"Unless some unforeseen rival descends from the heavens, there's no way I can lose!"
The Uma Musume named Galileo chuckled lightly, voicing her utterly confident declaration.
As the favorite to win and the top contender, she had every right to say such words.
No one would question Galileo's strength. Her talent was considered promising enough to potentially become the European Peak of Uma Musume or even the World—even though she had only just entered her classic year.
She was a monster inherited from the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Urban Sea, one who surpassed her predecessor—a being overflowing with boundless talent!
Invincible under the heavens!
A rival descending from the skies? How could that ever happen!
If there were anyone who could possibly defeat her, it would have to be her younger sister, Sea the Stars.
But their paths had diverged in time; there was no chance of them facing each other in an internal clash.
Thus, Galileo absolutely refused to believe she could be defeated, let alone by some dark horse from outside Europe.
"Little Star, this year I'll take the Epsom Derby, and next year it'll be your turn~"
Not far from Galileo, a calm yet resolute voice spoke softly.
"No…"
The word of refusal caused Galileo's voice to tinge with surprise.
"Hm?"
--+--
"As agreed with Dr. Lin, merely winning the Epsom Derby is far from enough. I must also win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe."
The contents of that statement, along with the confidence almost no other horse girl would dare voice, were spoken calmly by the stunning chestnut-haired girl named [Sea the Stars].
"Next year, I'll take a little time to win everything, reach the top of the world, then retire and go find Dr. Lin."
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe that Japanese horse girls had dreamed of for decades?
Becoming the strongest in Europe and the world?
Those were nothing more than passes to be obtained before meeting Dr. Lin—hardly worth mentioning.
Until then…
She would simply watch quietly as her sister won the Epsom Derby.
'Dr. Lin, it won't be too long. Please wait for me!'
--+--
Europe, UK Horse Girl Racing Center.
On one floor of the building, two staff members, a man and a woman, were reviewing race applications.
"The most important is the Epsom Derby. Already... 12 horse girls have signed up!"
The female staff member looked at the list of applicants on her computer, her voice full of delight.
For many G1 races around the world, 12 applicants wasn't particularly many. In Japanese G1 races, it was rare to see such low numbers.
If it were the Japanese Derby, even 20 or 22 participants would be possible.
But the application system for the UK Epsom Derby was different. The requirements weren't strict, but the entry fee was astronomically high—so much so that many horse girls capable of winning major prizes were unwilling to apply.
It wasn't that they couldn't afford it; there were plenty of elite horse girl families in Europe. Every year, many young misses chose to avoid the Epsom Derby, mainly because...
You can make me spend money, or you can make me lose face!
But you can't make me spend a fortune and then go up there to lose face...
Gathering the most elite monsters from all over Europe, while also paying such a high fee—if you weren't strong enough, there was no point in spending money just to be a supporting runner.
As for the Japanese Derby, it didn't require such high fees, so many horse girls thought, "Why not give it a shot?"
If you placed decently, the prize money would make it worthwhile. And if you embarrassed yourself, well, you'd be doing it in a crowd. Hence, the number of participants was easily double that of the Epsom Derby.
Some European international G1 races with exorbitant entry fees even had only single-digit participants. Compared to those, having 12 applicants for the Epsom Derby was actually quite a lot!
After all, this was the origin, the very first Derby—the Derby among Derbies!
"Eh?"
The next moment, the female staff member tilted her head. She noticed the number "12" had refreshed and jumped to "13."
She looked more closely, reviewing the information.
After clicking on the newest applicant, the female staff member raised an eyebrow.
"Eh? A Japanese horse girl?"
Upon seeing the information for the Japanese horse girl, Platinum, she was only briefly surprised before calmly continuing.
"Japan?"
The male staff member next to her, who was checking other race applications, laughed upon hearing this.
"Another rich owner or young miss coming for a sightseeing trip?"
"Even though that young lady from the Sea family, Galileo, isn't overly competitive, her strength is beyond formidable. Not even what Japan used to call their 'Strongest Emperor' could match her."
In their experience, every few years, there would indeed be some bold and wealthy Asian or American horse girls coming to... donate money.
Well, donate money to the race organizers, not to claim the champion's prize.
The female staff member continued scanning, moving from Platinum's identity to her recent race records.
"Her results... Japanese Oaks? And the Japanese Derby?"
"Wait, both of those were in May? Two G1 wins in one month?"
"And she's also running the early June Epsom Derby?"
Such an extreme and astonishing racing schedule shocked even these race officials, who were accustomed to European talents.
