"What a magnificent race."
"I think I'll remember you for the rest of my life, Ruffian!"
The voice that came from Nearl wasn't aloof; it was even somewhat gentle. It startled Ruffian, who hadn't yet processed her own defeat.
A certain silver-white Pegasus lady had said similar things after quite a few races.
As for how many times… it was like the number of breads she'd eaten—impossible to count or remember.
It had even led some Japanese Uma Musume to doubt whether Platinum's words were genuine, whether she would actually remember them.
In contrast, Margaret Nearl, also a Pegasus, was more steady. She wouldn't make promises lightly, nor would she offer empty platitudes.
Comfort and praise from her carried far more weight.
'Huh?'
'Huh?!!'
Ruffian never expected to receive praise from that radiant knight girl, Nearl.
In her field of vision, the golden-haired girl wore a faint smile and was extending her hand towards her.
That tall, handsome, and radiantly sunny golden-haired girl, bathed in sunlight, seemed as warm as the sun itself, offering words of praise and comfort to her, the defeated one who had brought this upon herself.
Ruffian could also feel the sincerity in Nearl's voice. She truly meant what she said; it wasn't just a casual, perfunctory remark.
'Guh… No wonder she's Dr. Lin's little niece. She's just as gentle as he is.'
Then, much of the bitter frustration filling Ruffian's heart from the defeat simply melted away.
The black-haired girl let out a long sigh, releasing the pent-up gloom in her heart, regained her composure, and reached out to grasp the offered hand.
"It seems you really are stronger than me, Nearl. Much stronger. You're the undisputed [Strongest] of our generation."
"No wonder you're Dr. Lin's niece. You shine just as brightly, just as warmly as he does."
"The burden of surpassing the legends of the previous generation… I leave it to you."
Although Ruffian had challenged the Triple Tiara, it fundamentally belonged to the same classic races as Nearl's, making them foals of the same generation.
With the outcome of this one-on-one duel settled, Nearl now stood atop their generation, beyond any dispute.
Furthermore, looking across the entire history of dirt racing, she was undoubtedly ranked among the absolute best, perhaps even surpassing Seabiscuit herself!
But the previous year's generation was also a terrifyingly strong one, filled with exceptional talents.
First was the second-generation Big Red Monster, Secretariat, a super-genius considered the closest in dirt history to Man o' War, a firm second with aspirations for the top. The title of [GOAT] seemed almost within her reach.
Then came Flightline and Sham, both immensely talented individuals whose brilliance was somewhat overshadowed by Secretariat, yet their abilities were undeniably excellent.
Flightline, however, was hampered by her body. She needed no less than three or four months of rest after every race, while the entire Triple Crown series lasted less than two months… causing her to miss it completely…
But even though obscured by the Big Red Monster's radiance, they couldn't be completely ignored. Many were starting to believe that last year's generation might be the most dazzling in dirt racing history.
But what if—
What if both Flightline and Secretariat were defeated by a member of the next generation, by one of the two Triple Crown Uma Musume…? Wouldn't the title of [Strongest Generation] then change hands?
And now, Nearl had defeated her, becoming the undisputed number one of their generation. Naturally, she would be that representative.
Ruffian released Nearl's hand. This Tyrant Empress of the racetrack offered her blessing to the "future little niece" in her eyes.
"If you can defeat Secretariat, wouldn't you do more than just replace the 'strongest generation'? Couldn't you become the greatest Uma Musume in history?"
"And if you lose to the [GOAT]… well, that's no disgrace at all. It would still be my honor, right?"
"Before we meet again in the [Dream Cup], you'd better not lose to anyone else!"
Not wanting the Radiant Knight, Nearl, to lose to anyone else—this could certainly be considered Ruffian's blessing.
Hearing this, even Nearl was taken aback for a moment.
But soon, the golden-haired girl nodded, as if accepting this wish.
"Everything… as you wish."
"Until we meet again at the [Dream Cup]!"
Ruffian also nodded firmly, saying her goodbyes to Nearl.
In her view, while this defeat was regrettable… she would learn from this valuable lesson, become stronger, and surely have a chance for revenge in the future!
"I'll definitely make use of this for next time!"
