23: Chapter 22: One Controlled by Her Talent!
23: Chapter 22: One Controlled by Her Talent!
Could an Uma Musume like Natsume Reiko truly exist?
The answer she’d just heard left Air Groove standing there in a daze.
Uma Musume noticed more details than humans.
They sensed more emotion.
They could see things humans could not.
Feel emotions humans might fail to empathize with.
No Uma Musume hated the stage.
Performing there meant hearing the cheers from below.
Those cheers were pure.
Filled with joy.
Emotions could influence people.
Even more so Uma Musume.
When spectators beneath the stage were happy…
The Uma Musume performing above naturally became happy too.
For some reason…
Air Groove suddenly had a premonition.
She might never see Natsume Reiko perform on the Winning Live stage.
Reiko simply would not want to appear there.
“Air Groove?” Symboli Rudolf’s voice pulled her back to reality.
“What are you doing?
Natsume Reiko and Miss Hayakawa already left.” Only then did Air Groove realize that both Tazuna and Reiko had disappeared.
“It’s nothing.” After thinking briefly, Air Groove decided not to tell Rudolf Reiko’s answer.
“Really?” Rudolf looked unconvinced.
Air Groove changed the subject.
“Speaking of which…
“Why did you treat Natsume Reiko that way?
“Maintaining one length for the entire race was practically humiliating her.” In a race, margins of one length, three lengths, even ten lengths could appear.
One length by itself meant very little.
But that was when discussing the final result.
Maintaining a one-length distance for the entire race…
Carried a completely different meaning.
Standing to the side, Air Groove had seen exactly how the Emperor suppressed Reiko throughout the whole race.
Yes.
Suppression.
Complete and unquestionable.
“Didn’t you notice it, Air Groove?” Symboli Rudolf looked toward the distant sky.
“Notice what?” Air Groove didn’t understand.
Rudolf’s grave expression confused her.
“Natsume Reiko…
“Is a puppet possessing talent but no soul.” Rudolf’s voice was heavy.
The pain of watching someone waste precious talent was obvious.
The Emperor who had once ruled the racetrack…
And now ruled Tracen Academy…
Could tolerate many things.
But watching a genius waste her gifts wasn’t one of them.
Natsume Reiko happened to hit exactly that nerve.
“Why would you say something like that?” Air Groove asked.
Just earlier, Rudolf had praised Natsume Reiko’s talent.
What happened during the race to change her opinion so drastically?
“As expected, whatever you were thinking earlier must have been important.
“It disrupted your attention.
“You watched the whole race, didn’t you?” “I did.
So?” “Her aura activates through instinct.
“Not through her conscious will.
“You understand what that means, Air Groove.
“She isn’t controlling her talent.
“Her talent is controlling her!” Rudolf had never expected this.
Natsume Reiko…
Rather than being a racing Uma Musume, she resembled a puppet controlled by the abilities inside her.
Her aura was too rigid.
Too mechanical.
The shackles seemed to come in different forms with different effects…
But their activation was inflexible.
That wasn’t how real interference techniques were supposed to work.
A true interference technique could make someone’s heart tremble with a mere glance.
Yet Natsume Reiko’s techniques possessed rigid trigger conditions.
Everything followed rules.
Like formulaic eight-legged essays from the country across the sea.
Since when had aura become something so inconvenient?!
After countless races, Symboli Rudolf understood deeply how terrifying it was to freely control aura and influence others.
Natsume Reiko’s level…
Couldn’t even be considered beginner.
Such natural aptitude.
Such talent.
How could anyone waste it this badly?!
“Symboli Rudolf, stop thinking about this.
“If you continue, you’ll only get angrier.” “Natsume Reiko possesses the qualifications to challenge for an undefeated Triple Crown.” The Triple Crown.
One of the highest honors among Uma Musume.
The Satsuki Sho.
The Japanese Derby.
The Kikuka Sho.
Only someone who fought through three G1 races and defeated every rival along the way could achieve it.
Not every powerful Uma Musume became Triple Crown champion.
But every Triple Crown champion…
Was unquestionably powerful.
It meant that during that period of time…
She had completely crushed every same-generation rival.
Symboli Rudolf rarely offered such an evaluation.
But in this “Golden Generation,” there were unusually many Uma Musume qualified to chase the Triple Crown.
Gold Ship.
Silence Suzuka.
Tokai Teio.
One outstanding Uma Musume after another emerged.
They gave Rudolf hope that Japan’s racing world could rise to another level.
“So that’s why it hurts you so much?” Air Groove understood.
“But Emperor…
“Do you remember Natsume Reiko’s records?” She reminded her: “Just over a month ago…
“Natsume Reiko was still an ordinary horse girl.
“Not a racing Uma Musume.” Symboli Rudolf paused.
She really had forgotten that detail.
Air Groove’s reminder brought Reiko’s background back to mind.
Natsume Reiko had supposedly been an abandoned Uma Musume orphan.
She grew up at Iron Assault Children’s Home.
Natsume Sawa, her Trainer, had been her childhood friend.
Because of her circumstances, she had never considered becoming a racing Uma Musume.
If that life had continued…
Such talent might have disappeared without ever entering a race.
Then an accident changed everything.
Natsume Sawa graduated from Trainer school but failed to sign with any Uma Musume.
Under Central Racing Association regulations, his Trainer license would eventually be revoked.
And so…
Natsume Reiko became a racing Uma Musume for Natsume Sawa.
“I understand.” Rudolf exhaled.
“I went too far today.
“But this only proves how terrifying Natsume Reiko’s talent is.
“Someone possessing such potential absolutely cannot remain outside Tracen Academy.” “Emperor…” Make Tracen Academy powerful again.
That was Rudolf’s conviction.
Ever since her failed campaign in America…
Ever since foreign Uma Musume began traveling to Japan almost as though domestic races were easy prestige opportunities…
Rudolf had wanted Japan’s racing world to surpass other nations.
That was the official explanation.
But Air Groove knew the true turning point had been Rudolf’s expedition to America years earlier.
Undefeated Triple Crown champion in Japan.
Sixth place in America.
The contrast had been devastating.
“I’m fine.
“I’ll apologize to Natsume Reiko properly in the future.
“Air Groove, spend more time interacting with her.” “Actually…
“Miss Hayakawa and Natsume Reiko seem quite close.” “Really?
“Then that’s good.
“If it’s Miss Hayakawa, I can relax.” Symboli Rudolf trusted Tazuna.
When Rudolf first entered Tracen Academy…
Tazuna had already been working there.
There were even rumors that Tazuna had begun working before Tracen Academy was formally established.
With someone that experienced overseeing her…
Rudolf felt confident Reiko’s future education would not suffer.
“Next time I see Miss Hayakawa, I’ll speak with her carefully about Natsume Reiko.” Rudolf made the decision aloud.
Air Groove didn’t object.
She was Vice President.
Symboli Rudolf was President.
Making decisions like this…
Was the President’s privilege.
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