Pegasus? Actually, I'm a doctor!

In front of her, Daiwa Scarlet clenched her fists, her breathing heavy and deep.

With an extremely competitive spirit, Daiwa Scarlet preferred to defeat her opponents rather than let them enjoy themselves. This defeat was truly unforgettable.

"May I ask if you'll be challenging the [Classic Triple Crown] or the [Fillies' Triple Crown] next year?"

It was obvious that Daiwa Scarlet wanted to get her revenge next year!

In response to Daiwa Scarlet's question, Platinum's cool and refined face became incredibly subtle.

Finally, the assassin girl calmly revealed her challenge plan.

"No, not next year. I'll be challenging this year's Triple Crown races."

Daiwa Scarlet: ???

How is that possible?

You have to understand, this year's Triple Crown races have already begun, and the Satsuki Sho was won by Agnes Tachyon with an absolute victory!

To challenge now would be like facing a nightmare difficulty, and even if she won, she could at most achieve two crowns, right?

Instead of competing for the complete Triple Crown next year, she's participating in this year's two crowns, which carry high risk and low reward?

The full-figured red-haired girl, Daiwa Scarlet, her pupils suddenly constricted, her first reaction being that she must have misheard.

As for Platinum, since she had completed her debut mission and won her debut race, wasn't it time to clock out and go home!

Platinum immediately turned around without further explanation, making a move to walk back in the direction she had come from, preparing to exit.

Before she could inquire further about the Triple Crown races, Daiwa Scarlet immediately offered a reminder.

"Platinum, you're going the wrong way. The winner's stage isn't in that direction."

Instantly, Platinum, who had already taken a few steps, halted her movement.

The Kulantta girl, who had been composed and calm, unfazed even after winning the race, was stunned in place upon hearing this.

?!!!

Platinum: ??

"Gulp..."

"Wait a minute, there's a winner's stage too??"

"A winner's stage?!"

Platinum's delicate and cool face was immediately filled with astonishment, no longer able to maintain her previous composure.

The winner's stage—?!

For the vast majority of Uma Musume, gracing the stage as the protagonist was the highest honor.

Only Uma Musume who were winners were qualified to appear on stage as protagonists, while the losers who placed high would serve as backup dancers, together presenting a spectacular music and dance performance for the fans in the audience.

Uma Musume themselves have idol-like qualities, and after winning a race, they would also put on a performance. As the winner, Platinum should rightfully take the stage with Daiwa Scarlet.

But this news was like a bolt from the blue for Platinum; her reaction was as if she had heard something unbelievable!

It seemed that for her, the post-race stage performance was more challenging than the race itself.

Special Week takes the stage, winner's stage live, awkward failure...

In an instant, Platinum, her memories complete, her small body froze stiff.

She absolutely did not want to repeat the scene of dancing awkwardly on stage and falling down like Toukai Teio!!

The white-haired girl then recalled that in "Arknights," Hintleia had once been an [Idol Knight]!

But later, she went astray and became an assassin codenamed Platinum within the Unarmed Alliance.

And an Idol Knight... wouldn't they also need to be proficient in dance and song?

(It's... it's happening again??)

She suddenly realized that she, who had transformed into Platinum, was clearly an assassin from another world, yet everything she was good at seemed to perfectly match the work of an Uma Musume in this world?!

The Kulantta girl, skilled at running, had also become an Idol Knight proficient in songs and dance performances. Doesn't it seem like a natural transition to become an Uma Musume without any awkwardness?

By disguising herself as an Uma Musume like this, it seems like she's completely identical, with no differences?

So, this winner's stage... should she go? Can she go?

In an instant, the panic in Platinum's heart gradually subsided.

Whether or not to go to the winner's stage, she hesitated for a moment.

It was meaningless; assassins didn't care about the honor of victory. Her heart was only set on [going to work], [getting off work], and... [money]!

Platinum's cool yet slightly soft voice was about to utter some perfunctory words to facilitate her escape.

"Your fans will definitely become many from now on."

"Just you wait, I'll never let you easily become a [Superstar]!"

Daiwa Scarlet continued to speak with a hint of unwillingness in her voice.

The more outstanding an Uma Musume is, the more attention they will inevitably attract from audiences, even being drawn in as fans. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they are like idols or celebrities.

To be the brightest [Sun] of a generation was the only way to be crowned a superstar. Before this, those who had achieved this level, like Oguri Cap and Tokai Teio, were all renowned leaders of their respective generations.

Even now, Daiwa Scarlet didn't take Platinum's words about challenging this year's Triple Crown seriously, still viewing Platinum as a competitor for next year's Triple Crown races.

"Huh? Superstar?"

The relaxed feeling of the petite and fair-skinned Heavenly Horse lady after work suddenly froze. As if recalling something, she paused her steps, which were already prepared for escape.

For this greedy little horse who raced for prize money and to improve her medical skills to earn money to treat Uma Musume, her first reaction to hearing about stars and superstars was...

It's profitable! It's very profitable!

And it's definitely the kind of profit that comes very easily.

(Ah, right, aren't Uma Musume basically idols?!)

(I remember in the anime, Tokai Teio had Emperor posters all over her dorm room. And in the arcade games outside, there were tons of chibi plushies of famous Uma Musume!)

(You could say that top Uma Musume are definitely no different from idols. They can earn a lot of prize money from races, and they can also sell a lot of derivative merchandise due to fan support. It's simply an endless gold mine!!)

And now, she seemed to have the potential to become a gold mine, to become a superstar and future idol who could continuously attract fans to spend their money?!

