Festival Of The Fallen Warriors (4)

I was dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, Moon Bora was huffing and puffing, yet dancing with perfect rhythm with the others.

No, wait.

It’s not just that she’s good at dancing…

‘…Wow.’

Gracefully tracing elegant curves.
She moved like a celestial maiden.

I couldn’t tell if the other dancers were nodding in satisfaction or it was just my imagination.

Of course, unlike her dance, Moon Bora’s face was as red as a beet.

“…Hmph, hmph, hmpheee!!!”

Embarrassment and anger.
A mix of shame and fury, she was literally going “hmph, hmph” in a flustered manner.

“Yu… Se… Ha!!!”
“…Uh, um, what?”

I snapped back to reality belatedly.

Not that I did anything, but the dancers had somehow moved me to a seat installed in the arena, and I came to my senses.

Something like alcohol…? A similar liquid was in my hand.

Not wanting to risk it, I didn’t drink, and asked in confusion.

“…Why are you there?!”
“That’s what I want to ask you!!!”

Moon Bora, with tears welling up, glared at me.

I wondered how she ended up like this, and recalled the past for a moment.

It was right after Yu Seha had defeated the knight.

“Well done.”

At those words, Moon Bora finally realized the outcome.

‘Ah… he won.’

Actually, Moon Bora hadn’t fully grasped the outcome of their fight.
This was largely because, as a magician, she lacked a deep understanding of martial arts.
Anyway, Yu Seha won in the end, right…?

Moon Bora placed her hand on her large magic pouch and sighed in relief.

Of course, she knew before entering that he wouldn’t die if he lost.

So there was no need to worry about his safety.

Still, since it meant watching Yu Seha get hurt, she watched him with a nervous heart.

‘Thank goodness…’

After the match ended like that.

Soon, a group of dancers swarmed over to Moon Bora’s side.

“…Huh?”

Then, without any explanation, they grabbed her and dragged her to what seemed like a waiting room.

Judging by the fragrant scents and the abundance of flowing garments everywhere, Moon Bora realized this was a place where the dancers got ready.

Once they let go, Moon Bora was finally free.
She nodded.

“I see. Is it my turn now?”

Moon Bora looked at the dancers and let out a cute battle cry, “Hoo-cha!”

She awkwardly raised both hands up with a ‘chuck!’

It looked like a ‘huh?’ moment, but Moon Bora was serious.

Having just watched the match, she roughly guessed the situation.

‘I suppose it means I need to take them down here.’

Probably, that would somehow buff Yu Seha.

Alright. It’s a new opponent, but let’s give it a try.

“Alright, come at me!”

Moon Bora shouted confidently.

The dancers looked at each other and shrugged.

As if saying, ‘What’s she doing?’ ‘Who knows?’

Then they gathered their makeup and clothes and rushed at Moon Bora.

“Wh-wh-wha–?!”

The first thing was to take off Moon Bora’s dance attire.

Next, they pulled out the most alluring outfit from the hanger and started forcing it onto her.

“W-wait a minute…! Where are you touching? Ah, ahhh!”

Then came the makeup.

“S-stop! My skin is sensitive. Don’t just draw eyeliner… ahhhh!”

…And so, she was dancing there now.

‘Uuuuweeeeek!!!’

The more she thought about it, the more infuriated Moon Bora became as she glared at Yu Seha as if she could kill him.

It was an expression of betrayal, as if to say, “Did you make that request for this?”

In truth, this was an unfair situation for Yu Seha as well.

He simply wanted her to cheer enthusiastically from the audience.

In fact, in the , it was rare for companions to take on the role of dancers.

Curiosity.
Why? He wondered.

‘Ah, no way…?!’

Then his mind focused on the explanation of the rune he had obtained a little while ago.

Yu Seha instinctively realized.

This had become a variable.

It seemed that the dancers considered Moon Bora to be an exceptional talent worthy of dancing alongside them.

He chuckled softly.
He never imagined he would encounter such a situation in his life.
Well, this wasn’t bad in its own way.
The better she danced, the more her stats would increase…

‘When it comes to dance, it’s Moon Bora’s domain.’

Yu Seha gave a small smile towards the fuming Moon Bora.

“Moon Bora.”
“U… U…! Why?!”
“You’re beautiful.”
“…?”
“Truly…”

It suits you well.

Moon Bora, who had been casting resentful glances just moments ago, suddenly blushed.

“…!!!”

Involuntarily, she let out a babbling sound, “U… hu… hungeng…”

Even Moon Bora herself found it a bit absurd.

Just…

Did he think she would completely forgive him with just a single word of “beautiful”?

Not a chance! Despite her family’s fall, she was still the second daughter of the .

Just! Just! Just!

She’s not a woman who would be easily swayed by such flattering words!

“…Heh, heh, heh…”

However, unfortunately, contrary to her inner protest, Moon Bora’s lips were twitching.

The resentment that was almost like an injustice melted away like snow.

-Beautiful, beautiful.

Yu Seha’s words floated around in her mind.

Tap, tap.

Moon Bora turned her head towards someone’s touch.

“…?”
“…”

The lead dancer, who first dressed her and made her up, was gazing at her intently.

Though the spirit was weak and her features weren’t clear…

It was evident she was smiling contentedly.

“…Wh-what is it?! Why are you smiling like that?!”
“……”
“…Ugh! Don’t laugh at me!”

Moon Bora huffed.
Soon, an echoed in front of her.

“…Haa.”

