Chapter 148

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on January 31, 2025

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Chapter 2 starts from a sub episode to the main episode, and there’s a unique aspect to the emergency mission.

In Chapter 2, the emergency mission occurs during the blank period before the episode progresses.

It’s an event that adds mini-games for the player, offering additional rewards upon success.

At first glance, it seems similar to the sub episodes in Chapter 1 because players can choose freely without any risk or force, so performing the emergency mission isn’t necessary.

On the other hand, if you look at the differences, sub episodes affect the main episode, whereas emergency missions have almost no impact on the main episode.

The rewards are just minor penalty relief items or items that lower status ailments. It’s truly “additional” rewards.

Normally, such things wouldn’t even be worth a glance.

There’s no risk, but it’s a waste of time.

Offering it as a mini-game is boasting with insane difficulty, and even if you clear it, the reward isn’t particularly useful.

But.

Now it’s different.

“Harnier.”

“Yes?”

“Would you mind closing the distance a bit more?”

“…?”

Harnier looked puzzled.

Of course, this isn’t the usual practice setup.

But there’s no time to think now.

-Swoosh.

I gently pulled my hand away and immediately pulled her closer, embracing her.

Right then, the next afterimage was ready.

“Indeed!”

As soon as I changed my stance, a faint afterimage appeared, indicating the next move.

This means…

Using the game system, we could dance, right?

“Carsein? Why are you suddenly setting up like this? We didn’t practice this beforehand!”

Panicking, Harnier asked me, and I whispered while fixing her position.

“Do you know this dance?”

“Well, I practiced with a mannequin, so I do.”

Then, she can dance.

With the first condition met, the next step is to persuade Harnier.

“Then let’s try this instead.”

“What did you say?”

“I vaguely remember. It was just once, but I saw it in a book.”

Of course, saying I saw it in a book is a lie.

I haven’t seen any etiquette books related to dancing, whether before or after the possession.

But I can do this dance.

“The lighter color comes later. The darker color comes first. That’s right. The faint afterimage I see is due to the music not starting yet.”

Thanks to the emergency mission’s system assisting me, I can perform the dance even though I don’t know it.

This dance is essentially a mini-game where you adjust Carsein’s movements properly. Despite the absurd difficulty, …

Surprisingly, moving my body to match such a thick afterimage doesn’t seem too difficult.

Just like at the Snow Festival emergency mission.

“This dance is much harder than what we practiced. Just seeing it in a book doesn’t mean you can easily do it!”

“But, if you look at it differently, this is the only dance I know beforehand.”

“But…”

“Without this level of skill, those young ladies won’t accept it, right?”

I gestured towards them, and Harnier glanced toward Hellie and her group.

“Is it possible…?”

I smirked inside.

“I’ll take responsibility. Let’s give it a try.”

This damn game is so meticulous and tight.

But if I can use its meticulous and tight system…

It won’t result in a dance that makes the social circle’s young ladies laugh at us.

***

On the stage under the spotlight, the couple stands.

They aim to uncover one person’s lie as soon as the party begins.

Harnier swallowed hard, seeing familiar faces.

“They’re all dancers…”

Not only are they well-known in the social circle, but some are also famous enough to be visited by teachers from prominent families.

Hellie brought them here on purpose.

To dance beside such people.

She will definitely be compared. Any mistake will be pointed out, and the stark difference will provoke mocking laughter.

The lie will be exposed quickly. If she messes up badly and falls off the stage, it would be a major accident.

But.

“I’ll take responsibility. Let’s give it a try.”

Carsein said this.

Surely, she should be anxious.

Someone who hasn’t danced before is claiming to have learned the most difficult dance from a book. She should be full of worry.

Predicting the future and preparing early would be wise.

But Harnier felt strangely at ease.

“Let’s do our best. Shall we try?”

After all, it’s better to go all out than to give up.

Carsein nodded with a slight smile.

Soon, the lights changed, signaling the start of the ball, and the prelude began.

Harnier moved to the rhythm she knew, following the steps.

The key now is whether Carsein can follow.

Complex beats and tricky tempos.

In this unpredictable and structured music, the most dazzling dance must be performed.

However.

“Wait…?”

Carsein moved accurately with this challenging tempo. Was his confidence real?

