"I might be retiring soon."
Platinum delivered her response in a tone as calm and steady as still water, without the slightest hurry.
In her view, since this was the final stretch, it seemed there would be no more races for her after this.
The current task schedule showed only three lines remaining.
--+--
[Breeders' Cup Turf (Incomplete)]
[Breeders' Cup Classic (Incomplete)]
[Dream Cup (Incomplete)]
--+--
At a glance, three more races didn't seem like too few.
But what if they were to be split between two Pegasus?
And both Breeders' Cup races concluded within a single day, following the same format as the Dubai World Cup!
By that calculation, Platinum, at most, only had one turf race left.
What's more, a certain Radiant Knight could very well enter these major races in a battle-hardened state.
So, it wasn't enough. It simply wasn't enough to go around. The remaining races weren't plentiful; in fact, they felt somewhat scarce.
Even though the race schedule was nearing its end, that feeling of easy coasting she had imagined wasn't as strong as she'd thought it would be, leaving her genuinely puzzled.
Not only was it not as relaxing as she'd imagined, but there was also an unexpected sense of reluctance, wasn't there?
The silver-haired girl, perceiving the emotions within her heart, couldn't help but feel a tinge of lament rise inside.
Could it be because the races weren't that exhausting? So now, thinking about retirement didn't bring the ease and delight she had initially envisioned.
Or perhaps…
After all this time competing, she, an assassin at heart, had gradually begun to enjoy the athletic rivalry among the Uma Musume?
This conclusion surprised even Platinum herself. She quickly put aside the thought of retirement for the moment, choosing to ponder it more deeply.
She recalled that in some sports, there had been historical superstars who retired… only to choose a comeback!
And after returning, some were even able to keep winning, claiming victories and significantly boosting their legacies!
For example, Michael Jordan in the NBA.
That basketball legend retired after a three-peat. Later, begged to return by the league and other players, he made a legendary comeback and secured another three-peat, cementing his dynasty.
But that path was almost universally agreed to be unfeasible in Uma Musume racing. After all, an Uma Musume's peak is too short, and the competition is far too fierce.
Typically, each Uma Musume's career lifespan is only about two to four years.
Once retired and starting to rest, they face the risk of decline. Then, returning to the track for rehabilitation and regaining form is incredibly troublesome and time-consuming…
So, the notion of a retired athlete returning to the circuit, dominating and schooling the newcomers, had never happened in Uma Musume racing. It was globally acknowledged as impossible.
—Of course, if some historical-grade champion, a true 'Monster,' chose to comeback and challenge mid-to-low level graded stakes like G2 or G3 races, there would definitely still be a decent chance of winning.
But what kind of psychological deviant would actually do such a thing?
If anyone tried, their family and trainer would surely stop them at all costs. Forget enhancing their legacy; just avoiding a tarnished reputation would be a success.
No top-tier Uma Musume could stoop to crushing low-level competition in non-G1 races. It's meaningless and holds no value. Losing would make them a stepping stone; winning or losing, they'd become a laughingstock.
Of course, the current Platinum couldn't be bothered thinking about legacy enhancement. In the eyes of the outside world, she had already become a Uma Musume who rivaled or even surpassed Eclipse.
She'd reached the top. Where else was there to go? Break through the atmosphere into outer space?
But—Platinum didn't believe she would follow the path of a regular Uma Musume, suffering a rapid, permanent physical decline after resting for a year or so.
The current silver-haired girl was in her [Armored] form, having switched into her second set of race-winning attire, the knight's light armor.
After a race ended, she lost the property of the race-winning attire that ignored weight and didn't affect performance. Logically, the impact of its weight should be significant.
But right now, Platinum was bearing that knight's light armor, noticeably heavier than ordinary clothes, without even a hint of discomfort!
As a Kuranta from that world, who had fully undergone Maturation and ascended to [Pegasus], Platinum could feel that her body was in no danger of declining easily.
So, while other Uma Musume permanently ended their careers upon retirement, with no possibility of a comeback… in Platinum's view, that didn't mean she couldn't do it.
No issue? Must be hax?
When the time came, she could make a comeback on a whim, running just one or two races, facing off against talented young newcomers, the future world champions.
After winning, she could go right back to slacking off and lazing about. If the mood struck her, she'd make another comeback!
For Platinum, this sounded like the perfect plan.
She could spend most of her time completely slacking off, no need to battle-hardenedly race all over the world. Whenever she felt like it, she could just sign up and compete!
At that time, Platinum could even, while facing some future world champion staring dumbfounded at her 'miraculous resurrection'… overtake and defeat them, then pat their head and say…
"The future is yours."
