Uma Musume: Why Do We, Horse Trainers, Still Have To Train Uma Musume? Chapter 4 4: The Alien Uma Musume Gold Ship And Mejiro McQue

anwhile, Imanami, on the other side, was completely unaware of the tragedy that had befallen Ikezoe.

He had already found his way to Tracen Academy's training ground—a massive track about 3000 ters long.

Here, many Uma Musu in sportswear were training and participating in friendly races, and Imanami was able to feast his eyes on the Uma Musu.

Don't get the wrong idea; Imanami was fully focused on the Uma Musu's running styles and speed only.

"Hmm... it seems that even in human form, Uma Musu really do still possess the speed of Racehorses.

It's as if they've beco Racehorses that can talk."

Imanami clutched the stopwatch that he carried with him; he had already asured several sets of data from Uma Musu participating in friendly races.

As a seasoned Trainer, although he had been retired for a long ti, he had been rejuvenated after his transmigration.

Imanami could finally return to the track he once loved, to the career he was passionate about.

Although he beca a stableman in his old age, Imanami was different from Ikezoe.

Ikezoe was physically and ntally drained due to various problematic Racehorses; although he liked the Racehorses deep down, that was only under the premise that his own life was not being threatened every day.

It was sowhat shaful to admit, but Imanami, despite his advanced age and a lifeti of working with Racehorses, had seen hundreds, if not thousands, of Racehorses with peculiar temperants.

Yet an experience like Ikezoe's… even he couldn't truly empathize with it.

"Being able to talk to Racehorses… that's truly sothing I never imagined before.

If I could really talk to Racehorses back then, then I might have known what Gold Ship was thinking about."

As Imanami pondered, he couldn't help but think of the Racehorse he cared about the most—that sowhat peculiar, rambunctious, but ultimately endearing Racehorse nad Gold Ship, whom he couldn't bear to part with.

Even after he grew old, Gold Ship was still his greatest pride and honor.

Imanami loved that child as if he were his own, and perhaps the bond between a stableman and a Racehorse was just like that.

"I was so lost in thought that I forgot to ti it..."

This group of Uma Musu ran quite well, but it's a pity I didn't ti them accurately. Otherwise, I might have asked for their nas.

Another set of friendly races between Uma Musu concluded.

Imanami looked at the stopwatch that was still running in his hand, resetting it to zero once more, and prepared to asure the data for the next group…

Just then, a clamor attracted Imanami's attention.

Two Uma Musu not far from Imanami were conversing about sothing…

"McQueen, have you heard? It seems that a pervert has sohow snuck into the academy!"

"Really? That's terrible. The Academy's security definitely needs to be strengthened… Was the pervert caught in the end?"

"He was caught! Look, it says Big Sis Orfevre has already subdued the pervert, and she even used grappling techniques!"

"…Was the pervert okay?"

The conversation between the two passing Uma Musu caught the attention of Imanami.

It wasn't what they were talking about, but the ntion of "McQueen" in one of the Uma Musu's words.

McQueen—this was not a common na, and according to Imanami's mory, there was only one Racehorse with this na, the most glorious Racehorse of the jiro Ranch! jiro McQueen!

Imanami could never overlook the na of this Hall of Fa Racehorse, who was as renowned as Tokai Teio at the ti.

He quickly turned around and saw that there was another Uma Musu beside jiro McQueen—an Uma Musu with gray hair, who appeared to be quite tall.

And coincidentally, the slightly taller gray-haired Uma Musu's gaze had just moved from the girl beside her, and by a twist of fate, t Imanami's eyes as he looked over.

"Step."

"…Hmm? What's wrong, Gold Ship?" The Uma Musu in front, seeing her companion suddenly stop, turned to look at the Uma Musu nad "Gold Ship."

Upon noticing Gold Ship's gaze fixed in another direction, she followed Gold Ship's line of sight and also saw Imanami's figure.

Who was this?

Was he an acquaintance of Gold Ship?

Was he visiting Tracen Academy?

Many possibilities flashed through McQueen's mind.

The next mont, she only saw Gold Ship, as if possessed, walk straight toward that person.

"—Wait, Gold Ship?" McQueen also took a few steps to catch up with Gold Ship, feeling that sothing strange was going on.

McQueen was quite familiar with the strange creature known as Gold Ship.

Since their first eting, Gold Ship had often played pranks on her.

When others were training, she was always doing things completely unrelated to training, yet her performance was surprisingly good.

She was an Uma Musu with a very peculiar personality.

But even so, McQueen admitted that although Gold Ship seed to have a sowhat erratic thought process, she was still soone she could call a friend.

Although their relationship wasn't particularly good, it was still harmonious.

