Chapter 21
Rodelin's wooden sword initiated a crack that gradually spread across the stage.
It was one of the Lucid family's secret techniques, [Earth Flip]. The crack expanded rapidly, and its end was pointed towards me.
‘Damn!’
I quickly rolled to the side.
The stage was narrow, so the side was just dirt, but now was not the time to worry about that.
The terrifying aspect of [Earth Flip] wasn't just altering the terrain and changing the front lines, but also dealing 50% area damage to the surroundings.
Now I understood why.
Thump and crash!
"Aargh!"
"The planks are flying!"
As the stage broke apart, wooden splinters started flying everywhere.
The audience watching the play recoiled in surprise, stepping back.
Only then did Rodelin come to her senses.
"Ah...! Oh devil, are you alright... Ah, no! Zero! Are you okay?"
I groped around and something fell into my hand.
A small stone. I threw it to show I was still alive.
‘First, we need to end the play. The clown might not give the skill if he's angry.’
Perhaps for the first time in the game's history, the clown could actually get mad.
Normally, I would have been excited about discovering a new hidden piece, but the situation was different now.
The skill given by the clown is something every veteran player starts with.
So, I had to do my best to finish the play.
Fortunately, Rodelin, who saw me lying under the stage, stopped her actions.
Dust swirled around the stage.
I quickly crawled back onto the stage and lay sprawled on the shattered remains.
Eventually, the dust settled, revealing the horrific state of the stage.
The center was split lengthwise, with wooden planks twisted and turned in every direction.
And atop it lay a person... no, a devil.
"Ugh... to think I would lose..."
I dropped my head, which I had been holding up with difficulty.
And then stuck out my tongue to the side.
Splat.
The devil was dead.
Hero Rodelin lightly embraced Princess Luna.
The clown's narration followed.
"And so the hero and the princess lived very happily ever after."
"Wowwww!"
"I've never seen a play like this!"
"Destroying the stage as part of the act! Truly amazing!"
Cheers from children and parents.
While the clown engaged with them, Rodelin and Luna hurried over.
"Zero! Are you okay?"
"Keke, it seems I'm at least alive. Not sure if all my limbs are still attached, though."
"So, sorry. I got too absorbed in the acting and..."
Rodelin hung her head low.
Of course, getting absorbed in the acting played a part. But from what I saw...
‘It must be because I insulted her family.’
The remark about her crude swordsmanship.
It was a joke, but the consequences were as evident.
It was a revealing moment about what her family meant to Rodelin.
Click!
Our gazes turned towards the source of the sound.
The clown. He was looking at us, holding a camera.
"Kihihi! Friends should get along well. Cheese!"
Click!
This game, set in a medieval fantasy era, had cameras.
They operated on manastones, a kind of third-rate fantasy setup.
For reference, they looked exactly like Polaroid cameras.
Perhaps inspired by them, a photo came out with a 'zing' sound.
"We're not friends. We're senior and junior."
"Kihihi! A much cooler senior than I thought. But you're still close, right? Cheese!"
Click!
The clown pressed the shutter button again.
Three photos. He handed one to each of us.
"Hmph! What's this? It doesn't capture my beauty at all?"
But contrary to her words, Luna kept looking at the photo.
She seemed pleased with it.
"Hmm, I will cover the cost of repairing the stage with my own money."
"Kihihi! That's okay! The kids loved it."
Well, a play where the stage gets smashed must have been a first for them.
From the children's perspective, it must have felt like a 4D movie.
"Kihihi! Time to eat, right? You need to eat well to grow big and strong!"
"Hmm, I may not be a child, but that's sound advice. I'll gratefully eat."
Thus, we were able to have a late lunch.
* * *
Chomp chomp!
Luna and Rodelin's hands moved ceaselessly.
Both of them ate fiercely, as if they would even consume the bowls.
"Kihihi! Aren't you eating more?"
The clown, who appeared suddenly from somewhere, thrust his face forward.
Although startled, my expression remained unchanged.
It was the power of the [Mental Defense] skill.
"Kihihi! Didn't you enjoy it?"
"Keke, it was fun. Not as much as playing with children, though."
"Kihihi! That's true. Just watching children brings joy."
The clown approached me when Luna and Rodelin were preoccupied with their food.
I felt a strong sense of déjà vu.
It was as if someone had instructed this moment for a conversation.
‘Then I should play along.’
It was a good opportunity to turn a near-certain guess into certainty.
"Keke, do you have many children? You seem to like kids, so I assume you have a large family."
"Family..."
The clown muttered, his face turning serious, the smile gone.
