[Secretariat: Dr. Lin, my race is over. I'm coming to find you now.]
The beep of a text message drew the young, dark-haired doctor's gaze down to his phone screen.
But after reading the brief message, his pupils constricted sharply.
Secretariat was coming again? Already?
'And she won another race so quickly? Who was her opponent again…'
'Was it Prove Out… again?'
Lin Anran immediately tapped his keyboard, pulling up the official American racing site and searching for the name [Prove Out].
In moments, the results of her most recent races appeared.
Among the most eye-catching was the race where she had defeated Secretariat.
And just before that, Prove Out had beaten a Uma Musume named [Riva Ridge]!
Riva Ridge was not only very close to Secretariat, but they were like sisters from the same Uma Musume family, having made her name even earlier than Secretariat.
Her ability was exceptional; no one doubted that Riva Ridge would be inducted into the American Hall of Fame upon her retirement.
For Prove Out to have defeated such an outstanding Uma Musume truly lived up to her title as the most mercurial talent in American history, the terrifying [Hall of Fame Killer]!
And… just today, mere moments ago.
Prove Out had finished another race, simultaneously ending her winning streak against Hall of Fame-level Uma Musume.
The one who had defeated Prove Out was none other than a vengeful Secretariat!
"So… after adjusting her condition and discovering Prove Out had beaten her sister too…"
"She went straight for revenge against Prove Out?"
The fact that Prove Out had just beaten Riva Ridge proved she was in peak form, thriving against strong competition.
Yet, facing a serious, fully-rested Secretariat, even that [Hall of Fame Killer], that [Giant Killer], couldn't secure a second victory.
Lin Anran looked with great interest at the margin of defeat, displayed as [Nine].
One had to remember, Prove Out's previous win against an off-form Secretariat had been a narrow victory, the winning margin negligible.
But not long after, Secretariat's revenge was… a full nine-length payback?!
A near-absolute domination, just shy of a complete rout!
'Secretariat… that competitive drive, that desire for payback, is just insanely strong.'
'With ability like that, no wonder she became a legend in her classic year and keeps improving, a super monster with the potential to surpass the original Big Red!'
Even the unscrupulous young doctor couldn't help but voice his astonishment in his mind.
It was worth noting—
The reason Big Red had been in such poor form before was precisely because she'd been obsessed with her nightly visits, determined to have her fun with the young doctor Lin Anran she was so fond of!
And that competitive spirit of hers couldn't accept that, as the world's strongest dirt course Uma Musume, she might not be able to beat an ordinary human like Lin Anran. She'd persistently continued her [nightly visits] right up until a day or two before her race.
The final result was her being in terrible condition, suffering a stunning upset loss to the super dark horse Prove Out.
After that defeat, Secretariat had chosen to seclude herself with fierce determination, resting and returning to high-intensity training. Not only did she achieve her revenge, but the victory margin was utterly terrifying!
That Big Red's will to win was simply monstrous.
Which led to the current problem!
After taking her revenge on Prove Out, what would a Uma Musume as fiercely competitive as Secretariat do next?
Or rather… who else would she seek revenge against?
The answer seemed to be staring him right in the face.
The dark-haired young doctor in his white coat couldn't help but adopt a complicated expression.
But suddenly, as if remembering something, his attention shifted from his phone screen to the figure standing before him.
And standing in front of Lin Anran was an incredibly cute pink-haired young Uma Musume—Treve.
Treve, best friend of Sea the Stars, a young lady from a prestigious European family, was right here.
—Wait a second, was Secretariat about to run into Treve?!
For a moment, Lin Anran froze, but he didn't dwell on it too much.
No big deal!
As an ordinary Uma Musume doctor, wasn't it perfectly normal to have a few foreign Uma Musume visiting him anytime, anywhere?
Besides, this was Treve, not Sea the Stars.
No matter how strong Secretariat's competitive drive was, she wouldn't display it against a turf course Uma Musume from Europe, would she?
As the number one figure in the world, the strongest dirt course Uma Musume, what possible issue could she have with a young foreign Uma Musume who hadn't even debuted yet?
Thinking this, Lin Anran immediately heard Treve's sweet, curious voice, tinged with confusion.
"Dr. Lin, did something happen?"
"Nothing much. Just a Uma Musume saying she's finished her race and is coming to see me."
Lin Anran remained calm, smiling as he replied.
His words prompted a slight nod from Treve.
In her short time in America, Treve had clearly witnessed the capabilities of this young, dark-haired doctor.
