"Was that the kind of resolve you had when you decided to run alongside me on that track?"
Nearl held a piece of rice cake, chewing it slowly. She had actually anticipated Fujimasa March's line of thinking.
After all, if she hadn't used her radiance to provide emergency treatment after the race, March's condition wouldn't be nearly as stable as it was now.
The reason Shibasaki Koichi had that nightmare was precisely because he knew March all too well—so well that the moment he saw her collapse after crossing the finish line, he instinctively understood just how severe her injuries could have been.
If not for Nearl's behind-the-scenes assistance, Shibasaki's nightmare would have become reality.
So the resolve March spoke of was undoubtedly real.
In that final sprint, she had pushed forward with the mindset that this would be her last race—that she would retire immediately after.
"To be honest, that wasn't what I was thinking before stepping onto the track," March said, her tone calm. "At first, I just wanted to give my all and race against the talented friend Oguri Cap always talked about."
"Then what drove you to decide to burn yourself out for that final burst of speed?" Nearl asked, puzzled.
Hearing that, March shot her an annoyed look.
"It was that glance you threw over your shoulder! When I saw you look back, I thought you weren't even taking the race seriously—that you were just toying with me. So I got angry and accelerated."
But after venting her frustration, March noticed the completely blank look on Nearl's face, which made her pause.
"What's with that expression? You look even more confused than I am."
"Well, I am a little puzzled, to be honest," Nearl admitted, nodding slightly. Her ears twitched as she spoke.
"I remember very clearly—I never looked back. Not even once."
"?" A question mark practically materialized above March's head.
"Then what I saw… was it just an illusion? Was I competing against a hallucination?"
March covered her face with her hands, utterly mortified.
The disrespect she thought she'd seen never even existed—it was all in her head. Didn't that just make her look like a total fool, getting all worked up over her own imagination?
The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she felt. She could only try to mask her awkwardness by eating faster.
But because of that, she failed to notice the subtle shift in Nearl's demeanor.
--+--
Nearl's ears twitched again. This time, she could've sworn she heard something.
The sound grew clearer and clearer, until it resolved into a familiar voice.
"Hiiii~ Little Nearl, are you there? It's Byerley~"
Hearing that, Nearl's ears instinctively perked up. Thankfully, her self-control was strong enough to keep her expression neutral.
"Sister Byerley, how are you contacting me? And… can others hear you?"
She glanced furtively at Fujimasa March, who didn't seem to have noticed anything. Nearl relaxed slightly.
"Don't worry, these children can't perceive us directly. They need certain objects to do so—like our statues, for example. So there's no need to worry about her overhearing us."
As if sensing Nearl's concern, Byerley explained gently.
"Then, Sister Byerley, is there something you need from me now?"
"Mmm… there is one thing, but that can wait. Let me clear up your confusion first."
Nearl paused for a moment, then quickly understood.
"You mean March's hallucination—that she saw me look back?"
"Actually, it wasn't an illusion. She really did see you look back—but it wasn't the physical you she saw. It was your radiance."
"...?" That left Nearl even more bewildered.
"Hehe," Goddess Byerley clearly sensed her confusion. This time, she didn't speak in riddles and instead answered straightforwardly.
"Do you remember your wish for local Uma Musume to see their dreams? This was an unconscious application of your Radiance to make that wish come true."
"As you run, a kind of inner light shines through your presence. It can inspire other Uma Musume—or guide them, in a way."
"It awakens their hidden love for running, encourages them when their hearts are clouded in darkness, and reignites their passion for the future."
"Then, could it be that March was…" A realization began to dawn on Nearl.
"Exactly. She must have been on the verge of giving up at that moment. For an Uma Musume with her personality, once that kind of thought takes hold, it's hard to recover."
"So even though your radiance usually wouldn't affect her so strongly, it did then. The you she saw in that moment was probably glowing golden."
Goddess Byerley's voice was light and airy.
"I see… So my Radiance can do something like that?" Nearl's tone was thoughtful.
"Your radiance is a reflection of your will and heart, Little Nearl. You have a heart of gold—it's only natural that it can move others and give them the strength to rise up."
"I understand. Then, Sister Byerley, what was the other thing you wanted to tell me?"
After having one mystery solved, Nearl remembered the goddess's original reason for contacting her.
"Ah, that matter is a bit…" The goddess sounded uncharacteristically hesitant. "Little Nearl, the other you will likely be coming to see you soon."
"...You mean she wants to descend to the mortal world now?"
"Yes. She's probably tired of us. She's planning to come to you now," Goddess Byerley said with a hint of helplessness.
"That itself isn't something that requires special warning. I'll be prepared to take care of her. Unless… is there some other issue with this?"
"Ah, there is one small problem. You see, Little Nearl, the other you and you are ultimately the same soul. So, well… the two of you share the same power."
The goddess seemed to be struggling to find the right words.
"In other words, if she comes to the mortal world, your upper limit of power will be reduced. The amount of power you can control will be halved."
"If she stays in my realm, I can still intervene to stabilize her existence. But if she comes to the mortal world, then it'll be up to you and your shared soul to maintain stability."
Hearing this, Nearl fell into thought. She roughly understood what the goddess was worried about.
"Sister Byerley, I know you're concerned about me. But please don't worry—I won't hold it against her. She and I were never separate to begin with. This power has always belonged to both of us."
"I don't strive because I have power—I strive, and luckily, power came along with it."
"If I gain, I rejoice; if I lose, I do not worry."
"Little Nearl… Sometimes, it's the well-behaved children who make the adults worry even more," Goddess Byerley said with a sigh.
Nearl simply smiled without replying.
"Never mind. Do your best, Little Nearl. I'll always be watching over you. For now, though, goodbye."
As those parting words faded, the voice in Nearl's ears vanished completely. But the news the goddess had brought was certainly something worth reflecting on.
"The other me… I wonder what she's really like?"
--+--
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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