On the training track, Okino stared in confusion at the all-black figure. Suddenly, it was as if a switch had been flipped. She broke through the wind, and in an instant, her speed and acceleration increased dramatically. He couldn't understand the principle behind this "skill" at all.
Beside him, Agnes Tachyon, whose face usually looked half-asleep, was now glowing as she said, "It worked! It's only the most basic skill, but this proves my theory is correct! It really is recovery! As long as the body's recovery can keep up with the damage caused by training, not only will it not harm the body, it will actually make the physical stats stronger afterward!"
Gold Ship stood to the side, asking warily, "Are you sure those potions you gave her are safe? What kind of normal potion glows like that?"
"Kukuku~ Don't worry, Boss. This is a newly improved version I developed after studying the skill data. It effectively relieves fatigue and promotes cellular repair. The knowledge in your head is simply astonishing..."
Gold Ship and Okino indicated they couldn't understand a word Tachyon said after that. But since Tachyon was swearing her potions were fine, they'd trust her for now. In any case, Manhattan Cafe didn't look like she was having any problems. And the proof was in the pudding: over the past month, she had successfully learned a skill, even if it was just the lowest-level one.
"Alright, stop for a second. This great one just wants to know: can this training plan be made public now? You'd better think carefully before you answer."
"Of course, it's no problem, Boss! Not only that, we can refine 'Repair Potion Prototype 1' into small pills and formally market them as essential training supplements! I can already see an ocean of money waving at us! My brand new research lab is calling to me!"
Agnes Tachyon's eyes were filled with money symbols.
Although this girl came from a prestigious family, her research burned through money. Sometimes, she was so poor she didn't even have money to eat out.
"Good. Then let's start immediately."
Gold Ship couldn't care less about commercial value.
But Tachyon suddenly calmed down.
"No, Boss. Our plan needs a backer to move forward, or it will stall. We need the Student Council's support!"
"The annoying privileged class again?"
"Exactly, Boss. The privileged class."
Gold Ship clenched her fists. How could I, the Demon King, be stopped by a mere Student Council? What a joke! The Student Council, the Committee... they all must bow before my power!
"Let's go! We'll go find Symboli Rudolf right now and get her to join!"
Okino watched the two of them, full of enthusiasm, and wanted to say something. But in the end, he just watched them charge off toward the Student Council office.
"...Trainer... I'm done running..."
The sudden voice made Okino jump. "Oh!"
It was Manhattan Cafe, having finished her lap.
Looking at the quiet, well-behaved horse girl, Okino was filled with emotion. He never thought that Demon King could make normal friends. But, he thought, this quiet girl must have it the hardest, having to hang out with those two weirdos.
"That must have been tough."
"...It wasn't."
Manhattan Cafe didn't quite understand the emotion Okino was showing. The trainer... seems impressed with me? But I don't remember doing anything amazing. Compared to me, what Tachyon and Gold Ship are doing is far more amazing.
In the Student Council office.
Symboli Rudolf said sternly, "I refuse!"
She didn't know what Gold Ship and Tachyon were up to, but she would absolutely not approve their application. A lawless, undisciplined Demon King of Chaos, plus a scientist who loves to research "banned" drugs... She couldn't even imagine what kind of trouble those two would cook up together.
"Well, this is the expected result."
Tachyon was not surprised by the President's rejection.
Just as Tachyon was thinking about how to persuade her, Gold Ship suddenly strode forward and slammed both hands on Rudolf's desk. Tachyon saw the cracks form in the desk and the President's eyelid twitch. This was bad.
"Symboli Rudolf, I'm not here to ask for your permission!"
"..." Rudolf's face darkened.
While she genuinely admired Gold Ship's ability, this girl's personality really needed to be corrected. Otherwise, she'd be walking all over her one day.
"You will go back to class immediately. If I hear you are skipping again, I will have your family come to the school!"
"You think those idiots can control this great one? I'm doing this, and your opinion, Symboli Rudolf, doesn't matter!"
Gold Ship's face was full of contempt. She wasn't scared of Rudolf's threat. In her eyes, there wasn't a single person in the "Gold" family who could handle her.
