Chapter 69

 Farming Is the Foundation of the World

“I can offer you a garden. What if you grow your own food?
Behind my professor’s building, there’s a backyard that gets good sunlight and is pretty big.”

“Huh?”

Idnia was surprised by the unexpected offer.
Professor Buremhyde is offering me a garden?

‘If that’s true, it would solve the food problems we’ve been struggling with for days.
Ah, I really want to accept it, but if I jump in too quickly, Buremhyde might think I’m easy. I should pretend to hesitate a little.’

Although Idnia really wanted it, she didn’t show it on her face.
Buremhyde looked confused.

“Aren’t most students struggling to eat right now? I thought this was a good offer.”

“Well… the school store is open now, so it’s not that bad.”

“Hmm. The store is expensive though. Are you saying students are buying food from there? This group of students must be richer than previous classes.”

“I don’t want to brag, but this year’s class includes the Crown Prince, a sole daughter of a Margrave, and several heirs. Some even delayed admission just to join this year’s class.”

With such strong backgrounds, it was clear this class had money and power.

“Still, most of the food at the store is just snacks. I thought students would be desperate for something real to eat by now.”

“Well… maybe. But most of us have never even touched dirt before. Who’s going to farm now? Also, I heard that garden was supposed to unlock after we open the school shop?”

“Why would you waste points unlocking the gym before the garden? Wizard Ball needs not just magic but strong bodies too. How do you expect to join the 1st League with that mindset?”

“1st League…?”

In Buremhyde’s mind, the Wizard Ball club already existed, had moved up from 4th to 3rd and 2nd Leagues, and was about to go pro.

“Uh, it’s just a student club. The 1st League is a bit much. Anyway, even if you give us a garden, I’m not sure people will want to join. Still… thank you.”

In short, she’d accept the garden—but don’t expect miracles.
That’s what Idnia meant.

“Having a garden will be helpful for practicing everyday magic. Using telekinesis to farm will improve the quality of the spell. Also, Idnia, I’m not giving the garden to other students—only to you. You can use it to gather teammates and form a team. Don’t you think you’re capable of that?”

“I appreciate the trust, but I’m not confident I can recruit rich and noble students.”

“Don’t worry. They’ll join easily. Heh heh.”

Buremhyde smiled mysteriously.

“Well… I’ll try. But don’t expect too much.”

As Buremhyde shared his ambitious plan, Idnia cut into her rainbow trout fillet and dipped it in sauce.
It was delicious—so good it could be served in a fancy restaurant.

‘Hmm. If I manage to build a good Wizard Ball team, Buremhyde will like me more. But can I really find nine good players? How did I end up in this situation…?’

Later…

After the meeting, someone unexpected was waiting for Idnia—it was Principal Ludwig.

“So the female student Buremhyde suddenly called to his place was you?
You’re always in the center of rumors, Idnia.”

“Ah, Principal…”

“Sadia was thrilled when she heard a professor showed interest in a girl.
But since it was Buremhyde, I get it. It’s about Wizard Ball, right?”

“You already know? Yes, he wants to create a team.”

“Hmm…”

“What do you think about that?”

“Making a Wizard Ball team under the academy’s name? If the students are serious, I have no problem. But in the past, all such attempts have failed.”

Even though Ludwig stayed expressionless, he seemed to want the team to succeed.

‘Wait? Principal Ludwig is also interested in Wizard Ball? Well, if a team brings glory to the academy, I guess it’s a good thing for him.’

Idnia asked out of curiosity.

“Do you want the school to have a Wizard Ball team?”

“Well, I’m stuck at this academy too. When I see students graduate, I feel like I should do more than just lectures.”

“Oh, so it’s not because you personally like the sport?”

“I’m a bit interested… But, never mind. I hope I’m just being paranoid.”

He then pointed toward the dorms.

“Don’t wander around. Go back straight to your room. If you stay out too long, people will gossip.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

Idnia returned quickly to her dorm.

When she got back, a group of students were gathered.

“Um, Idnia? What happened?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Buremhyde just asked if I wanted to form a Wizard Ball team.”

“Wizard Ball?”

“Ah… that’s it?”

The students started complaining—and began exchanging money.

Apparently, they had made bets on what happened between Idnia and Buremhyde.

“So? Are you interested in starting a Wizard Ball team?”

But most of the students didn’t look excited.

“Well… I like watching Wizard Ball.”

“But playing it is a different story…”

“People have died playing that sport. My mom would freak out if I joined.”

“Wait, people died?!”

Idnia was shocked.

Now she understood why Buremhyde had been so desperate to form a team but failed each time.

“Ah, I see. Well, if that’s how you all feel…”

Even if she took the garden, if nobody was interested, she’d just drop it quietly.

At least that’s what she thought.

The next morning…

Breakfast, which was already bad, somehow got worse.

No bread, no soup—only hardtack was served.

Hardtack: a dry biscuit so hard it could crack a skull if thrown.

It’s usually boiled into soup—but there was no soup. Instead, they gave milk tea.

But this milk tea… was basically sour milk with lots of water added. It was made from milk that had almost gone bad.

“Why is the food like this? It used to be bad but at least warm. This is… awful.”

Idnia asked the students nearby, but no one knew.

Then, Professor Denev walked into the cafeteria.

“Everyone, calm down! I know the food is weird today.
Last night, an oven explosion happened in Blackcow Village.
The bakery that supplies our bread was damaged.”

“What?”

“How did that happen?”

Lorenzo looked worried. His servants and Vatican agents were stationed in the village.

“The bakery says it was a sabotage by the local restaurant. But I think it was just an old oven that broke.”

Idnia was shocked.

The bakery and restaurant in Blackcow Village were enemies.

The restaurant was run by Lorenzo’s people and served fancy southern food, while the local bakery was for the villagers.

Naturally, the bakery lost customers.

But could the Vatican agents really have blown up the bakery?

Surely not…

‘Wait. Was this… Buremhyde’s doing?’

Idnia became suspicious.

Right now, the garden wasn’t that attractive. Rich kids wouldn’t want to farm.

Even if they did, crops would take time to grow.

But—if students were starving, the value of fresh food would skyrocket.

And now, the bakery was gone.

‘No way… this is too much. Even if he’s crazy, does he think crops will grow in one day?’

Still unsure, Idnia’s thoughts were interrupted when Professor Sadia entered the cafeteria.

“Good morning, everyone! Energy Drain!”

“W-what?!”

She cast a spell on all students, making them even hungrier.

“Gah—what is this…”

As students panicked, Sadia began to sing and dance on a table:

🎶 “While my baby starves with no milk,
The nobles party every night!
Burn down their fancy mansions!
Stain their silk rugs with blood!” 🎶

The lyrics were enough to get banned in the Empire.

“Professor Sadia! What are you doing?! On today of all days!”

Professor Denev was shocked.

“Oh, Denev. Today’s morning class was yours, right? Can we switch?”

“You want to teach Mesmerize and Illusion instead?”

“Nope. I’m going to teach Farming With Magic!”

“…”

Now Idnia understood clearly.

Sadia and Buremhyde were working together.

Buremhyde wanted to raise the garden’s value.
Sadia wanted to shake up the system, make nobles suffer, and encourage cross-class romance.

They were working together for their own goals.

‘They’re crazy. All of these tenured professors… they’re out of their minds.’

Idnia was speechless.
All of this… just to create a Wizard Ball team?!