'Hmm, now I can look forward to the Arima Kinen!'
The silvery-white maiden felt a rare surge of anticipation for the upcoming Arima Kinen welling up in her heart.
Even with formidable rivals like Agnes Tachyon among her opponents, she felt no fear—only excitement and eager expectation.
After all, she'd worked so hard to accumulate and upgrade all those special effects—wasn't it all to show off to herself and everyone else?
Before this, only a few hundred, maybe a thousand, Uma Musume in the entire stadium could see those effects—the transcendent visuals, the field-altering spectacle—and gasp in awe.
Compared to the hundreds of thousands of spectators filling the stands, that was far too small an audience.
What's the point of wearing fine silks if you parade them only in the dark?
If you have flashy special-effect skins but don't use them, isn't that just like strutting in brocade at midnight?
But now, with this reward—[Special Effect: Visible Worldwide]—the girl known as Platinum no longer had to worry or regret a thing!
'Soon, I'll be able to play my music for the whole world to hear.'
'I wonder what everyone will think of my domain, my music, and my ultimate effects?'
Eventually, the silvery-white girl set these thoughts aside for the moment.
She shifted her attention to the turf of the racecourse, observing the other Uma Musume.
The field was filled with the sound of weary panting.
In fact, even after Platinum had claimed her system reward and stopped pondering, some of the stragglers still hadn't crossed the finish line.
What the Celestial Pegasus didn't know was that the pressure and sweat weren't limited to the defeated Japanese and European fillies on the track.
Up in the stands, a certain pair of besties who were also slated to compete in the Arima Kinen were already drenched in sweat just from watching this Japan Cup.
Not that they'd ever admit it—they'd blame it on the rain.
Never mind that no one could figure out how this downpour managed to soak them under the covered stands while leaving the front-row spectators dry…
'Wait, what place did Tokai Teio get again…?'
Platinum suddenly remembered her very first patron, Tokai Teio! The one who'd be contributing to her prize money share!
'She's my bonus cut—she can't afford to rank low!!'
As Platinum turned to check the results displayed on a screen not far behind her, what she saw was—
[1st: Platinum]
[2nd: Galileo]
[3rd: Tokai Teio]
[4th: Jungle Pocket]
[5th: Fantastic Light]
...
Every name in the top five was familiar to the Celestial Pegasus.
What pleased her most was Tokai Teio's third-place finish.
Time-wise, Teio had only been slightly behind Galileo. For her to take third in such an overwhelmingly elite field was impressive—even terrifyingly so.
Under normal circumstances, world-class Uma Musume from overseas wouldn't spend a full month—such a costly amount of time—just to adapt to a mere Japanese racecourse.
If Galileo hadn't invested so much effort and had instead arrived just a few days before the race like Fantastic Light, even with her strength on heavy ground, the rankings might have shifted—she could have ended up below Tokai Teio!
'Yes! This is the Japan Cup—the payout is huge!'
'Even third place must come with a big prize. I should get a nice cut.'
Thinking this, a faint smile touched Platinum's lips as she prepared to clock out.
Next up, she could really look forward to her Second Patron: Agnes Tachyon in the Arima Kinen!
'After such a long injury layoff, Tachyon is aiming for the year-end Arima Kinen.'
'Tachyon, you've got to pull through like Teio did!!'
Even as a rival, the silvery-white girl couldn't help sending encouragement to Agnes Tachyon, far off in the stands.
After all, this meant more prize money for her—extra earnings without any extra work. Who wouldn't love that?
As the silvery-white girl lost herself in thought…
Not far from her, the other top-five finishers were each processing the race in their own ways.
A stunning black-haired beauty was breathing lightly, her chest rising and falling rhythmically.
In the rain, droplets pattered against her long hair, but instead of looking disheveled, she seemed even more elegantly poised.
But more than her appearance, Galileo was reflecting on her defeat—with regret, or perhaps… relief?
"To think I took second again?"
She felt both disappointment and frustration at losing to the Celestial Pegasus.
