I'm Ornn, and I'm about to be beaten to my knees by the Man-eating Horse Girl!

Due to its unique folk customs and cultural history, Japan holds many festivals throughout the year.

Apart from the New Year festival at the beginning of each year, most of the other festivals are held in the summer.

Among these, the most famous are the summer festivals and the final fireworks displays held in various places.

Summer festivals often feature parades of floats, palanquin processions, dance performances, and other entertainment, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere that brings laughter to the people and makes for a truly enjoyable time.

"You make it sound so easy, my benefactor. So where are our decorated floats and palanquins?"

The brand-new, radiant-haired man carried a snakeskin bag on his back, inside which were the boots that Dolan's squad had used for training.

She and Orn were walking in the hotel's underground parking lot. Two hours before the festival began, they needed to clean the beach and pack up the team's equipment.

After all, everyone will start returning to school gradually after the festival ends today and tomorrow. Those who want to linger a bit might stay at the hotel for another day, but everyone will be back at school by the day after tomorrow at the latest.

The official start date for Central Tressen is September 3rd. These two or three days are also a time for the female horses to get back into the swing of things. After these few days, the busiest time of the autumn races will begin.

With her newfound radiance on her back, carrying a snakeskin bag, she sighed and muttered, "Alas, my benefactor, look at us here, there are no floats, no palanquins, not even a bonfire party. Isn't this a bit too cruel for young girls in the prime of their lives?"

Orn, who was walking in front, said calmly, "Speak like a human."

"Ahem, my benefactor! You see how hard we've been training these past two months, could you give us two more days off after we go back?"

Shining Bright wagged her tail and hurried forward, circling around Ornn, saying, "Hey, my benefactor, please~~~"

Ornn glanced at the fawn: "Hmph...that's all?"

Shining Brightly nodded quickly and said, "That's all."

"Okay, considering how well you've performed these past few months, I agree."

"Okay!!"

Shining brightly, she jumped up and down with joy, but then her mood plummeted.

"My benefactor, but our summer festival does seem to be much worse than those held in other places,"

"Not only are there no floats, but there aren't even any yukatas..."

Orn comforted them, "But we eat better than anywhere else. The chefs here in Wakkanai are certified to host G2-level culinary competitions. They're amazing! It's even better than the catering team in Central Treson."

"Besides, it's understandable that the hotel has been short of funds in the past year or two and can't afford to hire a performance team. Please be more understanding of the hotel's difficulties."

"Besides... they didn't restrict you from wearing yukatas. When I went to the beach to call you just now, didn't I see a lot of horse girls wearing yukatas?"

"It's a good thing you were wearing a training swimsuit, Glorious, otherwise I really wouldn't have been able to see you right away."

Upon hearing the word "yukata," Shiny's ears perked up, and she exclaimed indignantly, "Huh!? My benefactor! Shouldn't you reflect on why I'm wearing a swimsuit?! Isn't it because when you took us shopping for clothes before, you only cared about buying camping gear?!"

"Do you know how embarrassing it was for me to lie on the beach all alone in that awful blue swimsuit? The pointing and whispering of others has seriously traumatized me! You have to make amends to my fragile heart! Go buy us some yukatas right now!"

"Yes! Not only do you need to buy yukatas! You also need to serve all the members of our Doran Squad to the very end! Not only do you need to buy yukatas, but you also need to prepare a float and a palanquin to take us up the mountain to watch the fireworks!!"

This is the astonishing wisdom and logic of a brand-new, brilliant mind. In just a few sentences, he goes from not buying a swimsuit to the trainer's negligence, and finally makes seemingly insane demands and offers of compensation. This series of moves is enough to knock an ordinary trainer to the ground.

But Ornn was no ordinary trainer, and the arguments he used were not ordinary either.

Just like the techniques used by the various Sophists of ancient Greece in their debates, they would first slowly and methodically try to persuade each other with logic and reason. But if logic and reason failed to convince the other party, they would then seek the help of truth.

This led to the Mediterranean seabed becoming the site of the largest battles, the most frequent arguments, and the ultimate solution to academic disputes. It even gave rise to the Lakers, captained by Hippasus, specifically designed to handle these complex philosophical questions.

Orn not only learned the art of debate from Confucius, acquiring the wisdom of "If I hear the Way in the morning, I can die content in the evening," but also drew lessons from Western history, understanding the importance of applying classical mechanics.

Faced with the ramblings of the newly radiant radiance, Orn stretched out his hands and roughly rubbed her round face.

"Ugh!! Throw it away! Collect the rice!!"

With her hands still clutching the snakeskin bag on her shoulders, the newly radiant Radiance was completely unable to defend herself against Ornn's physical attacks and could only beg for mercy.

Orn rubbed for a while, then let go and laughed, "What you said makes some sense. As for the yukata... let's think about it again at the end of this year after we get back!"

"Besides, who told you we don't have any floats? The floats are right there!"

