The Elemental Sword Demon King
Episode 119: Dance Party
POV: Kirigaya Kaizo
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It was nightfall. The ceremony of the Sword Style Festival began in the castle which served as an inn for the representatives. There were already many honorary guests gathered who had a friendly conversation in the great hall of the castle.
There was elegant music flowing, and chandeliers lavishly arranged with spirit crystals as decorations. Luxurious seafood, meat, and fruit were placed on a table lined up in the middle.
Those invited to the ceremony were elementalists representing various countries and high-ranking nobles.
"This time, my country's representative will get the victory."
"What's? The greatest elementalist is in my White Knights, you know?"
Even though they behaved politely on the surface, they conducted a fierce war of words. Wearing a formal suit, Kaizo glanced at the nobles with a fed-up expression.
(Oh my goodness, you're not the ones who'll do the sword style.)
On the other hand, the girls participating in the Sword Style Festival had nervous expressions. They were equally competent, top-notch elementalists chosen by the major countries of the continent.
These girls were roughly the same age as Kaizo, and it was due to the requirement to take part in the Sword Style Festival that the princess maidens should be 20 years old and under, following the Oracle by the Elemental Lords.
This was not limited to the Sword Style Festival. Most of the important ceremonies dedicated to spirits have similar conditions. The spirit likes a young pure girl as the best offering.
"By the way, they're still not here, are they?" Holding a plate of duck meat stir-fry, Kaizo looked around incessantly. He still could not see his young female teammate.
Coincidentally, they likely found difficulty in wearing their dresses, but what was on her mind was whether Victoria, who had a fight with her would come as well.
After all, he wouldn't be able to meet her in the castle later. Looking at the entrance of the hall, Kaizo saw a girl's daughter caught somewhere.
"Please don't bring your animal inside!"
"Um, it's not an animal! This wolf is a friend of the forest!"
"Even if it's a friend, it doesn't mean no!"
(It looks like the Druid girl led the wolf into the hall.)
Even though he was from a different team, it was a bit of a shame because they represented the same academy.
Sighing in resignation, Kaizo directed his gaze downwards, "Nyx, do you want to get something?" He asked the sword spirit girl who was holding the plate.
"I want the next fish, Kaizo."
"Hn, you're a good girl for not being picky. All young women have an unbalanced diet." While she was praising him, she stroked his head and Nyx squinted. Wearing a clean white dress, Nyx is very pretty almost like a snow fairy.
"Nyx is funny." Rubbing his head, he involuntarily let out his voice.
Nyx's little ears twitched and she looked at Kaizo by calling him, "Kaizo?"
"Ah, it's okay." Kaizo scratched his head to avoid his question.
(That's a little embarrassing.)
"Kaizo, please say it again."
"Eh?"
"One more time." Nyx looked at Kaizo with her mysterious gaze.
"N-Nyx is funny."
"Kaizo, one more time."
"You're funny, Nyx."
"Again."
"You're funny, Nyx."
"Kaizo, what are you doing?"
"Aah!" Kaizo was startled and turned around, Tiana wearing a white dress looked at him with reproachful eyes.
"Erm, that, err..."
While trying to explain in confusion, Tiana asked him, "Before that, did you not have anything to say?"
"Eh? A-ah..."
Even Kaizo was not a quiet and unfriendly person to be unaware of. No, since he didn't realize it until it was pointed out, he might indeed be a quiet and unfriendly person.
Kaizo gulps. It was a white dress with large openings in her chest area. Although her design dared to show off her skin, the reason why she could feel graceful elegance was because she was a true princess.
"Pu-white is also suitable for you."
"Is that everything?" Looking annoyed, the princess pouted her lips.
"Erm, you're using pads."
"I'm gonna get mad, you know?"
"Tu-wait!"
Tiana puffed her cheeks. Kaizo shook his head in confusion.
"You're so pretty." He finally put his honest thoughts into his mouth.
"Hn, you graduated. Kaizo, your suit suits you too."
"Why are you like that. You made me say embarrassing things in public."
"Fufuu, it's a punishment for not praising me from the start."
Kaizo could only sigh at Tiana, who was smiling mischievously.
