Death is a painful thing. Dream Weaver knew this all too well from her first scripted world, where she had pushed herself to the absolute limit for victory.
That agony—as if every bone in her body had been shattered and every nerve set ablaze—was something she would never forget.
But in this world, there are always things more important than life itself.
She had to save her mother. She had to complete the main quest and exchange for the Hope Gem. She had made promises to her friends, sworn to tear apart the shadow cast over the horse racing world by the elite families.
She had countless reasons to win—and in Dream Weaver's eyes, those reasons mattered far more than even the most excruciating pain.
There was no room for cowardice, no path of escape. From the very beginning, she had known how to break through her limits.
Hadn't she?
A smile touched Dream Weaver's lips. Her vision pierced through the curtain of rain, fixed firmly on the distant finish line.
"After me, there will surely be more powerful Uma Musume from the countryside."
"Orfevre, you don't have to feel lonely. There are so many rivals you can set your eyes on…"
Dream Weaver's words made Orfevre's pupils contract sharply. A sense of unease rose instinctively within her, but before she could fully grasp their meaning, Dream Weaver's voice came through the rain once more.
"But right now—"
"Keep your eyes on my back!"
The moment the words fell, her S-ranked determination burned out completely. The skill [Phoenix] triggered, restoring Dream Weaver's stamina and condition to its peak.
Five seconds?
No, it would all be over in maybe even less than three.
But that was enough.
Fresh power surged into Dream Weaver's heart instantaneously, like fuel thrown into a furnace, bursting forth with boundless heat.
The elite families of this world wanted to use all Uma Musume as kindling to crown one ruler above all.
Then Dream Weaver would use everything she had as fuel to make the whole world see her shine.
Extreme power flooded her limbs. The grass beneath her feet, guided by intuition, seemed to carry her steps with a will of its own.
Her Zone erupted fully, the threat of the cursed blade aimed solely at Orfevre. In Orfevre's eyes, the gloomy, rain-soaked track suddenly ignited with a blazing flame—a scorching heat far more intense than before, evaporating her stamina almost instantly.
The same effect erupted within Dream Weaver simultaneously.
But hadn't she already been inside the furnace all along?
This heat was nothing compared to the furnace now burning in her heart.
After maintaining her Zone for so long and forcing it to erupt once more, the strain caused Dream Weaver's consciousness to blur.
Yet her steps remained steady—no, they were even more fierce and powerful than before. With thunderous force, she tore across every inch of the turf, as if ready to upheave everything in her path.
Her crimson form was like a burning meteor, cutting a brilliant trail through the pouring rain.
Every step sent water splashing meters high. Her hooves dug deep into the sodden grass, leaving craters as if she meant to shatter the entire track.
A cold, mechanical voice sounded in her ear:
[[Speed] Limit Break Successful.]
In that instant, a radiance redder than the sun flashed across the course. The light pierced the heavy rain, dyeing the entire track in a bloody hue.
Her figure blurred, transforming into a red lightning bolt tearing through the rain.
Now, what shone brighter than gold was that crimson light. What burned hotter than the sun was that fierce star. And what was faster than Orfevre—
Was Dream Weaver!
In an explosive burst of speed, Dream Weaver closed in on Orfevre, who was suppressed by the Zone. But that wasn't the end.
Orfevre's stamina drained rapidly under the Zone's pressure. She could no longer push her proud speed and strength to the limit.
In less than a breath, that red streak shot past her like a blade.
Every breath Orfevre took felt like swallowing fire. Her muscles screamed in protest, and her once-unstoppable legs now felt heavy as lead.
Gritting her teeth, she tried with all her might to accelerate, but her agonized muscles refused to obey. Even with her own Zone, she could only watch helplessly as Dream Weaver's back pulled away.
A nameless anxiety drove her to reach out, palm stretching toward Dream Weaver's retreating figure—as if in refusal, as if pleading.
But how could she, already surpassed, ever hope to touch Dream Weaver now? Orfevre could only watch as that crimson light slipped through her fingers and vanished into the grey rain.
"Dream Weaver is accelerating again! Even the Golden Tyrant's legendary final kick can't keep up with her speed?!"
"Only two hundred—no, one hundred meters left to the finish line! The Japan Derby crown is within reach!"
"Go! For the countryside, for Kasamatsu—seize the glory right before you, and carry us with you toward a brighter future!"
