Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Monster Wave (2)
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About five minutes had passed since we started matching our steps slowly from the center of the hall at Ethan's request.
By the time I was following the choreography hand-in-hand with my partner through the first song, the impression in my head was surprisingly simple.
'Easier to follow than I thought?'
Of course, I had noticed that Ethan was moving slowly to accommodate me, a ballroom novice. We were stepping together, so I wasn't so oblivious as to miss that.
Even so, it was true that following the dance steps wasn't all that difficult.
For one thing, the music wasn't particularly fast, so the dance didn't require rushed movements.
Beyond that, I'd probably grown accustomed to the choreography while wandering around looking for Agnes and the other characters in the game.
'The ballroom events popped up pretty often in the game originally. Maybe that's where I picked it up.'
With over 2,000 hours of playtime, there had to be at least one or two hours of ballroom-related events included.
I pictured that thought in my mind as I calmly matched Ethan's steps to the languid melody.
"You're dancing well, Lili. Did you learn somewhere?"
"Who knows? Maybe I picked it up just by watching. Or maybe Ed's leading me so well."
"...Thanks for saying that."
"Feeling a bit better now? Or should we do one more song, Ed?"
"...You'll dance another with me?"
"One or two more, sure."
"Then I owe you, Lili."
"Got it, Ed."
After the first song ended and we exchanged a few words, we began moving to the second piece.
Right around the midpoint of the orchestra's performance, the hall's entrance suddenly burst open as a dozen soldiers rushed in one after another.
-Bang!
"Honored guests! Your attention, please!"
"......?"
The nobles chatting at the edges of the ballroom, those like Ethan and me dancing in pairs at the center, and even the orchestra gathered against one wall of the Evening Rose Hall playing the classical piece—all stopped what they were doing and turned their eyes to him.
The words that soon tumbled from the mouth of the knight who seemed to be the soldiers' leader were more than enough to throw everyone in the hall into confusion.
"An abnormal proliferation of monsters has been confirmed at Lake Verdan, south of the imperial palace! It may be a monster wave, so honored guests, please gather in the main palace hall and accept the protection of the palace guards!"
"M-M-Monster wave?!"
"...L-Lake Verdan isn't far from here!"
"N-No...!"
The masked guests of the ball reacted with shock from all directions to the guards' bombshell announcement.
Well, given who was gathered here, such reactions were only natural.
This was the Third Princess's birthday banquet, so most of the attendees were guests around Seraphine's age.
Many probably hadn't even entered the academy, let alone graduated.
If they had enrolled, they'd likely be first- or second-years at best.
Especially for noble mages raised in greenhouses, it wasn't uncommon to face their first monster only after entering the academy. Hearing "monster wave" was enough to send them straight into panic.
"Kyaaah! I-I'm getting out of here! Bring my carriage now!"
"No! The area outside the palace is dangerous right now! You must stay inside the palace and under our protection until the situation calms..."
"Let go! I need to escape from here...!"
One panicked young lady, unable to bear the anxiety, screamed and bolted, only to be caught by the guards as she thrashed about.
Just as I worried she'd stir up even more chaos in the already uneasy crowd,
a man stepped forward from the throng and cast a spell, sending her crumpling into the soldier's arms like a doll with cut strings, fast asleep.
"...Nature, grant a night's peaceful rest."
"Let... me... go..."
The green-haired man advanced as the lady collapsed into slumber.
The moment I saw his appearance and heard his voice, I was certain he was a character from Luminor Academy.
"She seemed distressed, so I put her to sleep for a bit."
'...Ah.'
His short green hair, androgynous voice, and nature magic—specifically a sleep spell.
There were countless ways to identify him; it would have been weirder not to recognize him at a glance.
A main character from Luminor Academy, one who could even join as a companion if needed.
Verdant Sage Orion. This was the first time he'd appeared before my eyes.
"Wh-Who are you...?"
"Luminor Academy Magic Division, second-year. Orion."
Proving my guess correct, Orion gave a curt introduction before the soldiers.
I'd speculated he might be at the party too.
