"Orfevre...? Deep Impact, are you genuinely serious about what you're saying?"
Symboli Rudolf, as a fellow Undefeated Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume, was shocked by Deep Impact's words.
The Uma Musume before Symboli Rudolf was the absolute pinnacle of Japanese Uma Musume, the culmination of Shadai's efforts and resources, even considered Shadai's former secret weapon, cultivated to take control of the Japanese Uma Musume scene.
Under such an abundance of resources, effort, and her own monstrous talent, Deep Impact's strength truly stood at the peak of Japan; not only becoming an Undefeated Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume, but also winning seven crowns, just like Symboli Rudolf.
In Deep Impact's entire career, she had only lost twice; once in the Arima Kinen where she was the runner-up, and the other... was related to the scandal.
After the scandal happened, Shadai, to prevent all the influence they had built up from crumbling, decisively chose to shelve their 'secret weapon' and began erasing nearly all public records of her, as if such an Uma Musume had never existed in the first place.
When this had first happened, Symboli Rudolf, when she found out, had once spoken out on her behalf, managing to rally quite a decent number of supporters to stop it from happening.
But in the end, the matter was left unresolved anyway.
Because the victim herself, Deep Impact, voluntarily gave up her honors, giving Shadai her support in erasing her from the books entirely.
"I've already attained everything an Uma Musume could wish for. My life has been basically complete up to this point. It's time for Japan to move on from Deep Impact."
Such was the final indifferent remark Deep Impact gave before completely disappearing from public view.
Many years have passed since then with Deep Impact not even letting out a single peep, which caused people to selectively forget this previously glorious Undefeated Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume; most people believing that Deep Impact had truly left the racetrack for good.
Symboli Rudolf was also one of those individuals. After all, unless Shadai wanted to intentionally cause their reputation to plummet, why would they ever allow Deep Impact to return to the track?
If Deep Impact truly returned to the track, the public would definitely remember the scandal, and at that point, even a miracle from the Three Goddesses wouldn't be able to save Shadai's face.
But now, Deep Impact was actually saying that she wanted to return to the track? And not under a new identity too, but rather as Shadai's strongest Uma Musume, the second Undefeated Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume.
It was only normal for Symboli Rudolf to feel this level of shock. Rudolf could only say that Deep Impact's name was truly fitting. (T/N: Deep Impact's Chinese name, 大震撼 when translated literally is Big Shock.)
"What's wrong, Rudolph-senpai?"
Deep Impact, sensing that Symboli Rudolf wasn't exactly welcoming of her decision to return to the track, pouted.
"Hmph! We're both Undefeated Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume, right? So why is it that you find it okay to go have a grand duel with that T.M. Opera O while I can only go twiddle my thumbs?"
"I'm an Uma Musume too! I have my rights! That's awfully hypocritical of you, Rudolf-senpai."
"I didn't mean that..."
Symboli Rudolf's tone was rather tired as she faced the completely unpretentious Deep Impact, not knowing how to communicate with her— this girl didn't possess an inkling of the bearing an Undefeated Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume should have at all!
"What I meant was that since you're planning on returning to the track, won't Shadai..."
"—I've dealt with them, gave them a good talking to~"
Deep Impact showed a rather gleeful smile as she recalled this memory.
"Shadai got pretty beaten up this year, their influence isn't as strong as it used to be."
"After you lost the Arima Kinen, Shadai lost a good deal of their footing, and so, the URA managed to slap a bunch of new restrictions on them. They no longer have the power to interfere in races."
"Although I'm still an Uma Musume under Shadai, I'm now half-free. So, if I really want to return to the track, they wouldn't be able to stop me one bit."
"...I forgot, your name was on the list of URA representatives that went to Shadai last time."
As the Student Council President and a member of the Symboli Family, Symboli Rudolf naturally had her ways to gain insider knowledge about the URA.
Shadai was indeed not as influential or powerful as it once was. Symboli Rudolf's open defeat at the Arima Kinen caused Shadai, whose foundation and reputation was built upon building Symboli Rudolf's image as the Emperor, to destabilize.
Afterward, in their weakened state, the URA took the opportunity to place sanctions onto them, making it very difficult for Shadai to regain its former glory.
