"A last-minute change for the third leg?"
"Tamamo Cross is taking the third leg?"
On the second day of the culture festival, Barbatos listened to this news with a dazed expression.
She'd been so preoccupied with thoughts about Seiun Sky yesterday that she'd completely missed this piece of information.
Oguri Cap couldn't participate in the relay due to an unforeseen circumstance. 'Don't tell me… someone actually managed to take down Oguri Cap off the field?'
She couldn't help but recall what Special Week had said yesterday, but the situation probably wasn't that bad. Otherwise, the "Emperor" would have likely canceled the event outright.
"Huh? You didn't know?"
"Special Week and Oguri Cap both entered an eating contest. Neither of them can run right now."
Seiun Sky said this with an amused smile, surprised that Barbatos, someone so involved, was unaware.
"An eating contest?!"
Barbatos was completely in the dark about this.
What really puzzled her was how Seiun Sky, who had been so hesitant and shy just yesterday, was now acting as if nothing had happened.
She had thought that after spending the day together at the festival, things might be different today. But it seemed like everything was back to normal.
Even though they had enjoyed the festival together, they still hadn't officially defined their relationship.
It was a good thing she hadn't rushed to confess.
As a self-proclaimed love expert, she knew one thing for certain.
Now that she understood her own feelings—that she liked Seiun Sky—she absolutely could not rush into a confession.
No matter the situation, a confession should never be rushed. It was the final move, not the opening gambit. When two people are still strangers, no one accepts a sudden confession.
Once you get closer, and things become a bit ambiguous, the girl might start to hesitate. A confession at that point just adds pressure, slowly eroding the joy she feels when you're together, tilting the scales toward failure.
The perfect time to confess is when the conditions are naturally ripe.
But Barbatos just hadn't expected Seiun Sky to act no differently from usual today.
It was as if their closeness hadn't changed at all.
Quieting the turmoil in her heart caused by Seiun Sky, she focused. The most important thing today was winning this relay race. The relay race where she and Seiun Sky were on the same team!
Even with a last-minute opponent change, it didn't matter. Her original goal had been to challenge the legendary Uma Musume, Oguri Cap!
She removed the weighted horseshoes, adjusting to her newly lightened steps.
"Let's go, it's time for us to head to the track."
--+--
Narita Airport, Japan.
A starry-eyed Uma Musume descended from the plane. "HELLO! Sorry to keep you waiting!"
"Japanese paparazzi!"
She looked at the completely empty arrival area, devoid of any Japanese reporters.
She let out a soft, disappointed sound. "How un-rock 'n' roll."
She remembered her first time coming to Japan for a race; the scene was just like this. Nothing had changed since then.
A slightly exaggerated, artificial smile was permanently fixed on her face, as if it would remain no matter what happened.
"Ms. Obey Your Master."
"Symboli Rudolf."
Seeing the "Emperor" standing before her, Obey Your Master's smile didn't falter. She didn't seem surprised at all to see Symboli Rudolf here.
"Did you come because of Tamamo Cross?"
But upon hearing that name.
The fake smile finally faded, replaced by seriousness. "Even the outermost lane would be fine. Please, let me race against Tamamo Cross one more time."
Despite being an American Uma Musume, she spoke fluent Japanese.
The first time she had come to Japan, she had faced Tamamo Cross in the Japan Cup.
She had snatched victory from Tamamo Cross by the narrowest of margins that day. They had promised to settle the score in the following year's Japan Cup, but who could have predicted that the next Japan Cup would be Tamamo Cross's second-to-last race ever?
By the time she returned to Japan, Tamamo Cross had already retired. The chance for a rematch was gone.
So, when she heard about this relay race, she immediately rushed to Japan, hoping to face Tamamo Cross on the track once more!
"...I see."
--+--
"Is this Tracen Academy? You can see so many Uma Musume!"
"Look over there, it's the sprint queen—Taiki Shuttle!"
