Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, Vol. 6 (9 page)

Lord Hermes finally releases my hand and walks over there.

Finding a brief opening in Lady Loki and Lady Hestia’s argument, he puts on the air of a gentleman and bows in front of her.

“Oh my, how exquisite you are on this night, Kenki! May I, Hermes, have this dance?”

I see him thrust his hand out to her. My mind is racing on so many levels.

Aiz’s face goes pale as she stands, motionless, in front of the god. Unsure of what to do, she tries to catch the eye of her goddess, Lady Loki. Unfortunately for her, the argument between the two goddesses is still in full swing.

A few long heartbeats later, Aiz looks back to Lord Hermes and opens her mouth. She’s probably going to refuse, but before she can…

“Oh, goodness no! How could I have forgotten something this important?! I just remembered!”

Lord Hermes turns away, his hand over his face. It feels like I’m watching an actor on the stage more than anything else.

I blink several times, my eyes nothing but little dots on my face. Aiz isn’t moving. I don’t think she’s even breathing.

Clap!
Lord Hermes brings his hands together as if he’s just gotten an idea. He looks back over his shoulder before spinning to face me.

“It is an embarrassment as a god, and as a man, to not be able to honor my own invitation—Bell, take my place.”

My jaw drops to the floor. Aiz looks light-headed.

Both of our eyes are as wide as they can go.

“Huh, what’s going on…?”

“You understand, Bell? My reputation is at stake, so don’t let me down.”

Every muscle in my body suddenly tenses. Then, Lord Hermes winks at me.

The whimsical god has just forced me to play a part in some kind of scheme—did Lord Hermes just give me an opportunity to ask Aiz to dance? He’s willing to take the heat from the goddesses?

Then a wink makes me realize what had just transpired. Lord Hermes was with us on the eighteenth floor as well as in the town of Rivira. He seems to believe that since Aiz and I know each other, she won’t refuse my invitation.

Lord Hermes grins and walks away. Aiz and I are alone, staring at each other.

“…”

“…”

The distance between us unchanging, we stand in one spot, staring into each other’s eyes.

My body’s getting warmer and warmer. I make up my mind.

I can’t waste the chance that Lord Hermes gave me. But more than that, I can’t walk away from the confused girl in front of me. The shame of abandoning her would be unbearable.

But…how do I ask her to dance?

A storm is raging in the back of my mind, sweat pouring like rain down my face and hands—that’s when Lord Miach appears at my side.

I look back toward Aiz and see that Nahza is standing beside her.

The two of us watch with wide eyes as Lord Miach and Nahza step toward each other.

“My lady, would you care to join me for a dance?”

Lord Miach extends his hand to Nahza and gives a respectful bow.

She smiles and puts her hand in his.

“Gladly.”

The two walk, hand in hand, to the dance floor.

Aiz and I watch as an example unfolds right in front of us. Lord Miach and Nahza grin back at us, thoroughly enjoying the moment.

Ba-dum.
My heartbeat fills my chest.

The two of them went out of their way to help me; I can’t just stand here anymore.

Aiz is looking right at me when I take my first step.

Tap, tap.
The sound of my footsteps cuts through the other sounds in the room. I gradually approach her, the distance between us disappearing.

I come to a stop an arm’s length away and meet her gaze.

“Can I…
May
I—have this dance?”

I quickly look down to hide my bright red face.

I extend my left hand, my heart rate increasing every second.

I sneak a peek at her face…Aiz, clad in that beautiful dress, is smiling at me.

“…Gladly.”

I feel the weight of her hand in mine. Summoning up every ounce of courage in my body, I close my fingers around hers.

The two of us turn toward the dance floor, holding hands.

I hope she can’t feel my pulse through my fingers; my heart’s beating like crazy. Doing my best to keep my breath steady, the two of us find an open spot in a ring of dancing couples. I slowly loop my right arm behind her and put my hand on her back as she lightly places her left on my shoulder.

