Chapter 199: This is no “practice race” level at all!

Alright, that was sudden—but let me introduce this ridiculously stacked lineup for our “friendly” mock race!

Huh? You have no idea what I’m talking about?

Yeah, yeah, I know—it’s a bit of a pain, but let me explain first!

The other day, our Hoshino Wilm camp—or more precisely, Bourbon-chan and Ayumi-san—decided to form a joint front with the Tokai Teio camp.

The one showing up for the Japan Cup is that utterly broken-tier Uma Musume born from the real world—An-chan.

I mean, I beat her, so maybe I shouldn’t say this—but surpassing that girl is no joke. When she’s on a roll, it’s like… she’s divine. …Kind of ironic coming from someone they call “mythical,” but still.

Even for Tokai Teio, it’s not going to be easy—no, that’s not quite right. Precisely because it’s Teio, she can make the objective call that “this is going to be tough,” without bias.

According to Ayumi-san, Teio herself was the one who proposed the collaboration.

From Teio’s side, she wants our help—mine and Ayumi-san’s—to take that monster down.

Meanwhile, Ayumi-san wants to accelerate Bourbon-chan’s growth.

And just like that, the joint front was formed.

So, with Ayumi-san taking the lead on training policy, he decided—without much hesitation—to hold a mock race first.

My adorable junior and fellow escape-runner, Bourbon-chan, doesn’t know defeat yet. Seriously—she’s been undefeated her entire life. She’s basically where I was right after I arrived at Tracen.

Rather than experiencing that for the first time in an actual race, it’s better for her to face reality once in a mock race—struggle desperately, fight with everything she has, and still learn that there are walls she can’t overcome.

That’s what will ignite her fighting spirit… or so Ayumi-san quietly told me, out of Bourbon-chan’s earshot.

Scaaary.

Even if it’s for her sake, this guy is deliberately trying to engineer the most emotionally devastating loss possible.

…He really cares about his trainee. Honestly, isn’t that kind of amazing?

Anyway—long story short.

Under Ayumi-san’s lead, the mock race was set.

Naturally, the main stars are Tokai Teio and Mihono Bourbon.

That’s the official reason, anyway—to gauge where those two currently stand.

But Ayumi-san had a few other motives as well…

And thanks to that—guess what?

I get to run in this mock race too!

Alright then, let’s properly introduce the runners!

First up: the unrivaled, final-boss-tier, reincarnated cheat Uma Musume—yours truly, Hoshino Wilm!

As for my traits… well, at this point, they hardly need explaining!

"Yaaay, me! Woohoo!"

"Uh… what was that just now?"

Next up! Completely put off by my sudden hype—my fiercest rival and best friend, Nice Nature!

She’d been out of the spotlight after heading overseas with her team, but now that the Autumn Tenno Sho is over, she’s finally back on center stage.

I’ll admit, I felt a bit lonely without Nature at lunch—well, not completely, since I had Teio and my juniors—but now that she’s back, that’s over too.

Nothing beats chatting with your best friend over lunch. These days, it’s Nature at noon and Ayumi-san in the evening—life is good. Hehehe.

And just like Ayumi-san said, Nature’s stock is skyrocketing right now.

After all, she took down Mejiro McQueen head-on—even if it was on favorable ground.

At this point, no one doubts her strength.

And naturally, her ability has risen to match that reputation.

Ayumi-san seems to have a read on her, but from my perspective, I can’t even begin to gauge how strong she’s become.

Which just makes running against her all the more exciting.

"Observation: Senior Wilm’s excitement levels have spiked due to participating in a mock race after a long absence. For some time now, she has been heavily restricted from running alongside others in order to eliminate habits acquired from overseas turf. This is presumed to be a rebound reaction."

"Haha… well, even if I weren’t her big sister, I think anyone would have something on their mind going into a race like this."

Next up, these two!

The rising newcomers from the Classic class, finally stepping onto the same stage as us seniors this autumn!

The ever-expressionless Mihono Bourbon—and Rice Shower, awkwardly scratching her cheek as she covers for her!

My adorable juniors! Ahh, they’re the best!

