Garden Gale returned once again to Team LOCK's training track.
This time, though… the whole place was completely empty.
She lazily sprawled onto the grass, getting nice and close with nature. Her eyes stared straight upward into that vivid blue sky—her heart finally unburdened, feeling utterly relaxed now that everything was resolved. Though the preliminary participant list for the Wakagoma Stakes still lay crumpled in her right pocket—
She didn't even glance at it again.
Whether it was Admire Vega or whoever else, she didn't pay them any mind… because none of it mattered to her anymore. She wasn't planning on racing anyway. The career of an Uma Musume typically lasted only around three years. Just slacking off and taking things easy, those three years would fly by quickly enough.
In fact, after arriving at the training track, she didn't even feel like training.
All she wanted was to happily rot away in peace.
She'd been exhausted lately—Garden Gale was ready for a good, long rest.
…Speaking of which, isn't this system just totally wasted on me?
Garden Gale opened the Selas System again, the faint blue holographic panel instantly appearing before her. But before she even got a proper look at her stats or skills, something suddenly popped up on screen:
--
[Beginner Mission—Debut Race Showdown]
[Status: Completed]
[Review]:
You've successfully defeated an opponent who seemed unreachable… decisively defeating Narita Top Road, rapidly improving your strength in the shortest time possible, completing an almost impossible mission.
[Special Reward]:
Road to Glory · Iron Will (Color Change Count: 1)
---
Garden Gale suddenly sat straight up.
What is this?
Beginner mission…?
She seemed to vaguely recall something like that from before... but at the time, she'd completely dismissed it, certain she had no chance of defeating Narita Top Road anyway. She hadn't even spared a moment's thought for it, putting all her effort into desperate training instead. Now that it popped up as a reminder—
Yes, there really had been such a mission.
It was triggered when Narita Top Road first challenged her, arrogantly declaring her intentions. At the time, the system had assessed that the opponent was overwhelmingly strong, practically unbeatable, and gave her the mission as encouragement.
What a pleasant surprise…
She had once described it as a kindergartener challenging a high schooler, yet apparently, the kindergartener had just smacked that high schooler upside the head.
---
[Reincarnation: Chameleon (Golden Skill・Infinite Adaptation・5% Unsealed)]:
If you possess no weapons of your own, copy and steal those of others!
[Reincarnation]: 0
[Color Change]: 1
---
The progress of her Golden Skill increased by another two percent, and the Color Change Count jumped from 0 to 1.
But before she could explore it in more detail, another notification abruptly popped up:
---
[Main Mission Triggered]:
Our Journey Is the Stars and the Sea!
[Prerequisite 1]:
Win one graded race to earn eligibility for the Classic Triple Crown.
[Reward]:
Hoist the Sails, Sail Forth!
[Prerequisite 2]:
Win the first leg of the Classic Triple Crown—G1 race: Satsuki Sho!
[Reward]:
I Stand Atop the Satsuki!
[Once these two prerequisites are fulfilled, the main mission "Our Journey Is the Stars and the Sea" will officially begin.]
[Accept main mission? Acceptance reward…]
---
But before she could even glance at the acceptance reward—
"Hey!"
A sudden voice startled Garden Gale badly, nearly causing her to jump out of her skin. Panicking, she scrambled to shut off the Selas System, breathing out a relieved sigh before finally looking toward the source of the voice.
It was Tokai Teio and Curren Chan.
These two extroverted Uma Musume had grown rather close. Garden Gale often saw them returning from outings together, chatting and laughing… Thinking about it, her lips tightened slightly.
"I knew it! Given how well I know you, I figured you'd be here at the training track, GG-san!" Tokai Teio smiled brightly, casually plopping down right next to her.
Curren Chan also sat down beside her, adding cheerfully, "You just won your race, so there's no need to rush back into training, right? Remember to balance work and rest, Garden Gale-san! Even if you can't wait to crush every opponent out there, rest is still extremely important!"
…No, actually, I didn't come here to train at all.
I'm just here to slack off at the training track.
Garden Gale opened her mouth, but didn't say the words.
Curren Chan then took out her phone, switching over to a video-sharing platform—where Garden Gale's debut race was prominently displayed. Uploaded online, it already had quite a few views. Everyone was clamoring to find out more about this mysterious, jet-black Uma Musume. That rainy-day duel between two figures looked too cool—the golden-haired Uma Musume hadn't been able to win even after giving her absolute best.
But nobody could dig up any useful information—
Garden Gale was simply too mysterious!
Some people dug deeper, eventually uncovering…
That day when Curren Chan had gone out together with Garden Gale, fans had surrounded Curren Chan and she'd tried introducing her roommate, only for Garden Gale to faint instantly. A short clip about ten seconds long had even sparked a small buzz online.
So this strong, mysterious Uma Musume was actually that adorable in real life?!
What a charming gap moe.
"Even now, people are flooding Falco's Umastagram comments, asking for information about you. They're urging Falco to convince you to open an Umastagram soon. Even if it's just sharing daily life pics, it's fine! Thanks to you, Falco-chan even gained nearly 10,000 new followers!"
"…Almost 30,000 now!"
"Wink~wink~"
Garden Gale silently shifted her gaze away from Curren Chan.
Thank goodness she looked away quickly, otherwise she'd have been staring directly into the sun again… burning in its radiance.
Seriously...
Do people like this actually exist?
And opening an Umastagram was totally out of the question!
Tokai Teio immediately perked up after hearing their exchange, leaning closer: "What's going on? Let me see too!"
"Ohh! So GG-san even fainted before! Was it because of that crazy training session that day—till around four or five in the morning? I remember you mentioning something like that! Though, honestly, I suspect GG-san didn't train until four or five… she might have trained all the way until sunrise!"
"That must've been why she fainted."
…No, no, no.
I fainted purely due to social anxiety.
Drag a sewer rat straight into broad daylight, and of course it gets burned by the sun's brightness!
Goddammit.
Caught between two blazing suns, Garden Gale felt supremely uncomfortable. She wore a strange expression, uncertain how to respond, deciding instead to remain silent—quietly cosplaying as a mute.
Even though she'd won the race…
This social anxiety hadn't improved even one bit.
"Oh, by the way—" Tokai Teio turned back around, refocusing the conversation's attention onto the main topic. "What did Prez talk to you about earlier? Even standing outside, I could feel the pressure from inside that room!"
Garden Gale decided to speak honestly, lazily replying, "Nothing much. She just wanted me to enter some race called the Wakagoma Stakes. But then she suddenly told me I could make my own decision about it."
"The Wakagoma Stakes? You mean the one Admire Vega-san is entering?"
Curren Chan suddenly sat up straight, asking eagerly.
---
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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