As the night deepened, the atmosphere of the banquet ripened.
"Can't we eat outside? The food here in the banquet hall is good, but it doesn't really fill you up."
"Hmm. Well, it's not that late yet."
It's good enough just to savor this atmosphere.
A peaceful world.
The image of the continent that my companions and I wanted to create.
Of course, a new threat has emerged on this continent, but the situation was much better than the desperate times of a thousand years ago. Even in a world without gods, the humans of this continent were prepared to resist the demons with their own systems in place. And there was also external help in the form of 'adventurers from the stars'.
Chris lightly touched my shoulder, which was a bit bare and exposed, then startled, quickly pulled her hand away.
Chris's face had been slightly flushed all day. She would gaze at me intently, then suddenly her eyes would glaze over and she'd breathe heavily.
Not just Chris, but the young nobles around us were also showing strange reactions. When they made eye contact with me as I timidly looked around, they would blush and avert their gaze.
I quietly looked down at the pure white dress I was wearing.
Is it because of this?
I suppose clothes really do make the person. Of course, my face is pretty, but when I was wearing adventurer's clothing, the reactions weren't this intense.
The food was cleared away, leaving only some drinks. And the music in the hall changed.
The nobles and their children's movements changed. Men asked women to dance, and they took each other's hands and moved to the center of the hall.
"Oh, dance time!"
Chris clenched her fist and her eyes sparkled.
This is the flower of social gatherings, the ball.
Soft music and graceful dancing. An elegant atmosphere that doesn't suit uncouth adventurers like us.
As their dance moved towards its climax, the faces of the guild members gathered around grew pale.
"...Are we allowed to be here? It feels like a party for really important people."
"Hey, didn't you hear earlier? The Division Commander said to enjoy ourselves regardless of etiquette."
"It wasn't the Division Commander, but the Emperor. Oh, the music changed."
As slightly more upbeat music began to play, most of the nobles dancing in the center of the hall moved away, leaving only a few. They began to step in time with the rhythmic music. Their partners moved their feet to match.
I was overcome with a strange feeling as I watched the dance.
That dance, it's in my memory.
The traditional dance of the people who lived in the eastern continental region, where the current Alpharion Empire is located.
Even after a thousand years, the dance and music in my memory still existed in this world.
To think I could feel nostalgia for the past even in a place like this.
My vision blurred a little.
I quickly covered my eyes and wiped them so Chris wouldn't see them reddening.
"Ooh, that!"
"If it's that kind of dance, I think we could do it too!"
Disappointing and Ko Seungwoo, the ranger duo from the Red-White Guild, rolled up their sleeves and stepped forward.
They moved to the center of the hall and began to step lively.
"Oh, that dance! Hehehe!"
"Puhahah!"
The warrior duo, Gandal and Hopkins, held their stomachs and laughed.
Was it called the vertex dance? I remember seeing celebrities do it on classic variety shows. While it might look ridiculous at first glance, the nobles gathered around also exclaimed and applauded their surprisingly well-coordinated dance.
"Oho, even the NPCs are responding well?"
"Kyaa! Show them Korea's traditional dance, Ko Seungwoo!"
"I wouldn't call it traditional, would I? Ugh, how embarrassing."
The female guild members of Red-White, led by Bae Merong, including Red Hot Chicken and Full Moon, also giggled and showed various reactions.
There was movement even from the seemingly more composed Scada raid party. It was amusing to see Scada pulling on the hair of tank Park Jeongkwon, who was trying to twist his waist and move forward alone.
Swish.
"Rain."
"Eh."
Chris's gaze as she took my hand and looked at the hall was unusual.
Surely not?
"Shall we go out and dance too?"
"...Unnie, do you know how to dance?"
"Umm...? Can't we just go out there and shake around?"
I gaped at her. But Chris's eyes were serious.
"Pfft."
I couldn't help but chuckle.
Unnie, shouldn't you ask for a dance more politely?
"Alright."
Leaving behind Ko Seungwoo and Disappointing, who were retreating amidst applause.
I smiled brightly, took Chris's hand in return, and moved towards the center of the hall.
Music. Footwork.
Tap, tap-tap, tap-tap.
"Now, like this, tap-tap tap-tap, step to the beat. This is the basic step of the traditional eastern continental dance."
"R-Rain. That's amazing. When did you learn to dance?"
"Hmm? Even if I didn't learn, I can do this much just by watching."
For me, it was a few years ago; for them, a thousand years ago.
I remember watching the soldiers dance in the barracks for a long time.
The same dance as back then.
I hear applause from around us.
I hear the sound of music.
But those sounds seem distant.
All I feel is Chris's touch.
All I see are her feet.