Now all I need to do is listen to the beat, watch the others, and try to dance.

“Uwah—”

“Nnn—”

We’re not in sync at all.

I stumble; she trips. We’re fighting just to keep our balance. Aiz is first and foremost a knight, so dancing might not be her thing. But then again, I’m a man and yet I’m failing to lead. This is pitiful.

Thump.
Aiz’s head hits me square in the chest. If I don’t do something soon, this’ll be a complete disaster. But what? A wave of cold sweat escapes from every pore in my skin.

“Calm your mind. Do not try to lead by pulling her with your arms.”

“!”

Another couple comes close to us just as Aiz and I are trying to find our feet. It’s Lord Takemikazuchi and Mikoto.

Mikoto is blushing again, but Lord Takemikazuchi’s precise movements guide her effortlessly around the floor. They step toward us, and Lord Takemikazuchi and I are back to back as he whispers more advice into my ear.

“Relax your shoulders. Take your eyes off your feet and look ahead.”

“S-Sir Bell. The battle is not lost as long as you don’t step on your own feet.”

Lord Takemikazuchi guides Mikoto right past me. A new bead of sweat rolls down my cheek as I desperately try to decode their instructions.

Aiz is listening, too. Our feet start to line up.

“You’re adventurers—look at each other. Discern each other’s movements with your feet and communicate with your eyes. No techniques are necessary, only advance and retreat.”

Lord Takemikazuchi’s words echo over and over in my mind. Just for a moment, it feels like I’m back on the city wall, training with Aiz.

I desperately try to read her attacks, figure out where she is coming from, and defend. How would she follow, what is she aiming for? It all comes down to that first step and moves on from there.

I look into her eyes, glistening in the moonlight. I’m not sure who breaks down first, but we suddenly smile.

—Right?

—L-left, please.

Uneven at first, then slowly but surely, then finally we move in unison.

We don’t need to speak; our eyes and subtle movements do all the talking.

Lord Takemikazuchi smiles. He must think we’re okay on our own now, because he and Mikoto glide away to another part of the dance floor.

“
—Whaaaaat?!
What in th’ hell d’you think you’re doing, Aiz?! Leggo of me, Itty-Bitty! I said, hands off—!!”

“Huh? What are you sayi—
whaaaaaaa
?! Wait,
Bell
—!”

Two loud voices reach my ears from the corner of the ballroom. I catch a glimpse of two raging goddesses from the corner of my eye. Seeing Lady Hestia’s hair flare out like that makes my blood run cold.

But at that moment, Lord Hermes points and Miss Asfi’s dress flutters through the air.

“—Hold them back, Asfi!”

“I take no responsibility for the consequences…”

““Ngggh!!””

Thin, feminine arms wrap around each of the goddesses. The two deities get yanked from view. Looking back at Aiz, she’s just as speechless as I am.

“…Ottar. Tell me, is it possible to unleash a horde of Minotaur here right now?”

“It is not, Lady Freya…”

…Why is my spine tingling?

“This is my first…”

“Huh?”

“This is my first time dancing…” I watch Aiz’s lips move. We are about the same height, so talking face-to-face is easy. “I always wanted to try, when I was little…”

“R-really?”

“Yes.”

That’s unexpected.

It feels strange, but a smile grows on my face. I can feel my lips loosening with each passing moment.

“So I’m happy…Thank you.”

She shyly glances down, then looks back up at me with a beaming smile.

For a moment, she looks like an innocent child instead of the hardened warrior I know. I lose myself in the sparkles of her golden eyes.

The mask of refinement and grace she always wears is gone, replaced by the smile of a little girl.

Maybe, no,
definitely
—
this
is the real Aiz Wallenstein. Not the warrior.

“…!!”

I’m pretty sure I’m smiling.

I’m so happy, I wouldn’t know if I were making a weird expression.

She smiles back, her gaze slightly trembling. My hand on her waist and hers on my shoulder, we join the ring of couples and dance a waltz.