There? Where?

Following the direction Orn pointed, the newly illuminated vehicle saw a very flashy-looking van radiating a dazzling red and yellow light in the dark parking lot.

Hmm?

She squinted and saw that the van's roof was covered with dozens of different kinds of flowers, interspersed with coils of electric lights.

At the very top of the carport is a huge sphere, which looks like one of those disco balls used for dancing in bars.

Several wreaths hung at the front of the vehicle, and the entire car was painted in a rainbow gradient, looking extremely tacky, yet also possessing a somewhat post-apocalyptic punk vibe.

Shining Radiance's eyes widened as she stared at the extremely extravagant car before her, exclaiming in shock, "My benefactor?! This...this can't be the car we made before, can it? How...how did it become like this?!"

Orn reached out and took the snakeskin bag from Glorious's back. He opened the back seat, stuffed the bag inside, and then got into the driver's seat.

He rolled down the car window, pulled out a pair of sunglasses from somewhere and put them on, then raised an eyebrow at the brand-new Geely and said in a very greasy tone, "Hey little girl, come on, hop in my car and have some fun!"

"Ugh! How disgusting!!"

Shining brightly, she shivered. She pulled out the passenger seat and sat down.

Watching Ornn slowly back out of the parking space, she quickly asked, "Wait a minute, benefactor, where are we going? Aren't we going to see the summer festival?"

Orn shifted his sunglasses slightly downwards; in the pitch-black garage, he couldn't see anything at all with them on.

As he turned the steering wheel, he said, "We're going to a hillside about 60 kilometers from Wakkanai City. The hotels in Wakkanai aren't very well prepared, so there's not much to see if we stay here."

"Besides the student-organized chorus, the only thing worth seeing is the fireworks display two hours later. The mountain overlooks the entire Wakkanai City and is an excellent viewpoint,"

"Instead of wearing it here, why not go up the mountain for a picnic, eat barbecue and watch fireworks? Wouldn't that be much more fun than staying on this beach?"

Shining Glory thought about it and realized it made sense. Lying on the beach with a few people stargazing was indeed a bit boring. Going up the mountain with Orn would definitely be much more interesting.

"But where are our benefactors, Oguri and the others? Shouldn't we notify them?"

Orn nodded and said, "No need, I've already asked them to wait for us at the garage door."

"Fasten your seatbelts, let's go!"

Not far from the hotel, on a mountain road, Tamamo Cross was sitting in his trainer's Volkswagen Beetle.

She looked towards the hotel and couldn't help but sigh.

While driving, Komiyayama asked with a smile, "Hehe, Tamamo, why are you sighing? Is it because you didn't say goodbye to Oguri and the others?"

"Well, not really,"

Tamamo Cross placed her right hand on her forehead and shook her head, saying, "Oguri and the others won't be bored staying with that guy. I'm just a little worried about the little ones at the ranch."

Komiyama asked, "What are you worried about? Are you worried they'll get sick?"

"Of course I'm worried about whether they'll listen to the older men, and whether the director's health will recover!"

Tamamo Cross rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the trees rushing past the window, and whispered, "Once we win the competition this year, we'll definitely make the ranch live a good life, we definitely...!!"

Komiyayama glanced sideways at the aloe vera who had been examining her, and all the last trace of worry he had about Tamamo's cross-shaped status vanished.

It seems Ornn is quite capable. Perhaps after school starts in September, we can let Tamamo interact more with the members of Doran's team.

Not only to protect Tamamo, but also to spy on Orn's squad's tactics. Even if they couldn't glean any strategies, it would allow Tamamo Cross to become more familiar with the running rhythm of Oguri Hat and the others.

Ornn, of course, wouldn't miss this opportunity to simulate a match with a current powerhouse, and he would naturally accept Komiyama's suggestion.

Well, who will Ornn ultimately send to participate in the preliminary battle before the Emperor's Prize, the "Daily Crown"?

'Oguri no longer needs to hone his skills in these kinds of matches. The power of his newfound brilliance isn't enough to handle this kind of unconventional G2-level event. So, all that's left are Ardan and March, right?'

The Beetle sedan continued its ascent along the winding mountain road. Tamamo Cross leaned against the window, looking at the town receding into the distance at the foot of the mountain. She frowned and asked, "Kumi, where are we going? This shouldn't be the road to the ranch, right?"

Komiyayama replied, "Of course not. We are currently fifty kilometers away from the ranch and forty kilometers away from the hotel."

"Hmm... I guess it's some kind of desolate, remote place?"

In the wilderness?

Tamamo Cross turned her head in confusion, but Komiyayama simply pointed to the distant mountaintop.

"Don't look at me, Orn and the others have already gone there to wait for us. You'll see when we get there!"

"Not only are the members of Dolan's team there, but many of your acquaintances are also there!"

It wasn't until Tamamo Cross jumped out of the Beetle that she understood what her trainer meant.

