"You're right. Unless something's wrong with her physically, I can't imagine that girl losing. The only real question is how many lengths she'll win by."
The speaker was an Uma Musume who bore a thirty or forty percent resemblance to Symboli Rudolf, her face still youthful and lovely, with only the subtlest hints of age showing here and there.
Everyone knew appearances couldn't be trusted with Uma Musume. It wasn't uncommon for an Uma Musume in her forties to look no different from when she was twenty.
She had long, dark brown hair, with a white blaze on her forehead in the same spot as Rudolf's, though a little shorter. Beyond that, their temperaments were worlds apart.
Symboli Rudolf, while usually gentle in demeanor, carried an undeniable, commanding pressure that matched her alias, "The Emperor."
This one, however, seemed quiet and distant. Put a book in her hand, and she'd be an ice queen you could only admire from afar, not someone you'd dare disturb.
Her name was Speed Symboli.
Fewer knew it now than in her prime, but she had been a racehorse of considerable achievement in her day and now held the position of head of the Symboli family.
Well, though most people assumed the family head was Symboli Rudolf, just like they thought Mr. C.B. was the head of the C.B. family.
Actually, the current head of the C.B. family was C.B. Queen , Mr. C.B.'s mother.
"Grandmother, you went and investigated her too?"
"Don't ask questions you already know the answer to. Naturally, I'd vet the one you've placed your full trust in. What, am I a bother?"
As she spoke, Speed Symboli tilted her head slightly to glance at Rudolf.
Surprisingly, that utterly ordinary glance made the usually imposing Rudolf take a few steps back.
"No, I wouldn't dare. Your consideration is very thorough."
This kind of deference clearly wasn't a first occurrence. Both were accustomed to this dynamic. Speed Symboli merely gave a faint nod and let the matter drop.
"Why are you drinking that honey special? I remember you don't like it."
"Just a little habit of mine. When I'm unsettled, I always drink a bit. This unpleasant, sticky sensation somehow makes me feel calmer."
"Feeling nervous now? Even after all that bold decisiveness in the meeting."
"It's not nervousness. It's more... an unknown, chaotic mix of hesitation and excitement. It won't affect my actions in the slightest."
At that, the two Uma Musume fell into a calm silence. The stadium around them was roaring, a boiling cauldron of noise. Standing outside, they could even feel the walls vibrating faintly.
"Margaret Nearl. Her reputation is almost surpassing yours now. If she wins this Yayoi Sho, the crown of 'The Strongest' will undoubtedly rest upon her head. That's an honor even you never attained."
"It's inevitable. Nearl possesses innate talent and a flawless spirit. For her now, racing isn't about pursuing victory anymore. She's climbing towards that elusive, intangible peak. Unknowingly, she's already journeyed to a distant place."
As she spoke, a golden light began to spread, overwhelming and pervasive. In an instant, everything before Rudolf's eyes was gilded in radiance.
"Ha!"
Speed Symboli jolted in shock. Though she had never awakened her own Domain, she had brushed against that realm. What she saw before her wasn't unfamiliar.
But that only made it harder for her to accept.
"How can a Domain's range be this vast?!"
"This is what I was talking about."
Rudolf took a sip from her now pure-gold-colored honey drink, seeming a tad calmer than her grandmother.
"Nearl has arrived at another realm. A world unknown to the Uma Musume of today."
--+--
"A beautiful start! The competitors in this Yayoi Sho are all elite, cream of the crop, and a disastrous missed break hasn't occurred!"
"As expected, it's Nearl! Our Radiant Knight is once again fighting for the lead!"
"Following close behind is Ines Fujin! She's sticking to Nearl, gradually pulling away from the pack behind!"
"Mejiro Ryan is positioned steadily within the rear group. She's not making any drastic moves, it seems she has other plans."
"But today's track condition is listed as soft! The damp turf will hinder many runners. The outcome is hard to predict."
"They're all entering the first turn now, and still leading is Nearl! I repeat, still leading is Nearl! But Ines Fujin isn't giving up easily, she's still glued to Nearl's back, keeping the gap within two lengths!"
"Truly worthy of being the highest-rated rookie Uma Musume by the URA lately. Being able to keep up with Nearl from the start is, judging by previous races, extremely rare."
"After all, this is the Yayoi Sho. The top three finishers earn priority entry into the Satsuki Sho, and the Satsuki Sho stands among the pinnacle of graded stakes races. Both the prestige and the prize money are things every Uma Musume desperately wants to claim."
"So only the strongest come to contest the Yayoi Sho. It's no surprise someone can keep up with Nearl."
The commentators dutifully relayed the situation on the track, mixing in their own insights, which added considerable color to the broadcast.
And on the track, each runner was executing the plan laid out by their trainer.
--+--
"Miss Ryan, we are quite aware of Nearl's capabilities. My principles as a trainer prevent me from offering you false hope. Please accept this cold reality."
The Mejiro family's exclusive trainer standing before Ryan adjusted her glasses.
Her attitude was respectful, but the warmth found between Kitahara and Oguri Cap, or between Fumino Nase and Super Creek, was absent here.
Theirs was purely a professional relationship.
Now, she was explaining the situation to her charge.
"You have no chance of victory. Unless Nearl suffers an accident on the track or is in severely poor condition that day, the best you can hope for is second place."
Ryan's fists clenched, her teeth gritting in frustration, but she knew it was the truth.
"Fortunately, there is still hope for us."
Here, the trainer's tone relaxed a little.
"According to reports, Nearl missed the entry deadline. So we needn't worry about that genius joining the Classic Triple Crown races. With her out of the picture, Miss Ryan, your probability of winning rises to around forty or fifty percent."
"That is good news. Therefore, for the Yayoi Sho, you must do your utmost to finish within the top three."
--+--
No. This is wrong.
'What others think doesn't matter to me. I won't take joy in a field lacking Nearl!'
"Never shirking, giving it my all in a direct contest—that is my pride!"
A fire burned in Ryan's heart, yet her actions remained cool and collected.
'An opportunity. I must seize that one and only chance.'
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! 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.