The night was deep, but Shinzan still hadn't rested. She had just gotten off the plane and, without even a moment to adjust to the time difference, rushed straight into another interview.
Only when today's work was finally done, and she returned to the hotel for a brief respite, did Shinzan finally have a chance to rub her weary eyes.
Sitting on the sofa, she relaxed her gaze and asked the assistant beside her, "What's on the schedule for tomorrow?"
Beside her, a sharp-looking female assistant with a sleek ponytail, black-framed glasses, and a well-tailored suit sorted through the papers in her hands before replying,
"Tomorrow morning, we're recording a program at France Télévisions. After finishing around noon and taking a short break, the documentary team covering your Triple Crown record will take you around the area for some filming."
"The main theme is revisiting memories of your training camp days in Europe as a child."
"Shooting will go until about eight in the evening, after which we'll attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony. It's Paris Tracen Academy's anniversary celebration soon, and you're giving a speech as a guest of honor."
Listening to the assistant lay out a schedule so packed it could steal one's breath, Shinzan's expression showed not a flicker of impatience.
She replied with a calmness that seemed almost routine, "And after that?"
"If nothing unexpected comes up, that's all for the day."
The assistant flipped through her materials once more before confirming.
"Is that so… That's still fairly light, then."
Shinzan eased her posture slightly, leaning back against the sofa cushions, and let out a quiet sigh of relief.
What most would see as an unbearably demanding schedule, Shinzan viewed as a relatively easy day—at least far lighter than the non-stop grind she'd endured today.
As the first Uma Musume to defend a Triple Crown title, and the first to claim the Triple Crown three times in a row, Shinzan's name had become a symbol of Japanese racing on the global stage.
As a future leader, she had to take on more and more appearances to expand her influence.
Only by doing so could she hope to wrest a measure of freedom for Japan's Uma Musume from the grip of the European racing world.
After all, what Europe had originally expected of Shinzan was no different from any other Triple Crown hopeful: win one Triple Crown, retire obediently, and become a mascot under Europe's control.
But she had chosen to resist.
Under mounting pressure, she seized the Triple Crown three times in succession, forcing even the European racing establishment to acknowledge her exceptional status and make concessions for her sake.
All of this—every bit of special privilege—was something Shinzan had earned through her own strength on the track.
To solidify that power, she would gladly work back-to-back engagements day after day without complaint.
She knew that the more exceptional her standing became, the more she could secure for other Uma Musume.
Before her time, the selection races at Central Tracen weren't open to all freshmen.
Back then, the arrogant European racing circle would first handpick only the top-performing Uma Musume from each class for the trials.
Those who didn't meet their standards weren't given even a sliver of a chance.
It was Shinzan, using her unique status, who won every freshman at Central Tracen a shot at changing their fate.
But Shinzan knew this change was still far from enough. In places beyond her reach, many Uma Musume were held back by limited talent, forever unable to chase their dreams.
Thinking of this, Shinzan felt she simply hadn't worked hard enough.
If she could become even more exceptional, more Uma Musume could have their destinies rewritten because of her.
That's why she absolutely could not afford to stop.
Just as Shinzan was about to retire for the night to rest up for tomorrow's schedule, her assistant spoke up as if suddenly remembering something.
"By the way, Miss Shinzan… about the recent Satsuki Sho in Japan—there's been quite a stir."
Buried in her hectic schedule, Shinzan naturally hadn't had the energy to keep up with other news.
Besides, having won the Triple Crown three times herself, she understood better than anyone what the European racing world aimed to achieve by relentlessly establishing this event across the globe.
This Satsuki Sho was likely no different from those in the past.
Either Europe would send one of their own Uma Musume to claim it, or one of their previously chosen Triple Crown hopefuls would take it in due course.
However you looked at it, those were the only two outcomes.
After a moment searching her memory, Shinzan said, "This year… this year should be Mr. C.B.'s turn to compete, right?"
"I thought she withdrew from the training camp. Did she enter after all? Or did something happen to her?"
Shinzan's tone was disbelieving.
As the face of Japanese racing, she made it a point to remember the names of all of Japan's talented Uma Musume.
And Mr. C.B.—who had gone undefeated in the training camp and was hailed as the next homegrown Triple Crown contender after Shinzan—was naturally someone she knew well.
Still, Shinzan held some reservations about Mr. C.B.'s decision to leave the training camp back then.
In her view, if Mr. C.B. had successfully achieved the Triple Crown, she would have surely become a key ally alongside another extraordinarily gifted Uma Musume, Symboli Rudolf, serving as Shinzan's right and left hands.
Together, the three of them could have made Japan's Uma Musume even more exceptional.
Perhaps, in time, they might have gathered the strength to challenge the European racing world.
Although she somewhat felt Mr. C.B. had wasted her potential, Shinzan still cared deeply about her.
That's why, upon realizing this was Mr. C.B.'s year to compete for the Triple Crown, she immediately fired off so many questions.
Just as she grew anxious to know whether something had happened to Mr. C.B., the assistant shook her head.
"It's related to Miss C.B., but she isn't the main reason for the commotion."
Shinzan immediately furrowed her brow. According to her information, Mr. C.B. was the most talented Uma Musume of her generation in Japan.
If it wasn't about her, then what could possibly be noteworthy enough for the assistant to bring it up?
"Do you remember an Uma Musume named Dream Weaver?"
Hearing the name, Shinzan searched her memory and recalled the Uma Musume who had caused quite a stir during the selection races a few months back.
She nodded and asked her assistant, "What about her? Did she cause more trouble?"
Back when Dream Weaver faced criticism from the European racing world over her remarks, it was actually Shinzan who had quietly worked behind the scenes to mitigate the fallout.
Judging by Dream Weaver's performance in the trials, she was a rare, outstanding talent among homegrown Uma Musume. Even after rejecting Europe's invitation, her future looked promising.
Shinzan had meant to recruit her but forgot amid her hectic schedule. Now, hearing her name again, Shinzan's first thought was that Dream Weaver had landed in another mess that needed cleaning up.
In response to Shinzan's question, the assistant shook her head again.
"She won the Satsuki Sho."
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T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 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.