CHAPTER 99
The Army Marches on Its Stomach
“Anyway, for the after-party, you just need to know the basic box step.
If it were a formal ball with a central group dance, people in the center would need to use advanced moves. But last night, the tables were set up on the dance floor, so it didn’t feel like a proper ballroom event.
Maybe if it had gone on until late at night, they would have cleared the tables and danced properly, but we left before then.”
Idnia explained how imperial social balls usually worked.
Even though she had avoided social gatherings, she was still a high-ranking noble. Just by hearing bits and pieces growing up, she knew way more than Mari.
‘Aunt Augusta always went on about wanting to dance…’
Idnia began teaching Mari the basics of dancing.
As they danced hand in hand, Mari felt overwhelmed.
‘Lady Idnia is just… so confident.’
Her heart had fluttered when she first attended the ball. She’d felt sad watching Idnia dance with Prince Rudolf, then excited when she got to dance with him herself. But Idnia treated all those moments naturally, like they were just part of life. She accepted them gracefully and kept doing her best in every situation.
Even now, she was taking time to teach a commoner like Mari how to dance, so she wouldn’t be embarrassed next time.
Mari was truly grateful.
The next morning, it was drizzling.
Breakfast consisted of bread brought from some far-off region and a stew made from leftover fish scraps—parts people usually throw away.
Idnia was disappointed.
‘Ugh, the leftover fish with bones could be a decent broth base, and the blood-rich meat can be okay if cooked with strong spices to mask the smell… But these people really don’t know how to cook.’
They just boiled everything together and added salt, which made the fishy smell even worse.
Even Idnia, who wasn’t picky, struggled to eat it.
Most students walked out.
Later that morning, Heukrang came to find her.
“You okay, Master? You don’t look well.”
“Ah… breakfast was awful. It had protein, at least. But I need to fix this quickly. Can you get seeds or seedlings for these crops?”
Idnia handed over a list. It included things like onions and garlic that grow easily in temperate climates—but also things like star anise and black pepper, which need more sunlight.
“These won’t grow well around here. Wrong climate.”
“I think I can make it work.”
“Well, I’ll try to get them. But the pepper from Black Cow Village is all pre-steamed, so the seeds won’t sprout.”
“That’s fine. I can wait.”
“Alright. I’ll be gone for about a week.”
Heukrang, from the sacred beast tribe, seemed to be planning to get unprocessed black pepper through their smuggling network.
“But I’m surprised. You’re not usually picky about food. Didn’t you eat enough at the ball yesterday?”
“Wait, that got out?”
“Yeah. It’s all over Black Cow Village. It’s not every day a student from Dynaise Academy gets invited to the imperial palace mid-term.”
“They don’t know about the demons visiting, do they?”
“What? Demons came?”
“Yes. Heukrang, your people trade with them, don’t they?”
“Eh, I wouldn’t say we’re close. Just business partners.”
Trading with demons was illegal, but the sacred beast tribe were treated like outcasts. They didn’t care about imperial laws. As long as the demons paid well, they’d trade.
“But the problem is that demons don’t need much from us anymore. Plenty of regular imperial citizens already trade with them in secret.”
That made it hard for the beast tribe to compete.
“So the demons coming to the imperial palace wasn’t public knowledge, huh?”
“Right. But what’s trending in Black Cow Village now is that the Wizard Ball team got crushed.”
“Ah, yes… our core players were at the after-party. Speaking of that, I need to get to morning training.”
“In this rain? Well, good luck, Master. The village folks are quietly rooting for your team, you know?”
“Really? Even them?”
“Oh, and you might get a letter soon. The other servants have started getting letters from their families. Yours might come this week.”
Heukrang gave her the supplies and let her know that letters were starting to arrive from all over the Empire.
“I’m looking forward to my father’s letter.”
With that, Idnia headed to the Wizard Ball clubroom.
Just as Idnia expected, the Wizard Ball team was feeling crushed after their recent loss.
They had underestimated the “Public Exam Preppers” team—and it turned out those guys were no joke.
