I had initially assumed that we testers would be practicing dancing amongst ourselves.
“What can amateurs possibly do?”
Those were the supervisor’s kind words, which promptly cut us down, leading us to once again seek dance instruction from the instructors.
Instructor Fushio oversaw Minami, who struggled most with dancing, while Instructor Kio was paired with Amelia, who was skilled at it.
As for me, due to certain circumstances, I was assigned a supervisor.
And if you’re wondering about the remaining three, Tatte is handling them all by herself.
She can dance as either the male or female partner, and it seems she’s the one who taught dancing to the supervisors as well.
This makes her the most suitable person for teaching dance.
I wondered if such an arrangement was okay, but there’s no one in this party who would think, “It’ll be easy with just three people.”
Instead, we have a group that’s on guard, anticipating what kind of Spartan training awaits us.
And finally, the dance practice began.
“Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times” is indeed a fitting saying.
At first, I was nervous, wondering what kind of mistakes I’d make, but…
I found myself enjoying this time more than I expected.
“Next, step forward with your right foot.”
“Yes.”
It’s because my body naturally moves with the music. As I moved, thinking, “Is this what light steps feel like?”, a shock of red hair swayed beside me.
And through the fabric, I felt the body heat of the person with the swaying hair.
As our bodies pressed together, feeling the warmth and softness, I sensed a feminine sweetness, and my body followed the sharp instructions to step.
In the center of the dance hall, to the elegant music, I placed my hand on my supervisor’s waist and performed the steps I had learned first, ready to lead her.
“You’re quite good, aren’t you?”
She gave my movements a passing grade and, with a smile, gestured for me to lead her to the next song.
“Your instruction is excellent.”
“Heh, then for the next song, I won’t give any instructions. Show me your lead.”
Facing the supervisor’s elegant smile up close, with a hint of ulterior motive, I thought I might be flustered, but…
“As you command.”
Despite my racing heart, my mouth naturally spoke those words, and I picked up the rhythm to a slightly more upbeat song than the quiet one.
How many songs have we danced to with this one?
Afternoon had arrived, and my initial confusion with dancing had faded as I repeated the steps. I was now able to experiment and devise my own ways of moving.
The initial tension I had felt vanished the moment I thought it was more relaxing than fighting.
With my mind now at ease, I easily mastered the dance steps as if a sponge absorbing water.
Being able to do it so smoothly, I marveled at this unexpected talent of mine.
After receiving a passing grade from my supervisor much sooner than I’d expected, I spent my time practicing dance with her.
“Uh, if I step right…”
“The next is left, you see.”
“Ugh, I don’t understand anything! And why is my partner a skeleton?!”
“Kaka, you don’t like the skeleton I painstakingly adjusted? I prepared quite a handsome skeletal structure, you know.”
“A handsome skeletal structure is hard to tell the difference on!”
“Furthermore, I’ve added a spell to reflect physical attacks so you won’t hurt yourself if you step on it, you know?”
“Is that why!? Why does my foot hurt when I step on it?!”
“A lesson without pain is meaningless, you see.”
Beside us, Minami, whose dance partner was a skeleton in a tuxedo, created a strange scene, with Instructor Fushio watching over her.
“Hahaha! You’re dancing quite well!”
“Yes!! I am having fun too!”
As the music changed to a faster tempo, Amelia and Instructor Kio danced a bit more energetically, and they looked to be having a good time.
“Alright, right, then left.”
“Y-yes.”
“Your steps are lagging. You’ll step on my foot again. Do you want to disappoint the ladies? Concentrate!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
In stark contrast to that cheerful atmosphere, Kaido was receiving intense dance instruction from Tatte, who was dressed as a maid.
Tatte took the lead completely, meticulously controlling Kaido’s every move, while he desperately tried to keep up.
“Looking away shows you have too much leeway. Men who look away during a dance are disliked.”
“Sorry.”
It seemed my supervisor saw through my brief attempt to peek at the situation – I was quickly reprimanded.
What concerned me wasn’t the three pairs who were progressing smoothly, but the state of the other pair.
“Worried?”
“…Yes.”
“Don’t worry. Tatte is good at things like that. If you leave it to her, there won’t be any problems.”
My supervisor, sensing my concern, gave a wry smile and subtly supported my slightly wavering movements.
“You can pay attention to other things, but you neglect yourself. You need to fix that.”
“Am I that bad?”
What I was worried about was the pairing of Kitamiya and Katsu. Katsu, having reacted to Minami’s Cinderella-like transformation as a man, had shown a hint of jealousy.
Trouble between men and women tends to worsen if left unattended. Having witnessed such cases before, I felt a slight unease.
I trust that they’ll be fine, but there’s also the concern of preventing any “what ifs.”
I suspect Kitamiya won’t let it interfere with practice, but seeing what just happened, I thought this slight friction might affect their future coordination.
My supervisor, seeing through my worry, told me to trust the personnel she had prepared and to focus on myself.
“It’s not a bad thing. Being able to do those kinds of actions as a foundation can be a plus. However, you are still ‘immature.’ You are not yet able to perform them perfectly. The repercussions are becoming a burden to you.”
Our conversation, interspersed with the music, was like a secret rendezvous between a nobleman and a noblewoman.
“Normally, it wouldn’t be a problem. But as it stands, you are receiving an exceptional amount of attention within the Demon Lord’s Army, even for humans. Besides the Hero, there are very few humans who receive this much attention. And the emotions directed at you, whether positive or negative…”
And this secret meeting contained not only sweet words but also bitter ones. My supervisor was using this close time to inform me of my position and the positions of the party members I was involved with.
The stated reason for this training was indeed to groom us as potential executives. It’s training to impart the necessary knowledge and skills.
