Chapter 174: The Absurdly Overpowered Previous Protagonist with Illegal-Modification-Level Performance

Time really flies. It’s already been four years since I became a trainer.

These past four years have been a whirlwind.

I left the Horino household and started working at Central Tracen. I told myself that in this life, I would properly support someone. With that resolve, I tried scouting a partner Uma Musume… but because of a rumor circulating back then, I failed again and again.

And then, that night—beneath the dazzling moonlight—I took responsibility for one girl’s life.

The three years since meeting Wilm have been the most intense period of my life, even counting my previous one… and above all, the most enjoyable.

Thinking back, the Wilm from the early days gave off an incredibly cold impression.

Considering her past, that’s understandable. Some of it was probably just a facade born from her wariness of the outside world.

…But when I look at Wilm these days, I start wondering if my memory was wrong—or if I’ve lost my sanity. A cool, expressionless-type Uma Musume? Who are we talking about?

After that, through daily training and countless races, we slowly came to understand each other and deepen our bond.

She told me that she wanted to be my partner—my one and only.

And I can now say, from the bottom of my heart, that I am her contract trainer.

And before I knew it… we had made it all the way here.

Honestly, three years ago, I never imagined we would reach this point.

Who would have thought that the first partner I ever took on would become an undefeated Triple Crown winner… then continue to grow without any accidents or decline, and finally reach the point of running in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe?

…Seriously, who could have predicted a future like this?

It’s basically like those wild fantasies students have in class—imagining terrorists bursting in, or getting reincarnated into another world.

Sure, becoming the trainer of a powerful Uma Musume is every aspiring trainer’s dream. But even dreams have limits, right? There’s supposed to be some sense of realism.

As for me, I had even thought something rather rude in hindsight—that no matter what kind of Uma Musume she was, if we signed a contract, I would simply support her to the end.

Working for four years, traveling to France, and challenging the highest peak in the world alongside my one-and-only beloved partner… something like that was completely outside my expectations.

And yet, reality is absurdly unreal.

I met the girl of destiny—someone I can now say with near certainty is another reincarnator like me.

And together, we finally arrived here: the long-cherished dream of every Japanese trainer and Uma Musume—the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

---

The days flew by in a blur—training Wilm, sending instructions to Bourbon back in Japan, gathering information about rival camps, inspecting the racecourse turf, negotiating with the local racing authorities.

Now, only three days remain until the Arc.

Today is the day of the pre-race interview.

Inside the studio where the interview is being held…

Wilm is wearing her racing outfit—the first one she ever earned, the boyish red-and-gray design.

And seated beside her is the Uma Musume who will be her greatest rival in this battle.

An Uma Musume clad in a majestic racing outfit—black as its base, adorned with gold, like gold shining within darkness.

She is called the “Dragon Slayer.”

The girl who may well be the only one capable of slaying that dragon—

Understandible.

A year ago, the gap between her and Wilm had been insurmountable. She had been nothing more than a minor obstacle.

But now, an impossible worry has become reality, and a vast sky threatens to collapse over Wilm’s head.

Seriously… it pays to consider the worst-case scenario.

I thought the probability was less than one in a thousand. But that was just theory on paper.

Reality in this world is stranger than fiction.

Terrifyingly so.

Just slightly behind them, I sit in the seat prepared next to Wilm as the contract trainer of Hoshino Wilm.

Likewise, Understandible’s trainer stands behind her.

…Hmm. Somehow, he’s intimidating.

He’s smiling faintly—Understandible’s trainer.

But something about his presence feels familiar.

He carries an air of constant composure, confidently aware of his own high ability, yet never looking down on others or becoming arrogant.

This feeling… he reminds me of my older brother.

The eldest of the Horino family.

A ridiculous genius—someone talented at everything.

The kind of person who masters in about a week the skills it takes me years to learn.

…Thinking about it now, maybe my low self-esteem partly came from always comparing myself to him.

But that’s beside the point.

I don’t think—well, I really don’t want to think—that her trainer is a genius on my brother’s level.

But even Understandible, who herself can only be described as a genius, says he has an incredibly sharp “eye.”

Just wondering how much he has already seen through about us sends a prickling sense of fear through my chest.

