Tracen Academy.
"Everyone... am I seeing this right? Galileo and Sea The Stars are both children of Urban Sea? This is too unbelievable!"
Cesario's face was a mask of horror. If someone had told her this before, she would have dismissed it as a joke.
But now she knew it was the truth.
"A-wa-wa-wa! Opera O-san, Urban Sea is too incredible!"
Meisho Doto stood frozen, her body shaking visibly.
It was too far-fetched. Urban Sea had produced Galileo, the "most noble bloodline of the 21st century."
That was already a miracle. And miracles are, by definition, hard to repeat.
Yet here were two "miracles among miracles" right in front of her.
Two horses that stood at the absolute apex of a century of racing history... were both Urban Sea's children.
"It's too much. Is this really happening? Trainer Mizuki isn't joking?"
T.M. Opera O's pupils were also trembling. T
his was Galileo and Sea The Stars! Either one alone was a titan of history, yet both came from Urban Sea.
Opera O had acted in many plays, but she'd never found a script that dared to be this bold. This was more ridiculous than her own Overlord saga.
In Urban Sea's own racing career, she won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Then, in her breeding years, she produced Galileo, followed by Sea The Stars.
No protagonist in a novel would dare be written this way. This was beyond any "power fantasy."
Opera O felt a shudder in her soul. When she first read it, it felt like a gale-force wind hitting her forehead, leaving her speechless for a long time.
"My, my... it seems the Goddess of Destiny always favors the same person. Urban Sea won the Arc herself, her children are Galileo and Sea The Stars, and her grandson is the Horse of the Year Frankel."
"And Trainer Mizuki said Frankel's children are also performing excellently in the UK, Ireland, and the US. It can be said that under Urban Sea's name, an insurmountable legacy has been built."
"No wonder Trainer Mizuki mentioned in the diary that Urban Sea can be considered the greatest broodmare. The achievements Urban Sea has created in recent years are truly second to none."
Zenno Rob Roy was, truthfully, shocked for a long while. As the librarian of Tracen Academy, she had read countless hero stories.
When her studies got dull, she'd even indulge in trashy web novels like Reborn as the Three Goddesses to Dominate the World, Heaven-Defying Uma God, I Am the Uma of the Year, or Invincible Starting from the Arc.
But in those novels, the protagonist usually just crushes the competition to rule the world, they rarely touch upon the excellence of the offspring.
What else could Zenno Rob Roy say? The gap between individuals was simply too vast.
However, she was also incredibly curious: What would the expressions of Sea The Stars and Galileo be when they learned this news?
She suddenly wanted to read a novel of that type— where both brothers are geniuses, dominating their respective regions, and finally meeting at the summit.
But then she wondered if such a story would lack drama and conflict. She'd have to think about it.
"Urban Sea is truly amazing, but my little Gold Ships will definitely be strong too, hahaha!" Gold Ship grinned, hands on her hips.
She was thinking that her children might produce a few powerhouses. However, she didn't care much about their records.
As Gold Ship's children, "Happiness First" was the eternal rule.
If they spent every day looking gloomy, she'd have to take action herself.
"Your children? Inheriting your strength is fine, but as for the personality... forget it." Tosen Jordan retorted.
In her view, with Gold Ship's eccentric behavior, it was a lost cause. She hoped the kids would inherit the physical prowess, but as for that Gold Spirit... it was better if they didn't.
Unfortunately, it was already too late. Many of Gold Ship's children had already shown his shadow. The crab-walk, the swerving, the late starts, they had learned it all.
"Powerful, truly powerful. So this is the Urban Sea bloodline? How wonderful... if only I could study all these legendary horses."
Agnes Tachyon was getting excited. She felt that if she could research the bodies of Urban Sea, Sadler's Wells, Galileo, and Sea The Stars, many thorny biological problems would be solved instantly.
However, Tachyon also knew that even the greatest scientist needs to eat. She was hungry.
How should she trick Manhattan Cafe into feeding her today?
That was a question worth pondering.
Agnes Tachyon was truly Tracen's number-one socially incompetent person.
For example, the oversized white lab coat she wore. Onlookers might think it was a deliberate research style. In reality, Tachyon had no idea what size she wore.
She usually just bought whatever. If it was too small, she couldn't wear it, so she just bought them big and put them on.
If the sleeves were too long, she could use them to spin around— wasn't that a total win?
Of course, if she got lucky and bought a piece that actually fit, Tachyon would consider it an auspicious day, perhaps good enough to go buy a lottery ticket.
