The white-haired girl had finally learned just how much weight her identity as a pegasus assassin from the Terra Continent, Platinum Grand Seat of the Mugyuu Alliance, carried.
For various reasons, Centaurea—who could be the Platinum Grand Seat at her best, an Idol Knight at her middle, and a front-desk girl at her worst...
Without a doubt, she was blessed with a talent for running. She also had the makings of an idol and plenty of experience singing and dancing onstage.
And so... all of that had carried over to the white-haired girl singing her heart out at that very moment!
As the song continued—
"Cutting through the wind, kicking up the earth"
"I'll light a spark inside your heart"
"Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump"
Onstage, Platinum's snow-white hair, which reached down to her waist, swayed freely like a waterfall. Her wildly contrasting singing styles and dramatic changes had left the audience below utterly shaken!
At last—!!
The audience below the stage burst into an uproar of excitement.
"She's so beautiful and dazzling... just like a pegasus!"
"Maybe she can challenge for the Undefeated Triple Crown, just like Agnes Tachyon!"
"Platinum, I really love you!"
"For you, I became a werewolf. For you, I went insane. For you, I put on a heavy disguise. For you, I changed my heart. Can we ever see each other again???"
Platinum had only just made her debut, yet her fanbase was already growing by the day!
And now... the performance was still going!
Several hours later—
Back in her room, the white-haired girl sat on her bed, drenched in sweat.
"Phew..."
"I can't believe I actually won that Debut Race. And I beat Daiwa Scarlet, of all people?"
She yawned, looking a little languid.
How could the lazy Kulantta girl not love a world where all she had to do was run, win races, and live comfortably?
From the races to the working hours, everything suited Platinum just fine. It would've been even more perfect without the Winner's Live.
"And being an Uma Musume is pretty interesting, too. It's not even that tiring."
What's more, Platinum knew what this meant. If she could beat Daiwa Scarlet despite her sluggish start, then perhaps she really had a chance at challenging for the Triple Crown of Transformation!
That legendary Triple Crown, said to be one of a kind, was not necessarily hers to win—but at least now she had the right to challenge for it.
Platinum was muttering to herself when she suddenly froze.
The phone on the table in her room had lit up, and a text message appeared on the screen.
It was from...
Secretariat?!
9. Secretariat's Warning; Dahlia Heads to Europe
It was...
Big Red? Secretariat?!
Although the girl originally known as Big Red had debuted under the name Secretariat, he was still more used to calling her Big Red. After all, that was the name he'd used during the several months they'd spent together.
Unfortunately, Big Red, who had seemed pretty capable in Training Races, had crashed and burned in her Debut Race.
In the end, the unscrupulous doctor had abandoned Big Red, Dahlia, and the other worthless nobodies, then secretly come to Japan to challenge for the Triple Crown himself.
Thinking of the outcome after winning such a splendid Debut Race, the unscrupulous doctor secretly rejoiced! He was glad he'd made the right choice after all!
Then—
The next moment, he ended his transformation.
Lin Anran reached out, took the phone, and looked down at the message on the screen.
Big Red: Doctor Lin, are you settling in okay now that you're in Japan?
Big Red: It's still not too late to come back~
First a polite greeting, then a cryptic warning?
Lin Anran didn't think much of it. Instead, an expression of wild delight spread across his face. The unscrupulous doctor felt not the slightest guilt or embarrassment.
"If I'd stayed in America, even if Big Red and Dahlia really had given me a generous cut of the prize money, I'd still have starved to death."
"If Big Red, who couldn't even place higher than fourth in her Debut Race, went up against someone as outstanding as Daiwa Scarlet... she probably wouldn't stand a chance."
"Wouldn't it be better for me to transform into Platinum and beat the mighty Daiwa Scarlet than to be Big Red and the others' Exclusive Doctor?"
"Want me to go back to America? In your dreams!"
The unscrupulous doctor had no plans to return to America anytime soon.
After all, he'd only been in Japan for a day, and he'd already earned a handsome treatment fee by treating Tokai Teio. Now he'd also transformed into Platinum and won a Debut Race, which would come with prize money too.
He'd never had such a wonderful start!
So there was no way he was going back—unless Secretariat, Dahlia, and Bully really managed to become the strongest, just as they'd agreed at the start.
But was that even possible?
They said the past year or two had seen a wealth of powerful contenders around the world. America and Europe had produced plenty of outstanding, even terrifying monsters, and Japan itself had talents like Tokai Teio and Agnes Tachyon.
So, obviously, that was a pipe dream!
After thinking for a moment, Lin Anran lowered his head and tapped out a reply on his phone.
Lin Anran: I really want to come back and see you, Big Red.
