Uma Musume: To The Top!!

Chapter 329 329: 440

"Gulp…"

As the commentator announced the victor, in a shadowy corner somewhere inside Longchamp Racecourse, a dark-skinned beauty in a hoodie, sunglasses, and a mask could not help swallowing. A drop of cold sweat slid down her temple.

"This is bad. Really bad."

She stared at the track, fingers tightening around the railing as she muttered under her breath.

"This Mejiro McQueen is several times more troublesome than the other opponents!"

If anyone familiar with her had been there, they would have recognized this highly suspicious-looking dark-skinned girl at a glance. She was none other than France's Tracen Academy's rising star: Suave Dancer.

At the start of the month, she had made a grand declaration in front of Dancing Brave, claiming victory would surely belong to her.

But that was just talk.

Strategically despise the enemy, tactically take the enemy seriously. That had always been Suave Dancer's style.

In public, she had to act calm and effortless. After the race, she had to go back and study everything in detail.

As for how hard she had to work in private to make those bold declarations into reality, that was another matter entirely.

So when she heard that Mejiro McQueen would be making her expedition debut, Suave Dancer disguised herself without hesitation and slipped over to watch.

"Let me see just how deep and heavy your limits really are."

Then she saw the gray-haired tyrant lead from start to finish, forcibly dragging down and crushing a crowd of Europe's local top-class powerhouses with ease.

Even on the final straight, one of Britain's top Uma Musume had been forced into unleashing the same second stage of Domain as her.

But even then, that raging Domain light had not managed to touch the hem of Mejiro McQueen's outfit.

And what chilled Suave Dancer most was this:

That monster from the far east had not activated her Domain from beginning to end.

In her normal state alone, she had crushed one of Europe's top powerhouses.

This, this, this...

Was that right?

No, that could not be right...

Suave Dancer frowned with worry. Out of habit, she wanted to bite her finger, only for her hand to poke against her mask.

She paused, then sighed helplessly.

"This is so annoying. Even Victory Glow, after stepping into Domain, couldn't beat her. How am I supposed to beat a ridiculous monster like that?"

She scratched her head.

Victory Glow was the runner-up of this race, a British legend who had erupted with Domain at the very end in an attempt to contest Mejiro McQueen's closing leg.

Even someone as confident as Suave Dancer did not have absolute certainty that she could steadily defeat Victory Glow in a final kick.

Let alone Mejiro McQueen, who had utterly crushed Victory Glow.

Whoosh!

All of a sudden, thunderous applause like mountains roaring and seas surging erupted once again.

Down on the track below, the winner of this race had already stepped onto the podium to receive her award.

Staring at the purple-haired figure standing quietly in first place, yet seeming as if she could absorb every ray of light around her, the dark-skinned girl fell silent for a moment.

Then she abruptly pulled her hat brim lower and quietly turned toward the exit.

Her steps grew faster and faster.

But just as she was about to leave the venue, Suave Dancer suddenly stopped and turned sideways to look back at the racecourse.

"Mejiro... McQueen!"

She said the name one word at a time.

At that moment, the irritation in this genius Uma Musume's eyes had already vanished, replaced by blazing fighting spirit.

"I can't keep training slowly according to the original plan... I need to think of another way."

"If there's no other choice, I'll have to ask Brave-nee to raise the intensity for me!"

"I... don't want to lose."

...

Before long, at the racers' passage.

Kuroha leaned against the wall with his arms folded, waiting quietly.

Soon, a clear and steady set of footsteps came from the far end.

The purple-haired girl wore a gown-like racing outfit and walked over with a calm expression.

She had clearly just finished a top-tier 1,850-meter graded race, yet not a single bead of sweat had appeared on her forehead.

Aside from the unavoidable mud spots on the hem of her white skirt, her breathing remained perfectly steady and undisturbed.

No one could have connected this serene figure before them to the gray-haired tyrant who had mercilessly crushed more than a dozen of Europe's top Uma Musume on the track moments earlier.

"McQueen."

Seeing Mejiro McQueen return in triumph, Kuroha smiled and waved to her.

Not far away, the Mejiro girl paused. After seeing Kuroha by the wall, a bright smile immediately bloomed across her face.

"Trainer!"

McQueen jogged over lightly and stopped in front of Kuroha, lifting her head slightly as if expecting something.

Seeing her like this, Kuroha smiled helplessly, then reached out and ruffled the girl's head.

While he was at it, he also rubbed the fluffy ears on top of her head.

"Mm..."

Mejiro McQueen obediently closed her eyes, enjoying her trainer's touch with a look of complete contentment.

"Good work."

Kuroha asked gently, "How did your first race in Europe feel?"

Hearing that, McQueen opened her eyes and carefully recalled the sensations from the race before answering.

"The opponents here are indeed much stronger than the Uma Musume at Tracen. At the very least, the Uma Musume who contested the final kick with me on the last straight gave me a sense of being chased for the first time in a while."

"Even among Domains, hers had advanced quite far."

After a brief pause, Mejiro McQueen continued, "As for the turf, it was indeed heavier than expected. It was somewhat different from the grass field at the manor."

"But... none of that affected the result."

Her tone carried boundless composure and confidence.

Kuroha smiled and nodded, but he still gave her a trainer's reminder.

"Don't underestimate it. Paris happens to have had no rain these past few days, so the turf is still relatively dry."

"But no one can guarantee how bad the turf condition will be on the day of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe."

"Over the next few months, you'll need to use races to gradually and thoroughly adapt to the truly heavy going here."

Hearing that, McQueen's expression turned serious, and she nodded solemnly.

"Yes! I'll do it properly, Trainer!"

"As long as you're prepared."

Kuroha smiled. "All right, go rest first. Later, you'll be standing on the winners' stage in Europe for the first time, so don't get stage fright."

"I would never!"

The Mejiro girl puffed out her cheeks, unconvinced.

(End of Chapter)

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