Pegasus? Actually, I'm a Doctor!

This black-hearted young doctor held back from saying "Welcome back anytime" and quickly stopped himself.

After all, today marked the final treatment session. Tokai Teio, now on the verge of a full recovery, had no reason to ever return to his infirmary.

Who in their right mind would seek out a doctor for no reason?

If Tokai Teio ever came back, it would likely mean history repeating itself—a third fracture.

After closing the door and sitting back down, Lin Anran crossed his hands on the desk. This greedy, black-hearted doctor couldn't help but start thinking.

"When will the next golden goose show up..."

He couldn't really count on Tokai Teio breaking a bone again, could he? You don't shear all the wool off one sheep.

This black-hearted young doctor's conscience, though thin, still existed. At least he wasn't hoping or wishing for Tokai Teio to get hurt soon.

His money-making plan would have to wait for another heavyweight golden goose who could win GI Races... or, failing that, he'd just do it himself—go win a GI!

And besides—

If Tokai Teio did fracture again someday, and he still hadn't won the Triple Crown of Transformation or upgraded to Intermediate Healing Ability... wouldn't that be disastrous?

Without the healing ability, wouldn't that just be money sitting right in front of him, out of reach?

So he had no choice but to transform into Platinum and clock in for overtime, grinding through Experienced Battles...

"Sigh, if only Big Red, Dahlia, Route, and Bully had a bit more talent—could debut and win a GII or GIII—I wouldn't have bothered coming to Japan."

"But their talent's lacking. Big Red, acknowledged by Bully, Dahlia, and Route as the strongest on dirt in training, couldn't even win her Debut Race!"

"Clearly way worse than Japan's Tokai Teio, Daiwa Scarlet, and the like. On one side, monsters who can win GI; on the other, small fry who probably can't even take a GIII. The gap's enormous!"

"So I can half-ass it with those small fry without worrying about becoming some ultimate threat or getting taken down."

After his lament, Lin Anran muttered to himself one last time.

"Haven't really gotten familiar with Tracen these past few days. Tomorrow's Open Day, I'll transform into Platinum and take a stroll. It's not like Tracen can actually eat me, right?"

The next day!

At the entrance of Tracen Academy, dozens of Uma Musume stood, each wearing a badge marked "Guide" around their necks, waiting for visiting guests.

Among them, the petite Tokai Teio was also present.

This small-scale Open Day was open to both active and retired Uma Musume, and since it was hastily arranged, not many outside Uma Musume came to visit.

Soon, Tokai Teio spotted the figure she was waiting for.

It was a white-haired girl slightly taller than herself—a young junior who had debuted just over a week ago.

Her name was Platinum, a languid girl who looked like she'd just woken up, striding over on fair, powerful legs.

Notably, many of the temporary guide girls around Tokai Teio also noticed Platinum at once.

"Hey, is that the Platinum who beat Daiwa Scarlet and crushed the Big Escape with Experienced Battles?"

"Aside from Oguri Cap-senpai, I've hardly heard of any monsters from outside Tracen. She's a real Dark Horse."

"So she's really not a Tracen Academy Uma Musume?"

Tokai Teio immediately waved at Platinum in greeting, jogging over to stand beside Miss Heavenly Horse.

"Hello, Platinum. I'm the guide assigned to you."

"If you have any questions about Tracen Academy, feel free to ask me."

Facing this enthusiastic, petite senior, the languid Miss Heavenly Horse nodded.

"I've heard a lot about you... Sorry for the trouble."

Then, Platinum followed her guide as they stepped onto the campus.

A short while later, they passed by a training ground.

Something caught Platinum's eye, making her suddenly stop.

Two Uma Musume were training—Daiwa Scarlet and...

Agnes Tachyon?

The super formidable rival she needed to watch out for most in the Triple Crown of Transformation—Agnes Tachyon?!

23. Want a Training Race? I'll Hold Back

So it was her—the super formidable rival she needed to watch out for most in the Triple Crown of Transformation—Agnes Tachyon?!

Platinum's usually calm face and placid eyes shifted in an instant, turning cold and utterly icy, as if locking onto the top target on her assassination list.

And that was exactly the case.

For this Platinum, who should have been serving as the Platinum Grand Seat in the assassin organization Mugyuu Alliance, clocking in for high-intensity overtime assassinations, this world was quite wonderful!

Far from being a place to slack off and leave early, even the work content and workload were comfortable—except for the post-race winner's stage overtime, which still felt a bit off.

But regardless, her work still had to be completed smoothly.

And in this Triple Crown of Transformation, if any accident occurred, the most dangerous opponent to watch—or rather, the strongest name on the assassination list—was none other than this Agnes Tachyon before her!

Within Platinum's line of sight, she saw Daiwa Scarlet and Agnes Tachyon training together on the same turf track.

Finally—

Before long, Tokai Teio noticed Platinum stopping beside her and halted as well. Their presence was quickly noticed by Daiwa Scarlet and Agnes Tachyon on the training ground.

The red-haired, well-built honor student immediately stopped, gently resting a hand on her chest as she caught her breath, her sharp gaze locking onto Platinum without hesitation.

"Hey, Platinum?!"

"You... are you here to tour Tracen?"

Daiwa Scarlet spoke first, her tone a question but filled with certainty.

Because, after losing in the Debut Race over a week ago...

Back at Tracen Academy, Daiwa Scarlet had immediately searched for information on Platinum.

