Chapter 230
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 230
The following day, our tour of Glyphe began in earnest.
Moving the entire student body as one group was impractical, so we split into smaller parties, each following its own sightseeing schedule. Ciel and I joined the Spiritology lecture group from Voltimir, led by Professor Isley.
As we waited in front of our lodgings, a handsome, pointed-eared elf approached and introduced himself.
“A pleasure to meet you all. My name is Andil, and I will be your guide for today.”
Each group had been assigned a local guide to ensure the tour ran smoothly. Like ducklings following their mother, we trailed behind him. Our first stop was the Spirit User Museum.
“This is the Spirit User Museum, which chronicles the history of the sea region from the primordial era—when the first races settled here—to the present day.”
The guide spoke of the region’s long history, the contract with the Spirit King, and the ancient legend of how they received Elahim’s blessing. The Water Spirit King, Elahim, had personally quelled the sea monsters that once ravaged the coastal areas, bestowing a blessing of protection and healing upon the land-dwellers.
Within the domain of Elahim’s blessing, the seas were said to be eternally calm, free from storms and high waves, and inaccessible to sea monsters. Thanks to this, the fishing industry flourished, leading to the development of various traditional seafood delicacies.
Elahim’s blessing, huh.
Ariel had warned that the blessing was fading by the day, but the guide seemed blissfully unaware of that fact.
After touring the city, we stopped at a traditional market for some shopping and lunch. The market was bustling with local flavor, selling everything from salted fish to cured bacon. They also offered a variety of souvenirs crafted from mana stones, so I picked up a few. I figured Lize would like them.
For lunch, I went with a safe bet: squid ink pasta. The tender squid and the rich, savory flavor of the ink were exactly to my taste. After the meal, it was naturally time for dessert. Ciel stood dazed in front of an ice cream shop, so I bought her some gelato. She accepted it readily and even offered me a bite. It was delicious—the chewy, smooth texture was a far cry from ordinary ice cream.
In the evening, we enjoyed a magnificent performance at the opera house—an epic poem depicting the formation of the Sea Alliance. I dozed off and didn’t see much of it, but the others said it was an excellent show.
The following day, we took a boat to explore a sea cave. It was a standard tourist route rather than a true expedition, so there was no real danger. We also sailed around the neighboring islands, taking in the fantastic scenery of Glyphe. The beautiful, Mediterranean-like views were just as stunning as those on Full Moon Island, the famous resort destination.
We even had the rare opportunity to explore the world beneath the waves by scuba diving with the help of water spirits. I marveled at the emerald waters, vibrant coral, and exotic tropical fish I’d only ever seen in documentaries in my previous life.
The day after that, we toured the city’s historic ruins and were finally given some free time. It was a packed school trip with an itinerary that didn’t waste a single moment. Thanks to the hospitality of the Elven Kingdom, the trip proceeded without a hitch.
The students chattered excitedly amongst themselves, sharing their plans.
“Look at this. Isn’t it pretty?”
“Where did you buy it?”
“At a souvenir shop just past that alley.”
“Anyway, what should we have for dinner?”
“The festival’s main event is tonight. I’m going to the masquerade ball. They said there’ll be food there, too.”
The atmosphere was peaceful, a world away from the grim reality of the continent still reeling from the massacre in the Gilbert Kingdom. The students, who had been fearful at first, gradually relaxed and began to enjoy the trip.
That evening.
Glyphe’s central plaza was teeming with an enormous crowd, decorated with brilliant lights and the flags of many nations. The traditional Glyphe festival Ariel had mentioned was beginning.
Tonight was the main event. To commemorate the day the Spirit King Elahim defeated the sea monsters and bestowed his blessing, the festivities kicked off with a ritual slaying of a giant water serpent, followed by a masquerade ball. It was an event where elves, dwarves, beastkin, and all the other minority races of the sea region gathered to celebrate. It was a night where everyone became one, hidden behind splendid attire and masks.
As lively music echoed throughout the city, the students, each wearing a mask, joined the celebration. I wore a simple monochrome mask Ciel had picked out for me—half white and half black. For the dress code, I stuck with my usual black suit made from drake scales.
