"Are you serious? Doing all this for a horse girl you don't even know?!"

The God of Misfortune was seething with frustration.

She'd attached herself to Rice Shower since childhood and had never once seen Mizuno Sora before. Clearly, the two were strangers.

Yet this guy was risking everything just to chase her away from Rice Shower, going as far as rolling pathetically across the ground…

Was that even logical? Was this guy some hot-blooded idiot protagonist from a shonen manga?

If Mizuno knew the Misfortune God's thoughts, he'd vehemently disagree.

First, he absolutely knew Rice Shower—as her self-proclaimed online Onii-sama. Second, he wasn't some reckless shonen hero willing to risk it all for strangers. He was only doing this desperate act to complete his mission and survive.

It was a struggle for survival!

"Almost there!"

Although Mizuno couldn't clearly see where he was rolling, instinct told him he was nearly within reach of Rice Shower. The Misfortune God's attempts to numb his limbs couldn't completely halt his progress. Everything was looking positive—

But of course, when facing the God of Misfortune, something unexpected was guaranteed.

Just as Mizuno closed within a meter of Rice Shower, a random Uma Musume suddenly rushed past.

"Excuse me! Coming through! It's an emergency!"

The horse girl dashed hurriedly, clearly in a rush.

Unable to dodge while rolling, Mizuno collided head-on into her.

"Bughaa!" Mizuno was knocked flying, crashing and tumbling across the ground.

"Huh? Did I bump into something?" The unknown Uma Musume scratched her head in confusion, noticing nothing unusual.

"Rice Shower-san!" she called, spotting Rice Shower nearby.

"Y-yes!" Startled by the sudden interaction, Rice Shower nervously replied.

"Did I just bump into you by accident?"

"N-no…" Rice Shower shook her head timidly.

"Weird…I could've sworn I collided with something just now…" The girl tilted her head, puzzled.

"Oh well. Today I bought that expensive potion to secretly slip into my trainer's tea, hehehe~ Time to hurry home and enjoy our happy, private life together!"

The culprit happily trotted away, oblivious, while her victim Mizuno lay dazed on the ground, unable to get up.

The God of Misfortune burst into gleeful laughter.

"Useless! The closer you get to her, the stronger your calamities become! Your situation becomes more perilous with each step! You can't possibly reach this girl!"

"Wonder of U!"

Stop referencing JoJo already! Who even understands that joke?!

"I'll warn you again, God of Fortune: stay away, or you'll die." The God of Misfortune glared menacingly at Mizuno.

Though she appeared mercifully lenient, in reality, she wasn't. She simply hadn't gathered enough misfortune energy yet to outright kill someone. Otherwise, Mizuno would have died from that collision instead of just feeling numb all over.

Every time she cursed Mizuno, she consumed precious misfortune energy.

Summoning that random Uma Musume had drained the last of her reserves. If Mizuno approached again, she wouldn't have enough energy left to conjure another accident to finish him off.

"Ugh… hurts…" Mizuno tried desperately to rise using sheer willpower, but the intense pain forced him back down almost immediately.

An Uma Musume's collision felt terrifyingly similar to being struck by a speeding car. His head buzzed fiercely—he'd nearly died on the spot.

While Mizuno survived, he was seriously injured. Standing up was impossible, let alone chasing after Rice Shower.

Seeing Mizuno immobilized, the Misfortune God sighed with relief.

"Give up. The winner's been decided." She smiled confidently, shaking her head mockingly.

"You can't even summon a faint ripple anymore. Look at all the blood you've lost. That means you're beyond saving."

"Farewell. Your life ends here."

Turning her back to Mizuno, she ignored him completely.

Stop quoting JoJo already! What do you expect me to say next—"This is my final ripple"?!

"…" Mizuno sighed in annoyance, glancing at his entirely blood-free body and placing a hand over his still steadily beating heart.

He wasn't even close to dying like she claimed. In fact, his injuries were surprisingly mild—no broken bones, just temporarily immobilized.

"Wait a second. This feels off…" Mizuno frowned thoughtfully.

Given his human fragility, getting hit by a fast-moving Uma Musume should've caused at least a broken bone.

Yet… his injuries seemed strangely reduced.

Suddenly, Mizuno realized something crucial.

"Your curse power has a limit, doesn't it?" Mizuno accused. (Using telepathic communication, since opening his mouth would invite another gust of misfortune.)

The Misfortune God visibly jolted.

"Wh-wh-what are you talking about? I-I don't get it." Nervous sweat dripped down her face.

No way… Has this guy figured me out?

"Just as I suspected…" Mizuno confidently confirmed from her reaction.

"After all, no one experiences constant misfortune. Even Rice Shower doesn't face disaster every single step she takes."

"You said the closer I get, the worse my disasters become. But it was only me who faced any misfortune. All the other Uma Musume passing by Rice Shower weren't affected at all."

"And considering I got hit by a full-speed horse girl without even breaking a bone—only immobilized temporarily…"

"There can be only one truth!" Mizuno dramatically adjusted the nonexistent glasses on his nose.

"Your curse power has limits—and you're almost out of energy!"

"Damn it…" The Misfortune God's expression darkened.

Her biggest secret had been uncovered so easily!

How is this guy so smart?!

Neither his relentless determination nor quick-thinking intelligence matched the gentle and naive personalities typical of people in the Uma Musume world.

Get out of this Uma Musume world already! Wouldn't you fit better in a JoJo-style mind battle?! How can an Uma Musume possibly trick a clever bastard like you into the Underground Room?! Idiot!

After furiously cursing Mizuno internally, the Misfortune God soon regained composure.

Since the winner was decided, knowing her secret was useless to him.

"You're completely immobilized now. Even knowing my limits, how can you possibly keep approaching? Just obediently lie there until another Uma Musume tramples you to death!"

Leaving behind her ruthless words, the Misfortune God followed Rice Shower toward the cafeteria.

Mizuno watched Rice Shower's lonely figure retreat sadly into the distance, letting out a bitter sigh.

Indeed, his body was utterly battered, unable even to stand, let alone deliver the lucky charm.

Was this... his defeat?