"Now entering Gate 4 in Lane 3—Barbatos!"
As Barbatos stepped into the starting gate, waves of cheers and shouts of "You can do it!" rose one after another.
Even just the voices of these spectators were enough to put immense pressure on the other competitors.
It felt as though they weren't participating in a G3-level race, but had instead stepped into the arena of a G1-level event—as if they were about to face a true legendary Uma Musume.
"Next, please welcome into the gate—Dramatic Development, the third favorite in this race, Gate 1 in Lane 2!"
The orange-haired girl, her hair tied into two short pigtails, stepped into the gate. Right beside her stood the seemingly unbeatable king of this race—Barbatos.
Dramatic Development took a deep breath.
Even though Barbatos looked like any ordinary Uma Musume, those race replays, those overwhelming victories by multiple lengths, and all the discussions online weighed heavily on her.
It was an oppressive aura built up through countless victories by formidable Uma Musume. Even if they themselves didn't carry any visible intensity, just knowing their track record was pressure enough.
Recalling what her trainer had said before the race, Dramatic Development mustered her courage. "Barbatos... I won't lose to you!"
Only an Uma Musume who yearned for victory could become number one.
If you didn't even dare to dream or speak of winning, why bother racing at all?
Barbatos glanced back with a light laugh. "I don't plan on losing either."
Athletic competition was about who could run faster, who had better judgment, stamina, and finishing power—what did it have to do with jinxes?
If that were really the case, then if the "Emperor" herself came to run a G3 race, wouldn't she be doomed to lose, or even end up with broken bones or euthanized?
"You're Dramatic Development, right? Let's have a good race out there!"
A faint blush spread across Dramatic Development's cheeks. Even as the third favorite, she never expected Barbatos to remember her name.
In the eyes of G3-level Uma Musume like her, Barbatos was already on a completely different level—a senior who could only find worthy rivals in G2 or even G1 races.
She turned solemnly and gave a slight bow to Barbatos. "Yes, let's have a good race!"
But just as she bowed—
The gates flew open. Barbatos and the other Uma Musume burst out of the gates simultaneously.
"What perfect starts from everyone!"
"But the third favorite, Dramatic Development—is she slow out of the gate?!"
"What's going on? It looks like she was bowing to Barbatos—did something happen between them before the race?"
"Can Dramatic Development still catch up after such a slow start?!"
"Now, let's turn our attention to the front of the pack—and leading is Barbatos!!"
"It's Barbatos who's taken the lead!"
"Barbatos, who has always favored a late-charging running style, has unexpectedly switched to a front-running strategy! Currently, she's less than a length ahead of second place!"
"Is this a last-minute change in tactics?"
The race caller suddenly recalled Barbatos's last G3 race—the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup. "Could Barbatos be using a front-running strategy to avoid being marked by the other competitors?"
"No, that shouldn't be necessary,"the analyst cut in. "If we're talking about marking, after what happened in the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup, it's clear that even if all the other entrants tried to mark Barbatos, they probably still couldn't stop her from charging up the outside."
"Looking at the movements of the other runners, it seems they aren't planning to mark Barbatos this time."
"In other words, Barbatos has another reason for choosing to run at the front this time."
"Wait—this can't really be called 'front-running,' can it?"
The race caller sounded confused. "But Barbatos is clearly leading at the front—why wouldn't this be front-running?"
"What is true front-running? It's a running style where the runner goes all out from the start, like they're fleeing the pack, immediately seizing the lead and building a gap, maintaining it all the way to the finish."
"But isn't that exactly what Barbatos is doing right now?"
"It's not that simple. The key isn't the leading position—it's the 'all-out' effort."
"If this were Barbatos's debut race, I might also call this front-running. But having witnessed so many of her powerful finishes, do you really think this is her top speed?"
"Well..."
"If this isn't front-running, then what kind of strategy is it?"
As their exchange piqued the audience's interest, the race caller voiced the question on everyone's mind.
While keeping an eye on the race, the analyst explained, "The terms 'Front-runner,' 'Stalker,' 'Mid-pack,' and 'Closer' were created to help casual fans understand race dynamics. In reality, runners simply choose the position most advantageous to them during the race."
"If you say Barbatos is leading now, and call it a front-running strategy... I'd say it's less about strategy and more that she's just running fast."
"It's like when a true legendary Uma Musume enters a race. Even if she runs her usual style, and even if she typically closes from behind, the difference in caliber means she effortlessly ends up at the front. So..."
"Even without going all out, she naturally occupies the front-runner's position."
"Although I'm comparing Barbatos to a legendary Uma Musume, the truth is, she's already in a different league from these G3 runners."
--+--
Out on the track, Barbatos paid no attention to the commentary, focusing entirely on the race.
She kept track of the runners behind her. Compared to the pressure she felt with Tamamo Cross and Obey Your Master behind her during that relay marathon, being in the lead now brought some pressure, but nothing like that immense weight from before.
She hadn't chosen to lead without reason.
It was something she'd realized back in that novice race with Queen Berry: demoralizing your opponents wasn't something that only worked when you started from the back.
During a race, when you built such a lead that the others felt it was impossible to catch up, when you crushed their hope of victory—that worked just as well.
"Only 1000 meters to go!"
"Barbatos still leads! The gap to second place, Happy Employee, is closing—now just half a length!"
Happy Employee pushed harder. "I can do this!"
Barbatos had always been a closer. If there was no chance of winning before, her sudden change in strategy now was an opportunity.
"You've gotten careless, Barbatos!"
One by one, the Uma Musume behind her poured on the speed, surging forward. "It's possible! There's a chance!"
"Happy Employee is about to draw level with Barbatos!"
"Can Happy Employee overtake Barbatos and seize victory in this race?!"
"The gap is widening!"
"Barbatos is accelerating—that terrifying final spurt, just like always!"
"Can Happy Employee keep up?"
Happy Employee had given it her all to catch up to Barbatos, just on the verge of passing her, when a sound like a sonic boom suddenly erupted by her ears.
Barbatos's figure shot forward like an arrow from a bow, her speed increasing by more than a notch!
A wry smile touched Happy Employee's lips.
She thought she had a chance to overtake Barbatos. She thought she could win this race.
But I was already giving my all, while she was only just getting serious...
This is why she's deservedly Japan's most popular! This is Barbatos, the Wind Archon!
She's simply not in the same dimension as us!
"[Unintelligible shout]... Barbatos breaks the line!!"
"Congratulations to Barbatos for a dominating victory in the Artemis Stakes! A perfect eight-length gap over second place!"
"Second place: Happy Employee. Third place:..."
"Eleventh place: Dramatic Development."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 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.