A sense of astonishment quickly rose within her.
"Wrong. This time, it's no sightseer…"
The female staff member took a sharp breath, slowly pressed the approval button, and publicly announced the thirteenth participant: Platinum.
"What's coming is probably an unprecedented, ferocious shark!"
"She's here to devour Galileo!"
--+--
The next day.
Japan, major news headlines unanimously featured the same person.
[Unbelievable! The New Generation's Strongest, Platinum, Enters the Epsom Derby?]
[Japan's Pegasus, Entering the Oldest Derby?]
[Shocking! Platinum Attempts the Epsom Derby with a Triple Crown-Level Racing Schedule?]
From top to bottom, Japan's horse girl world was shaken overnight by Platinum's application.
This was hardly surprising, because this was the Epsom Derby—the first among Derbies, hailed as the most glorious of them all!
In Japan's horse girl world, the top turf races they dreamed of were [The Epsom Derby, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe], even dubbing these three the "European Triple Crown"!
In reality, Europe didn't have such a term; this was Japan's designation for the world's top three races.
The King George and the Arc were top international G1 races that could be challenged annually if one had outstanding ability. But the Epsom Derby... was limited to the classic year.
A once-in-a-lifetime Derby—for Japan's horse girl world, it existed only in imagination. They never dared to dream that a Japanese horse girl could win the legendary Epsom Derby, the origin of all Derbies!
And now, Platinum, who had just won the Japanese Derby and whom countless Japanese racing fans pinned their hopes on to eventually challenge Europe and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe—she actually...
She was launching her expedition in her classic year?!
And with such a packed racing schedule, challenging the Epsom Derby, which was said to be almost as difficult as the Arc?!
How could Japan's Uma Musume world not go crazy?
From horse girl enthusiasts to ordinary horse girls, from URA's elite talents to teachers, trainers, retired seniors, and even the Japan Racing Association URA itself—all were utterly shocked!
After the initial shock slowly subsided, everyone from spectators to horse girls to staff and officials went completely wild!
--+--
Inside the URA's high-rise building, countless voices could be heard.
"Excuse me, I'd like to take a few days off starting later this week. I've already bought a plane ticket; I plan to go to England to see Platinum compete against the world's top young talents in person..."
"Me too, I want to request leave quickly and book a ticket. I heard flights to the UK in a few days are almost sold out."
"What? My department head already asked for leave yesterday, booked a ticket, and flew out this morning?"
"That old geezer really is something. Before the Japanese Derby, he was saying Platinum wasn't as good as Tachyon, and now he ran off last night and flew out this morning to support her?"
--+--
Within Tracen Academy.
From the training grounds where many horse girls practiced to the classrooms where teachers taught, discussions about Platinum were everywhere.
"I don't want to watch in the cafeteria anymore. I might just take leave and go to England to see it."
"No, watching together in the cafeteria has its own atmosphere. It's definitely not because I haven't won many races lately and don't have much prize money to go, ugh..."
"Gah, I was just going upstairs to the academic office to ask my homeroom teacher for leave, and found out she's already dragged her suitcase and run off to the airport!"
"Do you all think Platinum can win? I feel it'll be really hard!"
"Please don't lose, at least don't lose badly!"
"No, no, no. People said the same thing before the Oaks, and again before the Japanese Derby. How can they still be saying it now before the Epsom Derby?"
"Pegasus, certain victory! Pegasus, certain victory!"
Amid the endless discussions.
A certain green-hatted woman standing guard at the school entrance was twitching at the corner of her mouth, her expression incredibly complex.
Miss Hayakawa's mind kept replaying her exchange with Platinum during yesterday's reception.
"Platinum, you couldn't possibly be... thinking of challenging the Takarazuka Kinen, could you?"
"I do want to run one more race, but the Takarazuka Kinen isn't my first choice."
"What race are you planning to challenge?"
"You'll know soon. It might be... a little hard to guess, and surprising for you."
No, how could you not say you were running the Epsom Derby?!
This... this wasn't just "hard to guess"? This was a race application and schedule beyond anyone's wildest dreams!
And it was more than just "surprising"?
This had shaken the entire nation, even making headlines in some other Asian countries!
A wryly amused Hayakawa Tazuna let out a deep sigh.
"It seems my composure is still too lacking, and my imagination far too limited. I've been taught a lesson by a young filly."
"This little Pegasus..."
"No, this Pegasus—only the world stage is worthy of her!"
--+--
In the days following the hugely impactful news of the Epsom Derby!
Finally, on the day of the race itself!
UK, a certain hotel. A lazy silver-haired girl emerged.
