[Mejiro Ardan: You there?]
The blue-haired Uma Musume sat on her bed, phone in hand, a hint of hesitation about her.
There was a one-hour time difference between Japan and Longmen. Was it too late to be messaging her online friend now?
How rude.
The thought crossed Mejiro Ardan's mind, but her eyes remained glued to the small screen in her hand, afraid she might miss a reply.
[Invincible: I'm here. Is something wrong, Ardan?]
Fortunately, the other party was also awake, and Mejiro Ardan got a reply not long after sending her message.
[Mejiro Ardan: I wanted to ask you something… do you have any methods over there for seeing ghosts, or for driving them away?]
[Invincible: ?]
She saw the question mark sent by her Lungmen friend, followed by nothing else.
What did that question mark mean?
Mejiro Ardan was puzzled by the single symbol from her online friend.
Was she surprised that I'd encountered a ghost? Or shocked that I'd even ask such a thing?
[Invincible: Ardan, you met a ghost?]
A full three minutes passed before Invincible's next message arrived.
[Mejiro Ardan: It's just a suspicion, really… I think I might be experiencing something supernatural related to my trainer.]
[Invincible: Related to your trainer? But hasn't your trainer been… passed away for quite a while now?]
[Mejiro Ardan: That's exactly why I suspect it might be her ghost… Just a moment, please.]
Mejiro Ardan switched back to her chat list, found the account supposedly being used by the possible ghost, screenshotted part of the conversation, and sent it to her Lungmen friend.
[Invincible: Yikes— Someone popping up out of nowhere claiming to be your late trainer… That is pretty spooky.]
[Mejiro Ardan: So that's why I'm asking if you have any methods, Invincible.]
[Mejiro Ardan: I'm sorry for bothering you so late.]
[Invincible: It's fine, it's fine! I wasn't planning on sleeping anyway.]
[Invincible: But Miss Ardan, do you really believe this is the work of your trainer's ghost?]
[Mejiro Ardan: Why do you ask?]
[Invincible: Well, think about it… If this really was your trainer's ghost, why wouldn't she just appear before you in person? Wouldn't that be simpler?]
[Invincible: I don't think this is your trainer's ghost.]
[Mejiro Ardan: Invincible, what are you implying…?]
[Invincible: I think it seems less like the work of your trainer's ghost, and more like it's your actual trainer herself doing this.]
--+--
…Just what is the use of this transparent screen that suddenly appeared before my eyes, besides telling me it's connected to Bless the Moment and my deceased trainer?
Sitting on her bed, Maruzensky stared at the transparent screen floating in front of her, completely baffled.
Judging solely from what it had shown so far, it resembled a character status panel from a raising sim game.
But…
Maruzensky moved her finger to the lower left corner and tapped open the [Missions] panel.
Looking at the empty mission list, the brown-haired Uma Musume's gaze drifted to the very bottom. She tapped lightly.
[Bless the Moment's three years have not yet begun. Mission issuance is temporarily unavailable.]
Reading the prompt that appeared once more, Maruzensky rested her chin on her hand, sinking into thought.
Bless the Moment's three years haven't begun… Does this 'three years' refer to the time spent studying at Central Tracen Academy? Or the active career period of an Uma Musume?
No… I remember that kid Bless the Moment mentioned her physical condition wasn't good, so we can basically rule out the second option.
So, to get this mission list to issue tasks, I have to wait until next year when that child enters Central Tracen…
Once she becomes a student at Central Tracen Academy, I'll probably find out what results completing missions here brings, right?
Will it slowly increase stats like a real character-raising game? Or will it, focusing on the name in the first column, gradually uncover the secrets between Bless the Moment and her trainer?
Tapping again and finding the same familiar prompt, Maruzensky closed the transparent screen.
Speaking of which, winter break is coming up soon… Should I try to find out where that little white-haired Uma lives and invite her to hang out during the break?
Yeah, that's what I'll do.
Having quickly made up her mind, Maruzensky turned off the fluorescent light in her room as she mentally outlined her plan.
I'll have to be careful while driving, though. Can't get too excited and slam the accelerator to the floor.
That child's health isn't great to begin with; it would be terrible if she got sick again because I scared her.
And I must avoid stepping on landmines like last time.
Burrowing under the covers, Maruzensky closed her eyes.
--+--
"A-choo! A-choo! A-CHOO!"
Bless the Moment couldn't hold back three more sneezes.
'Am I really that popular? So many people talking about me?'
'Who could it be this time? Little Ardan?'
Wait…
Her eyes accidentally skimmed over the date, and Bless the Moment paused, then suddenly understood.
'Oh, right. Today's my death anniversary.'
The white-haired Uma Musume, abruptly remembering what day it was, stared at her current social media account. After a moment's thought, curiosity got the better of her, and she logged into her old account.
The moment the login succeeded, the notification chime rang incessantly, only gradually quieting down after ten-odd seconds.
Bless the Moment scrolled down, pulled up the notification bar, and scanned through the messages sent by familiar faces one by one.
…Did this guy, Okino, think of me as some kind of trash bin?
Seeing the 99+ messages from Okino, Bless the Moment let out a wry laugh.
'Really… My social media wasn't meant for you to vent your troubles.'
Bless the Moment closed the notification bar and opened her feed instead.
She didn't need to search; the first thing she saw was a post from Mejiro Ardan made five minutes ago.
[Little Ardan: Goodnight, Trainer. [Image]]
"…"
Bless the Moment fell silent, looking at the black-and-white photo on the tombstone and the large assortment of items placed before the grave.
'These kids… Ah.'
After a long while, the white-haired Uma Musume shook her head and sighed with deep emotion.
'Looks like every Uma from Team Venus came. Not a single one missed it.'
Bless the Moment scrolled down a little.
'To be remembered so firmly by these children… It seems I didn't fail their expectations.'
'This feeling of being remembered… it's really nice.'
Bless the Moment didn't linger on this account. After browsing the feed, she logged out.
'Haaah… Sleep, sleep! Still have school tomorrow!'
The white-haired Uma Musume closed her eyes.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, 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.