The black-haired girl, who appeared full of resolve, had just turned around when she suddenly staggered, nearly tripping over nothing and planting her face on the ground.
That cold determination instantly turned somewhat clumsy.
Outside of races, Ruffian was inherently prone to mishaps, a foal who needed looking after by someone like Flightline.
"...What's done is done. First, rest. Then, plan the next steps…"
--+--
In the spectator stands.
The current strongest legendary Uma Musume, Secretariat, was staring, wide-eyed and dumbfounded, at the winning margin and final time recorded on the large screen.
"—!!"
The tall, imposing Big Red Monster—Secretariat—crossed her arms over her chest, gazing amazed at the recorded results and the golden figure who had just finished shaking hands with Ruffian and was turning to leave.
So strong!!
Even someone as mature and powerful as Secretariat found herself utterly filled with… [a sense of crisis] after watching this race!
She could affirm that Ruffian's performance in this race was genuinely historic, surpassing the historical level, a rare talent of the current era.
And the Radiant Knight, Nearl, hadn't just won—she had achieved an unbelievable, absolute domination!
Secretariat remembered clearly: the "People's Idol," Seabiscuit, had defeated her Triple Crown rival in their one-on-one duel by four lengths.
And Man o' War had defeated the Triple Crown winner, Sir Barton, by seven lengths over 2000 meters.
Combined, the total winning margins of those two duels roughly just met the criteria for a "large margin" victory.
But Nearl's winning margin was a full sixteen lengths! How could such an overwhelming victory not send the entire stadium, and fans watching the broadcast worldwide, into a complete frenzy?!
"Man o' War back then ran 2000 meters. If it had been extended to 2200… she might have had a chance to achieve a large margin."
"But even then, it still wouldn't have reached Nearl's entire sixteen lengths!"
The ones in the world most likely to rival or even surpass Man o' War were indeed herself and Nearl!
Secretariat's crimson eyes blazed with intense fighting spirit.
"Worthy of the final opponent I had in mind."
"But what a pity… there are still months until the final Breeders' Cup, until the [Dream Cup]."
In these coming months, could Nearl continue to grow, become even stronger?!
Had that dirt Pegasus, the Radiant Knight, reached her limit in terms of Maturation?
Even Secretariat couldn't help but feel an increasingly strong interest in Nearl.
And one thing Secretariat had always believed was… the more excellent the opponent, the more worthwhile they were to taste.
Originally, she had seen Nearl as a substitute for Man o' War, a "replacement meal" before the Dream Cup.
But now it seemed… Nearl was Nearl. She needed no replacing, was no stand-in, and might even be more [delicious] than the idol she worshipped, Man o' War!
"Come, Margaret Nearl. I'll be waiting for you at the final Breeders' Cup."
"I can't afford to lose to Dr. Lin's little niece. That would be far too embarrassing."
By defeating Margaret, she could not only fulfill her promise with Dr. Lin but also hold her head high when meeting this "little niece" in the future!
When it came to imagination, the majestic and cold red-haired lady-like Secretariat was extremely fertile.
She had long since considered the ultimate [GOAT] throne, and even Dr. Lin, with whom she had a promise, as already within her grasp.
Therefore, eventually moving into Dr. Lin's household and becoming a member of the Nearl family was also part of Secretariat's plan.
As Secretariat finished watching the race and stood up to leave…
She suddenly thought of a very interesting point.
The original Nearl family was an Uma Musume family that hadn't managed to break out of Poland; calling them "humble" wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Their level of obscurity naturally indicated that the previous family heads hadn't managed things particularly well.
And Uma Musume competitions themselves are all about the supremacy of strength, so the families built around them naturally advocate such an atmosphere, which is very common among famous Uma Musume families.
Just like within the Coolmore Group, the executive Uma Musume who approved or even demanded other Coolmore Uma Musume participate in the [Encirclement and Hunt Platinum] plan was directly severely punished.
She was forced to apologize and was even exiled to what they considered the "remote" location of Japan.
Conversely, sufficiently excellent Uma Musume could easily rise to high positions. Like Seabiscuit, who not only built her own prestigious family but also simultaneously held a high-level position in the American racing authority.