For this black-hearted doctor and Heavenly Horse lady, who raced for money... it was simply too attractive.

After all, the effort and reward were completely disproportionate. With just a little effort, she could get a lot in return. How could Platinum not be attracted?

(If I escape the winner's stage, that would be letting down the audience and fans...)

(Then the audience wouldn't just not become fans, they might even become anti-fans, and I wouldn't be able to get any money from them!)

After pondering for a moment, the Heavenly Horse lady gritted her teeth and finally made a difficult decision.

8. Truly, there are countless heroes in this world!

That is... she would still go to the winner's stage!!

Not only did she make the decision, but the lazy Platinum, who wanted to get off work early, also chose to motivate herself and set a goal.

(Phew, anyway, work was easy just now, it only took a few minutes to finish easily.)

(Now I just need to work a little overtime, and I'll definitely earn a lot of money in the future. I might as well work a little overtime~)

(Compared to staying in America and waiting for Big Red, Bully, and Dahlia to debut and win races so I can get a cut of their prize money, it's definitely more profitable and easier for me to race myself!)

Although at the time, she thought Big Red and Bully's training races looked promising and had a lot of momentum, and she thought they were all promising geniuses.

As a result, Big Red, who achieved the strongest results in repeated internal training matches, debuted under the name Secretariat, but only managed to get fourth place...

This made Platinum firmly believe that coming to Japan to debut and challenge the Triple Crown of Transformation was definitely the best choice, given that she herself could defeat the formidable Daiwa Scarlet!

Therefore, her promising self should work a little overtime, earn more fans, and get more money!

"Okay, then let's go to the winner's stage..."

On the face of the Heavenly Horse lady who had made her decision, a look of determination flashed, yielding to money and working overtime for the first time.

Forced to work overtime on her first day, Platinum took her strong legs and followed alongside Daiwa Scarlet.

"Such an excellent Akagi, competitive in any generation, yet she stumbled in her very first debut race?"

"Truly, there are countless heroes in this world! Platinum, well done, Platinum!"

Tokai Teio, in the audience seats, couldn't even bother about her legs, which had not yet fully recovered and had only been treated by Dr. Lin. She couldn't help but pat her knees.

The petite girl's eyes sparkled with surprise and excitement.

Tokai Teio, who had achieved an undefeated two-crown and was considered the Emperor's successor, felt her legs tremble slightly. It wasn't from fear, but rather... her fighting spirit had been ignited! Even just watching!

Undoubtedly, it was not that Daiwa Scarlet had performed poorly, but that the incredible dark horse was simply too outstanding.

If such an excellent Uma Musume were a student at Tracen Academy, Tokai Teio didn't believe she would have no impression of her.

Daiwa Scarlet was already a famous supernova genius within Tracen. How could Platinum, who could defeat even Daiwa Scarlet, be unknown in the academy?

"So, is Platinum a student at another Uma Musume school..."

Curious, Tokai Teio couldn't help but mutter to herself.

But before that...

"Let's properly enjoy Platinum's post-race winner's stage performance."

A while later!

A large crowd had gathered below the winner's stage, all waiting for the super dark horse who had surpassed Daiwa Scarlet to appear.

Even Vodka and Tokai Teio were happy to be spectators, to witness the first performance of the mysterious and petite Platinum on stage.

Under the expectant gazes of many, the winner's stage began its countdown!

The next second, the stage lights... almost completely went out in an instant!

And the sole spotlight condensed into the shape of a pure white Heavenly Horse, appearing in the very center of the dark stage, as if announcing the winner who would soon dominate the racetrack!

She was a pure white girl who shone like a Heavenly Horse, powerful and full of charm. This was the consensus in the hearts of the many audience members below!

In an instant, from the many spectators drawn by Platinum's astonishing performance to Vodka and Tokai Teio, everyone held their breath simultaneously.

"Here it comes—"

The next moment, the crisp sound of footsteps—tap, tap, tap—became incredibly pleasant, growing louder with each step.

In just a few short seconds, a small, shining silver figure emerged from the backstage passage, completely stepping onto the winner's stage!

She displayed the same calm, languid demeanor as when she entered the race, her pretty face adorned only with the light makeup applied by the makeup artist backstage.

After Platinum took the stage first, Daiwa Scarlet, who came in second, and the other Uma Musume who placed third followed.

From her cherry lips, a cool, slightly helpless voice instantly filled the venue, reaching the ears of countless spectators.

"Udatchi (Uma Musume)!"

"Umapyoi Umapyoi!"

"Sukidatchi, Umapoi!"

Platinum's voice lacked the sweetness, gentleness, cuteness, or sugary tone that the other Uma Musume usually had when singing this song.

Furthermore, Miss Heavenly Horse's voice was as languid as ever, yet she had to sing lyrics that were almost like a confession. This created a stark contrast with the majestic scene of her unrestrained pursuit and hunting on the racetrack.

As the music continued, the white-haired girl's movements were a little clumsy, but she was able to keep up with Daiwa Scarlet's dance steps beside her.

In fact... it seemed to be getting better, her movements gradually shifting from clumsy to somewhat skilled.

Even Platinum herself felt a touch of surprise.

Backstage, she had quickly searched for selectable songs, dance moves, and lyrics, reviewing a few of them and practicing for a short while.

She hadn't been given much time to prepare, so she had gone from knowing nothing to being somewhat prepared.

But she was actually... getting into the groove?!

(Gulp... I guess Hintleia, as an Idol Knight, truly possesses outstanding talent in singing and dancing?)