Huh?
The young, money-grubbing doctor's gaze went completely blank.
This time, the rewards seemed… exceptionally generous?
It felt almost comparable to the previous Oaks and Japan Derby combined.
Well, it makes sense. This is the prestigious Epsom Derby, the world's number one, the Origin of all Derbies. Its prestige is through the roof.
The influence of the Epsom Derby really is on another level, doubling the usual G1 race rewards. This prize is totally deserved!
Once it sunk in, Lin Anran understood immediately and started scrutinizing the rewards with renewed focus.
King of Horse Mint (Constitution · Unlocks Pre-Transformation), Młynar Nearl's Modest Stamina…
Knight's Vow(Platinum Collectible), Platinum 15% Maturation…
Clearly, the first two rewards were for his pre-transformation, ordinary self.
The latter two were for Platinum, the Uma Musume he becomes after transformation.
Lin Anran studied them carefully, watching as the system interface displayed detailed explanations.
[King of Horse Mint(Constitution · Unlocks Pre-Transformation): Significantly increases Horse Mint effect, greatly enhances affinity within the Uma Musume community.]
Huh?
Boosting Horse Mint and affinity?
His first reaction, besides shock, was an irrepressible surge of delight.
Doesn't this mean… he could more easily win the trust of those naive, innocent little cash-cow fillies?
This kind of luck exists?
This is fantastic news!
With high affinity and trust, not milking Secretariat, Sea the Stars, Agnes Tachyon, and Tokai Teio out of their gold would be harder than doing it!
This should be completely beneficial, right?!
As an Uma Musume doctor, he interacts with them the most. Without affinity and a good impression, other Uma Musume might avoid him, going to other school infirmaries instead—wouldn't that mean no gold to milk?
Boosting his affinity might just earn him some… repeat customers?
Hmm, building a good relationship with clients like Teio, who might inadvertently return, could be incredibly valuable.
The thought of enhancing his charm put Lin Anran at ease. As long as he could heal injured Uma Musume, they'd likely come back to him if they got hurt again!
With this affinity boost, wouldn't the little fillies keep coming in a steady stream?
He just wondered what the point was of giving him Młynar's "Modest Stamina."
First, he gets Młynar's three-month vacation, now Młynar's Modest Stamina. What's next? Is he gonna piece together Exodia?
Will he get the in-game ultimate skill, Unbrilliant Glory next time?
Why keep shearing the same uncle sheep? After winning the Kikuka Shō, would rewards from other Kuranta characters appear?
After marveling for a moment, Lin Anran's attention shifted to the latter two rewards for Platinum.
The collectible, Knight's Vow?
Even though he skipped the Arknights story, he remembered clearly—this was a powerful collectible in one of the game's modes.
In the game, it was something like… for every certain amount of Originium Ingot saved, it increased attack speed, right?
But he was in the pure, naive, fantasy-filled world of Uma Musume. There were no crises or risks here. The collectible's effect had to be different from the game.
After all… how would he get Originium Ingots in the Uma Musume world? And why would Platinum need attack speed?
As Lin Anran focused, the system explanation appeared.
[Knight's Vow (Platinum Collectible): The more prize money Platinum accumulates, the less battle fatigue she experiences from hard-fought races, and gradually upgrades all race special effects.]
Hah?
The more prize money she accumulates, the more she can endure hard fights? And it even boosts race special effects?
The money-grubbing young doctor instantly pictured Platinum on the track, surpassing her opponents, a Phantom Archer Goddess—featureless—manifesting behind her, firing arrows that pierced through other Uma Musume.
And when Platinum activated [Pegasian Sight], the Kazimierz Knight Arena would appear.
These were the spectacular effects Platinum could freely display on the track. And now… they could be upgraded?
Platinum, already a battle-hardened pegasus, with reduced battle fatigue…
This collectible uses accumulated prize money to enhance endurance and special effects—it's basically encouraging Platinum to fight hard!
This reward left Lin Anran no choice but to exclaim—
"Fight, feels good!!"
Every single reward was visibly interesting and useful.
As for the final fourth reward… Platinum 15% Maturation Progress!
"What's her current Maturation Progress again?"
Lin Anran remembered Platinum already had a small amount of progress before.
