My head hurts... what happened?
Consciousness, sealed in darkness, gradually awakened.
"Hmm? You're awake? Much faster than expected, this was three times the dose."
What are you saying?
Gold Legend, instinctively feeling she had heard something ominous, finally opened her eyes.
The first thing that met her gaze was those wine-red eyes, intelligent, mad, and what else?
"You seem to still be in a state of confusion. You've only just regained consciousness, don't push yourself."
The woman in front of her stepped back, revealing her full appearance.
Messy brown short hair, dull wine-red pupils, and that signature expression.
—It was Agnes Tachyon.
"Oh dear, relax. Why are you here, do you still remember?"
Agnes Tachyon asked with a mesmerizing smile.
"By the way, I'm the one who moved you here after you fainted, so you should remember 'why' and 'how' you fainted."
"This..."
Gold Legend recalled with her still throbbing head.
It was yesterday, on a rest day.
She accompanied Oguri Cap, who was upset about her loss at the Takarazuka Kinen, on a gourmet tour. Then Oguri Cap had something urgent and went back.
While she was strolling around, Maruzensky caught her and forced her to run a few laps.
Then, after confiding her troubles, she was recommended to someone.
"That child is probably the most knowledgeable person in this field, after all... But you need to be careful, that child is a bit dangerous, in every sense of the word."
Maruzensky said.
Then Gold Legend received a series of information about Agnes Tachyon.
After training, Gold Legend told her Trainer and followed the information Maruzensky gave her to the Tracen Academy experimental building.
Agnes Tachyon had an exclusive laboratory there, reportedly specially approved by the Student Council.
And then, she only remembered pressing the doorbell, and then a sudden fog appeared.
After that, her memory went blank..."Oh dear, it seems you've remembered."
Agnes Tachyon's smile remained.
"...What was that strange fog?"
Gold Legend asked.
"Oh my, is that your first question? You're really strange. That's my security system. A super powerful sleeping agent. I use it to brew red tea when I have insomnia."
Agnes Tachyon said with a somewhat experienced expression.
"...But I pressed the doorbell."
"The guys who come to my lab usually just open the door directly."
Agnes Tachyon said indifferently.
"But it truly is incredible. That was a specially formulated triple dose. Theoretically, even an Uma Musume would be unconscious for a whole day, yet you woke up in less than thirty minutes. What exactly is your physical structure? It's fascinating."
A strange glint flashed in Agnes Tachyon's eyes.
Gold Legend shivered.
I'd better not get involved with her. She seems to be a mad scientist, right?
Although she's cute in the game, it's probably best to keep my distance if I meet her in reality.
Gold Legend thought, preparing to stand up.
"Huh? I can't move?"
She had been tied to the chair without realizing when.
"Are you the type who focuses so much on thinking that you ignore everything else? It's fine, I'm the same way. I understand."
Agnes Tachyon nodded with a smile.
"That said, I'll kindly give you a piece of advice: always pay attention to your surroundings, or you'll easily end up in a passive position, just like now."
She pointed at the ropes binding Gold Legend.
"...What do you want to do?"
Gold Legend tried to mask her fear with calmness.
"An experiment, of course! It's rare to capture such a unique test subject, especially one who delivered herself right to my doorstep. This is a stroke of luck for me. Perhaps I should thank the gods occasionally."
It was clear that Agnes Tachyon was very happy right now.
"After all, my reputation isn't exactly great, ha ha ha. So, Little White Mouse-chan—ah, wait, I mean, Student."
Agnes Tachyon leaned closer with a terrifying smile.
"You just said Little White Mouse, didn't you!" Gold Legend's expression was displeased.
"Mature adults shouldn't dwell on such details!" Agnes Tachyon pulled several vials of medicine from somewhere. "Instead of that, how about you drink this bottle... no, with such a powerful body, you can handle more. Drink about three bottles of this medicine."
"...What kind of medicine?"
"(An unspeakable laugh). Well, you'll be excited to find out after drinking it, won't you?" Agnes Tachyon let out an unsettling laugh. "It's fine, the worst outcome is just turning into a glowing humanoid object. It's not scary at all."
That's already terrifying!
Gold Legend tightly shut her mouth and shook her head frantically.
"A body that is abnormally strong must certainly hold great research value..."
Agnes Tachyon ignored Gold Legend's struggles and muttered to herself while holding the vials.
Help! Someone save me! I'll do anything! Please!
Gold Legend could only pin her hopes on some unknown deity.
"What are you doing?"
A cold, clear voice interrupted Agnes Tachyon's movements.
Gods exist!
Gold Legend burst into tears of gratitude.
"...Tachyon, are you doing this again?"
The black Uma Musume came before Agnes Tachyon.
It's XCW!
Wait, I misspoke, it's Manhattan Cafe!
"Oh my, isn't this Manhattan Cafe? What's up? Did you come to assist me with my experiment?"
Agnes Tachyon was still smiling, her tone enthusiastic.
"Of course not. I was just asked by Maruzensky Senpai to come and check if you were doing anything bad to this child."
Contrary to Agnes Tachyon, Manhattan Cafe's voice was cold and low.
"Honestly, how can conducting an experiment be called doing something bad?"
