"Oh, I can see pretty clearly from up here, can't I?"
Platinum sat on the rooftop, swinging her snow-white legs casually, completely unfazed by the dizzying height.
Her eyes were completely different from usual, filled with an unusual intensity, a razor-sharp keenness like unsheathed blades, enough to make anyone who met her gaze at this moment feel a chill run down their spine.
"Wow, so this is an American Uma Musume? Tsk, tsk, tsk, look at all those muscles. Oguri Cap is already considered tall, but standing next to her, she'd look like a doll."
"These muscle lines… they don't look like what an ordinary Uma Musume could develop through training… Wait, is she dribbling after the collision? She seems really proficient at this move; does she usually practice like this?"
"Hmm, clear power generation from the feet. Seems like the 'brute force solves everything' type. Probably accustomed to impacts?"
"Okay. No other distinguishing features. Time to check out someone else."
Satisfied, Platinum put down her pen, tucked the notebook filled with her observations into her pocket, and did a neat backflip, landing safely inside the building.
"Tony Bianca and Moonlight Lunacy live around this side, right?"
Blending with the glaring sunlight, Platinum's figure flashed past the gaps between rooftops. Chasms that would terrify ordinary people were mere playful distractions in her eyes.
Her long, snow-white hair reflected the light, faintly taking on a silvery sheen.
"Wow, Mom! Look, an Uma Musume is flying!"
A little filly on the ground happened to catch a glimpse of Platinum's fleeting figure, the image burning itself into her eyes.
The excited young Uma Musume tugged at her mother's clothes, her chubby little hand pointing vigorously towards the sky.
"Kita-chan, Uma Musume can't fly."
Amused by her daughter's antics, the mother ruffled her hair, then crouched down to explain patiently.
"But, but, I really saw one!"
The little filly naturally refused to be convinced so easily, hopping on the spot as she argued with her mother.
"Alright, alright, Kita-chan saw it then."
The mother wore a helpless expression as she humored her child. She certainly didn't believe an Uma Musume could fly, but a child's imagination was something to be cherished.
"Mom, why can that Uma Musume fly, but I can't?"
Looking up towards the patch of sky she'd seen before, the little filly's eyes were full of yearning.
"Maybe she has wings on her back? Think about it, Kita-chan, birds can fly because they have wings, right?"
Faced with her daughter's strange question, the young mother desperately tried to answer genuinely.
"That must be nice…"
The little girl murmured enviously.
--+--
After leaping across roofs and walls for a while, Platinum arrived at another destination, primarily used by Tony Bianca and Moonlight Lunacy.
"Lucky, they seem to be training right now."
Placing a hand above her eyebrows to shield her eyes, Platinum squinted at the scene far below.
"That one with the big hat must be Tony… Wait, they're both wearing hats! Physics? Are you even respecting physics right now?"
Platinum complained weakly. But joking aside, she was still observing and recording seriously.
"This one with the… sizable chest must be Moonlight Lunacy. Hmph, what an indecent figure."
Platinum looked somewhat displeasedly at the sun-hat-wearing Moonlight Lunacy, scribbling something idly in her notebook.
"Hmm, this one feels skippable. A small fry without a Domain, not even touching the fringes of one yet."
After a cursory glance at Moonlight Lunacy's running form, Platinum came to this conclusion.
"But whatever, I'll record a bit of info to report back at least… There."
After jotting down a few brief lines, Platinum lost all interest in Moonlight Lunacy and turned her attention to Tony Bianca on the other side. This time, her expression turned grave.
"Whoa, this one's no joke."
For the first time, Platinum showed a hint of admiration: "Much better than that busty woman earlier."
And indeed, the situation proved it. As the current world champion, Tony Bianca's skill level was far beyond what Moonlight Lunacy could match.
One only needed to see the aura she exuded while running to understand.
That aura was sharp like blades, evoking memories of a deadly, merciless weapon. Her low, sprinting form resembled a leopardess, full of fearsome explosive power.
"This is no laughing matter."
Platinum's face tightened with concern, a sense of foreboding rising within her—this worry was for Oguri Cap.
"Masterful Domain control, super-strong explosive power, adaptability to turf, and that utterly confident mental state… This one is absurdly strong."
"As unfortunate as it is, Oguri Cap can't win against this one."
Platinum shook her head helplessly and began recording her impressions.
"I'll have to suggest it to them after I get back. They must consider a tactical victory. In terms of pure, raw strength, Oguri Cap is still far from enough."
Suddenly, Platinum's brow furrowed, and she quickly retreated backwards, out of the line of sight from below.
The reason? Tony Bianca was now alertly looking around, her gaze scanning the surroundings.
"Yikes, that one… scarily sharp perception. As expected of this year's Arc de Triomphe winner."
Platinum muttered under her breath.
"But whatever, I've gathered most of the intel now. Just one last target, Ellerslie Pride. Time to go find her."
Sweeping her long hair back, Platinum hurried off, a trail of dust practically visible behind her.
"Dammit, I hate missions. Nearl better compensate me for this when I get back."
Down on the training ground, Tony Bianca, while catching her breath, kept looking around as if searching for something.
Her behavior drew Moonlight Lunacy's attention and confusion.
"What's wrong, Tony? You seem to be looking for something?"
"Yeah, I felt a cold, sharp gaze on me just now. Felt like someone was watching."
"Gaze? You mean from up there? Don't be ridiculous. From this distance, you couldn't see anything without binoculars, and they're banned in the vicinity anyway."
Moonlight Lunacy was nonchalant.
"Besides, even if someone is watching, what can they do? Everything ultimately comes down to strength."
"You're right, Moonlight. Everything depends on strength."
Tony Bianca nodded, agreeing with the last statement. She stopped trying to find the source of the gaze and confidently returned to the track.
"Let's continue the adjustments. I'll show them just how vast the world is."
--+--
Far from the center, in Kasamatsu, inside a shabby rented apartment, a beautiful woman was busy with housework.
Suddenly, the landline phone in the entryway began to ring, prompting her to hurry over and answer it.
"Hello? Yes, this is the Oguri residence. Ah! Nearl! Why are you calling little old me? Is it about Oguri Cap?"
Hearing her daughter's name, the initially cheerful expression on Auntie Oguri's face shifted.
--+--
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.