Dream Weaver was utterly certain. With the power Shinzan had displayed, even capturing the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe would have been within her grasp.
Yet, she had halted her own forward march, freezing her glory at defending her Triple Crown titles.
Shinzan didn't show a flicker of anger at Dream Weaver's words, merely nodding calmly.
"That's right. I stopped."
"Because after defending those three classics, I finally realized something…"
"Shinzan was no longer just me."
At this point, Shinzan let out a few mocking laughs.
"I went to Europe for training from a young age and was already branded with Europe's mark. From then on, no matter how many victories I achieved, a portion of the glory's light would always shine back on Europe."
"The more I won, the more the strength of the European training system was proven. If I became the world's strongest Uma Musume, then Europe's system would undoubtedly be hailed as the world's strongest."
"By then… the shackles they had built would truly become unbreakable."
Dream Weaver furrowed her brow tightly. She had originally thought the European Racing Association had constructed this system merely to show the world the superiority of European training methods.
She hadn't expected such a hidden agenda.
Just as Shinzan said, if she truly became the world's strongest, that fact would become immutable.
Even if she retired, even if European horse racing later declined, this 'world's strongest' title would be set in stone, utterly unchangeable.
With that glory in hand, European horse racing could truly claim absolute authority.
Watching Dream Weaver lost in thought, Shinzan gently shook her head.
"I suspect their vision wasn't that long-term. The original intent of this mechanism was likely just to promote the European system."
Seeing lingering confusion in Dream Weaver's eyes, Shinzan gave a self-deprecating smile.
"It's just that I was too strong."
"So strong it surpassed even their imagination."
"So, in a sense, it was actually me who proved the superiority of the European training system."
Having faced off against the councilors at the European Racing Association headquarters many times, Shinzan was certain they hadn't thought that far ahead.
Back then, the triple crown system was already on shaky ground. They were too busy fixing their mistakes to plot for the future.
No one could have predicted Shinzan would be this formidable.
Even though her actions essentially challenged Europe's core, they indirectly demonstrated the efficiency of European training methods.
One could say that without Shinzan's three-time defense of the dual classics back then, the European system's influence on the world wouldn't have reached this point.
So, in the later stages of Shinzan's defenses, the European Racing Association, realizing this fact, chose to let go completely.
They no longer restricted news about Shinzan; instead, they pushed the wave, making Shinzan's name resonate across the world.
Yes, they had lost. Even deploying all their powerful Uma Musume couldn't stop Shinzan's defenses.
But they had also won, because Shinzan was an Uma Musume molded by the European training system. Her strength was proof of Europe's strength.
Thinking of this, Shinzan found it somewhat laughable. She had initially wanted to help Uma Musume break free from Europe's shackles, yet unwittingly became the finest smith forging those very chains.
"The more I won, the greater the influence of European Uma Musume racing became."
"After realizing this, I gradually withdrew from the track, finally leaving it completely a year ago."
Choosing to build her fame outside the racetrack wasn't what Shinzan wanted. Her talent, her brilliance belonged on the track.
It was only there that Shinzan was the Uma Musume worthy of being hymned by the gods.
After leaving the track, even if she attended countless shows, banquets, participated in documentaries and films day and night, she could never recapture the glory of her triple crown days.
Only on the track was she Shinzan.
Off the track, she reverted to being that rustic Niiyama. No one cared about a country Uma Musume, and Niiyama couldn't command everyone's gaze like Shinzan could.
"So… that's how it was…"
Dream Weaver was momentarily speechless. She hadn't imagined Shinzan left the track for such a reason.
A Uma Musume peerless in the world, one who truly could have overturned European Uma Musume Racing by herself, yet forever bound by the brand imprinted in her youth, unable to shed her European identity.
If Shinzan wanted, she could have kept on winning. After becoming the world's strongest, the European Racing Association wouldn't have begrudged her a mere Japanese circuit.
But she abandoned that future of dominating circuits and carving out her own realm.
Because Shinzan knew if she did that, the countless circuits and Uma Musume across the world would truly have no hope of resistance.
Dream Weaver clenched her fists.
Her disgust for the European Racing Association grew fiercer. But then, she suddenly remembered the news Shiragawa had shown her earlier.
"'The Uma Musume Blessed by the Gods… A Dazzling Return After a Year?'"
She unconsciously recited the headline.
Knowing full well that continuing to win would only add more prestige to European Uma Musume Racing, why would Shinzan choose to make a comeback? And more fundamentally, why was she telling Dream Weaver all this?
From Symboli Rudolf's attitude towards Shinzan last time, Dream Weaver could easily guess Shinzan had never shared this story with anyone else.
So why choose here, now, to tell Dream Weaver these things alone?
Bombarded with so much information, Dream Weaver felt her mind reeling, unable to think straight. But before she could ponder Shinzan's purpose further…
The other's next sentence threw Dream Weaver's thoughts into even greater disarray.
"Because I made a deal with the councilors at the European Racing Association headquarters."
"I will make a comeback, compete in the upcoming Kikuka Sho, and finally sever your path to the triple crown. And they… will completely relinquish their power over the Japanese circuit, ceding it entirely to me."
"Wha—"
Dream Weaver's eyes widened in shock. Shinzan had just been speaking of resisting European Uma Musume Racing. Why would she suddenly say something like this?
As if reading the confusion in her heart, Shinzan spoke softly.
"For you, this is a story you've just heard. But for me, it has been an exceedingly long year. During this year, I've contemplated many possible paths forward."
"Now, an exceptionally advantageous option lies before me."
"Defeating an Uma Musume who hasn't even obtained a triple crown won't enhance my own prestige any further. It won't add more glory to the European training system. Yet, it can secure the transfer of the entire Japanese circuit."
"It's actually a rather good trade, don't you think?"
Dream Weaver fell silent for a long, long time—so long she lost track of it. Shinzan didn't disturb her, merely watching her downcast eyes with a steady gaze.
"So… why did you tell me all that?"
She didn't understand. If Shinzan had already chosen to become an enemy, why share those past stories?
"Perhaps as an intimidation. To let you know at least how strong your opponent is. So strong it's almost hopeless."
"That way, you might obediently step down. Choose to bide your time and build your strength, waiting for a better opportunity, just as I suggested before."
Shinzan's voice remained utterly calm. From the moment she stated her purpose for returning, her tone hadn't wavered once.
All the emotions she'd displayed earlier when speaking of the past seemed to have vanished.
Dream Weaver was familiar with this tone. It was the tone of someone absolutely determined to achieve something—resolute, calm, and utterly unshakable.
"Biding our time and yielding is not the future we chose."
Dream Weaver tightened her fists, reiterating the path she, Symboli Rudolf, and her comrades had chosen.
Shinzan merely nodded, her expression blank.
"I know. But—"
"Defeat me first. Then we can talk about the future."
--+--
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.