Fantasy Realm – Infinite Worlds Adventure-Chapter 257: The Fear of Missing Out

“Heh, you should know that I can’t dance for shit. However, this here? Let me show you how a Hunter solves things, because you might have forgotten in the last few months,” Alex brags, taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor.

… I regret everything. I will humiliate myself. However, I have an idea.

“Surprise me, then. By the way, you have to lead. I can’t dance these types of dances either,” Menchi admits, clearly enjoying the situation.

The song slowly starts, and Alex takes a look at the numerous pairs around him. He uses En to cover the entire dance floor and focuses on a couple of Beauxbatons students who look confident enough in his opinion.

As soon as they start their movements, Alex copies the male’s movements, grabbing one of Menchi’s hands with his left hand while placing his right hand on her waist. Menchi grabs his hand and his shoulder, and the pair begins to slowly dance. Alex briefly copies the movements of the others before realizing the song is practically a joke in terms of dance moves. It just takes 20 seconds for Alex and Menchi to find a comfortable rhythm.

“Not bad,” Menchi says with a smile, enjoying the atmosphere.

Alex can’t help but feel a bit embarrassed. He continues to dance with Menchi for a few more songs, staring into her beautiful sparkling green eyes. Despite her grin, Alex feels a bit of emptiness in Menchi.

He can’t ponder much about it because Tereza and Jewel join them, delivering the most ‘unique’ dance of the evening.

Partly because he feels bad for her having to accompany Jewel, he also dances a song with Tereza, who enjoys it but isn’t a huge fan of these dances either and is quite satisfied to have experienced it at least once.

Menchi meanwhile sits down and looks at them, her eyes half closed.

Of course, Alex also decides to include Jewel, who would have been heartbroken if he didn’t. His ‘dance’ with her is just him awkwardly moving around the dance floor while Jewel spins on his head, her ‘dress’ spinning in a giant circle, looking a bit like a UFO hovering above Alex’s head, spinning as fast as possible. The diamonds and amethysts on her dress make it impossible not to look at her. She briefly shifts the center of gravity to make her dress spin to the side of the room, hypnotizing everyone looking at her.

Everyone can’t help but drop everything else as they stare at Jewel in confusion and astonishment, clearly entranced but also unsure what to think about it.

Updat𝒆d fr𝑜m freewebnøvel.com.

When the dance finally ends, everyone silently stares at Jewel. Only Hagrid stands up, causing the table he’s sitting at to shake and making numerous glasses fall to the ground.

Due to all the ruckus, everyone stares at him.

He claps loudly, tears flowing from his eyes.

“That was beautiful. Never seen a dance this good. Yer did me proud, raising the little Princess, lad,” he says, looking at Jewel and Alex, making everyone stare at the half-giant, giving him weird looks.

Jewel… thanks for this, but we’d better leave the spotlight to the others now. You’re so skilled, you steal the show from everyone else.

❤️ Thank you for praising Princess Jewel, my Dearest Soulmate. However, Jewel would like to dance some more—it’s not her place to stand on the side while peasants take the center stage.

… I need a break, though. Maybe Tereza could take over?

Take a break, Dearest Soulmate. Jewel will bother Maid Tereza for another dance.

Alex sighs and sits down while Jewel jumps toward Tereza, who catches her with a grin and returns to the dance floor for another ‘dance.’

Despite looking around, Alex doesn’t see Menchi.

I was just gone for a few minutes… where is she?

Alex uses En but can’t find her aura. Finally, he exits the hall and walks toward the Viaduct Courtyard, near the front entrance, and tries again.

He notices a powerful aura at the very edge of his En. The aura is slowly moving toward the boathouse, about to walk outside his En radius.

Alex walks down the stairs, looking at the Great Lake in the night, the moon visible, making it look mysterious and majestic.

Once he reaches the bottom, he uses Gyo and sees Menchi sitting on one of the larger rocks next to the boathouse.

Alex approaches her and silently sits down next to her.

“You’re a prodigy indeed… I never really cared much for En, but looking at you, I can see how useful it is… how large is your radius by now?” she asks with a calm, tired-looking face, continuing to stare at the moonlit lake.

“Around 35 meters (114 feet),” Alex says, not having expected that question.

“I heard you qualify as a master once you reach 50… you’re almost there,” Menchi notes absentmindedly.

Alex sighs and decides to just let the cat out of the bag. “I’m a bit worried about you. Despite not showing it, you seem extremely stressed out, like something is haunting you constantly.”

