After the whirlwind of events that had just unfolded, Barbatos gave a brief farewell to the viewers in her stream before cutting the feed.
She picked up some breakfast and started making her way back toward the wooden cabin.
The aftermath was now a matter for the Japanese police, the old woman, and the driver; there was no need for the girls to remain involved.
"Maruzensky-senpai, so you've known that lady for a long time?"
"Mhm, for ages," Maruzensky replied with a gentle smile, one that radiated her mature charm as memories of their long acquaintance flickered through her mind.
"I'm truly grateful you were there this time."
"Heheh." Barbatos let out a sheepish laugh, testing the waters. "I just wanted to see if I could help. I didn't expect it to actually work."
"Does having strength like that make me the strongest Uma Musume in the world?"
Reflecting on the superhuman power she'd displayed, Barbatos felt a twinge of worry.
She hadn't thought twice while saving a life, but in hindsight, she feared she might have overdone it.
Even if an Uma Musume was several times stronger than a human, stopping a car traveling at sixty kilometers per hour—and accelerating, no less—was a bit much.
She had even cracked the concrete beneath her feet.
Uma Musume were famous for their speed, not necessarily for raw, stationary power.
Since she wasn't entirely sure of the limits, she wanted to gauge Maruzensky's reaction to her "bare-handed car-stopping" feat.
"Maybe not quite the absolute strongest, but in terms of both power and speed, you're definitely among the world's elite," Maruzensky mused, running through her knowledge of domestic and international talent.
"If Symboli Rudolf or T.M. Opera O were in that situation, they could likely manage something similar."
"Besides, compared to Uma Musume from other parts of the world, we're actually at a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to raw strength. Currently, the strongest Uma Musume on the planet is likely the American legend—Joannias."
(T/N: I really tried to find the actual name, but only Ultraman came up...)
"Joannias?"
Barbatos hadn't realized that 'The Emperor' or 'The Overlord' were capable of similar feats.
Perhaps other girls could too, but Japanese races tended to be 'peaceful.'
Physical collisions between racers weren't frequent; while strength was a vital component of a racer's ability, it was often the hardest trait to discern in the Japanese circuit.
So, while her display was certainly 'inhuman,' it still fell within the known boundaries of what an Uma Musume could achieve.
Barbatos breathed a sigh of relief; at least her actions wouldn't draw too much unwanted scrutiny. Still, she felt a spark of curiosity regarding that American legend.
"Joannias? So America has its own legends too?"
"Most countries with a developed racing scene have their own legends. The Three Goddesses know no borders, after all," Maruzensky explained, sharing bits of trivia not often found in textbooks.
As she spoke, she suddenly recalled something.
"The old lady used to tell me that you looked so thin and fragile that you didn't seem like much of a runner. She thought you probably hadn't even debuted yet and told me I should give you some pointers. I doubt she thinks that now."
"Oh? Well, this humble 'Number One in Japan' could always use a few pointers from Maruzensky-senpai."
"Is it really okay to humble-brag like that?" Maruzensky laughed, her chest heaving with her amusement.
Barbatos clicked her tongue playfully. She had tried to be a bit cheeky with her bragging, but she felt like she'd lost the moment she looked over.
Compared to Maruzensky or Taiki Shuttle, she really was 'thin' in the chest department.
In that particular arena, they were opponents she simply couldn't defeat. Having lived as an Uma Musume for a while now, she had found herself starting to care about such things.
"Have you finalized your training plan for the summer camp?" Maruzensky asked.
She didn't ask if Barbatos was going to train.
While the summer camp was meant for relaxation, Barbatos wouldn't be the top racer in Japan—and Seiun Sky wouldn't be who she was—if they didn't put in the work during their downtime.
Barbatos, unsure why Maruzensky was asking, simply shook her head.
"The beaches are all sand, but it's too soft. It's fine for a morning jog, but if you use it for serious, long-term training, it might not be the best choice. It could even ruin your adaptation to turf," Barbatos explained.
This wasn't her own analysis, but rather advice Minamizaka had given her before the trip.
For Barbatos, the terrain didn't strictly matter; whether it was sand or turf, her ability to ignore unit collision meant everything felt the same.
However, Seiun Sky couldn't ignore those physics.
If Sky grew too accustomed to the soft sand, the training might actually weaken her performance, requiring a difficult adjustment period once they returned to Tracen Academy.
If they couldn't find a suitable spot, they would likely have to train on the public roads near the village.
But after today's incident, that idea seemed less appealing.
While the locals were used to seeing Uma Musume every summer, she could only imagine the crowds that would gather to watch her train after her 'little favor' today.
"In that case, why don't you come to the Rigil training base?" Maruzensky invited.
In the world of Japanese racing, Team Rigil was the undisputed powerhouse.
Even with Team Canopus currently basking in the limelight, there were things they simply couldn't match.
For instance, Rigil had exclusive spectator boxes at the four major racecourses; they boasted the majority of Japan's legendary racers; and here at the summer camp, they had their very own private training facility.
Just looking at those perks, one could see the sheer depth of the strongest team in the country.
By extending the invitation, Maruzensky was also offering a gesture of thanks on behalf of her friend.
Furthermore, she knew that Taiki, Amazon, Brian, and Opera O were all itching for a rematch with Barbatos.
Since Barbatos was also a classmate of Grass Wonder, she was certain Toujou Hana wouldn't object.
"The Rigil training base? Is that really okay?" Barbatos's eyes lit up.
The summer camp had indeed been relaxing, allowing her body—taut from constant practice—to unwind.
But after just one day of inactivity, she already felt out of sorts.
It was almost like an addiction to the grind.
More importantly, at the Rigil base, she might be able to have mock races with the legends themselves without having to wait for the Winter Dream Cup at the end of the year.
"I'd love to! Honestly, I'm already itching to get back to training."
--+--
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.