But then she considered that Fantastic Light—a monster whose reputation was no less fearsome than her own—had only managed fifth, while she herself had taken second, ahead of Tokai Teio and Fantastic Light. How could she not feel a little relieved?
At least losing only to the Celestial Pegasus wasn't exactly shameful.
[Main Quest 1: Take revenge on Platinum by winning the Japan Cup.]
[Main Quest 2: Get closer to Dr. Lin, and invite him to Europe to become either a personal or family physician.]
As it stood, Galileo could cross off Main Quest 1 as a complete failure.
But the beautiful black-haired girl wasn't entirely disheartened.
She'd lost the race, but not disgracefully.
What really mattered was Main Quest 2!
'If I lost on the track, I'll just have to win off it.'
'As long as I can successfully invite Dr. Lin to Europe within the next month, that's enough!'
In Galileo's view, succeeding at either of her main quests would count as a victory.
Dr. Lin's value far exceeded that of the Japan Cup.
--+--
"I… lost?"
Tokai Teio stared blankly.
Her gaze fixed on the results screen showing her in third, just behind Galileo, filled her with frustration.
Only… third?!
Not a narrow loss to Platinum for second, but a close yet ultimately third-place finish!
Losing to Platinum was one thing, but to also lose to another foreign three-year-old filly, Galileo?
For Tokai Teio, who idolized Symboli Rudolf, this result was hard to accept.
But as an older Uma Musume in her prime years, she was beginning to feel the weight of the new generation.
'This world is full of so many talents, so many monstrous three-year-olds! And by next year, they'll likely be even stronger!'
In the end, Teio accepted the reality of her defeat.
Having already overcome a fracture, how could she let herself be crushed by a loss she'd more or less seen coming?
'As a senior, I can't let myself be easily left behind. I have to train even harder and become stronger.'
Still, being shot by Platinum's arrow again left her with complicated feelings.
That peculiar heart-thrumming sensation wasn't something she could easily forget.
'Well, at least I wasn't the only one Platinum shot—she got every Uma Musume on the field.'
'And that scene of her arrow striking us… only the active and retired Uma Musume present could see it.'
'Not many witnessed it, so it's not too embarrassing.'
If the whole world could see you being shot by Platinum, your career as a Uma Musume would be over, right?
Next up, she'd be preparing for the Arima Kinen in a month, where she'd have a rematch with Platinum!
A chance for revenge wasn't out of the question. But it was also possible… she'd just get shot again.
At least that arrow scene wouldn't be visible to the ordinary audience. A small mercy in misfortune.
The thought brought Teio an odd sense of relief.
But she still had one regret…
"Ah, I wanted to win and recite that 'scripture' Platinum mentioned once, to surprise the Prez."
"Now that I've lost, I won't get to say it."
"I'll aim for revenge in the Arma Kinen and recreate Platinum's scripture!"
It is our duty to restore the glory of Japanese Uma Musume!
Not getting to say those words felt like a disservice to the president.
Next time, at the Arima Kinen, I have to find a way to win!
For now, time to be a backup dancer…
"Huh? I can't go?"
As Tokai Teio instinctively thought about heading to the Winner's Stage to serve as Platinum's backup dancer…
She suddenly remembered—having lost by a large margin, she wasn't eligible to dance!
In Japanese racing, a win by three or four lengths was usually considered a dominant performance.
Winning by seven or eight lengths would often draw exclamations of amazement from fans and spectators alike, seen as incredibly rare and impressive.
But a large margin victory? Unheard of. Unseen. Even Teio, returning from injury, had almost forgotten that rule.
Instantly, a deeply complicated expression settled on Tokai Teio's face.
"Sigh… well, alright then."
"I'll just head back and rest. This was a tough race, and it's the first time I've run at such a high intensity since coming back from my fracture."
The petite girl bent over slightly, gently massaging her tired ankles.
