Having trained real horses, why are we now training racehorse girls after time-traveling?

“If Master is also participating, then she and Lady will be my strongest opponents in this competition.” Although McQueen didn’t know why Jin Lang asked him such an obvious question, he still answered honestly: “Excellent quality classmate may also pose a certain threat to me, but my domain [Pure White Rhythm] is immune to any mental interference, so I don’t think she will have a great impact on me.”

"Trainer, your recent training programs have given me strategies to counter Master and Lady. Is there a problem?"

“McQueen, sometimes we need to focus not only on the most obvious and strongest opponents, but also on some less conspicuous ones.”

Upon hearing this, Jin Lang shook his head and pointed to the bottom of the list—the lowest-ranked Arima No. 1 in popularity this time.

"McQueen, be careful of this racehorse girl. She might unleash a power that will surprise all of you."

“Daioku?” McQueen looked at the name Jin Lang was pointing to and uttered it softly. For some reason, just saying the name gave McQueen an inexplicable sense of crisis…

Chapter 417: Arima Commemoration, Gathering of Celebrity Horse Racing Girls

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Zhongshan Racecourse! The race we are about to hold is the highly anticipated GI race! Arima Kinen!"

"The most popular and strongest racehorses of the year will gather here for a dream-level showdown! And each of the Arima Kinen's participants is a top-tier racer who is lightning fast and unstoppable on the track! We believe that this race will be an exciting one for everyone!"

"Well then, without further ado, let's begin the popularity announcement. First up is our seventeenth most popular work, a top-tier masterpiece!"

"She seems to be in great shape today. Although her popularity ranking isn't ideal this time, she might have a chance to pull off a major upset!"

"Is this Daiyusaku? I seem to have played against her before... back at the Kyoto Grand Prix? But I won that match without any doubt."

Meanwhile, Megumi McQueen, the most popular character at this Arima Commemoration, was watching the scene from backstage. When she saw Daiyusaku's outfit, which didn't have much of a distinctive feature for a horse racing girl and even gave off a cheap vibe, Megumi McQueen, whose heart was now pure white, not only didn't look down on her, but became even more wary of Daiyusaku.

The cheap winning outfit suggests that the opponent is of humble origin and has not achieved ideal results. However, even so, the design of Daiyu's winning outfit has some remarkable and eye-catching features, indicating that her trainer values ​​her highly. Although it is unknown what level Daiyu's trainer is, since he still has high hopes for Daiyu, then Daiyu must have the intention to meet those expectations.

A racehorse girl willing to risk everything to meet expectations is very likely to create miracles. Megumi McQueen herself is well aware of this, because that's how she broke through her own limits in the Autumn Emperor's Sho.

"It seems the trainer's vigilance was not unfounded. The aura and the look in the eyes of this kid named Daiyusaku are indeed different."

"Has she awakened her [Domain]?" Megumi McQueen wondered. But in any case, she was ready to face this kid named Daiyusaku in this match.

Meanwhile, the noblewoman, who ranked third in popularity in this competition, stood alone in a corner. She closed her eyes, seemingly indifferent to everything, but her slightly drooping ears and the tail swishing behind her indicated her dissatisfaction with her popularity ranking.

It wasn't that the third most popular player made the noblewoman angry, but rather that the second most popular player in the competition, the Gold Master who had only recently decided to participate, was ranked lower than her, which made the noblewoman very dissatisfied.

It seems that people's preconceived notions are still very deeply ingrained: mares are considered inferior to stallions in races...

What angered the lady the most was that, according to her teacher's shocking inside information, she, the Golden Master, and Megumi McQueen, the three favorites to win the Arima Kinen, were separated by only one vote each!

This kind of competitive spirit of horse racers is actually easy to understand. For example, if one day, the Tokai Emperor and Mejiro McQueen could face off again and recreate the "TM Showdown", then McQueen would also be dissatisfied with being the "M" who was ranked lower.

The racehorse girls' competitive spirit makes them subconsciously strive to defeat their rivals in every aspect on the racetrack. This is even more pronounced in the already highly competitive noblewomen.

As the popularity rankings progressed, the more popular racehorses took to the field one after another. After the sixth most popular racehorse, Yuujin, and the fourth most popular racehorse, Meguro Raien, were eliminated, the Lady finally made a new move.

