"What do you have to say for yourself!"
Back at Tracen Academy, inside the student council president's office, those fierce words were accompanied by a thunderous slam on the desk. The Emperor's aura was dialed to the max!
Meanwhile, Tokai Teio stood nervously outside the door.
Even from there, she could feel the suffocating pressure radiating from the Emperor.
Ahh…
I wonder how GG-san is holding up in there…
Teio worried, completely unaware that her thoughts had begun wandering off somewhere else entirely.
...
Inside the office, Garden Gale vividly demonstrated the meaning of "shivering uncontrollably."
She was a hair's breadth away from imitating a certain dignified young lady by squatting pitifully in a corner. Her face drooped miserably as she stood there, unable to say anything, looking exactly like a child caught in the act of misbehaving, silently enduring the Emperor's harsh scolding.
Though being scolded was uncomfortable...
It was still infinitely better than performing on that Winner's Live stage.
Shining brightly onstage? Performing on a stage like that? She'd rather die!
Just kill me already!
Especially after watching that Winner's Live video uploaded online later, seeing them singing and dancing… Garden Gale broke out in goosebumps. Her only remaining thought was that she'd rather die than ever step onto a Winner's Live stage herself.
She also noticed that the Emperor had personally performed in her place… no wonder Rudolf was so angry.
"So tell me, why exactly did you run off!?" Symboli Rudolf's face was filled with frustrated disappointment. "Your fridge was running? If you're going to come up with excuses like that—God help you! That fridge itself will personally kick your ass with steel-toed boots!"
"Don't ever run off like that again!"
"Are we clear!?"
Garden Gale managed an awkward smile and obediently replied, "I understand…"
…I understand.
…But I'll still run away next time.
Participating in a Winner's Live was absolutely impossible! Never in this lifetime! Of course she'd run away. If she didn't, forcing a socially anxious person onto the stage—how could she even survive that? Symboli Rudolf, that's murder!
"No! You clearly don't understand at all!"
Rudolf's voice overflowed with frustration. She let out a long sigh, continuing, "The Winner's Live is an essential stage for an Umamusume to quickly gain popularity, fame, and to repay fans for their support… Being a professional Umamusume is just like being an idol. It's your responsibility."
"This time, it was only your debut race, and I managed to fill in for you. But what about next time? No, forget next time—just think about this one incident. How are you planning to handle the negative impact?"
"How do you intend to make up for the trouble you caused!?"
…Ah.
How could she put it…
Although Rudolf said it was an Umamusume's responsibility, an honor…
Garden Gale had never desired fame or glory, she never wanted to race, she never aimed to become the strongest Umamusume. She'd only entered this debut race under immense external pressure—nothing more. Responsibility? She wanted none of it. She was exactly that kind of worthless person. Maybe tomorrow she'd even fake an accident and break her leg to retire early.
"I…" Garden Gale scratched her head.
She had no idea what to say.
She certainly couldn't voice her true thoughts. Rudolf would explode immediately—probably a hundred times angrier than now.
A faint smile tugged at Rudolf's lips.
Like a patient angler casting a baited hook into the water, Rudolf quietly watched Garden Gale's reaction.
Seeing her scratching her head anxiously—
Symboli Rudolf calmly continued, "Now, I'm giving you two choices. Either participate in a G-ranked dirt race and place within the top three… no, you must win outright. Or, enter the Wakagoma Stakes—an OP race on turf. Otherwise—"
She deliberately released a trace of her imposing aura.
An aura honed by countless victories, having crushed the dreams of countless rivals. Symboli Rudolf, who followed the path of the Emperor, had polished this aura to absolute perfection. Compared to her, Narita Top Road's pressure was nothing; Rudolf's overwhelming presence made it hard even to breathe. The Emperor—Symboli Rudolf—was truly fearsome.
…I'm doomed!
Garden Gale never expected that the Emperor would punish her by forcing her to enter another race.
Her face paled instantly.
Ahh…
She bit her lip, trying to voice her refusal. Although it seemed she had a choice, glancing at Rudolf's iron-hard expression and that oppressive aura lingering around her—
The Emperor—this tyrant—would never permit her refusal.
Garden Gale understood clearly.
If she rejected now, things would become even worse. Moreover, the words of refusal… simply wouldn't come out! Then what? Was racing the only option left? A G-ranked dirt race, and needing to win outright? Garden Gale had never even tried a dirt track, let alone a ranked dirt race.
She could only shift her gaze to the Wakagoma Stakes.
An OP race on turf, a straightforward, classic 2000-meter medium-distance event.
This wasn't good either… but the other choice was far worse.
It appeared like there was a choice, but there really wasn't.
Her lips parted slightly… preparing to accept. Fine, she'd enter this Wakagoma Stakes—
Symboli Rudolf suddenly leaned back, reclining casually in her chair, elegantly crossing her slender legs. She smiled softly, and spoke again: "Well, think carefully. I won't force you to participate… even though my authority as student council president is limitless. Occasionally, I still respect the wishes of Umamusume themselves."
Pure ecstasy!
Garden Gale once again demonstrated exactly what the word "ecstasy" looked like on a human face.
Even Rudolf could sense Garden Gale suddenly springing back to life. Her excitement was simply too obvious. Was the idea of avoiding a race really so thrilling? Weren't all Umamusume supposed to dream of achieving the highest honors?
The Emperor was genuinely perplexed.
Not wanting to push too hard, Rudolf simply handed over a form she held in her right hand.
"This is the preliminary participant list for the Wakagoma Stakes. Have a look whenever you're free. If you do decide to join, it wouldn't hurt to start understanding your opponents now."
Garden Gale didn't refuse.
Not because she didn't want to, but because… refusing again right now wouldn't look good. Accepting a simple participant list was fine—as long as she didn't actually have to race, it was already her greatest fortune. Thinking like this, she casually glanced at the list.
No. 1: Admire Vega.
No. 2: …
…
---
T/N: erm author the junior cup is actually 1600m a mile race :nerd emoji:
uhhh not gonna change it just incase it causes massive trouble hmm maybe wait let me see if theres another race around the same time thats the same but 2000m
okiee gonna replace it!! with the Wakagoma Stakes
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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