The young, so-called "black-hearted" doctor was sitting in his clinic that had only recently reopened.
Since it had just started up again, Lin Anran planned to take things slow, so he wasn't seeing many young Uma Musume patients each day.
Ready to call it a day soon, Lin Anran was keenly interested in the system's race rewards and decided to check them out first.
Right now, Platinum had torn through the encirclement lurking in the shadows, single-handedly crushing the conspiracy hatched by the Coolmore Group.
Not long before that, The Radiant Knight, Nearl, had firmly established herself as the favorite for next year's U.S. Triple Crown with her stunning victory in the Hopeful Stakes.
The rewards for major races were bound to be generous!
Though nicknamed the "Baby Cup," the Hopeful Stakes was still a bona fide Grade 1 race—the highest level of competition countless Uma Musume dreamed of reaching.
As for the Eclipse Stakes, that went without saying—it was a super G1 event, renowned among G1 races worldwide.
While it might not quite match the prestige of top-tier G1 races like the Breeders' Cup or Belmont Stakes on dirt, or the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes or Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on turf, it was still a heavyweight G1.
To this day, no Asian Uma Musume besides Platinum had ever won it. And Platinum hadn't just won—she'd triumphed against the strongest European contenders in a coordinated assault. Anyone could feel the glory radiating from that achievement!
What's worth mentioning is...
In the past, Platinum would often feel a twinge of guilt toward the Uma Musume who finished second—those she'd soundly defeated, leaving them disheartened or even despairing.
So, she'd offer them a word of comfort: ["What a thrilling race. I don't think I'll ever forget you."]
Even if, for Platinum, this had become something of a standard response—one she'd used on different defeated fillies at least five times already—it still counted as a gesture of consolation and a degree of recognition from her.
After all, for an Uma Musume, once you've secured victory, there's no need to belittle your opponents—it just looks unsportsmanlike.
Many families that raised Uma Musume even made a point of teaching their young ones to praise their defeated rivals after a win, especially the runner-up.
Why? The reasoning was simple.
Doesn't a stronger opponent make your own victory seem all the more impressive?
By humbly praising other Uma Musume after winning, you not only show grace and humility but also subtly highlight your own strength—all with just a few words. It's a win-win with no downside.
But... Platinum refused to play along. She wasn't in it for herself. She had no interest in the idea that "praising your opponent elevates yourself," and she couldn't be bothered to waste time on such meaningless gestures.
The cold, aloof Platinum would only offer praise to those fillies who raced earnestly and gave their all—simply because she genuinely wanted to commend or comfort them.
After all, from Mejiro Dober, Manhattan Cafe, and Galileo to Tokai Teio, they were all outstanding Uma Musume who poured everything into their races and ran with all their might.
In contrast, the three Uma Musume who'd deeply studied the encirclement tactic, along with the front-runner who slowed the pace, had clearly invested considerable "effort" into this shady plot to box her in.
So—!
For the runner-up in this race, Centaurea, Platinum had no particular impression, nor would she demean herself by offering hollow praise just to bolster her own image.
Hence that one-word response: "Who?"
In the end, Centaurea's crushing defeat by forty lengths—even worse than Tokai Teio and Agnes Tachyon's thirty-six lengths or Manhattan Cafe's thirty-one—stripped her of even the qualification to enter the Pegasus Hall of Fame!
Clearly, that brutally concise one-word reply would become a topic of widespread fascination.
The mighty Coolmore Group, with their despicable, seemingly surefire tactics, had suffered their most devastating defeat yet at the hands of the silver-white Pegasus spreading her dark wings!
These two G1 victories had piqued the black-hearted young doctor's interest, making him wonder what rewards awaited.
"Platinum must have fully completed her Maturation by now, right?"
"With her Maturation fully realized, what could the reward be?"