As the noblewoman opened her eyes, a strand of long, orange hair that drifted past her gaze instantly invigorated her. She watched the goldsmith's retreating figure and spoke to him, word by word:

"I originally thought you wouldn't come—but since you're here, it means you must have made ample preparations, right?"

"So, whether you're well-prepared or just putting on a brave face, I won't hold back at all on the field, Golden Master."

"..." Upon hearing this, the Gold Master slowly stopped in her tracks. This time, she silently turned around with her hands in her pockets. And this time, the noblewoman noticed that the Gold Master was slightly different.

The Golden Master's winning outfit had been slightly modified once when she participated in the Chrysanthemum Appreciation; the color of the coat was a bit darker. This time, however, many golden embellishments were added, and the Golden Master had many more golden decorations on her body. But the most eye-catching thing was undoubtedly her golden mask, which was clearly a new one.

The goldsmith slightly turned her head, removed her mask, revealing her cherry blossom-colored lips. Her eyes held a disdain that seemed to look down on everything, as she spoke calmly to the noblewoman:

"Come on, I'm not afraid of you."

This time, Ikezoe and I fought together. The Golden Master didn't say those words, but if the noblewoman had been more observant, she would have noticed that the Golden Master's shoes had changed to a completely new pair, perfectly matching her final outfit—not exactly running shoes, strictly speaking, they were boots, but because of the wonders of the final outfit, even these shoes gave the Golden Master an advantage in running.

The shoes that Chi Tian originally gave to the Golden Master accompanied him all the way through the classic three crowns. However, after the Chrysanthemum Sho, the shoes that the Golden Master had sent for repairs countless times finally broke under the strain. Moreover, this breakage was much more serious than any of the previous ones, to the point that it was completely beyond repair.

"Instead of fixing these shoes, we might as well make a new pair." Those were the original words of the shop owner, which made Chi Tian decide to replace the original shoes with the original shoes that were made together with the final outfit.

But Ikezoe did not forget his bond with Orpheus, so he chose a new gift for Orpheus to commemorate their battle together—the mask that the Golden Master is now wearing.

This gift is many times cheaper than the shoes, but it can accompany the goldsmith for a much longer time, making it a more suitable gift for the goldsmith.

Moreover, the broken shoes were not entirely useless. The horseshoes, which were originally plated with gold but were now worn down to almost nothing, were preserved. According to the goldsmith's requirements, apart from necessary repairs, no modifications were made, and they were re-inlaid into the shoes of the final outfit.

Thus, the Golden Master's new decisive outfit was completed. At this moment, she felt her strength had become abundant once again. Perhaps, she had reached a new bottleneck.

Just like when she was about to awaken her own [Domain], each of the Golden Master's great transformations brought about a complete change. This time, she had a premonition that as long as she defeated the noblewoman, she could break through this barrier.

……

"Second in popularity, the Golden Master! After a resounding victory in the Japan Cup, our 'Golden Tyrant' is once again pressing her advantage! Heading towards the Arima Kinen championship! She and her formidable opponent in this race, the Lady, are both triple crown winners this year. Who will ultimately emerge victorious?"

"Finally, the Golden Master has made his appearance." On the other side of the stands, Miyu Tanino, whose mission was over after the Autumn Emperor's Slam, reappeared in the audience of Arima Memorial. Beside her, Kichijo, who had helped out at the Autumn Emperor's Slam, was also quietly waiting.

They also came to watch the race, not just to see how strong the younger racehorse girls had become, but also to find someone.

If this were a competition for a noblewoman, then she should definitely be here too. At this moment, Ji Zhao's gaze swept across every figure in the audience, tirelessly searching for a figure that seemed somewhat similar to her in her memory.

Perhaps appearances can be concealed, but aura cannot be changed... Ji Zhao kept searching, so much so that she didn't have time to pay attention to the current racetrack, and the racehorse girls had already begun to enter the arena.

At this moment, the noblewoman was assigned to gate number 4, which is close to the inner passage, while the Golden Master, because she was the last to register, was assigned to gate number 17, which is the outermost gate. Daisaku was assigned to gate number 15, which is not far from the Golden Master, and Megumi McQueen, who is the most popular, was assigned to the best gate number 1.

At this moment, their inner thoughts were different, but without exception, they had all chosen the opponents they should be wary of.

Twin Turbo: "I must lead the entire race! I'll make the Empress and the others look at me with new respect!"

