CHAPTER 122
CHAPTER 122
Don’t Bet Too Much on Sports
“Pfft.”
Some of the students couldn’t hold back their laughter.
To say you wanted to stop the moment you win—it sounded like a gambler saying they would quit once they got their principal back, and it naturally made them laugh.
“I want to solidify things once we’ve reached the point where our magic school is the best. Everyone probably thinks the same way.”
“If everyone thinks that way, it would never end. How did they manage to stop the Arcane Olympiad?”
Idnia was also curious.
To her, all of this felt fascinating. The Arcane Olympiad was an event she had never experienced even on Earth.
“We managed to stop it by making bets and then achieving a complete victory. By the time we achieved total victory, the other side was already fed up as well.”
“You achieved total victory?”
“Of course.”
Ludwig’s answer was as casual as if he had been asked why the sun rises in the east.
“At the time, we made it clear that we no longer wished to compete with Dunaice Academy. We impressed upon them that they stood no chance. But time is a frightening thing. Even after being taught such a harsh lesson, they forgot it.”
“So you’re saying that while they could be beaten back then, they cannot be beaten now? Are we that incompetent compared to the previous generations?”
Rudolf asked directly.
“That is not the case. Regardless of your abilities or lack thereof, the Arcane Olympiad was never a competition determined solely by first-year students’ capabilities.”
“But the academy currently only has first-year students, doesn’t it?”
“If you stubbornly field only first-year students as competitors, you are already starting from a losing position.”
“Pardon?”
Rudolf, who asked the question, was left bewildered by the answer.
From the headmaster’s response, they began to vaguely realize that the Arcane Olympiad was not merely a test of academic ability, but a contest swept by far more terrifying and intricate schemes.
But just how severe must it be… that with only first-year students available, the school’s honor would still be placed on the line without them being fielded?
Moreover, if such schemes and tricks were rampant, wouldn’t the school’s honor itself be tarnished?
“So if they have forgotten the lessons of the past and are burning with ambition, wouldn’t other magic guilds and schools have been eagerly waiting for the Arcane Olympiad to resume? How do you intend to prevent its hosting? And why did you call us here?”
Karl asked on Rudolf’s behalf.
What kind of countermeasure had the professors prepared to summon the students here?
“Do you know this? Elves and dwarves can go hungry, but they absolutely cannot stand losing at Wizard Ball.”
“…Pardon?”
“Professor Buremhyde applied some pressure.”
At Ludwig’s call, Buremhyde stood up.
“I provoked the Elf Queen and the Dwarf Chancellor and obtained their firm commitment.
If we win a Wizard Ball match against them, they will abide by the faculty council’s decision in this board meeting.”
“Wait a minute. That means we have to win a Wizard Ball match? Against elves and dwarves who are obsessed with Wizard Ball?”
Having studied Wizard Ball, it had naturally become known that elven and dwarven teams were quite formidable.
In particular, the dwarven team, the Texan Junkies, was a historic powerhouse with the most World Series championships.
Their small stature made the strike zone narrow, and dwarves also possessed a unique psychic ability of their own.
The elven Rondonium Cubs were another top-tier team. If something had been wagered to stop the Arcane Olympiad, they might have to face those two professional teams—or even an all-star team composed of both elves and dwarves.
Wouldn’t it be better to just compete in the Arcane Olympiad and win instead?
“Ah, of course, since they are professional teams, it would be impossible with your current level. And naturally, they made sure to prohibit the participation of our faculty.”
“That figures.”
“But they did not prohibit instructors.”
“……”
At that moment, all the students realized it.
The reason Dunaice Academy had been able to dominate and win repeatedly in the Olympiad was because the headmaster was someone who would use any means necessary…
If the Arcane Olympiad were to be held, they would all desperately hope that first-year students would not be dragged into it.
“Still, your abilities are important. Wizard Ball is a game played with nine players.”
“What is the match schedule?”
“Fortunately, the first division Wizard Ball league is currently in its regular season, so neither elves nor dwarves are in a position to play us immediately.
We will face them in an exhibition match during the summer break.”
Everyone sighed in relief.
Being told to stake the fate of the school against elf and dwarf professional teams out of nowhere was absurd, but at least there was some time.
“Which instructor will participate? Nailey?”
Vice Headmaster Deneuve asked.
“No, Dryads are not allowed. As you know, Wizard Ball requires a unified species.”
“There are no human instructors in the faculty other than myself and Baroness Burem.”
Deneuve looked puzzled.
“Then we will hire new instructors.
We plan to include two instructors on the team, but I will reveal that later. For now, I would like the students to win the upcoming match.”
“That was already the plan.”
Idnia replied.
It seemed that, like Buremhyde, the professors of Dunaice Academy did not fully believe the students were taking Wizard Ball seriously.
After all, it had been said they couldn’t even properly form a team because no one wanted to participate.
“So the fate of the school rests on our shoulders.”
“You are trustworthy enough. I say this with certainty—you are the greatest cohort in history.”
“Even so…”
If they truly trusted the students’ abilities, they wouldn’t be adding instructors to the team.