Deep Impact's support of the URA's actions was merely the cherry on top. Even their beloved Undefeated Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume, whom they had painstakingly cultivated, now stood against them.
It was easy to imagine how great this blow was to the higher-ups at Shadai.
And if Deep Impact truly did return to the public eye as she said she would, causing people to remember the scandal while Shadai was in this downtrodden state... then Shadai might truly never recover.
But the complete collapse of Shadai wasn't the URA's goal. If this Shadai disappeared, the five families that made up the true backbone of the company would simply leave Shadai to support the next 'Shadai.'
A half-dead Shadai, where it's not powerful enough to do anything significant, but is still profitable enough for the five families to continue supporting it, was what the URA needed the most right now.
"If you evaluate Orfevre that highly, why don't you personally guide her? If you do, I'm sure she'll become worthy of racing much faster."
"Hmm... A dramatic, drama fueled duel between master and disciple? Didn't that just happen in this mock race? And although it's pretty fun, it's not quite what I want to see."
Deep Impact made a few joking remarks at Symboli Rudolf's words.
Although her appearance made one think that she was the silent, ice-cold beauty type, in reality, she was a loudmouth with an incredibly easy-going personality.
However, this did not mean that Deep Impact wasn't competent or that she did not have her own convictions.
When it came to Uma Musume related topics, Deep Impact was undoubtedly an expert.
After all, she was a perfectly trained Uma Musume, the so-called crystallization of the essence of the Japanese Uma Musume scene.
"—No matter how skilled the teacher, they can only impart some general skills and personal experiences, not ones that are tailor made for their students."
"No Uma Musume are truly the same as each other. Each Uma Musume has their own unique combination of quirks and styles that suit them best."
"And that child... is walking down a truly interesting road of development."
Deep Impact said with a faint smile on her face, without a trace of disdain or offense,
"I couldn't even discern what her running style was at all. It was a complete mishmash of nonsense movements and tactics that were full of holes, like she had abandoned her brain or something."
"But despite that, her strong body managed to support her incomprehensible running style, making it actually work."
"—That is what truly fascinates me, her way of running shouldn't have worked by any metric, yet, she won, pretty dominantly too."
"Despite how nonsensical something may seem at first, if it works, then it simply works— It's this simple fact that truly makes her terrifying."
"An indescribably powerful Uma Musume whose tactics are impossible to predict in advance, every tactical plan needing to be based on how that Uma Musume was doing that day, and even then, they might randomly decide to change tactics on the fly, with those tactics also being impossible to discern... isn't this exciting?"
Deep Impact had a wide smile, articulating what she found most captivating about Orfevre.
It was also only then that Symboli Rudolf had truly comprehended this terrifying aspect of Orfevre.
No matter how strong Uma Musume like T.M. Opera O were, their running styles were almost fixed.
Anyone with enough commitment and preparation time could create a plan that completely countered them— but this wasn't applicable to Orfevre.
Because you never know what Orfevre would do next. She might first run as a Front Runner, then suddenly change into an End Closer, then maybe a Pace Chaser, Late Surger or even Runaway.
But no matter the running style, Orfevre's all-dominating final spurt and almost inexhaustible stamina could support her in any endeavour she wanted to do.
As for skill... Orfevre didn't need to worry about that at all. She was a completely stat-based Uma Musume; skill was practically irrelevant to her.
"So you believe she will be able to threaten you, Deep Impact?"
"At the very least, I see a glimmer of it from her, Rudolf-senpai. And that's enough to make me excited for her prospects."
As Deep Impact said this, she slowly turned around and left, waving her hand as she softly laughed,
"You don't have to worry, I won't appear so soon. If the final boss appears at the start of the hero's journey, it'd be considered terrible plot progression, wouldn't it?"
"Whelp, like those demon kings who sit on their asses all day, doing nothing until the hero grows too strong, I'll await this 'Golden Tyrant' to enter my boss room. See ya~!"
"..."
Symboli Rudolf did not reply, simply watching Deep Impact's figure slowly disappear into the distance.
Her expression, which had been quite relaxed due to her impending retirement in a few years, tightened once more.
Having just defeated the "Emperor," now, they attracted the 'hero'... Team Miracle, you all truly live up to your name.
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It's a 'miracle' that Orfevre had such a 'deep impact' on Deep Impact.
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.