Uma Musume: To The Top!!

Chapter 321 321: 432

The plane landed smoothly on the runway at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

The instant the tires touched the ground, the fuselage gave a faint shudder, as if dragging everyone back down from the clouds into reality.

Click.

The cabin door opened, and the cool air rushed in.

Kuroha was the first to walk down the boarding stairs. He took a deep breath.

Behind him, the three girls stepped off the plane one after another.

"Mm, France... It really does bring back memories."

Godolphin stretched, her eyes bright as she gazed at the scenery ahead.

Before she had been blessed by the world and become a goddess, she had ultimately spent a "normal" life as an Uma Musume of Great Britain.

And after becoming one of the Three Goddesses, during those long years, whenever she felt bored, she would send her will down just as she had now and wander around Europe for a while.

She would see what new changes had come to the mortal world.

Because of that, she was quite familiar with Europe, as well as the major Uma Musume racing nations on the continent.

Only, to truly set foot upon this homeland once more in a physical body...

It had already been nearly three hundred years.

Godolphin's eyes flickered faintly, as if she were looking through the modern airport before her and seeing the Europe of hundreds, even thousands, of years ago: a place utterly different from the one she knew now, where she had once run.

Back then, Uma Musume still ran across grass in simple running shoes.

The racetrack had been nothing more than a field roughly enclosed with wooden fences.

The spectators stood while watching the races, and their cheers could carry for miles.

Now, steel and glass had built magnificent racetracks.

Uma Musume associations spread across the globe, and Uma Musume race series had become competitive events watched by the entire world.

The seas had become mulberry fields.

Nothing described it better.

"Godolphin."

A gentle voice reached her on the wind.

Godolphin came back to herself and looked over.

Ahead, Kuroha had turned back and was smiling at her. "Let's go."

"...Mm."

The Blue Goddess froze for an instant, then smiled beautifully and followed after him.

...

"Mr. Kuroha."

Just then, a man approached from not far away.

Kuroha turned toward the voice.

About twenty meters below the boarding stairs, a group of people was waiting quietly.

The man at their head was someone Kuroha was relatively familiar with: a middle-aged man in a neat suit.

A badge of the French Uma Musume Association was pinned to his chest, and his entire presence carried the decency and precision of an old-fashioned gentleman.

Behind him followed three or four others, men and women alike, all formally dressed.

There were not many of them, but from their positions and demeanor alone, one could tell they attached great importance to Kuroha and his group's arrival.

Kuroha recognized him.

Émond Durand.

One of the standing directors of the French Uma Musume Association.

Last year, after Oguri completed that world-shaking come-from-behind victory in the Irish Champion Stakes, Émond had immediately sought out Kuroha.

At the time, representing the French Uma Musume Association, he had sincerely invited Kuroha to bring Oguri to that year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

He had even stated that, as long as Kuroha agreed, he and the French Association behind him would devote their full efforts to making it happen.

They would even make an exception and arrange a special late registration for Oguri.

Although Kuroha had ultimately declined the invitation due to scheduling concerns and Oguri's own condition, the two sides had still established a decent relationship.

They exchanged emails from time to time afterward, and Émond would also send greetings on holidays.

This time, he had likely brought some important members of the French Association along to welcome them in person.

This treatment was indeed quite grand.

"This guy really does want to poach me over to France..."

Kuroha saw through his intentions.

Or rather, the man had made no attempt to hide the hope behind all this hospitality.

"Director Émond."

Kuroha stepped forward and gave him a slight nod. "It's far too generous of you to come receive us personally."

"No, no, Mr. Kuroha, you are far too polite."

Émond's face bloomed into a sincere smile, and he extended his hand to shake Kuroha's.

"The fact that you have chosen France as the destination for this expedition is an honor for our association. We could not be happier."

He released Kuroha's hand and turned slightly, his gaze passing over Kuroha's shoulder toward the tall girl behind him.

"And this must be Miss Mejiro McQueen?"

By then, McQueen had already descended the boarding stairs and was standing half a step behind Kuroha in silence.

Her posture was graceful and proper, and her long hair drifted lightly in the wind.

Aside from bloodline, this was one of the best things about being born into a distinguished family. As the young lady of the Mejiro family, she would never be intimidated by a formal occasion.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Director Émond. I am Mejiro McQueen. I look forward to working with you."

McQueen gave a slight bow as she spoke.

Émond's eyes brightened, and he nodded repeatedly.

"I have long heard of you, Miss Mejiro. The stage of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe has not welcomed a challenger like you in a very long time."

His tone was sincere when he said it, and his gaze did not waver.

Kuroha understood.

The French held a special sentiment toward the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

It was their pride, and the highest temple of their Uma Musume racing culture.

But at the same time, they also sincerely looked forward to powerful challengers coming to compete.

Because only the strongest challengers could highlight the true value of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

As for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winners from the past few years...

Aside from Tony Bianka, who had fractured a bone after her unfinished clash with Tamamo and Obey Your Master, never displaying the strength she should have had, the two Arc winners who came after her had been weak to an almost absurd degree.

Whether it was Kary Room in the following year or Saumarez last year, neither of them had even stepped into the second stage of their Domain.

They had completely lowered the floor for what an Arc-winning Uma Musume was supposed to be.

And this year, the French Association clearly did not want to repeat that mistake.

They attached great importance to the top Uma Musume coming from abroad.

"By the way, Mr. Kuroha."

Émond seemed to remember something. He turned slightly and began introducing the accompanying personnel behind him to Kuroha.

"Allow me to introduce them. These are our colleagues from the association. They will be responsible for logistical arrangements during this expedition."

He introduced them one by one.

With each introduction, the person in question bowed slightly in greeting, and Kuroha returned each courtesy.

Although he did not like this sort of surface-level formality, others had given him respect, so naturally he had to return it.

Then Émond's voice suddenly took on a hint of solemnity.

"In addition, there is one more person who came specially to welcome you."

He paused, then turned his gaze toward the edge of the group and said softly, "I imagine she needs little introduction."

Kuroha followed his gaze.

At the side of the group, a slender figure stood quietly.

It was an Uma Musume wearing a standard school uniform.

Her long black hair fell straight to her waist.

Her features were delicate and gentle, and there was a faintly scholarly air between her brows and eyes. She looked like an aristocratic young woman who had stepped out of a classical oil painting.

Her entire presence radiated calm composure.

Looking at the newcomer, Kuroha narrowed his eyes slightly.

He knew that face.

Or rather, as a normal Uma Musume trainer, there should have been no one who did not know that face.

After all, her legend had only been five years ago. She had been an Uma Musume from almost the same era as Symboli Rudolf.

Dancing Brave.

The former tyrant of European Uma Musume racing.

Champion of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Recognized as one of the strongest Uma Musume in the entire history of Europe.

The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe she participated in had even been called "the greatest Uma Musume race in history."

That alone made her importance clear.

Before Kuroha could react, the long-haired girl in black stepped forward first.

"I have long heard of you, Mr. Kuroha. My name is Dancing Brave, vice president of the student council at France Tracen Academy."

Kuroha paused for a moment, then nodded as well. "Hello, Miss Dancing Brave."

After the brief exchange of greetings, Dancing Brave led Kuroha and the others toward the lodging that had been reserved in advance.

As the group walked, they talked.

From them, Kuroha also learned a fair amount of information about the strong racers from various countries that France had its eye on this year: the ones with enough strength to take the crown of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

It was quite a fruitful arrival.

(End of Chapter)

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