Moon Bora let out a small sigh.

She wasn’t too surprised at this, as she already knew.

Honestly, the rewards were just whatever…

‘…It means it helps Yu Seha, right?’

That fact alone made her endure all the embarrassment and shame.

Now that it had come to this…
She resolved to dance seriously.

And at the same time, she would make sure Yu Seha remembers.

‘Just how amazing of a woman I am!’

She would make him gawk in awe at her dance moves.

Moon Bora had that kind of confidence.
Though she never told anyone…
Her hobby was dancing and singing.
She didn’t learn it professionally.

It was just during her happy childhood under her grandfather’s protection.
By mimicking a TV program she happened to see, she discovered she had such a talent.
As she secretly practiced and honed it… before she knew it, Moon Bora had acquired near-professional dance skills.

This was proven by the fact that she possessed three skills related to dance.

Moreover, among 4★(★★★☆), she could fill as many as three solely with dance.

‘Seha… watch closely.’

Moon Bora danced gracefully in sync with the surrounding dancers.

A hand gesture created the illusion of petals scattering.

A foot gesture conjured the hallucination of ripples on a tranquil lake.

Before long, Moon Bora was clearly leading the surrounding dancers, showcasing the strongest allure.

The warrior’s dance moves began to merge into Moon Bora.

Perhaps thanks to that…

Moon Bora realized that this dance, which was just taught by the dancers, held some meaning.

“Ah.”

I see.
I understand.

Moon Bora glanced around.

All the dancers were sending their gazes somewhere.

At the end of those gazes were undoubtedly other spirits.

Moon Bora instinctively realized they were the lovers or family of the dancers.

Additionally, some were focused on the relics of warriors who had already ascended and were no longer present.

‘This dance uplifts the warriors’ spirits…’

A dance that comforts their deaths, truly befitting the name of a dancer.

Soon, Moon Bora’s gaze focused solely on one person.

Yu Seha.

The warrior she supports and cherishes.

Looking at him, Moon Bora smiled brightly.

“……”

Yu Seha stared at her blankly.

He was not paying attention to the fact that he had succeeded in receiving the highest grade buff, focusing only on Moon Bora.

She was beautiful.

Surely the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Thud!

Soon, as if on cue, a drumbeat resonated, and the dancers stopped their dance without anyone having to say a word.

Moon Bora clasped her hands together along with them.

She softly cheered, “Hang in there,” and Yu Seha nodded in response.

“Hehe.”

Moon Bora laughed foolishly.

A pure and innocent laugh, yet one of a woman in love.

The [Mermaid’s Necklace] around her neck emitted a red glow.

Before anyone knew it, the [Mermaid’s Voice] was already tinged with a crimson aura.

Finally, this sight, or rather, the necklace.

“……”

The lead dancer was silently watching.

Gazing at the necklace around her neck…
It had a peculiar familiarity, as if seen somewhere before.

One hour later.

I came up onto the arena and stretched my body here and there.

The injuries and fatigue from fighting the knight had long since healed.

This had a basic function of restoring participants to peak condition after each battle.

‘On top of that, I’m loaded with buffs.’

A buff that far exceeded expectations.

Thanks to Moon Bora, I was noticeably stronger than just a moment ago.

I clenched my fist tightly.

I felt like I could defeat anyone.

Rumble!

But…

That thought wavered as soon as I saw a man walking out of the iron gate.

“……”

He was a man with a slender build.

Shorter than a knight, without muscles, and lean…

He seemed like someone who could be blown away by the wind.

The worn-out martial clothes draped over his body were frayed, with loose threads visible here and there.

The straw hat on his head was also old, with holes visible here and there.

‘…Crazy.’

Nevertheless, the man’s aura was overwhelming.
I instinctively realized it on the spot.

This man was dangerous.

Clang.

The sound of metal brought me back to my senses.

The man adjusted his straw hat once and grasped the Eastern sword at his waist.

“Pleased to meet you. I am the warrior in charge of speed.”
“…Pleased to meet you.”
“Good. Take your stance.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the man bent his waist.
It was a stance similar to when I unsheathe my sword, but I realized it was fundamentally a different technique.

Rumble!!!!

A massive force surged through the man’s entire body.

Soon, it vanished as if it were a lie.

Cold sweat trickled down my back.
I realized that the vast energy had all concentrated on the blade at his waist.

I couldn’t see it.
But I could feel it.

‘That man is a form of Heart Sword.’

The sword engraved in his heart was causing a sword cry.

‘Could that be the Heart Sword?’

In ‘GAL,’ it’s a kind of scam buff used by some special NPCs, a sort of realm.

I instinctively felt that the ‘Wanderer’ before me was in a place somewhat similar to that.

Did he read my mind?

The Wanderer nodded slightly.

“You have quite the intuition. As you thought, it’s immature, but I’m at least touching the edge.”
“…How many years did it take you to reach it?”
“It took about 500 years. I reached it after I died.”
“…I see. I thought it would be impossible for me–”
“I think you could reach it within three years. Maybe even sooner. And you will advance beyond that. You have an absurd level of talent. I’m envious of you.”
“…?!”

I was taken aback by the sudden high evaluation.

I naturally thought it was impossible.

But these idle thoughts were soon all erased.

The Wanderer’s right hand moved to the sword hilt.

Both the Wanderer and I were certain.

Only, one match.
Only, one strike.

That would decide the outcome.

Immediately, without knowing who was first…

Our swords were drawn.