To be blunt, my biggest strength as a trainer is my cheat-like observational ability. If that gets neutralized, my advantage shrinks considerably.

As the one supporting Wilm, I’d rather avoid a scenario where we lose because “the trainer wasn’t good enough.”

But if I lose in observation… that possibility becomes real.

Yeah… that’s scary.

I really need to develop other strengths too.

Maybe I should start by improving my fashion sense, like Wilm suggested. A trainer who can also work as a fashion coordinator—would there even be demand for that?

…Anyway. I’ve gotten way off track.

Back on topic.

From what I saw the other day, it’s clear Understandible places a great deal of trust in her trainer.

After all, she called me her “favorite” and suggested making me a sub-trainer.

If she didn’t truly value her current trainer, she never would have said that.

Just like Wilm is to me.

And just like I am to Wilm.

Understandible must have had her own destined encounter.

Though… thinking this as a trainer might be a bit arrogant.

I often claim that “strong rivals are what make Uma Musume stronger.”

But that alone probably isn’t enough for them to reach their true potential.

There’s something else they need.

The presence of the trainer best suited for them.

The brilliant star named Hoshino Wilm awakened the sleeping genius that was Understandible.

And then that trainer nurtured what could have been a wasted talent into something extraordinary.

Honestly.

I raised Wilm this far because I wanted her to run well and have a bright future.

Yet my actions ended up strengthening her rival.

Though… the same could probably be said from their side too.

Is it ironic enough to make you sigh?

Or should I laugh and say this will only make Wilm stronger?

As a trainer… it’s complicated.

---

Well then.

"We’re ready! The interview will now begin!"

While I was lost in my thoughts, the interview crew finished preparing.

And at last, the pre–Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe interview began.

Since this interview will appear in French media, the questions are naturally conducted in French.

…They are.

But Wilm can’t speak French at all… well, actually she can say exactly one phrase. She can’t even understand it when listening.

Meanwhile, Understandible’s base is in England, and although she’s oddly fluent in Japanese, she apparently can’t speak French either.

As a result:

The reporters ask questions in French.

We trainers interpret them into Japanese and English.

The Uma Musume answer in their respective languages.

And then we translate those answers back into French.

Three languages flying back and forth—it’s a surprisingly hectic situation.

That said, this kind of thing isn’t unheard of.

Most Uma Musume don’t bother learning foreign languages just for overseas races.

It’s normal for trainers and interpreters to stay by their side and support them.

The exception would be someone like Rudolf, who reportedly learned several languages specifically for overseas campaigns.

That girl really is incredible.

But just because Wilm can’t do that doesn’t mean she’s inferior.

If anything, little imperfections like this are part of what makes her charming as an Uma Musume.

"Let’s begin the interview. Thank you both for joining us today."

"Thank you for having us."

"Thanks for having us!"

Through our translations, Wilm responded with cool composure, while Understandible answered energetically.

During the interview before the Prix Foy, Wilm had been low-energy simply because her competitive fire hadn’t ignited yet.

But today, she’s clearly burning with determination deep down while maintaining a composed exterior.

She’s always been good at wearing a mask.

Even I—who have spent three years with her both professionally and privately—can barely tell. There’s no way most fans would see through it.

"First, a question for Ms. Hoshino Wilm. You’ve been in Europe for three months now. Have you grown accustomed to the environment here?"

"Yes. I suppose this is about the time when one would start missing Japanese food… or so I’d say. But my trainer supports me in that regard, so I haven’t felt homesick.

In fact, whenever I return to our base, I feel the same sense of relief as returning home.

It has already become something like a second hometown."

"I’d be thrilled if you actually made it your second hometown!"

Understandible puffed her lips slightly as she said that—likely still bothered by our failed recruitment attempt the other day.

In response, Wilm’s horse ears twitched ever so slightly.

Then she formed a gentle smile.

"Hehe. Well then—if you manage to win the Arc, An-chan, I’ll consider it."

"Really!? You said it! I’ve got your word now! You can’t take it back!"

…Wilm, seriously…

Well, I guess it’s fine. She never had the slightest intention of losing anyway.

After that, the interview continued for a while with casual, jab-like questions mixed with small talk.

Once the atmosphere had warmed up nicely, the interview finally moved to the main topic.

