In her rush to leave, she hadn't worn her horseshoe-embedded shoes. By the time Narita Brian reached the racetrack, the soles of her shoes were already charred from the high-speed friction, faintly emitting the smell of something burning.
Hishi Amazon, who had been following behind, was completely winded, leaning against the wall as she gasped for air.
It had to be admitted—Narita Brian possessed stamina beyond imagination.
The two had run from Tracen Academy to Tokyo Racecourse in just a few minutes, moving faster than cars, all to watch the race in person.
Throughout it all, Narita Brian only had a light sweat on her forehead, nothing like Hishi Amazon, who looked completely spent.
The front-row spectator seats were already full, so the two had to stand in the aisle.
Just then, the starting gates swung open.
Amid the crowd's gasps of surprise, that black figure appeared on the track, just as Narita Brian had predicted.
"Hah, I knew it!"
For the first time in months, her voice trembled with excitement.
Beside her, Hishi Amazon's eyes widened.
It's really her…
She had been skeptical of Narita Brian's story earlier, thinking it was strange how her friend had insisted on coming after hearing some inexplicable sound.
But Narita Brian had been right after all!
Was there some kind of connection between them? Why couldn't she hear what Narita Brian described—that heartbeat, like a monster's?
Though puzzled, Hishi Amazon didn't dwell on it.
There were more important things at hand.
She knew better than anyone what kind of monster Oguri Cap—the one she'd been training alongside—truly was.
It was no exaggeration to say she possessed strength on par with Narita Brian.
The "Shadow Roll Monster" and the "Grey Monster."
Both were worthy of the title.
Now that she was at the racetrack, she would immerse herself fully in the race, setting aside all other distractions.
As Hishi Amazon stood beside Narita Brian, gazing out at the track, the commentator's voice rang out once more.
"Could it be!? That unknown competitor—!"
After receiving approval from the central racing authority, the commentator no longer had to tiptoe around the subject like the previous two announcers. They now treated the mysterious Uma Musume as an unregulated outsider, openly referencing her in the broadcast.
The authorities had already devised another plan to deal with her.
All the commentator had to do was focus on the job.
"Leading the pack now are the unknown competitor and Road Royal, battling it out for the front!"
After the initial chaos of the start, all the runners had settled into their positions.
Long Live Free and Bold Northman had taken the lead right out of the gate, while Dynamu Heroine and Sirius Symboli settled in the middle of the pack. Half a length behind Sirius Symboli, Oguri Cap held her ground.
And at the very back of the group, one full length behind Oguri Cap, the black-haired girl lurked.
So, you're the Black Uma Musume who's thrown the entire racing association into chaos.
Sirius Symboli had seen the exaggerated headlines, of course. But now, experiencing it in person, she realized how shallow those reports were—written by outsiders with no real understanding.
The reality was far more intense than any words they could muster.
A cold sweat trickled down Sirius Symboli's cheek.
She felt as if she were being watched by a venomous snake, her heart racing wildly.
Hey, hey, the race has only just started!
And yet, just the pressure from that gaze was enough to make it hard to breathe.
Once before, in England's King George VI Stakes, Sirius Symboli had felt something similar.
That feeling of being utterly marked!
She knew it then—this was a trial she had to overcome.
She wondered: Why had this Black Uma Musume locked onto her the moment the gates opened? Did she plan to mark her all the way to the finish?
Glancing at the others, Sirius Symboli quickly realized something was wrong.
Dynamu Heroine was gritting her teeth, her expression strained. Love Live Free and Bold Northman also seemed unsettled, their strides slightly unsteady.
Only the two front-runners, battling for the lead, remained untouched by the tension, fully absorbed in their duel.
It wasn't just her who was being targeted.
Every Uma Musume in the black one's path was locked in her sights!
Four in total—
Thud!
A foot slammed heavily against the ground.
Her lips curled into a wide, fierce grin.
She's… smiling?
That Grey Monster was actually smiling!
No—wait—it wasn't just her!
"Heh… ha! Hahaha—!"
Even she herself was laughing, unable to hold it back.
What kind of feeling was this?
Fear, excitement, anticipation, trembling—and that unwavering resolve to win.
A whirlwind of indescribable emotions crashed uncontrollably inside her mind.
The result? Uncontrollable, roaring laughter!
--+--
"Trainer Musaka."
Four months earlier, after the New Zealand Trophy, Oguri Cap had asked Musaka Ginjirou this question:
"If I were to face her on the track, what would happen?"
Musaka stood silently for a moment, deep in thought.
"Do you know about beasts of prey?" he asked suddenly.
"Wolves, tigers, leopards, lions, bears, crocodiles—they are all beasts of prey."
Without waiting for her reply, he continued.
"A tiger and a lion might be evenly matched, but their sharp teeth may not pierce a crocodile's hide."
"A wolf may be weaker alone, but they hunt in packs—their strength lies in the group."
After a long pause, Musaka finally explained.
"Oguri Cap, you are a beast of prey."
"And that Black Uma Musume… she is also a beast of prey."
But even among predators, there are differences in strength.
"Go train. Rather than wondering, you should focus on sharpening your fangs."
He didn't say it outright, but Oguri Cap understood.
She was no tiger, and that black Uma Musume was no lion.
The grey-haired girl thought of something else.
Long ago, among the extinct beasts of this world, there was one such creature.
Its body wasn't particularly large—in fact, it was rather small among its kind.
But with its near-uncatchable speed and sickle-like claws, it could slice open the hides of creatures far larger than itself, inspiring terror in animals many times its size.
If she had to choose a beast to describe her, this would be the one.
Deinonychus—a predator known for its speed and razor-sharp claws.
Oguri Cap's eyes widened.
So… this is what the others felt when they raced against her.
She could see it now.
Those sharp claws, quietly resting against their necks!
--+--
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.