“So, what are we supposed to do now?”
Standing before the statues of the Three Goddesses, Sunset silently tossed in a ten-yen coin. This was a bribe for the Three Goddesses, so they would not get angry at her for abducting Umamusume.
That was ten yen! Sunset felt her heart shatter.
Still, this was a necessary sacrifice for the sustainable development of BOSS Okino’s Umamusume-abduction business. There was nothing to be done about it. She would just get BOSS to reimburse her next time.
Once she thought of it that way, Sunset felt much better.
Beside her, Gold City and Yukino Bijin, who had no idea what was going on in Sunset’s head, simply watched her actions curiously.
They thought Sunset was praying for blessings for her hairstyle.
“Generally speaking, you don’t have to throw coins when making a wish to the Three Goddesses. You just have to call out to them with devotion, then wait quietly for their response.”
Standing beside her, Gold City explained this to Sunset.
“…The Three Goddesses can hear you even if you don’t throw in a coin?”
“Usually, yes. I mean, the Three Goddesses don’t need our money, right?”
“…Is it too late for me to fish my coin back out?”
Sunset looked at the yen coin still glinting in the pool, her expression extremely complicated.
“This is how you do it.”
Demonstrating for Sunset, Gold City clasped her hands together and took a prayerful pose toward the statues of the Three Goddesses.
Sunset copied her, lowering her head and closing her eyes.
After confirming that Sunset’s posture was fine, Gold City nodded.
“Close your eyes, then call out to the Three Goddesses in your heart. If it’s quick, they might respond to you in a few minutes—”
“Shh!”
“Gold City-san, Sunset-san already seems to be in the right state…”
“Ah, she really has. That was fast…”
At Yukino Bijin’s reminder, Gold City finally noticed that Sunset’s breathing had already steadied, as if she had fallen into a deep sleep.
That was the sign that the Three Goddesses had responded.
…
In the haze, Sunset felt as if she had fallen asleep, only to wake with a start the very next instant.
Now, everything around Sunset was pitch-black. Only a faint white light flickered in the distance.
“Is this where the Three Goddesses are?”
Sunset, who was a little afraid of the dark, trembled slightly.
Come to think of it, wasn’t this place a bit shabby for the Three Goddesses to live in?
Just then, Sunset felt wind rush past her ears. Two figures shot by at her sides, racing toward the source of the light.
Against the faintly dazzling glow, Sunset could just barely make out their silhouettes.
C.B.-san and President Rudolf?
Strange. Why were those two here?
Sunset wanted to run after them, but after only two steps, she hesitated and stopped.
“Wait, what if it’s a trap…”
Unsettled by the darkness around her, Sunset was genuinely uneasy. Generally speaking, weren’t victims in horror movies always lured to their deaths by fake illusions?
Even if this was the Three Goddesses’ territory, she still had to watch out for evil spirits coming to claim her life…
Thinking that, Sunset became rather unwilling to move forward.
“Where’s the exit, anyway? Can I just slip away?”
The cowardly Umamusume immediately began searching for a way back to reality.
“I wonder if pinching myself would wake me up…”
Should she try it? But wasn’t that kind of a bad idea? If that really was guidance from the Three Goddesses, wouldn’t she end up cursed by them afterward?
Sunset hesitated.
While she was still confused, the people at the source of the light seemed to run out of patience. A voice made up of several women speaking together came from afar.
“Lord Sunset, my child, why do you linger there?”
“Uh, are you the Three Goddesses?”
“We are. You were the one who called us here, were you not? Pass through that gate, and you will be able to return to the real world. Before that, we will answer your questions as best we can.”
The voice was gentle and tranquil, soothing Sunset’s previously uneasy heart.
Following the Three Goddesses’ words, Sunset jogged in small steps toward the source of the light.
She felt as if she were stepping on the surface of water. With each step, reflective ripples spread beneath her feet.
“Excuse me, were C.B.-san and President Rudolf just now real?”
Sunset asked as she ran.
“Nay. Those were not their true forms, only the shadows of friends who have formed bonds with you. This is the blessing we have brought you. As long as you pass through this screen of light, you will gain the aid of their strength.”
C.B.-san and President Rudolf’s strength? Sunset suddenly felt excited, as if she had received a secret manual passed down through the ages.
