Chapter 138 - A Combat-like Dance

It’s a bit late to say this now, but I wasn't particularly worried about the Exchange Meeting.

I was just preoccupied with how to respond to the events that I had seen happen during the Exchange Meeting in the original Arche.

However, I realized how naive that thought was during lunch with Regina.

“It’s a bit late to say this, but surely you weren't planning to go to the exchange meeting without any preparation, were you?”

“Preparation… you say?”

Regina's sudden words during our peaceful meal left me speechless. Because, naturally, I really hadn't given it much thought. As I mentioned before.

“Look at this, look at this~”

And as if she had expected my reaction, Regina smiled leisurely and beckoned with her finger.

“The exchange meeting is literally a place for exchange, so the things you need to prepare are literally a mountain. The realm of basic etiquette and culture in noble society isn’t that easy, you know?”

It seemed Regina had long seen through my lack of experience in high society.

“You’re the type who looks good no matter what you do, and you don’t particularly misbehave, so you get a pass… but if the stage is high society, the story changes.”

The original Rain had lived in seclusion, and even before that, his status as an illegitimate son would have made it difficult for him to enter high society, so she could have easily predicted that much.

Well, in reality, I just came from the modern world, so I didn't know much about the etiquette here.

‘She has a point.’

Hmm. I had to admit that I had underestimated the Exchange Meeting.

“……I can’t refute that.”

I cleanly accepted Regina's words. If I was just going to watch from the sidelines, my existing stance would have been fine, but my goal was higher than that.

To get acquainted with various people, and sometimes to thwart someone's scheme. Wasn't that my goal?

“What should I do?”

Given Regina's personality as I'd seen it so far, bringing this up meant she had something she wanted me to do.

And as if to prove my thoughts correct, at those words, the corners of Regina's lips lifted slightly.

“Well, it's a simple story. Study and training.”

Study and training. It was what I had been doing nonstop until now, but Regina was implying that this time would be different.

Yes. And so, with just a week left until the Exchange Meeting, I reached another turning point.

…But, it wasn't such an easy task.

Three more days passed like that, and during that time, I learned etiquette and a little bit of dancing under the guidance of a teacher introduced by Regina.

And Regina, who had taken a short break from her heavy workload to come and watch, said.

To show her the results.

“……It’s a bit awkward to say this, but.”

But… there was a problem.

“You’re really bad at it, Young Master.”

“……”

And that problem was the fact that I was quite terrible at dancing.

There was no problem in the basic step phase, but when it came to the application stage, many things got tangled up.

And in that tangled stage, I felt like I was about to step on my partner's foot for a moment, but I was fortunately able to avoid it with my reflexes. However, the result was that my steps became even more of a mess.

‘I had forgotten. The trash-like performance of this body.’

Come to think of it, that was true. Although I had become quite skilled in martial arts, a discipline that used the body, fundamentally, Rain Enlight's body had no talent for using the body.

Was it a problem with my body's functions that I had forgotten? It had been a while since I'd worried about this topic. I was relieved that I seemed to have some talent for learning swordsmanship…….

“……I’m trying.”

Under Regina's gaze, full of a desire to tease, I avoided her eyes and replied as such.

Because she was the type to not hesitate to poke at you if she found something to tease you about. This girl.

And sure enough.

“Fufu, or would you like to practice with me? Young Master.”

Regina smiled slyly and brought up that suggestion.

I thought for a moment. What if I stepped on the princess's foot while dancing together and injured her?

Hah.

Haha.

Only a hollow laugh came out.

“……As my skills are still lacking, I believe it is too early for me to enjoy the honor of being with Your Highness.”

I somehow managed to roll my head and tongue to give that answer.

And Regina's reaction to those words was.

“Hmph……”

While smiling, she somehow looked displeased, or perhaps dissatisfied, as she trailed off her words with a strange expression…….

“You’re quite the smooth talker, aren't you? For someone who can't dance.”

“……”

Well, that was her reaction. And so, I was able to navigate that crisis somehow.

I did navigate it well, right?

I guess so.

Fortunately, apart from the category of dancing, there were no problems in other areas.

In the case of etiquette, there were parts that were fundamentally ingrained in Rain's body, and due to his unique atmosphere, I received the evaluation that I looked fine no matter what I did.

The problem was that damn dancing.

“Haaah……”

On the 5th day, after finishing my usual training at the training ground, I inadvertently let out such a sigh on my way back to the dormitory.

Compared to the 3rd day when I had shown my dancing to Regina, I had certainly improved, but I was still far from the passing range.

“Is something troubling you? Rain-ssi.”

It was inevitable that Serene would hear my unconscious sigh.

Because Serene's dormitory was in the same Aurora Hall as mine, so we had the same way back.