In the current speculation about the mysterious [Nearl Family], everyone believed the true core of the family must be that young doctor, Lin Anran, highly regarded in Uma Musume circles, and the world-renowned Triple Crown winner, Margaret Nearl.
One was a Uma Musume doctor praised from Japan to America, who even treated the severely injured Sham so well that she vigorously promoted his skills upon returning to the track.
The other needed no introduction—a Triple Crown winner who had defeated another Triple Crown winner! An achievement sufficient enough to rank among the top few in the entire history of dirt racing!
"The position of family head in the Nearl family must be held by either [Dr. Lin] or [Margaret], right?"
Secretariat was pondering a problem that even a certain black-hearted young doctor had never considered—a problem that didn't really exist!
This so-called theory was being taken as real by Secretariat and the entire world!
Who would be the ultimate decision-maker in the Nearl family?
Who was the [Lead Rider] of the knightly family?
The American dirt racing Uma Musume world, and countless others, were brimming with curiosity!
--+--
Japan, Tracen Academy.
Half an hour earlier, in the screening room, the broadcast was the pre-race live show for the one-on-one match [Nearl VS Ruffian], before the race had even started.
The number of Uma Musume who had arrived early was the [usual] number for watching a G1 race; almost all the dirt-specialist Uma Musume in Tracen were present.
Roughly a third of the seats were occupied by curious, watching Uma Musume. It might not sound like much, but it was actually quite a large number, making it the highest-rated dirt race broadcast in Japan in recent years.
Dirt racing itself had relatively few enthusiasts in Japan, to the extent that the attention for a dirt G1 might not even reach that of a turf G2, a secondary graded stakes race.
And Japanese viewers, including Japanese Uma Musume, were largely indifferent to overseas races, except for those featuring Japanese Uma Musume competing abroad and the almost DNA-ingrained [Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe].
But this was a match between two highly decorated, world-famous Triple Crown winners, and it featured the unique one-on-one format specific to American Uma Musume racing, which had piqued everyone's curiosity. Consequently, the ratings for this duel in Japan managed to rival those of a domestic turf G1.
Among the watching Uma Musume was the excellent dirt runner, Kurofune.
There was also the famous strong Triple Tiara winner, hailed as the "Crimson Queen," Daiwa Scarlet!
Kurofune, originally a challenger for the Japanese Classic Triple Crown, had come to Japan from America full of fighting spirit, wanting to make a big splash!
Back then, she wanted to become the first foreign-born Uma Musume to win the Japanese Derby.
And then… she met Platinum. One could say Kurofune would never forget Platinum in this lifetime!
Reacting keenly, she gritted her teeth and chose to switch to Japanese dirt racing. She refused to believe that Pegasus would follow her to the dirt!
History proved her choice correct. Compared to being successively apprehended by Platinum like Manhattan Cafe and Galileo, changing surfaces and type made winning easier.
Because of this, Kurofune paid more attention to the dirt races popular in her home country, America, and naturally wouldn't miss this rare worldwide one-on-one.
Since the race hadn't started yet, Kurofune, who wasn't fully focused on the screen, turned her head and looked slightly doubtful at Daiwa Scarlet.
In Kurofune's view, it wasn't surprising for someone like herself, or other dirt-specialist Uma Musume, to come watch this duel.
But Daiwa Scarlet was different. She was an extremely popular and powerful turf genius! Why would she need to watch dirt races, which she never usually followed?
"Daiwa, why are you here?"
The questioning Kurofune then saw that the usually lively and spirit-filled Daiwa Scarlet looked somewhat stiff and resigned as she gave her answer.
"Too many people were crowding around wanting practice races."
"So I came here, saying I was busy and needed to watch the race."
Hearing this, Kurofune had a sudden realization.
Daiwa Scarlet's popularity and fame were currently quite significant.
[The first and only Uma Musume in history qualified to perform on stage as Platinum's dance partner—Daiwa Scarlet!]
As Platinum won more and more races, it was like "love me, love my dog"—the interest from fans and other Uma Musume in Daiwa Scarlet gradually increased.
Not to mention, Daiwa Scarlet was already very excellent herself, having defeated her former rival Vodka and secured the Triple Tiara.
