As the night deepened, so did the atmosphere of the banquet.
"Are you sure we don't need to eat outside? The food here at the banquet is good, but it doesn't actually fill you up."
"Well, it's not that late yet."
Just enjoying this atmosphere was enough.
A peaceful world.
The vision of the continent that my companions and I had wanted to create.
Of course, a new threat had shown itself on this continent, but the situation was much better than it had been a thousand years ago. Even without the presence of gods, the humans of this continent had developed their own systems and were prepared to face the demons. And there was also the help of the 'Adventurers from the Stars.'
Chris, her bare hand brushing lightly against my exposed shoulder, recoiled in surprise.
Chris had been slightly flushed all day. She kept staring at me intently, her eyes occasionally glazing over as her breathing quickened.
It wasn't just Chris. The young nobles around us were also showing strange reactions. Whenever I caught someone sneaking glances at me, they would blush and quickly look away.
I glanced down at the pure white dress I was wearing.
Was it because of this?
They say clothes make the person, after all. While I knew I had a pretty face, I hadn't received this kind of reaction when I was in my adventurer’s outfit.
The food had been cleared, leaving only drinks, and the music in the hall changed.
The nobles and their children began to move differently. The men asked the women to dance, and soon they were taking each other's hands and heading to the center of the hall.
"Oh, it's dance time!"
Chris clenched her fists in excitement.
This was the highlight of high society—the ball.
Gentle music, elegant dancing. A refined atmosphere that didn’t quite match us simple adventurers.
As the dance reached its climax, the faces of the guild members gathered around began to pale.
"...Are we really supposed to be here? It feels like a party for really important people."
"Hey, what did you hear earlier? The Emperor told us to enjoy ourselves without worrying about etiquette, remember?"
"Not 'the commander,' the *Emperor*. Oh, the music changed."
As livelier music began to play, most of the nobles who had been dancing in the center of the hall stepped aside, leaving a few to continue. They stepped in time with the more rhythmic music, their partners moving gracefully with them.
Watching their dance stirred something in me.
I knew that dance.
It was the traditional dance of the people from the eastern part of the continent, where the current Alpharion Empire now stands.
Even after a thousand years, the dance and music from my memories still existed in this world.
To think I could feel nostalgia in a place like this.
My vision blurred slightly.
Not wanting Chris to see my reddened eyes, I quickly covered them and wiped away the tears.
"Oh, look at that!"
"That kind of dance... I think we could do it too."
*Seopseop* and *Go Seung-woo*, the ranger duo from the *Hongbaek* guild, rolled up their sleeves and stepped forward.
They made their way to the center of the hall and began dancing with light steps in time with the lively rhythm.
"Oh, that dance! Haha!"
"Pffft!"
The duo of warriors, *Gandal* and *Hopkins*, doubled over in laughter, clutching their sides.
It was that dance they called the "pyramid dance," something I remembered from an old variety show where celebrities danced comically. It looked somewhat ridiculous at first glance, but surprisingly, their movements were in sync, and the nobles gathered around applauded their performance.
"Oh, the NPCs are really into it!"
"Kyaa! Show us the traditional Korean dance, Go Seung-woo!"
"Is it really traditional? Ah, how embarrassing."
The female guild members from *Hongbaek*, led by *Beimerung*, along with *Red Hot Chicken* and *Dalboreum*, burst into laughter at the sight.
Even the usually composed *Skada* raid group showed signs of movement. It was amusing to watch *Skada* himself pulling back the tank *Park Jung-gwon*, who was trying to step forward with a twisting motion.
*Swoosh.*
"Rain."
"Uh."
Chris grabbed my hand, her gaze fixed on the hall.
No way?
"Shall we go dance too?"
"...Sis, do you even know how to dance?"
"Hmm...? Can't we just go out there and sway to the music?"
My jaw dropped. But Chris's eyes were serious.
"Heh."
I chuckled.
Sis, shouldn't you ask me to dance a bit more gracefully?
"Sure."
Leaving *Go Seung-woo* and *Seopseop* to exit the stage amid applause, I smiled brightly, took Chris's hand, and stepped toward the center of the hall.
---
The music. The footwork.
*Tap, tap, tap.*
"Alright, just like this—tap, tap. Step in time with the rhythm. This is the basic step of the traditional eastern dance."
"R-Rain. You're amazing. Did you take dance lessons?"
"Nope. Even without lessons, I can pick this up just by watching."
For me, it was a few years ago, but for them, it was a thousand years in the past.
I once watched soldiers dancing in the tents on the battlefield.
This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.
It’s the same dance now.
I could hear the applause around us.
I could hear the music.
But it all felt distant.
