Mejiro McQueen?
Running as a front-runner?
And not... not Pegasus Platinum?
When Mejiro McQueen burst from the starting gates and immediately accelerated, charging straight to the very front, her figure was revealed to almost every Uma Musume on the track!
Expressions of shock and disbelief appeared simultaneously on the faces of most competitors.
Even excellent Uma Musume like Manhattan Cafe and Rice Shower were no exception.
"Huh? McQueen... she changed her running style?"
"She's been using forward tactics longer than almost any other active Uma Musume in the world—you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone with more experience in that style."
"And she's risking a change now? Is she being influenced by Pegasus?"
"This is trouble. I trained specifically to counter strong forward-types, but I'm completely unprepared to deal with a front-runner."
Some Uma Musume even felt they'd wasted their efforts, pointlessly preparing for Mejiro McQueen's forward style only to have those plans rendered useless.
After all, Platinum hadn't entered this race early. But any Uma Musume aiming for long-distance events knew they'd have to face a mountain like Mejiro McQueen sooner or later.
Having already reached veteran age and won the Spring Tenno Sho twice in a row, McQueen's preferred running style was common knowledge.
Forward—the most orthodox, reliable, and powerful style!
But now, Mejiro McQueen's unusual acceleration out of the gates clearly signaled a bold shift to [front-running] tactics.
For an elite Uma Musume who had maintained the same style for years, switching to a less familiar approach was an extremely daring and high-risk choice.
Any misstep due to inexperience could be fatal! Changing tactics at the last minute like this was dangerously unpredictable.
But... the greater the risk, the greater the reward.
Accordingly, it also pressured other Uma Musume who had been focusing on McQueen—all their research and preparations were now useless.
Such a high-risk, high-reward move was usually seen from dark horses with lower popularity rankings, rarely from top contenders like the top two favorites.
Thus, Mejiro McQueen caught many off guard. She swiftly surged ahead, tying for first with another front-runner on the track.
The young lady of weighty stature, dressed in extravagant race gear, allowed a slight smile to touch her lips as she gazed forward.
'Platinum is famously polar in her running style.'
'She's either way behind after a poor start, making a huge comeback, or she's way ahead, dominating from the front.'
'My original plan was to gauge Pegasus' speed out of the gate. If she went all-out front-running, I'd avoid early acceleration and stick to my usual forward style.'
'Since she's not ahead of me now, she must be far behind making a late charge. No need to worry about her for the time being.'
In Mejiro McQueen's view, her biggest fear was having her rhythm disrupted.
A typical come-from-behind Uma Musume usually wouldn't accelerate until the third turn or even the final stretch.
But if it was Platinum... even with a terrible start, she could still catch up and pose a major threat before the final stretch.
And if Platinum decided to dominate from the front... that went without saying—a style that forced the entire field to adjust. Thankfully, Pegasus wasn't employing that terrifying strategy today!
That's why Mejiro McQueen chose to front-run, aiming to counter Platinum, who was most likely making a late charge.
'Next, I need to gradually increase the pace.'
'I can't use a rhythm meant for typical closers against Platinum—that would only lead to a crushing defeat.'
In the eyes of this long-distance specialist, there was no way Platinum would ever fade.
Even if she'd run a middle or long-distance race of 2000 or 3000 meters a week—no, a day—before this Spring Tenno Sho, it was unlikely she'd fatigue today.
The same Pegasus Platinum who shocked even the proud American Uma Musume world by winning two crowns in a day at the Dubai World Cup would not run out of steam in a race without opponents of her caliber.
As much as she hated to admit it, Mejiro McQueen knew there was still a significant gap between herself and Platinum.
That was precisely why she was being so cautious yet bold in changing her tactics—she wanted to achieve the nearly impossible: a reversal and victory!
'I have to control the rhythm. I can't push too hard and risk fading from a blistering pace, but I also can't settle into a slow front-runner's pace—that wouldn't create enough distance.'
'Plus, with two horse girls possessing Zones behind me—Manhattan Cafe and Rice Shower—they shouldn't let Platinum easily catch up to me in first place!'
'As long as I maintain the right rhythm, theoretically, I still have a chance!'
By accelerating early but not building an insurmountable lead over Rice Shower and Manhattan Cafe, those two dark-haired girls would prioritize targeting Pegasus, even activating their Zones early to slow Platinum down.
Then, McQueen could watch the battle unfold from the front, continuing her unchecked front-running!
