After the exhibition races ended, two legends were born on the track.
One was a human trainer who had fought evenly with uma musume.
The other was a mysterious uma musume who had pulled twenty-two lengths clear of her opponents.
After the race ended, she vanished without a trace. The racecourse staff searched for her like mad, even calling in reporters. They wanted to speak with the uma musume in the yellow jacket and peaked cap.
She had broken the world records for 1,600 metres, 1,800 metres, and 2,000 metres all at once.
Although it had not been an official race, breaking three world records was enough to prove her unbelievable strength.
"Trainer Fujiwara Chiya."
The next day, the person in charge of the racecourse came to see Chiya personally. In fluent English, he said, "I heard from the staff that you know the young lady in the yellow jacket?"
"I guess you could say we're acquainted…"
"That's wonderful! May I ask if you can contact her? There are some matters we would like to ask for her opinion on."
"Sorry. When I say I know her, I only mean we exchanged a few words. I don't have her contact details."
"I see. If you happen to meet her again, please, please make sure to invite her to visit Longchamp Racecourse. If that happens, we will certainly repay you generously, Trainer Fujiwara."
"All right…"
"Also, we would like to arrange an interview with you this weekend, if you have time. We would be honoured if you could attend."
"I understand."
After thanking Chiya repeatedly, the racecourse official left.
Chiya closed the door.
He had thought he had met another strange researcher like Darley, someone oddly obsessed with his genes. Who would have thought she was practically a living deity on land?
To win by twenty-two lengths on Europe's heavy turf was something only a handful of people in Chiya's memory could have achieved. Every one of them was a famous figure recorded in history.
But Byerley…
No matter how hard Chiya thought, he could not remember anyone connected to that name.
Her strength could no longer be described as merely strong.
It was absurd.
Compared to her, every other uma musume was just a firefly.
Why have I never heard of someone this strong?
Could she also be using an alias?
Seeing that it was about time, Chiya changed clothes and went to a park outside Tracen. Byerley was already sitting on a bench, waiting for him.
Chiya had lied to the racecourse official about not having any way to contact her. He and Byerley had already agreed to meet. Byerley had simply reminded him not to talk about it carelessly, so Chiya pretended he knew nothing.
"Is it really fine for you to sit here so openly? The whole city is looking for you right now."
"It's fine, it's fine. They'll forget about it soon enough anyway."
She waved it off casually and motioned for Chiya to sit beside her.
"So? From now on, you race against me, and I'll be responsible for training you."
"All right."
Chiya had been completely convinced by her strength.
He had even thought about making her one of his uma musume.
If he sent Byerley out to race, wouldn't that be dimensional suppression against anyone?
Unfortunately, she had clearly stated that she would not race a second time. She did not explain why. She simply said, "It wouldn't be good for the children's growth."
"Byerley… I have another unreasonable request."
"What is it?"
"Could you act as a training partner for my uma musume? They also need to race. Having a powerful opponent would help them grow faster."
"…Sorry, I can't do that."
"Why?"
"If I became their training partner, I would be interfering too much. Uma musume should rely on their companions, rivals, trainers, and themselves. Not an outsider like me."
"I see."
She could train him, but not his uma musume.
Byerley seemed to have an unusual obsession with the proper order of training. Everything had to follow its correct place. She would train Fujiwara Chiya, and Fujiwara Chiya would then train his uma musume.
"All right, let's begin, Trainer. First, warm-up! From here to the outskirts. Keep up with me!"
She led Chiya from the city centre all the way to the suburbs. The distance was seven kilometres in total.
Once they reached an open stretch of grassland, she said, "Next is a forty-thousand-metre endurance run!"
"How much!?"
"Stop dawdling and run!"
Byerley transformed into a devil instructor, looking down at Chiya from above.
Under her pressure, Chiya had no choice but to lower his head and run. Byerley did not simply stand around either. She followed behind him, urging him on.
After running forty thousand metres half-dead, Chiya collapsed face-first onto the ground.
But Byerley still did not let him go.
"Next, three hundred push-ups!"
"Are you trying to kill me!? Even uma musume can't handle being pushed around like this!"
"Training in the past was far harsher than this. Modern training has been reduced who knows how many times. If you want to become a top-class powerhouse, you must endure hardship!"
"But I'm a trainer!"
"Then learn something from my training and teach it to your uma musume when you go back!"
"You can't be serious—"
"Don't stop moving! Pick up the pace!"
Under Byerley's hellish discipline, Fujiwara Chiya finally completed the first phase of training. By the time it ended, he had only breath going in and none going out.
Even the pressure training he had given Mejiro Dober back then had not reached this level of intensity.
For an uma musume, this was already overload.
Chiya would not dare do this to his own uma musume. Nine times out of ten, something would go wrong.
"Here."
Byerley sat beside him and handed him three walnuts.
"If I keep training like this… I'm going to die."
"Stimulating potential isn't easy. Especially for someone like you, whose uma musume genes appeared later in life. You need strong medicine."
"Aren't you afraid I'll get injured and never be able to run again…?"
"You won't get injured that easily. I'm right here beside you."
"Are you a doctor, or a protective charm?"
"I… know a little medicine. In any case, you just focus on running. Don't think about all that nonsense. Eat something and recover a little. We'll continue later."
Chiya began to regret why he had ever agreed to race Byerley.
Hell.
This place was simply hell.
That entire morning, Chiya underwent twice the training load of an ordinary uma musume. When Byerley finally said they were done, Chiya lay flat on the ground, unable to move even a finger.
"Good. Keep this up!"
Byerley carried the limp Chiya on her back.
Her straight, upright body had an unimaginable softness when held onto. It had already gone beyond the category of an uma musume. It even gave Chiya a faintly sacred feeling.
Byerley carried him back to Tracen.
"I'll come find you again tomorrow. Rest early today. Also…"
She spoke to Chiya, who was on the verge of passing out.
"Eat more walnuts. They'll help your body recover."
After saying that, Byerley left the room.
Chiya's head tilted to the side.
He fell asleep immediately.