Originally, as she gazed at the footage within the Pegasus Hall—the intense showdown between Nearl, Platinum, and Sunday Silence—and then instantly added her own new clip to the mix, even Easy Goer's eyes seemed to clear with newfound clarity.
And now…
Being pulled into Margaret Nearl's embrace, feeling the warmth and sense of security radiating from that golden-haired, heroic girl, that clarity was instantly replaced by a deep blush.
What began as unwillingness transformed into an awareness of the shelter provided by the Radiant Knight's zone—that feeling of protection, so knightly and genuine, and Margaret Nearl's gesture of holding her steady to keep her from falling…
By the end of this race, Nearl hadn't just defeated her opponent; it seemed she had also completely won over her heart and soul, turning her into nothing less than an adoring fan!
"Can I… call you Margaret? And… could I train with you sometime?"
After a moment of hesitation, Easy Goer finally asked the question—or perhaps, made the request.
Before her, the heroic golden-haired girl smiled brightly and nodded.
"I'd be delighted."
With that, after steadying the red-haired girl in front of her, Nearl turned to leave.
"You're still injured. When you go see… my uncle for treatment, ask him for my contact info."
"Once you've recovered, you're welcome to train with me anytime."
Under Easy Goer's intense gaze, the golden-haired knight in armor walked away, her dark cape swaying gently in the breeze until she disappeared from sight.
Watching Margaret Nearl depart alone as the overwhelming victor, while she herself—the runner-up, the one who should have been closest to Nearl—hadn't even qualified to stand beside her as a supporting act…
That sense of frustration and regret welled up once more in the heart of this third-generation Big Red Monster.
She wasn't hung up on losing the Triple Crown anymore; the gap in their abilities was all too clear.
As someone even Secretariat acknowledged, Easy Goer wasn't the type to blame bad luck or complain about facing such a monster.
A loss was a loss!
But…
'But why… why is Nearl so dazzling, so warm?'
So warm that it made her feel a rare sense of security…
Someone as exceptional as Easy Goer, hailed early on as the [Third-Generation Big Red]—the third great red-haired star after the two legendary figures in American history—was always expected to be a super genius, the one who could provide a sense of security to her family, her trainer, and the younger members of her team.
As for her rivals in the Triple Crown races, they were supposed to be fierce adversaries to be wary of. The idea of competitors also being friends was relatively uncommon.
This was America, with its dozens of states—not like Japan, where all the elite Uma Musume were gathered in a single school.
Japan's Tracen Academy system meant Uma Musume of the same generation knew each other intimately, often becoming friends, or at least acquaintances who could easily grow closer.
But in the highly competitive, intense, and classics-obsessed American Uma Musume scene, things were different. It wasn't rare for rivals in the Triple Crown to be on good terms, but it wasn't the norm either.
As the pre-race favorite widely expected to win the Triple Crown, Easy Goer didn't have many friends her age…
Someone as talented as her mostly trained with family members or older seniors.
But now, facing the rival who had not only swept the Triple Crown but left her without a single crown… Easy Goer couldn't muster even a trace of resentment.
Instead, she felt a sense of security she'd never experienced before—not even with seniors like Secretariat!!!
All this time, whether it was her teachers, trainers, family doctors, or Uma Musume seniors like Secretariat, Easy Goer might have felt respect, but never this kind of safety.
Except…
Not long ago, when she was injured and many doctors had written her off, saying she'd miss the next two crowns, that black-haired young doctor from the Nearl family had smiled calmly and assured her she could choose one of the remaining two crowns to compete in—guaranteeing she could give her all without lasting consequences.
And now, Margaret Nearl—also from the Nearl family, and so young they were the same age—had somehow brought her that same overwhelming warmth and sense of security, just like her uncle had?!
'Margaret… she's an Uma Musume, yet she can be this chivalrous?'
'For the first time, I've felt that warmth and security from a rival—somebody I should be locked in a life-and-death struggle with—that I'd only ever felt from Dr. Lin!!!'
Her face and even the tips of her ears still flushed, the red-haired girl took a deep breath.
In the end, Easy Goer regained her composure.
After all, it would be a while before she could train with Margaret again. For now, injured as she was, she needed to focus on getting treatment from Dr. Lin.
Once Easy Goer had calmed down, she noticed the other competing Uma Musume not far behind her had already crossed the finish line one after another, securing their respective placements.
Among them, the petite, dark-haired Sunday Silence had taken third.
'Third place… that's a bit of a shame.'
Sunday Silence let out a soft sigh, but she didn't actually feel much regret.
She knew her strengths lay in power, explosiveness, and speed—not endurance.
Compared to the first two crowns, which were around 2000 meters, the Belmont Stakes was a grueling 2400 meters, much closer to a long-distance race—and after such a demanding schedule…
Her opponents were Easy Goer, who was well-rested and naturally had better stamina, and Nearl, the Pegasus whose stamina seemed limitless.
