"This is the Chukyo Racecourse. The sun is shining brightly, and it's a wonderful day."
The Commentator's voice is as friendly as ever.
Although it wasn't the same Commentator as the last race, hearing this identical enthusiastic voice made Gold Legend feel somewhat relaxed on the Track.
"Hey! Legend!"
The familiar voice made Gold Legend turn her head.
The Trainer stood on the edge of the Stands and greeted her.
"Oh my, Trainer, why are you here? Is training okay?"
Gold Legend said teasingly.
"What kind of talk is that? If I don't show up for the race of the Uma Musume I'm in charge of, what kind of Trainer would I be?"
Accustomed to Gold Legend's jokes, the Trainer parried skillfully.
"And, I'm not the only one here."
"Yep, and us too!"
Teio, leading McQueen, Daiwa Scarlet, Vodka, and Gold Ship, popped out.
Team Spica, all members present.
"Because everyone was quite concerned about you, I just took a holiday and brought them all over," the Trainer explained with a smile.
The Trainer explained with a smile.
"Oh, in that case, I'll gratefully say thank you."
"Not only that, we also met others."
The Trainer indicated that it wasn't over yet.
"Yahoo, junior, long time no see!"
Tama Cross, with her still adorable Osaka accent, came over with Oguri Cap to say hello.
"Hello, Legend."
Oguri Cap greeted her with puffed cheeks.
You're really always eating, aren't you?
Gold Legend looked at Oguri Cap, whose mouth hadn't stopped, smiled helplessly, and returned the greeting.
"Oh my, it's really lively here."
"This is proof of Little Legend's charm."
A dignified voice and a cheerful voice interjected into the conversation.
"Ah, President! And Maruzensky-senpai!"
Teio greeted them excitedly.
"Hello, Teio, and good day, Classmate Legend."
The Student Council President greeted everyone.
"...Wasn't I participating in an OP race? Why are so many people here?"
Gold Legend deadpanned.
"Don't mind the details, Little Legend," Maruzensky chuckled.
Maruzensky chuckled.
"Wow, Sister Legend and the Student Council senior are getting along so well."
"As expected of Big Sister!"
Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka whispered behind them.
"The race, will it be okay?"
McQueen looked at Gold Legend, asking with some concern.
"It's just a race, what could be the problem?"
Gold Legend smiled and said it was fine.
"Just a race?"
The Emperor raised an eyebrow upon hearing such a casual remark.
At that moment, the starting signal sounded.
"The race is about to start, I'm going ahead."
Gold Legend hurried towards the starting gate.
"Legend!"
Oguri Cap suddenly called out to her.
"Hmm?"
Gold Legend turned to look at Oguri Cap.
"Good luck!"
Finishing all the snacks in her hand in one go, Oguri Cap smiled and gave Gold Legend a thumbs-up.
"Heh."
Gold Legend smiled, returned a thumbs-up, and continued walking towards the starting gate.
Mejiro McQueen watched it all.
Is it just my imagination? Classmate Legend seems even more determined.
Mejiro McQueen quietly thought..."Is this just a race?"
Back in the Student Council's exclusive seating area, Symboli Rudolf, the Emperor, looked at the stopwatch in her hand, repeating Gold Legend's words.
"Well, although it's a bit arrogant, with Little Legend's strength, saying that is perfectly fine," Maruzensky said from the side.
Maruzensky said from the side.
"It's a race with no suspense."
Because she was quite fond of Gold Legend, Maruzensky often sought her out and had trained with her quite a bit. She had a strong say regarding Gold Legend's abilities.
"That's not necessarily true."
Symboli Rudolf smiled slightly and handed the stopwatch in her hand to Maruzensky.
"This is?"
"The participants of this race."
"So? There's nothing special about it."
Maruzensky examined it for a while but found no issues.
"The participants in this race are all Uma Musume who lost to Classmate Legend in her debut race last time. Some even lost to her in the qualifiers," Rudolf said straightforwardly, without keeping them in suspense.
Rudolf said straightforwardly, without keeping them in suspense.
"All 11 contestants on the field?"
"Yes."
"...Is this a revenge match?"
Maruzensky immediately reacted, a subtle expression on her face.
"What's wrong? Is something amiss?"
Seeing Maruzensky's expression, Rudolf asked in confusion.
"Nothing, it's just, to be targeted in one's second official race... should I say Little Legend is amazing, or that her popularity is terrible?"
"I think it's normal."
Rudolf indicated, isn't this normal?
"...Can Little Legend be compared to you?"
Maruzensky retorted. Don't you know your own level?
"No, I think she can be even better than me."
Rudolf said as a matter of course.
"...That's quite an extraordinary evaluation. Why do you think so?"
Maruzensky was surprised.
"If I had to say, it's intuition."
Rudolf thought for a moment, then answered the question with a phrase she had heard from Gold Legend... In the starting gate, Gold Legend shook her body, adjusting her condition.
"Hmph! You're really leisurely, Gold Legend."
A snarky voice came from the left gate.
"But your triumph ends here. This victory belongs to me, no, to us!"
"...Excuse me, who are you?"
Don't just casually talk to strangers.
Gold Legend, who was still a bit socially anxious internally, became nervous.
"...You can't even remember the name of an opponent you've raced against. You're truly an arrogant one. I, Black Tiger, will remember this grudge! Just wait until you go crying back to your Trainer, I'm going to crush you!"
"...Then good luck with that."
Is this the traditional trash talk before a race? I'm learning new things.
The bewildered Gold Legend nodded and continued to adjust her state.
"You!"
Seeing Gold Legend's nonchalant demeanor, the Uma Musume became exasperated, but the announcer's notification interrupted her.
"All Uma Musume have entered the gates. Please take your positions, contestants."
"Tch."
