Chapter 152: Cheerleading Squad (8)

Meanwhile, there was another figure from the older generation present at this location, aside from Sion.

Unlike Sion, who only felt a slight inferiority complex due to her chest size but had little resistance to the outfit itself, there was another girl experiencing a more conventional sense of shame.

“W-What the hell is this crazy outfit…?! You expect me to wear this and stand in front of other people?!”

Dorothy’s face turned bright red as she shouted in a panic.

“A-Are you out of your mind?! I thought the same thing during the last test, but seriously, what happened to modern people’s sense of morality?! Do they not feel any shame as human beings?! H-How could they wear something like—”

“Why? I think it’s cute. Should I take a picture for you to commemorate the moment?”

“Are you kidding me?! Just try it, and I swear you’ll be dead to me that very day!”

“Too bad.”

Philia spoke as if she was genuinely disappointed. It was a shame to lose the chance to secure a lifetime’s worth of teasing material.

Dorothy bit her lip and muttered.

“W-Wearing this outfit and standing in front of hundreds of people… And then dancing while moving my body…”

She briefly imagined the scene, and in the next moment, she shook her head violently and screamed in desperation.

“N-No way! I can’t do it! I have my dragon pride—how could I possibly wear this ridiculous outfit and stand in front of people?! I’m leaving! Forget the competition with the Hero or whatever, I don’t need any of it! I’m going home!”

“Oh? Really? Are you going to run away just like that?”

“Run away? What are you talking about?! This is a strategic retreat! I’m simply waiting for the right opportunity!”

“Hmm.”

Philia pondered for a moment.

It would be a shame to let such a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle disappear just like that.

Wasn’t there something that could keep her master from leaving…?

“Alright, everyone, attention!”

Just then, Charlotte, who had finished persuading Sion, clapped her hands loudly to gather everyone’s focus.

“From now on, we’ll practice the dance for the sports festival. Since we only have about a week to prepare, the choreography isn’t too difficult, so don’t be too nervous.

For today, we’ll start with the eight basic moves.”

With that, Charlotte began calling out counts while demonstrating various movements.

“One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.”

Standing at attention while slapping the knees firmly, hugging oneself as if for comfort, jumping while spreading the legs and pointing forward dramatically—various simple gestures.

She wasn’t lying when she said it was easy.

While memorizing the full sequence might be tricky, each individual move was simple enough that even children could follow along.

Charlotte smiled and said,

“That’s the basic routine! From here, we’ll gradually build variations based on the music. Let’s see, then…”

She glanced around with a playful grin.

“Hero? Why don’t you try demonstrating the moves you just saw?”

“Huh? Me? But I just saw the choreography for the first time—”

“It’s fine, it’s fine! We understand. No one will criticize you if you mess up, so give it a shot!”

In fact, I’d love it if you messed up. That would make you so ridiculously adorable that I might get a nosebleed.

Charlotte swallowed those thoughts and smiled sweetly. Sion, sensing something suspicious in her expression, hesitated for a moment, then sighed and stepped forward.

“Alright. It’s something I have to go through anyway.”

With that, she mimicked Charlotte’s counting and began performing the moves she had just seen.

“One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.”

Her rabbit ears swayed rhythmically.

Charlotte’s eyes widened in astonishment.

There was not a single wasted motion.

Normally, a first attempt would include some hesitation or awkwardness, but there was none.

Each movement was precise and clean, as if performed by a veteran cheerleader with ten years of experience.

…This is… a Hero?

“Was that good enough? Since this was my first time, I assume there were some flaws, but—”

“No, no! What are you saying?! That was absolutely perfect! There’s nothing to correct at all!”

Charlotte genuinely exclaimed in admiration.

Although she was an amateur herself, she was still an entertainer.

While her initial motivation had been somewhat impure, at this moment, she felt pure awe at Sion’s talent.

Maybe even if she hadn’t been chosen as the Hero, she could’ve made it big as a bard?

In any case, having her in the cheer squad was a blessing. Really.

“Alright, everyone saw how the Hero did it, right? Just do it exactly like that! No need to add or remove anything!

