WeTried Translations
Translator: Coughing Baby
Editor: Coughing Baby
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 131: If We Danced
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All eyes in the banquet hall were on us.
And into their midst dropped a nuclear bomb named Lua.
The girl's use of “Mom” and “Dad” had neatly obliterated the room.
“...”
Stunned faces stared at the three of us.
Unbothered, the happy family, not actually a family, simply kept walking.
“Ahem.”
The point of stirring up trouble was to leave the audience too stunned to think.
By that measure, this attempt could be called a success.
I did my best to hide my crooked smile.
After I spent a moment grinning to myself, Javert spoke.
“Student Viktor.”
“Yes?”
“I feel that may have been a little excessive.”
“Excessive? I have no idea what you mean.”
I had only done as instructed.
After all, she herself had asked for it, saying she didn't want people pestering her about marriage.
After such a shocking performance, no one would bother her for the rest of this banquet.
‘Either way, the objective was accomplished.’
Poke, poke.
Her distinctively lifeless gaze seemed to poke at my cheek.
I gently squeezed the hand I was holding and answered calmly, as though nothing were wrong.
“We've achieved our goal, so isn't that enough?”
“...That is true, but...”
Well, we could always explain it later.
We settled at one end of a table amid the whispering guests.
The headmaster had just stepped onto the platform to announce the beginning of the banquet.
<I am Headmaster Valter Droit.>
<First, I would like to express my gratitude to all the distinguished guests who have joined us for today's Grandia Banquet.>
As the headmaster's voice rang out, the guests turned their attention toward the platform.
That let me escape those burdensome stares for a while.
What followed was exactly what we had been notified of yesterday.
<There is one announcement to make at this banquet.>
They would announce the resumption of the Purgatory expedition and the results achieved over the last three weeks.
No matter how they dressed it up, the real purpose was to reinforce the academy's standing.
There had been several small incidents at the academy lately.
‘During the practical training, and on that school trip too...’
Grandia Academy.
The finest educational institution on the continent, a school where only the elite among elites gathered.
Still, the recent incidents had created an atmosphere of doubt. The academy's pride must have taken a hit.
There had been no casualties, so it hadn't become a major controversy, but the repeated accidents had made people question the name [best].
‘It's only a tiny spark, but they can't tolerate even that?’
It was as if they were declaring that their [best] could not have even the smallest blemish.
Since the Purgatory expedition had resumed at my request, they were making sure to show the outside world what it had achieved.
You could call it killing two birds with one stone.
‘They're the best at handling business, at least.’
Bringing the headmaster over to my side had been worth it.
He met my demands while keeping the academy from losing its footing.
<The expedition has currently cleared up to Floor 79.>
<Taking the clearing party's condition into account, they will enter Purgatory Floor 80 after a one-week maintenance period...>
And then came the part about the scheduled assault on Purgatory Floor 80 being one week away.
‘A message?’
The headmaster was speaking to me.
Purgatory would remain empty until then, so if I had business there, I should keep it in mind.
Moved by that small consideration, I went over my plans one by one.
‘There are a lot of things to deal with on Floor 80.’
There was an item I absolutely had to obtain.
To ensure Grandia Academy's survival and stop Javert from killing herself.
‘Well... even after returning to the academy, I was still ridiculously busy.’
I muttered a small complaint to myself.
By then, the headmaster was wrapping up his speech.
<That concludes the announcement.>
<I hope all our guests enjoy the rest of the banquet.>
The short, forceful announcement seemed to have ended successfully.
Once the headmaster finished, the banquet continued in the usual fashion.
In other words, it was time for networking.
“Hmm.”
We remained at one side of the banquet hall.
It was a secluded spot that didn't draw much attention.
Of course, that didn't mean we could avoid attention altogether.
All sorts of people approached to greet Javert.
“Why, if it isn’t the Chief Investigator! It’s been a long time.”
“I had something I wished to discuss concerning the Cult...”
“Ha ha, Chief Investigator, you rarely make appearances even at official events...”
Attention poured in regardless of age or gender.
Seeing it firsthand made me realize her status all over again.
She was only twenty-three.
Yet she was the Chief Investigator and Grandia Academy's de facto second-in-command.
On top of that, she was the headmaster's adopted daughter. There was no way she could be anything but a highly sought-after match.
‘That must be exhausting.’
Javert gave businesslike replies.
At the same time, I could understand why so many families wanted her as a bride.
‘She's the textbook definition of a career woman.’
She was capable.
Her social standing was also extremely high.
Even her appearance was beautiful enough to rank among the finest in the Empire.
With nothing lacking, she was bound to be considered one of the most desirable brides anywhere.