Akasaka Rin held the microphone to her lips, her voice already hoarse but her passion undimmed.
Inspired by Dream Weaver, lifted onto this stage because of her, she wanted to witness this victory—to walk with Dream Weaver into the next chapter, draped in glory.
If not for that Junior Crown Cup, if not for that crimson streak racing across the track, Akasaka Rin would still be in the rundown Kasamatsu racetrack, day after day, repeating dull commentary.
But she had met Dream Weaver. Those long, tedious days were over. It was as if Dream Weaver had taken her by the hand and led her step by step into a shining future.
Now, she had tested into being an announcer for the central circuit, even appearing as a guest at a G1 event.
And this wasn't the end. She would keep climbing, alongside Dream Weaver, into a future that seemed to have no limits.
Right now, she wanted to sear the image of that red light on the track into her memory forever.
Tagami Kan, who had earlier thought about capturing Dream Weaver's Derby moment with his camera, had long since let it hang around his neck, forgotten.
Gifu, where he worked, was an overlooked part of the country. His hometown, Kasamatsu, was even more of a backwater.
Since childhood, watching Uma Musume races, Tagami had often wondered when his hometown would produce a star who could shine on the central stage.
That hope led him to Oguri Cap. Drawn in by the Grey Monster, he'd been filled with hope—surely this was the dawn of the countryside's rise.
After Oguri Cap, powerful, dazzling Uma Musume would surely keep emerging from Kasamatsu.
But as his heart, once ignited by Oguri Cap, slowly cooled, Tagami never saw another like her.
He'd heard of Dream Weaver's winning streak while she was still in the countryside. Talented fillies like her were rare locally, but not unheard of.
Yet the gap in training facilities, equipment, trainers' tactics and decisions—all these disparities piled up like a mountain.
Facing that hopeless peak, they met only defeat again and again.
But before the Kyodo Tsushin Hai, watching the Golden Tyrant about to leave, he'd suddenly thought of Dream Weaver for some reason. His cooled heart ignited in that instant, and mustering his courage, he'd shouted to Orfevre:
"Dream Weaver won nearly all of Kasamatsu's top races last year—she's our pride!"
Back then, the most he'd hoped for was that Dream Weaver would win the Kyodo Tsushin Hai.
It had been so long since a country Uma Musume had achieved anything on the central stage. If she could manage it, that alone would be worth celebrating.
But that red streak didn't just surpass her rivals on the track—it surpassed Tagami's wildest expectations.
Total victory in the Kyodo Tsushin Hai. Entering the Satsuki Sho and defeating the Golden Tyrant head-on. And now today, with a Great Chase no one predicted, overtaking Orfevre—whose final kick was said to be peerless—in the final stretch.
Without anyone realizing, a new star had risen—one not overshadowed by Oguri Cap. In the skies of the horse racing world, the gloom cast by the elite families had been torn apart by a Crimson harbinger.
That red light blazing across the track wasn't just the light of victory—it was a light of hope for everyone who had ever loved country Uma Musume only to have their hearts broken by reality.
Dream Weaver's emergence proved one thing:
Oguri Cap was no fluke. The countryside could indeed produce stars capable of shaking the world.
"It's just like… the Hero of Light, isn't it…"
Unconsciously, tears blurred Tagami's vision, yet that brilliant red streak remained vivid before his eyes.
Victory was now within reach.
There was no need to anxiously ask Kitahara or Chizuru Haibara anymore. Everyone at Kasamatsu Tracen could see Dream Weaver shining on the track.
"Go, Little Dream—!"
Kobayashi Kaze excitedly watched the red cape she had woven herself transform Dream Weaver into a crimson streak flying across the course.
Shouting at the top of her lungs, she unconsciously patted Nishimoto Makusa beside her.
Even Makusa, usually the steadier one among the Uma Musume, couldn't be bothered to stop her this time. Cupping her hands around her mouth like a megaphone, she yelled:
"Take the win and let's all go back to Kasamatsu for watermelon, Little Dream!"
Not one for flowery words, she could only use the most sincere phrase she knew to cheer Dream Weaver on.
"Win the Japan Derby, Little Dream!"
Oguri Roman's heart was also surging. She stared intently at the track, just like when she was little watching hero shows and Oguri Cap's races on TV.
In her heart, Dream Weaver had long since become every bit as legendary as those.
