Only One Year Left—I'll Become a Legendary Uma Musume!-Chapter 280: Only One Year Left—I’ll Become a Legendary Uma Musume! 2 [224] [100 STONES]
"Is that so, Donna-san? This time, I won’t lose to you."
"Let’s wait until you manage to beat me even once before saying that, Almond Eye-san. I don’t do loans for championships—and you wouldn’t want your victory to come that way, would you?"
So then... why exactly had things turned out like this?
Gotham Song looked at the two Uma Musume before her, locked in a fiery stare so close their eyes all but sparked. For a moment, she didn’t know what reaction to have.
Alright, alright, Gotham Song—you really should’ve seen this coming, shouldn’t you?
The kind of "interaction" Gentildonna and Almond Eye would have.
Actually, it wasn’t as if she’d only realized this after witnessing it in person. On the way to Central Tracen that morning, walking alongside Vernal Equinox and Gentildonna the thought had already crossed her mind. Still...
Even if she realized it, what could she possibly do to change it?
Sooner or later, it was bound to happen anyway. So, might as well not resist and let it play out, right?
And maybe—maybe—this was her own fault for having that fatalistic "stick your neck out or pull it in, it’s still the same blade" mindset. At the end of the day, she’d chosen to play the unfazed emperor and simply say nothing.
Then she clearly saw Gentildonna’s confused expression—followed by the unmistakable flare of burning battle spirit.
The moment Gentildonna saw Almond Eye, she didn’t even hesitate. After getting a nod of permission from Gotham Song, she strode right up to her—and that led directly to this scene before her eyes.
Gotham Song could only watch, her eyelids twitching in disbelief, silently cursing herself for being too careless.
Fortunately, with Vernal Equinox’s calm voice by her side, she managed to steady her composure, exhaled, and began arranging the day’s training schedule.
Because they were using one of Central Tracen’s open training lawns, Eternal Beat’s daily routine inevitably drew a full crowd of onlookers.
And with all those gazes fixed on them, Tina suddenly had a brilliant idea.
If everyone’s watching, then having only two Uma Musume training together like this... wouldn’t that look a bit dull?
In that case, there was only one thing to do.
Gotham Song set her tactical notebook down on the grass beside her and gestured for Vernal Equinox to join the warm-up group as well. Then she walked toward another team training on the opposite side of the lawn.
Central Tracen Academy was enormous—enormous beyond most people’s imagination. Though it had "academy" in the name, in reality, its scale resembled a bustling town.
And with such vastness, the number of training fields was equally astonishing. Under such luxurious conditions, what kind of dynamic did that create?
Simply put: there were many Trainer teams—so many that they’d become part of the campus scenery itself. Yet despite the abundance of lawns, the number of teams far exceeded the number of fields available.
So, what did an average day of training at Central look like?
Answer: a sea of free-running Uma Musume, and one or two teams sharing a single field—sometimes even more.
And in such conditions, what was the most common form of interaction among Trainers?
Definitely not small talk or casual chatting. In reality, though the Trainer’s job appeared glamorous from the outside, it was nowhere near as easy and carefree as people imagined.
Of course, it was a highly lucrative profession—especially for those qualified to train at Central.
Even if a Trainer’s team never achieved something like the Triple Crown, as long as they managed to win a single major race, the prize commission alone would secure a comfortable living in Tokyo.
And that was just one big win. There were countless races throughout the year. For a skilled Central Trainer, if their team managed to capture even one or two major placements per month—add that to the base salary—and their income easily outstripped the majority of Tokyo’s white-collar workers.
But!
With such income came a heavy price.
The first fact: most Uma Musume were extremely energetic by nature. While they rarely slacked off during training, the moment they returned to their dorms afterward... they’d fall prey to all kinds of mysterious temptations, and their nonexistent self-control would completely collapse.
Completely. Collapse.
The result? A scenario every Trainer dreaded—those moments when they wanted to grab their girls by the collar the next morning and lecture them senseless.
Sleep deprivation.
And that was just the everyday kind of headache—occurring so often it could happen ten times in three days.
From that little glimpse alone, it was easy to imagine the kind of chaos that came with being a Trainer.
And what did that chaos have to do with Trainers talking to each other?
Everything.
When you’ve got a team full of little tyrants to manage, who has the time—or energy—to make small talk?
Gotham Song couldn’t help sighing at the thought. She knew that feeling all too well, and she counted herself lucky that her own girls were at least... relatively easy to manage.
Well—relatively.
In any case, the most common (and accidental) form of conversation between Trainers was...
Arranging inter-team training matches.
To be honest, among the Central Trainers, Gotham Song was technically a fresh face—after all, she’d never led her own team for training here before. Still...
Sure, Gotham Song was "new," but could she ever truly be treated like a stranger? Hardly.
She had barely walked over when she spotted the Trainer leading the other team—a young man doing his utmost to appear strict, competent, and stoic. But, well...
Gotham Song could instantly see through him, reading an obvious truth in every small detail.
This poor guy was absolutely the weaker side in his own team dynamic—most likely dragged around by his own girls, nose and all.
How pitiful.
Still, Gotham Song didn’t pay it much mind. She could already feel the curious, slightly guarded gazes of the Uma Musume from his team watching her—half wary, half protective of their Trainer. But if his position was so "secure," what was there for her to comment on?
Maybe he was only meek outside, but completely authoritative when it came to actual training?
Well, the truth turned out to be more or less as she’d expected.
When Gotham Song told him she was there to request a practice match, the timid young man immediately agreed—no hesitation whatsoever.
