novelraw Chapter 69
Chapter 69
Chapter 69
(Author Note)
I've written this in a way that basically doesn't affect the main story.
Reading it will just make you smile a little when names from the main story come up.
The main story alone is fine, but I'd be happy if you'd read this too.
***
'Dancing Longdagger'
The academy in the capital of Faltarl Kingdom isn't given any particular name and is simply called the academy.
The reason is simple: when you say academy, everyone knows it refers to the one in the capital.
The academy was established almost at the same time as the armed group of commoners known as adventurers came into being.
The somewhat arrogant reasoning was that if commoners were to gain power, then nobles should have even more power.
When they tried it, this turned out to be surprisingly convenient.
Teaching military and combat techniques systematically was extremely convenient for nobles as an armed group.
As large-scale wars where armies clashed became less frequent, improving individual combat techniques became even more important.
Furthermore, from the royal family's perspective, they could essentially hold the children of noble families as hostages.
It was indeed very convenient.
However, for many of the noble children who actually attended the academy, the above two conveniences were understood as slightly less significant benefits compared to something else that mattered more.
Namely, the academy as a place for nobles to meet one another.
This became increasingly important for the noble children attending the academy as large wars between nations ceased, food production increased, and various social changes led to the age of adulthood being raised from thirteen to sixteen.
*
It's unclear if this is the reason, but the academy has a class called dance.
Since dance is a class, naturally, the academy has several places where one can dance.
Shin Longdagger, the second son of a notoriously poor viscount family, was dancing in one of those places—a classroom used for dance lessons.
Alone, that is.
To be precise, it was Shin dancing and one curious onlooker watching, though the spectator didn't seem inclined to join in.
The spectator, a girl, sat directly on the floor in a most un-noble manner in the classroom bathed in sunset light, stifling a yawn as she spoke.
"Normally, you're the epitome of unseriousness, a devoted seeker of laziness and selfishness, yet here you are seriously practicing dance. Just what kind of disaster are you planning to bring upon Faltarl, Shin Longdagger?"
"Simple, my advancement to the next grade is at stake, Jen."
Shin, stumbling over a step, responded to the girl's rather harsh words.
"Hahha! Even the embodiment of laziness gets serious when advancement is on the line. I'm disappointed, truly disappointed. I'm almost moved to tears remembering the heroic figure of the lazy embodiment of days past."
The girl's exaggerated lament came from Jenniferin Pantile.
She's the eldest daughter of a baron family.
For Shin, she's one of the few women at the academy whose name he remembers.
"What's with this 'embodiment of laziness'? Am I some evil being to be struck down by a god or something?"
While fiddling with her dark brown hair and dramatically sighing, 'Ah, I'm so disappointed, so let down,' Jen stayed at the edge of Shin's vision as he executed a neat turn.
"When the time comes for you to be struck down by a god as an evil, it'll be after the world has become sufficiently beautiful, so go ahead and perfect your laziness. Also, that turn was so ugly it's practically a sin, you know?"
What is with this girl, Shin thought, though he didn't say it aloud.
Even if he did, she probably wouldn't care, and it's likely because she's such an odd girl that she bothers to befriend someone like him, the second son of a poor viscount family.
The Pantile family, though only a baron family in rank, possesses wealth surpassing that of an average marquis family.
While it's an exaggerated reputation that it's impossible to earn money in Faltarl Kingdom without ties to the Pantile family, few would argue against it being true.
If the Pantile family were a newly risen noble family that gained their title through commerce, it would be an easy story to understand, but the Pantile family is an old noble house.
One of the famous mysteries in Faltarl Kingdom is why the Pantile family's rank remains at baron.
In other words, from Shin's perspective, there's no reason for the Pantile family to approach him, the second son of a viscount family, just because their rank is higher.
In that sense, she was an extremely easy person to get along with.
Still, was that turn so ugly it could be considered a sin? Shin sincerely reflected and started dancing from the beginning again.
"But if you're that bad at it, that in itself could be a selling point, Shin. How about it? Leave it to me, and I'll build a fortune with your dancing."
"Stop trying to turn me into a spectacle."
Sensing the real danger that she might actually do it, Shin immediately refused.
Jenniferin is said to have such business talent that she's called the once-in-a-century Pantile.
If she says she can build a fortune, she probably can.
Though, making a fortune off his dancing is something he'd rather avoid, and Shin sighed as he messed up the same step again.