The other two who shared the dormitory, Khan, had not yet returned, and Elwin had gone to his family's home, so that's how it was.

“I just can’t seem to get the hang of dancing.”

And since I had nothing to hide, I frankly confessed my worries. About the situation of suddenly having to learn to dance, and about my poor skills.

“Umm……”

Hearing that, Serene seemed to be contemplating for a moment, and then she opened her mouth.

“Then would you like to practice with me? I think I might be able to help.”

That was what she said.

***

There was no particular reason to refuse that offer. It felt a little shameless, but my situation wasn't lenient enough to refuse a helping hand.

We headed back to the training ground. To be precise, to the multipurpose room attached to the training ground.

That was the only place where we could practice dancing without being seen.

As it was a place generally used for training, the scenery was filled with training weapons.

‘How strange.’

That was my impression upon seeing the scene. Practicing an elegant social dance in this desolate environment.

If you thought it was interesting, it was a rather interesting situation.

“Then, shall we dance once first to see your level?”

Serene's voice reached me as I was lost in my impressions. And when I turned in that direction, there was the girl with platinum blonde hair, neatly dressed in her academy uniform as usual, Serene.

The girl said. To first show her my level.

“……You can laugh if you want. I’m quite clumsy.”

I said such words anew. Because I was about to show her a very clumsy performance.

“I won’t laugh.”

However, Serene's answer was simple. It was a reaction befitting her, who was the personification of sincerity.

And a short while later.

“Hmm……”

After dancing one song with me, Serene fell into thought with her finger on her chin. With a serious expression completely devoid of laughter, just as she had declared.

“There doesn’t seem to be a problem with the basic steps… you’re having difficulty with the application.”

Oh…….

Was she truly the closest to an all-rounder in Arche? Serene had accurately diagnosed my problem after just one dance.

“……You’ve pinpointed it exactly.”

I nodded in agreement with Serene's words. With a hint of admiration.

“Fufu.”

And seeing my reaction, Serene let out a small laugh. As if something was amusing.

Was this a situation where even Serene couldn't help but laugh?

“……You’re laughing.”

I said calmly. It could be interpreted as, 'You said you wouldn't laugh.'

However, the answer that came from Serene's mouth was quite different from my expectation.

“Ah, I wasn’t laughing at your dancing, Rain-ssi. It’s just that it felt nostalgic……”

“Nostalgic?”

Nostalgic? At the rather unexpected sentiment, I repeated Serene's words.

“I was in the same situation as you, Rain-ssi, when I first started social dancing. I only knew the basic steps properly, but when it came to application, I would get confused… fufu.”

“……”

She had such a past? I couldn't hide my feeling of surprise.

In a way, it was to be expected. It was in the realm of impossibility for a person to have a natural talent in every field.

However, there was no need to further explain how Serene was depicted in Arche.

To think that she, who was described as having a natural talent for everything, had such a past.

“That’s unexpected.”

That was the one thing that came out of my mouth upon hearing that.

“Did you think I would have been excellent from the start?”

“……Was it that obvious?”

“Ahaha, it’s a common perception.”

I looked again at Serene, who was saying such things so readily.

It was quite surprising for her, who always showed modesty about her talents, to say such a thing.

“……Was I bragging a little too much?”

As if embarrassed by my reaction, or perhaps suddenly feeling shy, Serene reacted that way.

“No, it’s the truth.”

However, my reaction was that. It's the truth.

And at my words, Serene opened her mouth again.

“……It’s embarrassing, but the evaluation I receive is that. A genius, they say……”

As she said it herself, she seemed to feel a bit awkward, and her face was turning red.

“But I’m not that special. I’m just struggling to live up to that evaluation.”

“……So that’s what you thought.”

Serene does not show her weakness. No, that's wrong. Serene is a perfect hero. That was the basic stance in Arche.

However, she was saying. That she was not perfect.

“The title of genius is the conclusion, Rain-ssi. And I just resolve to be a person worthy of that title.”

I tried to think of something to say in response to those words, but nothing suitable came to mind.

Why are you telling me such things?

Such questions lingered on my lips, but they were truly belated questions now.

Because of this, I could only honestly state my feelings.

“……That’s, a little comforting.”

“I’m glad.”

Serene smiled brightly and replied to my words. It seemed to have been a pretty good answer.

***

After that, I was taught the secret of how Serene became proficient in dancing.

“My secret is to think of the choice of steps as something else. For example, numbers? This step is 4, this step is 1, like that……”

“It’s like martial arts.”

I felt it was similar to a part I had been briefly lectured on by Acaite before.

And as if my words were correct, Serene nodded.

“That’s where I got it from. Because that’s the area I’m proficient in.”

“Hoh.”

Thinking of it that way, my thoughts started to clear up a bit. ‘A combat-like dance.’

I learned something good.