Though, to be honest, I’ve run alongside Bourbon-chan during the day and Rice-chan at night plenty of times, so I’m used to them.

But—even so.

I’ve never actually raced them.

We’ve run at full power together, sure—but we’ve never clashed in a true race, where multiple Uma Musume collide, staking their very souls against each other.

That’s why I’m excited.

How much have they grown?

How much will they entertain me?

Will they… give me that same burning heat?

It feels like the moment right before biting into a perfectly ripe fruit.

In other words—this is the best. I can’t get enough of it!

"...This is strange. I was told this was a ‘final adjustment for Hoshino Wilm—a test to check everyone’s current condition.’"

Tilting her head in confusion is my strongest rival—Tokai Teio!

Among those still in the Twinkle Series, she’s one of the two who’ve stepped even further ahead than me.

What happened during the Spring Tenno Sho is still burned into my memory.

A monster who faced my full strength—everything I had—and still resisted, matching me head-on.

The protagonist of the story I admired. One of my favorites. One of my friends.

If my instincts are right, her raw talent is probably second only to An-chan.

Honestly, in the current Twinkle Series, Teio is the strongest candidate to take down An-chan.

Nature lacks enough intel on overseas runners, McQueen struggles with international race distances, and Meek-senpai is simply too unpredictable.

Me? Well, if I run, I win—but that’s beside the point.

So the real question is: how far has Teio grown?

Let’s find out with this run.

"...Somehow… the brilliance of this new generation is almost overwhelming. We’re only a few years apart, and yet I feel as though I’ve aged."

"...I understand. I’ve felt that too for a while now. …I’m graduating from the senior division this year, after all."

And then—Mejiro McQueen and Meek-senpai join the fray!

My two highly respected senior rivals!

Sure, I overshadow them a bit by being ridiculously strong—but Meek-senpai can be terrifying when she clicks, and McQueen is absurdly strong over long distances.

…Though today’s conditions are overcast, and the race is mid-distance.

Still, they’re more than worthy of being called my seniors and rivals.

Even if they can’t fully play to their strengths, I’m sure they’ll make their presence felt.

Actually… wouldn’t it be fun if one of them beat me? That’d make things even better.

"Um, excuse me—this is way above my level, right? Can I just go home now? I mean, it’s an honor to be here, but this is seriously too much!"

And then there’s Souri-chan—also known as Souri Cross!

A new-generation front-running specialist enters the race!

Honestly, she’s not wrong.

Purely in terms of specs, she’s outmatched—one or two tiers below us, maybe even three.

But races aren’t decided by raw stats alone.

Her opening domain—that thing—is terrifying. It’s a race-changer.

For runners like me and Bourbon-chan who rely on leading, she’s a serious threat.

Races aren’t simple number comparisons—they’re complex, high-level games of rock-paper-scissors.

She’s a factor that can drastically shake up the race environment.

And that’s exactly why racing is so fun!

And we’re not done yet—no, not even close!

This isn’t just the usual Twinkle Series lineup!

"Crossing the gate into a new realm of strength—let me, as the former strongest, see what you’ve got!"

"The view from the front… I’ll be taking it back."

That’s right—special entrants from the Dream Trophy League!

El Condor Pasa—El-chan-senpai—and Silence Suzuka!

El-chan-senpai got interested in me and jumped in the moment she heard about the mock race.

Suzuka-san, meanwhile, still hasn’t gotten over me taking the lead from her last year—and she’s here to settle that score.

Man, I’m way too popular. Everyone’s out to get me!

…No, seriously, this lineup is insane.

This is amazing! Wait—does this mean I get to feast on Dream Trophy elites today? Oh yeah—bring it on!

And there’s more!!

We’re not done yet—not by a long shot!

In fact, the real main event starts here!

The last two names are so legendary, they might overshadow everyone here—including me!!

"Heh… like a river in flood. Even at my age, I cannot restrain this surging spirit."

"My trainer told me to go all out and win. I look forward to this."

That’s right—those legends!

