(As long as I can cure her...)
(She'll definitely hand over her gold willingly!)
"Okay."
Calmed and back under control, Agnes Tachyon gave a reply as brief as could be. Her gaze still hadn't left Lin Qianhao.
From within her wide white sleeve, Agnes Tachyon produced paper and a pen from who knew where, then quickly wrote down her contact information.
Her deep crimson eyes fixed on Lin Anran. She spoke each word clearly.
"Doctor Lin, I'll remember you."
When she finished writing, she held it out to Lin Anran.
"I'll come see you again..."
"See ya!"
At last, the once-renowned super-genius who had made her mark on history and was widely considered a rival to the Emperor, Symboli Rudolf, stopped running.
Agnes Tachyon walked away at an easy pace, disappearing from Lin Anran's sight.
Just half a day later...
A small group had gathered in the director's office at Tracen Academy.
The group included the academy's director, Akikawa Yayoi; her secretary, Shunkawa Tazuna; student council president Symboli Rudolf; and several senior URA officials.
All of them wore grave expressions.
Not long ago, Agnes Tachyon had announced...
That due to injury and illness, she would be withdrawing from competition indefinitely!
"Indefinite withdrawal"—what a heavy phrase.
For an Uma Musume, or any athlete, it often meant uncertainty about whether she could ever return, no idea how long it would take, and the need to prepare for retirement!
"At first, the one with the potential to become Japan's next racing icon was last year's Teio. But after winning the Undefeated Two Crowns, she lost her chance because of a fracture."
"She suffered a crushing defeat at the Spring Tenno Sho and fractured a bone for the second time. Even though Doctor Lin treated her, returning to her peak won't be easy."
"The next one with that potential was Agnes Tachyon. Her talent and strength were beyond question, plain for all to see. Everyone said that as long as nothing went wrong, she was bound to win the Undefeated Triple Crown."
"But now—something really has gone wrong!!"
It was the Emperor, Symboli Rudolf, who spoke first, her voice heavy with complex regret.
"And unlike a fracture, which only requires a long recovery and may lower her physical limits, Tachyon's condition is an incurable case of tendonitis, countless times more serious!"
"Even Doctor Lin, who could heal fractures, is powerless."
The petite director, Akikawa Yayoi, couldn't manage her usual bright, carefree smile either.
"Stay calm! I've contacted every renowned doctor in Japan besides Doctor Lin. They've started examining her to see if they can find a perfect treatment."
"Maybe there's still hope. At least, it can be treated."
But Akikawa Yayoi knew that was only a "maybe," a "possibility."
Even if the chance of success was as low as one in ten thousand, it was still possible—but would it really happen?
Not just in Japan—even across Europe and America, far larger regions than Japan, there were barely any examples of top-level Uma Musume with tendonitis who had successfully recovered!
This disease had been around for countless years. It was a truly cruel and terrifying incurable illness, and successful cases were almost impossible to find anywhere in the world.
"Surgical treatment, stimulation therapy, extracorporeal shock wave therapy, regenerative therapy..."
"There have been many studies and treatments for tendonitis overseas, but they're nowhere near enough. At best, they can restore most of the patient's ability."
"With current medical technology, achieving a perfect treatment is simply... next to impossible. It would be a genuine miracle."
After all, Uma Musume were the most finely tuned athletes, all chasing speed. In a race, even a difference of just half a second could mean falling several places in the standings!
So even a slight impairment could have a huge impact. In theory, even if she recovered to 95 percent, she could go from first place to the middle of the pack—or even last—in a GI race!
That was why "treatable" and "perfectly cured" were two entirely different things. Even if the former meant she was healed, she might no longer be able to compete as an Uma Musume.
Agnes Tachyon, the super-rookie who had just seemed poised to become Japan's next face of racing, had blazed across the sky like a brief, brilliant meteor... and vanished!!
It was easy to imagine the enormous shock this would bring to Uma Musume and spectators all across Japan!
"The much-anticipated showdown between Platinum and Agnes Tachyon will be very difficult to hold now."
A senior URA official spoke with regret and concern.
"We'll have to distribute promotional resources among the other Uma Musume with lower popularity rankings in the Derby."
"Let's hope... another genius emerges who can stand alongside Agnes Tachyon and keep the public from feeling disappointed!"
"Who will it be? Platinum? Jungle Pocket? Or the foreign Black Ship?"
First Platinum entered the Triple Crown of Transformation early, and now Agnes Tachyon had withdrawn due to injury.
Who would take up the mantle after the two brilliant meteors, Tokai Teio and Agnes Tachyon, had vanished—and achieve the great feat of matching or even surpassing the Emperor to become Japan's strongest in this new era?
No one in the room could make a guess.
After all... who knew whether the next super-genius would follow in the footsteps of Tokai Teio and Agnes Tachyon and become a third meteor?
Was there really an Uma Musume capable of it?!
A few days later—
Lin Anran sat at his desk in the infirmary, typing up some notes.
The document on his screen listed the powerful rivals Platinum would face in the Triple Crown of Transformation.
Triple Crown of Transformation: Oaks, Japanese Derby, Kikuka Sho
Oaks rivals: Mejiro Dober, Kyoei March
Japanese Derby rivals: Agnes Tachyon, Jungle Pocket, Black Ship
Kikuka Sho rivals: ?? (undecided)
The unscrupulous young doctor deleted Agnes Tachyon's name with deep regret. Then he covered his head with one hand and cried out in anguish.
