The next day.
"So that's the local chocolate from over there."
In the classroom, Barbatos nibbled on the specialty treats El Condor Pasa had brought back after her debut race victory. Seems this kind of souvenir was a bit more convenient to share than takoyaki.
Though calling it a 'local specialty' was a bit of a stretch—with online shopping so developed these days, you could probably just order it easily enough.
"B-chan, you saw that article about the 'Generation's Main Characters,' right?"
El Condor Pasa declared with her signature confidence.
Since she was handing out treats, a small group had gathered around. The topic, already on everyone's minds, was now brought up by El Condor Pasa herself, one of the subjects of the article, instantly drawing all their attention.
Both El Condor Pasa and Barbatos had won their debut races decisively, earning them the label of this generation's main characters.
"I saw it."
Barbatos nodded, then shrugged slightly helplessly.
"That article's pretty biased. You can't really tell anything from just one debut race victory. Those unscrupulous media outlets are always so good at grasping at straws and chasing trends."
"Now that the article's out, we've become the prime targets. I bet plenty of Uma Musume will be gunning for us."
The title of 'Generation's Main Character'—what Uma Musume with aspirations of becoming a legend would allow two newcomers to claim supremacy over them?
Originally, Barbatos figured she could secure her early races relatively smoothly. Now, the difficulty level had probably spiked. Who knew if some Uma Musume preparing for G-level races might just drop by to challenge her in a beginner's race?
"Let them all come! It's not like we're afraid of them."
El Condor Pasa pumped her fist, her fighting spirit blazing as she looked at Barbatos. "So, which race are you planning to enter next? Let's settle this on the track!"
Faced with El Condor Pasa's direct challenge, Special Week glanced between her and Barbatos.
Weren't they all classmates? How did it come to a duel already? And she remembered Barbatos saying she couldn't beat El Condor Pasa... How would Barbatos handle this? Would she accept?
Barbatos wasn't surprised. Most Uma Musume were pretty straightforward; their thought processes were easy to follow.
While she couldn't quite figure out what Seiun Sky was thinking, she had a good read on El Condor Pasa. She'd expected something like this from her, given her personality.
A showdown with El Condor Pasa was inevitable. If they kept running, they were bound to meet in some race eventually and settle things. But now wasn't the right time!
Facing El Condor Pasa now... she couldn't say she had no chance, but the outcome was truly uncertain.
At least, before the Winter Dream Cup, she'd prefer not to clash with El Condor Pasa. It could slow down her gold farming progress, even if she was confident she could win.
But confidence and guaranteed victory were two different things.
Still, if she said something like, "Didn't we already race before school started?"
El Condor Pasa would probably retort, saying she wasn't used to the turf track back then, so it didn't count, or something along those lines.
"El, I don't think our showdown should happen now."
Barbatos looked unusually serious, as if facing a lifelong rival. "Didn't the article say it? We're the main characters of this generation. Even though I think the article is biased, shouldn't the generation's main characters face off on a G1 stage? On the highest platform there is!"
Her voice gradually rose. She'd started off just trying to steer El Condor Pasa, but ended up psyching herself up in the process.
No matter how much she usually preferred to lay low and avoid tempting fate, right now she felt fired up. Guess that's just youthful passion.
Our sights should be set on the stars and the seas!
Grass Wonder's usually narrowed eyes opened slightly. She touched her still-recovering thigh. How she wished she could run with them!
"The G1 stage?!"
"Yes! Then let's decide it in a G1 race! We'll see who the real main character of this generation is!"
"The generation's main character isn't necessarily just the two of you."
King Halo placed a hand on her hip. "When the time comes, I'll show you the running form of a true king!"
Their words ignited a competitive fire in almost everyone. The other Uma Musume in the classroom all turned to look their way.
Only Seiun Sky seemed lackadaisical. "Spe-chan, isn't your goal to become Japan's number one Uma Musume? If that's the case, you'll have to defeat them all, you know."
"Huh?!"
Special Week was taken aback. Just a moment ago, she'd been thinking, 'Mom, my classmates are so amazing...'
Now it seemed like having such amazing classmates wasn't entirely a good thing. The ones Urara had introduced all seemed like rivals she'd have to overcome to become Japan's top Uma Musume. Urara was terrifying!
Grass Wonder narrowed her eyes again, adding fuel to the fire. "Spe-chan, 'Japan's number one Uma Musume' and 'Generation's Main Character' don't seem all that different, do they?"
"I... I won't lose either! I will definitely become Japan's number one Uma Musume!"
"Then let's all decide it on the G1 stage!"
El Condor Pasa said enthusiastically. Then, her curiosity piqued, she looked at Barbatos. "What about the Winter Dream Cup? What are you planning to do?"
Barbatos countered, "Do you want the truth, or the lie?"
"What's the truth?" King Halo asked.
"The truth is, I'll aim not to get lapped by the second-to-last place finisher by more than twenty lengths."
Hearing this, Grass Wonder beside her quietly pondered the possibility.
For Barbatos to participate in the Winter Dream Cup was like an Uma Musume racing against an ordinary human. Even though the goal of not being lapped by twenty lengths seemed humble...
For a newly debuted Uma Musume, it was actually a monumental challenge, nearly impossible. Just how strong were the legendary Uma Musume? As someone who'd been in Rigil for over a year, Grass Wonder knew all too well.
"Hmm~ Twenty lengths?" El Condor Pasa put herself in Barbatos's horseshoes. What goal would she set? After a moment's thought, she decided she'd still want to win the Dream Cup!
"And the lie?" Special Week asked timidly. She didn't fully grasp how strong the legendary Uma Musume were, but she was more intrigued by Barbatos's 'truth or lie' question.
"The lie is..."
A smirk tugged at Barbatos's lips. It was a lie because it was impossible and wouldn't tempt fate.
"To sweep through every upcoming race with an undefeated record, enter the Winter Dream Cup with an aura of invincibility, and show those legendary Uma Musume who the real main character of this generation is!"
Just then.
The classroom door slid open. The class bell hadn't rung yet. Had the teacher arrived early?
As the door opened, it wasn't a teacher who entered, but an Uma Musume in the same school uniform as them.
This Uma Musume had her hair in a single ponytail. "Is Barbatos here? The Student Council President wants to see you."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 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.