Though a scientist, she occasionally believed in metaphysics. As the saying goes: "The end of science is metaphysics."
She'd even go seek a fortune slip during the New Year, wishing to find an obedient "guinea pig" and hoping everyone would learn to love black tea.
No matter what, black tea had to taste better than coffee, right?
"So powerful... I hope the Mejiro family has an Uma Musume that incredible one day."
Mejiro Asama spoke. She was tall and graceful, her long legs looking strong and powerful, like jade shimmering under the sunlight.
In reality, Mejiro Asama was the first horse from Mejiro Ranch to win the Tenno Sho, and the first gray horse to do so.
Although it was the Autumn edition, before 1984, the distance was 3200m, just like the Spring edition.
As the first Mejiro to claim the Tenno Sho, Asama held a very high status in the family. Everyone respected her.
Even the usually refined and elegant Mejiro Ramonu showed her great respect, and Mejiro Ryan would happily call her "Asama-oneesan."
Her seniority was absolute.
Watching the content about Urban Sea, Asama sighed inwardly. She hoped the Mejiro family would one day have such a powerful Uma Musume.
But it was just a wish. As the "big sister" of the Mejiro family, she mostly hoped her juniors would remember the family precepts and grow up healthy and upright.That was what mattered most.
"Truly amazing. I hope I can work hard and become like them." Mejiro Bright looked on with determined eyes.
She smiled at Mejiro Asama, her first goal was to become an Uma Musume as great as her.
Facing Bright's gaze, Mejiro Asama smiled and patted her head, responding with warmth. The scene was incredibly heartwarming.
In fact, Mejiro Asama and Mejiro Bright represented the entire history of the Mejiro family.
Asama was the first G1 Tenno Sho winner, the first to bring supreme glory to Mejiro Ranch and make the Mejiro name shine at the peak of the JRA.
As for Mejiro Bright? She would claim the very last victory for Mejiro Ranch— a 2011 newcomers' race for three-year-olds.
Yes, Mejiro Asama and Mejiro Bright did not yet know that the once-prosperous Mejiro Ranch would announce its retirement from the breeding industry in 2011.
Shock wasn't limited to Tracen Academy.
In the Tokyo countryside:
"Galileo, Sea The Stars... these were all targets I looked up to. To think they're all one family! This is great— I'll challenge them all together and defeat every single one of them."
Equinox put her hands on her hips and spoke with a cheeky, confident smile.
But while she talked big, she knew how hard it would be to defeat them.
Even though time had passed, she still remembered the shock she felt when she first saw the details about Sea The Stars.
Sea The Stars was not only possessed of supreme strength but was also hailed as one of the smartest racehorses in the world.
He could learn training routines instantly and perform better than horses who had trained for months.
Sea The Stars simply did everything better than everyone else.
This dominance wasn't just in training, in races, he took six G1s in just half a year. His reign was undisputed.
Even when facing a "siege" by the Coolmore Group— the most elite and luxurious racing camp in the world— he used his terrifying power to crush them.
By the end, it didn't look like Coolmore was sieging Sea The Stars, it looked like Sea The Stars was sieging the entire opposition alone. He turned those challengers into a mere page in his legendary history.
But Equinox paused.
She was smart, and a question came to mind:
'Isn't Coolmore the group that Sadler's Wells and Frankel belong to?'
'Logically, they should be related to Sea The Stars. Why would they try to "siege" her?'
'Could it be that Sea The Stars and Galileo weren't brothers in the traditional sense? Otherwise, why such hostility?'
'Could it be... that while Urban Sea is the mother of both, their fathers are different?'
Equinox imagined a scenario where Urban Sea and Sadler's Wells had a falling out, and Urban Sea then "married" another horse and gave birth to Sea The Stars.
'So the relationship between Galileo and Sea The Stars wasn't as harmonious as imagined, but rather... antagonistic?'
Equinox shook her head. It surely couldn't be that bad.
But if not that, why would the Coolmore Group target Sea The Stars despite the brotherly connection?
It couldn't be that the two brothers were competing, and only the winner got to be "Mama's child," right?
Equinox felt that was impossible.
Unable to figure it out, she looked back at Trainer Mizuki's diary for clues. She felt the truth would be revealed once they reached the Real Horse world.
She was incredibly curious about what that world was really like.
Equinox didn't know how close she was. The actual reason was that the breeding of Urban Sea and Cape Cross had been strongly opposed initially.
But Mrs. Tsui, after years of observation, pushed for it, and the result was Sea The Stars.
