The outcome of the race was decided in a way no one expected.
Less than ten minutes after the finish, news outlets on major websites were completely abuzz, heatedly discussing the black Uma Musume who had burst onto the track.
Yet, whether online or in reality, in all the photos people had taken, it was as if there was a problem with the lenses; the space where the black Uma Musume should have been was replaced by a smear of grey-black, smoke-like traces.
If it were just one or two people, that would be one thing, but not a single one of the tens of thousands of spectators present had managed to capture a clear photo of the black Uma Musume's true appearance. Whether she was the focal point of the picture or just accidentally caught from an angle, the result was the same.
Even those spectators who had recorded videos couldn't help but frown deeply when reviewing their footage.
In the picture, a thick mist drifted in the air, and the dirt on the ground churned and kicked up under the trampling of this fog, yet the figure of the other party remained stubbornly invisible.
This bizarre and inexplicable phenomenon pushed the already sensational track invasion to an even greater frenzy.
Was it some kind of special technology used, or perhaps…
That person was an existence that could not be captured by cameras.
Hah, as if something so absurd could be possible! People debated fervently, burying this seemingly ridiculous seed in their hearts while guessing at various possibilities.
"Where did that person go?"
The Central Committee Chairwoman, who had rushed over by car, grabbed the Tokyo Racecourse manager and demanded.
"We've… we've been watching her ever since she… she left the track…"
The manager, a tall and burly man, seemed to shrink under her overwhelming presence, his words trembling.
After the black Uma Musume left, the manager hadn't dared to slack off. He immediately stationed people in the participant tunnels to monitor her movements.
"She has now entered Tunnel Four—"
"Everyone, to Tunnel Four, now!"
The Central Chairwoman immediately ordered. The central officials who had come with her promptly quickened their pace, hurrying out in a rush.
The parking areas outside the racecourse had been full for a long time due to the massive crowd. After driving around several times without finding a spot, the Chairwoman finally gritted her teeth and abandoned the car by the roadside. They had already wasted too much time.
By the time they reached the racecourse, the event was over!
To make matters worse, the racecourse manager hadn't detained the participant directly but had merely had her followed. She couldn't fathom what he was thinking.
Seeing the Chairwoman's dark expression, the manager hurried after her, hastily explaining, "Every exit is guarded! That person definitely hasn't left the racecourse yet, I guarantee it!"
"Then why wasn't the participant's identity verified before the race started? How could such a major oversight occur?"
Her face cold, the Chairwoman maintained her pace, her voice low as she questioned.
She could already imagine the media's scathing criticism directed at the Central Committee afterwards, accusing them of incompetence for allowing such an important race to be ruined.
What was worse, the winner wasn't one of the official participants but precisely that intruder.
This pushed them even further into the eye of the storm.
Just thinking about the sheer amount of work and the trouble involved in dealing with the aftermath made the Chairwoman's temples throb, and her head feel like it had swollen several sizes.
"We did verify every participant's identity! Each one was carefully checked against their photo! It was absolutely impossible for this to happen!"
"And yet this 'impossible' thing happened anyway?"
"About that… I apologize… But I guarantee you, I strictly adhered to every regulation set by the Central Committee."
"Are you suggesting there was a flaw in the Central Committee's regulations!?"
"No, no, no, no! Absolutely not! The Central Committee's regulations are meticulously crafted! It couldn't possibly be the Committee's fault! It must be that I missed some detail here!"
His mind was in a whirl. He never expected the Chairwoman to pin such a huge blame on him. If this got out, he could forget about being manager—he'd be finished in the Uma Musume industry altogether.
He had worked so hard, climbing his way up to this position. He didn't want to lose his job over a wrong word!
And he took the [Japan Derby] just as seriously. He could guarantee that every procedure had been followed correctly. As for how that runner appeared in the end… he wanted to know too!
It was like… like she had sprung right out of the ground, from a starting gate that didn't exist.
In all his years, he had never seen anything so strange. He even suspected the racecourse track might have some hidden hatch, and that Uma Musume had popped out at incredible speed.
But this far-fetched idea was quickly dismissed by the groundkeeping staff. If there were such a hatch, it would have long been trampled to pieces by the Uma Musumes' hooves.
Dammit… How did this happen…
The frantic manager was starting to see double. Just as his thoughts were in complete disarray, the walkie-talkie on his belt crackled to life, followed by a gruff male voice.
"This is Gate Four. The black Uma Musume has entered the participant restroom—"
--+--
In the quiet room, Narita Brian sat on a chair, tilting her head back to drink water and soothe her parched throat. Her legs wouldn't stop trembling, and they felt swollen, muscles aching.
The exertion had been even more intense than she'd anticipated. After the extreme tension, fatigue washed over her like a tide.
Tired…
So incredibly tired. She had run the latter part of the race at nearly a sprinting pace suited for mile-long events.
In this race, she had given it her all.
And yet, even so, she had lost.
Narita Brian gripped her legs. They were solid, powerful, still seemingly restless with the passion that had been barely contained on the track.
Her opponent's strength was simply overwhelming.
"Heh—"
She let out a low laugh.
"Hehe, ahahaha—!" She burst into genuinely joyous laughter. The face that, from the start of the race, had always looked bored, the face that had never seemed fully engaged, lacking excitement, today finally wore an expression of utter exhilaration.
Contrary to her exhausted body, her mood was exceptionally fulfilled.
It was like a palate that had never been satisfied suddenly being treated to a perfect, luxurious feast.
Yes, this was the true meaning of a race. This was why she had entered Tracen Academy.
To compete against the strong.
Crackle. She clenched the empty plastic bottle in her hand.
Once the food in her stomach was digested, she would become stronger than ever before…
"That's a good expression," a voice came from behind.
Without her noticing, the door to the participant's lounge had opened.
A tall, upright maiden in Tracen's uniform stood before Narita Brian. Taking in the other's imposing demeanor and brilliant, gem-like purple eyes, Narita Brian tossed the crumpled bottle into the trash.
"President Rudolf. You came to watch the race too."
"Since it was a race you were participating in, how could I not watch?" Symboli Rudolf said.
"Just moments ago, the Central Committee issued an official notification. The final winner of this race is you, Narita Brian."
--+--
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.