Orfevre hadn't encountered an Uma Musu like Dream Weaver who could stand firm against her aura in a long ti. Ever since she had defeated the prodigies of Central Tracen Academy one after another as a youngster, nearly every Uma Musu she t would tremble in fear around her.
"Is this what they call country toughness?"
"Interesting. I'm growing more and more intrigued by you. Very well, as you wish—prepare to witness my glory on the track."
After hearing the announcer's declaration, Orfevre turned to Dream Weaver, spoke these words, then swung her head around and strode toward her starting gate.
Dream Weaver didn't respond. She, too, moved toward her own gate.
Just as Orfevre had said—let it all be settled on the track.
Once all the Uma Musu had entered the gates, Sugimoto Kentaro, seated in the comntator's booth, glanced at the staff mber beside him responsible for race updates. After confirming the ti, he lifted the microphone to his mouth.
BANG!
"And they're off! All Uma Musu have gotten a clean start. Taking the lead now is… Wait, what?!"
"Number Eighteen, Dream Weaver, has chosen to run as a front-runner—no, this is a full-on Great Escape?! This is truly rare! It seems this country girl who's co to the central circuit might just bring a surprise to the race."
The comntator's words stirred a wave of murmurs among the crowd. The Great Escape—a high-risk approach—hadn't been seen in central races for a long ti, especially in a Grade 1 event filled with elite competitors. Every Uma Musu here opted for safer, more reliable tactics; the Great Escape had long been phased out of their training manuals.
Yet, little by little, people began to be drawn to Dream Weaver's figure. That flowing red cape over one shoulder shone like a crimson cot, streaking across the track at incredible speed, leaving all the other Uma Musu far behind.
Even though they still believed in their hearts that Orfevre would be the victor, they couldn't help but be captivated by that red streak of light.
"Go, Dream! You can do it! Go, Dream!"
Now, the cheers from the Kasamatsu Tracen group also seed to carry a certain power, rising distinctively from the sea of voices supporting Orfevre, drawing yet more spectators' attention toward that red streak blazing at the front.
However, no matter how intense the excitent was outside the track, it couldn't truly affect what happened on it.
Following the ticulously crafted running style honed by the Gold Family, Orfevre, positioned in the middle of the pack, scanned the Uma Musu around her. Wherever her gaze fell, the others shuddered as if bearing imnse pressure.
"No need to pay these ones any mind."
In her heart, Orfevre quietly pronounced their defeat. Not only could they not withstand her gaze, she also noticed that every one of them was subtly slowing their pace.
This wasn't a tactical adjustnt—it was instinctive fear.
Faced with Uma Musu who feared her glare and were intimidated by Dream Weaver's montum, Orfevre found them utterly uninteresting.
Now, all her attention was fixed on that red streak of light at the very front.
"This pace? Fast, but not the fastest! An Uma Musu with this kind of presence can't only be capable of this—is she holding back?"
"But her grip is strong. She has power, yet she's also adapting well to the turf, finding the right path by reading the track."
"Bringing her experience from dirt tracks in the countryside to the central circuit?"
Observing Dream Weaver, Orfevre calculated silently.
She was proud, considering herself the monarch of her generation.
But this was a race. As an Uma Musu, she had to pursue victory. The keen eye she'd developed during her training at the Orfevre stable was ant for monts like this—to size up her opponents.
Only those who understood themselves and their rivals deserved to win.
The other Uma Musu, Orfevre saw through with a single glance. But Dream Weaver was different—she had already surprised Orfevre more than once.
"Even if she can maintain this speed till the end, she won't have any room for acceleration in the final stretch."
"With my explosive closing speed, I'll overtake her in one go when the ti cos."
Confident she had found the path to victory, Orfevre's lips curled unconsciously.
The powerful closing speed of the Orfevre stable's Uma Musu was legendary in the racing world, and Orfevre's was among the strongest. She was absolutely confident that in the final stretch, she would surge past Dream Weaver and seize the championship of the Satsuki Sho.
"This isn't so local dirt race where all you need to do is charge ahead. On the turf tracks of the central circuit, unleashing your power in the latter part of the race produces even greater strength."
"Country girl, prepare to behold my glory!"
Outside the track, Sugimoto Kentaro stared intently at the displays along the course, his comntary rapid-fire.
"They're approaching the final turn! Just a hundred ters left until the final straight sprint! Still leading is Dream Weaver! Can she maintain this advantage all the way to the end? Or will another Uma Musu step up at this critical mont?"
As he spoke, the eyes of every spectator locked onto the track. The previously buzzing crowd fell silent in an instant, each person nervously awaiting the final decisive mont.
Among the spectators, the Kasamatsu group was equally tense. Tagami Kan, learning from his mistakes during the previous Kyodo Tsushin Hai, pressed his cara firmly against his face, hoping to capture the perfect photo of the finish.
Artisan Bell and the others unconsciously tightened their grips on their Dream Weaver dolls, as if trying to channel their strength to her on the track.
"Chizuru, what do you think…?"
Even Nanno Sumire, who had been full of confidence monts before, couldn't help feeling nervous given the situation. Everything—all their hopes for victory—would be decided in this final stretch.
In the last second before the storm broke, she instinctively turned to Chizuru Haibara, hoping the sharp-eyed trainer could offer so reassurance.
"I… don't know."
But Chizuru Haibara was just as tense, her eyes glued to the track. On this final straight, all the information and data she knew had beco aningless.
All she could do was pray, over and over in her heart, that Dream Weaver would live up to her expectations.
Just as all eyes in Tokyo Racecourse converged on one point, Dream Weaver at the front of the pack reached the end of the turn. Ahead of her lay the final straight!
Feeling the steadily mounting pressure from behind, Dream Weaver knew the mont of truth had arrived. And at this most intense mont, her lips actually curved into a smile!
The comntator's shouts echoed in her ears. Everyone knew—
"The final straight! It all cos down to this!"
-- --
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
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