With power granted by two Triple Crown Umamusume, even if it was only a tiny bit, wouldn’t she improve by leaps and bounds?
Sunset could already picture herself getting into Tracen Academy with ease.
“Ahem.”
But that was not the main reason she had come here today. Sunset would never forget why she was here.
“Three Goddesses, I came here today to ask whether you can help me keep my hairstyle fixed. If I have to redo my hair after every night of sleep, that’s way too much trouble. Please help me!”
“…”
That was it? The Three Goddesses suddenly did not feel like speaking.
…
In the end, the Three Goddesses still accepted Sunset’s request. After all, to the Three Goddesses, Umamusume were all like their own children. Even if they sometimes did not seem very bright.
After running up to the light source, Sunset stopped. Following the Three Goddesses’ instructions, she carefully touched the screen of light with her hand.
No reaction.
“Do you feel it? That is the power we have given you—”
“Mm… is it really there?”
Although she did not want to doubt the Three Goddesses’ power, she really could not feel anything at all.
Maybe she was doing it wrong. She tried touching it again.
Could the equipment be aging? Sunset gave it a tentative tap, a question mark practically appearing over her head.
“Uh… our apologies. Allow us to check the Legacy system…”
The Three Goddesses’ voice sounded somewhat awkward.
…
A little while later, the Three Goddesses’ apologetic voice came through.
“It may be because you ran too slowly just now. The Legacy system has already shut down.”
“Uh… should I run it again?” Sunset was somewhat unwilling to give up. After all, who wouldn’t want to level up without lifting a finger?
“Our apologies. The Legacy process will have to wait until next time. It will not be too long. You should be able to come again next year, and we can make it up to you then.”
“…Then forget it. I’ll leave it for next time.”
It was a lucky windfall anyway. If she lost it, then so be it. Seeing that nothing could be done, Sunset appeared rather open-minded.
“As compensation, child, you may ask us a few more questions.”
“Then… I’ll go ahead and ask?”
“Please do.”
“Three Goddesses, may I ask what the winning numbers are for Japan’s most valuable lottery this year?”
Sunset’s face was full of anticipation.
…
After a long while, Sunset finally withdrew from the Three Goddesses’ realm.
Before leaving, Sunset suddenly remembered that she had originally wanted to ask the Three Goddesses whether she was filly-type or colt-type.
She asked them, but the Three Goddesses did not tell her directly. They only said that she would naturally know once she returned.
And so, while silently reciting the lottery numbers, Sunset returned to the real world with an excited look on her face.
“How was it? Did you meet the Three Goddesses?”
As soon as they saw Sunset recover, Gold City and Yukino Bijin gathered around her.
They noticed that there was now a sunflower-shaped ear ornament on Sunset’s left ear.
“You’re filly-type too!”
“So she’s actually filly-type…”
The two Umamusume, one filly-type and one colt-type, spoke in very different tones.
“Huh? I’m filly-type?”
Sunset curiously touched the ornament on her ear. No wonder she felt like she had less strength than the other Umamusume.
But that was not the important part.
“More importantly, the Three Goddesses also told me this year’s lottery numbers!” Sunset said excitedly.
She was going to be rich. Sunset felt as if she would never have to worry about food or clothing again for the rest of her life.
“Huh? Lottery?”
“The numbers for Japan’s biggest Year-End Jumbo Lottery! Let’s go buy tickets together!”
“The Year-End Jumbo Lottery…”
“That Year-End Jumbo Lottery…”
After hearing Sunset’s explanation, Gold City and Yukino Bijin did not look excited. Instead, their expressions turned subtle.
“What’s wrong?”
Sunset was confused.
“That lottery… doesn’t let you pick your own numbers…”
Yukino Bijin gave a dry laugh as she explained.
“Ah…”
Seeing Gold City nod at her regretfully as well, Sunset fell silent.
No wonder the Three Goddesses had agreed so readily back then.
“But Sunset-san, you don’t have to be too sad. After all, we achieved our original goal—Sunset-san? Sunset-san, don’t faint!”
Seven hundred million yen, see you never.
T/N: LMAOOOOOO POOR BROOOOOOOOOOOOO
This is a fan translation of 迫于生计，赛马娘登上赛场！ by 扶风三尺 Rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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