The advantage of a masquerade ball is the ability to conceal one's identity. With faces hidden behind colorful masks and outfits adorned with elaborate lace, one could usually only distinguish people by their voice or presence.
Well, that’s the theory, anyway.
After spending years together, I felt like I could tell who was who at a glance. That girl in the crowd with the eye-catching butterfly mask was definitely Kiriel. I could tell just by her beautiful turquoise hair. The green-toned dress suited her well, but she seemed unaccustomed to it, her steps awkward and hesitant.
As I watched her, Kiriel must have felt my gaze, because she quickly tried to scurry away into the crowd.
Where do you think you’re going?
The custom at a masquerade ball is to dance with various partners in turn. I approached Kiriel, intending to tease her, and took her hand.
“Wh-What do you want?”
“What do you think? I’m your creditor. How about a dance?”
Kiriel hastily tried to pull her hand back, lowering her head. “I-I don’t know how to dance.”
“I’m not very good either, so it doesn’t matter. Just let your body follow the flow of the music.”
“That’s easier said than done…”
Kiriel seemed reluctant, but as I persisted, she eventually gave in and offered her hand. Just then, the music shifted to a tango-like melody. It was a song well-suited to Kiriel’s bouncy personality.
She moved slowly, following my lead. As she’d said, she clearly hadn't learned to dance, but her movements were naturally nimble, so she did quite well.
“S-So, how was it?” Kiriel asked after the song ended, her expression slightly expectant.
I answered truthfully. “You have quite a talent for it. You might want to consider taking lessons.”
If she could just fix her tendency to rush the tempo, she would improve quickly.
Just as I finished my dance with Kiriel, her attendants, Silphy and Rina, approached us.
“Ah, there you are. Have you already found a partner?”
“Aha~ So you were dancing with Roen~”
As the two of them watched with teasing expressions, Kiriel quickly backed away from me and shouted, “Wh-What are you talking about? He’s the one who forced me!”
“Oh, come on. Dressed up so prettily, you might as well be seducing him.”
“Shut up!” Kiriel snapped, then shot a final word at me before disappearing. “N-Next time, I’ll dance better. Let’s go!”
Watching Kiriel’s retreating back as she hurried away with her friends, I thought to myself: Next time, huh.
I looked up at the night sky and smiled faintly. If there was a next time, I’d gladly accept.
Alone again, I wandered through the crowd. As I searched for my next partner, I spotted Beatrice wearing the mask of a red hawk. She was already dancing with another student, her movements extraordinary. The innate grace of the imperial bloodline flowed from her so naturally that it completely overshadowed her partner.
I waited for the song to end, then approached and offered my hand. “Would you care for a dance?”
Many other male students were also vying for her attention. But perhaps she recognized my voice; without a moment’s hesitation, she took my hand.
“Well, I see no reason why not.”
Just as I took Beatrice’s hand, a gentle waltz began to play. I followed her lead, letting myself relax. With someone as skilled as Beatrice leading, it was better to just go with the flow.
However...
Stomp.
Stomp.
In stark contrast to her earlier fluid movements, Beatrice repeatedly stepped on my shoes.
“…”
It was the complete opposite of the beautiful steps she had displayed just moments before. I met her eyes and asked, “What’s wrong, all of a sudden?”
Does she have a grudge against me?
Beatrice averted her gaze and murmured quietly, “…My apologies. I’m having trouble concentrating.”
I guess even monkeys fall from trees.
“Then I’ll lead.”
My skills were amateurish compared to hers, but I had no choice. Fortunately, once I took the lead, her steps regained their rhythm. Beatrice quickly recovered her composure, and we finished the dance cleanly.
“I was a great inconvenience.”
“It’s fine. Everyone has days like that. Sometimes, the answer is to rely on others when you’re struggling.”
“I… suppose so.”
“Right. It looks like you have a lot of people waiting. I’ll be on my way.”
After a brief conversation, I left Beatrice to the students waiting their turn.
As I strolled through the plaza, I caught sight of Elena, who seemed to radiate a literal aura of light. She wore a swan-shaped mask, and her dress, as pure white as the mask, looked almost like a wedding gown. Perhaps because it was a dress she would never be able to wear once she ascended to the position of Saintess, she looked all the more beautiful in it.
