1,200 meters—for Nearl, it was just too short.
Of course, it might also be because the competition in her debut race wasn't quite up to par. Perhaps when she moved on to higher-stakes races, she'd finally encounter rivals who could truly push her to her limits?
But that was a matter for the next race, or the one after that.
Right now, what the young maiden Nearl was curious about was her racing clothes and weapon. How would those turn out?
Having just finished a race that felt more like an unsatisfying warm-up, the Radiant Knight found herself pondering exactly that.
Even someone as steadfast as Margaret Nearl felt a flicker of curiosity rise within her.
Compared to her usual training gear, it was the race-specific silks—the ones meant for the finish line—that truly captured her interest.
Following standard procedure, she could go through the official channels and apply with the racing authorities, or she could seek out a specific artisan to place a custom order or make a purchase.
Nearl still carried the memories from her previous self, back when she was Platinum—she knew perfectly well that bow… initially hadn't been brought to the races.
Back then, in her rush to get her hooves on racing silks as quickly as possible, Platinum had headed straight to a small shop to buy them. Then, during the ceremony where the Three Goddesses bestowed their blessings…
The bow that had been tucked under her bed somehow appeared right beside those very silks, a clear sign that it, too, had received the goddesses' approval.
And Margaret Nearl—she also possessed a weapon when she activated her transformation!
Not only that, it was something even larger and more astonishing than the massive bow Platinum wielded. It was a specific, rare armament—
Namely, a Swordlance!!
A weapon hailing from that vast land, the signature arm of The Radiant Knight of Kazimierz on the battlefield!
With the sharp blade of a longsword and the haft of a spear, this weapon combined the defining traits of both. It was inevitably larger and more awe-inspiring than any bow!
But could it… truly be elevated to the status of a racing weapon? Would it earn the recognition of the Three Goddesses?
Even Margaret Nearl couldn't say for sure. For the first time, she felt a thread of uncertainty.
'Best to put these thoughts aside until after the race,' she told herself.
'For now, I should focus on preparing for the post-race interview and the Winner's Stage.'
With that, the maiden known as Nearl—poised as if standing firm upon the earth, bathed in the light of the setting sun—turned and strode away with purposeful steps.
--+--
Before long.
Nearl had just taken a seat backstage at the Winner's Stage when she noticed officials from the American Racing Association approaching, carrying an array of microphones and cameras.
"Miss Margaret Nearl," one began politely. "Would you prefer to do the interview before your performance, or after?"
"As a potential rising star our organization is keen to support, please feel free to let us know if any arrangements are inconvenient for you."
The fact that they asked for her preference on the timing—instead of deciding themselves—was a clear mark of the special treatment reserved for star Uma Musume.
And this… was only Nearl's very first race. Her debut!
Even for top-tier newcomers from prestigious backgrounds, it usually took at least one major victory after their debut to be recognized by the American racing association as a potential star worthy of such consideration.
Heck, even the current American dirt track legend, Secretariat, who ranked among the top three in history, didn't receive this kind of treatment after her first race!!
After all… in her debut, right out of the gate, Secretariat was bumped by another Uma Musume right in front of that shady young doctor—injured early on, she finished a dismal fourth, failing to win at all.
Secretariat's start was far from perfect; in fact, it was downright unlucky.
The same went for the famous European turf star Sea the Stars—in her debut, she got boxed in by other runners and couldn't break free, also ending up fourth.
In a way, it was precisely because these super monsters had such rocky starts that certain shady young doctors misjudged them as "all small fry."
In comparison, Platinum and Nearl—their debuts were unbelievably flawless.
For Nearl to receive this level of attention and recognition after just one debut race was practically unheard of in American racing history!
"Let's do the interview before the performance, then," the Golden-haired Maiden replied calmly.
Hearing this, the professional interview team nodded promptly and prepared to go live.
--+--
Meanwhile.
In a well-known hospital dedicated to treating Uma Musume somewhere in America…
In one of the offices, a mature yet elegantly composed Uma Musume named Seabiscuit felt a thread of concern weighing on her mind.
As a senior figure, she ought to have been in high spirits.
After all, a once-in-a-century legend like Secretariat had just emerged, and now there was a super rookie like Nearl who showed potential to challenge her!
How could that not bring joy?
But to Seabiscuit, the only regret was… that another talented Uma Musume had been injured—a super talent named Sham, who in any other era would have been a guaranteed dual-classic winner with a shot at the Triple Crown!
So, right after finishing her commentary duties, she hurried over to the hospital where Sham had been taken. On the way, she managed to catch Nearl's debut race and now found herself here.
Seabiscuit had been waiting in the doctor's office for what felt like an eternity when she finally heard approaching footsteps.
It was an experienced elderly doctor with graying hair, shaking his head slightly with a look of regret.
