"Thanks, I actually have a lot of questions about racing that I'd like to ask Norn."
Hearing Norn Ace offer to brief her on the competition, Nearl stopped her push-ups. She drew her legs in, pushed off the ground with a light spring, and stood up before walking over to take a seat beside Norn Ace.
Once seated, Nearl noticed something: Norn Ace's tracksuit was covered in dust from her earlier collapse onto the ground, making her look genuinely disheveled. So Nearl raised her right hand and asked politely:
"Norn, would you like me to brush the dust off your back? Your clothes are full of it."
"Ah, I'd appreciate that~"
Having caught her breath, Norn Ace slipped back into her usual breezy demeanor and readily accepted Nearl's kindness.
But something took her by surprise. The moment Nearl's hand touched her back, a wave of warmth spread through her, soothing even the sharp ache in her overworked lungs. Her whole body felt soft and relaxed, as if basking in warm winter sunlight—so comforting she almost drifted off.
"Mmmh~~~"
A soft, involuntary sigh escaped Norn's nose, like the sound she might make while stretching. Honestly, if any guys were around, they might've gotten the wrong idea.
"All done, the dust is gone. Are you okay, Norn?"
Just as Norn was sinking into that warmth, Nearl's question brought her back to reality.
"Huh? Ah! I'm fine, ahem—thanks, Nearl."
Flushing, Norn cleared her throat and fanned her face with her fingers, hoping to cool down her cheeks. She turned away slightly to hide her blush.
But Nearl wasn't paying attention to Norn's expression at all. As she lowered her hand, she'd noticed something unusual.
Her right hand seemed to be… glowing.
She stared at the hand that had just brushed away the dust. A faint, shimmering gold light flickered across her palm, wavering like a tiny flame—bright and brilliant as sunlight.
"The Radiance… it's manifesting externally?"
Nearl gazed speechlessly at the light flowing over her hand. Suddenly, it flickered intensely and surged toward her eyes. In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through her mind.
It felt like a spark had ignited in her consciousness. A soft, gentle voice echoed in her mind, and the world before her blurred—the field, the track, her classmates—all rippled and dissolved like waves across a pond.
Her spirit seemed to leap, to pulse. In a blink, her awareness spanned mountains and seas, crossed day and night, transcended heaven and earth, until she found herself suspended in the vast, boundless cosmos. Distant stars clustered like rivers of light, while below her, the blue planet turned—majestic and immense.
"What is this…?"
Nearl felt utterly lost. The grandeur before her was beyond anything an ordinary person could imagine. Yet, as awe-inspiring as the sight was, it couldn't dispel the unease in her heart. She wanted to return.
"Hah… Stay calm, Margaret Nearl! Panicking won't solve a thing."
She fixed her eyes on the distant nebulae, steadying herself. It wasn't easy. In such an infinite expanse, it's all too easy to feel anxious. Here, there was nothing to lean on—only firm belief and a steadfast heart. Fortunately, Nearl had both.
Gathering her focus, she retraced what had brought her here. It didn't take long to pinpoint—there had only been one unusual factor.
"Was it the Radiance?" She looked down at her right hand, as if she could still see the brilliant glow that had appeared there.
"Should I try it? Summon the Radiance again?" She pondered silently. She still had no idea what was happening. The Radiance that had been with her for four years now felt unfamiliar. Using it again could lead to unpredictable results—it was only natural to hesitate, to fear.
"But if I let fear hold me back, I'd be unworthy of the name Nearl!"
In the end, she made up her mind. She began calling upon the Radiance within—a presence that should have been familiar but now felt strange. Yet, it responded as it always had, glowing warmly in her hand, comforting and unchanged.
And the moment the Radiance appeared, the scene around her began to shift.
"What's this…? It's glowing. Is it… calling to me?"
Nearl noticed golden strands of light spreading from the blue planet below, connecting to her body like ribbons. A deep, tender love and care touched her heart, moving her to tears.
"What's happening? I feel sorrow… the tears, they won't stop…"
"That's the final embrace of your former home, little Nearl."
A gentle woman's voice spoke from behind her. Startled, Nearl turned abruptly to find a woman with long black hair standing there.
She wore a plain white gauze dress that left her slender arms bare, golden bracelets adorned her wrists, and the ears atop her head twitched softly.
"Who are you?"
Rather than put at ease, Nearl grew more guarded. She suspected this woman might be behind her current situation. Though her tone remained measured, her words carried no courtesy.
The black-haired woman didn't seem offended. She simply covered her mouth with a light laugh. "No need to be so wary, little Nearl. While I'm somewhat related to your current state, the main cause lies within yourself."
Holding the hem of her skirt, she walked slowly toward Nearl, paying no mind to Nearl's caution.
"My name is Byerley Turk. Though you might know me better as the Three Goddesses."
"The Three Goddesses!"
Nearl was stunned. In this life, she considered herself a believer—after all, the existence of Uma Musume, her own rebirth, and the Radiance within her all pointed to the possibility of gods. She'd always leaned toward science, but science didn't deny divinity. If gods truly existed, they would be part of that reality—believing was only natural.
But she never imagined she would meet one of the Three Goddesses in person.
"No need for formalities. Just call me by name—after all, you're going to be my little sister from now on~."
Byerley waved her hand casually, dropping what sounded like an earth-shattering statement.
"Um… Goddess, could you explain in more detail?"
"Of course~ But only if you stop with the titles, little Nearl. You have to call me big sister~~." Byerley smiled, her lips curving upward.
"...Understood. Sister Byerley."
"Good girl~"
Hearing Nearl call her "sister," Byerley Turk seemed delighted. Her ears swayed happily, and she began earnestly addressing Nearl's doubts.
"You ended up here because of your past life, you know. After all, you carry a 'blessing' with you~."
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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!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.