There wasn't a hint of embarrassment in Agnes Tachyon's words.
"..."
Manhattan Cafe didn't speak; she just glared at Agnes Tachyon.
"...Fine, fine, stop glaring at me. I guess the experiment will have to wait until next time."
Agnes Tachyon looked somewhat intimidated.
"Ha." Manhattan Cafe sighed and walked over to untie Gold Legend's ropes.
The rescued Gold Legend immediately hid behind Manhattan Cafe, peeking out cautiously at Agnes Tachyon.
"Now now, don't look at me like that. Since I promised Manhattan Cafe, I won't do anything else."
Agnes Tachyon, slightly bored, put the vials back on the table.
"So, is there something you needed from me, new star Student?"
"new star?"
"Hmm? You didn't know? They call you the 'new star that shines like gold'."
"...That's so Chuunibyou."
"Indeed. But is that a Japanese characteristic, ha ha ha."
Agnes Tachyon's laugh was still so infectious.
"So, what do you want to ask?"
"I came to ask about the issue of the 'Domain'."
Gold Legend cautiously emerged from behind Manhattan Cafe and explained her purpose.
It had been some time since her debut race, and she was still stuck at this bottleneck. She could clearly sense something was there, yet it remained just out of reach. This feeling was driving Gold Legend crazy.
"...'Domain', huh?"
Agnes Tachyon showed a strange expression, as if recalling something.
Manhattan Cafe looked at her with some concern.
"...What's wrong?"
Gold Legend noticed the atmosphere was strange.
"...No, it's nothing. Why did you come to ask me?"
"Huh? Maruzensky Senpai said you know the most about this."
"I see. Heh heh ha ha ha, then you've come to the right person."
Agnes Tachyon burst out laughing, her tone inexplicable.
"In that case, follow me."
Agnes Tachyon led the way out of the laboratory.
Gold Legend was confused.
She glanced at Manhattan Cafe, who simply sighed softly and followed them out.
"..."
Gold Legend silently followed... The three arrived at the training track. It was already late, and the track was deserted.
"I have always been researching one specific subject—[The possibility dormant within the physical body of the creature known as an Uma Musume]."
Agnes Tachyon looked at the empty training track and suddenly spoke.
"'Possibility'?"
Gold Legend was puzzled.
"That is, [The Maximum Speed], no, the place at [The very end of the fastest speed]."
"[The very end]?"
Gold Legend still didn't quite understand, but she could feel the weight behind Agnes Tachyon's words.
"Although that existence is treated as a matter of course, all common sense is merely a newly discovered enemy. So, what if we try to eliminate it?"
"?"
"Ultimately, the very existence of us Uma Musume is mysterious. Although we have an appearance similar to humans, we possess high-performance, high-functionality ears and tails, and our muscles are abnormally powerful compared to our mass. Our running ability, in particular, stands out tremendously in the animal kingdom, possessing top speed among all races... Don't you find this truly fascinating?"
Indeed.
Gold Legend silently affirmed this in her heart.
How did such an unscientific creature like the Uma Musume even come into being?
"Ever since I became aware of the Uma Musume's anomaly, I've had a very simple idea: [How fast can we go?] and [What is the limit of this possibility?]. I want to know the absolute end of this body's potential—[Limit Speed]!"
Agnes Tachyon displayed unimaginable passion, and also, madness.
"Although the established theory states that an Uma Musume's Maximum Speed is approximately 70 kilometers per hour, I found no evidence to deny the possibility beyond that. And the existence of Symboli Rudolf and others proves this point. That is why I chose to become an Uma Musume—to seek out that possibility."
"So, did you find it?"
Gold Legend looked at Agnes Tachyon, seemingly having realized something.
"I found it, but I also didn't find it. During my last race, I saw that door, and I gained the ability to open it. Unfortunately, my body didn't have the necessary conditions to support me in reaching that place."
"So, what is this so-called 'end'?"
"Ah, that is the thing you all call the [Domain]."
"...I'm sorry."
Gold Legend apologized.
Agnes Tachyon holds the title of the [Phantom] Triple Crown Horse. Although it includes the name Triple Crown, the word [Phantom] explains everything.
Uma Musume who hold this title are those who were unable to continue running due to various accidents.
And from Agnes Tachyon's words, it was already possible to infer the reason for her retirement.
"There's no need for that, Little White Mouse."
Agnes Tachyon genuinely didn't seem to mind.
"If anything, I'm glad you came. Since you know about the existence of this thing, it means you must have already touched it, right? That door!"
"It's truly incredible. At your age, you touched that door and came away completely unharmed. Is it because of this anomalous body? Or something else? And the stubborn people in the Student Council recommended you come to me, meaning they believe you are qualified? At this age? Ha ha ha, I'm fired up after a long time."
Agnes Tachyon looked at Gold Legend, her eyes like those of an innocent girl, yet also like a demon immersed in the desire of madness—filled with a captivating color that made one forget to breathe.
"Since you've come here, you must have resolved yourself. However, talking about this won't do much good. So, are you ready? Ready to step into hell."
"...I understand."
"Ha ha ha, excellent. Well then, let the experiment begin."
Under the moonlight, Agnes Tachyon's figure resembled a demon.
But Gold Legend felt that she—
Was beautiful.