From that strange dream to today's investigation and stakeout, even the half-truths and playful deceptions at the table just now—all of it was Dancing Brave's way of setting the stage for what she was about to say.
Ever since accepting the reality of that dream, she had already come to see Dream Weaver as her own daughter.
She could never accept the idea of her daughter living in such a run-down place, entering races just to cover medical expenses, or letting injuries affect her future. Otherwise, that tragic ending from the dream might become reality.
That kind of ending—Dancing Brave would never allow it.
So, Dancing Brave decided to care for Dream Weaver in place of her mother.
In her eyes, Dream Weaver was still just a child. No matter how talented she was, she shouldn't have to carry such a heavy future on her shoulders.
Holding Dream Weaver's hands, Dancing Brave could feel her own palms sweating from nerves. Even as a world-class Uma Musume who had seen and experienced so much, she still felt anxious waiting for Dream Weaver's response.
But there was no shame in that. It was proof of her love for Dream Weaver. It was because she loved her that she looked forward to her answer. It was because she loved her that she felt nervous. It was because she feared hurting her that she felt uneasy.
Sensing that love, Dream Weaver—who had been led along by Dancing Brave's words until now—suddenly tightened her grip and spoke.
"To care so deeply for a close friend that those feelings extend to her daughter…"
"To make a vow to take on another person's life, even when you've never met before…"
Dream Weaver, who had shouldered her mother's life herself, understood better than anyone how much weight those words carried. She believed that Dancing Brave, with all her years of experience in the world, must have known it too. Yet she still said those words—and that made Dream Weaver genuinely happy.
On one hand, Dancing Brave's character reassured Dream Weaver that she hadn't misjudged her. She was still the remarkable mother figure she had always admired.
On the other hand, learning that her mother had such a devoted friend—one willing to invest time, energy, and resources into caring for her child—made Dream Weaver happy for her mother, too.
Her mother had taught Dream Weaver what unconditional love was, but in Dream Weaver's eyes, her mother had also been lonely, with no one else in her life besides herself.
Hearing that her mother had a friend like this was the happiest thing Dream Weaver had learned all day.
"I… truly thank you," Dream Weaver said, looking straight into Dancing Brave's eyes with a soft smile.
Seeing that smile, Dancing Brave already knew what her answer would be.
A part of her wanted to argue—to say that they weren't strangers, that they shared an unbreakable bond from another world. That taking care of Dream Weaver wasn't a burden, but a chance to create a happy ending herself—an opportunity to change that tragic fate.
But faced with that smile, the words caught in Dancing Brave's throat.
It was like she was back in that coffee shop, watching as Dream Weaver made her vow and invited her to witness her moment of brilliance.
Her eyes held the same determination now.
Hadn't she known all along?
Once Dream Weaver set her mind to something, nothing could change it.
For a moment, Dancing Brave felt the old urge to run—just like she had in the dream world, pretending not to see anything, hoping things would work out on their own.
But—
She gritted her teeth. That tragic ending flashed through her mind again. Did she really have to accept that cold, lifeless gravestone? That stone wasn't her daughter. The strong, gentle, vibrant person in front of her was the real Dream Weaver.
Would she have to watch that gravestone swallow her daughter all over again?
Absolutely not!
"I understand," she said, closing her eyes, but her words didn't end there.
"But I can't just stand by and watch my friend's daughter live like this!"
When Dancing Brave opened her eyes again, her crimson gaze burned with a brilliant light. The sharpness she thought she'd lost after leaving the racing world and facing life's hardships—she remembered it now. That brilliance.
Now, she didn't need to be called "world-class" anymore.
The name Dancing Brave was enough.
"I'll cover all her medical expenses from now on. I'll upgrade her room to the best available, hire the top doctors, and the finest nurses—nothing less!"
She announced all this without leaving room for argument. The stream of words made Dream Weaver instinctively want to refuse, but Dancing Brave wouldn't give her the chance.
"This is what I'm doing for my friend. As her daughter, you have no right—and no way—to refuse!"
Dream Weaver fell silent. There was nothing she could do to stop Dancing Brave from spending her money this way. She didn't even have a reason to.
"And you!" Dancing Brave continued, her voice rising. "I'll hire the best nutritionist to design ideal meals tailored for your training!"
"Tracen's gym is too basic! They don't even have a hyperbaric chamber to speed up recovery. I'll take you to a proper, professional training facility!"
"And your trainer! That uneven bunch at Tracen isn't fit to train someone like you! I'll bring in the trainer who worked with me back in the day. He'll use the most advanced methods to develop your skills and plan your race schedule—so you can have a full career free from injuries!"
Dancing Brave's voice grew more and more emotional as she spoke. Dream Weaver could even see tears glistening in her eyes.
"No refusing! Even if you don't go, these people will be on standby, ready for you whenever you need them!"
By the end, her voice was trembling with emotion.
Faced with such overwhelming, undeniable generosity, Dream Weaver didn't know how to respond.
She had always believed that love never came without a reason, and now she found herself questioning that. Was it really normal to go to such lengths for a friend's daughter? To mobilize so many resources and offer so much help? Even King Halo hadn't been treated this extravagantly back in the day, had she?
What Dream Weaver didn't realize was that this was no longer just help.
This was a mother's struggle—
To save the daughter she had lost.
For some reason, without any clear cause, Dream Weaver suddenly remembered what Narita Top Road's trainer had said to her in the scripted world:
"Who knows? After all, I've never been a mother either—"
Dream Weaver remained silent for a long time—so long it felt as if the world itself had gone quiet.
Finally, she lowered her head, feeling the warm dampness against her palm—Dancing Brave's sweat, shed from emotion.
How could she refuse someone like this?
How could she ever say no to a love like this?
Dream Weaver let out a slow sigh, then looked directly into Dancing Brave's crimson eyes and spoke with quiet resolve.
"Just one condition…"
--+--
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!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.