If what someone once said—that those who fight with swords or spears are good at dancing—is true, then isn't he in serious trouble? Shin felt a deep concern creeping in.
He's already bad at magic; or rather, when it comes to using magical energy as magic from his body, he's utterly hopeless.
If on top of that he turns out to be bad at physical combat, it's no laughing matter.
Even after days of training under his mentor, practically spitting blood, the doubt that he might end up as less than average was terrifying enough to stop Shin in his tracks.
"Shin Longdagger, the embodiment of laziness, the seeker of unseriousness, the devotee of freedom and selfishness, the one who joyfully steps off the path and finds supreme value in taking the first step into the wilderness."
"What is it, Jen?"
Thinking that the Shin Longdagger she describes is just a useless human being, Shin asked Jenniferin as she stood up, brushing dust off her skirt with her hands.
All in all, a useless human, but surprisingly not bad.
"Well, I thought I'd teach you that practicing dance alone can get you stuck in a rut."
As Shin tilted his head in confusion, Jenniferin stood in front of him with the look one gives a hopeless younger brother.
"In other words, I'm saying I'll be your partner and help you practice."
Saying that, Jenniferin took the stance of a female dance partner.
Shin, momentarily stunned, blinked at her.
"I see, Jen, your way of saying things is hard to understand."
Saying only that, he took her hand, gently placed his right hand on her back, and pulled her closer.
The one who looked displeased at this was Jenniferin.
"I can't believe it, but am I doing something wrong at this point?"
His confidence in his dance knowledge crumbling, Shin asked hesitantly.
"Yes, I think showing a bit of hesitation or embarrassment would be the proper courtesy to a young lady of our age, but expecting that from Shin, the enemy of sensitivity, is like asking for snow in summer or telling a river not to flow."
"Ah, sorry?"
Shin, a resident of a simple world where women are either Erika Solnzari or not, apologized, feeling vaguely that he'd done something wrong.
"If it were anyone else, that questioning tone would be grounds for a duel, but I'll accept your apology."
Relieved that his apology was accepted, Shin took the first step.
Jenniferin effortlessly matched Shin's steps, which anyone would call terrible.
"You're really bad at this. I've never heard of anyone in the kingdom's history failing to advance because of dance."
At Jenniferin's harsh words, Shin felt dejected, wondering if his dancing was really that bad.
"Well, even if you resolve to leave the academy bearing the shame of failing to advance due to dance, rest assured. Once I graduate, I'll hire you, so don't tense up so much. Relax, Shin. I may say so myself, but I'm amazing when it comes to anything involving money. Without exaggeration, I could stand against half the countries on the continent and win. So relax and focus on dancing..."
As Shin marveled at how well Jen could talk, he noticed Jenniferin tilting her head.
With the left hand resting on Shin's right elbow, she rubbed his right arm as if checking something.
Confused about what she was doing, Shin was asked by Jenniferin.
"Hey, Shin."
"What is it, Jen?"
"Isn't your voice a bit high today?"
To Jenniferin's question, Shin nodded with an 'ah.'
"As part of my physical enhancement training, I've been using a low-intensity physical enhancement continuously."
He thought he'd lowered the intensity to a level where his voice wouldn't change much, but it seems his skill is still lacking.
"Sorry if my voice is hard to hear, but I can't lower the intensity any further and maintain it for long. I can do it just for my throat, but maintaining it at low intensity across my whole body is difficult."
Feeling a bit like he was making excuses, Shin apologized for his poor control over physical enhancement.
What met Shin's apology was a long, drawn-out sigh from Jenniferin.
"Are you planning to become the embodiment of stupidity, Shin Longdagger?"
Jenniferin grabbed Shin's cheeks with both hands and pulled.
"Are you stupid? You're stupid, I know you're stupid. Dancing while using physical enhancement magic is the height of stupidity, you idiot. Dancing with physical enhancement is an insult to dance. Go stub your toe on a dresser or something, you idiot."
Jen's straightforward way of speaking was quite amusing, Shin thought, as Jenniferin's eyebrows formed a sharp angle.
Ah, this is bad.
Even Shin, a resident of a simple world of Erika or not Erika, understood he'd messed up.
After that, Shin was thoroughly lectured with a wide variety of beautifully coated insults and was made to practice dancing until the sun went down.
Thanks to that, he avoided the disgrace of failing to advance due to dance.