Uma Musume: To The Top!!

Chapter 332 332: 443

The vehicle drove steadily along the broad road. Before long, the grand building that had been faintly visible at the edge of their view gradually came into clear focus.

At the manor entrance, aside from the staff who had been waiting for quite some time, three familiar figures were craning their necks in anticipation.

"Hane!"

From far away came Haitoshi's excited shout as she waved hard. Her lively voice echoed across the open fields.

Kuroha stopped the car at the manor entrance and got out with his team members.

While gesturing for the staff to take over the luggage, he smiled at the three people who had come to welcome them.

"Riko, Haitoshi, Little Star. It's been a while."

After excitedly hopping around for quite some time, Haitoshi finally put on a deliberately displeased expression, planted her hands on her hips, and complained in a huff.

"Honestly, why didn't you tell me ahead of time that you were coming this time? I didn't even get to prepare a welcome ceremony. I am not happy!"

Kuroha laughed and teased her. "Wasn't I trying to give you a surprise?"

"And Ireland is so close to Britain. On top of that, aren't you about to debut soon? I figured that instead of staying somewhere unfamiliar, I might as well come back to Gildune."

Puf.

Just then, Kuroha felt something soft press against his thigh.

He looked down and saw that Haito Star had somehow come close. Her tiny body was hugging his leg, and her delicate little face rubbed silently against his pant leg. It was extremely cute.

Kuroha froze for an instant. Then his gaze softened, and he reached out to pat her little head.

After that, he looked up at the stern-faced middle-aged woman in front of him and said solemnly, "Riko, I'll be troubling you again for a while."

Hearing that, Riko also showed a rare smile.

"What trouble? It isn't as if I can help you much. If anything, I may end up needing your help."

As she spoke, her gaze passed over Kuroha and turned toward the three uma musume behind him.

The first to enter her sight was a beautiful girl with long silver hair and rare heterochromatic eyes.

As a veteran Trainer, Rikohad naturally heard about Folkqueen, the "former strongest uma musume of the Atlantic." She had even studied Folkqueen's post-race footage more than once, so she recognized her at a glance.

Next was a gray-haired girl with purple hair, standing beside Kuroha with her hands folded in front of her. Her bearing was elegant and composed.

Having watched the Istanbul Trophy countless times with Haito Star, Riko was also extremely familiar with Mejiro McQueen, Chasing Light's expedition captain.

As for the last uma musume, who radiated astonishing approachability and had blue hair as deep as the sea, Riko truly had never seen her before.

"This is Folkqueen, Mejiro McQueen, and Godolphin Arabian..."

Very soon, Kuroha began introducing everyone one by one.

"Godolphin... Arabian..."

As everyone walked together toward the villa district, Riko chewed over that ancient, thunderous name and murmured while touching her chin, "The same name as one of the Three Goddesses. What a powerful name."

Godolphin: "..."

Seeing this, Kuroha coughed lightly and smiled. "Don't be fooled by Godolphin's young appearance. When it comes to training and conditioning uma musume, she has extremely profound expertise."

"Oh? Is she an assistant Trainer you cultivated?" Riko's eyes lit up.

She remembered Kuroha's almost terrifying coaching ability.

Add to that Berno Light, the girl who had been by Oguri Cap's side during last year's expedition and had already behaved with remarkable professionalism despite not having studied for very long, and Riko politely nodded toward Godolphin.

"In that case, I look forward to working with you over the next few months, Miss Godolphin."

"The pleasure is mine. I look forward to working with you as well," Godolphin replied with a gentle smile.

As they spoke, everyone arrived at the villa they had reserved in advance.

Once the three girls had chosen their rooms and settled in, Chasing Light's expedition team officially set up camp in Ireland.

...

Early the next morning.

Kuroha woke up on time.

Sensing the steady breathing beside him, he carefully shifted the warm weight resting across his chest and gently tucked the blanket around the girl.

