After her battle against the world's strongest foes, Kousei's reputation soared. She was the Silver Demon, undefeated in battle, who had never known the taste of defeat. Riding this wave of momentum, Kousei became the face of the NAU.
More and more people started paying attention to the NAU. Though most were drawn by Kousei, her success also brought exposure to the other Umamusume.
For a time, her fame was boundless. The name "Kousei" no longer signified a nobody.
Simultaneously, enrollment at Northern Academy skyrocketed. Kousei's exceptional performance against Morgan had showcased the academy's educational philosophy to the world: comprehensive technique, flexible thinking, and forging champions through relentless training.
Her success was not attributed to Gate Technique. By eliminating reliance on specialized skills, Kousei's triumph offered hope to those who considered themselves ordinary.
This was the first step toward greatness, the driving force behind Kousei's pursuit of the peak—her desire to become an Umamusume who could carry the hopes of others.
From here, she would climb, step by step, toward her dream.
"A three-length victory! The Silver Demon is unstoppable!"
The racetrack erupted in cheers. Her undefeated record and the sheer audacity to challenge the world's elite single-handedly had brought the NAU, a lower-tier league, unprecedented levels of discussion and attention.
A monster burst onto the scene, bathed in flowers and praise. But with great fame comes great opposition. It mattered little; having transformed from mediocre talent into a monster, she had already endured countless slanders.
Both the visible and the invisible—praise and criticism alike—nurtured the monster's growth. Rising from infamy, she now commanded respect.
You might dislike her for crushing your favorite racer, but that didn't matter. Her style was to violently, unreasonably seize your attention.
Even if they resisted, when Kousei crossed the finish line, they would realize their gazes had long been fixed upon her.
An unorthodox beauty that defied convention. An indomitable spirit determined to shatter the fallacy of bloodlines. The sole "Villain" among the Villains of the Century was now challenging the entire world.
Like her predecessors, Kousei was now advancing toward the pinnacle of greatness. Perhaps the legend of the Silver Demon could truly be reborn.
"Kousei won again. There's no doubt she's the most famous racer in the NAU right now. I just wonder if everyone else will accept that."
Kousei's achievements sparked widespread discussion online. After a series of races, she entered a brief rest period. Although Kousei insisted she was perfectly fine, Doctor Takuya insisted that she rest for a while.
Since Doctor Takuya had spoken, Kousei had no choice but to comply.
During her rest, Kousei began to follow the online discussions about herself.
"So what? She used to be a nobody, but not anymore. People respect her not because they want to, but because they have to. Say what you will, but if we respect victory, then she deserves everything that comes with being a winner."
Kousei read intently, deeply concerned about her current reputation.
This wasn't just any ordinary TV program. As the Umamusume Federation, the AF had the most impartial rating process in the industry. Their high standing meant that being recognized by the AF was proof enough of one's formidable skill. Their roster included every superstar to date, giving them significant influence in all circles.
"Indeed. I never expected her to defeat Morgan. That truly surprised me."
"Indeed. It was a truly spectacular performance."
"One thing I find quite surprising is that, looking at Kousei's past races, she's always struggled on heavy tracks. She's notoriously bad at handling muddy ground. Her most famous races at Central were the Derby and the Spring Tenno Sho. In the Spring Tenno Sho, she lost the final stretch showdown because McQueen had secured an advantageous position and completely tore up the Forbidden Zone with her powerful strides. As for the Derby, she suffered a crushing defeat, finishing a distant 11th due to the heavy track conditions.
"Yet, this very same Umamusume, who struggles so much on heavy tracks, somehow managed to win by cutting into the Forbidden Zone to overtake Morgan. It's utterly baffling."
"Heh heh~ That's a very interesting point. Kousei's weakness on heavy tracks is common knowledge. That's why no one expected her to charge into the Forbidden Zone, which had been churned to mud by the pack. Everyone thought she couldn't do it—and that very 'inability' became her weapon.
"Now, this is just my personal speculation, but I believe Kousei's ability to cut into the Forbidden Zone is inseparable from her Trainer, Chiin Reiko. Reiko is the heir to the fallen Chiin Clan, an elite family, and her training philosophy is... quite unique."
"Umamusume have ideal theoretical stats, and most Trainers strive to keep their Umamusume's physical data within this perfect range. However, Kousei's performance clearly shows she's far outside it. Compared to Morgan, her net weight is a full fifteen pounds heavier.
"Chiin Reiko has put her through an almost absurdly intense power training regimen, making her nearly unbeatable in physical confrontations. Another crucial point is her horseshoes. If you look closely, you'll notice Kousei's strides are much heavier than before."
The host pulled up a report on the screen.
"This is Kousei's pre-race registration data. Everyone, please pay attention to the horseshoe section."
The other host looked and gasped, "60kg!"
"That's right. Her horseshoes are far heavier than any other competitor's. To put that in perspective, even Mejiro McQueen's horseshoes only weigh 45kg. It's likely there isn't a single Umamusume in any league with heavier ones."
"But wouldn't that drastically reduce her speed? Isn't that a net loss?"
"Indeed, but it also grants her the leg strength needed to hold her ground in the Forbidden Zone. In the past, if she were forced into the outer lane, it would have been game over for her."
In this world, everything has a price. To gain something, you must sacrifice something else.
"You must understand, speed has never been Kousei's strong suit. By sacrificing speed, she's further enhanced her ability to fight for position. In slow-paced races, Kousei can leverage an even greater advantage than before. Of course, fast-paced races will be much trickier for her."
The host who had raised the question frowned after hearing the explanation. She found Chiin Reiko's training methods far too extreme.
"Ultimately, racing is a contest of speed. Abandoning speed is an incredibly unwise choice."
"At first glance, that certainly seems to be the case."
"What do you mean?"
"It's not as if Kousei can't compete on speed. She beat Morgan by nine lengths—and we're talking about Morgan."
"That's right! Why did that happen?"
Morgan's title, "King of Killers," was legendary. How could a runner renowned for her final leg lose in a final leg showdown?