"Hoho, don't be so fierce now, smile smile! Staying this angry all the time will just make you age faster."
Completely ignoring Tamamo Cross's resistance, Obey Your Master kept up her same cheerful, grinning demeanor.
"Who! Cares!"
Shoving herself free from the embrace that was far too broad for her liking, Tamamo Cross had no intention of continuing to engage with this weirdo and turned to leave.
But her resolve was ultimately shaken by Obey Your Master's next words.
"Hahaha, my apologies then. It's just that your story is pretty rock 'n' roll, isn't it? From a losing streak to a winning streak, climbing step by step all the way to the top."
"Do Japanese people just love this kind of 'guts and reversal' story? Or do they simply have a thing for the underdog comeback?"
A sharp gaze and pressure, like a pointed blade, pressed against Tamamo Cross's side, startling her into halting her steps.
"Your provocation's too obvious. I can smell your rotten nature from here."
The corner of her mouth twitched upwards. Stimulated by this pressure, Tamamo Cross felt her fighting spirit unconsciously ignite.
That fighting spirit made her eyes gleam like those of an enraged white lion.
"This isn't a provocation. It's me going easy on you."
"Hah? What nonsense are you spouting now?"
Tamamo Cross couldn't follow the logic of that statement at all.
"And besides, refusing to admit defeat isn't your exclusive privilege."
Her lowered bangs hid her eyes, but they couldn't conceal the mad aura radiating from her.
That dangerous pressure was in no way inferior to Tamamo Cross's own.
"Well then, see you on the track."
Making a casual farewell gesture, Obey Your Master sauntered off, leaving only a confused Tamamo behind.
"What in the world did that guy even come here for?"
--+--
"The assassin from America, the 9th pick, Obey Your Master!"
"Yahooo!"
Waving to the spectators, Obey Your Master bounded along with large strides, the picture of ease.
"Heh, this is completely different from her usual self."
Nearl in the stands let out a somewhat wry laugh.
She thought about the Uma Musume who was serious and strict when they were together, a completely different person from the one she saw now.
"Then again, without that kind of acting skill, she couldn't have hidden her abilities for this long."
Platinum, next to her, chimed in casually.
"She just didn't expect that you could see right through a person's true nature. Thinking about it now, her self-righteous disguise was rather laughable."
"Although at first, she did approach me with that fabricated personality, later on, she seemed to forget about it herself, completely reverting to her true nature."
Nearl earnestly countered Platinum's view, but Platinum didn't really care; she was just making conversation.
"Ooooh!! She's finally here! Having climbed all the way from the local circuits to this top-tier world stage! Oguri Cap is here!!"
After this announcement, countless gazes focused on Oguri Cap as she made her gradual entrance.
Opponents, families, familiar, unfamiliar.
In this moment, Oguri Cap stood at the center of public attention.
"Although she's only the 3rd pick today, just listen to those cheers! Show the world your legendary final kick!"
"Oguri."
Nearl watched her calmly.
"Oguri Cap."
The Emperor looked upon her with hopeful eyes.
"My daughter…"
Her mother watched, worried yet happy.
Oguri Cap revealed a faint smile.
"The super favorite to win! Italy's treasure! The monarch of Europe graces this turf today! Tony Bianca! The 2nd pick!"
"Tch."
Tony Bianca, striding across the grass, clicked her tongue in displeasure.
But she understood. In a race like this, the spectators were naturally going to support their home country's Uma Musume.
"So the 1st pick is that one, huh?"
Her gaze slid sideways towards her rear. There, a presence even she couldn't easily ignore was making itself known.
With this one's appearance, the entire racecourse began to tremble. The roar of the crowd was so powerful, it amplified the commentator's excitement to another level.
"She's here, she's here! The undisputed 1st pick, overwhelming all the foreign champions! Japan's first-ever Uma Musume to achieve consecutive wins in the Spring and Autumn Tenno Sho! As she stands now, she has no rivals left in Japan!"
"Our White Lightning challenges the world! Tamamo Cross!!"
Amidst such cheers, a small-framed dapple grey Uma Musume stepped solemnly onto the track.
Before her, all the other Uma Musume fixed their eyes intently on her.
'A formidable enemy.'
The thought appeared in their minds the instant they saw her.
Both the alertness in their bodies and the pressure they felt mentally signaled one thing.
"She's the real deal, a top-tier Uma Musume."
Tony Bianca averted her gaze.
--+--
The brief activity period before the race.
Tamamo Cross was doing some simple warm-ups here, but the arrival of an old acquaintance interrupted her movements.
"Tama."
The newcomer was none other than Oguri Cap. Dressed in her victory uniform, she seemed to shine with brilliance.
"Today, I will win."
Pressing a clenched fist against Tamamo Cross's chest, Oguri Cap declared happily, her body overflowing with a fighting spirit that proved her condition.
"So you remember our promise! Excellent! I'll magnanimously give you a good race!"
Tamamo Cross laughed joyfully, simultaneously slapping Oguri Cap's hand away with force.
"…"
In the distance, Tony Bianca, standing alone, swept her fierce eyes across the entire field, assessing the threat level of every individual.
"I will win. This is beyond doubt."
She uttered these firm words, their weight leaving no room for question.
"Two runners have been scratched due to accidents. The number of participants is now 14."
"All entrants are entering the starting gate!"
With the sound of the gates opening, the Uma Musume filed inside in order.
"Will the winner of this race be one of the powerful overseas contenders? Or will it be one of Japan's Uma Musume? The world watches the Japan Cup… this nerve-wracking moment…"
As the warning chime sounded, all the Uma Musume focused their concentration. Countless thoughts were severed in that instant. Inside the gates, only the sound of breathing could be heard.
"The race begins!!"
"Clang!"
The instant the gates flew open, fourteen figures shot out simultaneously. In a top-level Graded race, no Uma Musume would mess up the start without good reason.
"Oh, all the Uma Musume have perfect starts! They are now jostling for the lead positions!"
"The three Japanese runners are all off to a smooth start! Following closely behind is the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe champion Uma Musume, Tony Bianca!"
"Michelle My Baby and Obey Your Master are right there too! Are they aiming for the lead as well?"
"Wait! Oguri Cap has dropped back! We can see she actively slowed her pace; she's now among the last few runners!"
"And Tamamo Cross is currently sitting around third from last."
--+--
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.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.