‘Though she herself doesn't seem interested at all...’
Forget marriage, she seemed to have no desire to mingle with people in general.
Javert was already shutting down the seventh person who had approached her.
Her voice was cold enough to embarrass them.
It wasn't boredom or irritation. It was an almost frightening lack of interest.
“No, thank you.”
Javert turned them down politely.
That blade-sharp atmosphere made me marvel.
‘So she was actually quite warm with her students. She's truly merciless with nobles she doesn't know.’
Her expression remained completely unruffled.
After watching from beside her, I casually added a few words.
“You really are popular, Chief Investigator.”
“It's not something I ever wanted.”
Her answer made it clear she genuinely found all of it meaningless.
She really was a person of steel.
I chuckled and turned away.
I had started that conversation for no reason, but my own mouth was no less busy.
“So this is the student who ranked first among this year's new entrants.”
“I've heard much about you. You're Chief Investigator Javert's personal teaching assistant, aren't you?”
“Ha ha ha! They say an unprecedented genius has appeared. It's all anyone talks about these days!”
Quite a few guests showed interest in me as well.
Then again, it was hardly surprising at this point.
‘It would be stranger if I didn't attract attention.’
Less than half a year after entering as a Class E student, I had taken the top spot in the year.
I had defeated Rin Glacia, who had been called the best of this generation, by an overwhelming margin.
In the midterms, I had achieved perfect scores in both the written and practical exams.
I had become Chief Investigator Javert's personal teaching assistant, and I had even attended this banquet as her partner.
‘...What the hell is with this guy?’
From a third party's perspective, that was probably what they thought.
It was only natural for a rising star to receive so much hype.
Perhaps they wanted to establish a connection with me. Many people came and went, leaving greetings behind.
There was no shortage of nobles and influential figures among them who wanted to recruit me after graduation.
“Are you the promising young man everyone's been talking about?”
The most shocking moment was when the Imperial Knights Commander approached me personally.
“Was it during the midterms? That capture-the-flag event. I couldn't watch it myself, but I saw the recording of you competing against the Glacia girl.”
“It is an honor. I never expected the Sword of the Empire to take an interest in such an inadequate contest.”
“You were quite good. Your judgment was sharp enough, and your martial ability shows promise too.”
“What do you mean by that...?”
“I look forward to seeing what you'll do after graduation.”
That was their roundabout way of saying it.
If I became interested in the Imperial Knights after graduation, I should come find them.
‘Good heavens.’
The commander coolly turned and walked away.
I could only stand there, dumbfounded.
The other nobles watching us were the same.
For a commoner to receive an offer to join the Imperial Knights was an unprecedented event.
-That was an invitation to join, right? I heard that correctly, didn't I?
-They say a noble title and immense wealth await anyone who joins...
-They select fewer than thirty people each year, don't they? And the commander offered such a position so readily...
It was a moment that made me realize my own worth anew.
It felt strange, but I was also proud of how hard I had worked.
“Ahem.”
The atmosphere had remained heated for quite some time.
It was only after music began to play softly that the excitement settled down.
A gentle melody filled the room, and the guests took the central floor with their respective partners.
“Whew... It's finally quieted down.”
“You worked hard.”
Javert's simple praise made me smile.
In the distance, the highlight of the banquet was underway.
In time with the notes blooming one after another, people danced gracefully, one step at a time.
“...”
It was a fascinating sight to me.
It had been six months since I had come to this world, but I hadn't had many chances to experience noble culture like this.
As I watched the scene closely, I asked the woman standing stiffly beside me.
“Aren't you going to dance, Chief Investigator?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I've never felt the need. I've also never danced at a banquet before.”
“Hmm... Even if you've never danced at a banquet, you must know how, right?”
“...Yes. My adoptive mother taught me.”
Her adoptive mother.
The headmaster's wife, and someone who had been as good as a mother to Javert.
At the same time, she remained a heavy burden in one corner of Javert's heart.
‘Her adoptive mother's death... That was what made Javert cling to principles and rules.’
Javert's eyes darkened further.
Their verdant color seemed to fade a little.
“...”
“Professor Javert.”
Breaking the silence, I slowly held out my hand to her.
I gently took Javert's gloved hand in mine.
At the same time, I looked at her with a soft smile.
With a question mark practically floating above her head, Javert blankly looked up at me.
“Then, will you dance your first dance with me today?”
“...What?”
“Of course, I won’t take no for an answer.”
“Wait, Student Viktor. What are you suddenly...”
Gently leading her by the hand, I brought the red-haired woman onto the central floor in full view of everyone.
Footnotes:
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