Only One Year Left—I'll Become a Legendary Uma Musume! Chapter 68: Only One Year Left—I’ll Become a Legendary Uma M

In the end, Gotham Song admitted defeat and exchanged contact details with jiro Ardan, each returning to their daily lives soon after.

Well, that’s more normal, isn’t it? Even if I know jiro Ardan, as strangers now, it’d be bizarre if we beca too close too quickly.

But during their conversation, jiro Ardan had said sothing strange—apparently, she was currently living in the dormitories of Japan Central Tracen Academy rather than at jiro Manor.

Now, that was unusual. mbers of the jiro family always resided in jiro Manor. Even if the Academy provided dorm rooms, those usually stayed empty.

Just what kind of conflict could have driven Ardan-san away from jiro Manor, forcing her to live at school?

Sothing very serious must have happened.

Gotham Song wasn’t naïve; she wouldn’t deceive herself by pretending not to notice the obvious answer staring her in the face.

Why would Ardan-san clash with the jiro family?

There was only one plausible reason:

It had to be because she’d helped conceal Twilight Song’s illness.

In her previous life, her condition should have been exposed during dical examinations, but Ardan-san had shielded her from that fate. More accurately speaking...

Ardan-san had essentially given her a second life—the very reason Gotham Song could stand here today.

So, whatever happened, Gotham Song was determined to help Ardan-san return to jiro Manor.

However, this was a delicate matter requiring careful planning. Neo Universe’s advice explicitly stated that things were safe enough if she avoided ntioning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe around Ardan-san—but jiro Ramonu...

Pure, utter danger!

I guess I have no choice but to take things slow.

Staring at the new contact on her phone, Gotham Song suddenly had another thought.

Hmm. Although helping Ardan-san return to jiro Manor has to wait, surely visiting her occasionally to keep her spirits up would be acceptable?

Even if it is a bit improper.

Sorry, Ramonu-san. You’ll have to wait a little longer before I co back to you.

And so, Gotham Song began her first year as a newly debuted Uma Musu.

March: OP race, late push, controlling her pace, a narrow head victory.

Mid-March: another OP race, sa strategy—a calculated late burst, winning by a head once more.

Throughout the entire month, Gotham Song deliberately avoided standing out, modestly hiding her real abilities, quietly claiming prize money in two minor OP races.

In her free ti, she generally trained and gorged on food alongside Oguri Cap, discussed future plans with Neo Universe, chatted casually with Manhattan Cafe and jiro Ardan, occasionally teased Sunday Silence, and then was thoroughly teased in turn by Agnes Tachyon.

There wasn’t much Gotham Song could do about Agnes Tachyon—at least, not until she turned into a full-blown mad scientist. Her eccentric roommate’s logic was simply beyond control. If it weren’t for Gotham Song’s cousin occasionally smacking Tachyon down—literally—to preserve what little dignity Gotham Song had left, she’d undoubtedly have lost much more severely.

Yet, all these carefree days eventually reached a turning point.

As March passed into April, Gotham Song claid just one additional OP victory in early April before stopping entirely. Her sole goal had been accumulating enough winnings to qualify for the Kikuka Sho during her Classic year.

After all, it’s the only major race I missed last ti around. Even if nobody would recognize that Twilight Song was no longer the Phantom Triple Crown, it would still be a satisfying personal achievent.

Once her winnings were sufficient, Gotham Song had more leisure to explore other interests.

Such as going to watch this year’s Satsuki Sho.

Or casually observing Tokai Teio, who randomly appeared around campus.

But Gotham Song had no intention of approaching her—particularly since Symboli Rudolf was nearly always hovering protectively close by.

Isn’t Rudolf-san a bit too cautious about Teio? She’s always around, as if constantly worried sothing terrible might happen.

Ah, forget it. I’ve seen it too often, anyway.

On April 20th, the day of the Satsuki Sho arrived. To everyone’s disappointnt, the elegant jiro McQueen withdrew due to illness. And to Gotham Song’s personal regret, her cousin Manhattan Cafe was unable to qualify.

A bit funny, really. Cafe missed out because she hadn’t earned enough prize money, so now we’re both stuck watching from the stands.

Gotham Song shot a provocative glance at the impatiently drifting Sunday Silence, her expression conveying a clear ssage.

Hey, Sunday Silence, didn’t you ss this one up a bit?

The black phantom was clearly annoyed but couldn’t do anything about it—not in front of Cafe. Huffing indignantly, she vanished, as though even ghosts could short-circuit from sheer frustration.

But why exactly were the two cousins here?

Simple: one of the participants was soone they both knew well.

It was Agnes Tachyon’s first Classic race—the Satsuki Sho.

The Phantom Triple Crown hopeful. To be given such a title, Agnes Tachyon naturally had to be a leading contender. Indeed, she was the overwhelming favorite, and the race itself unfolded precisely as expected.

Tachyon secured a resounding victory, yet Gotham Song’s worst fears soon beca reality.

This ti, no miracle occurred to save Agnes Tachyon. Imdiately after crossing the finish line, she was rushed to the hospital without even a chance to step onto the Winner’s Stage.

Of course, Gotham Song and Manhattan Cafe rushed to visit her imdiately. But when Tachyon sent Cafe away on an errand, leaving only Gotham Song beside her bed, Tachyon’s playful facade faded away, replaced by quiet seriousness.

"You’ve been hesitating to talk to about sothing for a long ti, haven’t you?"

So, she noticed after all...

Gotham Song had agonized about whether or not she should have warned Agnes Tachyon earlier—about the Phantom Triple Crown, about her potential injury.

Had she waited too long?

"Tachyon-nee, tell honestly—if soone had warned you in advance that this would happen, would you still have pushed yourself so hard in the Satsuki Sho?"

Would I? Isn’t the answer obvious?

"Of course I would," Tachyon answered imdiately, without hesitation. "If anything, knowing that would’ve made run even harder."

"Even if it cost you your career?"

"I wouldn’t believe in sothing that hadn’t happened yet anyway. And besides, Song—rember this clearly."

Agnes Tachyon stared quietly up at the ceiling. Losing her career was undeniably painful, but even so, she’d never regret the choice she’d made.

"If you’re scared of the failures that co from running, you don’t deserve to call yourself an Uma Musu. When Twilight Song ran the Arc de Triomphe, do you honestly think she wasn’t aware she might die on the track?"

"And yet she won magnificently anyway."