Coolmore feared that Sea The Stars' line would steal their breeding resources in Europe, so they mobilized every horse they could to surround him.
But a legend never fears a challenge. Sea The Stars broke through and seized a massive share of the breeding market from Coolmore.
Such details would likely only be known once they reached the Real Horse world.
"Sigh... I really want to go to the Real Horse world. If we really can go, I'll make delicious food for the 'Real' me."
"Like this pot I'm making now. I's the Oden I learned from Kitasan Black-san. I wonder if our Real Horse selves will like it?"
"By the way, Liberty Island, are you really not going to eat?" Equinox turned to Liberty Island.
The aroma of the Oden was intoxicating. They were in their growing phase, eating more was perfectly fine, and they were too young to worry about becoming "fat ponies" yet.
"No. I'm on a diet. You guys eat. I, Liberty Island, am a girl of my word. If I say I'm controlling my diet, I'm controlling it."
Liberty Island put her hands on her hips and looked away cutely, but she couldn't help swallowing her saliva.
Truthfully, she regretted it. She had thought, 'It's just Oden, how good can it be?' But she hadn't expected Equinox's secret recipe to smell this amazing.
If she had known, she wouldn't have mentioned the diet.
It was hard to resist, especially with Equinox, Titleholder, Panthalassa, and Stars on Earth eating so enthusiastically.
She could have left, but she wanted to stay and discuss the diary.
Liberty Island's heart was in turmoil. She hoped someone would give her an out, but those gluttons were just eating and ignored her completely.
Liberty Island was suffering for the sake of her pride. If she wanted to eat, she should have just sat down.
She was being stubborn, unlike Duramente. Duramente might look serious, but she wouldn't overthink things in a situation like this.
At that moment, Equinox took another sip of the rich broth, ate a piece of kelp, and said satisfyingly:
"This Oden is too delicious. There's so much in this pot, I don't even know where to look. Eating this all by myself is just..."
Liberty Island turned to her.
"It's too much to finish, right? Ahem... Equinox, even though I'm dieting, wasting food is more shameful than gaining weight. If you can't finish, I can... reluctantly help you with a little."
Liberty Island looked proud, finally finding an opening.
However, Equinox laughed:
"Liberty Island, I hadn't finished my sentence. I was going to say, with so much, eating it all by myself is just... too wonderful! It's so delicious!"
"So... so delicious... Hah! Then eat it all! I hope you get stuffed!"
Liberty Island bit her lip and turned away again. She vowed never to talk to Equinox again.
Just then, a familiar figure appeared in front of her.
"Alright, Equinox can finish her part, but I can't finish mine. Why don't you help me with a bit, Liberty Island?"
It was Titleholder. She had a gentle smile on her face, holding a large bowl of Oden.
Whether by coincidence or intent, the bowl was filled with things Liberty Island usually liked.
Titleholder looked at Liberty Island, the girl's grievance was written all over her face.
"I... I'm dieting..." Liberty Island mumbled.
"Wasting food is shameful." Titleholder pushed the bowl and chopsticks toward her.
"Fi... fine." Liberty Island took the food, swallowed her saliva, and finally began to eat.
It might have been an illusion, but there was a faint blush on her fair cheeks.
As for Equinox, she stole a glance at Liberty Island and smiled.
She had known all along that Liberty Island wanted to eat, the temptation of gourmet food is not easily resisted.
But she had seen Titleholder moving to help, so she played the "villain" to make Titleholder's kindness stand out even more.
'Doing good deeds anonymously is really nice,' Equinox thought as her chopsticks flashed, swiping a beef ball from Panthalassa's bowl.
Panthalassa was stunned.
'Did something just flash by?'
She looked around but saw nothing. When she looked back down...
"Eh? Where's my food?"
Naturally, the most shocked place was Ireland.
Despite her calm outward expression, Sea The Stars' heart was undoubtedly in a state of chaotic flux.
But the Uma beside her, Urban Sea, was the exact opposite. Although she look panicked and was greatly surprised by the diary entry, she felt completely at peace.
"So, Sea The Stars, how do you feel about the fact that I am your mother?"
Sea The Stars hesitated for a moment before responding.
"What's so bad about it? As for how I see it, you should be the one freaking out."
"Think about it: You survived finding out that the incredible Galileo is your son, and now you're learning that someone as amazing as Sea The Stars is also your child. Even if I'm not as great as Galileo, it should still be shocking, shouldn't it?"
Urban Sea immediately retorted.