In fact, for his team, being able to spar against Eternal Beat—one of the strongest and most respected teams in the world—was an incredible opportunity.
Forget the honor of it; the practical benefits alone were immense. The experience gained from racing against such high-caliber opponents was priceless. And if, by some miracle, one of his girls awakened her Zone during the match, well—that would be an extraordinary bonus.
So then, what was the cost? Or rather, the risk?
That if his girls sparred against Eternal Beat and their overwhelming power utterly shattered his team’s confidence... then what?
Truthfully, this sort of scenario was not uncommon among Uma Musume—especially for those competing mostly in prestigious races rather than top-tier championships.
Though Uma Musume were born with fierce competitive spirits, unyielding by nature, ultimately they were still ordinary living beings. And as young girls, their emotions tended to be far more delicate, pure, and vulnerable than most realized—making such feelings of doubt even stronger and more subtle.
It wasn’t difficult to understand. After all, most Uma Musume started out simply enjoying running freely, cheerfully playing every day, relishing the thrill of the track. But if one day, they suddenly encountered an opponent they could never overcome, wouldn’t they inevitably fall into fear, self-blame, and begin doubting themselves?
Yet despite this very real risk, the young Trainer standing before Gotham Song showed no worry at all. Sure, his team might lack absolute strength, but he...
He believed in his Uma Musume more deeply than anyone else in the world. Even against the strongest of opponents, he trusted that his girls would rise above fear and hesitation, boldly putting forth their full strength to face the challenge head-on.
This was exactly how a Trainer ought to be—even if the chance of victory was absolutely zero, he would still place a thousand-percent trust in his Uma Musume!
Seeing the steadfast resolve shining clearly in the eyes of both the Trainer and the young Uma Musume behind him, Gotham Song felt deeply satisfied.
This, precisely, was why these Uma Musume and their Trainer could stand at Central Tracen—not just talent alone, but this exceptional bond of trust they shared.
Setting up the practice race didn’t take much time. Though Central Tracen provided plenty of starting gates for training purposes, many Uma Musume disliked them. Despite Gotham Song’s own strong preference for maximum realism, she ultimately respected her opponents’ feelings and opted to start the race simply lined up together on the grass.
A whistle blown by another nearby Trainer marked the start.
Originally, Gotham Song had been eager to join in on the practice race herself, and Almond Eye, Gentildonna, and Vernal Equinox had welcomed that idea warmly. Unfortunately, the young Trainer from the other team had adamantly resisted—almost desperately insisting Gotham Song couldn’t run, successfully forcing her to remain off the track.
Seriously? She just wanted a little run, it had been so long...
Sighing helplessly, Gotham Song gave up on her wish and leaned back against the fence, arms folded, silently enduring the scorching, curious gazes from countless young Uma Musume spectating nearby.
Meanwhile, the young Trainer beside her wiped sweat from his brow, his heart still thudding from that near-crisis.
You’ve got to be kidding! Our team, racing against Gotham Song herself?
Seriously, could we even have a chance?
Just reaching the finish line would be a miracle!
Such a cruel power difference... Haaki-san, you really are ruthless, aren’t you...?
Believing that his Uma Musume could bravely overcome the psychological impact of racing against powerful opponents was one thing—but first, the opponents had to be merely strong, still within a realistic realm of competition.
But against a monster-tier Uma Musume like Gotham Song herself?
Better to leave that sort of impossible task to the legends of the Dream Cup!
Of course, he only dared say this in his heart.
And then—under precisely these conditions—the practice race began.
Bursting forward at the very start was surprisingly Vernal Equinox, immediately followed by Almond Eye?
Both girls had spontaneously chosen a Great Escape strategy, as if aiming to replicate the style of a certain someone who hadn’t been allowed onto the track today, hoping perhaps to help fulfill her lingering regret.
Following behind were the Uma Musume from the other Trainer’s team, while trailing far behind at the very end, seemingly unhurried, was Gentildonna.
The practice race was only two thousand meters—not especially long, but a balanced distance giving no significant advantage or disadvantage to any of the runners. In fact, it was ideal for Almond Eye’s strategy, allowing her speed to shine brightly.
After all, two thousand meters was practically the upper limit for Almond Eye when employing a Great Escape.
Nevertheless, Almond Eye was filled with absolute confidence. Setting aside whether Vernal Equinox could truly keep pace with her until the end, Almond Eye fully understood the race’s rhythm:
Donna-san, I must admit your stamina is impressive. But at just two thousand meters, when I choose the Great Escape and seize such a commanding lead, how exactly will you—a chaser—manage to catch me?
This victory is mine, completely and decisively!
Holding her head high, Almond Eye charged proudly ahead, already savoring the taste of victory.
Gentildonna, trailing far behind, calmly assessed the situation without even the slightest hint of anxiety. She merely watched the figures ahead, quietly calculating her perfect approach.
Almond Eye-san, you certainly look confident now... But if you’re already this happy at the start, I wonder how hard you’ll cry when your expectations are crushed?
What kind of expression will you make when your hopes for victory are utterly shattered?
Gentildonna’s lips twisted into a wild, untamed grin.
In that very instant, Gentildonna unleashed the savage beast that dwelled deep inside her heart, allowing its brilliant, rose-colored glory to roar forth upon the track!
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T/N: guys... its over... no more raws...for free anyways heheh ihave to pay for the rest of the Chapters sooooo ermmmm i guess you will have to hope for a luminary to use their thing on this!
(dw novelkiss people, eventually a luminary did use their thing)
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