The plane landed smoothly on the runway at Charles de Gaulle Airport.
The instant the tires touched the ground, the fuselage gave a faint shudder, as if dragging everyone back down from the clouds into reality.
Click.
The cabin door opened, and the cool air rushed in.
Kuroha was the first to walk down the boarding stairs. He took a deep breath.
Behind him, the three girls stepped off the plane one after another.
"Mm, France... It really does bring back mories."
Godolphin stretched, her eyes bright as she gazed at the scenery ahead.
Before she had been blessed by the world and beco a goddess, she had ultimately spent a "normal" life as an Uma Musu of Great Britain.
And after becoming one of the Three Goddesses, during those long years, whenever she felt bored, she would send her will down just as she had now and wander around Europe for a while.
She would see what new changes had co to the mortal world.
Because of that, she was quite familiar with Europe, as well as the major Uma Musu racing nations on the continent.
Only, to truly set foot upon this holand once more in a physical body...
It had already been nearly three hundred years.
Godolphin's eyes flickered faintly, as if she were looking through the modern airport before her and seeing the Europe of hundreds, even thousands, of years ago: a place utterly different from the one she knew now, where she had once run.
Back then, Uma Musu still ran across grass in simple running shoes.
The racetrack had been nothing more than a field roughly enclosed with wooden fences.
The spectators stood while watching the races, and their cheers could carry for miles.
Now, steel and glass had built magnificent racetracks.
Uma Musu associations spread across the globe, and Uma Musu race series had beco competitive events watched by the entire world.
The seas had beco mulberry fields.
Nothing described it better.
"Godolphin."
A gentle voice reached her on the wind.
Godolphin ca back to herself and looked over.
Ahead, Kuroha had turned back and was smiling at her. "Let's go."
"...Mm."
The Blue Goddess froze for an instant, then smiled beautifully and followed after him.
...
"Mr. Kuroha."
Just then, a man approached from not far away.
Kuroha turned toward the voice.
About twenty ters below the boarding stairs, a group of people was waiting quietly.
The man at their head was soone Kuroha was relatively familiar with: a middle-aged man in a neat suit.
A badge of the French Uma Musu Association was pinned to his chest, and his entire presence carried the decency and precision of an old-fashioned gentleman.
Behind him followed three or four others, n and won alike, all formally dressed.
There were not many of them, but from their positions and deanor alone, one could tell they attached great importance to Kuroha and his group's arrival.
Kuroha recognized him.
Émond Durand.
One of the standing directors of the French Uma Musu Association.
Last year, after Oguri completed that world-shaking co-from-behind victory in the Irish Champion Stakes, Émond had imdiately sought out Kuroha.
At the ti, representing the French Uma Musu Association, he had sincerely invited Kuroha to bring Oguri to that year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
He had even stated that, as long as Kuroha agreed, he and the French Association behind him would devote their full efforts to making it happen.
They would even make an exception and arrange a special late registration for Oguri.
Although Kuroha had ultimately declined the invitation due to scheduling concerns and Oguri's own condition, the two sides had still established a decent relationship.
They exchanged emails from ti to ti afterward, and Émond would also send greetings on holidays.
This ti, he had likely brought so important mbers of the French Association along to welco them in person.
This treatnt was indeed quite grand.
"This guy really does want to poach over to France..."
Kuroha saw through his intentions.
Or rather, the man had made no attempt to hide the hope behind all this hospitality.
"Director Émond."
Kuroha stepped forward and gave him a slight nod. "It's far too generous of you to co receive us personally."
"No, no, Mr. Kuroha, you are far too polite."
Émond's face blood into a sincere smile, and he extended his hand to shake Kuroha's.
"The fact that you have chosen France as the destination for this expedition is an honor for our association. We could not be happier."
He released Kuroha's hand and turned slightly, his gaze passing over Kuroha's shoulder toward the tall girl behind him.
"And this must be Miss jiro McQueen?"
By then, McQueen had already descended the boarding stairs and was standing half a step behind Kuroha in silence.
Her posture was graceful and proper, and her long hair drifted lightly in the wind.
Aside from bloodline, this was one of the best things about being born into a distinguished family. As the young lady of the jiro family, she would never be intimidated by a formal occasion.
"It is a pleasure to et you, Director Émond. I am jiro McQueen. I look forward to working with you."
McQueen gave a slight bow as she spoke.
Émond's eyes brightened, and he nodded repeatedly.
"I have long heard of you, Miss jiro. The stage of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe has not welcod a challenger like you in a very long ti."
His tone was sincere when he said it, and his gaze did not waver.
Kuroha understood.
The French held a special sentint toward the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
It was their pride, and the highest temple of their Uma Musu racing culture.
But at the sa ti, they also sincerely looked forward to powerful challengers coming to compete.
Because only the strongest challengers could highlight the true value of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
As for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winners from the past few years...
Aside from Tony Bianka, who had fractured a bone after her unfinished clash with Tamamo and Obey Your Master, never displaying the strength she should have had, the two Arc winners who ca after her had been weak to an almost absurd degree.
Whether it was Kary Room in the following year or Saumarez last year, neither of them had even stepped into the second stage of their Domain.
They had completely lowered the floor for what an Arc-winning Uma Musu was supposed to be.
And this year, the French Association clearly did not want to repeat that mistake.
They attached great importance to the top Uma Musu coming from abroad.
"By the way, Mr. Kuroha."
Émond seed to rember sothing. He turned slightly and began introducing the accompanying personnel behind him to Kuroha.
"Allow to introduce them. These are our colleagues from the association. They will be responsible for logistical arrangents during this expedition."
He introduced them one by one.
With each introduction, the person in question bowed slightly in greeting, and Kuroha returned each courtesy.
Although he did not like this sort of surface-level formality, others had given him respect, so naturally he had to return it.
Then Émond's voice suddenly took on a hint of solemnity.
"In addition, there is one more person who ca specially to welco you."
He paused, then turned his gaze toward the edge of the group and said softly, "I imagine she needs little introduction."
Kuroha followed his gaze.
At the side of the group, a slender figure stood quietly.
It was an Uma Musu wearing a standard school uniform.
Her long black hair fell straight to her waist.
Her features were delicate and gentle, and there was a faintly scholarly air between her brows and eyes. She looked like an aristocratic young woman who had stepped out of a classical oil painting.
Her entire presence radiated calm composure.
Looking at the newcor, Kuroha narrowed his eyes slightly.
He knew that face.
Or rather, as a normal Uma Musu trainer, there should have been no one who did not know that face.
After all, her legend had only been five years ago. She had been an Uma Musu from almost the sa era as Symboli Rudolf.
Dancing Brave.
The forr tyrant of European Uma Musu racing.
Champion of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Recognized as one of the strongest Uma Musu in the entire history of Europe.
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe she participated in had even been called "the greatest Uma Musu race in history."
That alone made her importance clear.
Before Kuroha could react, the long-haired girl in black stepped forward first.
"I have long heard of you, Mr. Kuroha. My na is Dancing Brave, vice president of the student council at France Tracen Academy."
Kuroha paused for a mont, then nodded as well. "Hello, Miss Dancing Brave."
After the brief exchange of greetings, Dancing Brave led Kuroha and the others toward the lodging that had been reserved in advance.
As the group walked, they talked.
From them, Kuroha also learned a fair amount of information about the strong racers from various countries that France had its eye on this year: the ones with enough strength to take the crown of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
It was quite a fruitful arrival.
(End of Chapter)
[Get 30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]
User Comments
0 comments from readers