Tomorrow, she'd visit Dr. Lin for a post-race checkup. If everything was fine, she'd rest for a couple of days before resuming training for the Arima Kinen!
--+--
In the stands.
Even though the race had ended a while ago, tsunami-like waves of cheers continued to roll through.
"Platinum!! Platinum!!"
"Ciallo～(∠・ω<)⌒★ Platinum is the strongest!"
"This is a true Celestial Pegasus—has she already surpassed Symboli Rudolf?"
"In terms of prestige, maybe! But she's still two or three G1 wins short. As long as she avoids injuries like fractures, she'll almost certainly surpass Rudolf's seven G1 victories!"
"The Japanese GOAT! It's basically confirmed, right?!"
"Miss Platinum, for you I became a wolfman, for you I embraced madness, for you I wore thick disguises, for you I changed my heart—can we meet again???"
Amid the noise were both praises and discussions of Platinum's achievements and plenty of unhinged, feverish cheers.
Even many European spectators who'd come to see Galileo and Fantastic Light joined in.
It showed just how deeply impacted the audience had been by this Japan Cup!
Near the front, two petite Uma Musume, their youthful faces flushed with excitement, were buzzing with energy.
"Kitasan Black, did you see that? A full eighteen-length victory!!"
"Yeah, on heavy going no less—and won in the most difficult, most improbable way."
"At this point, does Platinum even need to prove she's the strongest in Japan? It's basically a fact!"
"After I debut, I want to emulate Miss Platinum's romantic, runaway style!"
Kitasan Black clenched her fist, brimming with fighting spirit.
But she felt a tinge of regret—she hadn't yet enrolled in Tracen Academy, her body wasn't fully developed, and she wasn't quite at the "Uma Musume" level yet.
Because of that, she couldn't see the Celestial Pegasus's special effects during this Japan Cup, nor witness the legendary arrow-shot that pierced through opponents.
Discussions about Platinum's field effects and transcendent arrow-shot effect were raging worldwide, from Japanese forums to international sites, with countless Uma Musume enthusiasts chiming in.
Typically, an Uma Musume's Zone might alter the atmosphere or slightly change the environment—casting the turf in eerie shadows, rosy glows, or golden light.
Or maybe adding ruins, ornate thrones, or other decorative touches.
But compared to those ambient tweaks, according to the "Platinum Victims," her terrifying Zone overwrote the entire racecourse, transforming it into an unheard-of, awe-inspiring colosseum!
The gap wasn't just incremental—it was an insurmountable chasm, like the difference between a village chief and an emperor ruling a unified nation.
And that wasn't even considering Platinum's unique ultimate effect—the bow and arrow—something no other Uma Musume had ever displayed.
This led many curious fans to try and sketch out the Kazimierz Knight Arena based on descriptions from those who'd experienced it.
But no matter how they drew it, the Uma Musume who'd actually seen the real thing always rejected those interpretations.
Unlike the curious ordinary fans, Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond felt fortunate to be Uma Musume themselves.
"Miss Platinum's Zone and ultimate effects will probably remain a legendary, unsolved mystery to regular spectators, won't they?"
"The legend of the Celestial Pegasus might live on for half a century, or even longer!"
Thankfully, in just a little while, as their bodies developed further and they became true Uma Musume, they'd be able to witness the Celestial Pegasus's effects for themselves!!
--+--
Racecourse.
As that silvery-white figure strode alone toward the Winner's Stage with an air of absolute solitude…
The Uma Musume named Fantastic Light completely lost it!!
"A large-margin victory?"
"Solo performance at the Winner's Stage?"
"I, a world-class Uma Musume, don't even qualify to be her backup dancer?!"
Fantastic Light had raced across Europe, Australia, and Asia, facing many famous champions in international G1 events.
No matter what, she'd always delivered stable, excellent results, which was why she was so highly regarded and easily became a top favorite for the Japan Cup as a foreign contender.
She never expected to run into her weakness—heavy terrain—and despite giving it her all, she didn't even make the top three!
She was shocked. Just completely stumped.
