Chapter 68
<68> Former Team Owner
“Buremhaide… is a dragon known by the nickname ‘The Tyrant of Lancaster.’”
“Lancaster… that’s a place in Albion, right?”
“Yes. It was once a territory of our northern people… our former homeland from which we were driven out by the elves and dragons of Albion.”
“An old enemy, then. Buremhaide….”
The northern tribes had once been a people who plundered the world along the seas, destroying other kingdoms and building their own.
They called it the construction of a great northern empire, while others called them great raiders or pirates.
In any case, they had once conquered Albion, only to be pushed out and fall into decline when elves and dragons arrived there.
In other words, Buremhaide was an old nemesis to the northern people, especially the Gustav family.
“Tell the servants to procure Wizard Ball equipment. Is there any in Blackcow Village?”
“It seems there isn’t any proper Wizard Ball equipment in Blackcow Village. We’ll have to request a shipment, or… though it’s expensive, ask Warden Gibbles.”
“Warden Gibbles?”
“Yes. He can freely travel to and from Dunais. They say he accepts bribes from students and brings items from Dunais for them.”
“Hmm. It can’t be helped. If we’re to practice with the best equipment…
Wait for me, Buremhaide. I will uncover your schemes one by one.”
Karl Gustav Oxbach declared that he would train in Wizard Ball in order to study his family’s old enemy, Buremhaide.
---
Idnia accepted Buremhaide’s invitation.
It was too good an opportunity to refuse, even if it came out of nowhere.
‘This wasn’t even an event in the game. Something like this really happens.
I’ve never even been inside a professor’s private quarters.
At this point, I can’t help but go just out of curiosity.’
As expected of a dragon, Buremhaide’s personal residence was located in the basement of the faculty building.
The basement resembled a dragon’s cave, piled high with massive amounts of copper ingots.
‘I’ve often heard dragons collect gold… but why copper?’
Behind the stacks of copper ingots hung a banner reading “Lancaster Grim Dragons,” a Wizard Ball team.
Facing this cave was a raised deck furnished with tables and equipment, like a café built inside a tourist cave. There, Buremhaide himself was preparing a meal.
“Good. Please wait just a moment! I’m plating it, so it’ll be ready soon!”
Surprisingly, Buremhaide was now in the form of a fully grown elf man.
“…That’s unexpected. Why an adult form?”
“The cooking range is too high. It’s difficult to cook in the form of a child.”
“Then why do you usually walk around as a boy?”
“It’s small, easy to pass through places, and doesn’t get in the way.
If you’re always large, you’ll understand that being small is a blessing in itself.
You can even ride in carriages.”
“……”
Surprisingly, Idnia found herself agreeing. When she moved around in her tyrant form, she often broke things because of her size.
But to find common ground with a dragon over something like this…
At that moment, she heard Buremhaide operating the cooking range.
“Good. It’s done.”
He transferred the rainbow trout fillet from the pan onto a plate, spread sauce in a circle, and placed grilled asparagus with chopsticks, completing the plating.
Bringing the dish to the table, he shrugged.
“My cooking isn’t bad.
I learned on my own from cookbooks. After all, I’ve lived alone for over a hundred years.”
“Ah… so, Professor. Why did you invite me—”
Idnia glanced around.
This café-like space overlooking a cave filled with treasure and copper ingots was decorated with gloves, bat adapters that attach to wands, flying brooms, and Wizard Ball merchandise.
Everything was related to Wizard Ball.
And all of it bore the name Lancaster Grim Dragons.
‘Abbreviated… LGD? Hmm…’
Though she already had a guess, Idnia deliberately asked.
“Student Idnia. Are you interested in Wizard Ball?”
“…A little.”
“Then what do you think about forming a Wizard Ball team as a club activity?”
“…What?”
Idnia blinked.
---
In Awakening Girl Concert, Season 1’s goal was to avoid the interference of the villainess Idnia, raise character stats, and build favor with others to expose her plot of allying with demons to investigate the Academy and bring her downfall.
In Season 2, with the principal’s permission, the characters investigate the Academy’s secrets themselves as students.
To determine how deep the demons had infiltrated, and to improve the students’ abilities, they conduct their own investigation.
Aside from that, Idnia, as a saintess candidate, had been ordered by a papal envoy to investigate the Academy.
To do that, she needed to build favor with professors—and Buremhaide’s favor was typically gained through Wizard Ball.
“I want to create a Wizard Ball team.”
That was Buremhaide’s wish.
“Ah, yes. Wizard Ball is popular worldwide. But why tell me this…?”