The Uma Musume could only give up and assume her starting posture.
"Chukyo Junior Special Prize Race, 1600-meter turf. Now commencing!"
The moment the gates opened, the contestants burst out like fish leaping.
"A good start," Gold Legend thought calmly.
Gold Legend thought calmly.
Although it was only a mediocre start by comparison, for Gold Legend, it was already a decent beginning.
"Alright, now to go all out, huh?"
Gold Legend, who was about to run all the way through like last time, suddenly found the path ahead subtly blocked.
Not only that, other Uma Musume had also blocked her positions to the left, right, and rear.
"Are they marking her so early?"
Rudolf, who had anticipated this, was also a little surprised.
"Isn't it too early? This uses a lot of stamina."
"If they don't do this, they have no hope of winning. They've really studied her well. It seems those others are also determined," Maruzensky said with emotion.
Maruzensky said with emotion.
"Legend's last race was thoroughly analyzed. Since a Great Escape can't be caught, then just don't let her escape. A simple and effective strategy, but isn't it going too far?"
On the other side, the Trainer was also explaining the situation on the field.
"Big Sister is completely marked," Vodka said with some concern.
Vodka said with some concern.
"She's a target for everyone. Is Sister Legend going to be okay?"
Daiwa Scarlet agreed.
"Go, Little Aunt!"
Gold Ship also became serious for a rare moment.
"But, starting with such close surveillance, will their stamina be enough?"
Tamamo Cross asked doubtfully.
"Definitely not enough. Compared to Legend, any Uma Musume's stamina pales in comparison. But it's clear they've made up their minds: even if they lose, they won't let Legend win."
Oguri Cap stopped eating, her eyes serious.
"Wow, what did Legend do to be so hostilely targeted?"
Tamamo Cross fully displayed her role as the straight man.
"I don't know, but if the current situation continues, those Uma Musume will soon slack off due to exhaustion. After that, it will just come down to individual skill."
Oguri Cap judged.
"It seems Gold Legend has not managed a successful Great Escape like last time! The other competitors have caught up! They have surrounded Gold Legend!"
The excited voice of the commentator came through.
"This is a bit troublesome."
Looking at the rivals surrounding her, Gold Legend thought calmly.
Although she was at a disadvantage, Gold Legend was not anxious because of it.
"Fortunately, I also practiced the Leading Run Style."
Thanks to this body's immense power, Gold Legend didn't need to spend too much time on physical conditioning. This allowed her training to focus more on techniques and methods. Therefore, even with limited race experience, her excellent foundation allowed her to choose running styles more freely and respond to various unexpected situations.
"Thank you, Trainer, for your foresight."
Gold Legend, who usually complained about the Trainer's nagging, silently offered her thanks.
"The distance is 1600m, a classic Mile Race. Considering the stamina of the new Uma Musume and their mental state, the most suitable breakthrough point is..."
Rudolf watched the situation on the track, analyzing it calmly.
"The final corner."
Maruzensky added.
"This is the place."
Seeing the sign for the corner, Gold Legend made her decision.
Pushing off with her feet, Gold Legend accelerated and broke out of the encirclement.
"Hoh~ If the inside is blocked, she goes from the outside? A beautiful decision."
The Emperor praised.
"Gold Legend is making her move here! She's making her move! Gold Legend is sprinting! Constantly overtaking the other Uma Musume!"
The commentator's voice began to grow excited.
"Go, Legend, go!"
The Trainer cheered loudly.
"Entering the final straight, Gold Legend has taken the lead! Oh, Black Tiger is also catching up from the outside! Will this race become a showdown between these two!"
The commentator's voice was passionate and surging.
"It's not over! It's just beginning! How could I possibly lose to you here!!!!"
The hoarse words were filled with various emotions.
Gold Legend felt her feet sink slightly.
"What is this?"
"I never expected that in this day and age, there are still Uma Musume practicing the Aura Technique?"
Rudolf's voice was full of pleasant surprise.
"The Aura Technique has always been passed down; it's just that very few Uma Musume can train it enough to use it in a race."
Maruzensky was slightly worried.
"Little Legend, are you alright?"
So that's it, a Red Skill!
Realizing something was wrong, Gold Legend quickly reacted.
The Trainer had often told her about the Uma Musume's three major skill systems during training, and Maruzensky had also reminded her when they trained side-by-side.
What a pity. If you had practiced for a few more days, you might actually have been able to beat me.
Gold Legend felt a little regretful, and then she took a deep breath.
"That is!"
Rudolf looked at Gold Legend in disbelief.
In her eyes, Gold Legend's body began to glow. She knew that this was a sight only those like them could perceive.
"Domain!"
Maruzensky also said, slightly surprised.
"As expected."
Oguri Cap nodded.
"I'm sorry, but I won't yield first place to anyone else. After all, I am an Uma Musume too."
Domain: Aurora!
Clears all negative statuses (including interference skills), greatly consumes stamina to significantly increase speed (meaning multiple times increase).
A very simple and unadorned effect, but highly practical.
The shortened distance was once again stretched out.
"Oyster!"
A cry of despair came from behind, but Gold Legend paid no attention. Her goal was singular: the finish line.
"The gap has widened, there will be no duel! Gold Legend! The distance is growing larger and larger—overwhelming power!"
"Crossing the line! The winner is, Gold Legend!"
"Yeah!!"
Cheers erupted from the audience.
"Leading by five lengths! An overwhelming victory!"
Gold Legend, who slowly stopped after crossing the line, waved toward the Trainer.
"She truly lives up to her name."
The Trainer smiled.
"Legend is strong indeed. We can't give up either, right, McQueen?"
Teio said excitedly.
"...Mhm."
McQueen watched Gold Legend, who was once again giving a thumbs-up to Oguri Cap, and made a firm decision in her heart.