CHAPTER 99
CHAPTER 99
An Army Marches on Its Stomach.
“Anyway, at a reception, just doing the basic box step is enough.
When it turns into a full-scale ball and you start doing group dances, especially if you're in the center, there are times when you need to perform advanced techniques. But this time, since banquet tables were placed in the ballroom, the atmosphere wasn’t suited for anything too elaborate.
If it had gone late into the evening, they might have cleared the tables and danced properly, but we left before that.”
Idnia explained how imperial high society balls usually proceeded.
Even though she had kept her distance from high society, as a high-ranking noble, she still knew far more about it than Marie just from what she had heard over time.
‘Aunt Augusta is always going on about how much she wants to dance.’
Idnia guided Marie through the basics.
As Marie followed her lead and danced, she felt flustered.
‘Idnia is so… dignified….’
The excitement of attending her first ball, the ache she felt watching Rudolf and Idnia dance, and even the flutter in her chest when she later danced with Rudolf…
Idnia handled all of those emotions naturally, as if they were simply things to be accepted.
And she always did her best in every moment.
Even now, she was teaching someone like her, a mere commoner, how to dance so she wouldn’t be humiliated at future balls.
Marie felt grateful.
The next morning, a light rain was falling.
Breakfast that day consisted of bread sourced from somewhere far away and a stew made with fish scraps and blood meat—the parts usually discarded when filleting fish.
Seeing it, Idnia felt a pang of regret.
‘The parts with meat and bones are actually great for broth, and even blood meat can be edible if cooked with strong spices to remove the fishy smell… but these people really don’t know how to cook.’
They had simply boiled everything together and sprinkled salt on it for convenience.
The fishy smell was overwhelming.
Even the mild odor from the bones became worse when combined with the blood meat.
“I can’t eat this no matter how hungry I am!”
Most of the students left the dining hall.
Even Idnia, who had a strong stomach, had to force herself to eat.
During the morning free period, Heukrang came to find her.
“Are you okay, Master? You don’t look so good.”
“Ah, breakfast was truly terrible today. It had enough protein, but still…
If we don’t do something quickly, this won’t work.
Could you get seeds or seedlings for these crops?”
Idnia handed over a list.
It included onions and garlic, which were easy to grow in temperate climates, but also things like star anise and pepper that required more sunlight.
“Hm, these won’t be easy to grow in this region. The climate doesn’t match.”
“I think we can manage somehow.”
“If you say so, I’ll try… but the pepper available in Black Cow Village comes from the southern traders…”
The pepper they brought had all been heat-treated, so it wouldn’t sprout.
“It’s fine if it takes time.”
“In that case… I’ll be gone about a week.”
Heukrang said it casually.
His Sacred Beast tribe had extensive smuggling networks, so he likely intended to obtain untreated pepper through those channels.
“But it’s surprising. You never cared much about food before.
You went to the imperial ball yesterday, right? Didn’t you eat a lot there?”
“Has that become known already?”
“Yeah. It’s all over Black Cow Village. It’s rare for the Emperor to summon academy students during the term.”
“What about the demon envoys?”
“That part hasn’t spread. Wait, demons came?”
“Yes. Heukrang, your tribe trades with demons too, right?”
“Not exactly friendly—just business partners.”
Trading with demons was illegal, but the Sacred Beast tribe was treated as untouchable outcasts by the Empire—like nomads.
Naturally, imperial laws meant nothing to them.
“If the demons pay well, we trade. But honestly, they don’t want much from us.
Plenty of imperial citizens are already trading with them secretly.
And those people can offer better goods than we can.”
So the tribe had little advantage in demon trade.
“I see. So their visit to the imperial palace isn’t public knowledge.”
“Right. What people are talking about is something else—your team got completely crushed in Wizard Ball, didn’t it?”
“…Yes. Our key members were at the reception.”
“Anyway, keep it up. People in the village are actually rooting for your team.”
“…They are?”
“Oh, and you might get letters soon. Others have started receiving mail from their families this week.”
“I see. I look forward to my father’s letter.”
After parting with Heukrang, Idnia headed to the Wizard Ball club room.
As expected, the team’s morale had completely collapsed after their crushing defeat.
They had underestimated the Civil Service Examinees team.
‘You think you’re better just because you were born into good families?
The only thing you’re better at is being born lucky!’
In reality, their magic and experience were formidable.
Some of them were even stronger than the academy students.
Was the academy’s policy against prior learning really just about fairness?
Or was it a way to filter out talented but poor individuals?
The thought lingered.
“…Damn it. Why are we even gathering? We already got destroyed…”
Atos, a dorm student and team member, grumbled as he walked toward the club room, clutching his empty stomach.
Then—
“Wait… what’s that smell?”
His roommate, Persiphaia, stopped as well.
“Something smells good…”
As the students gathered, an unbelievable sight greeted them.
Even though it was raining, the area around the club room was dry.
A massive barrier dome diverted the rain.
And nearby, fairies in shimmering outfits were preparing food.
“Ah, you’re here? We’re still preparing, so please wait.”
“…What is this?”
At that moment, Vuremheid appeared—holding a whisk instead of a wand.
He was frowning, forcing a smile.
It looked like his emotions and reason were pulling him apart.
‘As expected.’
Idnia recognized that while he was arrogant and violent, he was not foolish.
Despite his anger, he understood that venting it would only destroy the team.
‘He really loves Wizard Ball. This will be useful.’
“Professor Vuremheid…”
“This is for a lunch gathering… Grrk…”
Sparks crackled around him.
“…Yes…”
“The cooks are…?”
“They are Afraksas. Distant relatives of nymphs. They answer summoning magic and grant wishes.
I thought I was decent at cooking, but—”
Snap.
The whisk broke in his hand.
“…I see…”
Everyone was worried watching him struggle to suppress his anger.
Those who had attended the reception barely held back laughter.
‘He’s really doing all this because of Idnia’s words?’
‘He might go insane at this rate.’
‘If he does, that’s a disaster.’
Soon, all members had gathered.
Vuremheid cleared his throat.
“First of all, good work, everyone.
Yes, tremendous effort. You noble-born students stepping onto the field and making fools of yourselves—I mean, playing the game—that alone is impressive.
…This isn’t a kindergarten where we praise babies for walking, you know.”
“……”
“Anyway, despite the loss, it was a valuable experience. For me too. If it wasn’t my team, I would have enjoyed watching it.”
“……”
Was he encouraging them or insulting them?
He seemed on the verge of a breakdown.
“You underestimated them, but they were more experienced than you.
You’ve learned how dangerous arrogance can be.
Use this defeat as a stepping stone.”
He somehow managed to conclude.
“…We are ashamed. We don’t deserve this feast.”
Rex spoke up.
“Then… you’ll starve?”
“…That’s not what I meant, but… it would be rude to waste the food.”
He struggled between pride and hunger.
Vuremheid sighed.
“…This defeat is my responsibility.
Talent alone isn’t enough. Without training, you cannot become good players.
I knew that, yet I still let you fight unprepared. That’s my fault.”
He admitted his mistake.
“So today—eat well, train properly, and win next time!
Your talent is more than enough to dominate the fourth league!”
“Yes!”
The students responded.
Whether it was his effort—or the food—their spirits began to recover.
.