Chapter 73: This is… Football? Football had Such Neat Rules? Then What on Earth Have We Been Doing All This Time…? (2)

In the center of the beautiful colonial capital of Lunden on the Albion continent stood a massive Colosseum.

As a building constructed by the manpower and gardeners of the Rosegarden family, it did not take long to create its magnificence.

And on a weekend in Lunden.

The area around the Colosseum was lined with street vendors selling all sorts of snacks like hot dogs, tteokbokki, and popcorn.

A crowd of spectators, including Lunden citizens and people from other cities and towns, bustled about.

“A building where you can watch football. Lady Lin really thinks of things that ordinary people can’t even imagine.”

“…That girl. She’s really serious about having fun.”

Just as they were about to leave for the northern part of the Empire, Ria and Cain turned back after receiving an urgent magic letter from Lin.

After pushing through the massive crowd and buying a large amount of food from the street vendors, they entered by presenting the VVIP tickets that were enclosed with the letter.

“Ria!”

“Lady Lin!”

As they stepped into the VVIP seats with a good view, Lin, who was talking with Edwin and Leonard, greeted Ria.

She had given up hope, thinking they might have already left for the northern part of the Empire, but thankfully, the boarding time for the ship to the mainland was extended, so she was able to see them off one more time.

“You….”

Cain, who was about to speak informally to Lin as usual, caught himself and covered his mouth.

He wasn’t sure about Ria, but he had a dizzying thought of what might happen if he made a presumptuous remark in front of Edwin and Leonard of the Rosegarden family, who had a considerable love for their family.

Cain broke out in a cold sweat and cautiously observed the situation.

Fortunately, the two members of the Rosegarden family didn’t seem to care much.

While breathing a sigh of relief, Lin looked at Cain appropriately.

“Ah, you were here too? Well… feel free to sit down and watch.”

“Yes. Thank you for your grace, my lady.”

“…? Did you eat something bad?”

Lin, who had greeted him perfunctorily as if he were just Ria’s tag-along, tilted her head.

However, Cain could not voice his grievance.

Because the moment he expressed his feelings as he usually did to a friend, he could have vanished from the world without a trace.

“Huhu, what cute friends you have, Lin.”

Leonard showed Ria a benevolent smile, as if telling her not to be nervous.

Unlike Cain, whose complexion turned colder than when he was bitten by a poisonous snake, Ria took his words at face value, telling them not to mind them.

Of course, Edwin and Leonard didn’t have any particular thoughts.

It was a common occurrence for Lin to hang out with commoners, and they had vaguely sensed a strong divine power latent in Ria.

Considering their characteristic of recognizing people by their abilities regardless of their status, Cain was practically useless.

“U-uhm… Lady Lin?”

“…Yes? Did you really eat something bad? Come to think of it, you haven’t looked well since a while ago.”

‘Of course not…!’

However, Cain’s cry did not reach them.

In front of him was only a clueless noble lady who didn’t know her place, and a simple country girl who was happily chatting with the beautiful girl’s older brother.

“My lady.”

“Ah, is it already time?”

“Yes. The game will be starting soon.”

“I understand. I’ll be down shortly.”

At that moment, a subordinate came to the VVIP seats with a good view to escort Lin.

As per the orders given earlier, he informed her that it was time to get ready for the game.

“Then Dad, Orabeoni, and Ria. Watch my game carefully from there!”

“Mm. Do your best.”

“Huhu, yes. I’ll be looking forward to Lin’s performance.”

“G-good luck…!”

Lin, after receiving encouragement from her family and Ria, was about to go down to the players’ waiting room.

“Ah, and you, Cain. You should be grateful to me for arranging this opportunity for you to have a date with Ria, you know?”

“Grateful for what…!”

She turned her back after a final whisper to Cain, laced with a hint of showing off.

“Cain. This food called popcorn. It’s incredibly delicious!”

“…I know, right. It has that distinct popcorn feel.”

And so.

Cain, who ended up enjoying a lovey-dovey football viewing date with Ria next to the head and heir of the Rosegarden family.

***

[A very sunny day. The Colosseum is packed with people. This is Lunden, Lunden Colosseum, bringing you the live commentary.]

[Yes. Today is a very monumental day. The Albion Football, designed by Lady Lin, the daughter of the Rosegarden Count family. The official game of that Albion Football is being held here in this Colosseum today.]

[That’s right. As it is the first official game of Albion Football, it is a very glorious day as Lady Lin, the creator of Albion Football, is personally participating as a player.]

[As we speak, Lady Lin and the players of the Lunden Lions are entering the Colosseum. Everyone is greeting them with warm applause and praise.]

Two commentator knights—who are actual knights—under the Rosegarden family are live-broadcasting the first official game of Albion Football.

Their voices echo throughout the Colosseum using a sound amplification magic tool.

However, no one questioned the commentators’ voices booming throughout the venue.

‘If you commentate like this, all the tactics will be exposed…’

Except for one transmigrator in the VVIP seats.

[Some of you may be wondering if the players can hear our commentary. However, please be assured that this magic tool and the Colosseum are enchanted with soundproofing magic, designed so that the players cannot hear unnecessary voices, except for the cheers and support of the crowd.]

[Isn’t this also thanks to Lady Lin’s meticulous design?]

[That is absolutely right. As we speak, following the Lunden Lions where Lady Lin is present, the opposing team, the Abel Devils, enters.]

