"Beyond the peak, huh?" McQueen murmured, a peculiar glint surfacing in her eyes as she gazed at Kousei.
Kousei hadn't initially harbored such ambitions. It was only after meeting McQueen that she realized dreaming alone wouldn't make her dreams a reality. She had to strive to surpass the peak.
"A commendable dream," McQueen sneered, "but it's I who will stand atop generations. Just a mere Kousei? Watch me stop you in your tracks."
"Oh?" Kousei retorted with a playful snort. "After all that, you still have the nerve to talk big?"
With lightning speed, Kousei darted behind McQueen and began playfully poking her stomach. "This pudgy little tummy? You've got some nerve to make such bold claims."
McQueen flushed crimson. "I've been working hard to get back in shape!"
After their playful banter, they did some light muscle training before parting ways.
To commemorate Kousei's victory in her debut race, Tracen Academy granted her a day off. Longing to see her parents after so long, Kousei decided to visit home.
-
At the academy gate, Kousei encountered an unexpected person.
"Where are you headed?" President Rudolf, dressed casually and wearing glasses, looked surprisingly ordinary without her usual formal attire.
"P-President Rudolf!" Kousei never imagined she would meet the president in person. Though she had vowed to surpass the "Emperor," she couldn't hide her excitement now that her idol stood before her.
"Hehe~ Do you have some time? Shall we chat?"
Kousei, who should have been heading home, inexplicably nodded.
"Congratulations on your successful debut. I watched your race. To outrun Mejiro McQueen—truly remarkable."
"Were you there in person?"
"I never miss a race."
Rudolf's voice was soft and gentle, lacking its usual authoritative tone. Kousei felt her cheeks flush slightly.
"It took three attempts to finally debut successfully. The path of an Umamusume is more challenging than I imagined," Kousei admitted candidly.
"If that's how you see it, McQueen didn't debut successfully until her second attempt, and you only needed one more try. Besides, countless racers never taste victory in their entire careers."
Kousei understood this perfectly well. If she hadn't met McQueen, she might have faded into obscurity like so many others.
"President!" Kousei suddenly straightened up, her eyes sparkling with earnestness. "I have a question for you!"
"What kind of scenery do you see on the racetrack?"
Rudolf instantly understood: this girl admired her and yearned to experience what she had. A knowing smile spread across her face as if a sudden realization had struck her.
"You really want to know?"
"Yes!"
Rudolf removed her glasses and closed the distance between them in a single step. Her face was now inches from Kousei's, who wanted to retreat but hesitated, unsure of Rudolf's intentions. A playful smile danced on Rudolf's lips as she gazed intently at Kousei.
"This is the scenery I see through my eyes."
Kousei froze, seeing her clear reflection in Rudolf's eyes.
Could it be me?
The thought flooded her mind, but she couldn't bring herself to voice it. Instead, she asked, "What does this mean?"
Rudolf stepped back and adjusted her glasses. "That's for you to figure out, Kousei."
Looking at the young girl before her, Rudolf felt a surge of warmth.
"Learn about my path, then forge your own."
Suddenly remembering she needed to get home, Kousei hastily took her leave.
"In that case, allow me to give you a gift for your successful debut."
A gift? Kousei was puzzled. Rudolf smiled warmly at her, then suddenly unleashed a crushing aura of authority! Kousei's body stiffened, as if pinned down by a primordial beast. Her legs trembled, and she desperately fought the urge to kneel.
Looking back at Rudolf, her gentle demeanor had vanished completely. Though casually dressed, her eyes now radiated a piercing, domineering intensity.
This was the Emperor's oppressive aura! Kousei couldn't utter a word, her heart pounding violently as if it would shatter into pieces at any moment. It felt as though she had been transported to another dimension, where the Emperor sat enthroned, stripping away all her rights.
Though it lasted only a moment, Kousei felt as if hours had passed. Then, everything returned to normal: the setting sun, the cars, the pedestrians. Nothing had changed, as if the entire experience had been nothing more than a dream.
But Kousei's racing heart wouldn't lie. It still trembled with the terror of what she had just witnessed!
"This is the Emperor of the Vetern Horse Front! This is the overwhelming presence of a Hall of Fame-Class Umamusume!"
The Emperor adjusted her glasses, her innate arrogance impossible to conceal.
Symboli Rudolf, the Divine ruler of the Kings Road!
This wasn't about winning or losing; it was about existing on different planes of reality!
Terrifying beyond words! Yet... exhilarating!
"This is... my ideal."
The thrill far outweighed the fear. Kousei seemed to hear another voice whispering in her ear—the awakened will of an Umamusume crying out:
"Drag her down from that throne!"
Rudolf chuckled inwardly. She's looking at me like prey. This new era is truly frightening.
"I've watched your races. I know your running style. If you want to harness mental fortitude, you need to reach at least this level."
Kousei straightened up and bowed deeply to Rudolf.
"Thank you for your guidance!"
Rudolf smiled, and they formally waved goodbye. After Kousei departed, another figure approached Rudolf.
"Now we have another one like Teio. Having such exceptional successors is truly enviable."
"Ah, Mr. C.B. They're not just my exceptional successors—they're my treasures."
Rudolf and Mr. C.B watched Kousei's retreating figure, sensing the irresistible momentum of a new wave in the world of Umamusume.
"I thought McQueen was already formidable, but the President is on another level. That oppressive aura... I've never experienced anything like it before. I couldn't move a muscle."
Kousei jogged along, still reliving the encounter. Suddenly, a snippet of conversation caught her attention, stopping her in her tracks.
"Did you see McQueen's debut race?"
"Which one?"
Two middle-aged gentlemen were discussing the race.
"The one against Kousei."
"Oh! I saw it! Wasn't it amazing?"
"Yeah, I initially went to watch McQueen, but Kousei really blew me away. I'd never seen anyone run like that before. After she beat McQueen, the media even called her 'the commoner who dared to covet the throne,' right?"
"What kind of title is that? How rude!"
"Well, it's understandable. With so many talented Umamusume around her, it's normal for her to be underestimated."
"They just don't understand Kousei's dazzling charm!"
"You seem to really like her, huh?"
"Of course! I've been watching her all along. Even though she kept losing and no one believed in her, she never gave up. She worked so hard, and when she finally beat Mejiro McQueen, I was genuinely thrilled.
Watching her, I couldn't help but wonder if I could give my own miserable life another shot. She carries all my hopes now. Just to see her race again, I have to keep pushing forward!"
The two men were completely unaware that Kousei had overheard every word. She stared after them in a daze, then finally smiled softly and turned away.
So, there really are people who see my efforts...