Holding Chris's hand, guiding her, I lead her despite her being taller than me.
A light dance, we don't put our hands on each other's waists or anything, but my heart pounds as if our bodies are pressed together.
It's fun. And my heart flutters.
Chris must be enjoying the dance too. With a bright smile and slightly flushed cheeks, she looks straight into my eyes.
Thump thump.
A pleasant pounding of the heart.
Chris unnie.
The synchronization rate for this continent is limited for people other than me, right?
The same would be true for you, unnie.
Still, the emotions everyone feels here must be 100%, right?
I wonder if your heart is pounding just like mine right now, unnie?
Do you feel the same tingling that I'm feeling?
I danced with Chris.
With both legs moving freely.
The ball was nearing its end.
The music changed several times, and the center of the hall was emptied. The couples who had danced together were now having their own time.
The same was true for us.
For some reason, Chris and I stopped talking after that.
Chris had reddened cheeks and was fidgeting with her fingers for no reason. Was the dance tiring for her?
I smirked at Chris.
"Unnie, shall we get some fresh air and then eat at home?"
"Uh, uuuh!? Should we!? ...Haa, today was really..."
Chris's reaction, as if her body was about to jump up, almost startled me too.
Chris heaved a deep sigh. Despite being the one most looking forward to the banquet, she seemed to have lost all her energy.
I took Chris's hand again. Somehow it felt a bit hotter than before.
As I was about to head outside, slightly excited myself, looking straight into her slightly trembling eyes.
"Hmm...?"
As I rose from my seat, I saw a person entering from the entrance of the banquet hall.
That person, a female knight?
A tall woman with teal hair braided into a ponytail. Judging by her face alone, she was quite beautiful. But her figure was hidden by solid armor.
Well-maintained armor, but not for ceremonial use. Clearly combat armor.
An ornate scabbard at her waist. Of course, it contained a sword. But, bringing a real sword to a banquet hall? Even the users had put theirs away out of sight.
Not just me, but others seemed a bit surprised by her combative appearance, as if she had just come from the battlefield.
"Marquis Roeide."
"The only Master in the current empire? The only person allowed to carry a sword in front of the Emperor."
"Even so, coming to a banquet hall in armor with a real sword."
Step, step.
The female knight called Marquis Roeide advanced, making sounds with her greaves, ignoring the nobles' whispers.
Her destination was in front of the Emperor.
Clang.
The crisp sound of her greave's knee part touching the banquet hall floor echoed. In the silence that fell over the banquet hall, her clear voice rang out.
"Your Majesty the Emperor, Marquis Roeide is here."
"Oh, Marquis Roeide, welcome. But it's a banquet hall, isn't armor a bit much? Heh heh! I was hoping to see the Marquis in a dress."
Ignoring the Emperor's banter, Marquis Roeide continued speaking.
"Your Majesty, I well understand your thoughts for the empire. However, as your servant, I find it difficult to comprehend Your Majesty's intention to have those ragtag adventurers lend a hand in the east, which my family is in charge of."
Her sharp gaze turned towards the users.
Ah, there's always someone like that. Straightforward and confident, but unable to read the atmosphere.
Calling the users ragtag, she must be quite confident in her abilities?
"It's regrettable that you couldn't march to the north. But the situation in the east isn't good either, is it? You are a blessing to our empire. I'd like you to value your life."
"This body has been dedicated to the sword from birth, I will go wherever Your Majesty calls. I do not care where the battlefield is."
Her loyalty is impressive too.
If it weren't for the flaw of not being able to read the atmosphere, she'd be an exemplary knight. But that flaw is significant. We came here to enjoy the banquet. We didn't come to be made uncomfortable like this.
"Is that person the one the empire was going to send to face the Northern Army Commander?"
"Hmm, did they say Master? That's impressive. Wonder if a 1:1 would be possible with a first wave user who's finished farming legendary items?"
"She must be top-class among NPCs. I wonder what her combat style is like? In another sense, she might be raid dungeon named boss level?"
The Scada raid party and Red-White Guild members also started commenting about the female knight.
I was annoyed.
Putting aside her hostile reaction to the users, I couldn't forgive her for ruining the good mood between Chris and me.
And, is it because of her overconfidence, or because she's a human from a peaceful era? She lacks awareness about the demons. No matter how strong she personally is, how much can an NPC with only one life fight against an Army Commander who commands numerous demons? I had strong companions in the past too?
Thud.
I took a step forward. I wanted to say something to that female knight.
As the angle of my gaze changed, I noticed the crest engraved on her scabbard.
"Oh."
A crest I had seen in the past on this continent, and had seen again after returning.
That's.
The crest of the female knight who was a companion in the hero's party.
The crest of Sister Melissa's family?