The next afternoon, Legend brought Maruzensky to explain the situation to the Trainer.
"I see, so you went to seek advice from a senior Uma Musume... You've worked hard."
Clearly, the Trainer knew Maruzensky's reputation. He looked at Legend with the eyes one might reserve for a martyr.
"Being able to recruit a legendary Uma Musume like Maruzensky shows how hard you've tried."
The Trainer recalled the experience of being dragged along for a drive with Hana in the past, and instantly understood why Legend looked so miserable.
"Well then, Ms. Maruzen, I'll leave my Uma Musume in your hands for a while."
"No problem, Trainer-kun! This Big Sister will take good care of Little Legend!"
Maruzensky said excitedly.
Beside them, Legend shuddered violently at the words 'take care of'.
After arriving at the training field with Maruzensky, Maruzensky was the first to state her requirements.
"Go warm up first, then show me two sets of the training you've been doing lately."
"Okay." Legend was very obedient, knowing that a senior's guidance was hard to come by. It definitely wasn't because of the traumatic impression left by yesterday's drive.
Legend did a simple warm-up and then began the Starting Gate Training she had done so much of lately she was sick of it.
"Hmm, as expected, there's a delay." Maruzensky looked at the timer in her hand and made a sound of confirmation.
"Yes, because the cramped space of the gate makes me start thinking about random things." Legend explained the reason with a bitter smile.
"So the Starting Gate Training hasn't yielded much result?"
"Actually, there's some. Compared to the beginning when I couldn't react at all, now I'm just half a beat slow." Legend tried to defend herself.
"That's still very slow," Maruzensky critiqued.
"..." Legend had no retort.
"By the way, Trainer-kun said Little Legend's speed and power are excellent, and your stamina is even beyond that, right? To what extent?" Maruzensky recalled the basic profile of Legend the Trainer had just explained to her.
"She's not like an Uma Musume who just finished her honkakuka at all; no, she's far beyond the level an Uma Musume can normally reach."
Those were the Trainer's original words.
"I don't know. The Trainer tried to use Limit training on me, but I didn't feel any so-called limit."
Limit training is a method where an Uma Musume is forced to run at her maximum capacity to reach her limit. The training effect is high, but it's very exhausting.
"...How long did you run?"
"About 10 minutes? Anyway, the Trainer stopped me very quickly."
"...That really is incredible." Maruzensky looked at the nonchalant Legend with a bit of speechlessness.
Legend might not know what such a situation implied, but Maruzensky knew very well.
It meant she could perform at maximum capacity without any reservations in existing races, without having to worry about stamina management or leg strength distribution.
Combined with top-tier speed and power, in a sense, she was Invincible.
"You really are a monster!" This wasn't something a mere 'genius' label could cover.
Maruzensky made her conclusion; she was already starting to look forward to seeing this child on the racetrack.
"But speaking of which, you don't actually need to practice gate starts."
"Ah? But my running style is Great Escape; the gate start is very important, right?" Legend was confused.
"For an average Uma Musume, yes. A beautiful gate start not only saves time and stamina but also allows you to seize the initiative," Maruzensky explained.
"But?"
"But, the result of the gate start isn't absolute, is it? Position, speed, and insight... these are the keys that determine your placement."
"You mean?"
"Since the gate start isn't going well, then don't pursue the gate start. With such excellent Izao Izao, you can completely catch up from behind and take the lead. Besides, the so-called 'running style' isn't such an inflexible thing! For example, although I'm famous for the 'Escape' style, I'm actually not good as a Front Runner. It's just that the other Uma Musume were too slow to keep up with me, so I became a Front Runner."
Maruzensky said proudly.
"I see. You mean there's no need to strictly follow the rules?" Legend felt as if a door to a new world had opened.
"No, my meaning is that the strong have privileges." Maruzensky looked at Legend seriously.
Legend faintly heard the roar of an engine.
"As I thought, it wasn't an illusion." Maruzensky murmured to herself.
"What?"
"It's nothing. Anyway, rather than Starting Gate Training, you need other types of training more." Maruzensky changed the subject.
"...So didn't I practice for nothing these past few days?" Legend's tone was a bit despairing.
"All effort has value, and besides, isn't special training all about trial and error? All right, let's move on to the next training exercise," Maruzensky said with a smile.
"Teacher Maruzen," Legend raised her hand.
"What is it, Classmate Legend?" Maruzensky asked, slightly carried away by the teacher's address.
"What is the next training session?"
"Eh? Didn't your Trainer arrange it for you?" The teacher felt a bit awkward.
"No, he said his training plan always depends on the current situation." Which meant he had no backup plan whatsoever.
I'll take him for a drive today!
Maruzensky decided on the Trainer's schedule in her heart, then said with an uncertain tone, "Should we run side-by-side first?"
