Pegasus? I'm actually a doctor!

"Her new friend is surely the same, but after all, I've been playing the long game for so long, so let's just continue."

Even if he didn't care in his heart, Lin Anran wouldn't reveal his true thoughts in conversation.

He skillfully tapped away, then sent his reply.

[Lin Anran: Although I am in Japan, I have always been worried about you who are on an expedition in Europe.]

[Lin Anran: Since you've made new friends so quickly, I can finally rest easy.]

[Lin Anran: Keep it up! No one believes in your potential more than I do. Going overseas must be the best choice!]

[Lin Anran: I know you really want to get stronger and fulfill your promise, but your health is paramount. As a doctor, I hope you stay safe more than anything else, more than races and victories.]

He had to maintain the image of a gentle doctor brother.

The participating Uma Musume only needed to dedicate themselves to the race and run with all their might, but Dr. Lin, who was behind the scenes, had many things to consider.

For example, how to gain their trust and even affection, how to properly condition the bodies of those young foals, how to get stronger while minimizing injuries and illnesses, and how to play the long game to catch bigger fish, thereby meeting other reward-winning Uma Musume who could bring in big profits... These were all things Lin Anran had considered and actually done when he was in America.

But unfortunately, he only gained the trust and favor of useless minnows, without any gold coins, which greatly disappointed Lin Anran, leading him to leave for Japan.

However, the patient, black-hearted young doctor wouldn't think Dahlia was completely useless.

After all, who knew if Dahlia might meet someone stronger than her in Europe in the future, someone with the potential to win a European GI?

Even if she couldn't pay her friend's fees, Dahlia in a new environment still had value!

[Lin Anran: Dahlia, if you feel any discomfort, remember, you absolutely, must come see me anytime.]

[Lin Anran: Since Linguang is your new friend, you're also welcome to ask me about any issues with her health.]

Lin Anran signaled his regard for Dahlia while conveying that he was offering his help for her sake.

After a short while... Dahlia's text reply reappeared.

[Dahlia: Please don't worry too much. As long as it's not a serious injury, I won't give out your contact information to others.]

[Dahlia: I will never let Linguang "trouble" you. There are plenty of doctors in Europe.]

Seeing this, the black-hearted young doctor nodded with satisfaction.

As expected of the gentlest and most elegant among the Uma Musume he had "CPU'd," she was truly kind to him.

[Dahlia: I will forever remember every word you've said, Doctor Lin~]

[Dahlia: Therefore, please wait for me to fulfill your expectations and the promise you made!]

[Dahlia: When that time comes, after I reach the summit of European turf, I will fly to Japan to welcome you.]

After reading the final text message, Lin Anran's expression didn't change much.

He calmly put down his phone and sighed.

"Dahlia is perfect in every way, from her personality to her figure, she's top-notch. It's just a shame... she's too confident in herself."

"Well, she's still a very young foal, after all. She doesn't know how terrifying European turf truly is."

Since coming to Japan, Lin Anran had heard plenty about the horrors of European turf.

For example, the Arc de Triomphe!

The Symbol family, to which Symboli Rudolf belonged, had once nurtured a genius Uma Musume named Sirius Symbol, who had won the Japanese Derby.

At that time, the Symbol family did something extremely bold and incredible: their two greatest masterpieces embarked on expeditions simultaneously.

Symboli Rudolf competed in the American turf GI, the St. Louis Handicap; Sirius Symbol competed in the European turf GI, the Arc de Triomphe!

A bold gamble! If successful, the Symbol family would be directly written into history and shake the world!

The final result was that Symboli Rudolf, hailed as the strongest in Japanese history, finished sixth out of only seven participating Uma Musume...

And Sirius Symbol couldn't overcome the environment of the Arc de Triomphe at all, suffering a crushing defeat, finishing outside of the top ten.

One expedition and they were humbled!

In present-day Japan, they had long recognized the gap between themselves and the world.

At this moment, the URA was anticipating Platinum to make that unprecedented breakthrough! If Platinum had any achievements in future overseas races, they might as well treat her as their direct ancestor!

The Japanese Uma Musume world had worked hard for decades, yet had achieved almost nothing in European races.

It was unlikely that just one Dahlia could win a race in Europe, right?

Thinking this, Lin Anran calmly and steadily gave his final reply.

[Lin Anran: I never go back on my word. Work hard, Dahlia, I will be proud of you!]

[Lin Anran: No matter what you ask for then, I won't refuse!]

After all, they were all minnows; there was nothing to worry about!

It was time to make big promises. After all, they couldn't actually get Big Red or Dahlia to eat them, could they?

47. Lin Anran: I'm a strength-focused player!

It was time to make big promises. After all, they couldn't actually get Big Red or Dahlia to eat them, could they?

Secretariat is on dirt, and Dahlia is on turf. It's impossible to truly achieve "the strongest," right?

That kind of thing... is impossible, absolutely impossible!

Lin Anran believed that a salted fish couldn't flip over, and neither could a nobody.

When he was in America, Dahlia couldn't even beat Big Red in a dirt training race, and Big Red herself faltered in her very first, simplest debut race!

