Pegasus? Actually, I'm a doctor!

"Something feels off?"

38. An Unfavored, Immature Heavenly Horse

Why didn't Lin Anran come?

This is the Oaks, a classic race!

Agnes Tachyon hadn't expected that enthusiastic and kind young doctor to be absent.

Did something happen?

Agnes Tachyon rarely had such a positive impression of a human outside of the Uma Musume, and that young doctor who refused to accept any medical fees wouldn't forget or ditch her, would he?

Or did something urgent come up that prevented him from coming?

If the reason was valid, Agnes Tachyon could understand and accept it.

After all—she wasn't exactly normal herself, and it wasn't like she hadn't done similar things before.

Once, when she was immersed in research, Agnes Tachyon didn't even bother to participate in training races or her debut race, almost driving Symboli Rudolf to the brink of exasperation.

The scientist girl immediately lowered her head to look at her phone, not even paying attention to the race that was counting down to its start.

This scene was noticed by Manhattan Cafe, Agnes Tachyon's friend beside her.

The taciturn black-haired girl couldn't help but be surprised.

(Tachyon… is really interested in that Dr. Lin.)

She knew Agnes Tachyon very well, knowing how much this scientist, who was more obsessed with research than the races themselves, cared about Platinum's talent, her physique, and her finishing kick.

It seemed that, for the current Agnes Tachyon, that Dr. Lin was quite important, to the point of rivaling an important Uma Musume race!

Just as Agnes Tachyon was about to press the call button, her pupils constricted as she saw a message.

Was it… a text message from Lin Anran?

[Lin Anran: Something unexpected came up before I could leave.]

[Lin Anran: A few days ago, I asked a fellow doctor I knew in the United States to help me collect information on tendinitis, including case studies and treatment records…]

[Lin Anran: Those materials just arrived, and after I started observing and researching them… I lost track of time and ended up being late, and now I can't make it.]

[Lin Anran: I'm really sorry, Miss Tachyon, for failing to meet your kind invitation.]

After reading the text message, Agnes Tachyon's expression didn't change much, and no dissatisfied emotion appeared.

Such a reason was acceptable to the scientist girl.

After thinking for a moment, Agnes Tachyon calmly typed out a reply.

[Agnes Tachyon: Okay, I understand, I can accept it.]

After all, she had ditched Manhattan Cafe more than once like this.

However, being ditched like this in return was a first for Agnes Tachyon, giving her a novel feeling of "the world turned upside down."

Moreover, it was for the sake of the [research] that Agnes Tachyon was also interested in, and it was for the sake of her legs…

It wasn't because he loved her running and speed, and it wasn't because he wanted to become famous as her trainer and share the prize money, but simply because he wanted to heal her body, to the point of missing the GI race!

Some indescribable feeling flowed in her heart.

After putting down her phone, Agnes Tachyon looked back at the racecourse, and a slight ripple had already appeared in her usually calm face.

But sometimes, a small ripple can form a wave, and then…

—Transform into a [Tsunami]!

(I hope he won't miss the Japanese Derby next time?)

(I'll have Cafe book two more tickets.)

At this moment, the race countdown was just entering its final stage, and the gates were about to open!

[3!]

[2!]

In the eyes of no less than half of the Uma Musume, who were skilled in leading and pace-setting strategies, the start was extremely important, and they couldn't afford to be careless in the slightest!

[1!!!]

Therefore, as the gates opened, nearly twenty Uma Musume charged out together with incredible speed.

And in the original third gate position, a silver-white girl completed the start in one fell swoop, visibly faster than all the surrounding Uma Musume, rushing to the inner lane first!

This was a stark contrast to her sluggish posture in her debut race, where she fell behind due to a poor start and became a chaser.

In an instant, the ever-changing starting situation caused an uproar throughout the venue.

Since Platinum won a graded stakes race with a large margin two weeks ago, no one had questioned her potential and future.

But the main reason why people weren't optimistic about her and she hadn't become a popular contender… was because she had too little race experience and was too young.

Among those Uma Musume with rich racing experience and fully developed racing styles, Platinum, who had only just begun to develop hers, was like a tender child.

Yet, this "child," after choosing to take the start seriously, was the first to dash towards the inner lane!

(The gate position is surprisingly good.)

(Then... let's try a new running style here this time.)

Platinum, speeding towards the inner lane, wanted to try a new running style.

For her, as long as she was even slightly serious, she wouldn't have a slow start.

After all, as an assassin, she might not be able to run fast, but her reaction speed and physical responses had to be quick, or what kind of assassination could she do?

It could be said that agile reactions and swift execution were instincts engraved in her very being!

The Heavenly Horse, unlike her debut race where she was so careless, coupled with the fact that she was in the favorable gate three position this time, easily achieved the most perfect start!

And this time, Platinum wasn't as casual as she was in her first race, she was slightly more serious.