“You always focus on classes with Snape, reading, even finding time to cook for us daily. I have to say, despite the danger, I’m rather enjoying this stay. I think Rishi and Tereza are as well. I think you are suffering and I’m feeling bad having dragged you with me to the Realm, placing you in real danger of getting erased… that was probably a mis—” Alex tries to say, but Menchi interrupts him.

“No, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I… I feel not competent enough. Despite my prolonged stay here, I can only brew potions at the level of students. I feel pathetic.”

“You realize students need seven years to finish their education in potions? You’re nearly there already. What has it been—less than three months? I’d say you’re doing more than good. Even Snape says so. I don’t get why you’re stressing yourself out like that,” Alex calculates and questions Menchi, not understanding her worries.

“... It’s rather simple. You feel the same, don’t you? Risking your lives to make some progress? I feel the same. Chances are, we’ll never return. We might never get the chance again to experience this world. We need to make the best of it. Every single day is a huge chance. If I fail… I’ll regret it for the rest of my life,” she explains, looking quite serious.

Alex closes his eyes and opens them again, looking at the lake. “The Great Lake is looking really beautiful tonight. Even inviting. I don’t like the stuff beneath it, but looking at it like that, I see that it’s beautiful indeed.”

“I guess,” Menchi sighs.

“You know, you might miss out on a small detail that makes a specific potion less potent. You might miss out on a specific technique that could speed up the brewing process by a few minutes. However, if you torture yourself like that, without a break, I think you’re also missing out on something even more important,” Alex says.

Menchi looks at him and sighs. “I know what you want to say. I’m just a bit afraid. I also don’t want to remain useless… I worry about you as well and don’t want you in danger.”

Alex wraps his arm around her. “How about you try your best but also take a small break here and there? That would also help me by not making me worry. Also, this isn’t a race. Trust me, we’ll visit even more incredible worlds than this. You can always buy books, though I doubt the system allows you to take them with you. However, you can always hire house-elves to copy them onto paper for you. That way, you can take the important parts with you. That will probably work.”

“Good idea!” she says, leaning her head against Alex’s chest. “I’m so tired…”

“You’ve really worked hard,” Alex says, patting her head softly, unable to resist the urge to pull on one of her five trademark braids, gently rubbing and tugging it.

“Have I told you that I really love your hair? It’s so unique,” he says with a smile.

Menchi smiles but stays silent.

“How about I bring you home? I’ve had enough of dancing as well. Also, I don’t really want to go back and get scolded for Jewel ruining the ball,” Alex suggests with a slight smile.

“Sure, let’s walk bac—” Menchi tries to suggest, but Alex immediately gets up and carries Menchi, giving her a princess carry.

Under the moonlight, the sounds from the castle in the distance are still noticeable. Alex walks away from them, gently carrying Menchi home.

Menchi closes her eyes, enjoying the cool breeze ruffling through her hair.

"That feels good—you know you are really becoming dependable. You get a pass for tonight," she praises Alex.

If my PHY wasn’t as high, I’d freeze my butt off right now. Thankfully, this temperature barely affects me anymore.

They enter the apartment, and Alex briefly uses En to check if Rishi is back, which isn’t the case.

What is he doing?! I’ll make him tell me tomorrow!

Alex carries Menchi into her room, close to the kitchen. He drops her into the bed and plans to leave, but Menchi moans. “Get it off me… I can’t sleep like that.”

Alex stares at her gorgeous dress.

Makes sense, I guess. She really does look beautiful in it though.

Alex gently lifts her up and removes the dress from her, leaving her in only her black casual looking underwear. He looks into her eyes and sees that she’s genuinely tired, seemingly burned out.

“Let me give you a massage,” he says, trying to cheer her up.

“Go ahead,” she mumbles, lying on her stomach, her eyes twitching just to keep them open.

Alex gently caresses and massages her back, using his aura to apply pressure gently.

Despite her strength and athleticism, her frame is rather small. She looks incredibly vulnerable right now… no time to bother her with my… urges.

It only takes a few minutes before Menchi is deep asleep.

I’ll take that as a compliment.

Feeling a bit lonely but still worried about Menchi, he decides to strip as well and carefully slips into her bed, pulling her into a soft embrace. Quickly closing his eyes, he can't help but recognize her scent, making him feel strangely comfortable, immediately falling asleep.