This was the plan of the Mejiro family's young lady, Mejiro McQueen—using front-running tactics to disrupt the strategies of every other Uma Musume!
The elegant young lady of the Mejiro family, her eyes filled with confidence and fighting spirit, looked toward the distant finish.
In her view, her plan was perfectly constructed, and she had already caught every Uma Musume on the track off guard.
—Now, the curtain was rising!
Her chances of victory had undoubtedly increased significantly...
"Huh?"
The next moment, not long after starting her front-run, Mejiro McQueen's pupils constricted sharply.
It was as if she had witnessed something unbelievable.
In her peripheral vision, she caught sight of a familiar silver-white figure—one whose dazzling power she had witnessed firsthand at the Arima Kinen.
Pegasus Platinum, treading a brilliant rainbow path that shimmered with seven colors, showcasing her unique running effects, had already reached a position extremely close, within her field of vision?!
"...P-Platinum?!"
This young lady of the Mejiro family, the masterpiece of the endurance-specialized Mejiro clan, even her voice trembled slightly!
She had crafted a thorough plan, confident she could disrupt the entire field, but not even reaching the first turn after starting her front-run, she...
Already had the silver-white figure at her side?
It was absolutely not a dominant front-run; Platinum was right beside her in her peripheral vision, as if deliberately keeping pace not far away.
"She's not dominating from the front, nor is she far behind due to a poor start. Instead..."
"She's using my signature, most orthodox style—[forward]?!"
The world turned upside down!!!
Mejiro McQueen's eyes widened, her lips pressed tightly together, her mind reeling with shock.
No way...
Since her debut, Platinum had either come from behind or dominated from the front—at most, she'd switch from chasing to front-running mid-race, essentially alternating between those two extreme styles.
After all this time, why would Platinum choose to use the [forward] style—one she'd never employed before, but was McQueen's specialty—just when McQueen herself switched to front-running?
In an instant, Mejiro McQueen understood the intentions of that dazzling silver-white figure.
"Is she trying to..."
"Defeat me in the very style I abandoned, the one I mastered?!"
Was this Platinum's keen insight, or just... arrogance?
Sheer arrogance!
How could any Uma Musume be this audacious?
Just as Mejiro McQueen had disrupted the preparations and plans of most Uma Musume on the track, now it was that Silver-White Pegasus' turn to disrupt her rhythm!
Now... what should she do?
"Sigh..."
"What an enormous surprise!"
Struggling to stay calm, Mejiro McQueen's mind raced, uncertain how to respond.
This reigning champion, who had only just left the starting gates, was already sweating profusely!
--+--
[All Uma Musume have started smoothly! Platinum did not have a poor start, but her initial momentum isn't strong—it seems she has no intention of dominating from the front.]
[Instead, Mejiro McQueen, known for her signature forward style, continues to accelerate even after reaching the other forward-type Uma Musume. She's... front-running?!]
[Wait, Platinum isn't holding back either? She's neither chasing nor front-running—she's using a forward style?!]
[Mejiro McQueen is front-running, Platinum is using forward tactics—it's like they've swapped styles!]
[As expected of the star-studded Spring Tenno Sho. The race has barely begun, and already we're treated to quite a surprise.]
The announcer's voice carried clear astonishment as she reported.
Swapped styles!
The two biggest stars, the top two favorites, both abandoned their most famous running styles.
What a rare sight!
Each was using the other's specialty... Well, not exactly—Mejiro McQueen wasn't fully dominating from the front yet, but rather employing a pace slightly faster than a typical front-runner.
Still, it was shocking enough, something many spectators had never seen before.
"Whoa! As expected of Miss Platinum! She really can handle any track, any distance, and any running style!"
"Ciallo～(∠?ω<)⌒☆ Platinum is number one!"
"Pegasus is practically... so perfect it's like the Three Goddesses themselves created a smurf account!"
"Hmph, don't underestimate McQueen! She's a two-time Spring Tenno Sho champion, a long-distance monster with the potential to become a Three-peat winner!"
"McQueen's excellent stamina should let her handle the taxing front-running style, but Pegasus might not manage the timing-dependent forward style. This race is still up in the air. Forward tactics test timing as much as closing does—it's the orthodox style!"
"Huh? But when Pegasus makes her big comebacks, I've never seen her worry about timing. She just accelerates and charges ahead to win."
