October 25, Tokyo Racecourse.
The day before the Japan Cup.
Today was the customary meet-and-greet for domestic and overseas entrants.
The largest banquet hall in the racecourse blazed with lights. Well-dressed reporters and socialites wove through the crowd; the air pulsed with excitement.
On the giant screen, photos and records of Uma Musume from around the world cycled in a loop.
"A grand gathering of the world's strongest competitors!"
"And waiting to welcome them are Central's Uma Musume—counted among the finest in history!"
A crisp, capable female reporter strode into the hall with a mic in hand, delivering an impassioned live broadcast as she walked.
"This race could be called the decider for the strongest Uma Musume in the world!"
"And now, the much-anticipated meet-and-greet is about to begin!"
Not far away.
Kuroha, in a well-cut black suit and holding a glass of champagne, watched that reporter's hyperbole with a wordless face.
The "strongest in the world" decider… you actually said it with a straight face.
With that thought, Kuroha's eyes drifted, almost involuntarily, to several meters away—where the reigning Arc heroine was demolishing cake at the buffet with zero image to maintain. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Still—
Given how the Central old guard worship the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and the Arc's supreme status in the era's Uma Musume world…
If the reigning Arc winner shows up, calling it "world number one" isn't exactly far-fetched.
Though, this year's Arc champion—named Kelly Room—does feel… a bit on the slacker side compared to Arc titlists of the past…
A soft glow flickered in Kuroha's eyes.
"All stats, about 1,200 give or take—some even a few tiers below Ardan."
"And… she hasn't even awakened the second step of Domain?"
Kuroha shook his head.
This year's Arc had some water in it.
"Kuroha-sensei."
A mild voice sounded beside him.
Kuroha turned to find Super Creek in an elegant dress. She smiled and offered a small bow.
Behind her stood Naise Fumino as well, in formalwear, calm and composed.
"Creek, Fumino."
Kuroha nodded back with a smile.
"Speaking of which, why are you alone? Where's Obey Your Master?" Fumino looked around, not spotting that familiar figure, and couldn't help asking.
"Her?" Kuroha arched a brow, took a sip of champagne, and let a playful smile show. "She went off to watch something fun."
…
Elsewhere in the hall.
The Commoner Queen stood quietly by a serving table in a refined, Lolita-style victory dress, taking small tastes of a pudding and enjoying a rare moment of peace.
Not far off, many overseas girls delightedly accepted live interviews.
Only she seemed forgotten by all.
After all—just like the Arc.
Since the Japan Cup's inception, no Uma Musume from New Zealand has ever taken the crown.
Naturally, few cared about a girl who looked like she'd only come to keep the field honest.
This… is fine…
Expressionless, the Commoner Queen watched the fired-up, high-spirited girls and lowered her head again.
Suddenly—
"Hello, friend from New Zealand."
A cool voice sounded at her side without warning.
Her heterochromatic eyes tightened to pinpoints. In an instant, her body reacted—she slid a step back on a diagonal, opening distance.
Narrowing her eyes, she stared, wary, toward the voice.
When she saw who it was, her brows knit slightly. Her voice sank. "Obey Your Master?"
Following the silver-haired girl's gaze, one saw Obey Your Master holding a lightly bowed, sidelong posture.
A gentle, harmless smile rested on her face, as if this were the most ordinary greeting in the world.
"Harō~"
The Commoner Queen straightened again, but her expression wasn't pleasant.
"Former Japan Cup queen—what business do you have with me?"
At the same time, she griped inwardly: This girl… walks without a sound?
Obey Your Master chuckled and straightened, her tone as natural as chatting with an old friend. "Nothing much. I just wanted to talk with my opponent for a bit."
The Commoner Queen answered with a noncommittal, cold snort.
"There are a dozen opponents here. Compared to me, that compatriot of yours—Pirate Ravenhawk—deserves your attention more."
But no answer came.
Puzzled, she turned back. The silver-haired girl was watching her with a half-smile.
Under the Queen's guarded gaze, Obey Your Master slowly leaned to her ear and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, murmured:
"I said…"
"My opponent~"
Boom—!
In a flash, icy dread shot up from the base of the Queen's spine to the crown of her head like electricity!
She felt utterly sighted by a top-rank apex predator—every disguise and hidden edge stripped bare beneath those smiling blue eyes!
And Obey Your Master, as if it were nothing at all, separated the instant she finished.
She stepped back, made a fist to her brow, then opened her hand like a blooming flower and gave a playful wave.
"See you tomorrow, Queen."
"…"
Watching the former Japan Cup queen turn away, the Commoner Queen stood rooted, a killing chill across her skin, even her fingertips faintly trembling.
But I… haven't shown anything since arriving in this country.
So why… does she…
…
The banquet soon neared its end.
As glasses clinked, a sweet announcer's voice came through the hall speakers right on cue.
"Next, would the overseas representative Uma Musume please come to the stage for pre-race remarks."