While it's true that you can't directly establish the formula "Normal American Uma Musume > Big Red > Dahlia"... and dirt and turf are entirely different systems.

Lin Anran, however, had a good idea of just how terrifying European turf races were. It was a level of difficulty that had stumped the entire nation of Japan for decades, preventing them from winning even a single middle-distance GI race!

Big Red's failure left a deep-seated, regretful impression on this black-hearted doctor who had placed such high expectations on her. It led him to definitively conclude... everyone is trash!

Even though the current Big Red, Secretariat, had already won a GIII graded stakes race, this stereotype couldn't be improved in a short period of time.

"Don't worry about anything, just come back like this next time."

Lin Anran was calm and composed. His incredibly cold expression proved that he was...

—A strength fanatic, quack!

In the eyes of this scummy doctor, there was no place for the weak!

Just obediently follow his CPU instructions, don't expect any promises to come true; that's as difficult as reaching the heavens.

Lin Anran didn't know that he had once again made a statement that his future self would deeply regret...

The next day, at the Mejiro residence.

Several Mejiro Uma Musume gathered in the living room. On the large screen in front of them, they were watching post-race footage from yesterday's Oaks.

Specifically, the interview received by Heavenly Horse Platinum.

The interview had been so popular that it was on par with many unusual GI races, trending on numerous news hot topics!

This was due to the sheer shock of the Oaks race itself, with no other GI race in the world featuring a Looking Back at the Moon victory! It was also because the current URA was giving Platinum "favorite daughter" treatment, constantly promoting her!

And... the content of Platinum's answers in the interview was inherently very topical.

Therefore, today, these Mejiro girls looked at the interview footage, preparing to discuss it after watching.

[What is the next race schedule for athlete Platinum?]

"Japanese Derby, Triple Crown of Transformation."

"I haven't felt deeply impressed by any Uma Musume."

"—If I leave now, no one will get hurt."

"As for who I'm 'most impressed by'..."

"Radiant Knight Margaret·Nearl!"

On the big screen, the silver-white, shining girl with white hair calmly accepted the interview.

It seemed that Heavenly Horse Miss's victory in the historically renowned Looking Back at the Moon style hadn't made her feel excited, surprised, or overwhelmed.

The so-called historically significant winning method was nothing special in her eyes. It was as if Heavenly Horse Miss was already accustomed to even more thrilling and dangerous things!

After watching the short interview video, Mejiro McQueen, Mejiro Aldan, and Mejiro Dober's expressions clearly changed significantly.

"Challenging the Japanese Derby a week from now? Is her endurance really that terrifying?"

"And... she's aiming for the legendary, never-to-be-repeated Triple Crown of Transformation!"

Mejiro McQueen, hailed as the strongest long-distance runner in Japan, showed a rare flicker of emotion on her face.

Since defeating Tokai Teio in a long-distance race, Mejiro McQueen had few rivals in Japan. She shouldn't typically be concerned about opponents from her classic year.

Normally, it would only be at the Arima Kinen at the end of the year, or after entering the prime of her adult years next year, that she might face a challenge from Mejiro McQueen.

But only Heavenly Horse Platinum made Mejiro McQueen feel... danger!!

It was the same feeling she had when facing the top Uma Musume, Tokai Teio, in the Spring Tenno Sho.

And yet, the current Platinum was still a super rookie who had only been racing for a month and had just won a GI!

"The throne of long distance will never be yours!"

At this moment, Mejiro McQueen no longer viewed Platinum as a "promising junior" but as...

A rival! A terrifyingly formidable rival!

If it were Platinum, she truly had the potential to win the Triple Crown of Transformation and then engage in the most brutal of battles with her in the Spring Tenno Sho!

Meanwhile, Mejiro Aldan, the intelligent and elegant strategist of the Mejiro family, thought with great interest about the name Platinum had earnestly mentioned.

Radiant Knight Margaret·Nearl!

Just how strong must someone be to elicit such admiration from Heavenly Horse Platinum?

"Unfortunately, according to Platinum, that Linguang will not be appearing in Japan."

"I won't get to see Shining Knight's brilliance anymore."

What Mejiro McQueen, Mejiro Aldan, and the others were focused on was the most talked-about topic.

As for Mejiro Dober—

She was suddenly lost in thought, as if caught in an Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Mejiro Dober, a "Heavenly Horse victim," had the image of the shining silver-white girl, Looking Back at the Moon, looking down on her during the final straight replaying endlessly in her mind.

It was as if, on the dark and deep ruins, that silver-white Heavenly Horse, capable of surpassing everything, stood on the battlefield, coldly delivering her evaluation.

"This was truly a wonderful race. I don't think I'll ever forget you."

When she heard these words after the race, Mejiro Dober felt a faint sense of comfort and relief.

After all, that was a monster capable of a Dominant Victory in GI races. Being firmly remembered by it was, in a way, an honor, wasn't it?

But—!!!

What was this post-race interview all about?

"I've never been particularly impressed by any Uma Musume."

"I don't think I'll ever forget you..."

What happened to "I won't forget you"?

Even the calm Mejiro Dober gritted her teeth, her heart skipping a beat!

(She totally forgot about me right after the winner's stage, didn't she?)

Liar!!