April 17th, Nakayama Racecourse, Rain, Track Condition: Yielding.
The opening of the annual Triple Crown races immediately drew countless racing enthusiasts to the scene.
Even before this, the unique nature of this Satsuki Sho had been broadcast far and wide through television programs and newspaper reports. Everyone knew this was a feast absolutely not to be missed.
Each region had its own Triple Crown races, independent and unaffected by each other, entirely equal except for Europe.
So, at most, people could only judge who was the most promising Uma Musume of the current generation in each region.
To go further, one had to travel to Europe, to compete with those true geniuses remaining in the core regions, before determining just what rank one held.
For many Triple Crown contenders seeking to advance further, the Triple Crown races were merely a trial. Beyond them lay many, many more tests.
But this Satsuki Sho was special. The big shots from the European association had actually gathered all the promising Triple Crown contenders here, bringing them to this very Nakayama Racecourse.
Moreover, even before the competition, they had specially elevated everyone's status and privileges, allowing them to enjoy the top-tier treatment of a Triple Crown Uma Musume without having to win the Triple Crown first.
And this, surely, had a reason.
Star Dancer took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and gazed at the Uma Musume now standing on the track.
As an Uma Musume from the European racing circuit, the moment these contenders were designated as Triple Crown seeds, her trainer had already compiled their information into a dossier and handed it to Star Dancer.
She had known for a long time that the Uma Musume before her were the absolute cores of their respective regions in this generation, destined one day to step onto the European stage and compete against those true geniuses.
But she never thought the day they would actually meet would come so much earlier than she imagined.
Star Dancer let out a heavy sigh.
Though she was born in Europe and had received world-class training from a young age, Europe was, after all, just a broad concept—within it, there were still hierarchies, highs and lows.
And Star Dancer belonged to the fringe group of European Uma Musume. While they had more opportunities than Uma Musume from other regions, they also learned early on about many situations that filled her with immense pressure because of it.
She was a genius, but which of the Uma Musume selected as Triple Crown seeds from each region wasn't exceptionally talented? Not to mention those in the core areas of the European circuit who had already made a name for themselves, destined to lead the generation.
Thinking of those figures made Star Dancer's chest feel tight. Would she too have to share the stage with such monsters in the future?
But she couldn't back down.
An Uma Musume's career was like sailing against the current—retreat one step, and you retreat step after step. Only by charging forward and defeating all enemies could one reach that legendary pinnacle.
Star Dancer didn't know if she could see that place for herself, but she at least didn't want to fall halfway, to fall now.
She was willing.
After winning this Satsuki Sho, her ranking within the club would rise. The achievement of defeating so many Triple Crown seeds would bring her into the view of higher echelons.
Just by winning this Satsuki Sho, she could leap from a small-time genius on the European fringe to one of the much-watched prodigies in the core regions.
Compared to the step-by-step, solid progress needed to gain recognition before, the reward for this Satsuki Sho was like soaring to the heavens in a single bound for Star Dancer.
So, even knowing that every Uma Musume before her possessed power equal to or even surpassing her own, Star Dancer refused to simply withdraw.
She would forge the victories of these Triple Crown seeds into stepping stones, propelling herself to a higher level.
Her gaze swept over the Uma Musume present, the intense will within it causing many of the Triple Crown seeds to glance her way.
Attracting so much attention, Star Dancer naturally also faced a crushing, overwhelming surge of momentum.
Every Triple Crown seed was the most promising, future ruler of multiple generations in her home region. Even if they hadn't yet found their complete form, the momentum they had accumulated was far beyond what an ordinary Uma Musume could withstand.
Let alone Star Dancer now facing the combined gaze of multiple Triple Crown seeds. Pressure like a tidal wave instantly weighed heavily on her shoulders.
But there wasn't the slightest hint of retreat in her eyes.
Having already resolved to win this Satsuki Sho and stride toward greater heights, how could she give up easily over something as intangible as momentum?
The information from the trainer's compiled dossier flowed rapidly through Star Dancer's mind. She remembered the running style each Triple Crown seed excelled at, knew all their unaddressed weaknesses, and even knew what methods to use against them.
This was her privilege as a European Uma Musume.
Trainers would compile dossiers on promising Uma Musume from around the world and deliver them to all capable European Uma Musume.
The purpose was to make them, upon stepping into Europe to compete, break upon the shore and obediently return to their home regions, becoming yet another symbol of the European racing circuit's superiority.
This was also Star Dancer's confidence in coming here.
She knew that compared to these Triple Crown seeds, let alone surpassing them, even matching them would require her utmost effort.
As just a genius from the fringe Tracen Academy in Europe, she simply couldn't be more inherently gifted than these carefully selected Triple Crown seeds from each region. But in her hands, she held shackles quietly forged by the European racing circuit to restrain these very Triple Crown Uma Musume.
As long as she could apply these restraints effectively, even against a Triple Crown seed whose talent far exceeded her own, Star Dancer had confidence she could fight and win.
'...Don't blame me for being underhanded.'
She lowered her eyes and whispered softly. For the sake of her own desire to advance, Star Dancer had disregarded her trainer's objections and resolutely chosen to come to this Satsuki Sho.
As the only Uma Musume on the field originating from Europe, Star Dancer understood what kind of penalty she would face if she failed to win the Satsuki Sho.
She had no room left for retreat. Having come here, the only possible outcome was to return laden with glory.
For that, even if it meant relying on informational advantage to defeat other Uma Musume, Star Dancer was willing!
Just as she continued to steel her resolve, determined to win this Satsuki Sho no matter what, a voice from outside the track made Star Dancer pause.
"The much-anticipated genius returns to the track once more—will she sweep all before her like in the past?! The next contestant—"
"Number twelve, Mr. C.B.!"
Hearing the announcer's voice, Star Dancer's gaze turned toward the figure emerging from the competitor's tunnel.
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T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 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.