"We’re approaching the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, so we’d like to ask both of you—two of this year’s top contenders—a question.

How are you feeling ahead of the race?"

I relayed the interviewer’s question to Wilm, keeping the nuance as intact as possible.

Upon hearing it, she froze for just a few moments, blinking as if to buy herself time.

Only recently have I come to understand this, but when Wilm is calm, she tends to carefully think before speaking in public settings like this.

What should I say?
What am I allowed to say?
What do people want me to say?

She lists all of that in her head and selects the optimal answer.

That’s how she operates.

When you put it into words, it sounds simple enough—but it’s actually quite impressive.

After all, it’s surprisingly hard to know what the majority of people expect from you.

Sure, if you constantly search your own name online, that’s another story—but Wilm isn’t the type to go that far. From what I hear, she checks maybe once a week.

Maybe it’s just her natural efficiency. Or maybe it’s a skill born from the experience she carried over from her previous life.

…If it’s the latter, I’m a little jealous. If I had seriously studied nutrition or sports coaching in my past life, I might have been able to support Wilm and Bourbon even better in this one.

Anyway.

After sensing those expectations, she compares them with the atmosphere of the room and her own public image, mixes in what she personally wants—or needs—to say, and then calculates the appropriate words and attitude.

This entire process takes about one-third of a second.

At that point, it’s not even fair to call it hesitation.

In that fleeting instant, she has already constructed the perfect version of herself.

She’s incredibly skilled like that.

I’d love to brew some tea from the dirt under her nails and drink it.

And the answer Wilm ultimately gave was:

"It would be most accurate to say that I feel fulfilled.

It has been three months since arriving here, and I’ve finally grown accustomed to the European turf. While it may not be quite the same as running in Japan, I believe I can compete on equal footing with the G1 Uma Musume here.

And I am Hoshino Wilm.

A dragon that has erased its weaknesses does not lose."

Whoa—sudden big talk.

Are there any other Japanese Uma Musume who would boldly declare "I will not lose" before the Arc?

Well… personally, I agree with her. If someone asked me, I’d probably answer the same way.

And honestly, there isn’t much exaggeration in what she said.

Her aptitude for European turf has finally surpassed an estimated A rating.

Now she can run on equal terms even with G1 Uma Musume like Witch Evening and Understandible.

In fact, considering that her Front-Runner and Long Distance aptitudes are both S, she might actually run even better than they can.

…Although the Arc is categorized as long distance here, apparently under this aptitude system it’s treated as Middle Distance, so her long-distance aptitude won’t activate this time. Still, her Middle Distance aptitude is also A, so there’s no issue.

With that in mind, her chances of winning this race are…

…If we consider only specs and explosive potential, probably about 50%.

Since the last time I compiled my data, Understandible has undergone another explosive phase of growth.

Terrifyingly enough, she’s improving at roughly sixteen times the speed of an average Uma Musume.

By now, her stats are approaching even Wilm’s.

I don’t think she’ll surpass Wilm in just three days.

But there’s no telling how much she might explode during the race itself.

If that explosive potential closes the gap between them… and even surpasses the reincarnation cheat-like power she seems to possess—

Then the hero who slays the dragon will be born.

…Well.

I won’t let that happen.

Meanwhile, after hearing Wilm’s declaration, Understandible responded.

Her already cheerful smile deepened into an outright grin.

"As for me, I’m in perfect condition. No—better than perfect.

I’ve lived this past year more intensely than anyone else in order to defeat the dragon. I’ve devoted everything to it.

Therefore, I will simply win. There is nothing else that needs to be said."

She’s got tunnel vision too.

At this point, she sees nothing but Wilm. Actually… she probably isn’t seeing anything else at all.

Well, the logic itself isn’t wrong.

If you mark the runner most likely to win and surpass them, you’ll naturally end up winning yourself.

In fact, someone like Rice bases her entire strategy on that kind of relentless marking.

So I can’t say it’s necessarily a bad approach.

But at the same time, it’s also a definite weakness.

To begin with, Understandible is a terrifying Uma Musume.

She stakes everything on overcoming a single wall—and the higher that wall is, the faster her strength grows.

