"McQueen, you've truly grown into a remarkable lady now. Even though I'm an Uma Musume myself, the whole 'maturation' process is just absurd when you think about it."
"I was only at Tracen Academy for a few days of closed-off training for the Satsuki Sho, yet I almost didn't recognize you."
"Ryan-nee, there's no need to apologize. Focusing on your own races is what you should be doing. If anything, I should be learning from you."
With an elegant bow, the current Mejiro McQueen perfectly embodied grace, a world apart from her former superficial efforts.
Though what lay beneath was still hard to say.
"Not at all. If I could, I'd love to be as slender and elegant as you, McQueen."
These words were murmured by Ryan, unheard by others, before she quickly smiled and bid farewell.
"Ah, I shouldn't keep you. I'm off for a warm-up. Let's meet again after the race."
"Yes, see you later, Ryan-nee."
Mejiro McQueen watched her elder sister walk away, her poise and elegance unwavering from start to finish.
But a certain unnamed magician from another world taught us that clinging to elegance is rather pointless.
Just as he was betrayed by his disciple, McQueen was now betrayed by her own sisters.
"McQuuueen~ There's cream cake here, want some?"
That drawn-out, leisurely tone could only belong to one person.
"Save a big piece for me, desuwa!"
--+--
Only the moment you set foot on this turf does the surrounding atmosphere make you realize what a major stakes race truly is, what a G1 feels like.
This sense of pressure and stagnation is simply unmatched by G2 or G3 races.
Every opponent around you is an enemy not to be taken lightly, their strengths often so closely matched that victory might come down to a mere stroke of luck.
"What a den of dragons and tigers this is. I can't even imagine what kind of monsters you'd face in the even more terrifying older horse races."
Scanning her surroundings, feeling the icy stares of her rivals, even Ryan couldn't help but stiffen up.
"But speaking of monsters, there is one here, a super-type rarity unlike any other."
Feeling the hairs on her back rise and her tail swishing uncontrollably, Ines Fujin muttered to herself.
And then, not just her, but every Uma Musume present—though a beat slower—all sensed that astonishing aura. In an instant, every gaze involuntarily shifted towards the tunnel entrance behind them.
Ears twitched unconsciously. Though no sound could be heard yet, a phantom ringing had already begun to echo in their hearts.
"Tap, tap, tap…"
Measured, unhurried footsteps, accompanied by a swelling sense of presence, triggered an instinctive resistance in every competitor.
Closer. The source of this oppressive pressure was drawing nearer.
Now, the ears weren't hearing phantoms anymore, but the clear, unmistakable sound of footsteps.
"Clang, clang, clang…"
"So it really is boots. Sounds like they're made of solid iron, too. I guess that's what you call a 'decisive outfit' for you," Ryan quipped from the side, while Ines next to her was pondering something else.
"You ask how beautiful Nearl looks in her decisive outfit? I doubt she'd be any less stunning than the senior, Gold City."
These two had already gotten a thorough taste of Nearl's power during the previous Yayoi Sho.
Comparatively, this imposing aura didn't affect them as much. It was evident from how the other Uma Musume were all tense and nervous, while they could still chat casually.
But that didn't mean they would overlook Nearl. In this race, they regarded her as a living myth.
"All right then! Without further ado, let's raise the most fervent cheers—this is the respect she deserves!"
"From the local circuits to the central stage, over twenty races without a single defeat!"
"A transcendent being from another dimension, her golden strides have forged her renowned fame!"
"For her, even the URA actively amended its stringent rules!"
"And now, with overwhelming top popularity, she arrives at the Satsuki Sho, the first stage of the Classic Triple Crown! Do you believe in her?"
"The Radiant Knight, Margaret Nearl, makes her entrance! An undisputed, overwhelmingly powerful presence!"
The cheers thundered like a storm; the very sound could be a weapon. At this moment, many in the stands felt their hearts pound from the intensity.
This was the madness, this was the domineering dominance.
Overwhelming strength brought overwhelming expectations. Her undefeated, dazzling record made her fans feel a shared glory.
It was an outpouring of emotion, the excitement of witnessing a legend rise and realizing they could be part of it.
But Nearl didn't care for this. She had no need for this trend of emotion-driven, mindless fervor.
'If the audience can learn anything from me, I hope it's calmness and perseverance.'
Holding such an attitude all along, she certainly didn't wish to see such fanatic scenes.
Sometimes, she had to admit, the style of clothing could truly alter a person's bearing.
Nearl slightly lowered her gaze, looking towards the exit ahead.
'In this splendid attire, my presence is entirely different from usual. I wonder if they'll be able to adapt.'
Yet the complex thoughts in her mind didn't affect the decisiveness and steadiness of her steps. Without hesitation, she strode forward.
Accompanying her arrival was a certain icy, vast, rumbling aura—like facing the point of a spear, witnessing a grand battlefield.
One second, two seconds, three seconds…
As Nearl steadily made her way onto the track, the atmosphere in the stadium churned for her.
It was like being doused with glacial water in the height of summer, completely suppressing the previously frenzied fervor.
"So beautiful…"
Watching Nearl approach, Mejiro McQueen's violet eyes could hold no other presence.
"Guess you have to say Nearl-senpai's usual style is really deceptive. This outfit suits her perfectly," Mejiro Dober murmured beside her.
"Wow, Ines, Nearl really is showing her waist. You guessed pretty well, huh. Ines?"
Ryan's words received no response, for Ines's attention had been completely captured.
--+--
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.