[Race: Hopeful Stakes (Victory)]
[Reward: Maturation Progress +5%, Margaret Nearl Exclusive Module - A Knightly Horse]
[Race: Eclipse Stakes (Victory)]
[Reward: Platinum Exclusive Module - Solo Travel Kit]
[Note: Only one module can be equipped at a time. If multiple modules are available, they can be switched before a race.]
Operator Modules??
Different exclusive modules for Margaret Nearl and Platinum?
Seeing this, Lin Anran was taken aback.
It reminded him of the way operators were enhanced in Arknights—usually requiring significant resources to grind out.
Now… grinding modules through hard-fought races seemed almost logical… right?
"I remember Nearl had more than one token, and the modules had different functional effects."
"And being able to equip and switch them—it's just like gear in a game."
Lin Anran recalled that Nearl alone, in her alter form, had two modules: [A Knightly Horse] and [Blade of Blazing Sun].
If you included her original defender module [Improved Knight Shield], that made three!
The Radiant Knight's Domain also had three options!
Was this… what pure stats domination looked like?
No, it wasn't just stats—these various modules and domains could even change mechanics.
Were the stats maxed out while the mechanics were nearly perfected too?
Lin Anran felt like he understood everything now!
Then, he continued reading.
[Platinum Exclusive Module - Solo Travel Kit]
[Adds a new skill, slightly increases stamina, slightly increases power.]
[The longer the interval since the last skill activation, the greater the boost to the next skill's effect, ranging from minor to major.]
"Hmm? It boosts some stats, and the longer it's been since using a skill, the stronger the skill effect becomes?"
"And Platinum's Domain is [Permanent], right?"
"So that means… she can activate her Domain and some skills early to get a head start and maintain it permanently."
"Then in the latter half, she can unleash a long-charged, enhanced new skill to surprise the chasing Uma Musume?"
Lin Anran quickly deduced the module's utility.
It was powerful and perfectly suited for the permanent domain, Pegasian Sight.
After reviewing Platinum's exclusive module, Lin Anran turned his attention to the other one.
He remembered that in the original game, the [A Knightly House] module leaned toward defensive effects.
But in Uma Musume matches, pure defense was almost useless.
You either needed self-acceleration or ways to suppress and weaken opponents, which indirectly sped you up.
So what would a defensive module look like in an Uma Musume race?
Curious, Lin Anran read through it in one go.
[Margaret Nearl Exclusive Module - A Knightly House]
[Slightly increases power, slightly reduces opponent's domain suppression.]
[When weakened by an opponent's Domain skill, immediately restores a large amount of stamina but slightly increases skill stamina consumption, moderately boosts acceleration.]
After reading it, Lin Anran nodded with satisfaction.
It was even better than he'd expected—seemingly an all-around, excellent module.
"So it's… both offensive and defensive?"
It reduced opponent domain suppression, offered a stamina recovery method, and boosted stats.
"Then the other module [Blade of Blazing Sun], which hasn't been unlocked yet but can be won in future races…"
"Just from the name, it's clearly meant for extreme enhancement, an overwhelmingly powerful boost module!"
Lin Anran couldn't help but look forward to Nearl's next module.
But suddenly, he frowned slightly.
Would the Pegasus Platinum really only have one module?
"Hmm? Since there's a [Note] reminder, it means modules can be switched."
"And it's not specifically noting that Nearl's modules can be switched…"
"Platinum might have more than one module to unlock. But in the original game, I remember Platinum only had that one [Solo Travel Kit]..."
"So—if she really could unlock a new module, what would it be?"
Would it be a completely custom module made for Platinum, or… perhaps a powerful module from another operator?
Were there modules from other operators that would suit Platinum?
The once meta-breaking Chen? Or the god-tier Weedy? Or someone else?
Interested but not wanting to dwell on it too deeply, Lin Anran eventually let it go.
After all, in Europe's turf-racing scene, which valued experience, there was only a month between the Eclipse Stakes and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
In another month, after the King George, he'd have his answer!
"I'll find out then. No use speculating too much now."