The only thing I felt was the touch of Chris's hand.
The only thing I saw were her steps.
Holding Chris's hand, guiding her, I led her, despite her being taller than me.
It was a light dance, no need to place my hand around her waist, but my heart still raced as if our bodies were pressed together.
This was fun. And it made my heart flutter.
Chris seemed to be having fun too, her smile bright and her cheeks slightly flushed, as she locked eyes with me.
*Thump, thump.*
The pleasant rhythm of my heartbeat.
Chris.
Unlike me, the synchronization rate for others in this world is limited, right?
That includes you, doesn’t it?
Still, the emotions we feel here should be 100%, right?
Is your heart racing just like mine right now?
Are you feeling the same fluttering sensation I am?
I danced with Chris.
With legs moving freely.
---
The ball was nearing its end.
The music had changed a few more times, and the center of the hall was now empty. The dancing couples had retreated, each taking their time.
We were the same.
For some reason, Chris and I stopped talking after that.
Chris was quietly fiddling with her fingers, her cheeks still flushed. Was the dance that exhausting?
I chuckled as I looked at Chris.
"Sis, should we get some fresh air and then head home for dinner?"
"Y-Yeah!? Let’s do that! ...Haah, today has been... something."
I almost jumped at Chris's startled reaction. She let out a deep sigh. She had been looking forward to the banquet the most, but it seemed like she was completely drained now.
I took Chris’s hand again. It felt a little warmer than before.
As I locked eyes with her trembling gaze, I felt a giddy excitement as we were about to head outside.
"Hmm...?"
Just as I stood up, I saw someone entering the banquet hall from the entrance.
A female knight?
A tall woman with teal hair tied in a ponytail. Judging by her face alone, she was quite beautiful, but her figure was concealed by her armor.
It was polished, practical armor—not ceremonial. Clearly meant for battle. And she carried a fancy sword at her waist. But why bring a real sword to a banquet? Even the players had hidden theirs.
She looked like she had just come from the battlefield, and it wasn’t just me—others seemed surprised too.
"Marquis Roeide."
"She's the only Master in the current Empire, right? The only one allowed to carry a sword in the Emperor’s presence."
"Still, wearing armor and carrying a real sword to a banquet?"
*Clank, clank.*
The woman, called Marquis Roeide, paid no heed to the murmurs of the nobles as she walked forward, her greaves making sharp sounds against the floor.
She stopped in front of the Emperor.
*Thud.*
The sound of her greaves’ knee joints hitting the floor echoed in the hall. In the silence, her clear voice rang out.
"Your Majesty, Marquis Roeide is here."
"Oh, Marquis Roeide, thank you for coming. But it's a banquet, after all, isn’t it? Haha! I was hoping to see you in a dress."
Despite the Emperor’s jest, Marquis Roeide continued.
"Your Majesty, I understand your concern for the Empire. However, it is difficult for me to accept the idea of entrusting the eastern region, which my family has been protecting, to these adventurers."
Her sharp gaze turned toward the players.
Ah, there’s always one like this. Stubborn, confident, but completely out of touch with the mood.
Calling the players ‘nobodies,’ huh? She must be quite confident in her abilities.
"It’s a shame you couldn’t lead the northern expedition. But the situation in the east is dire as well, is it not? You are a blessing to our Empire. Please, take care of yourself."
"My body has been devoted to the sword since birth, Your Majesty. Wherever you call me, I shall go. It doesn’t matter where the battlefield is."
Her loyalty was impressive.
If only she weren’t so clueless. We were here to enjoy the banquet, not to receive side-eye.
"So, is she the one the Empire was
going to send to fight the Northern Corps Commander?"
"She’s a Master, right? Amazing. Do you think she could take on a vanguard player with legendary gear in a 1v1?"
"She must be the highest class among NPCs. Could her combat style rival a raid dungeon boss?"
*Skada* raid members and *Hongbaek* guild members began to murmur, commenting on the female knight.
I was annoyed.
It was one thing for her to show hostility towards the players, but breaking the nice atmosphere between me and Chris was unforgivable.
Was she overconfident, or was it just because she had lived in a more peaceful era? Either way, she didn’t seem to grasp the true threat of the demons. No matter how strong an individual might be, how could a single NPC with only one life face an army of demons led by a commander? I had fought alongside powerful companions in the past too.
*Thud.*
I took a step forward. I wanted to say something to that female knight.
As my angle shifted, I caught sight of the crest engraved on her sword’s sheath.
"Oh."
I recognized that crest. I had seen it in the past on this continent, and I had seen it again since my return.
That.
It was the crest of the female knight who had been a companion in the Hero's Party.
That crest belonged to *Melissa*'s family.