But finding him in the crowd was trickier than locating Agnes under transformation magic, so I'd given up searching early.
Orion, specialized in nature magic, could easily conceal his presence amid people.
He enjoyed meeting people and always attended such parties, but he ignored those who didn't interest him.
To avoid unwanted attention, he constantly muted his presence—that was Orion's trait.
In other words, impossible to spot unless he revealed himself first.
'Maybe even rarer than spotting Agnes...'
Agnes was one of the main heroines, but her presence was hard to hide anywhere.
Orion, on the other hand? Unless it was an emergency like this, you wouldn't even glimpse him.
The second main character I'd met after Seraphine—my gaze fixed solely on him.
It didn't make my heart race like meeting Seraphine had, but encountering a Luminor Academy main character was always a joy for me.
......
For some reason, I felt Ethan staring at me uncomfortably.
...Probably just my imagination.
"Orion...?"
"The Magic Division's top second-year...?"
"Never saw him in the ballroom earlier...?"
The audience buzzed at Orion's appearance; he was already somewhat famous at the academy.
Thanks to that, interest in the sleeping nameless lady in the soldier's arms had vanished.
Glancing at the bewildered soldiers, Orion continued.
"I'll join the fight against the monster wave too. Guide the others to shelter, and lead me to the front lines with the outer guards."
"N-No, Sir Orion! We can't put a guest of Princess Seraphine in such danger!"
"Don't worry. I'm the academy's second-year Magic Division top student, after all. I'll be of some help."
"B-But..."
"You know that picking out those who can fight and resolving the wave is better than herding all the nobles into one spot, right?"
"That's true, but..."
From the moment he appeared, Orion seized control of the conversation with the guard knight.
Watching his straightforward demeanor, I could see why he was a popular character in Luminor Academy.
While Seraphine dragged out the main story with frustrating side plots to pad playtime, Orion skipped tedious episodes with his sharp tongue.
For example, in a party-wide monster subjugation quest,
playtime could vary depending on whether Orion was in the party.
Episodes requiring extra quests for "proof of skill" against dangerous monsters? Sometimes skippable with him along.
Thanks to his silver tongue and status as Magic Division top student.
'Essential for speedruns. I skipped a few episodes thanks to him myself.'
...If only he didn't have those suspicious half-lidded eyes and slightly effeminate look.
Half the female players in Luminor Academy probably steered clear because of that.
As I watched him with such idle thoughts, Orion flashed a sly smile our way,
then openly began recruiting from the hall's guests.
"Anyone here with monster subjugation experience, or confident in their skills? I'm gathering people to stop the monster wave with me."
"......"
"Doesn't have to be academy students if you've got experience or confidence. I can't offer rewards myself, but those who fight hard might get a token of thanks from the imperial family later?"
"Th-The imperial family...?"
"B-But a monster wave is..."
"Hmm, really no one?"
Despite Orion's bold call for noble mercenaries, the guests hesitated to step up.
Most academy students had subjugation experience, and even pre-enrollees, half probably did.
Still, they held back—likely fearing monsters or lacking familiarity.
If the party had more upperclassmen, plenty would have volunteered.
But with mostly pre-enrollees and underclassmen, confidence was low.
'I want to jump in more than anyone...'
The problem? Revealing my face under the mask would expose me as a commoner maid, not a noble.
After bluffing as one and accepting greetings so smoothly, admitting I was a commoner now wouldn't end well.
Plus, no dagger to use as a weapon, and my position forbade open magic use under scrutiny.
As I watched Orion with deep regret,
"...Ahem."
Suddenly, a familiar voice beside me responded to Orion's recruitment.
"...If non-students are fine, I'll join."
"Really?"
"......?"
I was a bit confused as familiar black hair pushed past me and stepped forward.
Focusing on his back, my "partner" soon spoke to Orion.
"Eldest son of the Blackwood Ducal Family, Ethan Richard Blackwood. Specialty: magic swordsmanship using body reinforcement magic."
"...Hmm."
"I promise I won't be a hindrance, however little my power."
...What?
Why are you suddenly stepping up?