‘Dynaise Academy? That’s just a bunch of spoiled nobles. You think you’re better than us just because of your birth? The only thing you beat us at is being born lucky!’
Their opponents had strong magic and experience. Some of them were better than even the Dynaise students. Maybe the academy rejected them for doing pre-study… but was that really the only reason?
Maybe banning pre-study was just a way to keep poor kids from self-teaching and rising up.
“Ugh. What’s so important that they called us in? We got crushed anyway…”
Atos, a male student from Eurus dorm and part of the team, grumbled as he dragged his hungry body to the clubroom.
But a delicious smell hit his nose.
“What’s that?”
His roommate, Persifier, sniffed the air.
“Smells amazing…”
When they reached the clubroom, they saw something unexpected.
Despite the rain, it wasn’t raining near the clubroom. A magical dome in the sky was redirecting the rain elsewhere.
Fairy-like beings in glowing water-colored clothes were preparing food.
“Oh, you’re here? We’re still getting ready, so please wait.”
“Huh…”
Then they spotted Professor Buremhiede—holding a whisk instead of his usual staff.
He was frowning while forcing a smile. It was clear he was beyond furious but holding it all in.
It was like his emotions and logic were fighting inside him.
‘As expected…’
Idnia was impressed again. Buremhiede might be arrogant and violent, but he wasn’t dumb.
He was probably furious about the loss—but he knew blowing up would only break the team. So he swallowed his pride and tried to boost morale.
He really must love Wizard Ball.
‘Perfect. I can use that.’
Idnia realized once again how important Wizard Ball was for dealing with Buremhiede.
“P-Professor Buremhiede?”
“This is…”
Even the students who’d eaten that awful breakfast started drooling at the sight of the food.
“This is for our lunch party. Ugh…”
Electric sparks shot from Buremhiede’s body and crackled on the ground.
“Ack… Okay.”
“Uh, but who are those people cooking?”
“They’re Aphraxsas. Distant relatives of nymphs. They respond to summoning magic and help with tasks. I used to think I was good at cooking, but…”
At that moment, the whisk in his hand snapped from his grip strength.
“Ah… right.”
Everyone could see how hard he was trying to keep calm—and it was worrying.
Karl, Lorenzo, and Rudolf—who had seen Idnia persuade Buremhiede the day before—couldn’t help but chuckle.
‘He’s really doing all this just because of what Lady Idnia said?’
‘He’s trying so hard… he might go insane.’
‘If he loses it, we’re all in trouble.’
Soon, all the team members gathered.
Buremhiede cleared his throat and began.
“First of all, great job, everyone.
It was… an incredible effort. You rich kids, with your silver spoons, stepped onto the field and… well, made a mess of it—but hey, effort counts, right? Even toddlers get praised when they take their first steps…”
“…”
“Anyway! We lost, but it was a valuable learning experience. At least, it was for me. I would’ve enjoyed watching it… if I hadn’t been rooting for you.”
“…”
No one could tell if he was trying to encourage them or insult them.
It was clear his mind was on the verge of snapping.
“You probably looked down on the public preppers. But they’ve had more practice and experience than you. Arrogance is a poison. Let this defeat be a lesson, and let’s do better next time.”
He finished, still seething but trying to motivate them.
“We’re ashamed. After such a terrible performance, we don’t deserve a feast,”
said Rex, Lorenzo’s aide.
He felt it was shameful to enjoy a party after losing so badly.
“Oh, so you’re saying you won’t eat?”
“N-no, I just meant… it’d be wrong to waste all this food.”
He was clearly torn between hunger and pride.
Seeing this, Buremhiede seemed to calm down a little.
“Sigh… I’m joking, everyone. This loss is my responsibility.
Even with great talent, you can’t win without training.
I knew that, yet I still sent you into a hopeless match. That’s on me.”
He admitted his mistake while holding back his anger.
“So today, eat well and train harder. We’ll win next time! I know you all have enough talent to win the fourth league!”
“Yes!”
The students cheered—partly out of respect, and maybe partly because the food smelled so good.
