"Mr. Kazumi is truly a man of swift action. So eager to chase inspiration that he's even forgotten his usual grace."
Ardan made a light-hearted joke, watching his figure dash away at full speed. Beside her, Nearl was wading across the creek towards her.
"What a passionate soul. Perhaps that's just how master artists are."
"Nearl, I'm not sure where you heard such a rumor, but I must say, a master artist is absolutely not like that."
Looking at the Nearl before her, who seemed no different from usual, Ardan felt her heart settle back into a steady rhythm. Yet that startling, fleeting moment from earlier remained etched in her mind, refusing to fade.
"Nearl, you before..."
The words trailed off. Ardan's upbringing as a young lady of fine breeding told her that probing so deeply wasn't appropriate distance between friends.
But holding back was easier said than done.
This hesitation was naturally noticed by Nearl. In no time at all, Nearl understood what Ardan wanted to ask.
"You want to ask about the change in me near the statue earlier, don't you?"
"Could it be... you were actually conscious then, Nearl?"
"Ah... more or less."
Nearl's middle finger rubbed against the nail of her index finger—a mannerism of hers when she felt somewhat hesitant.
"The Three Goddesses were with me then. I was indeed conscious. You've already obtained your winning outfit, Ardan, so you can understand that feeling, right?"
"Indeed. When I touched that statue back then, I felt an immense, boundless, yet gentle presence envelop my entire body. Thinking back now, the Three Goddesses must have been watching over me then."
Recalling the profound and mysterious atmosphere she had experienced, Ardan found herself accepting Nearl's unusual behavior.
'That scene was so extraordinary, precisely a sign of the Three Goddesses' regard. Nearl felt the presence of our Creators from such a close distance. A little abnormality is only natural.'
Seeing Ardan's drooping ears slowly perk back up, Nearl knew she had successfully glossed over the matter and couldn't help but sigh in relief.
--+--
"So, how is it? This outfit isn't bad, right? It accentuates your figure yet remains thoroughly covered, no different from the splendidly adorned Pegasus in your memories."
The cocoon of light shattered.
The sound of armored boots trampled the earth.
The long hem seemed like it would hinder movement, but the slit reaching all the way to the waist cleverly allowed it to sway with the wearer's stride.
The cloak on her back had also undergone a delicate transformation. It wasn't the conventional style covering the entire back.
Instead, it shifted to the right, draping over part of her right arm and most of her right side in a half-cape style.
An extra strip of plain white cloth hung down from her left arm, echoing the large cloak on the right, creating an effect both lively and solemn.
"Though I still don't understand why the area from the lower back to the left side has to be bare, this is still within acceptable limits. Thank you, Sister Byerley. However..."
Nearl reached behind her back. A flash of cold light later, a heavy cavalry lance of terrifying sharpness appeared in her hand.
The shaft wasn't a simple pole but was assembled from mechanical structures, possessing a kind of industrial charm.
"Is this lance really necessary? Are weapons even allowed on the racetrack?"
"Don't mind the details."
Goddess Byerley waved her hand dismissively, looking Nearl up and down before nodding in satisfaction.
"This will do. Good, the matter of the winning outfit is settled for now. Next, your sister has something new to discuss with you."
"I guessed as much. After all, going to such great lengths to bring me back couldn't possibly be just for the winning outfit."
Nearl's response didn't surprise Goddess Byerley. She gently took Nearl's hand and began strolling across this sea of clouds.
"Nearl, your 'Domain' has been completely perfected. Have you noticed?"
"Yes, I've felt something recently."
"Then, though I'm very reluctant, your sister must give you some necessary guidance."
This was the first time Nearl had seen Byerley look so serious yet tinged with a hint of sadness. In Nearl's memory, she had always been gentle, somewhat lively, and wise. But now...
Nearl sensed something. Silently, she summoned Centaurea's consciousness as well.
"Nearl, do you know? The so-called standard of a 'God' is the aggregation of a world. You now meet the minimum requirement. A complete 'Domain' has taken shape within you—it is the embryo of a world."
"..."
"So now, Nearl, and you too, Centaurea, what you must do is wait. Nothing else. Just wait. Wait for the 'Domain' within you to grow. Wait for life to emerge within it."
"And your will, your character will influence the multitudes born within this 'Domain'. Their proliferation and extinction will also bring you growth. Such is the way of deities."
"A God of Self, an independently walking world."
"Now, Nearl and Rea can truly be said to be beyond death. It's time for you to leave this world of the Uma Musume. Outside, the starry sea holds endless unknowns and wonders waiting for you."
"..."
The meaning of her words was clear enough. But neither Nearl nor Platinum moved a muscle.
They waited quietly for their older sister Byerley to speak of the other path.
"Nearl, Rea... this is not a good choice."
A moment of silence. No more words were needed. The Goddess already understood their answer.
"Alright. There is indeed another path. But to be honest, your sister didn't wish for you to choose this one."
Byerley placed a hand on her own chest, feeling somewhat saddened, yet also relieved. Perhaps this was the complicated psychology of an elder.
"The type of deity just described is called a 'Free God'—an independent existence where one being is the world itself. But my sisters and I are different. We are 'Anchored Gods'—gods who let the world envelop us."
"Unlike 'Free Gods,' we externalize our 'Domain,' acting as the core ourselves to support its development."
"This choice is not one a wise person would make, because there is no benefit. None at all. An externalized 'Domain' becomes fragile. Acting as the core oneself leads to a constant drain of power. In the end, when one can no longer support it, this world will still be destroyed. It truly is the act of a fool."
"But it possesses one, and only one, advantage."
Byerley swept her arm outward. The clouds beneath their feet parted, revealing to Nearl and the others a vast, boundless land.
A hundred colors and ten thousand customs adorned it, like the most beautiful painting.
"And that is... free life."
"The inner world of a Free God is but a dead thing. Everything within it is subject to His influence. All developments follow His will."
"But the world of an Anchored God is random. We merely serve as the core and the energy source. Apart from the initial creation, everything that happens upon this land thereafter is of their own will."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! 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.