"What nonsense are you spouting? I've already given you my answer. If you're here to train, then train. Don't come near me." Kousei's attitude was atrocious, clearly still fuming over Amel's earlier words.
"I've already apologized. It was just one comment. At least hear me out," Amel said, unbothered as she sat down on her own.
"Wait, Kousei. There's no harm in hearing what she has to say."
Reiko held back the erupting Kousei. Amel watched with approval and said, "You must be Chiin Reiko. Caesar has mentioned you many times. Thank you for taking care of her at the Northern Academy."
"It was nothing. Caesar helped me a great deal as well."
As the two exchanged pleasantries, Kousei, who already wanted nothing to do with Amel, found everything she did irritating.
"It seems Kousei isn't too fond of me. In that case, I'll get straight to the point. Kousei, want to make a bet?"
Kousei glanced at Amel. "A bet? What are we betting on?"
"The outcome of the race. If I win, you will leave the NAU and guarantee that your child will never set foot on the racetrack. As compensation, anyone from my clan will give you twenty percent of their prize money until our clan is completely gone."
Her words were truly shocking. Kousei hadn't expected Amel to say something like that. Amel looked completely serious; she didn't seem to be bluffing.
"Do you doubt me? Shall we sign a contract or swear an oath to the Three Goddesses? Whatever you need to prove my sincerity, I'll do it."
Amel spoke with such earnestness that Kousei quietly turned to Reiko beside her and whispered, "Reiko, what does she mean?"
"I don't know. Probably exactly what she said?"
"What's her background, anyway? Didn't Caesar give you any details?"
"You know Caesar—she's the type who never reveals anything until the very last moment."
Kousei's eyes darted, a plan clearly forming in her mind.
"You said earlier that this is something 'you all' owe me, but we've never met before. So, this isn't just between the two of us, is it?" Kousei asked Amel.
"You're very sharp."
"There's just one thing I'm curious about," Kousei said. "You're not a descendant of 'that person,' are you? So what are you so fixated on?"
"How do you know I'm not?" Amel countered instead of answering.
"I've seen the footage. She didn't have striking golden hair. Her performance on the racetrack was completely different, too. If you were from a clan bound by blood, there would surely be some shared traits."
In the Umamusume World, renowned racing families always had certain commonalities. The most direct example was the Mejiro family, famous for their stamina. Their specific training philosophy was their trademark; everyone knew that if you needed a long-distance runner, you went to the Mejiro.
"Do I have to answer?"
"What's wrong? Didn't you just say you'd do anything to prove your sincerity?"
"Will you agree if I tell you?"
"Yes. As soon as you tell me, I'll agree to your terms."
Reiko's eyes widened in surprise, but she said nothing.
"Fine," Amel conceded. "I'll tell you everything, from beginning to end.
"I am indeed not a descendant of 'that person.' Everything we seek is simply to repay a past kindness. Remember what I told you? About your ancestor being persecuted."
"What the Central Committee did back then was similar to what they do now. I'm sure you can relate, so I won't go into detail. The key difference was that the Central Committee of that era was far more reckless and paranoid.
"At the time, the Central Committee wasn't powerful enough, and their actions were deeply unpopular. Almost no Umamusume were willing to follow their orders. Consequently, to manipulate races, the Central Committee had only one option."
The implication was obvious.
"Where there is oppression, there is resistance. To stop the Central Committee's tyranny, two Umamusume resolutely stood up and joined forces to challenge their rule.
"Their alliance was nearly invincible, but for reasons unknown, their rebellion ultimately failed. Your ancestor, disheartened, left Central and journeyed to the North. A portion of her followers went with her, and thus the Northern Academy was born.
"Though the rebellion failed, it severely weakened the Central Committee, bringing a brief period of peace to Central. My ancestor remained an observer throughout this historical drama. When the dust settled, she saw the Central Committee's true colors and resolved to leave Central as well."
"So, like you, I am also of the Exiled Lineage. As the Umamusume World flourished and Umamusume culture became increasingly widespread, countless new races emerged. Riding this wave of development, my ancestor quickly rose to prominence. With her exceptional abilities, she established roots in the West, ensuring our bloodline's legacy.
"To this day, we still remember that debt of gratitude. If your ancestor hadn't stood up, there would have been far more victims—perhaps even my own ancestor would not have been spared."
"Wait a minute!" Kousei suddenly interrupted. "You said my ancestor left Central for the North. Then who am I? And how did my mother and father even meet?"
If Kousei's memory served her right, she was a native of Central.
"That brings us to the other protagonist of that event—Partholon."
"Partholon?"
"You may not recognize the name, but she played a crucial role in history. After your ancestor left Central in despair, Partholon's resolve to change Central's will only grew stronger."
Uniting hearts and protecting the young. Imparting her skills without reservation, her systematic and scientific training philosophy became the cornerstone that set Central Umamusume culture on the right path.
The two most renowned families in Central today, the Symboli and the Mejiro, both trace their origins to her tutelage. With the emergence of the epoch-making monarchs Mejiro Ramonu and Symboli Rudolf, the dual tracks of racing each welcomed their own "Queen" and "Emperor."
The families' influence grew immense. Faced with the two giants—Mejiro and Symboli—even the Central Committee had to tread carefully.
I must admit, Symboli Rudolf is the most perfect Umamusume I have ever seen—a living legend. Her rise shattered the dominance of any single faction, establishing a tripartite balance of power.
Even Central could find no fault with this arrangement, and a long era of peace ensued—so long that the history of that time has been buried beneath the sands of time.
Everything seemed forgotten. Your lineage began transferring from the Northern Academy to Tracen—after all, their relationship resembles that of a lord and vassal.
"You're only surprised because your mother chose to stay in Central for your father's sake.
"Unfortunately, the Mejiro Family values family honor above all else, and Mejiro Ramonu had no desire to be drawn into the conflict. Otherwise, if Symboli and Mejiro had joined forces, the outcome would surely have been far better than it is now."
Come to think of it, Kousei mused, everything started when Acting Chairman Kashimoto took office. She connected this with what Amel had told her earlier.
The balance has been broken. The Central Committee is desperate for change.
"Me... McQueen... Teio... I see now."
It was all historical inevitability.
"I've said my piece. As we agreed, you will accept the wager, won't you?" Amel's voice was devoid of all emotion.
"Yes. I swear by the Three Goddesses that I will honor our agreement."
Amel seemed satisfied. She rose to her feet with a faint smile, her gaze on Kousei's brilliant eyes turning increasingly dangerous.
"I know someone like you would never bow your head. That's why I'm going to crush your pride, along with all those expectations. I'll leave you with such painful memories that you'll never set foot on this racetrack again."