"To all horse racing fans in Japan and practitioners worldwide, and even the swans in the pond are watching, the moment of entering the gates for the historic Kikuka Sho is about to begin!" The Commentator's voice echoed over Kyoto Racecourse.
"Ya! Rudolf, I brought Oguri and the others!" Tamamo Cross brought Oguri Cap to the Student Council's exclusive area and greeted the Student Council group casually.
"Chairman, and seniors, long time no see." A Uma Musume dressed in a very Kansai-style fashion greeted them.
"Oh my, Little Inari? You're here too." Maruzensky greeted her happily.
"Eh, I heard there's a super new star in this Kikuka Sho, so I took the opportunity to come with Senior Tama." Inari One said with an excited face.
"She is indeed super, but to be honest, I don't think Legend-chan can be called a new star."
She is already on par with us. Mr. C.B. commented nonchalantly.
"Indeed, such strength is still too foul-play for a Classic year; even among older horses, there are few who can be mentioned in the same breath," Maruzensky thought of Legend's words from a few days ago and covered her face.
"Mentioned in the same breath? You're overthinking it." Narita Brian spoke up for once. Rudolf remained silent.
"Is it really that exaggerated?" Inari One looked at the Student Council members acting so serious and couldn't help but question it.
"...I can only say, it should be even more exaggerated, right? Right, Oguri?" Tamamo Cross said to Oguri Cap.
"You're here too, Ardan." Oguri Cap ignored Tamamo Cross's remark and turned to greet Ardan, who was sitting quietly to the side.
"Eh, after all, to receive an invitation from the Chairman is my honor."
In other words, does she represent the Mejiro Family? Tamamo Cross blinked: "Say, when did Ardan and Oguri get so close?"
"We've always been close." Ardan replied with a smile.
"Hmm? What about that child who's been following you lately?" Oguri Cap looked at Yaeno Muteki and Sakura Chiyono O beside Ardan, discovering that one who concerned her the most was missing. Rudolf's ears twitched, quietly turning toward this side.
"That child said she felt a powerful aura, so she left first." Ardan said with some concern.
"Powerful? In this country, basically everyone who could make her feel that way is already here." Oguri Cap said calmly.
Where else could she go?
"I don't know. After all, I cannot understand your senses." Ardan replied softly, but her ears and tail drooped.
"...You don't have to be like this. Strength doesn't affect these things." Oguri Cap was silent for a moment, then said.
"Oh my god! Oguri is comforting someone! Besides, what does it affect?" Tamamo Cross, who was quietly gossiping on the side, couldn't hold back her shock and complained very intensely.
"I know, it's just..."
A bit unwilling. Ardan didn't finish her sentence.
"A powerful aura, huh?" Symboli Rudolf looked toward the corner of the spectator stands, deep in thought.
...
"Hello, Senior Harvest, my Master asked me to send his regards to you." Muteki said to the green figure in front of her.
"...What are you talking about? What Senior Harvest? I am Hayakawa Tazuna, the Chairman's secretary." Hayakawa Tazuna forced herself to maintain her smile.
"Hmm? Isn't it? Master said the most vital aura he perceived in this country was Senior Harvest. Did Master say it wrong?" Muteki tilted her head in a dazed, cute way.
"...Who is your master?" Hayakawa Tazuna asked, the corner of her eye twitching.
"Excuse me, I am a student of the Chief Trainer of White Horse Temple, Sea King · [Lie]." Muteki answered straightforwardly.
"That brat has already made it to Sea King?" Hayakawa said in surprise.
[Sea King], the title for the highest achievement of a Trainer in the Chinese horse racing world, a title corresponding to the [Horse King] for Uma Musume. This title is also the highest achievement in the martial arts world.
Huh? You ask why the highest achievement for both Trainer and martial arts is the same title? A Trainer who cannot defeat an Uma Musume is not a good martial artist! According to the philosophy of China, being able to defeat an Uma Musume, whose physical ability is several times that of an ordinary person, the strength of their physical fitness and the depth of their technique are self-evident. That is the pinnacle of human martial power!
As for the achievements of a Trainer, if you can't even subdue the Uma Musume under your command, what kind of Trainer are you? Retake the course! That's basically the logic. It's a martial-arts-loving country, so it's understandable.
"Calling Master 'that kid'? You really are Harvest-senpai."
Invincible bowed solemnly.
"Stop, I've already said I'm not Tokino Minoru!"
"There are only a few Uma Musume seniors who can still call Master 'that brat,' and besides, I didn't say you were Tokino Minoru, did I?"
A flash of light crossed Invincible's adorably clueless eyes.
"..."
I actually got played by such an honest kid!
Hayakawa Tazuna's hands began to tremble.
"...Fine, fine!" Hayakawa took a deep breath. "What do you need from me? Or does that brat Lie have something going on?"
"That's not it. Master just said I should greet you, and if possible, ask you for some advice, but no need to be too deliberate about it."
But you kid are clearly doing it on purpose!
Hayakawa's eyes were filled with killing intent.
"You really are strong," Invincible suddenly remarked. "Even at this distance, I still cannot perceive your 'Qi.' If not for your life force being exposed, I wouldn't even dare to confirm you are an Uma Musume."
