Symboli Rudolf's expression was grim.
Yesterday's result in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) had already left her with a lingering sense of unease. Because of her defeat there, Silence Suzuka had canceled her planned expedition to America. After a period of rest, she might instead head to Hong Kong at year's end for the G2 Hong Kong International Cup.
But the young horse girl now standing in front of Rudolf, with that brazenly arrogant look on her face, made Rudolf's breathing grow even heavier.
Beside her, Air Groove's eyes were burning with anger as well. Ever since this young girl had arrived at Fuchu Racecourse, every word out of her mouth had made one thing clear: she had not the slightest respect for Japanese horse girls. She looked down on them completely.
When Air Groove introduced Symboli Rudolf as an undefeated Triple Crown winner, the girl had immediately replied:
"I'm an undefeated Arc winner."
That alone made it obvious she thought little of Japan's Triple Crown, while the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe remained, in the hearts of Japanese fans and horse girls alike, the sacred temple of world turf racing.
Air Groove adjusted her expression and was just about to respond when the girl stomped on the turf beneath her feet and started complaining instead.
"Your turf design is awful. It's way too hard. Who are you expecting to race on this? Aren't you worried your horse girls are going to run themselves into ruin on this kind of surface?"
As she spoke, the young horse girl pointed directly at Symboli Rudolf.
Long accustomed to admiration and deference, the student council president had not been criticized so bluntly in a very long time. She was already on the verge of exploding.
"You didn't make it like this just to help yourselves win, did you? With a track like this, no wonder you dared invite girls from our side over. So that's the kind of outside help you're relying on."
The girl's muttering made Air Groove want to snap back immediately, but before she could, another European horse girl standing behind the speaker let out a laugh of agreement, making Air Groove feel even more humiliated.
Just what kind of difficult monsters had Europe sent this year? Air Groove's fury had nowhere to go. She could only vent her frustration inwardly.
"Alright, Sejashu, that's enough."
A somewhat older, steadier horse girl sighed and patted Sejashu on the shoulder. Only then did the loud one finally quiet down.
Once Sejashu stopped, the older horse girl turned to Symboli Rudolf. Compared with the others traveling with her, she was practically polite.
"Has your lineup for this year's Japan Cup been finalized? Seeking the Pearl and Taiki Shuttle's performances were enough to show how much Japanese horse girls have improved over the years, so we're taking this Japan Cup very seriously…"
"Not because the prize money got a huge increase?" Sejashu cut in.
"Sejashu!"
The horse girl who had just been reprimanded threw up her hands. The older one said nothing more.
Rudolf could tell that none of these European powerhouses actually disagreed with Sejashu. They were only leaving the student council of Central Tracen Academy its last shred of face.
"We heard Japan has produced a runner called a 'shooting star,' even a 'celestial horse girl,'" the older one continued. "Will she be entering the Japan Cup this time?"
Rudolf fell silent for a moment, then shook her head.
She had not expected Europe's lineup to be this terrifying. Judging from the Japanese entries currently registered, they did not look remotely capable of fighting back. It was doubtful whether any of them could even finish in the placings.
And over 2400 meters, Rudolf suspected that even if Silence Suzuka were in the field, she might not be able to hold on to the end.
A flicker of disappointment crossed the European girl's face. She had done a bit of research before coming and had concluded that the only one who might introduce any uncertainty was the runner the Japanese fans kept exalting to the heavens. After all, a reputation that large had to rest on real ability.
"Then we'll go have another look at the track."
She turned away without waiting for Rudolf's answer and headed toward the other side of the course, clearly no longer interested in continuing the conversation.
Sejashu, following right behind, did not miss the chance to needle the two leaders of the student council again.
"Why'd you waste so many words on them, Painter?"
"Well, it is their home ground. We'll take the placings and the money, but we should at least leave them some face."
"If none of them even place, what face do they have?"
The conversation between Sejashu and Painter was translated word for word.
Air Groove shot the interpreter a furious glare.
She had not needed that translated, thank you very much.
When she turned back to Rudolf, ready to ask what they should do about the race, she saw the flush on Rudolf's face. Air Groove was startled at first, but soon understood. Anyone would be driven to this point after being insulted like that.
The academy Rudolf had poured all her effort into, the institution she had helped raise into what it was today, meant nothing at all in the eyes of these top European elites.
