Hey everyone, my name is Everlamp, and I was a Racing Uma Musume!
Was.
Now, I've become a glorious support Uma Musume!
No, no, it's not because I got injured and couldn't run anymore, and of course it's not because I lacked talent either!
I'm not being boastful, but I'm a prodigy, you know!
Whether it's running style or distance adaptability, on-the-spot decision-making or using various skills, I could handle everything smoothly and effortlessly.
I'm not bragging—I tested it myself before. Over a 2,000-meter race, my final three furlongs could even clock in at 34.7 seconds.
I hadn't been racing for long, but I'd seen Fujimasa March-senpai compete before.
To be honest, I thought I could win.
I originally believed I'd keep winning all the way, then embark on a journey to the central circuit just like Oguri Cap-senpai.
But my fate took a turn that morning.
I lost.
Whether it was speed or stamina, I was completely outclassed by that junior. There wasn't even room left to console myself.
Even when I pulled out my trump card, that momentum technique, it was useless. She didn't show the slightest weakness—I was utterly defeated.
Saying I didn't care would be a lie—after all, I really did lose that race.
But it's not exactly right to say it bothered me deeply either, because in that race, I found something far more important.
"Nearl-nee, I've mended your tracksuit."
Handing the plain tracksuit to Nearl, who was bent over a book, Everlamp's face was lit up with a smile.
"Thank you, Lamp-chan."
Setting her book aside for a moment, Nearl accepted the freshly repaired tracksuit with both hands.
"Nearl-nee, please give me your racing shoes too. I'll make sure your horseshoes are properly fixed."
Pulling out a small hammer from behind her, Everlamp asked for the shoes.
"I appreciate it."
"Not at all! This is what a support Uma Musume does."
Taking the shoes happily, Everlamp started tapping away cheerfully, humming a tune as she worked.
Yep, this is exactly why I became a support Uma Musume.
The one who took first place in that race—the Uma Musume who made me feel the gap in realms for the very first time—Margaret Nearl.
She had striking, heroic features and sharp, well-defined looks. Her golden hair and pale gold eyes shone with a brilliance like the sun.
But that wasn't really the important part. What mattered was her incredible personality—you could use every positive word in the book to describe her, like a character straight out of a novel.
Truth be told, from the moment I first saw her, I felt that urge—the urge to get closer. But back then, it was just about wanting to know her, to be friends.
After the race, that feeling didn't fade—it deepened.
Powerful, transcendent, a dazzling beacon, an almost unreal presence.
That was the impression Nearl left on Everlamp during that race.
'It's like she lives in a completely different world.'
That thought lingered faintly in Everlamp's heart.
That just wouldn't do. She still wanted to properly connect with this Uma Musume.
So, in the end, the choice she made was this: become her support Uma Musume.
It wasn't a hard decision at all.
Compared to other Uma Musume, Everlamp's love for running was just as strong, and her talent was definitely heaven-sent.
But maybe it was a limitation—her will to win was overwhelmingly lacking, and she never really got used to the cutthroat nature of the track, where everyone fights for glory and victory.
For someone like her, becoming a support Uma Musume wasn't such a hard pill to swallow.
Not only could she get closer to the Nearl she admired, but she could also train with her in their free time.
That was a perk usually reserved for team members—could other Uma Musume outside the team manage that?
They probably only had the chance to race against Nearl during competitions.
Thinking this way, Everlamp clearly didn't realize she was an oddity herself.
What normal Uma Musume would willingly step up to challenge Nearl? Most would consider themselves lucky just to avoid facing her.
"All done, Nearl-nee! I'm heading out to buy a few things."
Setting down the freshly shoed racing shoes, Everlamp informed Nearl, then skipped off toward the school gates after exchanging goodbyes.
"But it's not like there's much to buy, really," Everlamp mused as she walked.
"Nearl-nee doesn't eat snacks, doesn't play games, doesn't wear makeup. When she goes shopping, it's just for stationery and sports gear, and she buys in bulk every time."
Frowning slightly in frustration, Everlamp felt a little stuck.
"So in the end, it's just me wandering around by myself, huh?"
Strolling aimlessly until she reached the riverbank, Everlamp muttered to herself.
Even as she said it, she didn't leave. Instead, she carefully picked a quiet spot and settled down comfortably.
"Lucky there's such a big rock here. Sitting on the ground would've been way too awkward."
Sitting properly on the stone, Everlamp gazed at the winding river. The afternoon sun glinted on the water's surface, scattering shimmering reflections.
In this secluded little corner, free from outsiders, Everlamp was unexpectedly quiet. The usual smile was gone from her face, and her entire presence felt as still and calm as a shadow.
"…"
The river flowed ceaselessly, its splashes sprinkling over the gravel along the bank, dampening the earth.
Everlamp stared intently at everything before her. Around her, it was as if the air had solidified—like an insect trapped in amber. The scene remained unchanged, yet it carried a strange sense of suspension.
No ripples, no shifts. Everything seemed frozen in that moment, like a record preserved for posterity.
"Aah~ I just can't do it."
But that suspended feeling lasted only a few seconds before quickly dissipating, leaving its owner grumbling in frustration.
"Seriously, it looks like this thing is beyond saving. Do I just have to give up?"
Sighing ruefully, Everlamp curled up, wrapping her arms around her knees and resting her chin on them.
She was giving off a bit of a reclusive vibe.
If some legendary Uma Musume happened to pass by, they'd surely recognize what this feeling was.
Zone.
Or more accurately, the embryonic form of a Zone—still far from the real thing, but the seed had been planted.
At her age, being able to manifest even a nascent Zone wasn't something that could be explained by talent alone.
But now, it seemed her embryonic Zone was no longer usable.
"Was it because of the Sun-Moon Cup? After seeing an incredible Uma Musume like Nearl-nee, I just can't summon that arrogant mindset I had before."
Everlamp mumbled to herself.
This whole situation was just her luck, really. She happened to run into Nearl right as she was solidifying her own self-awareness, causing her perspective to shift.
As a result, the Zone that was built on her original convictions couldn't fully form—it could only make a brief appearance before fading away.
--+--
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.