Now that she stands before Hoshino Wilm, perhaps the highest wall in the world…

Even if parallel worlds existed, this version of Understandible would likely be the strongest among them.

…And yet.

That very mindset is also her one and only fatal flaw.

The higher the wall she challenges, the more she longs for it.

Hoshino Wilm—the distant star beyond reach.

A gray stellar body that burns an unforgettable mark into the eyes and minds of everyone who sees it.

To surpass such a star, you cannot look away from its distance or its brilliance.

Even as it burns your eyes, you must continue reaching toward it without letting your heart burn away.

Understandible is one of the finest examples of that kind of runner—alongside girls like Nice Nature and Tokai Teio.

And on top of that, she is the kind of Uma Musume who marks a single opponent with absolute focus.

Which means she will never look at anyone other than Hoshino Wilm.

She gazes up at a wall too high to reach, longing for it, waiting for the day she surpasses it…

…but.

Runners like that often forget to watch their footing.

This time, she’s going to learn something.

A race isn’t a duel between two people.

After all, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is a race run by twenty competitors.

The preparations are progressing nicely.

The strategy to bring down the hero, Understandible, is steadily advancing—through factors outside the race itself.

Of course, Wilm will be the one running.

But I’m also part of the Hoshino Wilm camp, fighting this race as well.

There’s always something to learn from other Uma Musume, and if there’s something I can do to help, I’ll do it.

…Still.

A plan to bring down a hero, huh?

I’m starting to sound like some kind of evil sorcerer.

"Well then, both of you have given very confident statements."

The reporters could practically feel the heat rising in the room—fueled by the powerful declarations of the two Uma Musume and the intense glances they exchanged.

From the journalists’ perspective, having the two biggest contenders in the race both declare victory with absolute confidence makes for great headlines.

It’s easy to see why they’d be excited.

Then one of the interviewers spoke up.

"Next, we’d like to hear your impressions of each other."

When I relayed that directly, Wilm paused for a moment to think, then nodded and began speaking.

"Let’s see… I believe she is someone I absolutely must defeat. And that doing so will not be easy.

Normally, I would simply say that of course I will win…

But this time, I will admit it honestly. Understandible is strong. In terms of talent, she far surpasses me."

As my translation carried her words, a murmur rippled through the venue.

Up until now, in nearly every interview, Hoshino Wilm had been almost arrogantly confident.

She had never suggested she was inferior to anyone—always declaring herself at the top, saying victory was only natural, never attempting to hide her overwhelming pride.

She was always the champion waiting for challengers to come to her. The only time she ever wavered from that stance was probably during the Arima Kinen, when I wasn’t there.

And yet now, Hoshino Wilm had acknowledged her own disadvantage.

Specifically, she admitted that when it came to talent, she was inferior to Understandible.

The more closely someone had studied Hoshino Wilm, the more shocking that statement must have been.

…Actually, it was shocking.

Especially for me, who hadn’t discussed anything like this beforehand and suddenly had to translate it on the spot. Internally, I was freaking out.

She had often hinted at things like "I’m not a true genius," but I never expected her to say it this bluntly.

Maybe Understandible’s explosive growth really had been weighing on her mind.

With an unusually solemn expression, Wilm acknowledged the adversity before her.

…But at the same time.

My Uma Musume isn’t the type to just wilt and stop there.

Suddenly her expression changed. She flashed a fearless grin and said:

"…But even so, I will win. No—in order to destroy any NTR scenario, I cannot lose.

I carry the dreams of many fans, and at the same time I also have a dream of my own that brought me here.

Therefore, I cannot lose—neither in the race nor in the Derby of love.

The one who will carve a new myth into the history of this land and cross the finish line first—Goal in! Goal in!—will be me."

…………What was that?

Maybe it’s just because I know her too well, but behind what was supposed to be a cool line, I could sense an embarrassingly pathetic intention hiding underneath.

Maybe it’s just my imagination.

I hope it is.

The reporters are getting fired up, so it must just be something I imagined. Yeah—let’s go with that.

"Hehe… yes, I thought you’d say something like that.

Although I do have my doubts about being told that I’m the more talented one… but setting that aside."

After hearing Wilm’s words, Understandible wore a smile I recognized.

Oh, I definitely recognized it.