Then, she could outlast the next world champion, and the one after that, and keep saying that line to each of them!
Wouldn't that make her… a ghost?
A ghost haunting the skies over Europe!
No, a ghost haunting the skies over racetracks worldwide, one capable of competing in and mastering all distances—sprint, mile, middle-distance, long-distance!
Whenever some young foreign filly thought she was invincible, she'd learn what it meant to have an 'enemy from beyond the heavens'!
Just thinking about it made Platinum curve a slight smile. The inexplicable regret and reluctance she'd felt moments earlier about retiring and having no races vanished without a trace.
Replacing it was an urge to immediately finish her final races, retire and laze about, and then start that [Comeback-When-I-Feel-Like-It] phase!
And as the pleased Miss Platinum was lost in thoughts of her [Pegasus Retirement Plan]…
Before her, the female reporter conducting the interview was completely losing her composure. Her small hand holding the microphone trembled incessantly, almost dropping it.
Currently, Platinum was being interviewed by the official reporter for the Queen Anne Stakes, in front of a live audience far exceeding a hundred thousand, and under the gaze of hundreds of millions watching the live broadcast domestically and internationally, having just declared…
"I might be retiring soon."
A historic moment!
Any move made by a legendary Uma Musume, regardless of win or loss, regardless of which race she challenged, would attract worldwide attention.
At that level, it's no longer about bringing honor to the race by winning it; instead, the race feels honored to have such a legend compete.
And among any actions taken by an accomplished, peak-standing legendary Uma Musume, none is more significant than… [Retirement]!
The world-focused Pegasus Platinum, right after this Queen Anne Stakes concluded, announced she might retire?!
The shocking news of her just defeating Frankel and completing the grand slam of four major circuits to surpass Eclipse was immensely weighty. But compared to the news of the protagonist Platinum possibly retiring, it might just take a back seat.
"Th-then…"
This news was enough to make the reporter's voice tremble slightly. It took a moment, and urgent reminders from other staff in her earpiece, for her to snap back to some semblance of calm.
"Then, may I ask, Ms. Platinum, how many more races do you plan to run before choosing to retire?"
"What race will you choose as your final battle, the endpoint of the Pegasus legend's chapter?"
How many!
What will be the final race!
The reporter didn't need to guess; she knew countless Platinum fans worldwide were eagerly waiting to know…
Just how long would Platinum keep running?
And, for the most meaningful final race, which race would Platinum, the one who surpassed Eclipse, the Pegasus akin to a myth, choose as her [Retirement Race]!
Probably right now, on the contrary, countless G1 race official organizers and various factions within the Uma Musume world were desperately eager to know where Platinum would choose for her final race.
This was destined to be an immensely important moment, one for the history books.
Because when a top-tier Uma Musume has sufficient influence and confirms her final race, the organizing body of that chosen race typically arranges a [Retirement Ceremony] after the race concludes.
Usually, the [Retirement Ceremony] between a Uma Musume and the race organizers is a mutually beneficial, equal arrangement.
The Uma Musume gets an important commemorative moment, and the organizers, the host racecourse, will see many loyal, top-tier Uma Musume fans attend that day. Watching the race, buying venue merchandise—it all happens seamlessly.
Therefore, any racing authority is more than happy to organize a retirement ceremony for an Uma Musume with enough influence.
And right now, the key point is—Platinum is just too influential!!
It's practically excessive!
For other conventional top-tier Uma Musume, the so-called 'World Uma Musume of the Year,' if they put in the effort to host their own retirement ceremony, the number of fans paying attention would likely be less than if it were held after a high-profile G1 race. It would be a lot of effort for little reward.
But the Pegasus Platinum, who even defeated legendary Uma Musume, doesn't face that dilemma!
Now, it's the complete opposite—racing circles from all over the world are eager for Platinum to choose one of their G1 races to retire at and hold her retirement ceremony!
"Barring any surprises, there's one more race."
The silver-haired girl stated the previous matter first with a cool voice.
As the top assassin, the Platinum seat, she raised her index finger.
And as for that final question about her retirement race...
"My retirement race... let me think about it."
--+--
United States.
A short while earlier.
At a training ground, a tall, crimson beauty was sketching an almost excited smile, sitting on a bench with her legs crossed without a care for her image.
She had just finished watching a world-shaking, peerless performance.
"That was truly amazing."
"To actually... dominate all four major racing categories and defeat that mile legend, Frankel?"
Her name was Secretariat. Even though she had long since dominated the American dirt tracks, she was still somewhat stunned.