This hilltop was originally designated as a viewing platform, but since the viewing sessions typically last for several nights, a wide wooden platform has also been built around it for tourists to camp overnight.

Right now, in the very center of that wooden platform, a group of small pony girls are dancing around a disco van that's flashing lights from head to toe.

Around the disco vehicle, several burly men were gathered around the mobile barbecue stall. Judging from their attire, they seemed to be... chefs?

Okay, so these men with scratched hands, square faces, and perfectly defined jawlines were indeed grilling meat. The little girls didn't seem afraid of these menacing-looking adults at all; instead, they surrounded them, begging for skewers.

The chefs happily handed them their food, creating a harmonious and joyful scene.

There were two buses around the platform, and it seemed that the children and the chefs had arrived on those two buses.

Komiya closed the car door and said with a smile, "Tamamo, those people are people Orn invited to help with the ranch repairs. Don't stare at them with those suspicious eyes! That's impolite!"

Tamamo Cross glanced at the chefs' forearms, then at her own upper arm, which was only a third as thick as theirs.

She rolled her eyes at her trainer and said speechlessly, "Gu Mei, don't tell me you thought these people were easy to deal with when you first saw them. You were definitely shocked too!"

Komiya scratched his head and laughed awkwardly, "Relax, everyone at the ranch is having a great time here, don't worry about the details!"

Tamamo Cross sighed, looked around, and asked, "Where is that guy? I haven't seen Oguri and the others either."

The uncle who was grilling nearby smiled and pointed, "Are you asking about Mr. Ornn from Dolan's team? Look, do you see the people standing next to the stereo in front of that car? They're right there!"

The short, bushy-haired guy looked closely and realized that the person DJing next to the stereo was indeed one of Dolan's team! Wasn't that the New Radiance?!

At this moment, the newly radiant woman was beaming with joy. She raised her right hand in a gesture, while her left hand pretended to rub the unlit gas stove cover. Bathed in the light of the disco ball, she swayed from side to side, looking incredibly excited.

And the person swaying next to her... wait, it's Xiaomei!!

"Baka yarou!! What is that guy doing! How can he let his horse girls corrupt the children!!"

Tamamo Cross instantly ignited her fury. She clenched her fists and stormed towards Mei, who was still oblivious and jumping around with her newly radiant sister.

At that moment, Xiaomei, wearing sunglasses and holding a light stick, finally sensed the danger.

She rubbed her eyes, looking in the direction of the Tamamo Cross, then took off her sunglasses and rubbed her eyes again. Only then did she discard the light stick and sunglasses and run towards Komiyama, who was selecting ingredients for barbecue.

As she ran, she shouted, "Screw it!! Miyayama-neechan!! Please do something about Tamamo-neechan!! She just pinched me!! My hand is all red from pinching her!!"

After saying this, Xiaomei immediately pinched herself hard, then raised her reddened right hand and started crying towards Xiaogongshan.

Seeing this scene, Tamamo Cross was so angry she almost laughed.

She shouted and prepared to seize the child who had framed her, but a hand suddenly grabbed her, and at the same time, a takoyaki was stuffed into her hand.

The girl in the small stool, who was showing off her food, looked up and said with a smile, "Xiaoyu, come and eat first."

"As Tuolei said, it's not good to stay angry. Come and eat something, and you'll feel better!"

Komiyayama chimed in, "Tamamo, it's nothing. She just jumped around with Illustrious; it's perfectly safe."

"Playing is a child's nature, and you can't keep suppressing their nature, can you? Sit down and eat something first!"

Tamamo held the dumpling in her hand, glanced at the slyly smiling Mei, then at Orn sitting next to Oguri, who was also eating skewers, and finally sighed.

"Okay, okay, I was impulsive,"

"Let's eat something first. By the way, Oguri, how did you end up here? It would have been better to stay at the hotel, as it's closer to the fireworks."

A squid tentacle dangled from the corner of her hat. She chewed it, then turned to look at Orn beside her.

"You don't necessarily have to be under the fireworks to watch them. Standing on a mountaintop offers a wider view and allows you to see more things."

Orn tossed a handful of bamboo skewers into a plastic bag beside him, then patted a bucket of food next to him and said with a smile, "Besides, we have fireworks here too. If we're still not satisfied after watching the fireworks, we can set them off ourselves."

"Oh! It seems like it's almost time. The hotel is about to set off fireworks!"

"Everyone, grab what you're carrying and head to the edge of the stands to watch the fireworks!!"

Chapter 230 It's in the wrong place

Standing on the wooden rooftop, you can overlook the northernmost point of Hokkaido.

If the weather is good, even Rishiri Island and Rebun Island to the northwest can be seen in their entirety.

Orn squinted slightly. From her current location, looking north, she couldn't see the outline of Wakkanai City; she could only make out a few winding, undulating hills.

Wakkanai City's altitude is still too low; unless you take a helicopter now, you can't see the city center directly.