And from the treatment rewards he started giving out a while ago, a few Uma Musume offered 1% progress each.
Individually, it didn't seem like much, but added together, plus this 15%, it was significant!
Lin Anran immediately pulled up Platinum's status panel.
[Code Name: Platinum]
[Race: Kuranta (?) (Evolving)]
[Height: 160CM]
[Current Maturation Awakening Progress: 35%]
[Field Aptitude: Turf (A), Dirt (B)]
[Distance Aptitude: Sprint (B+), Mile (A), Medium(A), Long (A)]
[Running Style Aptitude: Front (A), Pace (A), Late (A), End (A)]
After reviewing Platinum's current stats, Lin Anran was stunned.
Why was there a (?) after Race: Kuranta, and even an [Evolving]?
Could she really evolve from a Kuranta into a legendary Pegasus??
Deeply astonished, Lin Anran decided not to dwell on this vague, uncertain racial matter and looked further down.
Seeing the aptitude changes, he was shocked again.
He remembered, initially, Platinum had at least one or two B's in both distance and running style aptitudes.
Yet, from her debut until now, just over a month later, she was only one B+ away from perfect all-A stats?
What was truly astounding was that Platinum, with stats nearing perfection, was only at a mere 35% Maturation Awakening progress—about one-third—and already almost all A's!
What about the remaining 65%?
After completing the remaining two-thirds, how high could she go?
A+?
Or maybe… S?
Or would the cap remain at A? Becoming like—
"You're A because you pushed your limits to reach A."
"I'm A because A is the highest grade."
Platinum?
Star Platinum!
After his involuntary admiration, Lin Anran realized something.
That was… her physique seemed temporarily unchanged, no growth?
Platinum's original height was 160CM, and it still hadn't changed.
If her height hasn't increased, then probably her… chest hasn't changed either, still rivaling Mejiro McQueen and Silence Suzuka?
This is too hard to take… So, did this Maturation growth go to the right places or the wrong ones?
Lin Anran didn't get to ponder further.
Outside the infirmary door, a series of knocking sounds rang out again, somewhat urgent.
The anxious knocking from outside made Lin Anran temporarily set aside his thoughts and head to open the door.
The next moment, upon opening the door, he saw a familiar figure in the hallway—a girl draped in a white coat.
Agnes Tachyon, habitually wearing a loose white coat, matched Dr. Lin Anran's white attire in style.
In Lin Anran's view, if Agnes Tachyon sat in his infirmary, any outsider Uma Musume unfamiliar with this Phantom Triple Crown winner might mistake the white-coated female Uma Musume for the infirmary's female doctor or assistant, right?
"I'm here, Dr. Lin."
"I'm quite looking forward to the treatment you mentioned."
Agnes Tachyon didn't hide her anticipation and concern at all. She smiled slightly and stepped inside.
Given the possibility of treating what was considered an incurable disease for Uma Musume, her reaction was already quite composed.
But Lin Anran noticed that Agnes Tachyon's arm, tucked in her pocket, was trembling slightly.
Used to this, Lin Anran nodded gently, his gaze fixed on Agnes Tachyon.
Then, the system panel that appeared showed Agnes Tachyon's condition.
[Uma Musume: Agnes Tachyon (Tendonitis)]
[Treatment Required: Advanced Treatment Ability]
[Available Treatment Options: Surgery + Medication]
[Treatment Duration Options: Half month, One month, One and a half months, Two months…]
After clearly reviewing Agnes Tachyon's situation, Lin Anran inevitably sighed.
As expected… it really did require Advanced Treatment Ability.
Makes sense. Tokai Teio's fracture required Intermediate Treatment Ability, and fractures aren't incurable.
Tendonitis, dubbed the incurable disease for Uma Musume, with difficulty far surpassing fractures, most likely required a higher treatment ability.
Fortunately… not long ago, at the Epsom Derby, he achieved the Irregular Triple Crown and obtained two trial uses of Advanced Treatment Ability.
Not only could he treat a big spender like Agnes Tachyon, but even if those other Uma Musume he knew suffered catastrophic injuries, he could still save them!
"Alright, take a seat here."
"Let me do another examination…"
A moment later.
Lin Anran's hands released Agnes Tachyon's fair feet, and he nodded slightly.
"Hmm, the situation is pretty much confirmed."