"Perceiving 'Qi' and life force? You practice the 'Qi Nurturing Method'?"
Hayakawa looked at Invincible with an incredulous expression.
"In this day and age where the 'Eclipse Method' is widely applied and Uma Musume reign supreme, you actually chose to walk the path of an Uma Musume from a previous era? What is Lie thinking?"
"Master has always prided himself on the four thousand years of national accumulation," Invincible said, head held high and back straight. "Admittedly, the ancient methods lack the universality and professionalism of modern training methods, but that does not mean they are backward or useless."
For talented Uma Musume, it might be a path that suits them even better.
"It seems you have truly succeeded, and forged your own path. Since that is the case, I won't say anything more."
Hayakawa Tazuna watched the spirited Invincible before her. She knew what it meant for an Uma Musume to possess such an aura.
It was an aura forged by absolute victory and an Invincible spirit, just like Symboli Rudolf, just like herself.
Such an Uma Musume did not need her guidance or advice.
"Young people these days are already this terrifying. I really am getting old..."
Hayakawa sighed from the bottom of her heart.
"Not at all. Compared to you, I still have a long way to go."
Invincible said sincerely.
"Compared to you all, who are still in the rapid growth phase of actualization, all we have left are the blessings and accumulation bestowed by time," Hayakawa said with a smile.
"But it is never those things that are powerful; it is the people," Invincible said. "Just like you, just like Secretariat, just like that 17-year-old Gold Legend who just entered the racetrack below."
"..." Hayakawa Tazuna raised an eyebrow.
"It seems you do not disagree with my statement," Invincible said. "It's truly incredible. Does such an Uma Musume really exist?"
"Don't you already have the answer?"
"I just can't believe it. In my short life, I have never seen an Uma Musume like her. Or rather, is she really an Uma Musume?"
Invincible shifted her gaze to the racetrack. That golden figure was swaying, looking as if she had a hangover from drinking too much last night.
She could feel the strength beneath that nonchalant posture!
"Is this the real you?" Invincible muttered to herself.
"Like I said, young people these days are truly terrifying." Hayakawa shook her head helplessly and refocused her attention on the racetrack.
...
Ugh, insomnia is such a pain. My head feels heavy and light, swaying back and forth.
It's as if my ability to think has been stripped away.
Gold Legend walked toward the entrance of the racetrack with light, swaying steps.
It's just like having drunk some very strong liquor (laughs).
[We're still minors, you know.]
[Hana] chimed in lightly, her tone full of teasing.
[If you pluck the small star, you will receive small happiness. If you pluck the large star, you will receive great wealth.]
[U]'s tone was full of cadence, just like performing an opera.
"If you pluck both, you will receive an eternal wish."
Legend chuckled softly and spoke slowly.
[The train will surely head to the next station, but what about the stage? What about us?]
Seemingly piqued with interest, [Hana] pretended to say seriously.
But her lighthearted tone betrayed her mood.
"Heh, if this were an opera, what should its name be?"
Legend chuckled, as if infected by the mood, and asked in a beautiful tone.
[Let's see, let me think, ahem... WildScreenBaroque! The revue of slaughter, curtain up! Sing, dance, and fight for it!]
[U] was like a fanatical announcer, every word powerful.
[Wonderful! My Revue!]
[Hana] applauded passionately.
"Hey, hey, I'm not Banana-brother..."
The sound of horseshoes clicking against the ground echoed in the corridor. At the entrance to the stage (the racetrack), Gold Legend brushed back her bangs.
Now, it is time to enter.
...
"What is that?"
Mr. C.B. had once proudly thought that, having traveled all over the world and seen many Uma Musume with her own eyes, she couldn't claim to have walked ten thousand miles, but she was certainly well-traveled and knowledgeable.
Having achieved perfection, she considered herself able to understand Uma Musume better than anyone else.
But she could not understand what she was seeing.
Is this the illusion of a frog in a well?
I feel ashamed for being complacent due to my narrow experience.
"That is... a realm above the Domain."
Symboli Rudolf closed her eyes.
"Above the Domain? So it really exists?"
Maruzensky said, dazed.
Being an Uma Musume is a profession where one seizes glory with one's own legs and talent.
Among them, only a very few possess the perseverance and talent to surpass others, forge a Domain, and become a Legend.
Only Uma Musume who have proven themselves will possess a Domain.
The Domain is the end point for an Uma Musume; that is how it should be.
Rudolf recalled the back she had seen during that overseas expedition to America.
The words that figure had said to her.
"Prove your resolve, synthesize yourself, and in the passing of time, condense it into a transcendent step."
"Transcendent..."
"...step."
Oguri Cap, who had appeared beside the three of them at some unknown moment, swallowed the last skewer of snacks in her hand.
"Legend is still a little bit off."
"As expected, you have already..." Rudolf's gaze toward Oguri Cap was complex and profound.
"Rudolf, if you don't hurry up, Legend is going to surpass you."
Oguri Cap said indifferently.
"Hmph, you don't need to remind me."
Rudolf snorted coldly. Beneath her icy expression was a long-lost passion.
Behind them, the group of Uma Musume who had overheard the secret were plunged into silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
---------------------------------
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