Back in Europe, all the famous doctors she'd met had receding hairlines; their hair density, age, and skill seemed almost directly proportional.
After all, the medical profession was unique. Unlike Uma Musume, where skill alone could bring fame.
Take Prove Out, with her many losses. She only needed those two or three wins against Hall of Fame-level Uma Musume like Secretariat and Riva Ridge to become famous across America.
But for a doctor to become widely recognized as top-tier required significant time and a substantial record of successful treatments to gain recognition from Uma Musume elite families, which would then trickle down to the regular Uma Musume.
This process often took at least several years, sometimes twenty or thirty, or even longer!
Yet, this young Dr. Lin Anran before her was completely different!
Rumor had it he'd become recognized as a top-tier doctor in Japan in just half a year, curing the tendonitis of the Phantom Triple Crown winner Agnes Tachyon.
Then, moving back to America, in a Uma Musume racing scene vastly larger than Japan's, he'd still managed to become a fairly well-known specialist for the dirt circuit in just a year.
All combined, in just two or three years, he'd made waves and gained recognition in both Japan and America, in both the turf and dirt racing worlds!
Even the sisters from the Sea family, Galileo and Sea the Stars themselves, setting aside their sisterly bond, were deeply interested in Lin Anran!
In Treve's view, Dr. Lin's skill and personality were both incredibly reassuring to a Uma Musume. Physically, he was even more outstanding than Galileo, possessing a scent so enticing you just wanted to devour him, to savor it slowly.
In terms of rarity, he probably wasn't far off from a once-in-a-century legend, right? That wasn't an exaggeration, was it?
If Dr. Lin's future wife was even an ordinary, undeveloped Uma Musume, not even a racer, their offspring would still have a high probability of being able to win graded stakes, G2, even G1-level championships, wouldn't they?
And if, in the future, Dr. Lin's wife were an outstanding Uma Musume, like Sea the Stars, or… herself!
Then perhaps, their descendants could be as exceptional as Platinum or Margaret Nearl! That wasn't impossible, was it?
Thinking of who-knows-what, the pink foreign Uma Musume's cute face flushed a bright red, her smile so wide her eyes narrowed to crescents.
'In the short time I've been interacting with Dr. Lin here in America, I haven't seen him get particularly close with any other Uma Musume.'
'If anything—'
'Even if there was someone, it would only be… [me]!'
During her time with Dr. Lin, Treve had seen him receive many calls from American Uma Musume, scheduling check-ups or treatments for various days.
But Dr. Lin's attention had always remained focused on her.
One had to realize, some of those American Uma Musume were quite famous, names even she had heard of!
And Treve was self-aware; the current her, no matter how much theoretical talent she possessed, was still just an undeveloped foal who hadn't won a single race!
For him to pay less attention to other graded stakes, even G1-winning Uma Musume, than to her, an undeveloped foal…
Didn't that count as a kind of favoritism or special care?
Thinking this, Treve felt immensely pleased.
The sharp hearing of the pink foreign Uma Musume immediately picked up the sound of footsteps approaching from beyond the threshold, growing steadily closer.
They were powerful footsteps. Just the act of striding forward, of approaching, naturally overwhelmed the presence of every other Uma Musume in the vicinity.
Treve, a foal not far from her debut and already deemed capable of competing in graded stakes, felt her pupils contract sharply!
Whoever this was had to be at least a full level above an ordinary graded stakes Uma Musume, reaching G1 champion caliber to have such an effect, and even then, they'd usually have to actively project their aura.
The difference between active and passive projection was vast.
It seemed only her legendary best friend, Europe's acknowledged masterpiece of middle-distance perfection, Sea the Stars, could come extremely close to this level of overwhelming, victory-laden presence.
But… it was only 'extremely close'! Not quite on the same level.
'What a powerful aura! Is… is this the Uma Musume Dr. Lin mentioned, the one who just won her race and is coming to see him?'
'Just who is this monster…?'
'Even in all of America, there can't be many like this!'
'Flightline? Or Margaret Nearl? Or maybe… the strongest one, Secretariat?'
'But it can't be Margaret. She's strong enough, but… she's Dr. Lin's little niece.'
'What kind of uncle-niece relationship would be so distant?'
In an instant, the sharp Treve could only think of three possible Uma Musume.
Beyond these three, there were no other possibilities; America only had these three active legends.
'And Flightline, she's been resting for over two, three months now. With her famous schedule of three, four races a year, she's probably competing again in a few days.'
'Among the three active dirt legends, that only leaves… [The Big Red Monster · Secretariat]!'