Seeing his expression, Seabiscuit understood immediately.
An expressionless doctor wasn't necessarily a bad sign; neither was a cheerful one.
But that frown, that head shake… that was what you had to worry about!!
And even worse was when they turned to browse medical books for similar cases or called colleagues to consult…
Although it hadn't come to that worst-case scenario, even just a shake of the head from a veteran doctor like this… spoke volumes.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Seabiscuit," the elderly doctor said gravely.
"Miss Sham's injuries are quite severe, to the point of being nearly irreversible."
"Even if a return to racing is theoretically possible, it would significantly impact her competitive condition."
"In other words… it's almost comparable to a severe case of tendonitis. She should consider retirement."
Hearing this, even the steady Seabiscuit couldn't help but sigh.
She had received terrible news: Sham's injury was critical!!
Not critical in the life-threatening sense for a person, but critical for an [Uma Musume]'s career!
In other words, it would be very difficult for Sham to ever return to the track.
Truth be told, most serious injuries—like fractures—could theoretically heal, and given time, she might run again.
But in the intensely competitive world of American dirt racing, even a slight dip in form or a few months' delay could mean missing out entirely on the next era of dominance, as a new champion rose to power.
In that kind of "you fade while others rise" situation, even returning at great cost might mean struggling in races she once won easily, having to fight tooth and nail for results that once came naturally…
Those she once barely acknowledged as rivals, mere also-rans, might now defeat her—she'd become the underdog.
That kind of shift, that contrast, that blow to the spirit…
How many proud Uma Musume could withstand it?
And that was the reality most faced after a major injury: if they tried to return, they'd likely end up retiring after a defeat or two, even more disheartened. That was the fate of the majority.
Unless—
Unless a miracle healer could completely cure such severe injuries, but even in America, the center of the dirt racing world… that was exceptionally rare.
That was why this experienced old doctor could say with near certainty, "prepare for retirement."
"I understand…" Seabiscuit sighed softly and nodded.
Someone as talented as Sham had practically fallen in that high-stakes, all-out duel—was this it?!
It was a huge loss for the entire American Uma Musume community.
It looked like she would have to go comfort Sham now.
"By the way…" the old doctor's clouded eyes seemed to recall something worth mentioning.
"Ms. Seabiscuit, when Sham was brought in, she had already received some initial emergency treatment."
"From what I examined, it was done very well. Her external injuries weren't too severe thanks to it, so those should heal relatively quickly. But a full recovery… that's unlikely now."
"To manage such effective first aid in such a short time… she must have encountered a very skilled doctor. A stroke of luck in unfortunate circumstances."
Being able to heal the external injuries sooner and return to normal life… was still better than languishing in the hospital, right?
Hearing this, Seabiscuit nodded gently. Her thoughts turned to that young doctor who'd stepped in to help, and a glimmer of admiration shone in her eyes.
'Who would've thought someone as young as Dr. Lin would be so dedicated and skilled?!'
'No wonder both Flightline and Secretariat think so highly of him. His ability and sense of responsibility are truly exceptional.'
In the end, Seabiscuit thanked the old doctor and took her leave.
--+--
Not long after.
Seabiscuit stepped into a quiet hospital room.
Worried about Sham's state of mind—and body—she pushed the door open to find the injured Uma Musume awake, her eyes open.
Sham already knew her chances of a full recovery were slim.
The moment she'd crossed the finish line, injured and collapsing into Lin Anran's arms, she'd sensed how serious it was. She'd braced herself somewhat.
Now, seeing the grim expression on Seabiscuit's face, she knew for sure.
'Looks like I won't get to challenge Secretariat after all…'
For some reason, amid the heartache and regret, Sham's mind kept drifting back to that warm, secure embrace.
The sense of safety she felt with Dr. Lin lingered in her heart.
'After I'm discharged, I should… properly thank him, right?'
What surprised Seabiscuit was…
After learning about her condition, the injured super talent fell silent for a while.
Then, when Sham finally spoke again, what came out was—
"Where is Dr. Lin??"
"Senior Seabiscuit, do you have his contact info?"
"???"
This left Seabiscuit feeling rather perplexed.
But she shook her head—she didn't have Lin Anran's contact details.
She couldn't very well say, "Secretariat has it, ask her," could she?
There was no way she could let a patient know that the rival she'd chased until she broke down—the one who'd beaten her three times—was actually very close with the person she was asking about.
"I saw his information on the doctor's application records, but it wasn't listed there."
"I'll look into it when I get back and get it to you then."
Seabiscuit replied.
Sham nodded eagerly.
Seeing that Sham's spirits were relatively stable, Seabiscuit offered a few more words of comfort and encouraged her to rest.
Before leaving, though, she couldn't help feeling a spark of curiosity herself.