"You brat, what are you saying? Don't forget I was the one leading you on runs when you were little. In my heart, you aren't inferior to anyone— not Galileo, not even Frankel. I believe you have the potential to surpass them all."
"Though saying this might be a bit unfair to Galileo, as a mother, for some reason... my feelings for you might be a little deeper."
Hearing this, Sea The Stars felt a wave of bashfulness.
She had only said those words to lighten the mood, she didn't actually believe she was inferior to anyone.
That was her pride as Sea The Stars. Since her debut, aside from her first race where she was boxed in and lost, she never tasted defeat again.
From her New Year's debut all the way to the top of the world, she became the Horse of the Year and retired simply because there were no more rivals left.
She was joking, but she hadn't expected Urban Sea to be so serious.
However, she understood quickly that this was a mother's heart. Even if a child mocks themselves, a mother cannot stand to hear it.
Moreover, she agreed that their bond was deeper, not because Urban Sea was biased, but because she really had grown up by Urban Sea's side, often watching the stars together.
As for Galileo, Urban Sea loved her naturally, but there was perhaps a trace of guilt there.
In the UK:
"So, in the Real Horse world, Sea The Stars is my uncle? And in the world of the Three Goddesses, she is my aunt?"
Frankel was seriously calculating the family tree, scratching her head.
How was it that every time she looked at the diary, her seniority dropped another level?
First came her father, Galileo, then her grandfather, Sadler's Wells, and grandmother, Urban Sea, now there was an Uncle Sea The Stars.
Frankel felt numb. She wondered when the diary would write about her own children so she could finally gain some seniority.
Enable said: "Sea The Stars is your Uncle? I really want to race her once. I want to see what kind of speed is enough to look down upon Frankel."
Frankel asked: "Then why don't you just race me directly?"
Enable replied: "Defeating you requires tactics. If I race you now, won't I expose everything?"
"Those who play with tactics have dirty hearts," Frankel remarked.
"But speaking of which, how many tactics do you know now? Tell me."
"Hah, you'll know nothing. Right now, I just want to crush you."
Enable snorted coldly, her lips sealed tight. She wouldn't say a word.
However, Enable was also pondering a question...
'If Frankel, Galileo, Sadler's Wells, and Sea The Stars were all such close relatives, why was there such hostility between them?'
'Why did the Coolmore Group exhaust all its resources to stop Sea The Stars' ascent?'
Enable even wondered if Sea The Stars had done it on purpose just to add some excitement to her races.
Otherwise, she couldn't imagine a reason. After all, someone like Frankel would never do such a thing out of spite.
For her, racing against a top-tier powerhouse like Sea The Stars was more important than anything.
Unable to figure it out for now, she could only keep reading.
At the moment, in Australia:
"Yo, isn't it little Winx? You're always shouting about wanting to eat the delicacies from Trainer Mizuki's country. I got some for you today. These are a Chinese specialty: Xiaolongbao. Give them a try."
Phar Lap, wearing an elegant long dress that highlighted her powerful physique, put down her knife and fork.
She picked up a silk napkin and gently wiped the corner of her mouth, looking incredibly noble.
Clearly, she had just sampled the Xiaolongbao with a knife, fork, and spoon.
In China, people usually pop Xiaolongbao in one bite, university students rushing to morning classes even cram them down like their mouths are made of iron, fearless of the heat.
If they saw Phar Lap eating them with a knife and fork, they'd be stunned.
Many might not know who Phar Lap is. Let me give you a quick example to put things into perspectiv:
Even Makybe Diva, the three-time winner of Australia's greatest race, the G1 Melbourne Cup, would have to be deeply respectful in front of Senior Phar Lap.
The G1 Melbourne Cup is to Australia what the Breeders' Cup is to the US or the King George is to the UK.
For Makybe Diva to win it three times in a row was incredibly powerful. But compared to Phar Lap, there was still no contest.
Phar Lap was the hero of the Australian people, the most famous horse of the Melbourne Cup. He won 37 times in 51 starts.
During the Great Depression of 1929 and 1930, many poor people relied on betting on Phar Lap to earn a little money to survive.
His existence gave the Australian people joy and encouragement during dark times.
However, a tragedy struck Phar Lap: He was poisoned to death in April 1932 while racing in the United States.
It is said his death was agonizing.
His passing broke the hearts of Australians, and his body was later preserved as a specimen, now kept in the Melbourne Museum for future generations to mourn.
One can only say the poisoner was the lowest of the low.
"Oh my god, Phar Lap, you're so good to me!"
Winx's eyes widened at the sight of the Xiaolongbao.