Excellent qualities: "As long as I try, it should be fine, right? Anyway, the top spots are definitely fought over by these geniuses. It would be good enough if they could even get a third place, right?"

Meguro Ryan: "Another match against McQueen... Perfect, let's see just how far McQueen has come lately."

Dongying Zuodun: "It seems like that master craftsman is competing with the noblewoman... They're both pretty strong... I guess I'll just have to try and see if I can find a way to snag a bargain like she did back then?"

McQueen Megumi has his eyes on Daisaku, while the Goldsmith and the Lady have long been prepared for a one-on-one duel. As for the rest of the masters... their thoughts are all different.

"We must win, we must win this Arima Kinen race." Someone was muttering quietly, but it expressed the sentiments of all the female horse racers at that moment.

"Dangdang!"

"The gates are open! All the racehorses have made a beautiful start! It's going to be a fierce competition for the track and advantageous positions right from the start!"

"So, running at the forefront is the Twin Turbo, who have declared they'll lead the entire race! The Golden Master is slowly moving from the outer lane to the inner lane! The Lady, on the other hand, secured a favorable position immediately!"

"Mejiro McQueen, as the most popular horse and one of the older racehorses in this Arima Kinen race, immediately took the best position, while Daiyusaku fell into the chasing group. Will the race result change?"

Chapter 418: The Noblewoman's Formal Clash with the Goldsmith

"It's going to be a very intense competition right from the start. Orpheus's gate is on the outside lane. To gain an advantage as quickly as possible, she has to move closer to the inside lane without affecting the acceleration of other racehorses. But this has to be done without breaking the rules. So she has to create distance between herself and the other racehorses from the very beginning."

"But now it seems that this method is no longer practical, as everyone has a perfect start."

In the stands, no one would miss Arima Kinen. The track conditions for today's race are typical for a heavy horse track, which is an advantage for Mejiro McQueen, but not necessarily for Golden Master.

The situation had already become intense from the very beginning. Everyone had chosen their opponents, but for the time being, no one could enter into a one-on-one duel. Even the Gold Masters knew very well that this match was not about explosive power, but about endurance.

Because of Megumi McQueen's presence, the challenges they face are definitely not just the distance in front of them. Megumi McQueen hasn't even used her full strength yet, but once her [Domain] is released, it can be said to be a devastating blow to most racehorse girls.

Therefore, the Gold Master must be wary of McQueen's movements. This time, she is not McQueen's teammate. Although they are partners in the same team, they will be rivals on the field.

Therefore, although they knew each other's strength and the power of their respective domains, they were completely unaware of each other's tactics this time, and their attitudes were clear: each would rely on their own strength.

"Kenichi, how will the Grandmaster run this race? Didn't you discuss tactics with her?" Dongshang Biange, who was also witnessing so many equally matched racehorses for the first time, couldn't help but ask: This race is even more exciting than the Grandmaster's Chrysanthemum Appreciation race.

"Everyone in this match is so strong, you and Master Sister must have devised a winning strategy, right?"

"...Well, that depends on when the lady will use her true strength."

Upon hearing this, Ikezoe nervously turned her gaze to the noblewoman who was currently conserving her strength in the inner passage. She noticed the Golden Master gradually approaching her. However, as the two women closed the distance, she knew very well that she would be facing off one-on-one against the Golden Master, who possessed an extremely powerful [Domain]. The Golden Master's absolute advantage in this [Domain]—his feat of defeating three opponents at once—was enough to make most horse racers avoid him like the plague.

But the noblewoman was not nervous at all. She simply watched as the goldsmith gradually approached her. Her rhythm did not change at all, and she was calm... which made Chi Tian feel a little worried.

The noblewoman's composure suggests that, barring any possibility of bluffing, she is confident she can gain the upper hand in a one-on-one duel with the goldsmith.

The noblewoman… what tricks does she have up her sleeve? At this moment, both Chi Tian and the Gold Master were thinking the same thing, and their unease began to grow stronger.

On the other side, Jinlang and the Golden Ship stood together, while the Emperor and the Rudolf symbol stood together, only a few steps away from Jinlang. However, their focus was completely different.

“Daisaku… If this child were in this world, she would undoubtedly have undergone a tremendous transformation, but if it is a transformation that could threaten McQueen… then perhaps she has also awakened her own ‘miracle’.”

