"The divination results... aren't looking good."
"What do you mean?"
"According to the hexagrams, this race is very likely to bring you significant negative effects."
Copano Rickey, holding the six yao coins, spoke.
"And it's an ominous disaster related to the body. Meaning, after this race concludes, you're highly likely to fall ill or get injured."
The hexagrams were one thing, but from the other's body, she could also hear the faint sound of fading fortune.
Narita Brian's strength might be at its peak, but her luck was on the decline.
Coming to her for a divination was the right choice. In the past, whenever Copano Rickey heard these strange sounds emanating from within a person, without exception, problems arose in subsequent events.
If they were participating in a race, Copano Rickey felt it was highly probable something would go wrong for them.
Of course, she wasn't cursing the other party; based on her experience, there were truly ominous signs.
The reason for these signs, Copano Rickey guessed, was that the other was too fixated on something calamitous, causing their luck to drain away.
Copano Rickey couldn't be certain.
Keeping it in mind, she said to Narita Brian, "From my perspective, it would be better not to participate in this race."
For her, this race was like a cliff edge of fate; forcing her way through would lead to a fall.
Hearing this, Narita Brian's expression turned decidedly unpleasant.
Crossing her arms, she spoke from the side, "Weren't you the one who said all that hexagram divination stuff could only be used as a reference, that it's not very accurate? Now you suddenly say participating in the race will bring bad luck—you—"
Narita Brian suddenly moved close to her.
"You're not messing with me, are you?"
Eeek—!!!
So scary!
It felt like she was about to be devoured alive the next second.
Honestly, Narita Brian's resolute and stern face was already intimidating enough, but now, with a touch of faint anger, the pressure intensified by several levels.
However, as a feng shui master, she wouldn't lie about her divination results.
Copano Rickey was beginning to understand why the black ghost had sent Narita Brian to her.
Perhaps it was to tell Narita Brian that participating in this race meant shouldering heavy risks, where one misstep could lead to an irreversible abyss.
If that was truly the black ghost's intention, Copano Rickey could only say:
Absolutely right!
"I-i-i-i-if... y-y-you participate in the race, it will r-r-really be very dangerous. I-I'm not exaggerating or a-anything."
Her tongue tied in knots under the other's overwhelming pressure, Copano Rickey spoke, cold sweat covering her forehead.
"Hah?" Narita Brian glared fiercely.
"I'm not lying! I'm really not lying!"
Clutching her head, accidentally knocking over the divination board, Copano Rickey crouched on the floor, speaking in a fluster.
After who knows how long, Narita Brian snorted, bent down, and picked up the divination board that had fallen to the floor.
"Fine, let's assume it's true."
She said.
"'That one' sent me here, and I understand the purpose now. However, I won't withdraw from the race just because I might get injured."
"As an Uma Musume, every race carries the risk of injury. If one refuses to race out of fear of getting hurt, they might as well stay holed up in their room and never step outside their door for their entire life!"
The racetrack is a battlefield; only cowards feel fear.
Seeing Narita Brian's unyielding stance, Copano Rickey felt not only terror but also more confusion.
"Why?"
"Why would you risk injury to race against a ghost?"
Is it really worth it?
You could ruin your future.
Ghost?
Hearing this, Narita Brian's hand slammed onto the table.
With a loud 'Bam!', the table shook violently, nearly shattered by her blow.
"Where did you get the idea she's a ghost?"
"Her feet firmly tread the track, her body completely crossed the finish line. That black mare undeniably finished a race. What right do you have to call her a ghost?"
Her gaze filled with ferocity looked down at Copano Rickey below. The floorboards under her feet creaked, as if they might be crushed under Narita Brian's stomp the next second.
"What you should consider isn't the other's identity, but how to defeat her on the racetrack."
Her hand clawed at the tabletop, Narita Brian suppressed her anger.
The place where a beast meets its end is only in the perilous jungle; where a warrior falls is only on the smoke-filled battlefield.
Only the racetrack is the final resting place for a Uma Musume!
Legends are born here, and they fade away here.
"Copano Rickey, with that mindset, do you even deserve to be called an Uma Musume?"
Her breath caught in her throat for a moment.
Scenes from her own arrival flashed rapidly through her mind.
She seemed to understand why the people here weren't interested in the black mare's identity.
From the very beginning, she had fallen into a misconception.
I am a feng shui master, the other is a ghost...
No, that's wrong!
The moment you step onto the racetrack, identity... no longer matters...
Without another glance at Copano Rickey, who hung her head with dim eyes, Narita Brian turned and left the room.
Her goal was set. No matter the outcome, she wouldn't back down.
The blood in her veins could no longer restrain its thirst, boiling violently.
--+--
"Green Grass."
Green Grass, who had just finished training and was about to find her dear junior for dinner, was stopped by Maruzensky.
"Maruzensky? What's up?"
"There's something I'd like your help with. If possible, it'd be best to have Ten Point and the others too."
"Oh? That's fine. Ten Point and Tosho Boy seem to be free too."
Green Grass nodded in agreement.
But this was rare. Maruzensky actually asking for help? Usually, she was the one in the position of helping others.
It seemed Maruzensky had encountered trouble she couldn't handle alone.
But that's okay. Seeing her ask a junior for help is kind of amusing too.
"I'll go find them. So, what exactly is it about?"
"Actually, it's nothing much. I just want you all to do a simulated practice race with me."
Maruzensky said with a smile.
"..." The young mare was speechless.
"Green Grass?"
"What did you just say?" Unable to believe her ears, Green Grass asked again.
"A simulated practice race." Maruzensky's expression didn't change.
"Are you sure?" Green Grass's voice lost its earlier nonchalance.
The simulated race Maruzensky proposed involved not just her, but Ten Point and Tosho Boy as well.
What this meant to them couldn't be summed up simply as 'training.'
"Of course I'm sure. When I train with those juniors all the time, I always feel like I can't really let loose. Running too fast might crush their confidence, running too slow and they might think I'm holding back."
"Only when training with you all can I run without any reservations, truly going all out."
Without changing her expression, Maruzensky spoke of something she had once hoped for, but that had never come to pass.
--+--
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.