She ran over, but she didn't use a knife and fork. She picked one up with her hand, braving the heat of the skin, and popped it into her mouth.
As she bit down, the soup burst out with a rich, meaty aroma that made her taste buds explode.
"Wow, so delicious! Phar Lap, you're the best! After eating this, I'll definitely run faster and win even more G1 titles than Frankel, Sea The Stars, and Enable!"
Winx chewed happily, her cheeks puffed out with a satisfied smile.
"Is that so? I believe you can do it. After all, you are our Australia's... next generation's..."
Phar Lap didn't finish.
She wanted to say: "Winx, you are the leader of our next generation. Perhaps you haven't realized it yet, but your talent and fighting spirit are the greatest I've ever seen. So eat up and grow fast."
But she couldn't bring herself to put those expectations on Winx. Not yet, when she's so young.
Phar Lap patted Winx's head, clearly raising her as a successor.
She spoke of being strict with Winx, but she was soft-hearted underneath.
"After you finish, come to training. Winx, you must practice hard," Phar Lap urged.
"Hehe, Phar Lap, I will! Because... the next era belongs to me, right?"
"I'm not afraid of failure. That's just who I am. If I like something, I'll like it, if there's a race I want to run, I'll fight for it, if I like someone, I'll tell them."
"I'm a straightforward person, so don't worry. I've decided: In the future, I will represent Australia's Uma Musume and spread our country's racing culture to the whole world."
"I'll let everyone know the story of Australia's Winx!"
Winx turned back with a radiant smile. In that moment, she seemed to have grown up.
"You certainly have a big mouth," Phar Lap said, but her heart was full of joy.
With such spirit, her efforts weren't in vain. She was eager to see just how far Winx could go.
Phar Lap would soon find out: Winx indeed surpassed her to become Australia's GOAT, achieving a terrifying record of 33 consecutive wins and 25 G1 victories.
She even had a movie based on her legend. That is the weight of the Australian GOAT.
Meanwhile, under the shocked gazes of everyone, Mizuki's diary continued to update.
[In this sense, with Urban Sea winning the Arc, Sea The Stars winning the Arc, Enable (as part of the extended family) winning the Arc, and Alpinista winning the Arc, there are too many Arc winners in the Urban Sea line to count.]
[Of course, Galileo as a sire is even more exaggerated. His number of G1-winning offspring exceeds one hundred, leaving second place far behind. Frankel is currently trying to chase this record.]
[As the founders of modern Japanese racing, Sunday Silence and Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa combined aren't enough to match Galileo alone.]
[Not to mention Galileo produced Frankel, and in Frankel's first crop of foals, the Horse of the Year Cracksman appeared. Frankel's daughter Alpinista then won the Arc, with a final 3F speed exceeding that of Dancing Brave.]
[As for Sea The Stars' son, Baaeed, he was the 2022 European Horse of the Year. The achievements of Stradivarius are also breathtaking.]
[To date, Sea The Stars has 21 G1-winning offspring.]
[It can only be said that whether it's Urban Sea's family, the Galileo line, or the Sea The Stars and Frankel lines, the unprecedented achievements they've secured are breathtaking.]
[While Galileo undoubtedly possesses the noblest bloodline of the 21st century, the bloodlines of the other horses are equally noble.]
[But let's not dwell too much on their bloodline records, or we could talk for three days and nights. Let's speak instead of the equally excellent Queen of the North, Enable.]
[After defeating Magical on August 22, 2019, she began preparing for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on October 6, 2019.]
[But that day would be the day the dreams of Enable's fans were shattered.]
[Because Enable was challenging for an unprecedented third consecutive win, the pre-race reports, retrospectives, and predictions were everywhere. It was undoubtedly the most watched event in the 2019 world of racing.]
[Among the participants were the never-say-die Magical, and Ghaiyyath, who had just won the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden in Germany by fourteen lengths.]
[As mentioned before, Ghaiyyath was another Horse of the Year under Galileo, who would dominate in 2020.]
[But what would his performance be in 2019? It was something to look forward to.]
[Also participating were Britain's Waldgeist, and Japan's Blast Onepiece, Fierement, and Kiseki.]
[Soon, as all the horses entered the gates, the race began.]
[Every horse burst out the moment the gates opened.]
[Because Ghaiyyath was leading at a fast pace from the front, the overall tempo of the race was quite high.]
[As the race entered the final four hundred meters, Enable began to make her move, quickly pulling away from the field.]
[At that moment, many felt that the unprecedented, never-to-be-repeated feat of an Arc Triple Crown was about to be completed.]