“Because right now, I desperately need a collaborator within the Academy to help form a Wizard Ball team.”
“…Why?”
“Because the students of Dunais Academy come from overly prestigious backgrounds. That’s the problem.”
Though Wizard Ball was globally popular, Dunais Academy was an elite institution among elites.
It was a school that strictly judged lineage even at admission.
In such a place, a dangerous, physically demanding sports club could hardly take root.
“I’ve tried many times to form a Wizard Ball club, but everyone is only interested in watching games, not playing them.
Even if they could earn great wealth as players, these already-rich students won’t be tempted.”
“That makes sense. But why me now?”
“Because I sensed dazzling talent in you!”
“…What?”
“You could become the greatest Wizard Ball player, Idnia.
And if someone like you—a duchess of the Betelgeuse Duchy—does it, others won’t dare object using their status as a shield.
On the contrary, they will admire you. Perhaps it will even become a trend—high nobles entering professional sports.”
“I see… but why don’t you play yourself, Professor?”
Idnia wondered why Buremhaide didn’t participate as a player.
“…Are you mocking me while I’m speaking seriously?”
Buremhaide raised his wand and pointed to the banner above his head.
He looked irritated, then quickly regained composure, clearly restraining himself to win Idnia over.
“Ah, you must not know the Wizard Ball league rules.
Unlike amateur matches, official league teams must consist of a single race.
Elves with elves, humans with humans, dragons with dragons.
The problem is that I am the last dragon left in this world.
The Lancaster Grim Dragons may be called Dragons, but in reality, they’re a human team.”
“I see.”
Just like how teams might be called Giants or Tigers, yet the players are all human.
“I even considered creating clones of myself to make a full team of nine dragons… but no matter how much I want to play Wizard Ball, I couldn’t go that far.”
“That’s… understandable.”
Creating eight clones just to play a sport was insanity, even for someone like him.
“So I cannot play as a player. But if Dunais Academy students form a team, and I become their advisor, coach, and manager, then I can reenter the Wizard Ball league.
Even if not as a player, guiding them would be enough.”
“Reenter? Have you been involved in Wizard Ball before?”
“I was a team owner.”
“…A team owner?”
“Yes. This one.”
Buremhaide pointed at the Lancaster Grim Dragons banner.
“Ah….”
“It was long ago, but I still have all the methods and know-how. Once we gather players, we can form a team immediately.”
“Then why not work with that team—”
“I am no longer the owner. I committed a crime, was imprisoned in this Academy, and was removed from all such positions.”
“I see.”
Idnia was surprised at how casually he admitted something that could be considered a disgrace.
“As a prisoner here, I cannot leave freely unless it’s part of my duty as an educator.
Only if Academy students play Wizard Ball as a club can I participate as their advisor.”
“Still, you created that team like your own child. Isn’t it strange to start a new one?”
“It’s fine.”
Buremhaide glared at the banner with irritation.
“They changed the logo and even the mascot design without my permission.
I still support them because there’s no other team to cheer for, but the Grim Dragons are no longer the team I created.
I will form a new team at Dunais Academy and personally crush the Lancaster Grim Dragons, who are currently wallowing at the bottom!”
It seemed Buremhaide had already decided that a new team would be formed with Academy students.
“Even so, they’re a professional team. Can a newly formed student team really compete with them?”
“Heh. You wouldn’t know. The Grim Dragons are losing badly even to the Eagles. I’m not joking—if I set up scarecrows in the batting and fielding positions and played alone, the scarecrows would still lose.”
“That still feels too rushed.
You don’t even have team members yet.
You need at least nine players for Wizard Ball.”
“Which is why, Student Idnia… you have quite a reputation among the students, don’t you?”
“…No, not really.”
“Hmph. No need for false modesty.
Your shop speaks for itself. Having a dormitory-level shop means students will naturally follow you.
In all my years as a professor, you’re the only student who has earned this much by the end of the first week.”
“So… you want me to use that reputation to recruit students? For a Wizard Ball team?”
“Exactly. And of course, I won’t ask you to do it for free.
I will actively support your school life.
Think about it—if you simply agree to play Wizard Ball, I, a tenured professor of Dunais Academy, will back you. That’s an extraordinary offer.”
Despite the proposal, Idnia remained unimpressed.
“That’s rather vague. Instead of saying you’ll ‘support’ me, it would be better if you specified what you’ll give.”
“…I see.”
“Yes. There needs to be something concrete if I’m to recruit other players.”
“Understood. In that case…”
Buremhaide proposed something difficult to comprehend.
“…What?”
Idnia couldn’t help but doubt her own ears.