"Hmm? So Halo and Seiun can both activate their Zone now."
El Condor Pasa watched the Derby replay with keen interest. In the past, she might have considered joining the Japanese Derby herself, to compete against Seiun Sky.
But the day of the Japanese Derby happened to fall during a critical phase of her injury recovery, leaving her no chance to participate.
"Mhm, Spe-chan is impressive too, keeping up that closely even without activating a Zone."
Grass Wonder, also from Team Rigil, commented on the Derby's outcome.
For some reason, Special Week, the Derby's runner-up, held more of her attention. She had this indescribable feeling about that slightly naive classmate of hers.
If possible, she'd have loved to face Special Week on the track herself.
Now that the Japanese Derby was over, not only was El Condor Pasa almost fully recovered, but Grass Wonder's previous injuries were also in the post-recovery rehab stage.
If not for their trainer, Toujou Hana, stopping her, she might have chosen to enter the Japanese Derby too.
As one of the first Uma Musume in their generation to unlock a Zone, seeing others now achieve it gave Grass Wonder a certain sense of urgency.
"Ah, Spe-chan... if only her training volume could match King Halo's..."
El Condor Pasa hit the nail on the head. Though she'd been injured, she'd still kept an eye on the training states of her peers.
You could catch glimpses of Team Spica's training sessions on the Tracen Academy grounds.
But those methods... whether you called them free-spirited or unorthodox, they were quite different from the approaches of Rigil, Canopus, or even King Halo's regimen.
Even the more conventional parts of their training showed that Silence Suzuka and Special Week had standout performances.
Yet, the gap in training volume meant Special Week simply couldn't catch up to Seiun Sky and King Halo—that was a foregone conclusion.
Even if Special Week's innate talent was likely above theirs.
Yes, talent.
Special Week's talent was undeniable. King Halo and Seiun Sky were hailed as 'genius Uma Musume,' able to activate their Zone and clash in the Japanese Derby, though their Zone were still incomplete back then.
But given time, their Zone would surely mature, pulling this entire generation into contests of Zone versus Zone.
That Special Week hadn't unlocked her Zone didn't mean her talent was inferior.
What she lacked wasn't just that intense, 'grind'-style training volume—more crucially, she hadn't yet reached some personal limit that she needed to surpass.
A genius Uma Musume might approach her limit, strive to break through it, and then, under some mysterious conditions, unlock her Zone.
Yet, in the final stretch of the Japanese Derby, even after pushing past her limits and keeping pace with Zone, Special Week showed no signs of activating one herself.
This indicated that Special Week's limits lay further ahead; her talent was greater than Seiun Sky's and the others.
That was El Condor Pasa's view, and it was shared by other seniors in Team Rigil too.
Of course, this didn't mean Special Week would be invincible later on. Races depended on many factors. Still, El Condor Pasa was confident she could beat a future, Zone-wielding Special Week!
"Speaking of which, I really wish I could watch the Takarazuka Kinen before leaving."
El Condor Pasa stretched lazily. Being unable to train during her injury felt like something was missing from life, like her body had grown rusty, like gears that hadn't turned in too long.
Soon, she'd be preparing to depart for France.
Grass Wonder smiled softly. This year's Takarazuka Kinen was truly a gathering of stars.
Even though she was fully recovered and had entered the race herself—and though part of her aimed for the title—in all honesty, this Kinen might be more about seeing the gap between her freshly recovered self and the current Barbatos and King Halo.
Their trainer, Toujou Hana, was actually against them entering the Takarazuka Kinen.
A freshly recovered Uma Musume jumping straight into a G1 race, especially the climactic first-half championship event? That was unprecedented in Japanese racing history.
Well, if you excluded Barbatos, that is.
Now Team Rigil had two more: Grass Wonder and El Condor Pasa.
Grass Wonder entered the Takarazuka Kinen, while El Condor Pasa chose to enter a French G1—the Prix d'Ispahan!
She said it was to pressure herself, to prepare for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and to adapt to the differences between French and Japanese turf.
Starting with a French G3 to get used to the grass might offer no sense of tension or purpose.
Back when Barbatos first arrived at Tracen Academy, having only known dirt tracks in Kochi, she mastered central turf running in a single day.
As a rival, El Condor Pasa wouldn't allow herself much leeway either!
If Barbatos could adapt to turf in a day, El Condor Pasa was confident she could adapt to French turf in a short time too!
"So then..."
"Who do you think will win the Takarazuka?"
Grass Wonder looked at El Condor Pasa and asked.
If she'd asked a seasoned, polished adult, the answer would probably have been 'Of course, you.' But Grass Wonder knew El Condor Pasa would never answer that way.
Even Grass Wonder herself knew she'd have a tough time at the Kinen.
Whether it was the legendary Air Groove from her own team or Barbatos, who currently contended for the title of strongest active Uma Musume, neither were opponents she could easily challenge at her current level.
"That question..."
El Condor Pasa didn't hesitate much, replying with firm conviction, "I think the champion will be Barbatos."
"But Air Groove-senpai..."
That answer made even Grass Wonder, who knew her best from their daily life together, feel a sense of pressure. "The Kinen is a race even Air Groove-senpai is entering. Do you really think she'll lose, El?"
Grass Wonder didn't believe Legendary Uma Musume were invincible. Given her own talent, she'd thought about facing them ever since her debut.
But that was meant to be two or three years later.
No one could deny Barbatos was strong now, but only half a year had passed since her defeat in last winter's Dream Cup. Did she really stand a chance against Air Groove-senpai already?
"I believe in Barbatos."
"Until I win the Arc and come back to defeat her myself, I'm sure she won't lose to anyone."
When it came to Barbatos, El Condor Pasa held an unprecedented level of faith in her.
--+--
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.