"It can be treated. Get ready."
The money-grubbing young doctor knew that curing an incurable disease too quickly might make a scientifically-minded Uma Musume like Agnes Tachyon overly curious.
Better to control the timing, make it seem normal.
But he couldn't drag it out too long either; he couldn't let Agnes Tachyon be cured too far in the future, otherwise…
Who would race and earn him gold coins?
[Trial · Advanced Treatment Ability Activated]
[Treatment Target: Agnes Tachyon]
[Treatment Duration Selected: One Month]
Thus, Lin Anran, ever shrewd, chose one month!
"Now, I'll contact Tracen. There should be an operating room available."
"Tachyon, let's go!"
With that, the money-grubbing young doctor efficiently turned to lead the way while pulling out his phone to make a call.
Behind him, Agnes Tachyon, draped in her white coat, still felt shaken, finding it hard to believe.
'Dr. Lin seems really confident.'
'Tendonitis, this incurable disease… I believe in him!'
Maybe miracles really do exist?
After all, a doctor so highly regarded, even… adored, by those overseas super monsters from Europe and America couldn't be ordinary!
Filled with hope, Agnes Tachyon followed behind the money-grubbing young doctor!
--+--
Europe, Ireland.
In the living room of a villa.
As a mother, and as a senior, Urban Sea waited for her daughter to emerge.
Two days ago, Galileo had suffered the most devastating defeat of her career.
And Galileo realized she had committed the sin of arrogance; otherwise, she wouldn't have lost so badly.
Possessing a zone, having home advantage, she didn't even qualify to be a dancer for that battle-hardened Pegasus young lady in her European debut. It was an utterly severe lesson!
Thus, it finally stirred up rare feelings of reluctance and fighting spirit in the usually languid black-haired girl. She sought out her mother for guidance and training supervision.
And now, Urban Sea waited for her daughter Galileo to change into her training clothes before heading to the training ground downstairs.
A short while later…
Finally, Urban Sea saw her eldest daughter, Galileo, changed and ready.
Upon clearly seeing the black-haired girl before her, especially the brand-new training clothes she wore, Urban Sea slightly frowned.
Urban Sea remembered this was a training outfit Galileo bought just a month before the Epsom Derby. Surprisingly, even now, after the Derby had ended, the clothes still looked quite new.
From a normal perspective, Galileo, wearing pristine training clothes, fully showcased her charm.
But…
"You don't wear this training outfit often, do you?"
Urban Sea stated calmly, causing Galileo to flinch, not expecting her mom to bring this up.
However, Urban Sea was right.
Gifted with talent, well-connected and likable, she was familiar with most Uma Musume racing in the Epsom Derby beforehand, even having training races with many, she thought she had nothing to worry about—the Epsom Derby was in the bag…
Plus, Galileo's almost domineering Zone naturally suppressed most others, completely crushing weaker ones, even capable of clashing with the ultimate Zones of once-in-a-decade historical Uma Musume!
Therefore, Galileo approached the Epsom Derby with some laziness and full confidence, not training excessively during that period.
Until the day of the Epsom Derby, when a dark horse shocked the world! Just like Urban Sea in her day!
Urban Sea then sighed, examining Galileo's training clothes again, and slowly said,
"An Uma Musume's training clothes aren't this clean and neat."
"They need to be stained with sweat and dirt; that's the smell of an Uma Musume."
No one was more qualified to say this than Urban Sea, not just because she was a mother, but because she was a senior Uma Musume.
As an Uma Musume, she first trained at an ordinary school in Japan, deemed not talented enough to even enter Tracen Academy.
When she was about to debut after hard work, her school actually went bankrupt—you could say she was incredibly unlucky.
Then, Urban Sea gave up debuting in Japan and moved to the more challenging European circuit, where she struggled to win even a single race for a very long time.
Forget G1 races; even lower-level graded stakes were hard to win. She was practically a random NPC character in major races.
Finally, Urban Sea, with dreams still burning hot, spent a fortune to enter the world's greatest race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe!
Excelling in heavy going, she actually got the dream rain she longed for at the Arc. As a stunning dark horse, she pulled off a huge upset, winning from behind, and became famous throughout Europe!
