Angel shot Gloria a suspicious glance.
Aside from attending the first match of the New Star Tournament's second round in person, Gloria had never shown any interest in discussing it. Even then, she had gone only because she wanted to find out what nickname Angel had been given.
Since when had Gloria taken an interest in the New Star Tournament?
With that question in mind, Angel sat down. He wanted to hear what Shali had said to catch Gloria's attention.
Shali seemed a little reserved in front of Angel. But as she began talking about the tournament, she sank into her memories, and her restraint gradually vanished. All that remained was deep frustration.
She was frustrated because the match she was describing was the one she had lost.
Angel remembered reading in an internal message on his communicator that Shali had lost to a contestant named Azaz.
As Shali told her story, Angel began to understand both her frustration and Gloria's interest.
Azaz's nickname was "Devil Gourmet," which offered a clue in itself. Yes, Azaz was a Gourmet Apprentice.
Almost everyone in the Wizarding World agreed that, compared with other disciplines, the gourmet discipline had the weakest combat strength. Yet its support capabilities were so valuable that a Gourmet Wizard could sometimes be more useful than an alchemist specializing in potions. People looked down on Gourmet Wizards' fighting ability while coveting the people themselves. When something happened to Gloria, Barbie Restaurant's staff had scattered or been abducted, which said it all.
And someone from that supposedly feeble discipline had made it this far!
The New Star Tournament finals were already close. How could that not be surprising?
As a leading figure in the gourmet discipline, Gloria was naturally curious about Azaz.
And Shali was bound to resent losing to a