Among the top three, the dark monster was always the one with the least endurance, so finishing third after running the entire Triple Crown wasn't surprising.
Still, she'd made it into Nearl's exclusive [Pegasus Hall]—not just once, but twice!
She'd nearly managed three consecutive second-place finishes. Ending up with third this time… well, maybe that was a "blessing in disguise."
'A Triple Crown, and I didn't win a single crown… I could only watch Nearl claim the most dominant Triple Crown ever, surpassing even Secretariat.'
'Ugh… I've totally become a stepping stone. Dr. Lin's gonna see me as a worthless scrub, completely inferior to his little niece.'
That was one reason Sunday Silence felt a bit restless and uneasy.
Among the Uma Musume who had interacted extensively with Dr. Lin and made promises to him, most had already achieved decent—or even outstanding—results…
No, to be precise, all of them had achieved something… except her!
Secretariat: the closest to [GOAT] status, the strongest active racer, second in history, the undisputed queen of dirt.
Ruffian: Undefeated Triple Tiara winner, breaking records in most of her races, capable of tough campaigns and dominant victories.
Flightline: a monstrous talent in her older years. Though somewhat fragile and unable to race frequently, her overwhelming victories proved she had what it took to become a legend.
And then there was Sea the Stars on turf—needless to say, already near-legendary in her classic year, and now in her older years, the lady from the Sea family had undoubtedly reached legendary status.
Weren't all of them incredibly famous super-monsters with amazing achievements?
And then there was her, unfortunate enough to run straight into the Radiant Knight, Nearl—ending the Triple Crown with nothing to show for it.
The pressure, the immense pressure, was bearing down on her.
But Sunday Silence wasn't crushed by it. The petite girl with crimson eyes gazed coldly ahead.
'Since I didn't achieve much in the races, it's only reasonable to try to make up for it outside—in the [Lin Anran Cup]—right?'
'I can't just accomplish nothing, can I?'
Even in games, there's an ELO system—after losing enough, it gets easier to win later.
Even if there's no such mechanic in the [Lin Anran Cup] in real life…
At the very least, she couldn't be a total loser—losing in racing and then in love too!
Now, she needed to think carefully about what to do next…
She had to find a way to win the [Lin Anran Cup]!
--+--
Meanwhile, among the other Uma Musume nearby…
Some well-bred young ladies were bending down, gently pressing their legs with slight surprise.
"Huh?"
"During the race, I was so exhausted I thought I couldn't hold on—my legs were hurting."
"But now, after finishing, I realize I'm not as injured as I thought?"
"Yes! I thought I was gonna get hurt like usual—I could already feel it coming—but my legs are actually okay?"
"Wait, you too? You felt like you were injured but it wasn't serious?"
"It can't be a coincidence. I was injured before, and this race was even tougher than the first two crowns. The only variable… the only difference was Nearl's zone!"
"That… that new zone from the Radiant Knight? After she activated it, even though my body was pushed to the limit, I didn't get injured the way I expected."
Three other Uma Musume looked pleased.
Some, more perceptive, had noticed the anomaly—it came from Nearl's zone.
Usually, after acquiring a zone, most world-class Uma Musume struggle to make breakthroughs or improvements in it throughout their careers.
Zones are often hard to rank, each with its own focus. When two Uma Musume with zones compete, the outcome typically comes down to slight differences in personal ability.
Of course, that's assuming both have Zones…
Many of these American prodigies wouldn't fully grasp theirs until after the Triple Crown. But that didn't mean they were clueless about domains.
In their view, the domain Nearl had just used wasn't just a simple improvement—it was something entirely different from what she'd shown in the first two crowns, a powerful zone fundamentally transformed from within.
It was almost unheard of for an Uma Musume to master a second zone!
But if it was the Radiant Knight—the one with visible special effects and even her own Pegasus Hall—then maybe it wasn't so surprising after all.
And it was Nearl's new zone that had protected them?!
"A zone that reduces the risk of injury and protects the user—I've heard of that before."
"But… one that shelters everyone, protecting all Uma Musume on the field? That's truly unprecedented."
"We owe Nearl one. No wonder she's Dr. Lin's niece."
"I underestimated her. Not only is she incredibly strong, but she's reached a level of greatness—she even protected us, her rivals."
"Alright, from now on, I'm a fan of Margaret Nearl too!"
Some Uma Musume were completely won over, deciding then and there to become Nearl's fans!
As the defeated Uma Musume on the field reacted in various ways, the commentary box was still abuzz.
[To think that Secretariat's incredible record in the Belmont Stakes could be surpassed by Nearl!]
[She surpassed Secretariat's 38-length margin by winning with a 40-length lead!]
