Tossing the nearly full honey drink into a nearby trash can, the Emperor let out a soft chuckle.
"The strongest… truly deserving of the title. How fortunate I am to have encountered such an Uma Musume. Grandmother, let's go. What lies ahead now is the battle of the seniors."
The smile faded from her face, her eyes turning sharp and intense, her expression so heavy it seemed shadows might fall across it.
In that moment, the Emperor's majestic aura unfurled, formidable as a terrifying beast.
Watching her granddaughter's back as she walked ahead, Speed Symboli smiled faintly and shook her head.
"That little girl who used to throw tantrums and show such disrespect to her own mother has grown into this now. It really makes me proud. Perhaps it's time I retired. With Rudolf as she is now, entrusting the Symbol family to her would surely be fine."
"Grandma, keep up. Don't tell me your legs are too old to move properly anymore?"
[Fury]
"You insolent child! Seems you've forgotten how it feels to have your backside spanked!"
With that, Speed Symboli swiftly gave chase to the fleeing Emperor's back.
The two of them raced along, pushing right against the speed limit for Uma Musume in the city.
--+--
Inside Nakayama Racecourse, the competitors who had just finished the race were sprawled on the ground in various states, breathing heavily, completely uncaring of the grime staining their bodies.
Ines Fujin was among them. She lay face-down on the grass, letting the cold rain gradually soak through her clothes.
Her cheek was pressed against the earth, each breath filled with the bitter scent of grass and the stale smell of soil.
'I lost… Didn't even make it into the top three…'
Her hand clawed at the grass, then clenched tightly, fistfuls of damp soil oozing out between her fingers.
'Mom, my little sisters… I'm not a proper role model. I promised you all I'd run with spirit, and this… this is how it ends.'
Strangely, while Ines Fujin loathed this rainy weather, she also felt a faint thread of gratitude for it. Because of this drizzle, the tears on her face were that much less noticeable.
"Hm?"
A warm sensation touched her icy hand. Her right hand, which had been gripping the mud in frustration, was gently pried open, then carefully wiped clean with a handkerchief.
"Who is it?"
She asked instinctively, though she really didn't need an answer to guess.
There was only one person who would care for her at a time like this, with such meticulous gentleness.
She felt an arm firmly encircle her waist, another sliding behind her neck to hold her steady. Then, a force she couldn't possibly resist lifted her entirely off the ground.
Turning her head, as expected, her eyes met those familiar, handsome yet beautiful golden eyes. Their brilliant clarity was unmatched by any other Uma Musume.
"Nearl, shouldn't you be the one accepting the cheers right now? Why come here to pull me up?"
Ines Fujin managed to force a weak smile, trying to mask her utterly dejected state.
"Get up. Do you really want your family to see you looking so wretched?"
Nearl paid no mind to Ines's attempt at composure. Effortlessly, she supported Ines as they moved toward the exit tunnel, Ines's legs dragging somewhat comically along the ground.
"But my performance was already wretched enough. It can't get much worse."
"Don't talk nonsense. If you were a mother, which would hurt more? Seeing your daughter sad over one poor race, or seeing her become despondent and full of self-blame over just this single failure?"
"…"
Ines Fujin had no answer, but she already knew it in her heart.
"So pull yourself together a bit. Show me that usual energetic, lively spirit of yours. The friend I know isn't some sad, muddy mess."
"Hey! 'Muddy mess' is going too far, no matter what!"
Ines protested, but she still strained to keep a smile on her face.
"Forcing the opponent you just beat to smile while in your arms… what kind of embarrassing party is this?"
"Correction: you are being assisted by me. I am not holding you in my arms."
"From where I'm standing, this counts as a hug!"
As they spoke, Nearl had already guided them along the fence to the tunnel entrance, all the while acknowledging the fervent spectators lining the route.
Ines watched beside her, feeling a pang of envy.
"It's really something, having so many fans who adore you. You must make a fair bit from merchandise, right?"
"...Merchandise?"
Nearl paused, her ears twitching slightly as if a thought had struck her.
"Ah, right. Merchandise is one of our income sources as Uma Musume, sometimes even the only source after retirement. Prize money is finite, after all; it runs out someday. But merchandise royalties can keep flowing. And fame isn't always directly tied to skill. Some Uma Musume might not be top-tier in performance, but their popularity doesn't suffer."
"I've bought your doll, you know. Though the craftsmanship was pretty rough."
Ines Fujin said this, but Nearl's expression remained impassive, if not a bit colder.
"Is that so? Well, if you like, I could hand-sew a 'Nearl Special Edition' doll for you next time."
"Wow! I'd love that! When I'm down on my luck in the future, I can sell that doll. With your skills, Nearl, you're bound to be famous someday. That doll could be worth a fortune then."
"Selling off a symbol of our friendship like that… doesn't that feel a bit wrong?"
Nearl teased lightly.
"Starving to death while clinging to that symbol would make you even sadder, wouldn't it?"
"True. If it ever comes to that, your own well-being should come first. Neither honor nor money is worth more than your own safety."
"You sound just like my mom saying that, Nearl. You come across like an elder sometimes."
"Heh."
Nearl simply smiled without further comment. They had reached the end of the path, where Kitahara and the others were waiting.
"Nearl, and this… Miss Ines, are you both alright?"
Ardan was the first to step forward. After greeting Ines, she quickly moved to support her.
Nearl smoothly transferred Ines's support to Ardan, then took her previously stored phone from Everlamp.
"…"
Ardan and Ines exchanged a glance. For some reason, though both were gentle and considerate by nature, the atmosphere between them felt slightly awkward just then.
--+--
Beep.
A sound signaled that the email Nearl had composed was sent to the distant Symboli Rudolf.
Curious, Rudolf opened it to read. But as her eyes scanned the message, the air pressure around her plummeted violently, her domain flickering in and out of existence.
"How audacious! Daring to produce and sell unauthorized merchandise without permission!"
"What's next? Planning to use Uma Musume races for gambling?!"
--+--
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.