Kosma's words left Griseo speechless.
If her father ever lost control, Kosma and the rest of his squad would likely follow him into madness.
It was a troubling thought.
After seeing Kosma off, Griseo sighed. The Eighth Herrscher incident had only just ended.
The Ninth… still felt far away.
Yet deep down, Griseo had a quiet certainty: she would die when the Ninth Herrscher arrived.
It wasn't just a feeling.
Her paintings sometimes foreshadowed the future.
She stared at her drawing board for a moment, then wrote four bold characters:
Dad Rescue Plan.
As for how to rescue him…
She had no idea.
Herrschers were too strong.
Every time one descended, someone fell.
The next morning.
Griseo sat by the window, sketching the scenery outside.
Drawing was slow work.
Two hours passed without her noticing.
Fortunately, as a Fusion Warrior, she never tired.
She looked up and saw Sister Hua standing nearby.
"Sister Hua?"
"I was just passing by," Hua said. "Saw you drawing, so I watched for a bit."
"Do you have any comments?"
"Ah… I'm not much of an artist." Hua admitted. "But my father treasures a few scrolls. Compared to those, your paintings are… a bit too abstract."
She paused, then added thoughtfully:
"In martial arts, we say that to master a move, you need both form and spirit. Spirit without form lacks power. Form without spirit is rigid and flawed."
"Painting is probably similar. Griseo, your work has spirit—but no form."
It was a serious critique.
But in Hua's mind, it wasn't a flaw.
It was common in children's drawings—wild imagination, but lacking precision.
Griseo was still a child, after all.
"Sister Hua, that makes sense."
Griseo nodded.
Hua was probably saying she wasn't very good.
And that was fair.
She painted out of love, not training.
Maybe someday, she'd find a teacher.
"I'll work hard."
Hua smiled, chatted a bit more, then left.
It was nearly noon.
Griseo was preparing to watch Tokai Teio's race.
Horse Girls. Those who are born to run.
In their eyes, only the finish line mattered.
If Yu-Gi-Oh! solved everything with cards, Horse Girl society solved everything with races.
Griseo had seen it firsthand.
Giant screens at intersections. TV broadcasts. Interviews.
Horse Girls weren't anomalies here they were blessed by the Three Goddesses and lived in harmony with humans.
And Tokai Teio?
She was a star.
Every screen showed news and analysis of her upcoming race: the Satsuki Sho, the first step of the Triple Crown.
Invincible since debut.
That was the headline.
Griseo was stunned.
"She's really that strong?"
The cheerful, energetic girl she'd met didn't seem like a powerhouse.
"Of course she's strong! She's my lifelong rival!"
A voice chimed in.
Griseo turned to see another Horse Girl.
Blue-purple twin tails. Triangular eyebrows. Heterochromatic eyes with turbine-like pupils.
"I'm Twin Turbo!"
"I'm Griseo… So if Teio's your rival, you must be strong too."
"Th-that's right!" Twin Turbo stammered, then puffed up proudly. "You'll see our century-long showdown someday!"
"I'll come watch."
Griseo nodded seriously.
"But I came today to see Teio race in the Satsuki Sho… I'm running out of time."
Triple Crown races were once-in-a-lifetime events for Horse Girls.
The Satsuki Sho was held at Nakayama Racecourse in Chiba Prefecture.
Griseo wasn't even close.
Her invitation from Tracen Academy hadn't landed her there.
Luckily… Japan wasn't that big.
"Let's go together!"
Twin Turbo offered.
She assumed Griseo was a Teio fan.
At the racecourse.
Griseo was overwhelmed.
The crowd was massive.
Ordinary races weren't this packed...Teio's popularity was the reason.
Griseo had planned to buy tickets on-site.
But she hadn't expected this.
"You can use the Horse Girl passage!"
Twin Turbo suggested.
Horse Girls had a dedicated entrance and front-row viewing spots.
"But… I'm not a Horse Girl…"
Griseo was confused.
Then she understood.
Twin Turbo pulled out a headband with Horse Girl ears and placed it on Griseo's head.
She added a fake horse tail under her skirt.
Griseo's small hat covered the headband.
Her skirt hid the tail.
Now she looked just like a little Horse Girl.
"Is this really okay?"
Griseo had never done anything like this.
In this world, Horse Girl cosplay was normal.
But sneaking into the racecourse?
Surely someone had tried this before—and been caught.
"It's not okay if you go alone..." Twin Turbo said confidently. "But if you follow me, it's fine! I'm pretty famous. They won't question it."