When it came to competitiveness, Daiwa Scarlet was second to no Uma Musume—including Tokai Teio, Symboli Rudolf, and other super Uma Musume seniors!

Even as the runner-up, losing to only one opponent, Daiwa Scarlet absolutely could not accept it. She only allowed herself to take first place!

Since she lost to Platinum, she would take it as a lesson, learn and familiarize herself with this rival, and then exact her revenge!

So Daiwa Scarlet wanted to understand that mysterious and dazzling strong enemy, but unfortunately, she found nothing.

She couldn't find any information about this mysterious Dark Horse—not which class she was in, nor which trainer's team she belonged to.

But a few days ago, after Platinum's Experienced Battles in a high-stakes race resulted in a record-breaking newcomer Dominant Victory, crushing the competition in reverse! Her name spread far and wide!

Even within Tracen Academy, the name Heavenly Horse Platinum had completely circulated, yet no one ever claimed she was their classmate or roommate. Moreover, many journalists had begun investigating and found nothing.

So, the current Platinum was definitely not a Tracen Academy student. She was just visiting—which alone proved how terrifyingly immense Platinum's potential was!

Because in all of Japan, not only was there no school surpassing Tracen Academy, but there wasn't even one that could match or come close to it.

Could it be—that Platinum came from outside Japan, honed her leg strength and power in some other place that trained her better, and then came to Japan to compete?

For that reason alone, it proved just how terrifying Platinum's potential was. With training resources, environment, sparring opponents, and even trainer quality all far inferior to Daiwa Scarlet's across the board, she still managed a crushing victory!

Once Platinum joined Tracen Academy, she would likely grow even stronger!

To say she was a monster on par with Agnes Tachyon, Symboli Rudolf, and Maruzensky—no one would doubt it for a second.

"Oh? The non-Tracen Heavenly Horse?"

Agnes Tachyon also stopped her training, her eyes turning back to Platinum with keen interest.

But what surprised even Tokai Teio and Platinum was that Agnes Tachyon lowered her head and studied Platinum's thighs.

"I've seen the Debut Race and that high-stakes race route. Too bad the video didn't have full angles—I missed some key moments."

"But—!"

"It's already good enough. That kind of explosive power and strength—never mind a newcomer, it's already surpassed most Classic Year Uma Musume. She could go toe-to-toe with peak GI champion veteran mares."

After stating her research conclusion, Agnes Tachyon lightly smiled, curving her lips, and narrowed her eyes as she looked up at Platinum again.

"You... you're so outstanding, you've surpassed the very species of Uma Musume!!"

Agnes Tachyon's words instantly plunged the vast training ground into dead silence.

Daiwa Scarlet, who knew Agnes Tachyon well and idolized her as a senior, was completely stunned.

She...

What did she just hear?!

Senior Tachyon thought Platinum's explosive power and strength had almost surpassed all Classic Year seniors, and could rival the top GI champion veteran kings?

How was that possible?!

Daiwa Scarlet couldn't understand it, and was utterly shaken.

If anyone else had said that, she would never believe it—but this was Agnes Tachyon!

From potential to strength to personality, Daiwa Scarlet was certain that such an outstanding senior Tachyon would never lie, nor would she flatter a junior. She only spoke the truth.

The most promising Uma Musume of the current era, widely acknowledged to become Japan's strongest sooner or later—Agnes Tachyon—had given such a high evaluation to Platinum, who had only debuted less than two weeks ago?!

Then her plan to take revenge on Platinum in next year's classic races... wouldn't that be as hard as reaching the heavens?

As for Tokai Teio beside Platinum, she was completely frozen.

Within Tracen Academy, Agnes Tachyon's name was known to all—not just because of her terrifying talent and strength, but also because of... Agnes Tachyon's hobby.

Namely—research!

And in Agnes Tachyon's research topics, the upper limits of Uma Musume speed were always at the forefront, so she constantly kept an eye on those promising Uma Musume with astonishing Final Bursts.

Add to that her sharp eye and strength, along with her research-loving personality, it meant that even as a Classic Year Uma Musume, Agnes Tachyon was in no way inferior to experienced retired Uma Musume in judging her peers.

So, Agnes Tachyon's words carried immense credibility.

"Huh? That impressive?"

Tokai Teio, who had just returned from a fracture recovery, blinked her eyes in a daze, looking somewhat delicate.

Ahead of her was Mejiro McQueen, who had defeated her and dominated long-distance races; behind her was the unparalleled monster Agnes Tachyon, who had once reigned supreme and shaken middle-distance races. And now, a super rookie had emerged—active for less than two weeks, yet already rivaling a GI Uma Musume in strength?

"Of course, with so few races under your belt, my estimates are bound to have some deviation."

"So for the sake of data accuracy... I want to see your true potential and ability. Interested in a training race?"

Agnes Tachyon then extended her hand toward the white-haired girl, whose expression remained calm and unruffled.

"Don't worry—"

"I'll hold back appropriately."

24. Platinum: No way

Meanwhile, in the student council office of Tracen Academy.

Most of the current student council members were either busy with other matters or had gone missing due to their free-spirited nature. Thus, as usual, only Symboli Rudolf and Air Groove were present, handling the paperwork.

The current president, Symboli Rudolf, would look up at the clock every few minutes after lowering her head to process documents, as if waiting for something.

She was quite interested in a mysterious dark horse—or rather, a heavenly horse—like Platinum.

With the goal of nurturing her juniors, Symboli Rudolf had always longed to witness Japanese Uma Musume truly ascend to the world-class level!