[But in the final hundred meters, Waldgeist, also from the UK, quietly surged from the outside with sharp, ferocious speed.]
[The race instantly became a struggle. Because the inner track had become sticky due to pre-race rain, Enable's acceleration was severely restricted.]
[Her lead was gradually eaten away, until finally, she could only watch as her former victim, Waldgeist, crossed the finish line before her.]
[In that moment, Waldgeist enjoyed all the glory, while Enable's dream of a third consecutive Arc title was completely shattered. Countless fans were heartbroken.]
[The heartbreak wasn't limited to the fans, Enable's team suffered a heavy blow. Was an Arc Triple Crown truly so out of reach?]
[Originally, this was meant to be Enable's retirement race. Her owner wanted a spectacular ending more than anyone.]
[But the result was so unsatisfactory. He simply couldn't accept it, so after assessing the horse's condition, he made a surprising yet understandable decision: Enable would race for one more year, vowing to challenge the Arc once more!]
[That year, Enable finally climbed to the throne of Horse of the Year with a high rating of 128, though she shared the title that year with Waldgeist and Crystal Ocean.]
[However, Waldgeist and Crystal Ocean ran more races that year. It's clear that Enable's Horse of the Year title carried immense weight.]
[Had she won that third Arc, her score would likely have been much higher, and the title would have been hers alone.]
[In 2020, Enable was in her sixth year of racing. Trainer John Gosden once stated the horse needed more time to recover her form, so fans waited nine months before seeing her again in the G1 Eclipse Stakes in July.]
[Only seven horses participated, but the quality was peak. It included the 2020 Horse of the Year, Ghaiyyath.]
[After the race started, Enable, under Frankie Dettori, was impeccable in her positioning and led throughout.]
[But the result was cruel. Her explosive power was no longer as sharp as it once was.]
[Ultimately, she was pulled away by the winner, Ghaiyyath, by over two lengths, barely clinging to second place. It was her third career defeat.]
[Countless people began to worry: Had the moment they dreaded finally arrived? Was Enable... truly getting old?]
[However, just 20 days later in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Enable stunned everyone once again.]
[She took the lead in the drizzle, leaving the other horses far behind and cruising across the finish line, proving once more whose home turf this was.]
[With this victory, Enable wrote a new page in racing history, becoming the first horse to win the G1 King George three times.]
[Afterward, Enable won the G1 Yorkshire Oaks.]
[After long preparation, the 2020 Arc finally arrived.]
[But many already know the result. Enable didn't just lose, she was soundly defeated. For the first time in her life, she finished outside the boards, in sixth place.]
[Seeing this, Enable's fans were speechless. Some only came to their senses after a long time. The former Queen of the North could no longer summon the awe-inspiring posture of her youth.]
[But Enable's life was legendary enough. She raced 19 times, with 15 wins, 2 seconds, and 1 third. Her victories included 11 G1 titles.]
[With such a brilliant record, one can say without hesitation: She is the world's number one mare, the absolute Queen standing at the peak.]
[Actually, when I first started playing Uma Musume: Pretty Derby, I always thought Treve was the strongest, especially after crushing Orfevre's dream twice.]
[But now that I've learned more, even Treve doesn't quite measure up when standing before Enable.]
[Enable is the only one who could secure the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes three times.]
[Even more so, she is the only one who, after winning the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, went on to win the US G1 Breeders' Cup Turf.]
[During the periods surrounding her two Arc victories, she displayed absolute dominance.]
[Every single point mentioned here is something Treve could not achieve.]
[No wonder that back during the G1 Epsom Oaks, even though Snowfall won by a staggering 16 lengths, countless people still believed she had merely earned the qualification to challenge the monster that is Enable.]
[Enable's great feats may not be broken even many years from now.]
[Everyone who witnessed the era of Enable is fortunate.]
[But she also left a record for future generations to strive for: The G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe triple crown.]
[Perhaps when the horse that achieves three consecutive Arc victories finally appears, the world will be overturned once again.]
[The story of Enable ends here for now, and she began her retirement afterward.]
[She has a pair of adorable ears, shaped like tadpoles and very recognizable. With a good personality, high cooperation, and an unparalleled competitive spirit, such a horse became even more beloved by everyone after retirement.]
[I hope Enable can continue to live a healthy life.]
[Though speaking of which, I really want to touch Enable's ears.]
[What exactly do tadpole-shaped ears feel like?]
[Curiosity intensified.img]
As Mizuki finished writing her log, the expressions of the Uma Musume across the world shifted wildly.
