"Hi, you're here again, I missed you so much."
What's it like to open your eyes and see a girl identical to yourself greeting you?
...Should I say something?"
Gold Legend tried to mask her fear with calmness.
"Don't be scared! I'm a youthful and beautiful Uma Musume, what's there to be afraid of?" The girl maintained a relaxed tone.
"I'm not scared." Gold Legend tried to be stubborn.
"But look, these flowers and plants are trembling."
The girl pointed to the trembling flowers, plants, and trees nearby.
What a wondrous sight!
"…Why did the background change?" Gold Legend's attention was diverted.
"I don't know, even though I live here, this is your territory after all." The girl smiled, saying with a clearly feigned grievance, "I was waiting for you here as soon as you activated your pseudo-domain, but you only just came in now. Making a girl wait isn't what a good boy should do!"
"I'm a girl now. Well, an Uma Musume should count as a girl. And how was I supposed to know to come here?" Gold Legend fully embraced her contrarian nature.
"This is the depths of your subconscious. At least, that's what you yourself believe. You can come here just by calming down and falling asleep." The girl didn't mind Gold Legend's argument, maintaining an elegant tone.
"The subconscious isn't that easy to enter, don't bully me for being uneducated. Also, what do you mean 'I myself believe'?"
"I'm not sure about the cards. As for 'easy' or not, it's because we are special, of course!"
"Special?"
"Yes, after all, we are 'Legend'."
The girl waved her hand, changing the subject.
"Speaking of which, you're really useless. You actually need Oguri's 'key' to open the door, when for us, that thing is just for show."
"Open the door? What are you talking about?" Gold Legend looked bewildered.
"The domain, of course, what else could it be?" The girl looked helpless, her expression as if she was looking at a silly child.
"What the... that thing is a domain?" Gold Legend finally reacted.
"To be precise, it's a pseudo-domain, because you haven't found a clear direction yet, so our domain hasn't taken shape. That thing is just a semi-finished product right now."
"Is it that mysterious? A semi-finished product?"
"The Mind-Body-Technique, which serves as the foundation, still has two missing pieces, and the 'emotions' that serve as the key are also incomplete. Although the gate has always been open, you've only stepped half a foot in. What else would it be but a semi-finished product? Although we can easily reach the top without these." The girl said indifferently.
"So, the cheat you, the original owner, left me isn't complete?" Gold Legend was somewhat surprised.
"What original owner?"
"Huh? Aren't you the original owner of this body?" Gold Legend was confused.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Gold Legend has always been just one person, and that's us!" The girl said with a strange expression.
"...What do you mean?"
"Gold Legend is Gold Legend. Whether it's the body or the soul, there is only one Gold Legend. We are unique!"
The girl said proudly.
"But aren't I a transmigrator? And if there's only one Gold Legend, then who are you?" Gold Legend was confused.
"...Oh, I understand. It seems the relevant part is with the 'superego'." The girl showed a look of sudden realization. "Then let me reintroduce myself. I am Gold Legend, your 'id'."
"...Explain to me in detail what's going on!" Gold Legend's tone became agitated, as if she realized something.
"Don't rush, don't rush. Where should I start? Oh, right, do you know how a 'domain' comes about?"
"The integration of an Uma Musume's Mind-Body-Technique, the blossoming of talent, it is the sublimation of everything an Uma Musume is." Gold Legend recited the standard answer.
"Mm-hmm, then what do you think, why would a baby, who doesn't have a powerful physique, doesn't have tempered skills, and doesn't have an indomitable spirit, possess something like a domain?"
"…"
"Hehe, did you guess? That's right, it's our life's refund!" The girl ignored Gold Legend's complicated expression and gave the answer.
"Life's... refund?" Gold Legend murmured to herself.
"Exactly. The soul carrying knowledge and memories from a previous life, the innate talent of this body, and the grace bestowed by that benevolent goddess—the miracle forged by these three combined. Born a Legend, this is us—Gold Legend!" The girl's words exuded a natural arrogance, perhaps this was her true self.
"...Then why don't I have memories? And what about you? What's your deal?" Gold Legend processed the information and then asked three more questions.
"The memory part has nothing to do with me, the 'id'. As for me, that was a decision we made ourselves."
"What do you mean?"
"Even if born a Legend, the power of a 'domain' is not something an infant can bear, even if this infant is unparalleled in the world." The girl explained lightly, "So, for self-preservation, we instinctively divided ourselves into three parts."
"Me as instinct, you as emotion and memory, and her as knowledge."
The girl happily walked around Gold Legend, trying to recreate a famous scene.
