"Little Aunt, we probably need to take some time off."
Gold Ship said to Gold Legend.
"...What's going on?"
Gold Legend looked completely baffled.
"Ah, it's just family business. The regular Clan Meeting at home. The Family Head notified us that we need to go."
"Does our family even have something like that?"
Gold Legend searched her memory bank but couldn't find a corresponding memory.
"Although I don't remember if we actually have this thing, our Gold Family is a prestigious house, so we should have one, right?"
Gold Ship was also a little unsure, as she didn't have much recollection of it either.
"Why so sudden?"
Gold Legend felt regretful about her schedule. She had just finished a race and earned a few days of vacation, and now it was gone.
"It should have something to do with Big Sister Journey. She went home a few days ago."
Gold Ship didn't seem to mind.
"Alright then. What about Orfevre and Festa?"
"They've been notified too. We just need to meet up then. We can just play along the way back."
Gold Ship rubbed her hands together, eager to start.
"...Shouldn't there be special personnel to pick us up? Since we're an established family?"
Gold Legend was still very curious about the kind of treatment seen in TV dramas; it sounded like fun.
"Our family doesn't go for that kind of thing. We're not the Mejiro family."
Gold Ship placed her hands behind her head.
"Besides, Little Aunt, you haven't seen Great-Uncle and Great-Aunt in a long time, right?"
"That's true."
Gold Legend thought about her parents in this life, feeling a momentary complexity in her heart.
Honestly, she didn't reject the parents of this life. Although she was the youngest, her treatment was impeccable, and the warmth in her memories wasn't false. After fully accepting the identity of Gold Legend, she felt she should also take on this familial connection.
But her heart was still very complicated; perhaps this was just human nature.
"But hearing you talk about them, it feels like they've aged a lot, even though they're both under 40."
Gold Legend shook her head and changed the subject.
"That's just how the seniority works."
Gold Ship said perfunctorily.
"Then I'll go ask the Trainer and the teacher for leave. How long do you think is appropriate?"
"One week."
"Huh? That long? Is the old home far away? And according to you, isn't the meeting only three days from now?"
Gold Legend was a little surprised.
"Not exactly. It's just that you know what the people in our family are like. Although they called it an urgent regular meeting, since they demanded everyone be present, it means there will definitely be some accidents causing delays. So instead of going early to suffer, we might as well play for a few days."
Gold Ship said casually.
"That doesn't seem right."
"We can also stop by Tokyo for two days on the way, maybe Disney or something."
"When are we leaving?"
"Tomorrow!"
"OK, sounds great!"
Gold Legend and Gold Ship reached an agreement... After having a blast playing in Tokyo with Orfevre, Festa, and Golshi, the group leisurely boarded a private plane heading toward the Gold Family's ancestral home in Hokkaido.
Arriving at the entrance of the Gold Family's Main Family Estate, Gold Legend felt somewhat numb.
"This is the first time I've so profoundly realized that the Gold Family is a prestigious house."
"Well, you only get to feel it at times like this."
Nakayama Festa complained.
Orfevre remained silent. Wearing a mask, she was a pure, well-behaved beautiful girl who wouldn't disregard her image like the other three.
She went up and pressed the doorbell.
After a moment, the door opened.
"Behold my Little Gold Ship Flying Kick."
The moment the door opened, Gold Ship, seeing who was there, immediately delivered a Rider Kick.
"Muda Muda!"
The person sidestepped to avoid the direct hit, simultaneously delivering a Knee Strike straight toward Gold Ship's kidney.
"Pua!"
Gold Ship was unable to get up.
"Too naive. You're twenty thousand years too early to ambush me!"
The person revealed her true identity—it was Golden Journey.
"What a beautiful strike, Big Sister."
Nakayama Festa applauded.
Orfevre and Gold Legend stood by, smiling without speaking.
"Alright, stop fooling around. Come in. You arrived just in time; the meeting has just begun."
Golden Journey skipped the pleasantries and immediately ushered them inside.
"Eh, what a coincidence? It's just like a TV drama."
Orfevre stepped over Gold Ship's corpse (no) and entered the door.
"I think the meeting started simply because we rang the doorbell."
Nakayama Festa followed closely, stepping over Gold Ship, and casually stated the truth.
"Surely not? Doesn't that mean we're the last ones?"
Gold Legend had been sensitive about rankings lately, and being the last made her irritable.
So she simply stepped on Gold Ship and walked past.
"You are indeed the last ones, and Festa wasn't wrong. When you rang the doorbell, it signaled the start of the meeting. Those old rascals are probably already waiting in the conference hall. Let's go, without delay."
Golden Journey looked left and right, realizing that leaving the corpse (mistake) at the doorstep wasn't a good look. So, she grabbed one of Gold Ship's legs and dragged her inside... After winding through halls for a bit, the group arrived at the conference hall.
"On the surface, it looks pretty decent."
Gold Legend offered her observation; this solemn atmosphere really suited the mood.
"It's only how it looks."
Festa continued to complain.
"But, Sister Lütu, what exactly is this about? A family meeting that even called Sister Legend back—is it something major?"
Orfevre asked, puzzled.
We need to talk about the situation of the Gold Family. As a prestigious family, it's rare for the Family Head of the Gold Family to have absolute authority. This isn't because the Family Head is particularly cunning and hoards power; while other families might, the Gold Family is different.
The reason it is this way is that, in the Gold Family, the Family Head is the only one who genuinely does any work!