At first, Harnier thought it was just the beginning, but she easily matched his rhythm, their breathing synchronized. Their previously disrupted breathing finally harmonized.

“Why…?”

“Miss Harnier is dancing… Really, did you know how to dance?”

“It’s strange! And to dance to such a difficult song!”

“No, it’s not just that! How did he manage to dance perfectly with his fiancé…!”

The young ladies watching couldn’t believe their eyes.

Of course, she was also surprised.

It wasn’t just about breathing and tempo.

The timing between male and female partners, switching beats perfectly, seemed like they knew exactly how to move to the next rhythm in this complex and difficult music.

Even though they had never danced together before.

Everything fit perfectly.

“Hellie, what’s going on?”

“If what you said is true, you should have fallen long ago!”

“To naturally perform a dance of extreme difficulty…! Even the dancers prepared by you—”

Not only the young ladies who were tormenting Harnier, but even the men waiting for her to make a mistake joined in the whispers.

Despite the music, no one could understand this situation.

But we can’t afford to let our guard down.

Even one mistake can’t be tolerated. We need to maintain this atmosphere to dispel their suspicions.

Soon, the music reached its climax.

In other words, it’s time to show the most difficult moves.

If we get through this.

If we finish this.

The lie will transform into truth, and suspicion will dissipate.

However.

Harnier’s last dance move left her body tilting.

“Ugh!”

Her ankle, which she had been holding back, started to ache.

She thought she could endure the pain.

But now, her ankle trembled uncontrollably.

She couldn’t perform the set action. She missed the perfect rhythm needed to transition to the next move. The tempo drifted, and her uncontrolled body twisted Carsein’s center of gravity.

It’s the end.

If she finishes this.

To end it in the worst way.

Harnier closed her eyes tightly.

-Splat!

“Huh?”

Her tilting body landed precisely in Carsein’s arms.

He held her urgently, supporting her with artistic precision. He alone took care of this ending.

When the music ended, the audience stood and applauded.

Harnier realized with a dazed expression that she had successfully finished.

“Heh.”

Her legs gave out.

She might have slumped over, but Carsein managed to support her.

Though she leaned awkwardly, Harnier managed to laugh.

“We made it somehow.”

She wondered what would happen if she hadn’t practiced properly.

Even with such an unbelievable outcome, this would make Hellie and some men doubt her claim of dancing with her fiancé.

But.

Carsein’s arm suddenly slipped between her legs, lifting her up.

Exclamations of admiration came from the audience, regardless of age or gender.

“Carsein? What are you doing?”

Harnier panicked and called out to him, but he silently moved away with a stoic expression, carrying her fiancée’s body.

“Oh my.”

Following behind were admiring eyes, like looking at a sweet young couple.

Harnier, carried like a princess, blushed and tried to tell Carsein to put her down, but he remained silent, continuing to carry her. No matter how many signals she sent, he ignored her request.

They stopped at the place where they had danced.

A terrace.

-Snap.

Closing the door, Carsein carefully sat Harnier on a chair.

Then, he immediately knelt on the floor.

“Carsein…? What are you… Ugh!”

With a soft sigh, Harnier’s shoe slipped off.

The injury hidden inside the shoe was revealed.

Carsein sighed sadly.

“I noticed your body trembling slightly every time you moved your foot… Were you hiding this?”

She wondered why he brought her here after the dance.

It seemed he wanted to check this.

Since it was revealed, there was no choice.

“I’m sorry. I had reasons…”

“Reasons?”

“Yes. Since the shoes were a gift from Viscount Terecia to Hellie, I had to wear them.”

Given these circumstances, it was unavoidable. But for Carsein, it was like having another burden.

She realized how troublesome it was. She had to dance because of her, and her ankle was affected during practice. If it weren’t for his proper sense, she might have messed up badly.

She was prepared to face criticism.

But he didn’t get angry.

“If you had told me earlier, even if I had to force it, I wouldn’t have made you dance with this ankle.”

Unexpectedly, he gently rubbed his own foot.

“Hellie, right? Can I borrow these shoes?”

“What are you doing?”

“You need to return them properly. For daring to do something so petty. I imagine Ariana will scold me, but I can’t just let this slide.”

-Thump!

Again, the sound of hurried footsteps began.

“Why? You don’t have any reason to go that far.”

Reflexively, she said this.

But it wasn’t wrong.