A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

60 – Watch Some Soccer

“Soccer… you mean football?”

The Toin, Woong, Hoin, Myoin, and Rang tribes.

Gathering all the aquatic beings who had migrated to Aylam, I mentioned the word ‘soccer’, and they naturally looked puzzled.

“It’s a game where 11 players compete on the field by kicking the ball with their feet to score in the opponent’s goal. You will compete against humans. Humans will enhance their bodies with magic and sorcery and come out to play against you.”

“Why are we doing this?”

The chief of the Woong tribe, Luo, asked bluntly. With a stature reaching two meters and muscles ready to burst, he wasn’t particularly angry. The Woong tribe always had a blunt way of speaking.

“That’s right. We have no reason to waste time playing games.”

Nifora, the chief of the Hoin tribe, also had a face questioning why they would waste time on such a thing. With a fox-like, very captivating appearance, her voice felt seductive even when speaking casually.

“Wouldn’t it be better to find more jobs instead?”

Ellya, the chief of the Myoin tribe, said while fiddling with her ears above her head. Sometimes acting like a real cat, she seemed very dignified, but when something didn’t please her, she became very blunt.

Listening to everyone’s complaints, I bowed before them.

“Do you all know about television?”

There was no doubt. The illusion stones recently released by Illusion Company for home use. Television was explosively popular even in Aylam.

“Your matches will be broadcast through that television. In other words, your games will be watched all over the world.”

The first to understand my intentions at this point was, as expected, the quick-witted and somewhat weak Toin chief, Crac.

“Are you saying this for our reputation?”

“That’s right, Crac. While Aylam has accepted the aquatic beings, the people of Aylam still don’t know much about you. They are not particularly interested, right? In such a situation, if you play as athletes and provide entertainment, the image will change. The same goes for Karamba.”

Ellya of the Myoin tribe laughed at my words.

“Just appearing on television will change our image? I don’t quite get it. Nyahahahaha!”

Yes, that’s right. You still don’t understand the cultural power of mass media and professional sports.

“You will become their heroes. Sports have that power. People will be passionate about you as they watch various stories unfold in fierce competition. Besides, you have good stories.”

Stories of beings who faced all kinds of persecution, crossed over to the land of opportunity and hope in Aylam, and succeeded.

Even at a glance, it was a very attractive story.

“You aquatic beings will gain a new image and high salaries, while Aylam and Karamba will have a very interesting, exciting sport. Don’t you want to give it a try?”

At my words, all the aquatic beings looked at each other.

“If it’s for the reputation of the aquatic beings, I’ll do it.”

Crac’s words were sincere.

“The Woong tribe will participate as well.”

It was the word of the Woong tribe chief, Lupo.

“We’ll give it a try. If it’s fun, we’ll continue. Nyahahahaha!”

It was the words of Ellya from the Mystical Tribe.

“I’ve received a favor, so I must repay it. I’ll do as you wish.”

Nipora from the Beast Tribe nodded in agreement. Cherto also expressed his willingness to participate. I chuckled at everyone’s words and laid out a piece of paper with a square drawn on it on the map.

I may not have been good at it, but I used to play a game called Football Manager a lot, you know?

Let’s show our skills.

“I’ll lead the Beast Tribe team. And it’s been decided that Prince Adran will lead the Human team. The Human team will only use magic and magical tools related to physical enhancement and acceleration. So, we need to plan our strategy well.”

I chose the Bear Tribe as defenders, the Swift-footed and agile Toi Tribe as forwards, the Fox Tribe as midfielders, and the Cat Tribe as goalkeeper and winger.

“Alright, let’s start practicing like this. I’ll explain the basic rules as we go. Bring the best players from each tribe. Let’s have a match that everyone can’t take their eyes off.”

And so, the training began that day.

The best players selected from each tribe started practicing football.

Of course, there were expressions of confusion like, “What on earth are we doing?” during practice, but as time passed, they began to realize that football was surprisingly fun.

“Your Majesty Adran, the Beast Tribe is ready.”

“The humans are ready too. We’ve selected people from the Knight Order. Selené has prepared the magic.”

“We’ll name our team the Blisters.”

“We’ve decided to go with the Emperor Guardians.”

“Excellent. Shall we start the match?”

And a few months later, the long-awaited first match finally took place.

Football.

Seemingly the simplest game.

But in Aylam, it was inevitably an unfamiliar game. Naturally, it needed promotion.

Through dramas, the public had already accepted television, and I actively instructed to add advertising videos to the end of the drama.

Thus, the advertisement for the match between the Blisters and the Emperor Guardians was broadcasted extensively, reaching the many people gathered in front of the television to watch the drama Monster Hunter.

And, as expected.

“What’s this ad? Football?”

“Are those knights armed with magic playing with the beings?”

“Look at how those beings kick the ball. What speed is that?…”

“That looks interesting, doesn’t it? Should we give it a watch?”

The public began to show interest. I purposely included training videos of the beings in the advertisement, allowing everyone to see their extraordinary physical abilities.

As the content about the Emperor Guardians, armed with all sorts of magic and magical tools, facing off against such beings started to flow into the final part of Monster Hunter, the intrigue became irresistible.

“Human knights armed with magic versus the Mystical Tribe. Who will win?”

“I’m curious. Who will actually win?”

As the interest grew, I immediately started ticketing. The stadium I had built months ago in anticipation of this day began to shine.

“Lord Lendor, it’s about football ticketing.”

“Oh. How did it go?”

“Sold out in a day. It seems like the entire population of Porto Commercial City flocked to the ticket booths.”

“And the money?”

“Piled up like mountains.”

The response was ecstatic.

Even some of the merchants in Karamba were intrigued enough after seeing the advertisement to consider watching the match.