But Jinlang wasn't quite sure what it was, though he knew that the seemingly inconspicuous Daiyusaku, currently in the chasing ranks of the team, was definitely not just there to keep up; she had her own tactical plan.

The arena appeared calm, but the struggle was like dry gunpowder; just a spark could ignite the entire scene. And finally, it seemed someone had taken the initiative to fire the first shot in the struggle.

"Mejiro Ryan is approaching! And excellent quality is approaching from both sides of the track towards Mejiro McQueen. Is their target Mejiro McQueen?"

"Hey, McQueen, we haven't faced off since the Arima Memorial, have we?" Meguro Ryan pressed closer to Meguro McQueen. This might be her last match. After the Arima Memorial, Ryan's physical condition had begun to decline, and she felt powerless during the race. Therefore, this time, she wanted to have another showdown with Meguro's beloved sister, Meguro McQueen.

"Let's have one last match, McQueen!"

“Sister Ryan…” Megumi McQueen naturally noticed Ryan’s approach. Although Ryan’s aura was strong, her overall strength was not much different from that of Arima Memorial, the final battle between Good Opera and Rudolf. Megumi McQueen, on the other hand, had broken through her own limitations and achieved a great transformation.

It's fair to say that Megumi Rayon is currently unable to compete with Megumi McQueen. What makes McQueen somewhat troublesome is the other side's superior qualities. She senses a very uncomfortable feeling... It seems to be the faintly visible [domain] of superior qualities, but it doesn't seem to be.

Is even excellence stuck at a bottleneck, a point where one can break through personal limitations? McQueen thought to himself, but aloud he still spoke:

"Want to challenge me to a duel, you excellent student?"

"Hehe, otherwise I have no way to compare with geniuses like you. I can only borrow the power of Senior Ryan." Excellent quality was also slightly embarrassed, but her spirit was not as Zen as her tone suggested. Megumi McQueen had begun to feel the uncomfortable effect that Excellent quality was having on him.

This is a state of being close to the [Domain] but not yet breaking through. Her excellent qualities are just one step away from breaking through to another realm. Even so, even if she did not awaken the [Domain], the uncomfortable effect she had on McQueen allowed him to conclude that the [Domain] of excellent qualities would be a kind of mental interference.

Unfortunately, McQueen's [Domain] was able to suppress the ability of superior qualities. Although the impact of superior qualities was not significant at the moment, the discomfort would not be good for McQueen if it continued to spread. Therefore, upon seeing this, McQueen did not hesitate and immediately used his [Domain].

"No time to waste here... [Pure White Rhythm]!"

When McQueen released his [Domain] with ease, all the racehorse girls in the arena were instantly enveloped within it, including the noblewoman and the goldsmith.

This is the domineering nature of McQueen's domain. Although the sense of oppression is not strong, it is precisely because of this that this influence is so great that most racehorse girls lose the possibility of resistance before they even realize it. They may even think it is their imagination, but in reality, they have already fallen into McQueen's rhythm.

Just as McQueen named her domain "Pure White Rhythm," once McQueen unleashes her domain, all the racehorses in the arena must race to her rhythm.

The moment McQueen released her domain, all the mental interference from her superior abilities became ineffective. Moreover, McQueen's attention was more focused as she entered her domain state. Facing the now-extended track in front of her, McQueen knew how to control her speed.

"Is this Megumi McQueen's [Domain]? Although it doesn't have a very strong sense of oppression, it's practically the most powerful weapon against most racehorse girls who aren't good at long-distance races."

Rudolf also sensed the effect of Megure McQueen's [Domain]. After a brief moment of seriousness, she adapted to the influence. Even she couldn't escape the effects of Megure McQueen's [Domain], which shows how powerful Megure McQueen is after breaking through to a higher realm.

"Your Majesty, one day in the future, you may encounter Megumi McQueen again. She will be your most formidable rival."

Rudolph's symbolism is very clear: while the Empress is not weak in long-distance races, she is completely different from Megumi McQueen, who is naturally good at long-distance running. There is still a gap between their talents in long-distance races.

If one day in the future the Empress wants to participate in the Spring Emperor's Sho or other long-distance races, then she and Megumi McQueen will inevitably have a race.

The Spring Emperor's Appreciation Race already covers a distance of 3200 meters, which is already very difficult for the emperor to run. If it were to be extended further... the emperor's stamina might be exhausted halfway through the race.

"Hehe, McQueen is very strong, but I, Your Majesty, am not weak either."