"And that one over there, the phantom triple crown winner—Fuji Kiseki!!"
Exclamations came from the spectators who had come to Tracen Academy to watch the races. Famous Uma Musume, usually only seen online or in newspapers, seemed to be everywhere here.
This place was a paradise for Uma Musume fans!
A little girl, holding her mother's hand, was being led through the crowd towards the area for the third leg. They were going to cheer for Barbatos, who was running the anchor leg.
Around her neck hung a small air horn, ready to blast support for Barbatos during the race!
"Mom, look! It's that big sister!" The little girl tugged her mother's hand, pulling her in a certain direction. "Big sister, are you racing today too?"
Urara, who was just about to head to the spectator area with King Halo, Twin Turbo, and the other members of Team Canopus, paused.
She saw the little girl approaching.
Even though two months had passed, Urara still remembered what she looked like.
It was the little girl she and Barbatos had met on their way to Tracen Academy. Barbatos had even said the girl was her second fan.
"Big sister isn't racing today."
"But, let's all cheer for B-chan together today."
"I have a feeling B-chan is definitely going to win today!"
Nice Nature, standing nearby, couldn't help but marvel at how popular Barbatos and Urara were. Even children came to cheer for them.
She glanced at the spectators crowding the area.
There really were a lot of middle-aged and older viewers at Tracen Academy today.
Usually, the crowds at races were mostly from the younger generation. Could these be the audience from the Heisei Big Three' era?
--+--
"Sei-chan, B-chan, the first leg absolutely will not lose!"
"The same goes for you two on the second and third legs!"
El Condor Pasa declared confidently. Thanks to their recent training, she had perfectly adapted to dirt tracks. Her speed and stamina were better than ever.
The three participants stood together, making their final preparations.
"Barbatos, Seiun Sky, El Condor Pasa."
Hearing the voice, the trio turned to see Symboli Rudolf approaching. Next to her was an Uma Musume they had never seen before.
"I have a favor to ask."
--+--
Tracen Academy.
Countless spectators gathered before the large screen in the central viewing area.
Even the executive committee member, Sakura Bakushin O, stood at a podium, microphone in hand. "Well then, let me introduce the participants!"
"First leg!"
"Include one of the Heisei Three Jewels, Inari One! And from Team Rigil, currently with three wins in three races—El Condor Pasa!"
The image on the big screen changed, showing the starting point of the dirt track for the first leg.
"No matter who the opponent is, I'm not going to lose!" El Condor Pasa said confidently.
Beside her, Inari One, wearing her race uniform, smirked. "Heh, then bring it on!"
"Second leg!"
"One of the Heisei Three Jewels, the Kikuka Sho champion—Super Creek! And the rookie Uma Musume who won her debut race by a huge margin—Seiun Sky!"
"Third leg!"
"Eh?! Why are there three Uma Musume in the third leg?!"
Sakura Bakushin O looked momentarily bewildered at the screen, unsure what was happening.
"President?"
She looked towards where the president usually stood.
Only the "Empress" Air Groove and Narita Brian were there.
The president, holding a microphone, had already arrived beside her, ensuring all the spectators could see her.
"This relay race has also attracted worldwide attention. This Uma Musume is a former champion from America—Obey Your Master, victor of the Japan Cup. She will start from the third leg position simultaneously with contestant Tamamo Cross."
"Her results will not be counted towards the final relay race standings."
This announcement sent waves through the crowd.
The younger generation of spectators present never expected the sudden appearance of such a heavyweight figure.
They had previously looked into just who this suddenly appearing Tamamo Cross was, and why she was qualified to replace Oguri Cap.
Naturally, they had also learned about Tamamo Cross's past achievements.
That year, Oguri Cap had just transferred from the local circuits to Central Tracen. She was undefeated in all her races in the central circuit until she met the then-dominant Tamamo Cross.
Whether in the Tenno Sho or the Japan Cup, Tamamo Cross was an insurmountable wall for Oguri Cap, truly the strongest in Japan at that time!