Amidst such enthusiastic responses.

Finally, the first soccer match commenced.

“The Bisters led by Lord Randor! And the Emperor Guardians under His Highness Adran!!!”

Amidst the applause filling the stands, both teams began to enter. A peculiar match for those unfamiliar. The spectators, who had come in out of curiosity after seeing the advertisement, wore expressions full of wonder. No fervor yet.

It was only natural for the audience to react this way since it was their first encounter with soccer.

However, those reactions swiftly changed as the game kicked off.

In a word, this fantasy soccer was exhilarating.

“Break through!!”

“Defend! All defenders, come in!!!”

The pace and excitement of the Earth’s soccer were nothing short of amusing.

A Torian player rushed with the ball. Even Messi or Ronaldo wouldn’t reach that speed. The Guardians, armed with haste and strength reinforced through training, desperately defended against the Torian attacker charging in at a speed several times faster.

“Defend! Remember! No hands except the goalkeeper!”

“Steal it!!!”

The Torian attacker couldn’t withstand the relentless pressure and lost the ball, leading to a swift counterattack by the Guardians.

With speed matching the Torian players, the Emperor Guardians aggressively pushed forward, aided by haste and strength enhancements.

The bulky Wung players tried to block those attacks with all their might, but the exceptional footwork of the Guardians’ players eventually created gaps in the defense.

A shot followed, and the soccer ball flew towards the goal at an incredible speed, shaking the goalpost.

Made of natural rubber and enchanted with reinforcing magic for durability, the soccer ball seemed to be moving at a speed that could make one think it might burst.

“That speed is insane.”

Beside me, Karl Hanson watched the game with his mouth agape.

As the mastermind behind all this, I was also taken aback by the speed, to the point of being unable to focus.

Several times faster than the typical soccer speed.

And the goal scoring was also several times more.

The goals started pouring in within moments, with 3 or 4 goals scored at a stretch.

After scoring 3 or 4 goals, the losing side would counterattack, striving to score another 3 or 4 goals, creating a tense match.

The initially curious audience’s reactions to this exciting game gradually shifted.

“Guardians, win!!”

“Bisters! Show the power of the Porto Commercial City!!!”

Divided between the capital and the Porto Commercial City, the cheering factions started passionately supporting their respective hometown teams.

It was truly a fierce battle.

The goalposts trembled incessantly, and the players moved almost ferociously, leaving no room for error as they fiercely fought over the ball.

As the first half ended and the second half began, the scoreboard in the middle of the field lit up, starting the countdown.

Only 6 minutes left now.

The score stood at Guardians 7 goals, Bisters 6 goals.

Neck and neck.

The Bisters were determined to turn the tide.

“Don’t give up! Show the power of the Water Tribe!!”

“Let’s show them!!!”

A Torian player swiftly made a move.

Despite the defenders converging, the Torian player skillfully evaded with a fantastic feint, passing the ball back. The ball was caught by a Hoian midfielder, swiftly sent to the wing, where another Torian attacker was waiting to receive it precisely.

A fantastic shot followed, shaking the Guardians’ goalpost.

“Tie game!!!”

“Just one more goal! Just one more!!!”

No one in the audience was watching the game out of mere curiosity anymore.

Everyone was engulfed in the incredible speed and thrill, cheering wildly with fervor.

The Guardians launched a counterattack.

The burly Oongin blocked the attacker who thought he could easily outmaneuver them.

“Do you think you’ll get through this time?”

Unexpectedly, the quick and solid defense of the Oongin caused the ball to switch over to the Blisters.

The Oongin defender swiftly passed the ball to the midfielder, Hoin, who then immediately passed it to the forward, Toin.

A fantastic counterattack unfolded seamlessly.

Toin sprinted towards the goal with determination.

The screams and cheers of the audience escalated in unison.

And another fantastic shot followed.

“It’s in!!!!!!!”

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“Hurrah!!!!!!!”

The goalkeeper couldn’t stop it as the net shook.

“Game over!”

And at a breathtaking moment, the referee blew the whistle, signaling the end of the game. The people of the commercial city of Porto erupted in cheers, while those who had come down from the capital, though disappointed, still applauded the incredibly entertaining match.

“Randor.”

Adran spoke to me with an excited expression.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“What have you created?”

He looked at me with a flushed face, laughing in excitement.

I smiled back at him.

“It’s a new culture, Your Highness.”

“Excellent. Very excellent! It was splendid!”

Adran was rarely so excited, but I thought it was well-deserved. After all, it was a very entertaining match that continued with the Emperor’s praise.

And the viewership ratings were even more fascinating.

“Approximately 78% of all televisions connected to the Teleport Station watched the soccer match.”

“Is that so high?”

“Yes. Everyone is asking when the next game is.”

“Create multiple teams. Create several teams, form a league, and have them compete for the championship.”

“This will make money, Lord Randor. It will make a crazy amount of money. Oh, it’s truly unbelievable. I’ll establish a new company and set up a professional organization.”

“Proceed. And Kal. What are the ratings in Karamba?”

“They are higher. 89%.”

I burst into laughter at his words.

89%.

Yes.

I can vouch for it firsthand.

It’s several times faster and more entertaining than Earth’s soccer.

Swift counterattacks and quick offenses. A remarkably speedy game in progress. Anyone watching this would find it impossible to call it boring.

“Karamba will also become passionate about sports. And once that happens… the war will escalate further.”

I wonder what expression the Sultan is wearing right now?

Whether it’s war or nonsense, he must have already realized that public opinion has completely turned against him, and he must be shouting with frustration.

Whatever the case.

“Why engage in a tiring war from here? Sultan. Have some soda and watch soccer on TV.”

The Sultan’s annoyance was my joy.