(Then—let's try a late-running style.)

[The gates open, and in an instant, more than a dozen Uma Musume burst out together!]

[It's unbelievable! Platinum, who achieved a fifth-place finish and high popularity, but is not favored due to lack of experience, has a perfect start and takes the lead in the inner lane!]

[The favorite to win, Mejiro Dober, is slightly slower and also chose to stick to the inner lane. Another favorite, Kyoei March, is constantly accelerating, surpassing the middle group and moving towards the front.]

[Currently, it looks like a large group of late-runners is forming. The long distance of this race has led most Uma Musume to choose to hold back!]

The commentator's voice spread throughout the vast grandstand, explaining the current situation after the start.

And on the grass!

Platinum, who chose a late-running style to conserve her stamina, slightly raised her eyebrows after a while.

She, who had dashed into the inner lane at the start, was seeing more and more Uma Musume gathering beside her, also choosing a late-running style.

The assassin, with her keen sense and excellent insight, suddenly realized something was wrong!

(There are a lot of people close to me!)

(There are people behind and to the right, and there are also two late-running Uma Musume in front. After a while... I might even lose the opportunity to accelerate and can only watch other people's faces.)

In other words, she was about to be "sitting in a box" in the middle of the inner lane, surrounded on all sides!

The seemingly inexperienced assassin made a decisive decision without hesitation, immediately abandoning the late-running style.

The situation is not right!

Retreat... no, advance!

In the next moment, she moved like a shooting star, accelerating in one fell swoop and passing Mejiro Dober, who was surprised beside her!

An assassin refuses to be surrounded!

39. Can a stat monster Heavenly Horse beat a mechanic monster?

At first, the silver-haired Heavenly Horse was pondering the differences and characteristics of various running styles.

Late-running... is a running style that involves holding back and then trying to win with a final burst of speed.

Platinum wanted to try all four running styles in turn, and then choose the easiest and most energy-saving one, or choose the one that would allow her to finish work the earliest.

Currently, she was in the experimentation phase!

But after quickly occupying the inner lane at the start, in what seemed like an excellent and smooth situation...

The group of late-running Uma Musume who were constantly approaching and also rushing to the inner lane made Platinum realize the danger.

That sense of crisis was not about worrying about being surrounded and unable to break through.

Rather... she simply didn't like being surrounded like that, to the point where she couldn't even accelerate early and had to wait for the surrounding Uma Musume to accelerate before she could act.

If that were the case, it would be difficult to finish work early!

In this kind of long-distance race that relies on a final burst of speed, the late-running style has a significant advantage. Therefore, after many Uma Musume choose this style, the Uma Musume in the innermost lane may end up "sitting in a box," blocked in front, behind, and even on the sides!

This tests judgment, requiring one to wait sensitively for the right opportunity and then rush out in one fell swoop when there is space around.

Platinum, unwilling to let that happen, unwilling to think too much, and even more unwilling to be blocked, unhesitatingly abandoned the late-running style and began to recklessly change tactics and accelerate early!

It could be said that—

The leading and pace-setting Uma Musume in front only need to devote themselves to the race and take the lead, but the late-running Uma Musume in the back have to consider many things.

Platinum, not wanting to think too much, accelerated in a turn, not caring about the stunned expression of Mejiro Dober beside her, and galloped towards the leading group.

From a speed similar to other late-running Uma Musume to starting to accelerate, she surpassed a crowd of Uma Musume almost instantly.

That unrestrained and willful running style caused a certain scientist Uma Musume in the audience to pay attention for a few more seconds.

--If she had that kind of running style and a healthy, domineering body...

And Mejiro Dober, the favorite to win who was originally beside Platinum, was also stunned.

(Huh—?!!)

(Her starting speed is so fast! It's not even slower than a top-tier monster like Mejiro McQueen, is it?)

(And, why isn't Platinum accelerating at the start, but instead accelerating after gradually being distanced by the lead Uma Musume?)

The many mysteries surrounding that silver-white figure were completely unexpected for Mejiro Dober.

But in Mejiro Dober's opinion, this... might not be a bad thing!

It's not uncommon for closely packed chase groups to block each other and affect each other, and Mejiro Dober, who is skilled in the chase running style, is already used to it.

And if the amazingly strong Platinum were always by her side, then Mejiro Dober would have to worry about whether to prioritize marking and guarding against her.

But since Platinum is now inexplicably accelerating behind the chase group, moving towards the lead Uma Musume... that's a good thing!

Because in that case, Mejiro Dober believes she can perfectly conserve her stamina and wait for her chance at the back!

In this race, which is 2400 meters long, the longest distance of the Fillies' Triple Crown, running in the front is not necessarily a good choice!

(The temporary lead can be left to Kyoei March and Platinum.)

(But the final victory belongs only to me!)

The second turn, not long after the race has passed the halfway point!