And so, the day of destiny arrived.
Though it was only a fourth division match—essentially an amateur Wizard Ball game—the first step of the grand struggle determining the fate of the Dunaice Academy Board had begun.
On this day, all classes were canceled, allowing every student to leave campus and attend the match.
Students who did not wish to attend were allowed to stay and rest at the academy, but most were bored out of their minds.
Even those with little interest in Wizard Ball did not pass up the chance to go out to Dunaice.
As a result, an enormous crowd gathered at the stadium, far beyond what one would expect for a fourth division match.
Even commentators and announcers were present, making it a surprisingly professional event.
“Greetings to Wizard Ball enthusiasts around the world. I am your commentator for today, Talkative Jack.”
“And I am Wizard Rock, handling technical commentary.”
“Commentator Jack, the atmosphere here is quite heated today. What’s the reason?”
“Yes, interestingly enough, the Elf Queen of Albion, ‘Daughter of Spring Where All Things Bloom,’ Her Majesty Chun-ja, has personally graced us with her presence.”
“Pardon? For a fourth division match? Ah, but her name alone exudes such noble elegance. Elves often have ancient names, which likely adds to that impression.”
Hearing the commentary, Idnia nearly collapsed.
“Queen Chun-ja? No, wait, ‘Daughter of Spring Where All Things Bloom’ could be shortened to that, but they’re clearly saying Chun-ja in awkward Korean… and yet everyone treats it as if it’s some supremely noble and refined name…”
To her as someone from Earth, it sounded unbearably rustic, yet to the people here it must feel supremely noble, elegant, and magnificent.
Looking at the grand stands erected at a simple riverside baseball field, filled with lavish banners and heavily guarded by elves, humans, and bodyguards, it was clear the Elf Queen was seated in the VIP area.
She could not be seen from the dugout.
“Ah, while we’re speaking, an elven man is inspecting the ball and magic bat to be used in today’s match…”
A young man with greenish-blond hair was checking the equipment, casting spells to ensure there were no issues with the ball or bat adapter.
He appeared to be an elf, with a slender build compared to humans and slightly pointed ears. Rather than overly sharp, his ears were only subtly different, making him nearly indistinguishable from a human at a glance.
What truly set him apart was his striking hair color.
A blend of green and gold strands, with branches growing among his hair that formed a crown-like shape resting upon his head.
“Yes, that individual is the committee chairman of the professional Wizard Ball league, the Queen’s younger brother, and the captain of the Albion Elf Kingdom’s royal guard, ‘The One Who Marks the Final,’ Chairman Mak-Doong-ee. It appears he is inspecting whether the equipment violates any regulations today.”
“The One Who Marks the Final… what an intimidating name.”
“Yes. It is said he has an extremely formidable record as a soldier. However, among Wizard Ball fans, he is better known as a league chairman who contributes to the sport’s development. Hahaha.”
Idnia nearly collapsed again.
“Ma… Mak-doong-ee!? Did I just hear Mak-doong-ee? No, it’s clearly ‘The One Who Marks the Final,’ but Mak-doong-ee… using Korean like that as a name…?”
To her, a name like that should not be used for a person. A “youngest” is simply the youngest by circumstance, not something to be named as such.
Yet here, such names were being used as if they were noble titles.
It seemed that, rather than properly understanding Korean usage as Earthlings would, they were awkwardly assembling meanings using Korean as they saw fit.
Likely because Korean was regarded here as an ancient language and served as the foundation of magic usage.
“What an astonishing sight. To think the Queen of Albion and her younger brother, the royal guard captain, have personally come to a fourth division match. It must be because the opposing team is the famed Dunaice Academy.”
“Yes. The Dunaice Academy is composed of students from that very renowned magic school. However, despite its reputation, it has not made much of a mark in Wizard Ball so far.”
“They say it was difficult to assemble a team. Perhaps that is why they suffered a crushing defeat to the Dunaice Exam Takers in their first match.”
“But viewers, brace yourselves. Today’s match is different. Leading off for Dunaice Academy is Karl Oksbach, the young lord of the Oksbach Principality! The noble himself steps into the batter’s box! And that’s not all—looking at the lineup, we have none other than the Crown Prince, the Prince of Mazdari, and the Duchess of Betelgeuse! An unprecedented full mobilization of Elector Houses!”
“This is truly remarkable. No wonder the Queen and the royal guard captain have come to observe. Facing them is Gymnasium 461 Swordsmanship Academy. These students are no ordinary players either. Today’s match is impossible to predict!”
The commentators and officials assumed the elves had come merely because of the participation of the crown prince and noble heirs.
They were unaware of the enormous wager hidden beneath it all.
“Alright, let’s begin! The match between Gymnasium 461 Swordsmanship Academy and Dunaice Academy! We will now proceed with sponsor advertisements before the match!”
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Surprisingly, an advertisement for a general store and department store run by the Aspinal family was being broadcast.
As the students of Dunaice Academy in the audience turned their eyes toward Cendia, she puffed herself up proudly.
“Oh my. It seems Father added the advertisement after I mentioned it. He really didn’t have to go this far.”