"Hn, that reminds me, where's Nyx?"
Before he knew it, Nyx had disappeared from his sight. Looking around, he saw Nyx moving towards the corner of dessert while holding her plate.
When he met Kaizo's eyes, he quickly turned his face away and rushed towards the table in front of him.
"It seems you offended Miss Fairy."
"Fufuu, you mustn't praise another girl in front of a girl." Tiana grimly pierced Kaizo's chest with her finger.
"Ka-Kaizo, so this is it."
This time, it was Aura who came in a dress. It was a striking blue sea dress. Her glittering platinum blonde hair was tied up, and her appearance was similar to that of the snow queen who ruled the ice country.
Her cheeks were slightly reddened, and her lips had a glamorous reddish color. Her usual uniform appearance was indeed beautiful, but this Aura who was dressed up was so beautiful that she almost sighed.
"Aura, you're beautiful."
"Eh?" Aura opened her eyes wide. His face turned red in the blink of an eye and said restlessly, "Fua, w-what are you saying?!" The Ice Queen's face melted in an instant.
"Hmm, Kaizo, you said this to anyone, right? As expected of the Night Demon King."
"I just did as you suggested, Tiana!" Kaizo glared with denouncing eyes at Tiana who pouted her sad lips.
"That reminds me, is Victoria with you two?"
"He just returned to the room. Kaizo, you haven't met him, have you?"
"Yes." Yeah."
It seems like when Kaizo went looking for him, they did not cross paths.
"Geez, that girl, she's always been so troublesome." Aura puffed her cheeks.
(This means he's still angry.) Kaizo made a heavy sound in his mind. If she came to the dance, she would even bear her cooking later, or something that was what she thought.
"E-Gr, Kaizo..."
"Eh?"
Aura timidly called out to Kaizo. "Erm, because we're here, err, uhuk." The young woman coughed several times. Then, his face was radiant like he was gaining his determination.
"Will you dance with me?"
"Me?" Kaizo.
"Is that okay?"
"No, I'm glad you invited me, but is it okay to take me?"
"Y-yeah, I'm a little scared of dancing with another guy."
"so. However, I only know the basic steps."
Kaizo was taught the dance steps by Aidenwyth three years ago. To be honest, he couldn't say he was confident, and they were definitely not in happy mode right now.
"Then I will teach you!" Aura let out her voice happily.
"Hn, that? Aura, if you're okay with that, then I'm counting on you."
Kaizo is also a boy her age. To be able to dance with a cute girl like Aura, her heart was completely pounding. He gently held the graceful hand of Aura that was covered by white gloves.
"I-this is Kaizo's hand..." Aura blushed.
"Su-sneaky, me too." Then, Tiana clasped his other hand.
"H-Hey, Tiana!? We can't dance like this."
"That's right! Quickly let go of his hand!"
Tiana and Aura pulled Kaizo's hand. Both of their chests touched his arms and he was confused. Before they knew it, they both made the attention of the surroundings.
"I wonder what they're doing?"
"Fight scene?"
"They look like representatives from the Sizuan Princess Academy."
"Did they not even know the manners at the dance?"
"That's the guy's elementalist."
"Ah, that..."
"Forcing girls who wouldn't dance with her..."
"To gather the two as his target."
"He must have gathered his night targets as well."
"What an insult is this!"
"But, he's kind of cool."
Many whispers were exchanged and it was all just Kaizo.
(Eh, why is the reproach only centered on me?)
Then, a voice that sounded serious and very familiar called out to them. "Three of you! Don't disturb the public's morale before the Elemental Lords!"
"E-Eve!?"
The one running was Eve who was wearing a dress. Eve pulls Kaizo's arm, and skillfully pulls him away from the two young women.
"Kyaa, what are you doing?"
"Captain, what are you doing?!"
"No, what the two of you did, my God..."
Placing her hands on her waist, Eve loudly scolded the two people who complained, "We came here to represent our academy. You need to be more self-aware."
...
*Connected.....
*Note: This story is fictitious. If there is a similarity in the name of the character, the scene, or the story, it is a mere coincidence and there is no element of intentionality.