Her golden locks flow in perfect time with the music.

Our steps slightly better than before, we spin in place, matching the other couples on the floor.

All the beautiful people and perfect clothes sparkle in the moonlit ballroom.

The magic-stone-lamp chandeliers give the illusion of a starry night as she and I dance, the moment feeling like a dream.

The dance over, Aiz and I find Lord Hermes and the others standing close to the ballroom wall.

I lead Aiz as far as I can until finally I let go. I can still feel her fingers, delicate and warm, in the palm of my hand. My head is somewhere in the clouds, but Aiz sighs as all of her muscles relax at once.

Lord Miach, Nahza, as well as Lord Takemikazuchi and Mikoto smile at the two of us. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this shy in my life, but I need to show them my gratitude.

“Um, thank you so much, for all of your help. You, too, Lord Hermes…”

“Glad to be of service.”

He grins at me before opening his mouth to continue. However, he immediately closes his mouth again and sticks both hands high into the air.

“At least I can die knowing you’re happy.”

““
Hermes!
””

Two goddesses cloaked in auras of fury appear directly behind Lord Hermes.

Snatch!
Two arms suddenly pull him off his feet and drag him into the corner. “
Gyaaaaaah!!
” A scream of pain cuts through the air. The color drains from my face.

Lord Hermes’s “execution” complete, Lady Hestia charges toward us like she were shot out of a cannon.
Bang!
Aiz goes flying from my side.

“Bell! You’re dancing with me next!”

“Aiz, yer hittin’ the floor with me! No refusin’!”

Lady Hestia grabs both of my hands with vigor. The look in her eyes is terrifying. Aiz isn’t doing much better. Lady Loki practically has her in a bear hug.

All of my muscles stiffen at once, making my body stand up straight at the speed of light as I hold out my hands.

I force a smile. There’s no way I can refuse her—

“—Guests, are you enjoying the Celebration?”

Lord Apollo, the host for the evening, appears in front of our group.

A handful of his uniformed followers spreads out behind him as he squares his shoulders.

Wait a minute, why did the musicians stop playing? It’s eerily quiet in here.

“It brings me great pleasure to see you are indulging. That lets me know hosting this Celebration was worth it.”

All of us stop moving, frozen in place as other guests make their way toward us. There’s a ring around us in no time at all and Lord Apollo is at the center.

The god wearing a crown of laurels locks his eyes on Lady Hestia as soon as he finishes his general greeting.

“Much time has passed but…Hestia. It appears my children have caused you some trouble.”

“…Yes, and mine you.”

Lord Apollo smiles, but my goddess is eyeing him suspiciously.

First and foremost, we need to settle this. Lady Hestia takes a deep breath as she figures out the exact wording she wants to use.

However, the god doesn’t give her time.

“
My precious child was critically injured by your boy.
I demand compensation.”

He takes a step forward and makes his claim.

I tilt my head in confusion, my nerves getting the better of me. Lady Hestia, on the other hand, becomes furious.

“That’s an exaggeration! My Bell was hurt, too! You have no right to
demand
anything!”

“My dear Luan came home so beaten and bloodied that day I had to hide my eyes…My soul wept in his presence!”

Lord Apollo puts his hand on his chest like an actor trying to be overly dramatic before spreading his arms open wide. He points out his other followers, all of them crying as if on cue. A figure emerges from behind them. “Aah, Luan!” Lord Apollo cries as he rushes to his side.

Luan…that’s the prum from the bar…His entire body is wrapped in bandages, like some kind of ancient mummy. He groans in pain as he works his way forward with Lord Apollo’s aid.

“It hurts, everything hurts…”

“B-Bell…! You didn’t do this, did you…?”

“I didn’t, I didn’t!”

I yell at the top of my lungs, trying to reassure the visibly shaking goddess next to me. This is way over the top!

“Additionally, I have heard that it was your boy who initiated the fight. There are many witnesses. You are not talking your way out of this.”