"However, even though I say that, it wasn't actually divided that finely. Strictly speaking, it was just separating the excessively heavy 'burden' and letting it sleep to ensure survival. As for id, superego, and so on, those were just terms found in memory that roughly fit to make a distinction."
The girl seemed to realize that spinning alone was boring, so she stopped, looking a bit dispirited.
"…" Gold Legend was silent for a moment. "So, why did you call me here?"
"Oh my, you accepted it so quickly? I thought you'd break down for a while." The girl said in surprise.
"I am breaking down right now, but I'm so confused that I can remain calm. Don't change the subject!"
"Alright, alright. Hmm, why did I call you here?"
"You!"
"Oh, oh, I remember now, it's about the 'domain'. I almost forgot." The girl tapped her head, making an "Eh-heh!" expression.
"…" Gold Legend clenched her fists.
"Don't be angry, don't be angry. Regarding the domain, you need a key, your own key." The girl extended a finger, tapping it in the air.
"Key?"
"Mm-hmm, just like Oguri told you, you need your own key, a strong enough emotion and will that belongs to you."
"Only these?"
"This is all we lack. An innate body, unparalleled talent, plus a built-in domain. Although there's a slight imperfection because the 'superego' hasn't awakened yet, all we're missing is that catalyst, that key."
"...So?"
"You really have given up on thinking! So, go search for it, whether it's an obsession or a dream, even something like Agnes Digital's behavior of sticking to other Uma Musume is fine. Go find that key, open that great door, and show our true form! Prove our name to the world!" The girl raised her hand and declared, "That's it, off you go!"
Then she kicked Gold Legend out... cold, dark, shaking.
"Good, you're the best among this group."
The familiar line made the dazed Gold Legend sit up immediately.
"Oh, you're awake, Legend."
Focusing her gaze, the Trainer waved at her from the opposite cell.
Cell?
Oh right, I think I'm in jail again.
"...Trainer, has anyone ever told you that disturbing someone's sleep will get you beaten?"
Gold Legend's tone carried the irritability of being woken up.
"No."
"Then you'll remember soon."
"...Please be merciful, but why were you able to sleep? And so soundly?"
The Trainer looked bewildered.
"Probably because this place is familiar? It's not the first time I've been here anyway."
Just then, the Police Officer came in, the same familiar person.
"Gold Legend, right? We meet again."
"Oh, hello, Police Officer. Thank you for your hard work, Police Officer."
Do you even manage this side?
The Police Officer looked at Gold Legend, sighed, and opened the door in front of Gold Legend: "Your escort is here, let's go."
"Oh, nice." Gold Legend happily walked out.
"Wait, what about me?" The Trainer tried to get attention, "Brother, we're old acquaintances, you can't hold a grudge!"
"...Hana said she doesn't have time to come today, so you'll stay here one more day."
"What does this have to do with Hana?" The Trainer was completely clueless.
"You can figure it out yourself!"
The Police Officer ignored the shouting Trainer and led Gold Legend out.
Stepping out of the police station, the dazzling sunlight made Gold Legend raise a hand to shield her eyes, then she saw two familiar figures.
"Yahoo, Little Aunt, it's really you, back in jail again!"
Gold Ship, wearing her iconic hat, greeted Legend.
"...I've caused you trouble, Miss Hayakawa." Ignoring the playful Gold Ship, Gold Legend apologized to the green-clad figure.
"...Never mind. I understand the situation this time. It's not entirely your fault. Don't let it happen again, okay?"
Miss Hayakawa nodded helplessly, forgiving Gold Legend.
"Alright, let's go back to Tracen Academy." Miss Hayakawa gestured for Legend to follow.
"Okay." Gold Legend swept Gold Ship's legs, knocking her down, then carried Gold Ship in a German suplex hold and followed Miss Hayakawa.
As if sensing something, Gold Ship, being carried, stopped struggling.
"Emmmm, Little Aunt, have you figured something out?"
"What?"
"I just feel like something about you has changed, Little Aunt."
"...Is that bad?"
"No, it's great! Being unchanging is boring! The key is something else: are you happy now, Little Aunt?"
"I've let go of some burdens and figured some things out. If I had to say, I'm happy."
"I see, that's really good. Oh, Little Aunt, there's one thing I forgot to tell you."
"...What is it?"
"Welcome to Tracen Academy. That's all."
"…"
"Ah, I'm here."
Gold Legend laughed heartily.
Gold Ship also laughed, her laughter making Miss Hayakawa, who was ahead, turn back to look at these two peculiar Uma Musume.
Watching their comical appearance, Miss Hayakawa covered her smile with her hand and sighed.
"Today is another peaceful and harmonious day."