Cheers and applause echoed throughout Kyoto Racecourse, bathing Rudolph Symboli in their glory.
She raised her right hand, spreading her five fingers, indicating her achievement of five crowns.
This marked the birth of the second five-crown Horse Girl since Sanzan twenty years ago, and undoubtedly, the history of Horse Girl entered a new chapter.
A new era dawned, and the Emperor would surely continue to shine within it, continuing to glow and radiate in the Twinkle Series.
“Congratulations, Rudolf, you’ve achieved five crowns.”
When the audience’s cheers began to subside, Chitose Meiji Representative walked over, smiling.
Due to her premature acceleration earlier, she lacked the stamina to maintain her sprint on the final straight, only finishing fifth.
“Thank you, Chitose Meiji.”
Hearing this, Rudolph Symboli turned around and smiled, saying:
“If you’re free, would you like to have dinner together later?”
As she spoke, she glanced towards the stands, making a gesture.
Following her gaze, Chitose Meiji Representative also noticed Maruzensky and Katsuragi Ace standing together.
“No, I plan to go to the hospital for a check-up; my leg seems to have a problem, and it’s been very uncomfortable since the middle of the race.”
After some thought, she ultimately refused, a somewhat forced smile on her face.
“Your leg is very uncomfortable? Do you need us to accompany you to the hospital?”
A bad premonition welled up from the bottom of her heart, and Rudolph Symboli’s expression immediately became serious.
“No need, I can feel it’s not a major problem like a fracture, and it hasn’t reached the point where I can’t walk.”
Chitose Meiji Representative put on a relaxed demeanor, waved her hand, and turned towards the athlete’s passage:
“Rudolf, you all go to the dinner; I’ll come back to the academy to find you later.”
Watching her back, Rudolph Symboli opened her mouth slightly, wanting to say something more.
But as if she had thought of something, she ultimately did not speak, only silently watched her depart.
The hospital examination quickly yielded results; the ominous premonition came true: periostitis.
For Horse Girl, this is one of the illnesses they do not wish to encounter.
Fortunately, it can be treated normally, and recovery is not difficult, but the time required during this period depends on the situation.
Chitose Meiji Representative accepted this with great composure and issued a statement regarding her retirement the next morning.
Having already designated the Spring Emperor’s Prize as her final race, she officially withdrew from the stage at this point.
Time advanced, and on the other side, in Louisville, M Country.
Inside a certain coffee shop.
Polaris Glacier sat alone in the middle of a side section, reading a book related to English daily conversation.
A cup of coffee, with white sugar and milk added, sat on the table; half of it had already been drunk.
“Hi, may I sit across from you?”
A female voice suddenly spoke in English, inquiring.
Polaris Glacier subconsciously looked up, and to her surprise, she could only see the other person from the chest down.
She couldn’t help but raise her head higher to barely make out the other person’s appearance.
Before her was a tall Horse Girl, estimated to be 1.9 meters tall, with bright chestnut long hair.
Her appearance was mature, and her body was exceptionally strong; one could feel the power contained within her muscles just by looking.
Although her aura was well-hidden, one could still vaguely glimpse the terrifying, abyss-like quality within it.
【This person is very strong, not just ordinarily strong.】
The desire for battle gradually welled up in her heart, but Polaris Glacier quickly suppressed it, smiling and gesturing to the opposite seat, saying in English:
“No problem, please sit down.”
“Thank you, Polaris Glacier.”
After sitting down, the other person called a waiter and ordered a mocha.
“My name is Polaris Glacier, and yours?”
There were other empty seats around, but the other person specifically chose to sit across from her, which likely indicated an intention to interact.
Polaris Glacier thought for a moment and decisively spoke, attempting to start a conversation.
The tall Horse Girl also smiled and gave her name upon hearing this:
“Secretariat.”
Secretariat… is it…
Polaris Glacier secretly nodded, making a mental note, and asked curiously:
“Secretariat, are you an active athlete?”
“No, I retired twelve years ago.”
Huh? Already retired for twelve years? But her body looks even stronger than active Horse Girl?
“Rather, Polaris Glacier, you’re still an athlete, aren’t you? Coming to Louisville at this time, are you planning to participate in the Kentucky Derby?”
Secretariat smiled, her gaze sweeping over the book on the table.
“Yes, I have that intention.”
Polaris Glacier nodded, took a sip of the coffee that had become lukewarm, and continued:
“Secretariat, have you ever competed? In the Kentucky Derby.”
“Huhu, I have.”
“The result… how was it?”
“Hmm… should I say it was an easy victory? At least I still had energy left at the time.”
An easy victory? And still had energy left? As expected, she’s not an ordinary person.
“That’s amazing, to win the Derby so easily. You must have been a powerhouse of that era, Secretariat.”
“Oh, it’s nothing, nothing. I only ran for less than two years before retiring, and I haven’t officially competed against other athletes in the world, so I can’t really call myself a powerhouse.”
Though she said this, the confidence in her expression fully conveyed that she did indeed consider herself a powerhouse.
“However, Polaris Glacier, I think it’s very impressive that you came all the way from another country to compete here.”
She paused slightly.
“I imagine you’re confident of victory, and from your blue eyes, I can indeed feel an extraordinary aura.”
“There’s both the chill of wind and snow, and the fierce heat of fire, which I find very interesting.”
At this moment, the waiter brought the coffee and placed it on the table in front of Secretariat.
Watching the other person take a sip, Polaris Glacier suddenly closed her eyes, then opened them a moment later and said:
“So, Secretariat, you specifically came over just to chat with me?”
“Something like that, since the Kentucky Derby is approaching, I made a special trip here.”
The other person put down her coffee, still smiling:
“Originally, I only came into this shop to rest for a while, but I didn’t expect to meet such an interesting child like you.”
“Is that so? It’s a pity, but I don’t intend to just keep chatting like this.”
The Polaris Glacier suddenly stood up, frost congealing in her eyes.
“Oh? Then what do you intend?”
Seeing this, the smile on Secretariat’s lips curled up slightly, and playfulness appeared in her vortex-like eyes.
“Run a race with me, the kind where we go all out.”
As her words fell, Polaris Glare's chilling aura erupted, consciously invading the tall Horse Girl across from her.
“Huhu, what intense fighting spirit. So Polaris Glacier, you’re this type.”
Facing the Polaris Glare's chilling aura, Secretariat’s expression remained unchanged. After some thought, she still released her own aura.
“?!”
The next moment, Polaris Glacier only felt her body become much heavier, and even the space before her became distorted.
Her previous feeling was correct; this abyss-like oppressive sensation seemed capable of engulfing one’s consciousness, exceptionally terrifying.
【However… that’s all it is.】
Affected by the aura, the frost in her eyes rapidly turned dark black, and her original Polaris Glare's chilling aura intensified into a chilling snow.
The bone-chilling cold swept over, and this time, Secretariat’s expression clearly changed, becoming serious:
“This is… I see… today’s youth are truly formidable.”