But the professional commentator's impressed tone was immediately countered by Secretariat herself, who was serving as a guest analyst.
[No, it wasn't just a "narrow surpass."]
Secretariat's voice was calm and frank, without a trace of bitterness.
This wasn't the denial of a senior whose record had been broken, downplaying the achievement or claiming it lacked merit.
[In my opinion, Nearl didn't just break it by a little.]
[The value of that extra length far exceeds what I achieved in my Belmont!]
[The reason is simple: she faced Sunday Silence and Easy Goer at their best, both running the full distance in top form. The opponent I faced, Sham, was also excellent, but she was injured and faded.]
The second-generation Big Red Monster coolly explained why she believed Nearl's record surpassed her own.
Specifically—Sham had been injured, turning what should have been a two-horse race into a one-sided domination.
With Sham badly hurt and effectively out of the race, barely managing to finish last, the other opponents were no match for Secretariat, resulting in that overwhelming 30-plus length victory.
In Secretariat's view, if Sham had performed as well as she had in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, even a spectacular run might have secured a 20-length win, but hitting 30 would have been unlikely.
In contrast, Nearl's 39-length victory against a fully-powered Sunday Silence and Easy Goer had earned Secretariat's respect.
Thus, the Big Red Monster openly expressed her recognition and even her blessings during the broadcast.
[Without a doubt, in each race of the Triple Crown, she surpassed my own performances during my Triple Crown year.]
[Man o' War's assessment was completely accurate—she may be the most outstanding Uma Musume in American history, but… so am I!]
[I'll gladly accept her challenge in the Breeders' Cup or the Dream Cup!]
This was recognition.
This was a blessing.
And this… was also a declaration of war for the future!
Her words sent another wave of astonishment through the stands!
The acknowledgment from America's current strongest, the previous Triple Crown winner.
Secretariat had actually… publicly admitted that Nearl's Triple Crown was superior to her own, the most impressive undefeated Triple Crown ever?!
And even issued a challenge to face her in the Breeders' Cup or the Dream Cup?
"Incredible. Secretariat may seem detached, but she's actually a very proud champion."
"Yeah, even someone as good as Sham—after losing two or three times, Secretariat lost interest in challenging her."
"This is the first time since reaching the top that Secretariat has actively declared war and openly admitted someone has surpassed her."
"It seems Nearl really is exceptional enough to capture Secretariat's interest like this."
"As expected of my idol!"
--+--
A short while later.
Easy Goer, the red-haired girl who had left the racetrack, found herself surrounded just outside.
Several unofficial media reporters had gathered, eager to interview the immensely popular runner-up—second only to Nearl herself.
After all, this was the first time the [Pegasus Hall] had been displayed during a race, and Easy Goer had been publicly added to its footage after crossing the finish line.
This race was destined to be widely circulated, making the second-place finisher extremely valuable for post-race interviews.
So, many reporters couldn't resist pressing Easy Goer for her thoughts on the race or on Nearl.
"Miss Easy Goer, what are your impressions of Nearl—"
"Easy Goer, regarding Nearl's Pegasus Hall—"
Expressionless, Easy Goer signaled that she would only answer two or three questions.
Then, pointing to one reporter, she began her response.
"Margaret… Nearl is incredibly dazzling."
"In my opinion, she's as exceptional as Secretariat—maybe even greater. Having the chance to compete against her was a privilege."
Easy Goer offered the highest praise.
Actually, she had wanted to explain the reason—to talk about how Nearl had protected them.
But in the end, the sharp and intelligent third-generation Big Red held back.
'Can't say it. Mustn't cause trouble for Margaret.'
In Easy Goer's view, since Nearl had mastered different zones, each must serve a different purpose.
For example, the zone she used in the Kentucky Derby granted absolute adaptation and control over harsh track conditions. On a heavy track, that would undoubtedly be stronger than this protective, field-wide domain.
If she publicly revealed that Nearl possessed a zone that sheltered all Uma Musume, reducing injuries or minimizing their severity…
It would instantly become huge news, spreading from the audience throughout the American Uma Musume world.
Then, in the future, if Nearl used a different zone and some Uma Musume got injured…
People might blame Nearl, questioning why she suddenly wasn't protecting anyone.
Even if the injured Uma Musume didn't think that way, their passionate fans surely would.
The chances of that happening were pretty high.
With a mindset of protecting our Radiant Knight, Easy Goer ultimately kept the nature of Nearl's new domain to herself.
'Margaret will be protected by me!'
--+--
At the same time.
The golden-haired girl who had left the racetrack opened her system panel.
Race rewards: claim.
[Race: Belmont Stakes]
[Rewards: Maturation Progress +15%, Zone Fusion (Self-Select)]
[Final Segment Completed, Ultimate Segment Unlocked]
The final segment was about to begin!
--+--
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.
There should be... around 70+ advanced chapters?
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.