"Tachyon... Tachyon..."
Without you, how am I supposed to pay for my treatments?!
Guess I'll have to... make money at the Oaks instead?
34. Platinum, You're the Challenger!
May.
There was just one week left until the Oaks, the longest-distance race in the Fillies' Triple Crown, and one of the most grueling GI Races.
At the Mejiro family residence, several of its well-known and popular Uma Musume sat together around a table set with sweets and tea.
Mejiro Dober, Mejiro Aldan, and Mejiro McQueen were holding one of their regular tea parties.
But this wasn't an ordinary tea party. The timing was too sensitive: Mejiro Dober would be competing in the Oaks in just one week.
So although the gathering looked relaxing, its main purpose was for Mejiro McQueen, the senior, to offer guidance and help Mejiro Dober ease her nerves and prepare for the race.
As the most senior active Uma Musume in the Mejiro family, Mejiro McQueen wasn't just more experienced and older. She was also one of the top Uma Musume in Japan today!
That was no exaggeration. It was Mejiro McQueen herself who had handed the Undefeated Two Crowns winner Tokai Teio her crushing defeat after her second fracture.
"Dober, barring any surprises, this Oaks will be your stage!"
"Even though Platinum has entered the Oaks, you still have the best chance of winning."
Elegant Mejiro McQueen set down her teacup and smiled as she gave her assessment.
She wasn't blindly trusting her family or flattering Mejiro Dober to encourage her.
As Japan's strongest long-distance racer today, and a possible contender for the title of Long-Distance King in all of Japanese history, she had an excellent eye for this sort of thing!
Platinum really was a monster who had shocked Japan.
She'd faced off against an exceptionally talented super-rookie, Daiwa Scarlet, in her Debut Race and, despite a late start, had won by five lengths.
Then, just a week later, in a graded race, she'd used her exhausted rookie's body to pull off a Big Escape from the far outside gate and claim a shocking Dominant Victory by more than a dozen lengths!
It would be hard to find many horses in history with records to rival hers.
Once Platinum completed her Full Bloom next year and gradually approached her peak, she might even manage the Undefeated Triple Crown.
But... Platinum was rushing things. Instead of following the normal route and debuting next year, she'd entered this year's races in haste. That would inevitably leave her short on racing experience and rest.
"Platinum's at a disadvantage in both experience and racing history. Her Full Bloom may not have progressed very far, either. That Aura of hers doesn't look like she's reached the point where she can use any skills."
"She's brimming with talent and promise, but she's too reckless."
"Besides, some Uma Musume may switch over to the Japanese Derby at the last minute. Platinum might switch, too."
"So—you have the advantage!!"
That was why: Platinum had significant disadvantages, and then there was the Japanese Derby.
The Japanese Derby was held just one week after the Oaks!
The most prestigious GI Race in Japan was generally considered to be the year-end Arima Kinen or the Japan Cup, where racers faced foreign challengers. But the Japanese Derby often drew more spectators, which was proof enough of its influence!
No matter how many famous Uma Musume competed in the Japan Cup and Arima Kinen, Japanese fans were simply obsessed with the Derby!
And with Agnes Tachyon looming as the one certain to win the Triple Crown, some Uma Musume were bound to grit their teeth, give up, and avoid the Fillies' Triple Crown in favor of the Derby next door.
After all, since Agnes Tachyon had won the Satsuki Sho, she'd been recognized as a monster most likely to match or even surpass the Emperor!
But now... the unexpected had happened!
The news of Agnes Tachyon's withdrawal from the Derby—and near-retirement—had turned into a storm that swept across Japan in an instant!
With the great devil who had been sure to dominate the Derby gone, some Uma Musume originally preparing for the Oaks would surely give it up and switch to the most prestigious Japanese Derby!
Against Agnes Tachyon, their chances of winning might have been less than one in a thousand. Now, though, they might have a single-digit chance—or even better!
"Mm. The Oaks... I'll definitely win it for the Mejiro family."
Mejiro Dober understood the reason behind all this. Since the race had gotten easier, she had even less reason to lose!
"The only unexpected factor now is that mysterious, fascinating Heavenly Horse Platinum."
"She probably thinks she has some chance against Agnes Tachyon. But she was torn between the two races, so she paid the hefty entry fees for both the Oaks and the Derby."
The clever, elegant girl Mejiro Aldan—known within the Mejiro family as a "strategist"—spoke up.
"She'll most likely choose the Derby now! And even if she does end up staying in the Oaks... that's fine."
After a long silence, Mejiro Dober nodded slightly, agreeing with them.
There was no reason for her to lose to a young, inexperienced filly who'd only recently begun her Full Bloom!
"Whether I end up facing Platinum or not, I'll..."
Mejiro Dober declared with firm resolve:
"—win!"
Don't get the roles mixed up.
"Platinum, you're the challenger!"
Meanwhile, at Tracen Academy.
In a spacious laboratory, Agnes Tachyon, clad in a white coat, walked inside.
The sizable room was filled with various pieces of experimental equipment. It was a new laboratory she had moved into over the past few days.
Before you continue