Tracen Academy.
"The three-consecutive Arc victory was cut short... what a loathsome feeling," Mejiro McQueen said softly, as if recalling something.
"I can understand that feeling," Mihono Bourbon chimed in from the side.
"Eh?!! Are you talking about me?" Rice Shower panicked instantly.
She really wasn't some "Triple Crown Ender" on purpose, it just so happened that she won that day.
"Don't even start. You guys had Triple Crowns ended, who's going to help me end my streak of three third-place finishes?"
Nice Nature twirled her hair with her fingers, her cheeks puffed out. S
he didn't want third place anymore, she wanted first!
However, Nature then felt that aiming directly for first might be too arrogant.
Maybe she should aim for second first? Take it step by step?
"Ha~hahaha! Remember to help me end my streak of second-place finishes too!"
Meito Doto mimicked TM Opera O's signature three-stage laugh, but her voice was still filled with a sense of weakness, far from the natural narcissism of the Overlord.
"O~hohoho! I ended my own ten-race losing streak! I won the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen! This is the mark of a first-class Uma Musume who never gives up!"
King Halo raised her hand and burst into laughter again.
"I, El, also ended a record of 15 consecutive failed exams! This time I finally got a 60! It's all thanks to Grass's tutoring!" El Condor Pasa said, pumping her fist.
She dared to say it, but Grass Wonder almost couldn't bear to hear it.
"Don't talk about that. In the future, just don't tell people I was the one who taught you," Grass Wonder said, embarrassed.
Teaching her every day only to have her fail fifteen times in a row was just too humiliating.
"I... I've already failed sixteen times. I still need to work hard."
Special Week, however, looked jealous of El Condor Pasa. She poked her fingers together cautiously, not daring to look at Grass Wonder.
After all, she kept spacing out during tutoring, either thinking about carrots or wanting to go for a run. She couldn't settle down at all.
"Speaking of which, Cesario and Special Week are quite alike, both are pretty spacey. How about we dye Cesario's hair and have her take the next exam for Spe?" El Condor Pasa suggested with a grin.
"El?" Grass Wonder wore a smile, but beneath that angelic face was a demonic, terrifying pressure.
El Condor Pasa instantly froze and waved her hands frantically: "No, Grass! I was joking, just joking!"
"Am I spacey?"
Cesario took out a mirror, adjusted her bangs, and gave what she thought was an elegant smile.
"Uh... how should I put this..." King Halo looked at Cesario, then at Special Week.
Since Cesario really did look a lot like Special Week, maybe she was a bit spacey.
"But even though Enable lost in the end, she earned everyone's respect. If she were a bit younger, perhaps the champion would still be her."
Daring Heart was also incredibly excited.
"'Queen of the North'... that title is super cool. Everyone, I want a 'Queen' title too! What do you think I should be called?"
Tosen Jordan said, "The Queen of Eating?"
Gold Ship replied seriously, "That would be Oguri Cap."
Tosen Jordan nodded: "Right..."
In the UK:
"I... I beat Enable? And became the World Horse of the Year? As expected, praying to Rice Shower really works!"
"No, I have to buy more delicious food to offer to Rice Shower. She's truly the 'Triple Crown Ender'!"
Waldgeist was overjoyed. She had now changed Rice Shower's photo to a color version, though it was still in a picture frame, which looked eerie no matter how you sliced it.
"Hey, don't go too far. Senior Rice Shower is still alive and well. You're making it look like you're channeling her deceased spirit."
Enable lifted her long leg and gave Waldgeist a kick in the rear.
"Ouch, ouch! Enable, you can't use violence to settle private grudges!" Waldgeist said aggrievedly.
"I can't? Are you sure?" Enable said, revealing an innocent smile.
But Waldgeist felt there was a murderous intent in that smile.
She felt like... she had been marked by Enable. This girl was definitely the type to hold a grudge.
The crowd of Umas in UK were buzzing with discussion.
However, the subsequent log content made everyone freeze.
More accurately, those on the Japanese Tracen side were frozen.
Because... the next part was about the Mejiro Farm.
In the next instant, Mizuki's log appeared again, and almost the moment it did, it completely detonated Tracen Academy.
[But speaking of triple crowns, it reminds me of many things. In fact, sometimes a 'triple crown' doesn't just represent one horse, it could be three horses.]
[For example, the JRA's three generations of father-and-son Tenno Sho winners.]
[And the ones who achieved this great feat were, without a doubt, the Uma Musume of the Mejiro family.]