"Do we really have to send out old relics like us?" Rudolf murmured, sounding lost.
Air Groove's heart twisted painfully. Even the interpreter wore an odd expression, as if silently asking:
And if you did run, what difference would it make?
Air Groove was instantly enraged again. She waved a hand, unwilling even to spare the interpreter another glance. Instead, she focused on the foreign horse girls who were barely taking their track inspection seriously.
Then one of them began a test run.
After only the briefest warm-up, the explosive speed she displayed sent a chill through Air Groove.
"Country Lover," Rudolf said quietly. "This year's King George winner… and last year's too."
There was a defeated note in her voice, and Air Groove wanted to comfort her.
She just did not know how.
"Do we have more names on the entry list now?" Rudolf asked.
Air Groove hesitated, lips parting and closing before she could force the answer out.
"What do you mean?"
Rudolf turned sharply toward her. The capable vice president at her side had red already beginning to gather in the corners of her eyes.
"Today… after hearing about this year's foreign lineup, a lot of horse girls withdrew. So the ones left now aren't really…"
Her halting words were hard to follow, but Rudolf understood enough.
Japan's prospects in this year's Japan Cup were bleak.
The enthusiasm among Japanese racing fans this year had been tremendous. Rudolf did not want those newly rekindled hopes and passions to be smashed into despair at the end of the year by the overwhelming might of Europe's elites.
Her gaze drifted to the gray-haired horse girl who had followed the European group in silence from the very beginning, saying almost nothing, yet radiating enormous pressure.
With hair the same color as Oguri Cap's, Rudolf had once been able to look down on Oguri from above. But when this girl had merely looked her up and down a moment ago, Rudolf had felt a stab of unease.
Dolremi.
A horse girl of immense renown in Europe, unquestionably dominant, and one who made the darkness hanging over this year's Japan Cup feel even heavier.
Rudolf's back bent slightly, as though she had suddenly aged years in an instant. Her voice dropped low.
"So who do we still have?"
"I'm still in. So are El Condor Pasa and Stay Gold. Senior Takamine said that if it's absolutely necessary, the Mejiro family can send Bright and Dober."
"So they'd rather not send them."
Rudolf knew the relationship between the Symboli and Mejiro families well enough. If she asked, Takamine would send her promising younger relatives without hesitation.
After a long silence, Rudolf finally nodded.
She had no choice.
"Hishi Amazon said she could come, but her trainer wants her to rest. Grass wants to run too, but she hasn't fully recovered yet. Neither I nor her trainer could possibly approve that…"
"And Nishizaki Ryu said he'll decide after the Kikuka Sho depending on Special Week's condition. But he doesn't seem very enthusiastic, so I'm worried…"
"That means she'll come," Rudolf said. "With her trainer's ties to him, and with Special Week's own ambitions, Nishizaki Ryu will let her run."
Rudolf had always thought well of the girl who dreamed of becoming the best in Japan.
"If she wins the Kikuka Sho, build some momentum around her."
"Understood."
"Anyone else?"
Europe had brought seven horse girls in total.
Every one of them was a G1 winner, and not just any G1 winners, but champions of the very top tier.
Even if Painter, whose Arc performance ranked among the best in history, had not yet finalized her participation, Europe's lineup was still terrifying enough on its own.
And now Japan could only scrape together six who might realistically fight back.
"Sunrise Flag and Royal Attorney both said they're going straight to the Arima Kinen. So… maybe that's really it."
"What about Offside Trap?"
Both girls fell silent.
Air Groove had not expected Rudolf to say the name so directly, while Rudolf herself felt a bitter sting of irony.
Everything they had said and done before the Tenno Sho made the question seem absurd now.
"She… hasn't entered."
"Ask."
Air Groove drew a deep breath, swallowed her humiliation, and nodded.
"And Shirain too. I'll talk to her myself."
Rudolf pressed her lips together and closed her eyes. No one could see what emotions stirred behind those lids.
"At least that way… we'll outnumber them, won't we…"
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter116)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter82)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter144)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 118
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 111
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 80
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 112
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 95
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 89
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 53
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 61
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 65
Uma Musume: From Beginner 61
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 37
My patreon : patreon.com/queen_sin