However, as is often the case, when supervisors and instructors take action, the stated reason is never the whole story. There were always underlying reasons.
By becoming a teacher in a training setting, one can arrange a place to converse privately with a specific individual without anyone knowing.
One might think it would be easier to have a secret meeting in a special room without such cumbersome procedures, but such places, while preventing information leaks, often raise suspicion of some illicit activity.
And the employees present in the Jigen Room this time are members selected by my supervisor, but not all of them can be trusted. Even after a thorough investigation, there are always ways to circumvent it. One never knows where ears and eyes might be. In such an environment, if the top brass of the Demon Lord’s Army were to discuss the precariousness of our positions, it could actually put us in danger instead.
Being singled out draws envy, but it’s best to avoid unnecessary risks. This information has been shared not just with me but with all party members. It’s also part of the supervisors’ roles to do this during training breaks. And what makes the situation even more dangerous amidst these risks is this:
“Among the higher-ups, there is caution regarding relations with Japan. It’s obvious to everyone that you are the key.”
That would be me. The events of the New Year seem to have had a greater impact than I imagined. From one perspective, I am a money tree; from another, a bomb that spreads destruction. It’s only natural that my handling becomes cautious, as I can be both a medicine and a poison. It wouldn’t be strange if some people found me to be an obstacle.
“For someone in your position, showing any weakness is not advisable.”
As the supervisor spun and I embraced her, I listened to her explanation while we continued to dance.
“We are keeping a close watch, but we are not always perfect. You must also be vigilant.”
I feel like the way I’m being handled is leading in an increasingly serious direction. For a salaryman, an improved position might be a good thing, representing a promotion. But as an individual, my heart begins to sweat as I realize enemies are being made around me without my knowledge. Meanwhile, the song ended, and we finished with a slow dance.
Since dance was accompanied by a lecture on banquet etiquette for standing receptions, dinner was also taken here.
How many hours have we been dancing? I wasn’t physically tired, but my nerves were frayed by this conversation.
“I will endeavor to improve.”
“…”
Still, believing that effort is necessary, I gave my usual response, but the supervisor’s usual affirmative reply of “Do so” did not come. I considered adding words, thinking, “Perhaps more effort than before is not enough?”
“This might be strange for me to say, but you need to relax a little.”
“Huh?”
But the words that came from my supervisor were to relax. I personally felt I had already relaxed sufficiently. I separate public and private life, take breaks, and have my own time. Recently, I’ve found solace in Suella, Memoria, and Himik. I also go drinking with the instructors. I am aware that I am taking more breaks than average. Wondering why I was being told to relax, I tried to convey to my supervisor that I was indeed resting. However, the next song played at the perfect moment, and she pulled my arm and guided me into a slow dance.
“You’re unaware. Well, that’s probably it. It’s fine to strive and have ambition. But sometimes, you need to rely on others.”
The supervisor’s expression was gentle as she said this. Because you are like this, she continued, it is worth my saying, recognizing how I usually conduct myself.
“You extend your range of action because you can do things yourself. The ratio of what you can delegate to others and what you supplement yourself is too skewed. Even the Demon Lord cannot do everything perfectly. You cherish your friends, but trying to do everything yourself is like saying you don’t trust them.”
Her words were like a gentle admonishment, making me realize, but I understood that she wasn’t outright condemning my actions. I had been leading until now, but now my supervisor was leading.
“It’s the same with me.”
“The same?”
It’s rare to have a superior share their personal experiences.
“Yes, there was a time when I thought I had to do everything by myself.”
However, it’s rare for them to share their failures.
“I couldn’t do anything, so as I tried my best to do what I could, I ended up carrying everything on my own shoulders, and if I could do it myself, I stopped relying on others.”
My supervisor spoke as if the words were slowly soaking in, and I listened.
“Jiro, there’s only so much one person can do. You can’t unleash your full potential alone.”
With each step, my supervisor’s words wove together, entering my ears. The magnificent music and the dazzling lights now seemed like mere adornments for my supervisor.
“It’s the same with dancing. You can dance alone, but it lacks flair. Your movements might be sharp and reflect your efforts, but the image appears very fragile.”
My supervisor led me slowly. As I surrendered to her movements, at a turning point in the song, I began to dance in sync with her, following her lead.
“Yes, that’s right.”
My supervisor’s eyes widened for a moment at my movement, and with a smile, she said, “You understand,” and we continued dancing. We executed steps, sometimes embracing, spinning, our costumes swirling. The dance, with its seamless rhythm and an almost telepathic understanding, conveyed something to me. Without having time to ponder what it was, I tried to feel my partner. And so, this piece, unlike practice or a lecture, unfolded in an atmosphere akin to a true social gathering and concluded in an instant.
“Trust those who support you, Jiro. That is also the measure of a leader.” And then, as if her temporary encounter was drawing to a close, my supervisor announced that today’s lecture was over and slipped out of my arms. I watched her back, unsure of what to do.
Today’s word: Overcoming weaknesses can sometimes be quick.
This concludes today’s entry. Thank you as always for pointing out any typos and for your feedback. If you found this interesting, please leave comments, ratings, bookmarks, etc.
*The first volume of this novel is published by Hayakawa Bunko JA and was released on October 18, 2018. The e-book version was released on October 31 of the same year. The second volume was released on December 19. The third volume was released on February 20, 2019. The content includes revisions and additions to the material posted on Shōsetsuka ni Narō, with an additional unpublished interlude. Please consider purchasing the new volumes!
Additionally, a comic adaptation by Kodansha has also been decided for “Young Magazine The Third” and is currently in progress.
Thank you for your continued support of this work.