Even drenched by the relentless rain, her frustration refused to cool.
But then she considered the margin—a full eighteen lengths…
Even Galileo, who finished second, couldn't qualify as Platinum's backup dancer, right?
The thought made Fantastic Light's expression twist oddly.
"Where did this Celestial Pegasus even come from?! How can she be this strong?"
It almost made her, a European-born Uma Musume, seem like some country bumpkin.
Fantastic Light dreaded to imagine: if Platinum hadn't even reached her full potential this year… how much stronger and more terrifying could she become next year?
By then, even if she competed in Europe's—and the world's—pinnacle event, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, facing Europe's proud world-class champions, she'd stand a very real chance of crushing them all!
But thankfully—the next couple of years might be the most competitive in recent memory… no, in half a century.
If Galileo was near-perfect, then her little sister, Sea the Stars, was truly, once-in-a-lifetime perfect.
The greatest masterpiece of the Sea family, their true ace—Sea the Stars!
And then there was the American Uma Musume who'd crossed over to conquer Europe—the Empress Dahlia!
Either of these two super monsters could sweep through Europe and etch their names in history.
"Sea the Stars and Dahlia are beyond world-class—they're at least once-in-a-decade Historic geniuses!"
"But if it's Platinum… she might actually stand a chance against those two monsters. She could be their equal."
Fantastic Light wasn't foolish enough to disparage someone who'd beaten her.
After all, that would just make her look weaker.
Being able to defeat a world-class Uma Musume like herself and Galileo proved that Platinum had to be at the very pinnacle of world-class—or perhaps even beyond, on the same level as Sea the Stars and Dahlia!
"—Historic! How frustrating…"
"All my efforts, and I've only reached the starting line for these monsters?"
In the past, Europe—the longstanding leader in turf racing—could reliably produce a handful of world-class Uma Musume each year. With their excellent training systems and competitive environment, churning out world-class talent was almost routine.
But Historic-level? That was a once-in-a-decade phenomenon!
Having multiple Historic-level Uma Musume clash within a year or two was a sight so rare it might only happen a few times per century, destined for the history books.
In the future, Platinum's clashes with Dahlia and Sea the Stars would become the stuff of legend—a true Battle for the Ages!!
With that, Fantastic Light finally accepted her defeat. Losing to an opponent like this wasn't shameful.
But!
Since she'd already come all this way, and already lost…
Returning to Europe empty-handed felt too much like slinking away in defeat.
"Whatever, staying a few more days won't hurt."
"I'll stick around a bit longer, go all out on firm ground, and maybe have a practice race or two with some Japanese Uma Musume."
"I can't be that weak on Japanese firm ground, right?"
Then, the name of an Uma Musume who'd gained some fame in Europe thanks to Platinum popped into Fantastic Light's head.
She'd heard that when Galileo first arrived in Japan, she'd had a match against that Uma Musume.
Maybe before leaving, she should seek out that Uma Musume for a practice race too?
"Daiwa Scarlet—I'll race her in a few days, then head home!"
--+--
The next day!
In a medical office.
"Examination complete. Everything looks healthy."
"But since yesterday's race was very intense, it's best to significantly reduce training load in the short term."
"Next!"
…
After seeing out one of the Japan Cup participants, the black-haired young man in a white coat sat back down, waiting for the next Uma Musume.
Within Tracen Academy, this gentle-mannered, sharp-witted young doctor was gradually building a reputation—and a steady stream of return customers.
After all, what young filly could resist a kind, skilled, and attentive young doctor?
Often, these return visits weren't for injuries; they came for routine physicals or post-race checkups.
So, after finishing with one patient, he waited for other Japan Cup participants.
Before long…
A knock came at the medical office door.
"Dr. Lin, I'm here!"
"Could I trouble you for a checkup?"
From beyond the door came… the voice of a foreign horse girl.
Galileo, still in Japan after the race?!
'Galileo… isn't she returning to Europe?'
--+--
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.