The URA Committee.
The female secretary gently knocked on the Chairman's door.
She had been the one to handle Barbatos's call earlier, receiving the response that Barbatos would participate in the "Tokyo Sports Hai Juvenile Stakes."
The URA Committee wasn't some authoritarian body; its purpose was largely to ensure fairness in the Uma Musume races.
As long as Barbatos hadn't broken any rules, the Committee had no right to forcibly interfere with an Uma Musume's desire to compete.
That was precisely why, during the initial communication with Barbatos—or rather, with Minamizaka, the trainer of Team Canopus—the secretary had phrased it as, "We hope Barbatos will not participate in the Tokyo Sports Hai Juvenile Stakes, and we prefer she avoid future G3 grade races."
It was a request from the Committee, not a mandatory order she had to obey. She had the right to refuse.
Thankfully, the outcome was positive.
At the very least, Barbatos had given the Committee some face. It wasn't explicitly stated, but you could read between the lines during the call.
She only planned to run in the "Tokyo Sports Hai Juvenile Stakes," with no intention of participating in subsequent G3 races.
After all, this 'advice' had originally come from the Committee's own goodwill.
Racing too frequently would ultimately shorten an Uma Musume's career.
After knocking twice more, and receiving no verbal response from Chairman Ikari, the secretary pushed the door open and entered.
This was their usual understanding. The Chairman didn't engage in personal activities during work hours, so there was never a need for his secretary to avoid him for propriety's sake.
Entering the room, the secretary, ready to report on Barbatos's call, stood to the side.
The Chairman was in the middle of a video conference. On the other end were various Uma Musume-related departments affiliated with the URA.
Compared to the main Committee, these departments operated with much lower public visibility.
They typically handled minor matters like track safety and race grading. The video call seemed to be wrapping up.
As the screen went dark, Chairman Ikari steepled his fingers, his chin resting on them. "Is this about the follow-up regarding Barbatos?"
"Yes."
The secretary gave a slight bow. "Barbatos called personally to respond. She does not intend to withdraw from the Tokyo Sports Hai Juvenile Stakes."
"However, she seems to have accepted our… suggestion, for the time being, and plans to forgo participation in future G3 grade races."
"She won't give up the Juvenile Stakes, huh?"
The Chairman's sunglasses reflected the monitor's light as he fell silent for a couple of seconds. "In that case, she won't be participating in any G3 races from now on."
"Huh?"
The secretary was momentarily confused.
Won't be participating in any G3 races? But Barbatos clearly is still running in the upcoming Tokyo Sports Hai Juvenile Stakes!
Is the Chairman planning to bar her from this race?
But why?
There was absolutely no need for that. Even if Barbatos ran in this race, it wouldn't impact the JRA Committee in the slightest.
Heck, even if Barbatos went on to compete in all the subsequent G3 races, even if her career got shortened to a single year from overracing, it wouldn't really affect the Committee.
It didn't violate any Committee rules, nor did it harm their interests.
If their initial hope for her to avoid G3 races was born from goodwill…what was this now?
The secretary couldn't process it immediately. The Chairman, always famously impartial, shouldn't be the type to do something like that.
But as a subordinate, she couldn't directly question his reasoning.
Just then, the printer beside her whirred to life, spitting out a document. Still preoccupied, the secretary's professional instincts kicked in, and she retrieved the papers, presenting them to the Chairman.
It was likely the minutes from the video conference, a document for dissemination.
But as she offered it, the Chairman waved a hand. "You take a look first. You'll understand once you've read it."
Puzzled, the secretary opened the freshly printed meeting document and saw the topic of the discussion.
In that instant, she understood exactly what the Chairman had meant.
No wonder he said Barbatos wouldn't be running in any more G3 races.
--+--
Dorm Room.
The sound of rushing water echoed from the shower.
Barbatos, having finished her practice runs with Maruzensky, sat at her computer, browsing the System's Gold Shop.
Before the Keio Hai, she'd been 300 gold short of affording [Youmuu's Ghostblade]. Now, she finally had the funds to make the legendary item her own.
It would push her abilities to a whole new level.
Allowing her to better face the upcoming showdown with King Halo, and the subsequent Hyogo Special Youth Hai.
Ding!
[[Youmuu's Ghostblade (3000 Gold)]. Confirm Purchase?]
"Yes."
Barbatos manipulated the system interface, purchasing the PC-game version of [Youmuu's Ghostblade] from the Gold Shop. Her current gold reserves dropped from 4,000 (after today's race) to 1,000.
[Current Gold: 1000]
Acquiring Youmuu's Ghostblade granted her one active and one passive skill.
[Active – Wraith Step: Grants 20% Movement Speed and Ghosting status for 6 seconds.]
[Passive – Haunt: Grants 40 Movement Speed when out of combat.]
The passive, Haunt, functioned similarly to the passive from [Dead Man's Plate]; it required building up stacks by running a certain distance before activating. It would nicely compensate for her base movement speed.
Now, if she could just win the "Tokyo Sports Hai Juvenile Stakes" and the "Hanshin Juvenile Fillies"...
She'd earn at least another 2,400 gold. While other equipment might not offer such massive speed boosts, it would be enough to buy one more item before the Winter Dream Hai.
Right then, the bathroom door swung open. Seiun Sky stepped out, fresh from the shower, drying her hair with a towel.
Out of habit, Barbatos reached for the hairdryer to help. Seiun Sky, equally habitual, took a seat on the nearby chair.
Just then, a new, unread LINE message popped up on Barbatos's phone. It was from Minamizaka.
She tapped to open the app. After reading the message, she fell silent for a long moment, then couldn't hold back a muttered, "You've got to be kidding me."
--+--
Urara and King Halo's Dorm Room.
King Halo, who had been meticulously reviewing videos of Barbatos's past races, received a message from her trainer.
Trainer: New notice from the URA Committee.
Trainer: Based on the historical record of the "Tokyo Sports Hai Juvenile Stakes," starting this year, the race will be officially reclassified as a G2 grade event.
King Halo: !!!
Which meant, if she could win the "Tokyo Sports Hai Juvenile Stakes," she would be counted among the "Champions of the Era."
--+--
T/N: Technically this happened in 2021 but in game it is still considered a G3 race but Uma Musume timelines never make sense so eh.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.