Being able to stay at Kasamatsu Tracen, accepting Dream Weaver's invitation, sitting in these stands—Oguri Roman felt it was the best decision she'd ever made.
"After I win the Mile Championship too, let's go see Oguri Cap-senpai together!"
She still remembered that sunset after the Junior Crown Cup, the hand Dream Weaver had offered her, the words she had spoken.
Since they'd made that vow to save the countryside together, she couldn't fall behind.
Oguri Roman secretly resolved that after the Derby, at the Centaur Stakes, she would make Dream Weaver cheer for her just as she was cheering now.
As long as they were together, there was nothing to fear.
Satou Ken nearly slumped into his seat, but his eyes remained fixed intently on the race.
Chizuru Haibara had experience as a trainer at Central Tracen. Even if she hit a low, she could always bounce back.
But him? He only had a local trainer's license, nearly worthless in today's racing world.
Before Dream Weaver came to Kasamatsu Tracen, Satou had been drifting through life, counting each day's pay.
But that crimson light had given him hope again and again. So he became diligent, working day and night on logistics for the Uma Musume's training.
Now, watching Dream Weaver in the Japan Derby, Satou finally felt the urge to move forward himself.
"After the Derby… I'll try testing for a central trainer license," he murmured, eyes still on the track.
"That's my proud student! The pride of our Kasamatsu Tracen! Go, Little Dream!"
Seeing Koutarou Haibara crying tears of joy, Chizuru could only pat her father's shoulder helplessly.
In the past, the weight of Kasamatsu Tracen had rested entirely on Koutarou's shoulders. So whenever Dream Weaver succeeded, he became more emotional than anyone, often crying at the track.
Maybe only in moments like this could he finally release the pressure he'd carried for so long.
As his daughter, Chizuru understood her father's struggles better than anyone.
Her past pessimism wasn't just because she'd slunk back from Central in disgrace—it was also shame at facing her father.
In those days, Chizuru felt that a coward like her would only add to his burdens. She hated that version of herself but couldn't escape it.
But…
Those days were over, weren't they?
"Go for it, Dream," Chizuru whispered, a smile unconsciously touching her lips as she watched Dream Weaver on the track.
At the same time, on Oi Racecourse, Nanno Sumire ran with the finish line just one step away, teeth clenched.
The intense sprint for victory made every muscle in her body ache. Threats loomed from competitors on either side.
But the Haneda Hai title was right there. She had to win—she'd made a promise with Little Dream.
She would win the Haneda Hai, so… Little Dream would definitely win the Japan Derby!
Images from the past year flashed through Sumire's mind—meeting Dream Weaver, the promises they'd made. Memories became a propulsive force, pushing her toward the champion's throne.
"Win!" she screamed in her heart, not knowing if she meant herself or Dream Weaver.
"Win!"
WHOOSH—
The moment the finish line was breached, the giant electronic screen in the rain flared to life. Crimson characters burned like fire in the darkness.
Tokyo Racecourse seemed to freeze for a split second, plunged into dead silence—before erupting.
BOOM—!
The stands exploded like a powder keg with deafening cheers.
Spectators waved their arms wildly. Hats flew into the air. Strangers embraced in excitement.
Everyone cheered and waved without restraint, venting their exhilaration in a booming wave of sound that nearly blew the roof off the stadium.
"This country Uma Musume has once again proven with her power one thing—"
Akasaka Rin's voice fought through the roaring crowd.
"It was never true that Central and the elites are inherently stronger! Oguri Cap's miracle wasn't a fluke! Out in the countryside, in each of our hometowns, stars like her can appear!"
The entire crowd began clapping in rhythm spontaneously, chanting in thunderous unison:
"Dream Weaver! Dream Weaver!"
Akasaka Rin screamed into the mic:
"Now, let's crown this legend who's seized both the Satsuki Sho and Japan Derby with our hottest cheers! Let all of Tokyo hear our voices!"
"I announce to the world! The winner of this Japan Derby is—"
"DREAM! WEAVER!!!"
On the screen, those three crimson characters burned like the Uma Musume herself—a blazing meteor cutting a brilliant trail through the rain. The light bursting from the edges of the text resembled real flames, staining the gloomy sky scarlet.
Like a blade, it sliced through the grey heavens.
First Place: Dream Weaver.
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T/N: ABSOLUTE CINEMAAAAAAA
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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.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.