"Impossible. Without my permission, whatever you are planning will not succeed!" Rudolf stated it as if it were a fact.
Just as Gold Ship was about to challenge the Emperor to a race, Tachyon quickly pulled her back and proposed an idea.
"President, you misunderstand us. Please, take the time to seriously read the materials we've submitted. What we are doing will be a great benefit to all horse girls. If you still don't believe us after reading the proposal... then please, come and watch the upcoming Hopeful Stakes. Our Boss will prove on the track that everything we've said is true."
"Hey, Tachyon! This great one never said I'd run in some 'Hopeful Stakes'! Besides, this damned old fossil needs to 'burst her gold coins' already!"
"Okay, Boss, let's just go!"
Tachyon didn't dare let Gold Ship say another word.
As they were leaving, Gold Ship left a parting shot: "Damn 'old thing'! I'll let you off for now! Sooner or later, I'm going to 'burst your coins' on the track!"
Rudolf was so angry her domain flared up.
As Gold Ship and Tachyon left, they saw a complex-looking Air Groove eavesdropping at the door. Tachyon could only offer an apologetic smile. But Gold Ship was clearly not convinced. In her eyes, Rudolf wasn't as strong as her, so why should she listen? She's just an old thing who got completely pwned by [myself] anyway.
Back in their activity room, Tachyon explained the situation to Okino and Manhattan Cafe, writing "Hopeful Stakes" on the small whiteboard.
"Boss, you absolutely must show the world the greatness of 'skills' at the Hopeful Stakes!" Tachyon said to Gold Ship with a serious face.
Gold Ship yawned and shook her head. "Boring. Don't want to."
"Boss, are you giving up on our great cause?"
"I didn't say that. It's just... races at that level really are boring. The Hopeful Stakes is for rookies who aren't very strong, right? Racing against them is no fun."
Gold Ship understood Tachyon's strategy, but she just didn't want to do it. The race against Mejiro McQueen had used up what little enthusiasm she had left. Until she could spread her "skills" and make her opponents stronger, she had no interest in racing.
"But Boss, what we need is a big victory! And this time, you can't use that 'bewitching' skill of yours."
"Still boring. Even if I don't use 'gating' (debuffs), the result will be the same."
The 'gating' and her 'domain' were just toys for Gold Ship. Her true confidence was in her own base strength, not those tricks. Otherwise, her awakened domain wouldn't have the effects it did. It was precisely because she believed, deep down, that she was just too strong and needed no further improvement, that her domain offered no buffs to herself and was entirely focused on "gating" her opponents.
"But Boss, we just issued a challenge to the President. If you don't show up, won't she think you're scared?"
"Hoh? Are you trying to goad me, Tachyon? You've gotten bold."
Gold Ship glanced at Tachyon. Her ferocious aura and cold expression were terrifying. Although Gold Ship didn't like to use her brain and seemed easy to trick, that was only because she couldn't be bothered—it was the "leisure of a king," like a full lion ignoring a rabbit. It didn't mean she was actually easy to fool.
"No, no! I'm just explaining the situation, Boss!"
Tachyon was covered in a cold sweat. She had just remembered that Gold Ship was, at her core, a tyrant. Her usual demeanor was the disguise.
"You're too tense, Tachyon."
Gold Ship suddenly retracted her aura.
She thought for a moment.
"Fine. I'll do it. But if Symboli Rudolf is still like that afterward, don't blame this great one for not being polite. An 'Emperor' is only meaningful if they are the strongest. If she loses... then her so-called throne and her title of 'Student Council President' will be meaningless, won't they?"
A bloodthirsty light shone in Gold Ship's eyes.
Before the Demon King, a mere Emperor was nothing. The only ones who could fight the Demon King were Heroes... or the gods above. But those gods in the heavens... one day, the Demon King would pull them down from their thrones, too!
Gold Ship looked up at the ceiling. She wasn't like her "other self," content with the status quo. She only wanted to find more exciting things to fill the void in her heart. The Three Goddesses? Hmph. This Demon King will catch you... sooner or later!
...
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