"The race felt like it was split into three acts: Nearl, leading by over twenty lengths from Everlamp; then Everlamp herself, nine lengths clear of the rest; and finally, the group of six trailing behind."
"What an unbelievable gap! I'm absolutely speechless—who could have imagined a race like this before it began?"
"Just listen to the crowd—there's only one name echoing throughout the stadium: our very own Margaret Nearl!"
"But perhaps we should turn our attention to the rest of the field for a moment, Miss Hana."
The male commentator beside her gently reminded her not to focus too one-sidedly—the other Uma Musume deserved coverage too.
"Huh? Oh—right, of course. Let's shift our gaze back to the pursuing group for now."
The female commentator paused briefly, caught off guard, then quickly recovered and switched her focus.
"Number three, Nice Inspection, is fighting hard alongside number eight, Solar Mecha. Though they've fallen far behind the leaders, they're still showing the heart of true competitors!"
"But something seems wrong with number six, Horn! She's losing ground—Horn has fallen to last place!"
'Dammit, are the two up front even human? How am I supposed to catch up to monsters like that?!'
Solar Mecha fumed inwardly, too breathless to even speak aloud. She could only grit her teeth and push through the pain.
Beside her, Nice Inspection looked just as ragged. Sweat poured down her forehead, smearing her light makeup.
'Why am I pushing myself like this? There's no way I can win…'
The question echoed in her mind, but the answer was already clear.
"That girl up ahead is running so brilliantly—how can I just give up?!" / "I want to reach that light—I have to!"
The two Uma Musume roared with determination, digging deep into their last reserves, driving onward with everything they had.
"Oh! The runners in the back haven't given up! They're still pushing with all their might! The gap isn't closing, but their spirit is incredible!"
"This is magnificent—I'm certain this race will go down in history! I'll never forget this day. Getting to call this race is the greatest honor of my career!"
"Nearl is approaching the finish line! There's absolutely no one in sight behind her! Is this the result of Trainer Kitahara's strategy? We may be witnessing yet another miracle from the countryside!"
Meanwhile, Everlamp stared fixedly at the distant figure ahead, resolve hardening in her heart.
"This is too far. I need to get closer—I have to close this gap, even if it means resorting to this."
Her focus intensified, sharpening the world before her eyes.
--+--
Skill: Keen Gaze.
Skill: Shackle.
--+--
Locking her eyes on the radiant figure ahead, Everlamp channeled her emotions. In a realm invisible to most, dark, rope-like waves of energy began spreading toward Nearl.
Tangle her feet, slow her pace, weigh her down, make her impatient.
Everlamp was a genius, a natural. She'd even intuitively grasped the principles of aura manipulation without formal training—she just never had a reason to use it until now.
"It hit!"
Her eyes narrowed. Everlamp could clearly feel her aura latching onto Nearl's body. A mix of excitement and guilt churned within her.
'I'm sorry, Nearl. Forgive me for not competing fairly. But I just wanted to be closer to you—this was the only way.'
She kept the apology silent, her gaze fixed ahead, waiting for the moment when Nearl's speed would drop—her only chance.
But then—
Everlamp's eyes widened in shock.
'Her speed—it hasn't dropped at all! How?! It definitely connected!'
In her perception, the entanglement had been successful. So why was Nearl still so fast?
--+--
Skill: Pegasus Beat, Oath of Light.
--+--
Nearl glanced calmly at the dark energy coiling around her and silently activated her unique skill. Though the aura clung tightly to her, she pressed forward, dragging its weight along with her.
'A natural talent, that one. But sadly… I can't let her have this victory.'
--+--
Skill: Final Sprint.
Skill: Overwhelming Lead.
Skill: Escape Artist.
--+--
"This victory belongs to me."
Her right leg tensed, driving powerfully into the ground. Nearl's form seemed to take flight as she soared down the homestretch, the finish line rushing toward her.
"Here she comes, here she comes, HERE SHE COMES! Nearl is accelerating! What incredible speed—beyond anything I could have imagined! The finish! The finish! SHE'S DONE IT!"
"First place: Margaret Nearl! The golden light of glory! A victory won with absolute superiority! The winner of the Sun-Moon Cup has been decided!"
The moment Nearl crossed the line, the commentator's passionate cry rang out, announcing the winner's name. The stadium erupted into a roaring ocean of cheers, every voice shouting the same name.
"Nearl! Margaret Nearl!"
After crossing the finish, Nearl gradually slowed, allowing her momentum to carry her into a steady jog before she came to a stop.
She turned toward the stands, taking in the cheering crowd right before her, absorbing their joy and emotion.
'So this is what it means to be an Uma Musume?' Nearl looked down at her hand, then slowly clenched it into a fist and raised it high.
"Wooooah!!!"
The crowd responded with an even louder wave of cheers, so excited that some threw their tickets into the air like confetti.
The slips of paper fluttered down like snow, covering everything in a celebratory glow.
Nearl bowed deeply, then began a slow lap around the track for her victory parade. By the time she made her way down the backstretch, the other Uma Musume began to cross the line.
"Hah… hah… hahh…"
Everlamp bent over, hands on her knees, gasping for air. Her track suit was completely drenched in sweat.
She lifted her head with effort, her eyes following Nearl's figure.
'So this is racing… This is the kind of race I wanted! She's so strong—I couldn't catch her at all. But… I'm so happy!'
Wiping the sweat from her face, Everlamp broke into a joyful smile, her delicate features bright with emotion.
'I want to be her friend. She's exactly the kind of friend I've always dreamed of!'
Behind her, the remaining Uma Musume who had barely finished lay collapsed on the track, not caring that their uniforms and faces were covered in dust from the course.
"Hah… hah… Dammit!" Solar Mecha yelled in frustration, fully confronted with her own limitations.
Next to her, Nice Inspection watched the roaring crowd, her face filled with longing and regret.
"I wanted those cheers too… I wanted to be number one." She bit her lip hard.
"What was I even doing all this time? How could I ever expect to earn applause with half-hearted efforts? How foolish…"
In the eyes of these exhausted Uma Musume, a new light seemed to flicker to life.
--+--
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.