Before long, under the guidance of staff, the overseas girls—each in her distinct victory dress—filed to the front and took their prepared seats.
The spotlights came up, throwing their silhouettes large on the screen and drawing every eye in the room.
Obey Your Master stood quietly at Kuroha's side, gold eyes carrying a trace of amused interest as she watched the stage.
For a moment, the scene overlapped with last year's memory.
Last year, she'd sat up there too—an unknown nobody from the White Eagle Nation.
Even on a stage basking in universal attention, no one cared about her arrival.
Every lens and topic orbited "Europe's King" Tony Bianca and Central's "White Lightning," Tamamo Cross.
Back then, she was nervous, uneasy—yet filled with the thrill of hunting the strong and a secret ambition.
But this year, it was all different.
She stood here as a domestic Uma Musume—and the reigning Japan Cup queen.
In the stance of a defender, she serenely surveyed the challengers on the stage.
Truly…
It felt like another lifetime.
"Enter to win. I'll crush everyone!"
First to speak was Satias, one of the White Eagle Nation's reps.
She hid none of her fighting spirit. Opening with a boast fit Obey Your Master's impression of her homeland's girls—
—direct, confident, brimming with aggression.
Next came the French representative, Rush to the Peak, with the polite official line: "As France's representative, I will offer a glorious run for my country!"
After her teammate finished, the Commoner Queen flicked an almost unnoticeable glance at a golden silhouette in the audience.
Then she exhaled softly and said, in an even tone, "I will do my best to show my strength."
When it was Great Britain's turn—this year's Arc champion, Kelly Room—
Facing a sea of flashes, she only managed a strained smile. What she said was even shorter—and a little stammered—compared to the Queen:
"I… I'll do my best…"
In the end, it was another girl from the same country, Ibu Bocchi, who seized the thread with maximum enthusiasm.
She and Kelly Room were opposites: one so introverted it bordered on social anxiety; the other so extroverted it bordered on social terrorism.
"Ohoho—!!! Please, everyone, look forward to it!"
"I, Ibu Bocchi, shall make this race the greatest performance in history, I say!"
She even tossed her head and proclaimed to all:
"And now, please promise me one thing! My splendid victory—be sure to record it with proper seri—"
"Bored to death!!!"
A violently impatient voice cut her impromptu speech short.
It was the last White Eagle Nation entrant—
And, on paper, the strongest of the overseas girls aside from the Arc champion Kelly Room: Pirate Ravenhawk!
"The greatest performance? Don't be ridiculous! Everyone here has such tiny horizons!"
Cut off, Ibu Bocchi didn't get angry at all. Instead, her eyes lit with keen interest. "Then what is your goal, Ms. Ravenhawk?"
"Heh…"
Apparently hit dead-on, Pirate Ravenhawk snorted twice and grinned with pride.
"Do you even have to ask? My goal this time… is to go beyond the Far Eastern island, no—beyond the world's—"
Suddenly she ignored decorum and planted a foot on the long table, face burning with mania!
"Beyond the galactic record of the universe!!!"
"OOOOHHH—!!!"
Ibu Bocchi seemed to catch the exact same wavelength and shouted along, just as fired up.
"And also…"
The next moment, as if she'd vented enough, Pirate Ravenhawk slowly lowered her foot, set a hand to her thigh, and sent a perfectly aimed, provocative stare into the crowd.
"To grind last year's so-called queen to dust."
Waaa—!
The hall roared. No one expected the meet-and-greet to explode into a declaration of war so blunt and gunpowder-thick.
Every gaze—and every camera—followed Ravenhawk's line to a quietly standing figure.
Obey Your Master stood there with a playful, light smile, meeting Ravenhawk's eyes without a ripple.
She hadn't expected the overseas girls' event to end with fire splashing onto her either.
"Hehe~"
She rolled a lazy shrug, and in passing took a mic from a nearby reporter. After a quick sound check, she chuckled:
"After hearing so many grand speeches, it feels like anything I say will sound stale."
The golden-haired girl tipped her head a fraction.
"Then, as last year's queen, I'll say just one thing…"
Boom—!
In the next second, a deep, star-sea radiance spread from the depths of her pupils, and an unseen pressure blanketed the entire hall in an instant!
A soul-freezing, terrifying might slammed down upon every Uma Musume present!
On stage, all those fiery overseas girls—
Whether the arrogant Pirate Ravenhawk or the Arc champion Kelly Room—their faces changed as one.
Fine beads of sweat broke at their temples.
You've gotta be kidding me!
Having already stepped into the first step of Domain, Pirate Ravenhawk, of course, could see what that star-borne sweep standing over them all signified!
That was…the mark of the world's strongest tier!
Obey Your Master's smile slowly faded, replaced by the peerless poise and majesty of a queen.
"Please, dance to your heart's content, challengers!"
…
Under the reporters' fervor—and the overseas girls' silence—
The next day, the Japan Cup opened in grand style!
(End of Chapter)
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