Seeing that McQueen merely wrinkled her nose a little in her sleep, still slightly unused to the arrangement, while her breathing remained steady, he finally dressed with peace of mind and left the room.

After washing up and eating breakfast, Kuroha walked out of the villa.

They had only arrived in Ireland yesterday, so there were no training activities scheduled for today. He planned to use the free time to stroll around nearby.

Outside Gildune Manor stretched an endless expanse of green fields.

The air here was so fresh it almost carried a sweetness, and it felt more than a full level more comfortable than Paris.

"Should I just run straight to the city center?"

The thought suddenly popped into Kuroha's mind.

It was only a dozen kilometers or so. With his current physical ability, if he ran at a normal pace, it would probably take him only ten-something minutes.

But he soon shook his head and gave up on the idea.

After all, sprinting down a public road for over ten minutes at the cruising speed of a top-class uma musume would be far too shocking.

He would rather drive than appear in a local urban legend tomorrow.

Kuroha walked and stopped along the way, planning future tactics while admiring the magnificent scenery of a foreign land.

The sun gradually climbed higher, and the originally empty countryside slowly gained a number of pedestrians.

"Hm? I walked all the way here?"

Kuroha stopped and looked at the people gathering in twos and threes around him, as well as the familiar grand building before him.

Leopardstown Racecourse!

This was the key venue where the Irish Champion Stakes would be held several months from now.

Judging by the situation, there should be a race here later, though based on the current crowd, it was probably only some little-known event.

Just as he was considering whether to go inside and pass the time, a sudden commotion rippled through the crowd.

Kuroha looked toward the sound.

He saw a group of professional security personnel in black suits, their expressions cold and sharp, quickly parting the crowd.

In the middle was an escort made up of maids in ornate uniforms and personal guards. They surrounded a petite uma musume as they walked toward the racecourse.

Although that little uma musume still looked like a young girl who had yet to debut, the noble air revealed in her every movement was completely unconcealed.

She wore an approachable yet somewhat helpless smile as she slowly entered the venue under the escort's protection.

"Royalty?"

Kuroha looked at the grand display and fell into thought.

Unlike countries such as the Bald Eagle Federation or Tōkō, quite a few European countries had abolished their ancient monarchies, but because of the special race known as uma musume, they still preserved the honored status of "royalty."

This was completely different from the prestigious families at Central Tracen, such as the Mejiro, Symboli, and Fine families.

Those famous houses were indeed great families, but legally speaking, they had no extra privileges.

The royal uma musume of Europe, however, were true world nobles.

They lived in castles, had personal guards, and in their own countries, some even enjoyed the title of "princess."

"She's so young. Which princess of the Irish royal family is she?" Kuroha murmured in confusion.

He was not particularly well-versed in the genealogies of Europe's royal houses.

An uncle beside him was respectfully watching the escort leave. Hearing Kuroha's mutter, he turned and smiled.

"You're a foreigner, aren't you? That is Her Highness Fine Motion."

"Fine Motion?" Kuroha's expression stirred slightly.

"That's right." The uncle was quite talkative and continued, "I hear Her Highness especially likes uma musume races. She often appears at major training grounds and racecourses around the country."

"There are even rumors that Her Highness wants to become an official uma musume herself and intends to enroll in Ireland's Tracen Academy. But, well..."

After a pause, the uncle shook his head and sighed.

"For someone as noble as Her Highness, how could she truly run and compete against others? Those stories are only worth hearing as rumors."

"Mm... Personally, I think uma musume races are glorious things, no matter how fiercely contested they are or how desperate the duel becomes. But the royal family probably doesn't think that way."

The uncle was clearly a chatterbox. Before Kuroha could even speak, the man had already finished muttering everything on his mind.

After that, the uncle warmly invited Kuroha to go inside and watch the race with him, saying there would be a G3 graded race later and that it would certainly be exciting.

Kuroha did not refuse the kindness. Together with this enthusiastic uncle, he stepped into Leopardstown Racecourse, a place steeped in the weight of history.

(End of Chapter)

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