With that, Lin Anran decided to stop overthinking it.
In the corner of the system panel, a line of simple text was displayed.
[Margaret Nearl: Maturation 10%]
Even after receiving the Maturation Progress reward, Nearl's Maturation was only at a mere 10%!
In Uma Musume terms, at this rate, she usually wouldn't even grow much taller, and she generally wouldn't qualify to enroll in an Uma Musume school.
It was usually at 30% or even 40% that significant changes in height and physical condition became apparent, allowing enrollment and the start of formal training as an Uma Musume.
As for 10%… that was basically still undeveloped.
"Nearl still has a lot of growing to do."
"I wonder… if she'll grow taller like Platinum did?"
Lin Anran remembered the stats of the second Pegasus he'd transformed into—Nearl.
171 cm!
That height wasn't short at all, even in Europe and the U.S., where "thoroughbreds" were common—it was above average!
When Platinum fully completed her Maturation, she'd grown 3 cm taller.
Would Nearl maybe…
Grow to 174 cm (Radiant Knight Height)?
"Height… well, her current height is already pretty good. It doesn't really matter if she gets taller or not."
"As long as she gets stronger, that's what counts!"
With that, Lin Anran closed the system panel.
Now, the goal was… to aim for the enigmatic King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which seemed to harbor super-strong rivals!
And beyond that, the U.S. Triple Crown!
But few knew that the aftermath of the Eclipse Stakes wasn't over yet.
Quite a number of people were still eager to vent their anger on behalf of the victorious Platinum!
--+--
Meanwhile, far away in Japan.
Inside Tracen Academy, cheers were erupting everywhere.
The Japanese Uma Musume community had always placed great importance on international competitions, especially those in Europe, the center of world turf racing.
Even active Uma Musume busy with training would often spare some time to watch these races.
Unfortunately, in the past, from the once strongest Japanese Uma Musume Symboli Speed to her successors Symboli Rudolf and Sirius Symboli, all their expeditions had ended in defeat.
Not a single overseas G1 win among the three Symboli fillies combined…
So, for the Japanese Uma Musume at Tracen, international competitions were always an awkward topic.
Yet, the more awkward and crushing the defeats, the more anticipation built up!
In a way, it was like… generations of Japanese Uma Musume had been setting the stage, accumulating the hopes of countless Japanese fans, all waiting for the one who would finally secure a G1 victory in Europe or America and ignite those pent-up expectations!
And now—the Pegasus Platinum had achieved that very victory in the Eclipse Stakes, stunning Japan and all of Asia!!
In one of the screening rooms, Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black, who had already enrolled at Tracen, were hugging each other excitedly.
"Wow! Platinum-san is amazing!"
"Ugh, it hurts that we couldn't be there to see Platinum-san tear through that encirclement in that legendary race."
"Well, we're training to be proper Uma Musume now, and we don't have the freedom like the seniors in their classic year, so we have to make the most of every day…"
"It really is heartbreaking. That was a historically iconic race!"
Deeply regretful, Satono Diamond could only clench her small fists.
Since she couldn't be there as a fan, then…
She'd just have to meet her idol Platinum-san as a rival on the track!!
Next year! Just next year!
"Next year, we'll finally have a chance to race against Platinum-san!"
Before long…
Satono Diamond heard surprised murmurs from other Uma Musume in the screening room.
"Huh? The official investigation report and penalties for the Eclipse Stakes are out already?"
"That was fast…"
Hearing this, Satono Diamond was startled.
She immediately picked up her phone and pulled up the report.
A few seconds later, her eyes widened.
"The penalty is… a two-month suspension?"
That short?
"Did the Coolmore Group pull strings behind the scenes? Are they bullying Platinum-san because she's on her own?"
What could they do? How could they help Platinum-sama vent this injustice?!
--+--
T/N: To the recommendation of one of my readers, I am somewhat pleased to announce that I have another Uma Musume fanfiction up!
--+--
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.