestions or assistance."
Placing her right hand gently on her chest, Ardan smiled, seemingly wanting to be helpful.
Of course, there was a little ulterior motive hidden within.
"Ah, about that…"
Byerley and Godolphin exchanged a glance. An instant of eye contact conveyed a flood of information exchange.
'Since she asked, we definitely can't mention those extreme places only we and little Nearl can go to. Quick, think of a well-known spot within their known limits.'
'You're making this difficult for me. How would I know which spots count as within their limits? We've been Goddesses for so long. Asking me to speculate about ordinary people's thinking now—do you think that's possible?'
'Then let's use the process of elimination. First, this child definitely can't breathe underwater, so the Mariana Trench is out.'
'She can't fly either, so watching the sunrise or sunset above the sea of clouds is also a pass.'
'Seeing penguins in Antarctica could work, or watching orcas in the ocean. How about one of those?'
'Not ideal. Look at her ears—that twitching clearly means she wants to come with us. If it were just us three sisters, we could go anywhere in the world freely. Antarctica or the open ocean would be just a thought away. But bringing someone else changes things. With only twenty days total, relying on normal transportation, we'd probably only manage one of those destinations. That's too wasteful.'
'True. Then that only leaves that mountain, right?'
'You mean the Pillar of the Goddess? I'd really like to change its name if possible.'
'Same here, but let's set that issue aside. From a scenic standpoint, it's absolutely qualified. Every time you climb past a certain altitude, the surrounding landscape and natural views change dramatically. Even if we don't reach the summit, it's fine. The travel experience would be more than sufficient.'
'Then that's it.'
Byerley made the final decision, setting the goal for this trip.
"? "
Ardan looked at them expectantly.
"Ahem, we've already decided on the location. We're going mountain climbing—scaling the world's highest mountain."
"The Celestial Peak? I've heard no one has ever reached its summit. It's so high it makes people wonder if it connects the realm of the Three Goddesses to the human world."
"Tales about it have circulated since ancient times; it's also known as the Pillar of the Goddess."
True to her word, Ardan was indeed knowledgeable about most famous attractions. Coincidentally, she had visited the Celestial Peak with her family before.
"So, how about it? It's a great place where you can enjoy the scenery while maintaining physical activity, so Nearl won't become too relaxed."
"Indeed, Miss 'Blemishine' is very thoughtful."
Ardan gently agreed with Godolphin's self-praise. Since confirming their relationship with Nearl, her attitude had done a complete one-eighty.
"Blemishine? Big sister, are you fooling around again?"
Nearl now looked somewhat helplessly at the two of them.
She understood the importance of disguising their appearances, but these faces were just too mischievously chosen. Nearl wasn't sure how to handle it.
"Ardan, let me properly introduce them. The one driving in front is my second sister, Maria. Sitting with us is my third sister, Zofia. They both care for me deeply. My eldest sister is probably very busy with family matters and couldn't make it."
"Right, right, eldest sister is very busy. Someone has to work, otherwise things would go seriously wrong."
Godolphin casually responded, silently apologizing in her heart to the diligent Darley Arabian working away up above.
"Those earlier codenames were just for fun. Ardan, you can just use the names I mentioned. You're my good friend; my sisters won't mind."
"I'm a bit apprehensive. I hope the two elder sisters won't find it impolite."
Ardan's tone sounded hesitant, but her expression was undeniably happy. If not for the etiquette drilled into her since childhood governing her behavior, her tail would surely be swishing about joyfully.
"Ah, we're here. This is the entrance to the Mejiro estate, right? Should I go call someone for you?"
The car slowly came to a stop. The luxurious iron gate on the right marked the entrance to the Mejiro manor.
Unbeknownst to them, amidst their pleasant conversation, the not-so-distant journey had already reached its end.
Realizing this, the first emotion that arose in Ardan's heart was a faint sense of reluctance. But she quickly pushed that feeling aside.
"No, let me call the butler. He'll arrange everything... Ah!"
As she spoke, Ardan suddenly covered her mouth. She finally realized what she had been forgetting all along.
In the distance, outside the shop where Ardan had been earlier, the old butler stood holding an umbrella, yet completely drenched, his face full of sorrow.
"Young mistress, where are you...?"
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T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.