And Obey Your Master was the Uma Musume who had defeated Tamamo Cross in the Japan Cup!
She was, without a doubt, one of the world's top Uma Musume back then!
And now, such a figure had reappeared on the track, wanting to settle the score with Tamamo Cross once more. This was arguably even more exciting than the legendary Oguri Cap participating!
The only question was, how much of their former strength did they still possess?
In the crowd, a very full-looking Special Week twitched her mouth. "That short one… is a senior?"
"Completely unimaginable. You could've told me she was Oguri Cap's daughter and I'd have believed it."
Vodka was at a loss for words.
When they were gathering intel before, they hadn't paid her any mind. After all, this Tamamo Cross looked just like a kid.
While Inari One was also petite, she still carried the imposing aura of a senior.
But this Tamamo Cross senior… she really didn't seem like one at all!
--+--
Third Leg.
Barbatos scratched her head, feeling unprecedented pressure.
So much for Special Week's earlier intel, which mentioned a small, gray-haired girl hanging around the Heisei Three Jewels, possibly a little fan of Oguri Cap.
That was completely unreliable.
Whether it was the race uniform Tamamo Cross was wearing, or the fact that Obey Your Master had flown all the way from America for this race…
It all proved that her leg of the relay would not be easily won!
But with time so short, she had no chance to research Tamamo Cross further. Now, she could only take things one step at a time.
Any Uma Musume wearing a race uniform had undoubtedly competed in G1 races. And for an American Uma Musume to specifically come to Japan for this… it meant Tamamo Cross had once been a world-class competitor!
On both counts, she was currently no match for her.
But the preparations and training she had done to face Oguri Cap wouldn't go to waste.
She would save those specific strategies for the 'Winter Dream Cup.' For now, the sweat from her training would bear fruit in this race.
Whether it was her desire for victory, or the chance to run alongside Seiun Sky…
This time, she had no intention of losing!
"Barbatos, I gotta thank ya, for givin' me this chance."
Tamamo Cross grinned.
"Mhmm, I need to thank you too." Obey Your Master chimed in.
If Barbatos hadn't agreed, even the "Emperor" wouldn't have permitted a foreign Uma Musume to participate in a culture festival event.
"No need to thank me. If you wanted, you could have arranged a private race anyway."
Barbatos said it matter-of-factly. "Besides, don't just focus on each other as rivals. Even though I'm facing seniors, I don't plan on losing this race."
She wasn't going to talk trash to her seniors. Trash talk was useless in a relay race like this.
The timing of the start depended entirely on the positioning of the second-leg runners.
"Of course, I'll be givin' it my all too!"
The conversation between the three was broadcast live on the big screen and to audiences around the world.
Viewers in China logged into their streaming platforms, flocking to the channels of streamers who had previously collaborated with Barbatos, all tuning in to watch this relay race hosted by Tracen Academy.
--+--
"Wow, are Uma Musume from over fifty years ago all this youthful?"
"I heard Uma Musume maintain their appearance from when they're fully developed until they pass on to heaven."
"Geez, I really want an Uma Musume wife!"
"I hereby declare, Tamamo Cross is my wife! Draw your blades, gentlemen!"
"You guys are all into lolis, huh? Real jailbait. Off to horny jail with all of you!"
--+--
Streams of comments scrolled across various live chat rooms.
The live feed then switched to the first leg. "The relay race is about to begin! Please, Inari One and El Condor Pasa, enter the starting gates!"
"The race starts now!"
As Sakura Bakushin O's voice faded, the gates flew open. Inari One and El Condor Pasa burst out simultaneously.
"Both with perfect starts!"
"They're running through the academy, bathed in passionate cheers!"
"As expected of El Condor Pasa! The Eagle that runs the earth! Even on a dirt track, she doesn't fall behind Inari One-senpai at all!"
"Who will be the first to run out of the school grounds? The Heisei era senior, or the current rising star?!"
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, 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.