[The Abel Devils. It was once called the devil’s fruit, but now it is considered a very good team name, reminiscent of the tomato, which can be seen as a symbol of Lady Lin.]

[Didn’t Lady Lin actually defeat the demon of the tomato when she was in Abel Town?]

[Yes. It would have been impossible if it weren’t for Lady Lin.]

[In that sense, it is a very intelligent team name that can give great pressure to the opponent… but I wonder. Lady Lin is currently playing for the Lunden Lions.]

[Ah. This is going to be tough. They might be defeated by Lady Lin again. The Abel Devils.]

[But I think that in itself is a reward.]

The demon of the tomato that only Lin could defeat.

As much as they praised Lin, their fear of the demon of the tomato was great, so the Abel Devils’ tomato-red color and intimidating team name were quite effective.

Following the home team, the Lunden Lions, the Abel Devils enter.

Despite being the away team, they are welcomed with cheers of a similar magnitude to the Lunden Lions.

It was only natural.

Both the Lunden Lions and the Abel Devils were teams that Lin founded and owned.

And they were inseparable brother teams sponsored by Raphael Inc.

[What? What is this!?]

In an instant, the cheers of the crowd grew dramatically louder.
The Colosseum was in a great uproar at the unexpected appearance of an unexpected person.

[In the running back position for the Abel Devils, none other than Young Master Rio is playing!]

[Ah, I don’t know about this game anymore. I really don’t know.]

[I can’t help but wonder what kind of result the sibling fight between Lady Lin and Young Master Rio will produce.]

That’s right.

Unlike Lin, who had returned to Lunden, Rio had remained in Abel Town.

To teach his cheeky younger sister a lesson, he had entered the game as a running back and linebacker for the Abel Devils.

A running back.

If the quarterback, the position Lin was playing, was the commander-in-chief who directed everything, the running back was an attacker like a cavalryman who carried the ball and charged towards the enemy lines.

Also, a linebacker was a shield that blocked the opposing running back, as well as a field commander who directed the defense from the center of the defensive line.

“Rio….”

“Hmph, you look like you didn’t expect this at all.”

Before they greeted each other, Rio smiled confidently at his younger sister.

“No, you’re on the player list, so of course I knew, you idiot.”

“…I hadn’t thought of that.”

Lin looked at him with an expression of disbelief.

In the first place, since both the Lunden Lions and the Abel Devils were teams owned by Lin, it was impossible for her not to know about Rio’s participation.

“But… you’re playing as a running back, not a quarterback?”

“Using my head doesn’t suit me.”

“Well, I guess so~. You know too, Rio, don’t you? That no matter how hard you try, you can’t beat your big sister. If you surrender meekly, this big sister might even pat your head for you~?”

Thump!

“Ouch…!”

A noogie immediately flew at Lin’s trash talk.

Thanks to the performance of the armor that protected her entire head and her mana skin, not wearing a helmet like the other players worked against her.

For reference, Rio also did not wear a helmet for a similar reason.

“Hahaha…. Being so arrogant will only last for now. Soon, you will face a crushing defeat at the hands of my brilliant tactics!!”

“You’re particularly cocky today. Why?”

However, now that an official sports league had just been created, Rio, who had no way of knowing about the culture of trash talk, was puzzled.

Before that, the fact that Lin’s trash talk was not trashy at all also played a part.

The players from both sides greeted each other.

The first possession belonged to the Lunden Lions, with Lin playing as the quarterback.

The line, the front line of defense, and the center in the middle of it, handed the ball between his legs to the quarterback, Lin.

Crash!

At the same time, the lines of each team collided fiercely.

One side, to break through the opponent’s defensive line and take down the commander, the quarterback.

The other side, to maintain the defensive line as much as possible to protect their precious commander and only professional passer—the position that passes—the quarterback, did everything they could.

‘The positions of the receivers are….’

Lin, who had received the ball from the center, took a step back and surveyed the situation.

“…….”

‘…I can’t see anything!’

However.

Lin was flustered because she couldn’t see anything in front of her, blocked by the large, sturdy bodies of the players.

Swoosh!

“…!”

It was in an instant.

Not missing the gap that opened in the Lunden Lions’ offensive line, Lin was momentarily frozen by Rio’s blitz tactic, which came at her low, piercing through the people.

‘I have to throw it somewhere…!’

‘B-but if the opponent catches it instead of our receiver…!’

If the ball hits the ground, they lose possession.

In Albion Football, there are a total of five possessions.

And they must advance more than 10 yards before the four possessions pass to get the next four possessions.

In other words, they are given one extra chance.

‘Let’s just fall down like this…!’

If Rio took the ball, the back would be empty with only two linebackers.

Under the judgment that it would be impossible to stop Rio with only two defenders, she was about to give up one possession to block the counterattack at its source.

“…Huh?”

Lin, holding the precious ball tightly, was lifted up by Rio.

“W-wait…. What are you trying to do…?”

Rio, who was struggling with his two legs to escape from the embrace, started running quickly while carrying his sister who was holding the ball.

“Wait, stop…. I said stop for a minute!!?”

“There’s no way I’m stopping, you foolish sister.”

After lightly passing the two players who were standing in the rear,

[Touchdown!!!]

[The glorious first touchdown of the first Albion Football League is decorated simultaneously by Young Master Rio and Lady Lin!!]

He powerfully slammed his annoying younger sister onto the soft grassy field.