"What part of skill and timing matter to a stats monster? I'm backing Platinum—she's the People's Champion!"
Amid the many exclamations of surprise, most comments still expressed admiration for Platinum.
In the past, when Platinum had poor starts or accelerated too early, or even when she raced on heavy tracks, many Japanese spectators would doubt her.
After all, a poor start meant falling behind by two or three lengths instantly; accelerating too early risked fading; and debuting on a heavy track tested raw power.
Low EQ: Japanese Uma Musume are generally weak—they've rarely produced world-class talents, and most of the time, the gap between first and second is within two or three lengths.
High EQ: Japanese racing is incredibly competitive—no room for error! The differences between competitors are tiny, so any mistake could cost the race.
Except for her debut race against the crimson genius, Daiwa Scarlet [winning by only five lengths]!
But after Pegasus Platinum achieved the unprecedented, and likely never-to-be-repeated, Irregular Quadruple Crown, along with her overwhelming victories that shocked Japan time and again...
No matter how many risky mistakes she seemingly made, Platinum always won by huge margins, completely overturning the understanding of countless Japanese viewers.
Since then, all doubts have vanished.
Replaced by... fanatical confidence!
Even if she switched to a never-before-used style mid-race, few now believed it would be a fatal error for Platinum.
"Everything must be going according to Pegasus-sama's plan!"
"Greatness needs no explanation!"
"Here it comes—the overtaking special effect! Pegasus is about to start sniping the foals!"
--+--
Amid the numerous discussions, in the front-row seats...
Several Uma Musume from the Mejiro family were watching intently.
When they saw that silver-white girl, who should have been either far ahead or far behind, unexpectedly maintaining a forward position right behind Mejiro McQueen...
"This?!"
"Forward tactics? Platinum can do that too?"
Mejiro Dober, currently gazing at the track, felt her heart stir.
As a member of the prestigious Mejiro family and an Uma Musume who achieved decent results in the Classic Triple Tiara, her popularity as a G1 champion and Mejiro genius was considerable.
Thus, when the next race determined participants by popularity vote, she would definitely be among the selected starters.
Even if she couldn't match Platinum's overwhelming popularity, or Tokai Teio and Agnes Tachyon's ultra-high popularity, she'd still rank within the top ten.
Now, this usually silent young lady was thinking...
'If McQueen can put up a good fight against Pegasus, I can learn from her experience and aim for the Takarazuka Kinen.'
'But if even Mejiro's most outstanding monster genius, Mejiro McQueen, can't secure [top two] in her best distance...'
'Then the even more intense, hyper-competitive Takarazuka Kinen would be humiliating to enter. Even if the URA calls to ask, I'll just decline and avoid participating.'
As for the most mature and calm senior, Mejiro Ramonu, she was already frowning slightly, arms crossed over her ample chest.
Even as the pressure slightly distorted their shape, she remained unaware, her attention fixed anxiously on the track.
"It's over..."
In many people's eyes, this style swap should only show its unusual, extraordinary nature in the latter half of the race.
But Mejiro Ramonu instantly realized the showdown had already begun!
'McQueen wanted to accelerate early, letting Pegasus deal with those two dark little Uma Musume first, temporarily avoiding direct confrontation.'
'But she was caught by Pegasus from the very start!'
'No matter how she runs, Pegasus won't let her go—like the Monkey King trapped within Buddha's Palm, unable to escape the five fingers.'
'When Manhattan Cafe and Rice Shower accelerate, triggering a direct melee, McQueen will have nowhere left to hide!'
When a front-runner is firmly caught, especially by an Uma Musume with even better stamina, there's no solution.
The only option is to strive for an advantage within the Zone clash!
"McQueen, do your best!"
At the very least, aim for second place and earn a spot in the Pegasus Hall of Fame.
Mejiro Ramonu sensed that, in another half year, merely making it into Pegasus' Hall of Fame might become an honor in Japanese Uma Musume racing.
The current active Uma Musume might feel deeply ashamed, thinking that being included in a contemporary or junior's Hall of Fame effect is the ultimate humiliation.
But in reality—!
At the latest, after the Takarazuka Kinen concludes, Pegasus will definitely begin her overseas campaigns!
After that, no matter how excellent Japanese Uma Musume are, it will be incredibly difficult to even qualify for the international G1s where Platinum competes.
Let alone surpass those European and American Uma Musume and only lose to Platinum.