Compared to her mother Urban Sea, who was unknown yet covered in mud and sweat to win on heavy ground, the more talented, better-conditioned Galileo had lost ugly…
In comparison, she fell far short.
Hearing Urban Sea's admonition, the astonishment on Galileo's face turned completely into shame.
"I understand, Mom!"
"I will definitely win the next race! I will find a way to get revenge on Platinum too!"
The exquisite face of Galileo flashed with fiery determination.
Hearing Galileo's promise, Urban Sea nodded gently.
"Good. Little Star and I will witness your resolve."
"Now then—"
"Do you have any plans or preparations for your upcoming races and subsequent training matches?"
Her question made Galileo close her eyes to gather her thoughts for a moment.
Then, this world-renowned genius reopened her eyes and spoke.
"I want to regain my form first, commit to high-intensity training, and then win the Irish Derby."
"As for training matches, I have another idea!"
"Since Platinum can come to Europe, why can't… I go to Japan?"
Galileo's words made Urban Sea raise an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.
"I specifically looked it up yesterday. Japan's current active roster includes Platinum, the Irregular Triple Crown winner; Tokai Teio, the Dual Crown winner; Agnes Tachyon, the injured Phantom Triple Crown winner."
"Besides them, there's also a mysterious genius Uma Musume, Daiwa Scarlet, who only lost to Platinum by a mere five lengths a little over a month ago."
"Platinum only debuted a little over a month ago, and she keeps fighting hard races. No matter how fast she improves, how much stronger could she have gotten in that time? So that Daiwa Scarlet must be a very challenging Uma Musume too."
After all, she herself had lost by a full eleven lengths!
Even against a presumably weaker Platinum from over a month ago, she might not have kept it to just five or six lengths.
But that Daiwa Scarlet actually managed to only lose by five lengths, earning the honor to stand on the winner's stage with Platinum, dancing for the pegasus!
"I plan to go to Japan and have training matches with Daiwa Scarlet and the others, see if I can win…"
"If I'm in good form and can beat them, then I'll challenge Platinum! That's my training match plan!"
Compared to her previous laziness and slackness, the training match plan Galileo proposed now was bold to the point of madness.
Platinum crossed the river; she would cross the river too!
Japan, Tracen Academy—perhaps it truly was unfathomable!
She'd start by challenging the mysterious Daiwa Scarlet. This time, she absolutely couldn't be careless, absolutely could not lose again!
Hearing this, Urban Sea smiled again.
"Very good, excellent!!"
"Then do your best. As long as you maintain this resolve, you will definitely become a leading figure of this generation! You'll be Little Star's role model!"
"Before that… come on, let's train properly first."
"Okay, Mom!"
--+--
Several hours later.
Japan, Tracen Academy Operating Room.
The young Uma Musume named Agnes Tachyon opened her eyes.
As an outstanding Uma Musume, her physical fitness far exceeded ordinary people's.
Therefore, just a moment after waking, she realized she had undergone treatment from Lin Anran not long ago.
"You're awake? The surgery was successfully completed."
When Agnes Tachyon turned her head, she saw Lin Anran's back.
"It will take some time to fully recover. Don't rush into high-intensity training yet."
"For now, rest well."
--+--
Later.
Having gotten off the bed and left the operating room, Agnes Tachyon draped her white coat over her shoulders again.
Since getting up, she had been touching her legs with a mix of astonishment and disbelief, repeating the action over a dozen times.
Originally, tendonitis would cause pain if she ran even slightly faster, making it impossible for an Uma Musume to run…
Now, the pain seemed to have reduced significantly?
Agnes Tachyon didn't expect the incurable disease to be eradicated in just a few hours. The effectiveness of this surgery was already shocking enough, astounding her.
But regrettably, she was under anesthesia during the surgery and couldn't see how this miraculous doctor, Lin Anran, performed the treatment.
But… the fact that it worked was already a tremendous blessing.
Agnes Tachyon walked behind Lin Anran, having regained her composure. She quickened her pace to catch up to the young doctor's side.
As if she had made some decision.
This genius girl known as the Phantom Triple Crown winner, Agnes Tachyon, curled up into a pleased smile and said to Lin Anran,
"Dr. Lin, would you like to form a contract with me?"
"Hmm?"
"That is, become my… exclusive doctor."
--+--
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.