In that moment, the extreme pressure made Treve turn her head to look towards the door.
The next second—!
The tall, stunning figure of the crimson girl, the legendary Uma Musume Secretariat known throughout the racing world, entered Treve's field of vision.
Simultaneously, it meant Treve, standing beside Lin Anran, was also noticed by Secretariat.
On one side, the European foreign Uma Musume who inwardly vowed to protect her best friend's interests!
On the other, the American Uma Musume who, fresh off a win, was finally seeing Lin Anran again after so long!
They looked at each other, their expressions differing.
'It's really her!'
Treve hadn't forgotten her best friend Sea the Stars' repeated warnings: Secretariat was absolutely a dangerous individual.
From her ability and talent, to her affection for Dr. Lin, and her terrifying, zero-tolerance possessiveness… combined, she was extremely dangerous.
She was probably capable of making a move on Dr. Lin at any time.
Most other Uma Musume who had arrangements with Dr. Lin would probably be somewhat restrained by those agreements, or were in the golden period of their careers and had to focus on racing.
But Secretariat was different. That monster was already the strongest legend, poised to completely surpass legend status and become the [GOAT] at any moment!
And on top of that, she was intensely possessive!
'Hm? Who's this?'
Secretariat raised an eyebrow, looking at Treve.
Interactions between prestigious American Uma Musume families and European ones weren't that common.
After all, one side favored dirt, the other turf; they were practically different worlds.
Moreover, Secretariat's own family had been on the verge of bankruptcy, nearly disbanding a few years back, so they weren't exactly a well-connected prestigious family.
So, even though Treve was quite popular among European elite families, being the younger sister and junior of a prominent family, Secretariat didn't recognize her at all.
Even without recognition, an almost instinctual sense of smell made Secretariat frown slightly, feeling a twinge of unease.
Because Secretariat detected a scent on Dr. Lin that shouldn't be there.
'Dr. Lin has this girl's scent on him?!'
'Who is she?!'
If it were just a routine check-up or a temporary treatment, such a short contact wouldn't leave a lingering scent on Dr. Lin.
There was only one possibility: that pink foal had been in contact with Dr. Lin for a long time!
Probably at least a week's worth of meetings in the last half month!
Danger!!
In an instant, a sharp glint flashed in Secretariat's crimson eyes.
"Dr. Lin, aren't you going to introduce me to this child?"
"She seems quite talented."
It would be even better if that talent was for racing and not for being a 'thieving cat'.
Secretariat needed to assess the threat level!
"She's…"
Before Lin Anran could finish, the smiling Treve beside him spoke up to respond.
"I'm Treve, the Uma Musume in a [training guidance relationship] with Dr. Lin recently."
"Senior Secretariat, I'm your fan!"
Without hesitation, Treve deployed her harmless disguise.
As a mere newcomer, and a fan admiring a legendary senior, how could that seem threatening?
But Secretariat gave a slight nod, her internal alert level rising instead of falling.
Because the Big Red Monster remembered all too clearly!
The last Uma Musume Dr. Lin had guided… was named [Sham]!
And that guidance had led right to Sham's home, where that utterly despicable thieving cat had succeeded!
And now, this was the third foal in a [guidance relationship] after herself!
If the previous two had both succeeded, wouldn't that mean this third one…
Treve had no idea that her brief one or two sentences of introduction had triggered a sense of crisis in Secretariat that even Prove Out on the racetrack couldn't match!
"Treve, is it? I'll remember that."
"You haven't debuted yet, right? What brings you to Dr. Lin now?"
Faced with Secretariat's questioning, Treve shook her head.
"Just a routine physical check-up."
Following the principle of first come, first served…
A check-up was something Secretariat could accept letting Treve do first.
But provoked by the pink foal's sense of crisis, feeling a bit jealous, and having already taken revenge on Prove Out, the Big Red girl's mind was now solely occupied with…
—Challenging Dr. Lin again!
This time, as the world's strongest active Uma Musume, she would absolutely not lose to a human like Dr. Lin!
And then, as a bonus, overwriting the scents left by other Uma Musume!
"Alright, first come, first served. You can have your [check-up] first."
But when it came to "checking Dr. Lin's body," that was something she, the senior, would have to do first!
--+--
Meanwhile.
On another training field.
A Uma Musume who appeared elegant, even delicate, like a literary maiden, came to a stop, her breathing slightly hurried.
Flightline had just finished her final training session before the [Pacific Classic Stakes].
"Margaret…"
"Are you challenging me?"
Flightline was ready to face any challenge.
--+--
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.