As long as Platinum continues growing stronger, the prestige of the Pegasus Hall of Fame will skyrocket, rising exponentially.
Eventually, the [Pegasus Hall of Fame] will likely surpass the URA's [Japanese Hall of Fame]!
Of course, defeating Platinum would be ideal.
But if winning proves impossible, then securing second place and entering the Pegasus Hall of Fame must be the goal.
So the mature, dignified Mejiro Ramonu's hope and blessing for McQueen was...
"Go for it! The Pegasus Hall of Fame awaits you."
"Or—break Daiwa Scarlet's record, surpass Pegasus, and take first!"
--+--
At the finish line, the ethereal figure of a Maiden Goddess seated on a high throne materialized.
Drawing her bow with an utterly calm expression, she pronounced the judgment number.
"One."
The next moment, the arrow released by the goddess figure shot toward the first Uma Musume overtaken by Pegasus.
Transforming into a stream of light, like a shooting star—brilliant, vast, and terrifying!—it pierced through a girl at the very rear of the trailing group, in full view of the entire audience.
"Two."
A second arrow was released not long after!
It was the intimidating overtaking special effect—a humiliating penetration for any Uma Musume falling behind under the watchful eyes of the crowd!
This scene was clearly witnessed by most Uma Musume on the track.
Only a few in the forward group near the front, who hadn't been overtaken by Platinum yet, and the leading front-runner Mejiro McQueen, couldn't clearly see the arrow effects.
But for Platinum, it didn't matter—she would ensure every Uma Musume equally experienced the feeling of being overtaken and sniped!
And immense pressure, accompanying the arrows, weighed heavily on the hearts of most Uma Musume behind Platinum.
"I can't go on!! Getting sniped right at the start... sob sob!"
"Ah... I'm on the inside rail. How did I get hit so quickly?!"
"What do I do? Pegasus isn't front-running, McQueen isn't using forward tactics—my preparations are completely useless. I'm about to get sniped next?"
"Pegasus using forward tactics isn't sniping whoever she overtakes like a closer, or working outside-in like a front-runner? She's brutally sniping from the very back first?!"
Confusion, surprise, shock, or... anxiety-driven urges to accelerate prematurely surfaced in the minds of many Uma Musume.
In the forward group, behind the silver-white Pegasus, a petite dark-haired girl was running closely behind.
She wasn't Manhattan Cafe; a sharp dagger hung at her waist as part of her race outfit—it was Rice Shower, also skilled in long distances!
'Such a fast pace! I must not relax!'
'Since both McQueen and Platinum are ahead, I have to keep up, at least not let either pull too far away.'
Anxious yet steady, Rice Shower's gaze constantly shifted between the backs of Mejiro McQueen and Platinum.
Like an assassin weighing her target options!
And ahead of her—
"Not bad, this intensity. Rare to see in Japan. This fierce, blazing aura... almost reaching the level of [Assassin] or [Killing Intent]?"
"She's not moving closer to me, nor is she imitating me by pressuring McQueen within visual range. Instead, she's deliberately hiding behind me?"
"Still, a bit green."
The Silver-White Maiden clearly sensed that an excellent Uma Musume with a notable aura was right behind her, just outside her peripheral vision.
In Japan, this would likely be seen as the cold, surging killing intent of a deadly predator, capable of assassinating anyone.
But it only stirred a hidden aspect of the usually lazy silver-white girl.
For instance... the aspect of the high-ranking Assassin, the Platinum of the Armorless Union!
Intrigued, the silver-white girl felt like giving this young foal a demonstration.
A real lesson in what truly constitutes an assassin! True killing intent!
"Then... bring it on!"
Having decided, Platinum's amber eyes glinted with an icy, intimidating light.
[Pegasian Sight: Activate]!
The next moment, an awe-inspiring aura erupted from her, overwhelming the entire track, reaching Zone-level intensity!
And instantly, even the brightest sun high above... vanished!
True [Eclipse]! An assassin needs no blazing sun!
What left the petite dark-haired girl behind her stunned and utterly shocked was...
Two moons, one bright and one dark, began slowly rising!
The sun was replaced in an instant!
As if daytime had been forcibly reversed into night.
Terra's unique Twin Moons manifested as Platinum unleashed her aura!!
The seasoned Platinum was giving the young assassin a proper lesson.
The next moment—the Pegasus Hall of Fame abruptly descended!
--+--
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.