Oh, right. Hero, in case some people didn’t see it clearly, can you do it one more time—”

“No. You can do it yourself, Captain.”

“Ugh.”

Not working, huh? Charlotte clicked her tongue lightly in frustration.

She really wanted to see that adorable bunny bouncing around again.

Meanwhile, Philia, who had been watching the entire demonstration from a distance, turned to her master and spoke.

“Master, Master.”

“What.”

“You should try it too. Those moves just now.”

“Are you crazy? I said I’m not doing it. Were you even listening?”

“But still.”

She whispered in a coaxing tone.

“Since you’re planning to leave anyway, wouldn’t it be better to at least try it once before you go?

Otherwise, it’d be a waste of the outfit you received. You can submit the withdrawal form to the faculty after practice, so for now, why not just follow along?”

“Well…”

Dorothy frowned deeply, clearly unconvinced.

Seeing this, Philia turned toward Charlotte and made a final push.

“Besides, don’t you think it’s a bit embarrassing? Watching someone get praised for performing such a ridiculously simple dance that even a child could follow?”

“Our master can easily do that much too, right?”

“! W-Well, that’s true…!”

Dorothy’s lips curled up slightly.

Yeah, that much… doesn’t seem too difficult.

If she could perfectly replicate the movements and amaze everyone, at least today wouldn’t feel like a wasted day.

“Alright. Nothing to lose anyway. Let’s give it a shot.”

“Good decision.”

Philia smiled and stepped back, her expression as if she could already predict the future.

Dorothy took a deep breath and began to mimic the poses she had just seen, one by one.

“One, two, three, four, fi— AAGH!!!”

But the moment she reached the fifth movement, Dorothy twisted her foot and crashed to the floor.

Now, here’s a little trivia:

All dragons in this world—whether chromatic or metallic—are severely lacking in dexterity.

By dexterity, we don’t mean overall speed, but rather the ability to move body parts precisely as intended.

Things like threading a needle, picking a lock with wire, or performing a backflip in midair—anything that requires more technique than brute strength.

Naturally, since dancing also requires precise body movements, it falls into this category.

In other words, Dorothy is bad at dancing.

Not just bad—horrendously bad.

So much so that even a human child could easily perform moves that she struggles with.

As expected, seeing Dorothy sprawled on the ground, Philia smirked.

“Oh dear. What’s wrong, Lady Dorothy? Didn’t you say this would be easy?

You must’ve just been nervous and made a mistake, right? Hurry up and say so.

I mean, there’s no way our master is such a pathetic weakling that they can’t even handle these simple beginner moves… right?”

“…….”

Twitch.

A small vein popped up on Dorothy’s forehead.

“Philia.”

“Yes?”

“Shut your mouth. Before I bite you to death in my true form.”

Dorothy growled lowly, her expression genuinely furious.

“How dare… How dare you test me?! Did you just mock me as if I’m some pathetic garbage who can’t even do this low-level dance?!

That was your intention, wasn’t it?! Huh?! Answer me, huh?!?!”

“N-No, I didn’t—”

“FINE!!! If you’re going that far!!! Then I’ll fall for your provocation!!!”

Dorothy shot up from the ground, shouting, her eyes burning with rage.

“Don’t underestimate dragons…

We are the one and only, absolute, and overwhelmingly superior race of this world!

There is nothing humans can do that we cannot! NEVER!

And I will prove that undeniable truth to the entire world—right in front of your eyes!!!”

“Oh my, there’s really no need for that.”

Philia covered her mouth, letting out a quiet giggle.

Honestly, such an easy master to manipulate.

“So, I assume this means you’re not quitting after all? I can take it that you’ve made up your mind to continue?”

“Yeah! I won’t back down until I utterly defeat that so-called ‘Hero’ on stage!

Embarrassment? Who cares! It’s not like I haven’t experienced humiliation before!”

With that, Dorothy turned to glare at Sion in the distance, her eyes blazing with determination.

She was fired up.

She was going to prove just how high a dragon could soar when they got serious.

“Just you wait…

Prepare yourself, Hero Sion!!!”

And so, the last dragon quietly burned with resolve in the corner of the training room.

And two weeks later…

The morning of the sports festival finally arrived.