For humans, the dancing competition was the true highlight of the festival to praise the existence of the sun goddess. Many women of the human race in Arlo City would sign up to dance and offer their souls to the sun goddess. Humans believed dancing was a form of human gratitude to the goddess, so everyone took the dance competition very seriously.
In Arlo City's government building, which looked like a castle, a large stage was set up to showcase the participants' dances. People from all over came to watch the performance. Horse-drawn carriages and people lined up to gain entry into the castle, including Elijah and Heidi, who had just arrived there.
"Welcome. Have you come to watch the competition?"
When it was their turn to enter, a city guard asked the two. Heidi shifted her stance to reveal Elijah, then answered the question smoothly.
"We came for the competition. My friend here is going to compete. I just came to support her."
The city guard's gaze shifted to Elijah and was satisfied to see that Elijah was human. Dancers in the sun goddess festival had to be human. That was because they believed only humans worship the goddess.
"Participants can go straight to reach the hall, while spectators can go to the second floor while waiting for the competition to begin."
DING!
[Side mission: The Forgotten Dance
1. Participate in a dance competition at a festival event. (COMPLETED)
2. Find the criminal in disguise in the middle of the competition.]
Along with the answer from the city guard, the mission Elijah was working on gaining new progress. Thanks to the system, Elijah at least knew that the criminal he had to catch had already disguised himself in there. Elijah thought of something from the system's clues, so Heidi took charge of the situation from then on.
"Alright. Thank you, Sir," Heidi replied while representing Elijah. The two of them entered the castle after that. Heidi helped Elijah to register his name with the competition committee. Of course, to avoid suspicion, Heidi created a new pseudonym for Elijah, who said nothing but followed her obediently while looking at the task floating before his eyes.
"Don't worry, Elijah. I'll keep a close eye on you from the bleachers. When I see any suspicious movements, I will immediately go down to catch the criminal."
Before they parted ways, Heidi gave final directions to Elijah, who would be closest to the villain that would appear in the competition later.
"I understand."
Elijah knew Heidi was strong, so he did not doubt the girl's words. It was just that, for the last time, there was something Elijah wanted to ask the girl.
"That criminal doesn't have teleportation magic, does he?"
"He shouldn't have. People say that he moves so fast that it's hard to catch him without special skills," Heidi replied. Elijah nodded to indicate that he was satisfied with Heidi's answer. Now that he knew that, all that was left was to catch the criminal.
"Elijah, fighting!"
Elijah nodded, though his heart was reluctant to take on this strange mission. Elijah separated from Heidi after that. Heidi went to the audience. Meanwhile, Elijah was asked to wait for his name to be called and give a performance to the people waiting in the audience.
"Hey, is my makeup okay?"
"This move isn't too much, is it?"
"I'm so nervous...."
As soon as Elijah arrived at the waiting room, the unusual crowd of women in the waiting room immediately greeted Elijah's hearing. Women of various ages had already gathered to wait for their turn to be called at that place. Elijah's eyes swept over all the participants and organizers who occasionally passed by to prepare something. Since the kidnapper was able to appear close to the winner and leave smoothly every year, Elijah suspected that the criminal had been among the organizers all along.
"Hey, where are you going? The competition starts in a minute."
Elijah intended to use the waiting time to check on all the organizers. However, before Elijah could leave, someone held his hand while talking to him. Elijah turned around to see who had just interrupted his plans. As Elijah stared at him for a few seconds, the status information about the girl immediately appeared before Elijah as a transparent screen that only he could see.
[Name] Elizabeth (16 years old)
[Level 12]
[HP] 500/500
[MP] 300/300
[Stamina] 400/400
[Physical Skill] Dance level 9
[Magic Skill] None
"What's your name? Is this also your first time participating in this competition?"
The girl named Elizabeth continued to talk without caring that Elijah was staring at her without saying anything since before. Also. That word made Elijah realize that the girl in front of him was entering this dance competition for the first time. Elijah felt that he had been worried for no reason. As long as she wasn't an experienced person, ordinary people wouldn't be able to tell that he was neither a dancer nor a woman.
Elijah might be able to disguise his appearance. However, he couldn't change his voice, so Elijah could only pretend to be mute and not say anything as he forcibly released Elizabeth's hold on his hand. Elizabeth looked surprised to see Elijah reluctant to open his mouth. The girl looked at Elijah without blinking, then asked in a tone that sounded so careful.
"Are you... unable to speak?"
Elijah just stared at her, then intended to leave without giving a definite answer to the girl.
"Wait! Really, the show is about to start. You will be eliminated if you don't come when they call your name. The organizers have told all the participants earlier."
Elijah raised his eyebrows, not understanding why someone insisted on making him stay in that place. Right now, Elijah didn't have time to listen to what a strange girl had to say. Elijah again removed Elizabeth's hand from his, then rushed out of the waiting room as was his original intention.
"Alright! Now, let's welcome the first participant of this year's dance competition!"
Elijah's movement stopped midway as he heard the host's voice in the distance. Elijah stepped back as he heard someone approaching their waiting room. A woman in her forties entered and then looked at each of the girls before speaking loudly.
"Girls, hurry up and get to the backstage! The audience and judges won't wait for you to be ready before calling your names!"
Elijah's chance to leave was lost when the woman made sure everyone went backstage as she directed. Someone again held Elijah's hand after that. Elizabeth smiled with satisfaction, probably because she was glad the show started before Elijah could step out of the waiting room.
"What did I tell you? You're lucky that the organizers came before you took a step out of this room."
Elijah was unhappy because he lost his original goal was to sneak away before his name was called on stage. Now, let alone looking for the criminal. He couldn't even go to the bathroom anymore because all participants were prohibited from leaving the backstage since they were gathered in that place.
Elijah watched as one by one, the participants were called to appear on stage. A frown began to appear on the teenager's forehead, especially when he remembered that he had not prepared anything due to time constraints before this mission.
"Elizabeth Olson!"
"Let's fight together, okay?"
After saying that, the girl who ruined Elijah's entire plan came forward and then performed well in front of everyone. Elijah already knew she was a good dancer thanks to her information status. After Elijah saw the other dancers perform before this, Elijah was pretty sure that Elizabeth would most likely be the winner of the dancing competition for this year.
The thunderous sound of audience applause filled the castle hall after Elizabeth performed in front of everyone. The other participants were extremely nervous after they witnessed such a flawless performance. Whoever performed after Elizabeth was guaranteed not to get high appreciation after the audience saw that spectacular performance.
"Araisa Judith Viola!"
Elijah's eyes swept the audience until his gaze stopped on Heidi, who was sitting on the second floor near the stage. The cat girl made a frantic gesture for Elijah when she saw him. Elijah raised his eyebrows in confusion, then focused his gaze to understand what Heidi was trying to talk to him about.
'Araisa, that's your name!'
"Araisa Judith Viola!"
When Elijah managed to read Heidi's lip movements, the host on stage called out her 'name' once again. This time, Elijah's body moved on its own to show his face on stage. Elijah's heart was beating fast. Compared to killing a giant warrior or facing other dangers, performing in front of so many people was more frightening for the teenager.
The music started, and Elijah was still glued to the stage. Elijah could see that Heidi was panicking in the audience. Of course, it was because the audience started whispering to each other that Elijah wasn't doing anything on stage.
'Elijah, move, or you'll be questioned if you stay like that!'
It was easy for Heidi to say those words. But for Elijah, he felt like his body could no longer move when he was faced with hundreds of pairs of eyes. Elijah furrowed his brow once again. Although the people in front of him were only NPCs, it was still too much to ask Elijah to appear before them alone.