It's said that the more work you do, the greater your power, and this holds true for the Gold Family. As the only person who handles affairs, the Family Head's orders are absolute!
After all, when you're a good-for-nothing parasite facing your benefactors, you still have to show some respect, right?
Although this generation of the Gold Family has an extra pair of Financial Officers because of Legend, it hasn't had much impact.
Therefore, it's very rare for a Routine Meeting like this to happen in the Gold Family, as it means the Family Head needs to consult these unreliable characters about something she can't handle alone.
"...Well, if nothing unexpected happened, it should be Big Sister Journey's problem, right?"
Gold Ship, who had been playing dead, got up and winked at Golden Journey.
"...Alright, take your seats."
Golden Journey ignored Gold Ship and led the group into the conference hall... "Ahem, silence!"
The Uma Musume standing at the Podium tapped the table, signaling for quiet.
She was wearing a proper Ladies' Suit, her hair was styled maturely, giving her the appearance of a respectable professional.
If only she hadn't been wearing that White Fake Beard.
The meeting started with a strong wave of unprofessionalism—truly the Gold Family style.
"Alright, Lingduan, none of us are serious people, so just get straight to the point."
An Old Man in the front row said with a smile.
"Ahem, Old Man, give me some face."
The Uma Musume on the stage couldn't keep up the act either and removed the White Fake Beard from her face.
"Well, actually, calling everyone here isn't a big deal. It's mainly to announce the matter of the next Family Head."
Oh~
The audience looked understanding.
"I thought it was something important. That's it?"
Gold Ship looked dissatisfied.
"...Replacing the Family Head isn't a big deal?"
Gold Legend was speechless.
"You wouldn't know this, Sister Legend. For other families, changing the Family Head is a matter concerning the family's destiny, but in the Gold Family, it really isn't."
Nakayama Festa also lost interest, fiddling with the Playing Cards in her hand as she slowly explained.
"Although the history isn't too long, the Gold Family has already gone through six Family Heads, and almost none of them have served for more than twenty years."
Orfevre took over the explanation.
What does that mean? Is the Family Head disposable? Are they that short-lived?
"Look, those people in the first row are all Former Family Heads."
Orfevre pointed to the Uma Musume in the first row who clearly looked unprofessional.
Ah? Oh? I get it. Pass the buck and enjoy retirement, right?
Gold Legend, worthy of the Gold Family bloodline, quickly grasped the core issue.
"Now, let us welcome the Gold Family's proud Seventh Family Head—Golden Journey!"
The person on stage spoke excitedly, seemingly happy about the New Family Head taking office. Of course, it was unknown how much of that joy was due to stepping down from the position herself.
Dong!
A Spotlight shone on Golden Journey.
Stay Gold lost her usual high spirits, putting on a Mask of Misery. She stood up and slowly walked toward the Podium.
"My child, on the day you were born, all of Hokkaido whispered your name—Golden Journey!"
"My child, I watched with pride as you grew day by day, becoming the embodiment of responsibility!"
"One day, my mission will reach its end, and you shall be crowned king!"
The Uma Musume on stage excitedly recited her modified famous lines, while the people below clapped, seemingly encouraging the chaos.
Golden Journey's face became even more contorted.
"Alright, Journey-chan, do you have anything to say?"
The Uma Musume raised the Microphone to Journey's mouth.
"Shut up, Old Woman!"
Golden Journey was furious!
"Journey, how can you call your own Mother an Old Woman!"
The person in the Second Seat of the first row, an Old Man who looked somewhat serious, said.
"Shut up, you old pervert! And why me of all people!"
Big Sister Journey finally lost it.
"This was passed by unanimous vote, so you don't have the right to refuse."
A teasing voice from the audience said.
"When was the vote taken? How come I didn't know! What about my opinion?!"
"Actually, I didn't know either," Gold Legend thought silently.
"Look at you talking. If the subject's opinion mattered, why would we even hold a vote!"
Golden Satin, who was Journey's Mother, said righteously.
"...I f***ing!"
"Sister Lütu is so pitiful, right, Golshi."
Gold Legend couldn't bear to look at Golden Journey's exasperated expression (afraid she would burst out laughing), so she turned her head, only to find no one there.
"? Golshi?"
Legend looked around and then saw Gold Ship in the back.
She was doing the Gang-star Dance.
"..."
As expected of you.
"Tch, that Golshi."
Because of Legend, Nakayama Festa also saw Gold Ship's movements.
"That's right, criticize her quickly!"
Gold Legend thought.
"How dare she not call me!"
Nakayama Festa also flipped over a table and joined Gold Ship's movements.
"The moves are quite cool."
Orfevre said.
"Do you want to try it too?"
Gold Legend asked expressionlessly.
"Eh? I'm just a normal Uma Musume, I wouldn't do something like that."
"..."
Gold Legend took advantage of Orfevre's distraction and pulled down her mask.
And so, Gang-star Dance x3.
Sure enough, this thing feels right only when three people dance it.
Gold Legend nodded contentedly.
"You guys..."
Golden Journey's voice rang out behind Legend, and the aura, like that of an Asura/Fierce Ghost, made Legend break out in a cold sweat.
"Everyone lives their dreams in their own wonderful way, so I'll be taking my leave!"
Gold Legend took off running.
"How can I manage the Gold Family with you bunch of insects? Stand still!"
The out-of-control Journey began the prelude to a battle royale.
A Gold Family-style inauguration ceremony for the family head had begun.