"Mmm~ It's been a long time since I last felt power like this."
Even Godolphin, a goddess herself, could not help but marvel at the scenery around her.
Three hundred years ago, at the height of their power, the Three Goddesses had possessed the same divine might, enough to summon clouds and rain with a mere turn of their hands.
However, they had barely wielded that power before separating it from themselves and leaving it in the mortal realm.
There, it had become a selfless blessing bestowed upon the world for hundreds of years.
Their true selves, meanwhile, could only remain within that strange realm.
Whenever they wanted to see the children of the mortal world, they had to send tiny motes of their consciousness fluttering back and forth.
They could not even enjoy a small slice of cake. It was truly miserable...
After lamenting her situation for a moment, Godolphin suddenly spotted something, and her eyes lit up.
Keeping one hand wrapped around Kuroha's, she waved toward the distance with the other.
"McQueen-chan, Suave-chan, over here~"
Two figures approached side by side from the entrance, the fighting spirit around their bodies still yet to fully dissipate.
They were none other than McQueen and Suave Dancer, who had just finished competing in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
"Trainer! Godolphin-sama!"
McQueen spotted them and instinctively called out.
Godolphin...
Beside her, Suave broke into an awkward sweat.
Every time she heard McQueen and the others address this unfamiliar yet strangely approachable blue-haired Umamusume as Godolphin, she could not help thinking of the blue goddess among her own Three Goddesses.
Seriously, who would name an Umamusume Godolphin...?
Silently grumbling to herself, Suave glanced toward McQueen's trainer.
Then her expression abruptly froze.
"Come on, Suave."
Happy to see her trainer, McQueen lightly tugged on her rival's arm. However, the pull was so gentle that Suave did not budge.
"Suave?"
McQueen turned around in confusion.
Suave blinked and repeatedly looked Kuroha up and down.
"McQueen, has your trainer somehow gotten even more handsome?"
McQueen fell silent.
"What in the world goes through that head of yours all day?"
McQueen narrowed her eyes at her.
Who finished a race and immediately started plotting something with her friend's trainer?
"Ahaha..."
Coming back to her senses, Suave scratched her head guiltily.
"It's nothing. I was just saying whatever came to mind. Let's go over there, McQueen!"
Despite what she said, the girl's heart was filled with confusion.
That's strange...
Am I really that much of a sucker for a handsome face?
...
"Mm!"
Without the slightest hesitation, McQueen threw herself into Kuroha's arms and rubbed against him affectionately.
Other than Godolphin-sama, only Suave was nearby. There was no need to worry about maintaining her image.
She had won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and secured her sixth consecutive international G1 victory. Surely she had earned the right to indulge herself a little! (Declared with complete moral conviction.jpg)
Kuroha did not know whether to laugh or cry as he held the almost childlike McQueen and soothingly stroked her ears.
Only after absorbing a healthy dose of "Trainer energy" did McQueen finally raise her head and glance around in confusion. She quickly noticed the most important detail.
"Huh? Where did everyone else go? Why are Trainer and Godolphin-sama the only ones here?"
"We were so worried about you, McQueen-chan, that we came here ahead of everyone else~ Aren't you happy?"
Godolphin narrowed her eyes and teased her with a playful smile.
"...Oh."
McQueen tilted her head, realizing that her goddess was probably teasing her again.
After that simple response, she obediently remained beside Kuroha.
"All right, let's head back."
Kuroha smiled and took the lead.
"March, Rudolf, and the others should still be on their way down. We'll probably run into them if we follow this passage back."
At that point, Kuroha paused and turned toward the visibly restless Suave.
"Come to think of it, Suave, are you going to come with us, or...?"
"I'm coming with you!"
Before he could finish, the tan-skinned girl excitedly raised both hands and hurried over. She had been struggling to find an excuse to join this big, happy family.
"Brave and the others are probably on their way too. If we all walk together, we're bound to run into them!"
With that, she naturally moved to Kuroha's side. She then awkwardly turned her head away and pretended not to notice McQueen glaring at her from the corner of her eye.
"...All right. You can come with us."
Kuroha's eyes flickered as he observed the scene. He fell into a strangely thoughtful silence for a moment before shaking his head with a soft laugh.
Without saying anything else, he led the champion and runner-up of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe out of the competitors' passage.
Walking half a step behind them, Godolphin watched the trio's backs and covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.
With a goddess's perspective, he should have a much easier time noticing how these girls felt now, right?
At long last, she would not have to handle all the matchmaking by herself~
...
The group had not traveled far down the passage before running into Rudolf and the others coming from the opposite direction.
"Kuro-kun? And Godol... Um, how did the two of you come out from inside...?"
Rudolf's steps faltered when she saw Kuroha, and a trace of disbelief flashed through her eyes.
They had all been together in the private viewing box only moments earlier. How had those two arrived before the spectators who had taken the internal passageways?
Wait.
Had those two actually been inside the viewing box just now?
Rudolf's thoughts briefly became muddled. For some reason, she suddenly felt as though she could no longer remember clearly...
However, she did not dwell on it.
Everyone stepped forward and congratulated McQueen on her victory.
Amid the warm and cheerful congratulations, Ramonu approached McQueen with her usual elegant steps.
McQueen looked at the older girl whom she had always regarded as both her goal and her role model.
She straightened her back, wearing a calm smile as she asked softly, "Ramonu-onee-sama, have I... lived up to the glory of the Mejiro family?"
Ramonu was momentarily taken aback.
She gazed at the younger girl who now stood at the summit of the world. After a moment, she gently shook her head.
"Now, you are the glory of the Mejiro family."
A tender smile appeared on Ramonu's face.
"The Mejiro family is proud of you, McQueen."
While everyone celebrated together, Secretariat stood a short distance away, staring intently at Kuroha.
Her large eyes held an even larger amount of confusion.
"What's wrong?"
Celeb Riss followed her gaze and asked in puzzlement.
"Something about this... doesn't feel right."
Secretariat tilted her head slightly, and the long horse ears atop her head twitched restlessly.
"But I can't figure out what's wrong. It's so strange!"
Celeb Riss looked toward the group of powerful Umamusume in the distance and sighed helplessly.
"If you want President Rudolf to introduce us, we should wait until after the Winners' Concert."
"It wouldn't be appropriate to disturb them right now. Why don't we head to the front and find ourselves some good seats first?"
"Oh, that's not what I meant."
Secretariat shook her head from side to side. In the end, she still could not make sense of it, so she simply cast the matter out of her mind.
"Forget it! I'm done thinking about it. Let's go find our seats!"
...
Before long, the Umamusume had showered, changed, and made their way to the venue.
By then, the Winners' Concert venue inside Longchamp Racecourse was already packed with people beneath a sea of dancing lights.
The cheers of countless spectators and fans merged into a deafening tide, driving the atmosphere to its peak.
Whoosh!
Brilliant spotlights suddenly converged upon the center of the stage.
Then McQueen, Suave Dancer, and Generous made their dazzling entrance, each dressed in magnificent racewear.
The entire venue erupted like a volcano.
Accompanied by the three girls' radiant dance and beautiful singing, this year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe finally came to a close.
(End of Chapter)
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