The original undefeated Triple Crown holder, with seven titles total and 13 wins in 16 races in the Twinkle Series—the reigning strongest of the Dream Trophy League, the eternal emperor, Symboli Rudolf!!

And from Kasamatsu, the challenger arrives—the driving force behind a massive boom in Japan’s Uma Musume racing scene… the ash-gray monster, Oguri Cap-senpai, joins the fray!!!

"Wait—what is this absurd, battlefield-from-hell lineup?!"

"And why did you snap back to your senses so fast…?"

When I actually stopped to think about it… yeah. No—this wasn’t just crazy.

It was insane.

Me, Nature, and Teio.

That’s fine. We’re the usual trio. If anything, it’d be weirder not to include us.

Bourbon-chan, Rice-chan, and Souri-chan.

Also fine. Strong juniors Ayumi-san could easily invite—and Bourbon-chan is one of the main focal points anyway.

McQueen-san and Meek-senpai.

At this point, it’s basically turning into a “Strongest in the Twinkle Series” showdown, but yeah—I get why they’d be invited.

They’re formidable.

El-senpai and Suzuka-san.

Hold on—weren’t they not even part of the Twinkle Series? Since when did this become an open-weight, anything-goes race?

Rudolf-senpai and Oguri-senpai.

Actually—how did you even get them!?

You could easily call them the two greatest living legends in Japan right now!

I mean, I got completely crushed by Rudolf-senpai just half a year ago!

Looking at it again… what is this dream 12th race!?

Why not just make it a real race instead of a mock one?!

Seriously—let’s settle this properly at Tokyo Racecourse, 2400 meters!

Invite Special Week-senpai and Sky-senpai too! And while we’re at it, bring in An-chan, Witch-chan—maybe even Nedi-chan as well!!

…Yeah, yeah, I get it. That’s asking too much.

But it’s that extravagant—it makes you want to dream like that.

"…My trainer’s connections are insane!"

"That’s true. …Well, actually, it might be more your connections than his."

"If we’re talking purely about Horino Trainer’s network, wouldn’t that just be El-senpai and Oguri-senpai?"

"The fact that he can call in those two already defies common sense! That’s on another level!"

"True… wait. Did I just get lectured about ‘common sense’ by you, Wilm? That kind of hurts."

El-senpai was once hailed as the strongest in the world three years ago—a true monster of the turf.

And Oguri-senpai, though from an earlier generation, is a legendary star who ignited the Twinkle Series’ popularity—second only to me.

There can’t be many trainers in Japan who could call in both of them.

Actually—scratch that. There’s probably no one else.

More importantly—when did Ayumi-san even establish a connection with Oguri-senpai’s camp?

I had no idea.

And the scariest part?

That same trainer is only in his fourth year on the job.

Isn’t this the kind of thing that’s supposed to come with decades of experience—connections built over time, reputations forged through results?

Why is he already maxed out at year four?

…What kind of trainer is Ayumi-san going to be in ten years?

If his already maxed-out ability and reputation keep growing, he’ll probably be treated like a living legend by fans.

He’s basically a reincarnated trainer from a pre-release build.

Actually—no. He already is.

Apparently, the current versions of both him and me are pretty much broken-tier.

Objectively speaking, we’re the strongest duo in history.

An undefeated Triple Crown, a Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victory, and ten G1 wins—one and a half times the previous record.

By pure stats alone, we might’ve already surpassed even Rudolf-senpai and Oguri-senpai.

And yet—even so—having this lineup gather for a mock race announced just three days ago…

That’s just absurd.

What do you think, Mr. Sleep-Deprived Trainer over there, looking pale as a ghost?

Seriously—get some rest. You’re not a one-body-only kind of guy anymore, you know?

…Anyway.

Back to the point.

According to Ayumi-san, the purpose of this mock race was divided into three main goals:

Measure Tokai Teio’s in-race potential.

Assess Bourbon-chan’s current strength—and how well she can contend at the senior level.

And fine-tune my performance on domestic turf.

…Can you actually do that with this lineup?

Number three? That’s fine.

If I’m going all out, I need a field packed with Teio-level runners.