...After the training session ended, Legend and Maruzensky bid farewell.
"If you ever want to go for a drive, contact your Big Sister anytime, okay."
Leaving her contact information and a line that made Legend tremble with fear, Maruzensky strode gracefully toward the exit of the training ground.
Legend waved goodbye.
On the way back to the training room, Legend recalled the day's training, especially the side-by-side run with Maruzensky. She kept hearing the roar of an engine nearby, but it wasn't obvious, making her think it was a delusion.
"I'll ask her directly next time I get the chance." Legend thought, as she walked into the training room.
Then, someone covered her eyes.
"Guess who~" a strange voice asked.
"...Golshi, what are you doing?" Legend easily guessed who it was.
"That's right! It is I, Gold Ship-sama!" Gold Ship announced loudly, clearly in high spirits.
"So, what is it, Golshi?" Legend knew what her niece was like—whimsical, comical, and free, a typical Gold Family child. If she came looking for her, she probably found something interesting again.
"As expected of Little Aunt, you understood my intentions so easily! Without further ado, let's go!" Gold Ship straightforwardly grabbed Legend's hand and struck a charging pose.
"Wait, you still haven't said what you're going to do!" Legend quickly stopped Gold Ship's movement.
"Sigh, Little Aunt, didn't you receive Little Gold Ship's signal?" Gold Ship stopped.
"That kind of thing doesn't exist. So, what is it?" Legend sighed in relief and asked.
"It's not a big deal, Little Aunt. I heard you're in the same class as Mejiro McQueen?"
"That's right. Why?"
"Then can you find a way to pull McQueen into our team?"
"Huh?" Legend was confused.
"I mean, pull that Mejiro McQueen into our team. Doesn't she still not have a Trainer?" Gold Ship continued.
"...I understand what you mean, I just don't get why you care about McQueen? And you've been harassing her recently, haven't you?" Legend recalled McQueen's complaints to her. Speaking of which, Gold Ship was very special to McQueen in the anime of the previous life. Back then, you could attribute it to real-life connections, but what about now?
"...How should I put this? Little Aunt, you know about my Old Man, right?"
Legend thought for a moment and replied, "Are you talking about the Brother-in-law who was kidnapped back by my elder sister?"
"Exactly, exactly. As you know, my Old Man is a direct descendant of the Mejiro Family, so genetically, I also have Mejiro blood." Gold Ship explained.
"So?"
"So, in terms of seniority, McQueen is my Maternal Grandmother."
Suddenly, she was a generation younger. Legend thought speechlessly.
"Of course, let's put aside topics like how we almost became sisters. It's completely normal for me to be interested in my Maternal Grandmother, especially since McQueen is so interesting, isn't she?"
I feel like you skipped a very important topic.
Legend thought for a moment and didn't comment.
"You mean you want me to pull her into our team so you can observe McQueen up close?"
"Mhm, mhm. She doesn't have a Trainer anyway, and our team needs people. This is a win-win situation!"
You could tell how seriously Gold Ship took this; she was actually analyzing the reasons seriously.
"...That doesn't sound bad." Legend was startled by Gold Ship's seriousness. After calming down and thinking about it, it seemed like a pretty good idea.
"Right! My Golden Fleet can't be without McQueen!" Gold Ship nodded beside her.
"But given McQueen's standing, she wouldn't join our team, which is just starting out and has no reputation, would she?" Legend hesitated.
"...I think the two of us are famous enough."
"What?"
"I mean, Little Aunt, that's an excellent point!"
"In short, we don't have the conditions to attract McQueen to join, unless..." Legend thought of something.
"Unless?"
"...Gold Ship, call the Trainer over. We have a perfect opportunity now." Legend showed a confident smile.
"Understood, Boss!" Gold Ship set off with a rope and a Sack... "What are you two doing?" The Trainer, who had been tied up and delivered to Legend, asked helplessly.
"Trainer, there is now an opportunity to gain an excellent Uma Musume right in front of you. What do you intend to do?"
Legend ignored the Trainer's helplessness and asked this one question. Gold Ship stood behind her, posing like a bodyguard.
She was also wearing Sunglasses.
"...Although I don't understand what happened, do you mean that our team can recruit an excellent Uma Musume?" The Trainer quickly grasped the main point.
"As expected of the Trainer. So, what is your decision?"
"I don't have the right to refuse, do I?" the Trainer countered.
"Very good. Now, Trainer, let's get to work." Legend untied the Trainer.
"So, what should we do first?" Having decided to join in, the Trainer also got into character.
"In short, first create a rich, sensible, and non-fattening Menu."
Legend finished speaking, thought for a moment, and added a sentence.
"It should preferably include Dessert."