Some say that was a golden era, brimming with extraordinarily gifted legendary Uma Musume.
Whether it was Special Week defending her honor in the Japan Cup, or King Halo finally going all out to become a G1-winning Uma Musume—they would all go down in history as legends.
And let's not forget the one who debuted just a year after them yet achieved the unprecedented feat of an undefeated season: the Conqueror of the Century's End, T.M. Opera O.
Those who loved Uma Musume and witnessed it firsthand would probably never forget this generation.
But aside from these Uma Musume destined to be remembered by history, there was one particularly special Uma Musume in that era.
She shared the same bloodline as King Halo, and even before King Halo awakened to her potential, she was already carrying the prestige of a top-tier runner. Unbeaten since her debut, she consistently overpowered powerful contemporaries like Admire Vega and Narita Top Road.
And then there was that legendary Satsuki Shō—where, in an utterly unprecedented showdown, she defeated the Conqueror of the Century's End T.M. Opera O head-on.
Surely, an Uma Musume like this was destined to achieve even greater glory in the future.
That's what all the spectators thought back then.
But as if heaven envied her talent, shortly after the Satsuki Shō, this Uma Musume suddenly announced she was hospitalized due to injury and suspended all activities. The audience waited anxiously, hoping she would one day return to the track.
What they got in return, however, was a bleak obituary.
Uma Musume Dream Weaver had passed away due to severe injury.
Dream Weaver opened her eyes again, somewhat confused, and flexed her hand. It felt completely unreal.
Through her semi-transparent palm, she could even see the sky on the other side.
"A... ghost?" she muttered to herself, puzzled. Dream Weaver really couldn't understand why the system had brought her back to this world in this form after the scripted mission had already ended.
"Weaver..."
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from behind her. She turned instinctively and saw a familiar flash of gold.
It was Narita Top Road. She looked just as Dream Weaver remembered, only a little more somber.
"You can see me?" Dream Weaver asked, pleasantly surprised. Even if she didn't know why, she thought it'd be nice to say a proper goodbye to a friend.
But Narita Top Road acted as though she hadn't heard, walking straight through Dream Weaver's form.
"Huh?"
Only then did Dream Weaver finally take a proper look at her surroundings. Under rustling leaves, irritable cicadas chirped loudly. Amid their cries, rows of stone blocks were neatly arranged like assembled buildings. This was a cemetery.
And Narita Top Road's words, naturally, were directed at the name engraved on Dream Weaver's tombstone.
"Waaah—"
Narita Top Road's lips trembled, but no words came out. Tears streamed down her cheeks like a spring.
Seeing her so heartbroken, Dream Weaver suddenly remembered a conversation they'd once had. She'd asked Narita Top Road what she would do if she lost a G1 race, and Narita Top Road's answer was that she would cry.
"Such a child," Dream Weaver chuckled helplessly, watching Narita Top Road sob uncontrollably, and repeated those same words to her.
She reached out her translucent hand and gently, steadily stroked Narita Top Road's head.
"But you're still so kind."
Before long, exhausted from crying, Narita Top Road closed her eyes beside the tombstone. Her head tilted slightly, as if leaning against something.
Tap, tap, tap.
The sun had slowly set, and the fading glow of sunset cast swaying shadows of leaves upon the gravestones. Just as Dream Weaver was worrying about how to wake Narita Top Road so she wouldn't catch a cold, the sound of footsteps approached from a distance.
Dream Weaver looked up and saw that it was Admire Vega.
When Admire Vega reached the tombstone, she sighed softly at the sight of Narita Top Road, helped her up, and prepared to leave.
But after just a few steps, she suddenly glanced back. Dream Weaver instinctively looked around, thinking there might be someone else nearby.
Admire Vega parted her lips as if to say something, but after a long pause, no words came. It was as if she felt she didn't have the right to speak them.
Only then did Dream Weaver realize from Admire Vega's gaze that she had been looking at the tombstone—not at Dream Weaver herself, now a ghost.
"We'll come see you again."
In the end, Admire Vega swallowed what she had been about to say and could only offer these simple, neutral words.
As a friend, Narita Top Road could freely pour out her grief. But what about Admire Vega? What identity could she claim before this tombstone?
Even if she had once seen traces of her sister in Dream Weaver due to their similarities, in reality, their interactions had been confined to the racetrack.
From beginning to end, Admire Vega had never shared her feelings with Dream Weaver.
So now, without any claim to a deeper connection, she had no right to voice the words buried in her heart.
Watching the two figures gradually disappear into the distance, Dream Weaver silently waved. Even though she knew her farewell wouldn't reach them, she still wanted to do it.
After Narita Top Road and Admire Vega left, the cemetery returned to its usual solemn silence.
Bored, Dream Weaver thought about wandering around to pass the time but soon realized she could only move within about fifty meters of her tombstone.
"Not even a regular ghost."
"More like a bound spirit," she joked to herself, though there was no one left to laugh along.
Eventually, she returned to her spot. Gazing at the small tombstone before her, she rested her chin in her hands and murmured,
"If there's anything weirder than attending your own funeral..."
"It's definitely seeing your own tombstone with your own eyes."
As she spoke, she poked at the black-and-white photo on the stone, only to watch her finger pass straight through it.
Before she knew it, even the sunset had slipped below the horizon, and the clear, cold moon had begun its ascent.
"How long am I going to be stuck here?"
Bored, Dream Weaver started counting the leaves overhead, talking to herself. She didn't even dare count too fast—that would feel too extravagant.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!"
As if in response to her words, a familiar, exuberant voice rang out from a distance.
Dream Weaver turned to look. Sure enough, it was T.M. Opera O.
Unlike Narita Top Road and Admire Vega, this one had brought along a whole bunch of random stuff.
"I really still don't get how your mind works," Dream Weaver said, smiling wryly at the sight of T.M. Opera O.
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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!
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If you guys wanna check it out.