[Mejiro Asama, Mejiro Titan, and... Mejiro McQueen.]
[However, the Mejiro family also brings sorrow when I think about them.]
[Whether it was the founder of Mejiro Farm, Old Man Kitano Toyokichi, or Grandma Kitano, they all poured infinite love into Mejiro Farm, and they were rewarded with endless glory.]
[At Mejiro Farm, there were setbacks, hardships, joys, and happiness. But all of that no longer exists today.]
[From the founding of Mejiro Farm in 1967 to the announcement of its permanent withdrawal from the breeding industry in 2011.]
[There are truly too many stories within it.]
[Let me... tell them simply.]
In the next instant, inside Tracen Academy.
Clatter.
The cup McQueen had just used to get water slipped from her hand, smashing onto the floor.
Hot water splashed everywhere, some even slightly scalding her ankle.
But she just stood there. No matter how the hot water soaked her ankle and skin or what stinging pain it brought, she didn't react at all.
The only things moving were her uncontrollably trembling pupils and her mouth, slightly agape in disbelief.
"Wait... Trainer Mizuki said... Mejiro Farm... Mejiro Farm... the place where we all live together, where we live with Grandma... will go bankrupt in the future..."
After a long time, McQueen finally made a sound from her throat, but the frustration, the shock, and the unconcealable, heart-felt terror were plain to hear.
As a Mejiro Uma Musume, she was so proud.
In the Mejiro family, they all had a common goal, they wanted to work with Grandma to carry the Mejiro legacy forward forever.
The future should have been bright.
'But why... why did Mejiro Farm head toward bankruptcy and decline?'
"Damn it!!"
McQueen's hands gripped the back of her chair tightly.
Countless emotions flooded her heart, leaving her unable to think for a moment. This news was simply too massive a blow.
But what could she do?
Right now, she was standing helplessly in the corner of a classroom, watching the Mejiro industry she was so proud of collapse before her eyes, powerless.
But she soon shook her head.
No, now was not the time to be discouraged. Whether she was to cry or break down, it should be after she had given her all.
She could still read the log, she could still look for a way to help Mejiro Farm.
Furthermore, Mejiro McQueen noticed that there seemed to be news about the head of the Mejiro family, Kitano Toyokichi.
When she was born, she had only ever seen Grandma as the head of the Mejiro Family.
She wanted to read on seriously, to understand Kitano Toyokichi's philosophy for the Mejiro family, to understand the reasons for the farm's closure, and then avoid it all.
She wiped her eyes forcefully and gritted her teeth.
'That's right, I'm a Mejiro Uma Musume. Losing my composure like this would be unseemly.'
McQueen believed... she could definitely overturn the future.
Of course, it wasn't just McQueen.
Teio, Daiwa Scarlet, Vodka, Suzuka, Special Week, Gold Ship, Hokko Tarumae, and the other girls of Spica rushed over.
Even other friends like Nice Nature and Twin Turbo arrived as well.
They knew that at a time like this, the ones suffering the most from this news would be the Mejiro Uma Musume.
And they were right.
It wasn't just McQueen. Mejiro Ryan, Mejiro Dober, Mejiro Bright, Mejiro Ramonu, as well as Mejiro Asama, Mejiro Titan, Mejiro Ardan, Mejiro Palmer, and others were all affected.
Mejiro Dober was in utter disbelief. Tears immediately fell from the corners of her eyes, and she was too scared to speak.
Mejiro Farm was her home. If the home was gone, would they still live together?
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid."
Mejiro Ryan pulled Mejiro Dober into her arms.
But even as she comforted Dober, her own heart felt like it was being cut by a knife.
Ryan gritted her teeth, desperately wanting to know what she had done in the future.
'Was it because I didn't do enough? Was it because I wasn't good enough?'
'Was that why the Mejiro family would disappear like that?'
'We had clearly reached the peak, why would we retire so quietly?!'
"..."
Mejiro Ramonu remained silent.
She was as elegant and refined as ever, but the expression on her face was filled with endless gravity.
At this moment, Ramonu decisively cut off her sentimental emotions. To sink into pain without seeking a way forward was something children did.
She decided to do more meaningful things to resolve this crisis for the Mejiro family.
For instance, winning more races, or... accepting Symboli Rudolf's proposal...
The proposal to become a vice president at Tracen Academy, of course.
She would try everything she hadn't tried before.
But now, she wanted to know what happened. Why did everything turn out this way?
They would soon know the whole truth.
The history of the Mejiro clan was about to unfold.