"Huh?!"
Mejiro Ardan was utterly stunned by Dream Weaver's words. A bashful blush instantly spread from the tips of her ears to her cheeks.
Flustered, she waved her arms around, completely at a loss.
"D-Dreams has a c-crush on me?! I-I'm happy, of course, but we're—"
Before she could finish, Dream Weaver somehow produced a small bottle and shoved it straight into Mejiro Ardan's mouth. A strangely flavored liquid trickled down her throat.
By the time Mejiro Ardan realized what was happening, she had already drunk every last drop of the unknown substance.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
The forceful way it was poured down made Mejiro Ardan bend over, coughing uncontrollably. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes from the irritation.
After a few seconds to recover, she looked up dazedly, her hazy purple eyes fixed on Dream Weaver in confusion.
"Dreams, what on earth did you just make me drink?"
Dream Weaver plucked a tissue from the nightstand and gently wiped the residue from the corner of Mejiro Ardan's mouth.
"Something that will heal you."
Her words only deepened Mejiro Ardan's confusion, but before she could ask any more questions, Dream Weaver continued.
"It's a blessing from the Three Goddesses. Remember what you told me? That Uma Musume watched over by the Three Goddesses receive good fortune."
Mejiro Ardan froze for a second before realizing Dream Weaver was referring to the legend she'd shared during their first visit to Tracen Academy, when she'd pointed out the statue of the Three Goddesses.
She never expected Dream Weaver to remember that, let alone take the tale so literally. Still, she didn't want to dismiss Dream Weaver's kindness, even if it felt a little naive.
Mejiro Ardan smiled softly at her.
"Well... thank you. I'm sure I'll get better now."
"Once I do, let's stand on the track together again!"
Mention of the track seemed to trigger a sudden thought in Mejiro Ardan.
"Dreams, the Autumn Tenno Sho is less than a month away. You've been spending so much time training with me lately... are you keeping up with your own workouts?"
Dream Weaver paused, caught off guard. She didn't answer immediately, instead looking down at her own palm.
The limits of this body had been severely weakened by the Northern family's curse. Winning the Autumn Tenno Sho with a body in this condition was no easy task.
As Dream Weaver was still pondering how to respond, Mejiro Ardan went on, counting on her fingers.
"Let's set aside Narita Brian for now. She's your strongest opponent in this Autumn Tenno Sho, no question. But that doesn't mean you can ignore the others."
"First, there's Sakura Chitose O. She's from the prestigious Sakura family. The Uma Musume of that family have achieved remarkable results in middle and short-distance races."
"Plus, as a senior who's honed her skills on the track for years, she's competed in the Autumn Tenno Sho before. She knows the course better than you do."
Dream Weaver was surprised. She hadn't expected Mejiro Ardan, while battling through the pain of her own glass legs and pushing through rehab, to still be paying such close attention to her rivals for the Autumn Tenno Sho.
Trusting her judgment, Dream Weaver listened intently, nodding along occasionally.
According to Mejiro Ardan, Sakura Chitose O was an Uma Musume with exceptional performance in middle-distance races.
Although she'd never won a G1 race before, she was still not to be underestimated.
Having just placed second in the Yasuda Kinen a few months ago, she would definitely not let this Autumn Tenno Sho opportunity slip. She would give it her all to claim that G1 glory for her career.
To Dream Weaver, she sounded just like Rice Shower in the Spring Tenno Sho. Similar preferred distance, familiar with the course... almost identical, really, except for the lack of a top-tier victory.
"Don't look down on her just because she hasn't won a G1 yet."
It seemed Mejiro Ardan had guessed what Dream Weaver was thinking, offering the reminder at just the right moment.
Dream Weaver, however, shook her head. She genuinely didn't have any underestimating thoughts.
There were too many unknowns on the track. Winning a title at the G1 level wasn't just about having the required strength.
When Dream Weaver first encountered the system, it had explained the attribute interface, stating that an A+ rating was generally enough to secure a top-three finish in a G1 race.
But the real track was different. To seize G1 victories, countless talented Uma Musume pushed themselves to the limit in training, closing the gap through sheer effort.
Aside from a few truly peerless geniuses, most Uma Musume who qualified for G1s were operating at a very similar level. Under such conditions, winning the championship depended on much more than just personal ability.
It came down to race-day condition, tactical decisions, and who could best handle the intense pressure of competition to deliver their peak performance.
Sakura Chitose O, with her second place in the Yasuda Kinen, had already proven she possessed the capability to win.
Tempered by years of racing, she was within touching distance of her first G1 trophy.
"Besides her, there's also Genuine, Ayrton Symboli, and Toyo Lyphard– all incredibly strong Uma Musume. Any one of them has the ability to finish in the top five in this race."
"If you expend too much energy battling Narita Brian, they might just seize the chance and surge ahead."
Mejiro Ardan listed them one by one, explaining each Uma Musume's strengths and preferred strategies, analyzing their advantages and weaknesses for Dream Weaver from every angle.
And Dream Weaver simply listened quietly, just like when she was a child, lying in bed, listening to her mother's gentle voice telling her stories.
After Mejiro Ardan had finished listing all the powerful Uma Musume she could think of, Dream Weaver added one more.
"And there's also Matikanetannhauser. I watched her previous races on tape. She's actually not weak at all."
"She just always seems to fall a little short, every time," Mejiro Ardan finished with a laugh. Having said it, the two shared a knowing smile.
Once the laughter subsided, having introduced all the formidable rivals, Mejiro Ardan's thoughts returned to the Autumn Tenno Sho itself. Remembering her own regret at having missed the race twice before, she clenched her right hand into a fist and raised it firmly in front of Dream Weaver.
"Even with so many strong opponents, I still believe you will win the Autumn Tenno Sho, Dreams."
"Because... you're the little sister I'm so proud of!"
Dream Weaver's expression turned serious. She met Mejiro Ardan's fist with her own, then looked directly into those purple eyes, her voice firm.
"Without a doubt."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! 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.