Lin Anran: But unfortunately, I really can't come back anytime soon. There are lots of Uma Musume here in Japan who need treatment, too.
Lin Anran: My promise to you was never a lie. When you become the strongest, I'll definitely come back and grant any wish you make.
But Lin Anran knew that promise and wish were impossible to fulfill.
The odds of Platinum, whom he'd transformed into, becoming the strongest—a world-class Uma Musume—were probably far better than the odds of Secretariat and Dahlia becoming the strongest combined.
After sending that sincere but evasive message, Lin Anran waited a little while before finally seeing a reply from Secretariat.
Big Red: Okay. But when the time comes, what will that wish be...
Big Red: You'd better be ready.
Lin Anran stared at her response in a daze.
What did she mean?
Was Secretariat... still not giving up?
What a little filly who wouldn't quit until the bitter end.
After glancing at the message, Lin Anran immediately dismissed Secretariat's final warning as worthless.
Big Red: Oh, right. Dahlia left America, too.
Secretariat's next topic made Lin Anran freeze.
Dahlia... had left America too??
In Lin Anran's mind, Dahlia was a strong-willed Uma Musume who seemed gentle but was actually... a little devious.
Dahlia was always smiling, and she'd often followed him around, organizing the medicines and putting things away. She'd had an excellent relationship with the unscrupulous doctor.
Had she followed him to Japan right after he got here?
Lin Anran: Where did she go?
Big Red: Europe. She said she'd earn the title of "strongest" fair and square over there, then come back to punish Doctor Lin properly.
Big Red: But—I'll become the strongest before Dahlia does!
The unscrupulous doctor was dumbfounded. His impression of Europe's horse racing scene was "average prize money, terrifying competition."
Europe was known for its turf races and was recognized as one of the world's best.
America was known for its dirt races and was likewise among the world's best.
So... Secretariat and Dahlia were going to challenge the top races in two different disciplines? Had they really taken what he said seriously?
Looking at Secretariat's reply, Lin Anran couldn't help sighing over what a warm, youthful world this was.
They were all nobodies, yet they still hadn't given up on their dream of becoming the strongest!
Were they simply ignorant of how vast the world was, or was there truly a chance—less than one in ten thousand—that they might make it?
But Lin Anran was a mature adult, an unscrupulous doctor. Dreams, youth, bonds, and all that had long since been tossed aside!
Lin Anran: How should I put this... I hope you both become stronger and achieve what you want.
Convinced they would never succeed, Lin Anran sent them a hypocritical blessing and marveled at his own genius for setting the nobodies a goal they had no chance of achieving!
—This was the thing unscrupulous doctor Lin Anran would regret most in the future.
The next afternoon, in the infirmary.
Several young, beautiful Uma Musume thanked the black-haired young man in a white coat.
"Thank you for treating us, Doctor Lin."
"We'll be heading back now."
The young man sitting at the desk nodded in response and earnestly gave them his instructions.
"Mm. Remember to rest for two days first. After that, gradually resume training based on how you feel."
"Whatever you do, don't immediately go back to your previous training regimen."
For ordinary patients, he'd probably tell them to stay in bed and avoid moving around too much.
But Lin Anran treated Uma Musume! Their bodies and passion for running both far surpassed those of humans!
Besides, Lin Anran had plenty of experience treating patients back in America. He knew that many Uma Musume really couldn't help returning to training too early.
That was why he explained things so carefully. He hoped these young fillies would recover and get back to full health.
After all, if they didn't, the treatment wouldn't work as well, and that would affect how much stronger Platinum became after he transformed!
At the same time, he wanted to build a good reputation and get more repeat patients. Just as he had in America, Lin Anran didn't mind acting like a caring big brother as he looked after these young Japanese fillies.
Maybe he'd get to treat Uma Musume even stronger than Big Red and Dahlia?
"Mm, I understand."
"We'll remember!"
The young Uma Musume bowed in thanks one last time, then turned and slowly left.
And that... was what Lin Anran's work as the school doctor would look like from then on.
After seeing his patients out and finding himself with some free time, Lin Anran started thinking about the race.
"I can't believe I managed to beat Daiwa Scarlet by such a huge margin, even after a bad start!"
"That was Daiwa Scarlet, a genius who consistently placed in the top two during internal Training Races at Tracen Academy."
"It looks like winning the Triple Crown of Transformation really might be possible."
Now officially employed by Tracen Academy, he knew it brought together Japan's finest talents. Daiwa Scarlet would certainly be one of the strongest contenders in her generation when next year's classic races came around.
And Platinum had fallen behind at the start, yet still fought her way back and overtook her at the finish. That victory had been more than enough to prove her extraordinary strength.
Before you continue