All eyes were fixed on the dark figure on the racetrack. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, she ran ahead of everyone else.
Throughout its entire history, there had been only a handful of incidents where something went wrong at the highly prestigious [Japan Derby].
Aside from unavoidable natural disasters like earthquakes, only someone with an antisocial personality would dare to cause trouble at such a grand event.
And until now, no one had ever been so brazen as to intrude upon a race of this caliber.
To enter this symbol of glory without permission was already a desecration of its honor. Forget earning anyone's praise; a person like that ought to be nailed to the Uma Musume's pillar of shame, serving as a stark warning, again and again, to future generations who might dare to challenge the rules of the great race.
Without rules, there is no order; everything is built upon a foundation of regulations and discipline.
The reason the [Japan Derby] held such immense significance today was entirely due to its extremely rigorous selection process and its unwavering, once-in-a-lifetime rule—a bottom line that could not be shaken.
No matter how noble one's status, they could not touch this foundational rule. This applied equally to everyone, including the undisputed 'Emperor,' the very symbol of Uma Musume honor and glory, known far and wide.
Yet now, no amount of vehement words could change the current situation. The race had been declared started; it could not be stopped before the Uma Musume reached the finish line. None of the competitors would halt their strides because of one intruder.
On the commentary platform overlooking it all, the commentator, her hands braced against the desk, was drenched in sweat. Her gaze was locked onto the track, eyes filled with barely suppressed shock and confusion.
Since the beginning of her career, she had never experienced anything like this.
Someone in the backend had already urgently contacted the central authorities, but until a decision came down, she had to hold her post.
'Do I just keep commentating like normal?'
She was plagued by doubt.
Here, commentating on an unknown Uma Musume.
Would the central authorities even allow it?
If luck was not on her side, once the race results were in, the central committee might even fire her outright, because her commentary would have tacitly acknowledged the intruder's presence and legitimacy.
Her thoughts were in turmoil. What if she just ignored the black Uma Musume, pretended she wasn't there…
Her eyes slowly scanned the audience.
It was clear that everyone's attention had already shifted from Narita Brian to the intruder.
The intruder was just that captivating.
Setting her job aside, she herself was intensely curious about the black Uma Musume, especially seeing her use a strikingly familiar running form, positioned ahead of all the others, as if leading the entire pack.
After much hesitation, she gritted her teeth and made a decision.
'To hell with it…'
As a commentator, faced with this unprecedented—and likely never-to-be-repeated—race, she resolutely chose to carry out her duty to the very end.
"The unnamed black Uma Musume! She's at the very front of the pack, leading by a significant margin—!"
--+--
Gods exist in this world.
That was what Narita Brian thought.
Because at this very moment, the Goddess of Battle had descended upon the Tokyo Racecourse.
Her heart leaped with joy, her long-suppressed nature bursting free.
Who was she? Where did she come from? Why was she on the track?
These questions hadn't even fully formed before they were utterly crushed by the fiery heat of Narita Brian's soul.
The moment she saw that dark figure, a bomb had gone off in Narita Brian's head, setting her entire bloodstream boiling.
Her lonely, bored heart was now beating with terrifying intensity.
Thump, thump-thump—!
Rapid and heavy, it felt loud enough to echo throughout the entire racecourse.
Her eyes burned fiercely.
The one she had dreamed of, the one she'd seen only once, the one worthy of being called her rival, was right there before her eyes.
Her heart clenched tight.
The black figure kept her body low, running with all her might.
It felt so familiar.
That posture… Narita Brian knew it well. It was like a wild beast's, full of a violent, murderous intensity. That unrestrained and rampant stance—yes, Narita Brian knew it intimately, almost like looking in a mirror. It was her own reflection.
'Interesting!'
Narita Brian's eyes widened sharply.
She could see flames rising from the other's body, flames that scorched her very nerves.
From that girl in black, Narita Brian sensed an aura identical to her own.
'She is a beast.'
'A beast, but different from me.'
'A fiercely formidable beast.'
'It seems… you're also one who can't stand being left in the shadows!'
A smile, more genuinely pleased than any she had ever shown before, spread across Narita Brian's face. Right now, she could feel it: the scales had been balanced.
What came next would be a battle of utter abandon, a clash without holding back!
"Go, Narita Brian!"
"Show her what you're made of!"
"Go for it—!!"
The stands were roaring with noise. They, too, had never witnessed such a rare spectacle.
Someone had actually intruded onto the track right under everyone's noses.
Though shocked at first, they quickly stopped worrying about the details and became absorbed in the race unfolding before them.
As spectators, their focus needed to be on the race itself.
The intruder's identity and motives weren't for them to figure out. Of course, they'd be happy to follow the aftermath, but that would have to wait until after the race.
For now, they just wanted to see Narita Brian crush this ignorant challenger beneath her hooves.
'After all, the one you're facing is the strongest Uma Musume of this generation!'
"Go on, run—!!"
With unprecedented passion, they cheered fervently, making the already blazing competition even more dazzling.
Narita Brian's gaze shifted from the leading black-clad girl to the other Uma Musume around her. It seemed as if they had been pulled along by the pace set by the frontrunner. The lead runners were moving at a blistering speed, and strained expressions were starting to show on their faces.
Clearly, this pace was unsuitable for a 2400-meter race. Their breathing was thrown into disarray, their stamina draining rapidly; they were already showing signs of fading.
'Just as I thought…'
'Just a slight increase in speed, and they're led by the nose. A bunch of incompetent stragglers, just like I imagined.'
However!
She revealed an undisguised, murderous expression.
'But the situation has changed. I prefer a race like this!'
"The unnamed black Uma Musume still leads! The field is stretching out, the race pace is a bit fast—no, it's extremely fast!"
Up in the commentary box, the commentator shouted excitedly.
The wild demeanor of that girl gave her the exact same feeling as Narita Brian.
Unbridled. Unrestrained.
From the commentary box, the spectator stands, and even the edge of the track itself, countless cameras were trained on her.
Watching the way she powered forward with such raw, unadulterated force, so similar to Narita Brian's own style, yet she had chosen to run at the very front, setting the pace—the so-called 'escape' tactic.
This utterly unexpected turn of events even caused the commentator's voice to waver slightly.
'What is she trying to do? Can someone running like that really win?'
By now, the commentator had completely forgotten about the intruder's unknown status, her attention fully captured by the race itself.
The front-runners, clinging to the lead group, were already beginning to falter under the intensely demanding pace, their footfalls becoming disordered.
And yet, instead of slowing down, the black Uma Musume planted her foot firmly and surged forward, her speed increasing once again.
Under her lead, the entire race was charging madly towards an extreme of velocity!
--+--
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.