After all, I’ve probably seen those ferocious smiles from Uma Musume closer than anyone.

"To me, Hoshino Wilm is the absolute strongest.

Like the invincible dragon that appears in the heroic bedtime stories parents tell their children.

I first learned about her on the internet, and her strength, her beauty, her coolness, her terrifying presence, the romance surrounding her, the history she carries, the way she runs… every part of it captured my heart."

She spoke about Hoshino Wilm in a dreamy tone, like a girl lost in a blissful fantasy.

"…Until now, no Uma Musume had ever truly ignited a fire in me.

Everyone I met—even if they were stronger than me—looked like someone I could overtake soon enough. And if surpassing them wouldn’t be fun, then I couldn’t bring myself to give it my all.

But then I found it.

A run that felt impossible to surpass. A dragon soaring so far beyond reach that my hands could never touch it."

…Honestly, that makes sense.

For someone with talent like hers, the world might feel boring.

If you wanted to, you could do anything. At first that might be fun…

But eventually, you’d get used to it.

And when everything becomes easy, nothing feels like a challenge anymore—it all turns into mere routine.

Since I’m not particularly talented myself, I can’t completely relate.

But my older brother was like that when I was a baby. He always seemed somewhat withdrawn, like he was simply drifting through life.

So even if I can’t empathize fully, I think I can understand.

…Still, the girl in front of me now was smiling with genuine joy.

She had found her own destiny.

No matter how talented she was, she had finally discovered a wall too high to overcome.

"I wanted to run alongside that dragon someday. And someday, I wanted to surpass it.

I ran all this time for that purpose.

And now the culmination of everything—the farthest point of that journey—the dragon’s back is finally there, within my reach.

If that’s the case, then there’s only one thing left to do: win.

…I’m not like Hoshino Wilm. I can’t say I carry the wishes of fans on my back yet. Honestly, I don’t really care what anyone expects of me right now.

I just want to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with all my heart.

I want to run the best race of my life—and surpass the strongest dragon.

That’s my true wish.

My one and only wish for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe."

…She really laid it all out there.

If Wilm runs while carrying the dreams of Japan, then Understandible runs for her own dream.

At first glance, that framing would make Wilm the protagonist and Understandible the villain.

But realistically speaking, neither of those positions can be judged as right or wrong.

Dreams have no hierarchy.

No matter how trivial or noble they may seem, they all hold equal value.

Whether it’s a dream shared by millions or a wish held by a single person, there’s no inherent difference.

And if that’s the case, then there’s no rule saying the dream of all Japan must outweigh Understandible’s personal dream.

When two people run with dreams that cannot be compared, what results is simple egoism clashing head-on.

You push your desire forward with strength and make it reality.

More often than not, that’s what a race becomes.

The greatest turf G1 race in the world—the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Precisely because it is the largest and most intense stage, the Arc may very well represent the ultimate form of racing.

…Well, that said.

Wilm’s motivations seem to include plenty of worldly desires and personal cravings too, so I’m not even sure you could call this a serious battle.

Part of me wonders whether it’s really okay for a fight that has reached the top of the world to feel half like a gag.

But still…

Maybe that’s fine.

As Wilm herself once said, this is already "the world beyond the happy ending."

Our story has already ended.

The moment Wilm ran with genuine joy in the Takarazuka Kinen.

The moment in the Arima Kinen when I finally realized that she truly was my beloved partner.

Our story already concluded with a happy ending.

If this were a game, what we’re living through now would be the after story—or maybe a fan disc or DLC.

Or perhaps we’re simply guest characters appearing in a new story centered around Understandible.

In a situation like that, there’s no reason to keep our shoulders tense all the time.

Or perhaps—because this is the stage where the world’s best compete—we should simply enjoy the challenge.

Or maybe we should just leave the serious storytelling to Understandible.

Wilm runs her races seriously while somehow still being playful.

And I watch her, half exasperated…

Yet still irresistibly drawn to that side of her.

For the two of us now, this kind of emotional distance might be just right.

---

"Finally, please give a message to each other."

"'La victoire est à moi—Victory is mine.' An-chan, your dream ends here."

"Come at me when you’re ready! Hoshino Wilm’s myth ends here!!"