'I wonder if he actually could treat Sham?!'
'Will the rivalry between Sham and Big Red now play out around Dr. Lin?'
--+--
A short while later.
The cameraman signaled that they were live.
The interview began immediately.
"Welcome, Miss Nearl, winner of today's debut race, thank you for joining us."
"This was your first race, and you won by a record-breaking 39 lengths—an unprecedented achievement."
"As a first-time winner, what are your future goals, Miss Nearl?"
A standard first question, nothing out of the ordinary.
Since Nearl was a newcomer, any heavier questions would be saved for later to avoid making her nervous or uncomfortable on her first interview.
The maiden Nearl lifted her head, her demeanor full of noble spirit. She glanced toward the camera, offered a slight smile, and greeted the viewers tuning in live.
Unlike a certain Silver Pegasus who remained expressionless and just wanted to clock out, this Golden Knightly Maiden carried herself with grace and confidence.
As a knight of the Nearl family, and with the added duty of "restoring her house" in this world, Nearl had no issue presenting her best self to the public.
Facing that routine opening question, Nearl responded in a calm, steady voice:
"My goal is—to win the [American Triple Crown] first."
The staff member nodded slightly—it was a common, almost formulaic answer heard from many promising newcomers.
Aim for the Triple Crown! Strive for your best in those three races!
It was what audiences expected to hear from talented Uma Musume with Triple Crown potential.
"Eh??"
"Did you say… [first], and [win]?"
A moment later, the interviewer realized this sounded completely different from the answers she was used to!
This wasn't about aiming or challenging, not about striving or doing her best—
It was—first, win?!
In an instant, even the experienced interviewer was taken aback.
Heck, even [Easy Goer]—the super popular favorite for next year's Triple Crown and the most likely top contender—only set her goal at winning one leg first!
Easy Goer was a fierce maiden with long red hair, highly regarded by the public. Some fans had already started calling her…
[Big Red III]!!
The first Big Red: the legendary Uma Musume, Man o' War.
The second Big Red: the legendary Uma Musume, Secretariat.
And now, Easy Goer was already seen by some as potentially following in their footsteps—earning her the early title of Big Red III.
Even if she might not quite reach the level of those first two legends, she was still expected to be a standout who'd leave her mark on history!
But as talented as Easy Goer was, when talking about the Triple Crown, she expressed desire and caution—never absolute confidence like "I will win" or "victory is certain."
After all, there were other monsters like the dark horse Sunday Silence, who, while less popular, was just as formidable.
And now, this rookie named Nearl casually stated that her first goal was to win the Triple Crown?? And implied there might be even greater, more glorious—and arduous—goals beyond that??
The interviewer, who'd spoken with countless rising stars and world-class Uma Musume, was completely stunned.
This fledgling…
She's got some nerve!!!
The American Triple Crown—that was the dream of nearly every Uma Musume in the country.
But even for top contenders, the top two favorites, most supernovas aimed to perform well and hopefully secure two wins, maybe three.
As for surpassing Man o' War or Secretariat… that was almost unthinkable.
After all, it was a nightmarish schedule: [Three Crown races in five weeks]! Three high-stakes G1 races packed into just over a month.
Even if an Uma Musume had legs of iron, could she really hold up?
And yet, this maiden named Nearl stated her fearless goal in the calmest tone imaginable?
"As expected… of a super talent who won with the White Platinum herself watching!"
After her moment of amazement, the interviewer moved on to the real, non-formulaic question she'd been waiting to ask!
"Miss Nearl, may I ask what your relationship is with the world-renowned Platinum?"
"The White Platinum, who should be preparing for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, came to watch your race. And according to our research…"
"Over half a year ago, during an interview in Japan, when asked which Uma Musume left the deepest impression on her, she mentioned you!!"
As the interviewer spoke…
The live broadcast cut to a inserted segment.
It showed a conversation in Japanese, with English subtitles added for viewers tuning in worldwide.
This was a major discovery by the racing association—one that was sure to shock America!
The clip showed—
A young, radiant Silver-White Maiden, her eyes carrying a hint of seriousness.
[—Clip from Chapter 45]
"As for [the most memorable]?"
"That would be a monster truly worthy of the title [Pegasus]. Her name is Pan–"
Under the gaze of countless elite Japanese Uma Musume and fans, the world-famous White Platinum calmly spoke the name.
"The Radiant Knight [Margaret Nearl]!"
…
Platinum!
She referred to… the Pegasus, the Radiant Knight Nearl!
The White Platinum had actually bestowed her own title upon Nearl?
This interview, involving the globally renowned Platinum, was bound to spread like wildfire across America!
"So… what is your relationship with Platinum?"
The question gave Nearl pause.
'How should I answer this?'
--+--
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.
There should be... around 70+ advanced chapters?
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.