**Chapter 74: Dancing Together**
The swordsmanship class had come to an end, though whether it could be deemed a success was debatable. After the match between Rest and Danira, mock battles continued between the Knight Department and students from other departments, but unlike at the beginning, the other students were no longer being mercilessly beaten.
The Knight Department students held a grudge only against those from the Magic Department. They seemed indifferent towards the students from the Civil Official and Priest Departments, taking them down without inflicting serious injuries.
In the end, ninety percent of the Knight Department students who participated in the swordsmanship class emerged victorious. The remaining ten percent, including those from the Magic Department, were the only ones allowed to participate in the class. Those who lost would be relegated to running laps on the grounds until the end of the semester, enduring a bitter experience.
“Is that really what happened? That sounds tough,” Viola sighed, a mix of admiration and exasperation in her voice as she listened to Rest’s account.
With the swordsmanship class concluded, they were now in the final lesson of the day—dance class. In the dance hall within the academy, Rest held both of Viola’s hands, stepping awkwardly to the rhythm of the music while making every effort not to step on her toes, recounting the events of the earlier class.
“Yeah… I never expected there to be such a rift between the Magic and Knight Departments,” he replied.
“Well, wizards and knights have never really gotten along. Both believe they are the true pillars supporting the kingdom. Fortunately, my father and the captain of the knights are on friendly terms, so there haven’t been any major clashes,” Viola explained.
Viola’s father, Albert Rosemary, served as the Chief Court Magician, standing at the top of the kingdom’s magicians. The captain of the knights, Marquis Cattleya, was said to be a close friend from their school days, maintaining a relatively amicable relationship.
“Of course, just because knights and wizards don’t get along doesn’t mean they actively sabotage each other. They might compete for achievements, though,” she added.
“Ah… I see. That makes sense,” Rest replied with a wry smile, recalling memories from his previous life. Just because they belonged to the same nation or faction didn’t mean they shared the same beliefs. Whether true or not, he had heard that the U.S. military had its own rivalries, with the Air Force and Marines often at odds, leading to friendly fire incidents in the past. Similarly, in pre-war Japan, there were rifts between the Army and Navy, resulting in significant losses due to a lack of shared military intelligence. Even when fighting under the same flag, their aspirations could differ greatly.
(Hmm… From the perspective of power distribution, perhaps a bit of factional rivalry is beneficial, but to think I’d get caught up in it during my school days…)
“Well, not every knight hates wizards, but… Oh, Rest. That step is wrong,” Viola pointed out.
“Oops!”
At Viola’s correction, Rest hurriedly adjusted his dance steps. While Viola had been trained in dance since childhood as part of her noble upbringing, Rest was a complete novice. He had received some basic instruction at the Rosemary estate, but his focus had always been on exam studies and magical training.
“Sorry, I messed that up,” he said sheepishly.
“Don’t worry about it. Besides, you’re not lacking in athletic ability, and you have a good sense of rhythm. You’ll improve quickly,” she reassured him.
“I hope so…”
“Don’t worry. You have plenty of partners to practice with. You’ll get ample practice today,” Viola said, glancing sideways with a meaningful look.
Following her gaze, Rest noticed Primula and Yuri waiting at the edge of the dance hall. Since more girls than boys chose to take the dance class, it was common for one male student to dance with multiple female students.
“Primula is better at teaching than I am, and Yuri is probably worse than you, Rest, so he might actually make a good practice partner. There’s no need to rush; just improve little by little. After you finish dancing with them, it’ll be my turn again!”
“…Can’t I at least get a break? Seriously.”
Even though magic could alleviate fatigue, exhaustion was still exhaustion. Rest grimaced as he finished the first dance with Viola.