In that sense, this race—featuring Souri-chan, who’ll seize the lead without fail, Suzuka-senpai, who’ll never give it up, and a whole crowd capable of overtaking me—is the perfect environment.

Number one? Also fine, I guess.

Teio seems like the kind who grows stronger the harsher the race becomes.

Opportunities this intense—this brutally demanding—don’t come around often.

Honestly, probably not again until she enters the Dream Trophy League.

So yeah, it’s a great chance to measure her potential.

Though… what if she ends up drawing out even more than she would in a real race?

That just leaves number two.

Can you really pull that off here?

I mean, yeah—I get it.

Even I think Bourbon-chan could benefit from getting beaten at least once.

Looking back, losing at last year’s Arima Kinen was probably a good experience for me.

And even before that—my first mock race.

What was it called… Sissou Beam?

That chestnut-haired girl absolutely destroyed me, and that’s what made me start listening to my trainer properly.

Honestly, I think Uma Musume grow stronger after experiencing defeat at least once.

If victory becomes something you take for granted, you lose the drive to run.

That’s why getting crushed once can make you stronger.

That hero princess we met recently? She’s a perfect example.

The pressure she gave off last time was on a completely different level.

But still…

Isn’t this way too harsh for Bourbon-chan?

Maybe it’s because I can switch between my “cold” and “hot” modes—something shaped by my childhood—but…

Controlling that inner “heat,” that burning drive in my soul, isn’t that hard for me.

I can store it, build it up—and when it clicks, the release is incredible.

It’s almost automatic, like the modes handle it for me.

But Bourbon-chan is different.

She can’t stockpile that “heat”… or rather, her capacity for it is much lower than mine.

For her, Souri-chan—who blasts into top gear right from the start—is a natural predator.

Suzuka-senpai, charging ahead with overwhelming presence and speed, is another.

And me—who can basically perform as a superior version of her style—I’m one too.

That’s three direct counters already.

Isn’t that a bit much?

And on top of that, the rear pack is basically hell itself closing in.

Teio and McQueen-san—their sheer physical ability is overwhelming.

Then there’s the schemer duo: Nature and Meek-senpai. That alone is brutal.

And finally, the absolute monsters—El-senpai, Rudolf-senpai, and Oguri-senpai.

That’s not a race.

That’s hell incarnate.

No, seriously—I did say something, you know?

"Even for Bourbon-chan, isn’t this too much? She’s still in the Classic class. Worst case, won’t she just… snap? Mentally?"

And you know what Ayumi-san did?

He just stared at me blankly and said—

"Huh? There’s no way my trainee would break from something like this."

…Yeah.

Not just a doting parent—this guy’s a full-on trainer idiot.

Or wait—maybe it’s the opposite?

Is he the kind of demon who throws them into the valley to make them stronger?

Well—if Ayumi-san says he’s right, then he’s right. No doubt about it.

I’m sure it’s all for Bourbon-chan’s sake, but still… what a demon.

---

While making the rounds—greeting senior acquaintances while casually picking fights, declaring "I’ll win!" "No, I will!" "I’m taking it!" among my peers, and throwing a few probing jabs of pressure at my juniors—

Before I knew it, the mock race was fast approaching.

As I watched Ayumi-san—the organizer—coordinate with all the relevant parties… I let my gaze drift.

Along the outer rail of the turf. The stairways. The walkways. The academy windows—even the rooftop.

Everywhere I looked, we were being watched by an overwhelming number of Uma Musume and trainers.

Well… of course we were.

Anyone who’d pass up a race like this probably wouldn’t even make it to Central Tracen in the first place.

Heck, if I weren’t running in it, I’d want to watch too.

This isn’t just a “hype match”—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime showdown. Something on the level of an early Winter Dream Trophy.

Tracen’s Uma Musume, trainers, academy staff, security personnel—and even reporters and media invited onto campus.

Altogether… there are probably around 3,000 people here.

A G1 race can draw up to 100,000 spectators, so that’s about one-thirtieth of that…

And yet, the density—the sheer heat of the crowd—rivals it.

Everyone is waiting for this race.