She showed not a trace of nervousness, as if today's race were just an ordinary event.
"What a pity, my vacation time..."
"But thankfully, there's still old Młynar's [Three-Month Paid Leave · One-Time Use]."
Dr. Lin, who had only recently started working as Tracen's school doctor, had only been employed for a little over a month. The vacation time she'd accumulated wasn't much, but it was just enough.
That working man from the land of Terra, Młynar, could save three months of leave over ten years, averaging nine days a year. Dr. Lin could save three to five days per month—no problem at all!
Salute to the legendary working man, Młynar!
Salute him, then steal his three months of leave!
"Thank you, old Młynar!"
The girl, Platinum, expressed her sincere gratitude inwardly, then strolled toward the Epsom Derby venue.
She had purposely chosen a hotel very close to the racecourse, and it wasn't cheap.
To make the money back, she had to win first place!
"To think I'd be wearing this race outfit again so soon..."
"But carrying a bow and arrows does feel reassuring."
Walking along the road to the racecourse, Platinum gently stroked the bow on her back, her heart filled with a sense of pleasure.
The only slight regret was that the quiver held no arrows yet. She would need to step onto the track and into the starting gate for that.
'I heard there are only a little over ten opponents. Too few.'
'Then when the time comes, there'll be fewer arrows too. What a pity...'
Now, time to go see what Europe's little foreign fillies are made of!
--+--
As Platinum, clad in her race outfit with bow and quiver, walked along the road, she was somewhat surprised to see quite a few black-haired Asians also heading toward the racecourse.
Many among them were even holding support signs saying things like [Platinum! The Strongest!], [Pride of Asia!].
"It's... a live Platinum?! Miss Platinum, do your best!"
"Gwaa, Platinum, we adore you!"
"Don't feel pressured! Making top five would be a success!"
In the crowd, Platinum even spotted a pair of petite, adorable young filly horse girls.
Satono Diamond? Kitasan Black?
Why were these two little ones here too?
In the arms of the two cute fillies were also support signs, again bearing her name!
The two little ones looked up, saw the silver-white Pegasus with her bow and arrows, and immediately started jumping up and down excitedly.
"Miss Platinum? Miss Platinum!"
"I'm your fan!!"
Seeing this, Platinum's lips curved into a slight smile as she greeted them and the other fans.
Then, she turned and strode toward the competitors' entrance.
--+--
Epsom Derby, horse girl preparation area.
No fewer than ten European and American horse girls, wearing various dazzling, glittering race outfits, were waiting inside.
And their gazes were almost universally fixed on the center of the room—a young black-haired girl named Galileo.
Usually, all participating horse girls would regard the strongest favorite with hostility or wariness.
But when looking at Galileo, few held hostility. Most looked at her as they would a charming friend or idol—hardly like a rival who needed to be hunted down.
She was a tall, black-haired beauty. Her exquisitely calm face showed no ripples of emotion, and the slight smile on her lips suggested she was long accustomed to such attention.
Galileo—even when she debuted with no achievements, her charm and charisma had already made her friends with countless Uma Musume.
Even first-time opponents would find their hostility toward her diminishing.
This was Galileo—a horse girl known throughout Europe for her immense charm and popularity!
"This last applicant, I heard there's also one..."
Galileo recalled it seemed to be a Japanese horse girl, one that had caused quite a stir in parts of Asia.
But a Japanese horse girl who had never raced in Europe, trying to achieve good results on Europe's top turf G1 race... Galileo wasn't very optimistic.
'Quite a cute little filly, and her racing schedule is very bold.'
The tall black-haired beauty was already thinking about the post-race formalities.
'When she loses disappointingly and starts sobbing, I'll comfort her properly.'
'It wouldn't do for such a cute little thing to cry her face messy~'
I'll be the one to protect her!
Just as Galileo was thinking this, the next moment, the door was pushed open from outside.
Entering was a silver-haired girl clad in a pure white, shining race outfit. The enormous bow on her back immediately drew astonished and incredulous stares from all the horse girls present.
"This... such a huge weapon!"
"I've never heard of a race outfit weapon this big before?"
"How does a country bumpkin filly have such a good-looking race outfit and weapon?"
But the black-haired beauty, who had shown no fighting spirit until now, narrowed her eyes, staring intently at the silver-white girl with the cold, calm expression—Platinum.
'Just looking at her stance, I can tell she's incredibly strong.'
'This is no little one to be easily defeated. It seems... I'll have to go all out!'
Platinum VS Galileo! And so, it begins!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.