But… this was the first ti she had seen Gold Ship show such a serious expression.

McQueen didn't know how to describe Gold Ship's expression at the mont, but she just felt that this ti, it was better not to disturb Gold Ship.

However, she was also very curious about what was making Gold Ship act so weird, so she decided to be an observer and listen to their conversation.

At this mont, Gold Ship had already walked in front of Imanami.

Her height of 170 centiters allowed her to be almost at eye level with Imanami.

After a long pause, Imanami was the first to break the silence.

"—Gold Ship? That's your na, right?" Imanami looked at the gray-haired Uma Musu in front of him, an almost involuntary expression of paternal affection appearing on his face, and said gently,

"Hello, my na is Takatoshi Imanami, a new Trainer at Tracen Academy, and I am looking for a suitable Uma Musu to be my trainee."

"Eh? You're one of the new Trainers?" McQueen, who seed sowhat familiar with Imanami's na, stepped forward proactively and asked with a hint of surprise in her tone.

"I heard before that the Trainer who took first place in the latest Central Trainer Certificate exam and was being promoted as the most outstanding rookie Trainer of their generation…"

"Was a Trainer called Takatoshi Imanami—is that you?" McQueen only realized belatedly that the man standing in front of her was actually the first-place scorer in the recent Central Trainer Certificate exam.

She then belatedly perford an elegant young lady's bow and smiled, saying,

"That was truly rude of . Allow to introduce myself. I am jiro McQueen, and this is Gold Ship."

"Imanami-san is looking for an Uma Musu to be your trainee, right? I believe our jiro Family definitely has suitable candidates for you…"

jiro McQueen's thoughts were simple. If a new Trainer like Imanami, who was evaluated as the most outstanding of his generation, could join the jiro Family and beco their exclusive Trainer, then their jiro Family would surely prosper more than ever.

The jiro Family had the best resources and training conditions, and even their Uma Musu were undoubtedly among the most talented.

If he was suitable, it might even allow the jiro Family to have a few more Uma Musu who could conquer the Tenno Sho, extending the jiro Family's honor.

jiro McQueen had such expectations for Imanami.

"I'm still looking around. Thank you for your concern, Miss jiro. I will consider it," Imanami said subtly, then quickly turned his gaze to Gold Ship beside him and asked with a smile,

"So, Miss Gold Ship, could you run a lap so I can test your abilities?"

"Eh? Gold Ship?" jiro McQueen was also surprised by Imanami's polite refusal of her invitation and his choice of Gold Ship.

However, she quickly composed herself.

She thought that Gold Ship, with her tendency to cause trouble and dislike of training, would definitely refuse, right?

Then, as long as she perford well, she could persuade Imanami to beco the jiro Family's Trai—.

—"Can't be helped, I suppose."

However, the next mont, sothing truly world-shattering entered jiro McQueen's ears.

After a slight pause, Gold Ship accepted Imanami's suggestion with a smile, even feigning an indifferent expression as she said,

"Although I don't know why, the tone of your voice is just like an old man's, so I'll just call you 'Old Man.'"

"If Old Man wants to see the magnificent Gold Ship-sama run, then I'll run a lap for you.

Is 2000 ters enough?"

"Yes, that's exactly the distance of the Satsuki Sho," Imanami said, nodding in agreent with a smile.

"If possible, why don't we do 3000 ters after that? You're better at long distances, aren't you?"

"You even know that? It seems you pay a lot of attention to ." Gold Ship was a little surprised to hear that.

She herself didn't know why she had felt such a strange feeling toward this man, who spoke like an old man, even though this was their first ti eting.

However, Gold Ship knew that she didn't dislike the other party, and moreover, she seed to have a feeling that they would get along very well.

"No choice. Even though it's troubleso, I'll run two races for you to see.

Rember to engrave Gold Ship-sama's magnificent running into your mory, Old Man."

With that, Gold Ship, without another word, excitedly ran toward the track.

Imanami, without any unnecessary words, started his stopwatch, beginning to record Gold Ship's current speed.

All of this, however, stunned the ignored jiro McQueen.

jiro McQueen looked at Imanami, then at Gold Ship on the track, and subconsciously touched her head, wondering if she was sick and experiencing hallucinations…

But soon, McQueen snapped out of her shock and looked at Imanami with a slightly complex expression, muttering to herself in her heart,

To be able to even subdue Gold Ship… this man… must be extraordinary.

If he is soone who can even control a creature like Gold Ship, perhaps… and if his skill level is even more excellent, my Trainer might be…

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Gold Ship!? Training!? Impossible!!!!!!

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If you spot any errors, feel free to comnt about it, and I will fix it as soon as I can.