Chapter 579


    <b>Mia Squeals and Giggles as she Enjoys the Ssh Fight </b>


    Tofu reacted instantly to Rakuro’s abrupt change of course and sudden eleration, increasing its speed to chase after Rakuro.


    “Yikes!”


    Mia, on the other hand, let out a pathetic shriek in response to the sudden movement.


    Incidentally, Mia’s soul was in great panic due to the sudden change in movement. However, her body instinctively reacted and maintained perfect bnce, so the people around her felt like she was just putting on an act.


    Setting that aside…


    Rakuro headed toward a slight downhill slope. Like a gust of wind, Rakuro raced down, the distance between them rapidly increasing until Rakuro’s figure became distant.


    “Well, I guess that’s to be expected. As I thought, riding together amicably until halfway was indeed wishful thinking.”


    Mia muttered. Still, she somehow managed to catch up to Xiaolei. Soon, a riverbank came into view.


    The river was wide but quite shallow. Rakuro had rushed into the calm stream, continuing to move forward while sshing water. Following close behind, Tofu also stepped into the riverbed.


    “I see. Rakuro’s speed is amazing. As expected from a Moonhare… Woah!”


    Woosh!


    Right afterward, Mia was hit directly in the face by the water sshed by Rakuro.


    Ahead, Xiaolei turned around with a  triumphant expression. However, her reaction was a little hasty. After all, Mia was not going to be fazed by something like that!


    That was because Mia had already mastered swimming on the deserted ind. Nicknamed the Waning Jellyfish, Mia was an amphibious princess. Getting sshed with a little water was not much of a problem for her.


    In fact…


    “Hehe. I was a little hot, so this feels just perfect.”


    Mia said with a happy smile on her face, as her hair swayed softly.


    Her body temperature had risen a little due to the fluffy suit, so the ssh of cold water felt incredibly refreshing.


    And that wasn’t the end of it. The cool, clear water invigorated Mia’s brain, making her sharp and alert!


    ‘<i>Hmm, this could be useful!</i>’


    With a sudden sh of inspiration, Mia decided to turn the riverbank duel into a fun water-ssh fight.


    Mia’s n was to turn the fiercepetition into a yful fun game.


    She had still not given up on her original n of being friendly and riding together halfway through the long race.


    To make the water fight enjoyable, she could not just be on the receiving end…


    “Tofu, let’s get ahead of Xiaolei and return the favour.”


    ‘<i>In the sport of water sshing, it would be boring if it were just one-sided. </i><i>Getting sshed with water and then sshing water on the opponent is what makes it fun.</i>’


    Following Mia’s instruction, Tofu elerated. It quickly leaped in front of Rakuro and then kicked its hind legs, sshing water to its hearts content.


    “Kya!”


    Miaughed delightedly as she heard Xiaolei’s cute shriek.


    “Hehe, this is payback, Xiaolei-san!”


    While Mia was humming a tune, she suddenly had a thought.


    ‘<i>However, this “getting ahead and sshing back” method reminds me of Kun. I wonder if they are rted by blood, or if among Moonhares, there are a lot of horses with that kind of yful attitude?</i>’


    While Mia was lost in these thoughts, Tofu had changed course slightly.


    When she looked, Rakuro was trying to get in front once again, and seemed ready to ssh water.


    “Oh? Could it be that you are worried about me getting sshed?”


    Even though Mia asked the question, Tofu just twitched its ears and turned around without answering.


    “Hehehe. As expected of a Royal Guard horse. You really know how to handle the wild Princess Rakuro.”


    Miaughed, and Tofu snorted with pride.


    “Damn it, I’ve been defeated…”


    With water dripping from her bangs, Xiaolei gritted her teeth in frustration.


    ‘<i>You’d think that pouring water over someone’s head would make them lose theirposure, but what in the world was this result?</i>’


    Not only was Miapletely unfazed, but…


    Mia hadunched a counterattack,ughing joyfully and triumphantly, while dering, “This is payback, Xiaolei-san!”


    Xiaolei had never expected that she would be hit with a counterattack and became agitated. She had even let out an undignified shriek.


    ‘<i>I was the one underestimating her all along…</i>’


    At this point, Xiaolei finally realised.


    The Princess of the Empire, Mia Luna Tearmoon, was no ordinary princess!


    Xiaolei had be acquainted with nobledies from other countries through her interactions with the Remno Kingdom. Among the youngdies she knew, many were afraid of or disliked having water sshed on their faces. So, if water was suddenly sshed on Mia’s face, Xiaolei had thought she would be upset or angry and would lose herposure at least a little, but…


    ‘<i>It waspletely unexpected that she would counterattack without losing herposure.</i>’


    That behaviour waspletely outside Xiaolei’s calctions, but what surprised her even more was how easily Mia had overtaken her.


    The difference in speed between Rakuro and Tofu should have been clear. Yet, Tofu was able to overtake them quite easily. This was a particrly great shock to Xiaolei.


    ‘<i>Despite the disparity in speed of the horses, the fact that they could overtake us is evidence that my riding skills are inferior.</i>’


    Xiaolei had chosen a riverbed that was difficult to ride on, challenged the opponent rider, and then lost. That humiliation was huge…


    “Grrr, it’s not over yet. The race has just begun. Next time I will show you, okay.”


    Xiaolei groaned and muttered in frustration.


    At someter time, Xiaolei would reflect and realise that at that point, she had already fallen into the trap of the Empire’s Wisdom. And that she hadpletely lost herposure.


    While she remained oblivious, a cold sense of restlessness and impatience began to envelop Xiaolei, slowly gnawing away at her.