Even if it’s “just” a mock race… this is a field featuring Symboli Rudolf, Oguri Cap, Silence Suzuka, Hoshino Wilm… and Mihono Bourbon.

Past idol horses. Star Uma Musume. The strongest of the strong.

You don’t have to be a diehard fan to be drawn to a clash like this.

And… we G1-level Uma Musume aren’t the kind to be shaken by that kind of attention anymore.

…Well, okay—Souri-chan still looks a little overwhelmed.

Even so, almost everyone here is enjoying the moment—burning with fighting spirit, ready to draw out even more strength from this race.

And then—

"Wilm-chan."

As I was doing some light stretches, the one who called out to me at the very end was…

El-chan—El Condor Pasa-senpai.

As always, she wore an unfamiliar mask.

But compared to the version I remembered from the anime, she looked more mature—more grown, more feminine.

Back then, she gave off a bright, energetic impression.

But in this world…

She’s the one who was once called the strongest in the world.

Because of that, when she called out to me, I instinctively braced myself—wondering what was coming.

And then—

She completely overturned my expectations… and suddenly bowed her head.

"Thank you very much!"

"Huh—oh… is this about the ‘gate’?"

"Yes!"

Three years ago, El-chan-senpai challenged the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe… and lost.

It was an agonizing defeat—just half a length behind the winner, Montjeu, and yet six lengths ahead of third place.

She raised her head, her expression clouding.

"Back then… when I lost to Montjeu at the Arc…

It felt like the gate to my dream slammed shut right in front of me.

I poured everything into that run—every last ounce of strength, body and soul—and still, I couldn’t reach it.

It was frustrating… so frustrating… that even until last month, I’d still see it in my dreams."

…I see.

She’s different from me.

That thought came to me naturally.

Hoshino Wilm—and Horino Ayumi—we’re not that fixated on winning or losing.

Of course, we give everything we have in a race.

But if we lose, it’s more like: “Damn, they were strong. Congrats. I’ll win next time.”

Maybe that’s because we’re strong.

Maybe, deep down, we assume we’ll win.

We tend to prioritize safety—and the future—over victory alone.

Or rather… we’ve agreed to.

But of course—

There are Uma Musume who chase that pinnacle with everything they have.

A stage like the Arc… one you may only get to challenge once in your life.

A dream so intense it burns.

…Yeah.

I think I can understand that too.

"At the time, I carried Japan’s dream. I was Japan’s El Condor Pasa.

So if I lost, it meant Japan lost.

It meant betraying all the fans who entrusted their dreams to mine.

That’s why… it hurt so much."

Uma Musume run carrying dreams.

It’s something Ayumi-san says sometimes—and something I feel all the time.

We run with the hopes placed on us—the desire to see us win, to see us shine.

Those voices, that support, those feelings…

They become our strength. They push us that final step forward.

But because of that—

Defeat isn’t just ours alone.

It belongs to everyone who believed in us.

To race overseas—to stand in the Arc—

is to carry the dream of an entire nation.

And to lose there—

is to betray that dream.

"...But you resolved that regret for me."

She smiled.

A bright, open smile—so very like her.

"Honestly, I wish I could’ve done it myself.

But I couldn’t.

And yet—you did. A Japanese Uma Musume did.

So… thank you.

For bringing that dream to an end."

There was something clear in her voice.

Like she had finally let it go.

The day I won the Arc—

maybe that was the day El-chan-senpai closed one chapter of her dream…

and stepped forward onto a new path.

Because otherwise—

there’s no way she’d be smiling like that.

"But that said—it still ticks me off! I wanted to be the first to win the Arc!

So… I’m going all out. No holding back.

Be prepared!"

—The monstrous bird.

Yeah… that’s exactly what she is.

A bird of prey.

The kind that swoops down to devour the feast I’ve claimed—along with me.

"Heh."

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Man… this is great.

Getting fired up before the race even starts—there’s nothing better.

Which is why—

I’ll shoot that pride of yours straight out of the sky.

"Likewise—I’ll crush you with everything I’ve got.

So be ready… former ‘strongest’ Uma Musume."