Elena… that might be a little difficult.
We already drew enough attention when paired up. If we danced together here, it would stir up endless gossip. I was about to move on, but she approached me first.
“Oh my, your suit is lovely. And your mask, too.”
“You look great as well.”
Up close, the combination of her brilliant platinum-blonde hair and the pure white dress was even more stunning. The mask covered her face, but it couldn't hide her beauty in the slightest.
Elena said, “I’d like to ask you for a dance, but there are too many eyes on us here. Do you have time later?”
“Well, I can’t say for sure.”
The atmosphere was pleasant for now, but we were essentially refugees who had fled an enemy attack. It was hard to make promises when I didn’t know what tomorrow might bring.
As I deflected, Elena asked playfully, “Oh my, did I just get rejected?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Then you must make time. If you don’t have any, make some.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Good. Make sure you keep your promise.”
After I reluctantly agreed, Elena smiled and disappeared into the crowd with Adler.
Time for a break.
Exhausted, I sat on a bench at the edge of the plaza. Ciel soon joined me, sitting down and handing me a drink.
“You look tired.”
“Yeah. It’s exhausting doing things I don’t normally do.”
I groaned, rubbing my legs. I rarely had occasion to dance this much, and I certainly wouldn't usually seek out partners. But for some reason, today I felt like dancing with everyone. Was it the atmosphere of the trip? I wasn't sure.
Just as I was talking with Ciel…
Rustle.
A girl in a silver rabbit mask approached with familiar footsteps.
“Miss Ciel, please, grant me this turn.”
It was Freya, wearing a deep blue dress similar to the one she’d worn on our date. Perhaps still bothered by having her turn stolen at the shipboard ball, she swiftly snatched my hand.
Ciel replied with some reluctance and stepped aside. “…As you wish.”
“Thank you. Roen, let’s dance.”
I glanced at Ciel before getting up. A masquerade ball was for dancing with multiple partners, anyway. It was just a matter of order.
Dancing with Freya was intense and fast, like a sword dance. The entire time, it felt as if we were engaged in a magnificent duel.
“Your foot goes forward here. And relax your shoulders a little more,” Freya kept whispering, as if teaching me. “Because we’ll have many more opportunities to dance together in the future.”
“…”
Was she alluding to our life after the engagement? I was happy about the sentiment, but I still wasn't sure if I could live up to it. By the time the dance with Freya was over, I was sweating profusely.
“Thank you for the dance.”
After finishing with Freya, I enjoyed the atmosphere with Ciel, taking a few leisurely steps for the final dance.
As the night deepened, the festival’s mood ripened. The melodies flowing through the plaza grew deeper, and the walls around people's hearts began to crumble. A masquerade ball in a foreign land, celebrating with the locals—swept up in the atmosphere, quite a few students confessed their feelings.
“I’m sorry, I’d rather we just stay good friends.”
Some faced cold rejection.
“…I like you, too.”
While others saw their love come to fruition.
Whoo—!
“Awesome!”
The birth of a new couple was met with whistles and applause. I didn’t know how their love would unfold, but for this moment, they deserved to be celebrated.
Ciel, who had been watching the other couples with an envious gaze, spoke to me.
“Roen-nim.”
“Hm?”
“Actually, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Go on.”
After a moment of hesitation, Ciel shook her head. “…No, it’s nothing. I’ll tell you when we get back to our lodgings.”
Ciel trailed off, her demeanor quite different from usual. It was then, just as the festival’s atmosphere was reaching its climax…
BOOM—!
A thunderous explosion erupted from somewhere nearby, accompanied by a massive tremor. At first, I thought it was fireworks, but along with the roar, I could see flames rising in the distance.
“Aaaah!”
“Someone, help!”
Hearing the screams, I knew this was no accident.
…An enemy attack?
For a moment, I feared a demon raid, but that wasn't it. That left only one answer.
The Sons of Boana.
Was this a terrorist attack by the extremist group Ariel had mentioned? It seemed they were targeting the students who had come out for the festival.
I sighed inwardly. To throw cold water on such a festive mood... in more ways than one, this was unforgivable.
I pulled off the cumbersome mask and turned to Ciel.
“Ciel. We’re going after them.”