Although there was also that [Golden Tyrant, Orfevre] in the same generation who had won the Classic Triple Crown!
But that golden tyrant often projected a fierce and overbearing image, pushing many away.
And her performance in practice races was often unstable; slacking off was common for her. She'd done things like getting crushed in a practice race only to turn around and crush the opponent in the actual race.
As a result, the number of Uma Musume willing to challenge Orfevre to practice races had, of course, dwindled.
And so… the pressure fell squarely on Daiwa Scarlet.
Currently, Daiwa Scarlet was practically a "replacement" for Platinum, pursued by many fans and Uma Musume who admired the Pegasus, all issuing challenges!
And those currently watching the dirt one-on-one were mostly dirt Uma Musume, making it indeed a good place for Daiwa Scarlet to avoid trouble and rest.
"I heard that even overseas… some Uma Musume want to come train with you, even have practice races, during the off-season?"
Kurofune followed up.
Daiwa Scarlet smiled wryly and nodded. Her ample chest heaved noticeably, her emotions clearly not calm.
"I really never expected that even several well-known European young ladies would want practice races with me…"
"Platinum's popularity is just way too exaggerated."
"Alright, the race is finally about to start. Let's watch."
--+--
A short while later.
At a certain moment after the start, shown on the screening room's broadcast.
The camera suddenly cut to a scene from the spectator stands.
It was—two Uma Musume, one in the front row, one behind! One was Seabiscuit, the other was Platinum!
Two legends possessing unprecedented super influence in turf and dirt respectively, actually appearing in the same spot?!
When Platinum's face was zoomed in for a close-up, the previously lazily watching Daiwa Scarlet immediately sat up straight, her pupils sharply contracting, like a student who'd just spotted their teacher.
"Eh? Eh?"
"Platinum… why is she there?"
"Could it be that the Pegasus, Platinum, is interested in dirt racing?"
For some reason, Daiwa Scarlet's heartbeat immediately accelerated violently.
In an instant, both Daiwa Scarlet and Kurofune could affirm that, even if just because of this brief shot of Platinum…
This whole [Pegasus Watches Pegasus] gimmick would generate immense attention!
Within mere seconds, a large number of comments and barrages exploded on various streaming platforms, and the number of live viewers showed a trend of doubling in an extremely short time.
This was… the influence of the Pegasus, Platinum, in Japan!
What's more noteworthy—
The [Pegasus Kinen] and [Platinum Cup], tailor-made for the god-like Platinum by the Japan URA, were about to begin soon!
Those two races were a turf G1 middle distance and a dirt G1 middle distance, respectively, commemorating Platinum's monumental achievements as the strongest dual-surface Uma Musume in history.
Some domestic Japanese, and even some overseas dirt powerhouses, had accepted invitations to compete in the dirt 2000-meter [Platinum Cup], and Kurofune was no exception!
And Kurofune, not far from Daiwa Scarlet, was standing there stunned, her body trembling slightly, like a mouse that had seen a cat.
She didn't believe Platinum was just idly watching for fun.
Because just a few days ago, Platinum had just returned from a victorious expedition to Australia and had publicly stated she was going to challenge the European long-distance G1, the Goodwood Cup.
Normally, shouldn't she be training hard to prepare for a turf long-distance race? However bored, she wouldn't just suddenly fly to America solely to watch a race, right?
So… perhaps Platinum really would switch to dirt racing, just like she had.
"Wait, I signed up for the dirt [Platinum Cup]…"
"Platinum… she couldn't really be interested in dirt, could she? She wouldn't actually come back to compete, right?"
I'm d-doomed!!
As Kurofune's pupils lost focus, filled with horror
Daiwa Scarlet beside her smiled slightly, her smile also rather strained, and added.
"Kurofune-senpai, perhaps… Platinum will run in the turf [Pegasus Kinen]."
"And maybe this Miss Nearl will come to run the dirt [Platinum Cup]."
?!
Isn't that even worse?!
Will I not even be able to eke out a living anymore?!
--+--
America.
In her room, the golden-haired girl, Nearl, opened her reward.
[Race: One-on-One Duel]
[Reward: …]
--+--
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.