BXBX NOVEL Chapter 586
Chapter 586
Tofu kicked the ground.
Whoosh, whoosh.
The wall of wind was sliced through.
Amidst the swirl of loud and enthusiastic cheers from the crowd of spectators, Mia single-mindedly marched forward.
Squinting against the intense wind pressure, Mia focused intently on the road ahead. The path to the finish line at Stargrass Rock was steep and winding. Without hesitation, Tofu headed up the slope towards the final stage of the horse match-up.
Gun Gung Gun.
The high speed caused Mia to involuntarily release the reins and raise her hands high into the air, as if grasping for the heavens.
“Hiiyaaa!”
In response to Mia’s roar, the crowd lining both sides of the path erupted in a thunderous cheer, “Wooooh!”
In reality, what had seemed like a roar to them was actually a scream let out in fear of nearly falling off.
Nevertheless, the crowd’s excitement continued to grow as Mia fearlessly galloped up the slope. After all, this was clearly an unexpected upset.
No matter what anyone thought, they definitely found it odd that Rakuro wasn’t the first to arrive. Everyone expected to see Xiaolei, but unexpectedly, the one they saw was the foreign princess.
Moreover, she had traversed a rough path and reached close to the finish line with unexpected speed, despite the stormy weather.
The princess let out a roar as she launched into the final sprint.
The crowd was swept up in the excitement!
To top it off, the rival was charging after her with fierce determination.
The crowd buzzed with anticipation!
Amidst the thunderous cheers, Tofu ran with all its heart and soul. With the goal post in sight and the weight on its back lighter, Tofu seemed to break free, accelerating and galloping even faster.
Thud, thud!
The sound of the hooves striking the earth grew louder as Tofu increased its speed and Mia struggled to match its rhythm.
“Ah, Tofu, you’re suddenly very motivated.”
Even for Mia, who had ridden the swift horse Kuolan, Tofu’s acceleration was astounding.
Although the slope was quite steep, Tofu did not slow down at all. Seeing its powerful, springing legs and supple, vibrant neck, Mia felt a surge of confidence.
“Well, this is good. I’ve gotten used to your speed. So let’s keep going, Tofu!”
At Mia’s words, Tofu neighed in response.
However, the sound of hoofbeats grew closer from behind. Rakuro, splashing through the muddy path left by the rain, continued to gain on them.
At the start of the slope, the difference between them was about five horse lengths.
“I’ve finally caught up with you, okay!”
Xiaolei said, her nose covered in mud, as she smiled at Mia.
The prim and proper ladylike persona, dressed in an enchantingly beautiful and well-tailored riding suit from before their departure, had vanished, replaced by a kid who simply loved horses. She looked like a pure horse maniac, riding at high speed and thoroughly enjoying the race.
“Now, let the fight begin, okay!”
Xiaolei declared, as she wiped the mud off her cheeks.
Her innocent and joyful smile filled Mia with confidence about her victory.
Victory—meaning losing under the best possible conditions. That had been Mia’s original plan.
Since she had achieved her original goal, Mia felt at ease. Now she could relax and embrace the challenge.
“I won’t lose, Xiaolei-san!”
After all, Mia didn’t particularly like losing.
‘It’s not a bad idea to enjoy a challenge for its own sake once in a while.’
Her fighting spirit was ignited.
“Let’s win, celebrate with some delicious mushroom hotpot, and raise a toast with Arutsue!”
By the way, regarding Mia’s other, more important goal—getting slim through some good exercise—well, that goal had conveniently slipped her mind. Escaping from being chubby wasn’t so easy.
Well, setting that aside…
Sensing Rakuro’s approach, Tofu’s ears twitched, but its eyes remained fixed solely ahead. The hill slope was wet with rain, leaving no room for distractions. Sound and steady, Tofu galloped with unwavering focus on the goal.
Thus, the two horses charged up the slope. Even as it climbed up the slope, Tofu’s legs did not lose any of their strength. As expected, while Rakuro slowed down, Tofu’s speed remained almost unchanged. It seemed unaffected by gravity, practically flying up the hill.
As a result, the gap between Rakuro, the swift horse, and Tofu, the workhorse, did not narrow significantly and was now about four horse lengths.
That was the true power of the Empire’s Terre Tortue horse.
Whether navigating muddy and slushy terrain after the rains, climbing a mountain trail with falling rocks, or handling any kind of tough terrain—uphill or downhill—its strong, tenacious legs moved over or through obstacles without hesitation. In the face of any difficult situation, it responded with unwavering grit and maintained its usual pace.
Tofu was a horse that truly lived up to its reputation as a workhorse, the pride and joy of the Empire.
Never overtaken by Rakuro, Mia finally reached the last stretch. She looked up at the steep slope stretching into the sky and the goal at the summit.
A large rainbow coloured the sky, as if blessing the victor of the horse match-up.