At first, even when Platinum went abroad and won in Australia, achieving dominance in two of the four major categories, it hadn't moved Secretariat.
Because, over in American dirt racing, middle distance and mile races are almost inseparable.
The simplest example is that the Preakness Stakes, one of the two American Triple Crown races, is run over a mile plus 3/16th a mile!
Next, they falter in the 2000-meter Kentucky Derby.
And most of the Uma Musume who falter in the Triple Crown trip up in the final leg, the 2400-meter Belmont Stakes.
In contrast, the mile-long Preakness Stakes isn't difficult for excellent Uma Musume to win; very few actually stumble there.
So Secretariat, Nearl, and others like them, these Triple Crown-winning Uma Musume, are already generally acknowledged as capable of excelling in both major categories.
But in Secretariat's view, it paled in comparison to the Pegasus Platinum's current complete domination of all four major categories, defeating legends in the process!
"The Pegasus truly lives up to her name."
"Whether on turf or dirt, the Pegasus is so utterly breathtaking!!"
Not long after.
When the live broadcast on her phone screen switched to the usual post-race interview segment.
And when she heard a certain response from Platinum.
'I might be retiring soon.'
'Barring any surprises, there's one more race.'
This made even Secretariat freeze up, her pupils contracting sharply.
She had just reached the absolute peak, surpassing every other Uma Musume, this peerless Pegasus... and she was retiring already??
Was it... feeling lonely after losing all her rivals?
"Where will the Pegasus choose for her final race?"
"Hard to guess. Probably choosing one from Europe, Japan, and... the never-before-raced United States."
One is the pinnacle of turf racing. Ending a final race on a top-tier turf G1 is the common situation.
One is where Platinum debuted. Retiring where it all began holds commemorative significance, so that's also a possibility.
As for the United States... the Pegasus Platinum, grown bored and lacking rivals on turf, might just come to try the American dirt or turf.
Beyond that, there aren't any other real possibilities.
But pinpointing exactly which race... that's beyond anyone's ability. The number of GIs worldwide is countless.
"At the very least, we can be sure... all the Pegasus fans worldwide will definitely pay the utmost attention to Platinum's final race."
"Given the Pegasus's influence, combined with it being her retirement race."
"I'm afraid all those G1 race organizers worldwide in the second half of the year will be breaking their heads trying to get Platinum to run in their event, won't they?"
Race organizers begging a Uma Musume to participate... something that seems like the world turned upside down... happening for Platinum? Absolutely, completely reasonable!
After her amazement, this Big Red Monster of a girl's thoughts drifted from this race to another one.
Namely—the [Lin Anran Cup].
Suddenly, she frowned slightly.
This sharp-nosed Big Red Monster, Secretariat, had already sensed that something wasn't quite right.
She had already sensed that something wasn't quite right.
"What on earth is going on?"
"It's one thing for Ruffian to be in such poor form, but why is even Flightline in such bad shape?"
A few minutes earlier, Flightline had ended her training early and left, leaving Secretariat alone on the training ground.
Taking a temporary break, with more training to come, she used her sharp instincts to detect something amiss.
Compared to the younger Ruffian, who was only in her classic year, Secretariat knew Flightline much better.
After all, Flightline was an excellent training partner and rival she had worked with and competed against for years on the training ground.
And Secretariat knew full well. Flightline was far more keen and intelligent than Ruffian, and incredibly attentive to physical conditioning and recovery.
After all, among the legends, Flightline's physical constitution was definitely among the poorest.
That she could still reach the legendary status under such adverse physical conditions not only proved her considerable talent but also demonstrated her exceptional planning of race schedules and training regimens.
How could a Uma Musume so full of [strategy], one who could compensate for innate physical shortcomings to become a legend, not be clever?
But under such circumstances, why would she risk training while unwell, even potentially risking injury, and train right after Secretariat, who was in peak condition?
Secretariat smelled something unusual.
"Those two..."
"Definitely, there's a problem."
"What are they doing behind my back? Looks like they're hiding something important from me..."
The Big Red Monster had detected something wrong!
--+--
Winner's Stage, spectator stands.
Originally, the stands packed with countless fans and spectators were buzzing with noise.
Most people were marveling at just how terrifying the Pegasus's performance in this Queen Anne Stakes had been.
Until... the interview segment began, broadcast live.
Within just a minute or two, the place had become almost completely silent.
In the front rows, Satono Diamond's eyes were wide with shock.
Not far from her, Daiwa Scarlet's body trembled slightly, her impressive peaks rising and falling noticeably.
"Platinum is retiring?"
"Then how... how can I ever race against her again?"
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
There should be... around 70+ advanced chapters?
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.