"Alright folks, welcome to this year's Spring Cup! I'm your first commentator!"
"And I'm commentator number two."
"You know, I've never seen such a huge crowd before. It's both terrifying and thrilling—this has got to be the biggest turnout for any race we've covered. Don't you think so, number two?"
"Absolutely. While we knew what to expect, seeing this many people is still a shock."
"Oh man, I'm getting nervous now. With so many eyes on us, if I mess up my lines or say something wrong, the audience might just eat me alive."
"You're kidding yourself! The audience is civilized—at most, they'd just boil you."
"Hahaha!"
Many in the crowd were amused by the commentators' banter, and the venue quickly filled with laughter.
"Haha—oops!"
Our Sakura Chiyono O was among those who laughed, but she only managed a brief chuckle before clamping a hand over her mouth, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Why?
"Ah, Chiyono O-san, there's no need for that. We won't scold you—no need to be so frightened," Komiyama said, turning toward her after hearing her laugh, trying to offer reassurance.
Nearby, Nase Fumino, the old man in martial arts attire, and Toujou Hana all nodded quietly in agreement.
'Even if you say that... could you please stop staring? It's so creepy!'
Chiyono was crying inside.
Right now, she felt like these trainers were sizing her up—ready to clean her, season her, and roast her for dinner.
'Whimper...'
Her ears drooped fearfully.
Elsewhere, Musaka Ginjirou was engaged in a pleasant conversation with Symboli Rudolf.
"There's no need to guess why you're here—there's only one reason. You came for Nearl, didn't you?"
Seated calmly, leaning on his cane, Musaka exuded an aura of 'keep away' alongside the Emperor.
"There's no need for honorifics with me, Musaka-san."
Symboli Rudolf shook her head.
"It's true that I came for Nearl, and I assume the same goes for all of you. Otherwise, so many trainers wouldn't have shown up together."
"Hmph. Even though we came together, my goal is a bit different from the others."
Adjusting his hat, Musaka lowered his voice.
"I'm just here to check in on my nephew's latest Uma Musume, and to see what she's capable of."
"But the others are different. Most want to get to know Nearl and leave a good impression. That girl Nase Fumino is here to gather intel—she's completely focused on training her own Uma Musume, Super Creek, isn't it?"
"She's still too young."
He shook his head, drawing a curious glance from Symboli Rudolf.
"What do you mean by that? What does her age have to do with it?"
"Only the young put all their energy into just one Uma Musume. Truth is, it's not necessary."
"For an Uma Musume, the trainer is important, but there's only so much we need to do."
"Setting up training plans, monitoring physical condition, entering races, offering emotional support, getting the necessary gear—that's about it."
"It takes effort at first, but once things are on track, the trainer's workload lightens up a lot."
"That's when you should be looking for the next Uma Musume, not pouring all your time into the one you already have."
Hearing this, Symboli Rudolf nodded in agreement.
"There's some truth to what you say. After all, there are far fewer trainers than Uma Musume. If everyone worked one-on-one, it would be incredibly inefficient."
"There's another important point."
"Oh? There's more?" Symboli Rudolf asked, puzzled.
"You elite Uma Musume might not get it, but it's about money."
Musaka's lips curled into a grin.
"Trainers need to eat too. Our base pay isn't high—most of our income comes from a share of the Uma Musume's prize money."
"The share from one Uma Musume isn't much, especially since trainers also have to cover training expenses. It's not cheap. If you're a trainer without financial backing, you'd probably need a side job."
"That Nase girl comes from a wealthy family. Otherwise, her 'one and only' approach wouldn't be so comfortable."
"Someone like Komiyama, building connections, that's what a normal trainer should do. That way, there's a chance she could become Nearl's trainer in the central league someday."
With that, Musaka finally revealed his underlying purpose.
"Emperor, when are you planning to transfer Nearl to the central league? Just like you did with Oguri Cap."
"So that's what this is about."
Symboli Rudolf shook her head with a wry smile.
"Since you asked so directly, I won't hide it. Actually, I have no immediate plans to bring Nearl to the central league."
"Oh? That doesn't sound like you. You have a sharp eye—you can always see the best path for an Uma Musume, and you'll do whatever it takes to guide her onto that road."
"Is that how you see me? So I'm that insensitive to people's feelings?"
"Not at all. You understand people all too well. The path you choose is truly the best for the Uma Musume, so even if they resent you at first, they always come to understand in the end."
"I don't think your methods are wrong. So why aren't you applying them to Nearl this time?"
Musaka looked genuinely puzzled.
"...It's hard to explain, but if I had to put it into words, it's because I see a dream in her."
"She's chosen a path that's arduous, long, and meant to bring light to others. It won't be as smooth as the path I could plan for her, but deep down, I hope she can walk her chosen road with conviction."
"...A dream even you acknowledge? That's truly remarkable."
"Yes. She's destined to be the kind of Uma Musume who brings hope."
'If that's the case, then maybe this old man can still be of some use.'
Musaka Ginjirou unconsciously rubbed his cane, a plan forming in his mind.
"Nearl is on the track!"
Just then, Ardan's excited voice rang out, accompanied by the commentators' introduction.
"Alright, everyone, now entering is the undisputed fan favorite of this race—the votes for all other competitors combined just barely reached half of hers. Will she continue the dominant form she showed in her debut race?"
"Surely every spectator is eager to see her performance. Let's welcome this rising star, this Uma Musume, with all our enthusiasm—Margaret Nearl!"
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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.