Mushoku Tensei: Sword, Magic Hats, and the Romance System [165]

“But it's more common at court banquets and rarely appears at balls intended primarily for socializing rather than formal performances.”

Her voice fell.

Hilda had ended precisely in a backward stance, "distantly" gripping Eris's hand, meeting her daughter's gaze.

But Eris was staring nervously at the shoe prints she’d left on Hilda's heels, the proud young lady’s face, for once, blushing furiously.

“Don’t focus on your feet, Eris.”

“Ah! But, Mother-sama, your shoes—”

Hilda simply smiled without concern. When she first learned dancing, she’d also panicked like this, but right now, she couldn’t allow Eris to develop shame over stepping on her partner’s feet—it would only make her avoid dancing more.

The best way to divert Eris’s attention was to keep her constantly absorbing new knowledge, never pausing her movements.

Ignoring the pain on her toes, Hilda interrupted Eris gently, still smiling.

“So, what's the more suitable dance for a banquet?”

“I—I don't know! Eh—!”

Before Eris could finish, Hilda tightened her grip, drawing her distracted daughter abruptly toward herself.

Her free left hand gracefully extended, slender fingers pressing gently together, slowly resting upon Eris’s waist.

With a gentle tug, she drew her daughter into her embrace.

Lowering her head, meeting Eris’s startled eyes.

Eris froze, shocked by her mother’s sudden move.

Just then, from nearby came an audible gasp.

Hilda smiled, glancing sideways.

Sylphy’s face was bright red, ears trembling slightly, hands covering her face.

But not completely.

Between Sylphy's parted fingers, her reddish-brown eyes peeked out, anxiously watching Hilda’s elegant dance.

Clearly flustered, undeniably shy, yet her body honestly revealed to everyone—she desperately wanted to learn.

Rudy, standing to the side, had an amused grin, eyes shifting playfully between Allen and Sylphy, thoughts unknown.

And Allen?

He simply watched Eris and Hilda quietly, lips gently curved.

No other complicated feelings. He purely thought the scene of Hilda teaching Eris was indescribably beautiful. This sudden, rising sensation even overwhelmed his habitual glances toward Sylphy.

This kind of dance, he naturally recognized—quite similar to the slow-quick waltz from his previous world. Given his superb talent in swordsmanship and coordination, he could replicate it perfectly just by observing.

He’d never formally learned it.

Yet he could dance.

And he also knew the name of this intimate dance—filled with gestures like cheek-to-cheek embraces, gentle claps, and waists held tenderly—so relaxed, natural, passionate, and carefree.

Its name was—

“The Asuran ballroom dance—Foxtrot.”

“Also known as the Dance of Love.”

Hilda spoke warmly, shifting her gaze away from Sylphy back to Eris in her arms.

Eris looked panicked. She’d once seen Edna demonstrate this dance, but had immediately sprinted out of the classroom, so her impression was limited to having merely “seen it.”

“Why is it called the Dance of Love?”

Hilda gently “slid” her body alongside Eris, guiding her daughter’s movements through her own motions and intertwined arms.

The first sideways step was wide and swift; the following step was graceful and gentle, her heel lightly tapping the floor.

Her skirt fluttered beautifully.

Eris’s feet accurately stepped on Hilda’s toes once again.

But Hilda acted entirely oblivious, her voice continuing smoothly.

“Because among nobles, many marriages begin with this dance. Perhaps they're primarily arranged by families, but to outsiders, it symbolizes ‘love.’”

Eris couldn't absorb this information intended for Sylphy at all. Although her body danced under Hilda’s guidance, stepping repeatedly on her mother’s feet only made her increasingly nervous. Her body became rigid, her posture increasingly awkward.

And Allen, Sylphy, and Rudy were all watching from the side.

The young lady’s pride screamed inwardly.

Just as she considered forcefully escaping Hilda’s grip using sword techniques, Allen’s calm voice drifted into her ears.

“Swift, broad steps. Use the motions of Sword God Style as reference. Swiftly ‘swing’ out your leg, your thigh driving your calf, placing your foot exactly where you desire it.”

Eris startled inwardly, but half a year’s training with Allen triggered an instant reaction. At that moment, her foot was still on Hilda’s shoe—merely centimeters away from disaster.

Instantly rotating her ankle, she stepped neatly back.

Hilda, who'd also been listening to Allen’s instructions, revealed slight astonishment but naturally matched Eris’s movements.

She took a similarly large step, quickly yet gracefully following Eris’s retreat.

Their bodies remained closely connected.

Throughout their movements, Allen’s voice continued, quick yet precise.

“For the gentle, withdrawing step—take Water God Style’s Nagare preparation as reference. Sense the position you want to ‘swing’ into. When your mind reaches there, naturally place your foot down where you intend to retreat. Softly, now—it’s a defensive move, not an attack. Don’t be so forceful, so hurried.”

Eris blinked. Before Allen even finished speaking, she’d instantly grasped the concept of integrating sword techniques into the dance and what her next step should be.

Her other foot’s toes lightly brushed the floor, gliding across, and landing exactly in the spot she felt most comfortable.

It unexpectedly had an “elegant” feel.

Because Allen’s Water God Style was inherently elegant.

Just as Allen often said:
"If a slash can be graceful, even death gains beauty."

Immediately afterward, Hilda’s foot came to rest beside Eris’s toes.

This time, their feet didn’t overlap.

Only the black-and-white and fiery-red skirts gently collided, bursting forth in a beautiful flare of color.

Then settling, the hems of their dresses softly swishing around their calves.

The pair stood still, yet remained in their intimate waist-holding posture, their stance entirely natural, as though nothing had changed.

The rhythm of the dance, the movements within a single beat,

under Allen’s verbal guidance, Eris’s proactive steps, and Hilda’s intentional cooperation, were now perfectly executed.

So simple.

Eris’s eyes suddenly lit up!

“Sword God Style!”

A bold step forward.

Hilda gracefully matched her.

“Water God Style!”

Retreating, tiptoeing, drawing back with subtle pauses and elegance.

Hilda followed naturally.

Another beat.

Repeated.

Yet another beat.

No further prompting from Allen.

Mother and daughter danced with a slightly strange posture—but still looked convincingly graceful.

Like two butterflies, one large, one small.

Their red hair shone radiantly beneath the sunset filtering through the stained-glass dome.

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This is a fan translation of 无职转生：剑，魔法帽与恋爱系统 by 意外火灾 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!