My question seemed to have struck a chord.
"Did you say you're from Annwood Academy? In truth... my son was just like you guys."
"Keke, is that so? He must be a senior then."
"...If he were still alive."
The clown's voice was laced with emotion.
I couldn't, or rather, didn't say anything.
"Oh, don't worry. He must be alive somewhere. He's a smart kid, not the type to starve out there."
"So... he's missing?"
"That's right. One day, he just disappeared. Probably... got tired of me."
The clown's face changed indescribably.
Sadness, sorrow, a faint sense of relief. A mix of all these emotions.
The always smiling face of the clown with white-painted lips.
Maybe because it contrasted with his emotions, they felt even more intense.
"Probably... he wanted to cut ties with me. I'm just a childish adult who only likes kids."
"..."
"He must be living well somewhere. Better off, I suppose. He was too exceptional a child for me to keep."
The clown's gaze turned towards me.
I waited calmly until he spoke.
"It must be hard living with that appearance, right?"
"Well, it seems so."
"But hang in there. If you endure, someday..."
The clown didn't finish his sentence.
He didn't try to continue the conversation either.
‘It means the hidden piece is fully processed.’
Now to proceed as planned.
To have the conversation to get [Mimic].
"Keke, isn't it hard playing with children?"
"It is hard. Children have endless energy."
"But why do you keep doing this job?"
The clown gave balloons to children for free.
His income didn't seem substantial, yet he continued to be a clown.
His answer to my question was very simple.
"Because it makes the children laugh."
I already knew the answer.
I had heard it throughout the game, every time I played a new character.
It was always the same answer.
So, the answer I would give was also the same.
"That's right. My dream isn't much different."
"Keke! Do you dream of being a clown? How about learning under me?"
No, my dream is.
"A hero."
The clown jolted slightly and froze.
Then, he looked into my eyes, as if seeing someone else in me.
I quietly waited for him to speak again.
"...A hero?"
"Keke, that's right. Heroes protect and make children laugh. A childlike dream, right? Maybe one that will never come true."
"No, not at all."
The clown stood up abruptly and exclaimed.
"Kihihi! Cheer up! This clown will be rooting for you!"
"Keke, thank you."
"When things get tough, try following this pose!"
The clown struck a somewhat comical pose.
I mimicked his pose as well.
Simultaneously, a blue window appeared before my eyes.
[You have met a special condition.]
[You have acquired the 'Mimic' skill.]
[Mimic: F]
You can fairly closely imitate movements.
Finally, I had acquired it.
A prerequisite skill leading to the hidden piece.
Evolving into the skill [Divine Imitation].
* * *
About two hours later, as we continued to entertain the kids, the plaza began to be bathed in the glow of sunset.
The clown gestured and gathered us.
"You've worked hard today. You can go now! Kihihi!"
"Already?"
"Kihihi! You guys need time to play too. Go on, there's lots of fun stuff out there!"
Now that I had obtained the skill from him, there was no further business with the clown.
After exchanging farewells with the clown and moving a bit away, Rodelin spoke.
"Hmm, sorry but I must be going. I have duties to attend to."
"Keke, then I shall also rest..."
"We're going to play a bit more. You go ahead!"
"Understood, Miss Luna. Today was enjoyable. See you next time, Zero."
My wish to go back to the dorm and rest was not fulfilled.
Because Luna had caught hold of my neck.
"Um... Miss Luna?"
"Come on, smile. You're suspicious."
"...Kekeke."
You sound more suspicious, like some third-rate thug, right?
But to Rodelin, it must have seemed like playful banter between friends.
She smiled faintly as she gradually moved away.
And so Rodelin left.
"Miss Luna, has your dream changed to becoming a thug?"
"What are you talking about? We have some settling to do, just between us."
"Settling?"
"Questions. I listened to your request, so now you have to answer one of mine."
Right. I had almost forgotten.
The second main quest, 'Making Friends'.
But Luna was a deeply wounded, suspicious patient.
Becoming her friend was no easy task.
‘The deal was exactly for clearing Luna's doubts.’
Luna listened to my request, and I would answer her question.
I thought it was clever at the time, but now it seemed not so.
I gave away too much.
‘What if Luna asks about the culprit behind her family's downfall...’
I would lose a significant amount of the leverage I had over her.
She might even leave the academy, swallowed by her rage.
‘I could lie...’
But that should be avoided as much as possible.
If she ever realizes my words were lies, she would leave my side that very day.
Nothing is more fatal than a well-groomed character leaving the party.
So, if a tricky question comes, I must handle it carefully.
Avoid lies as much as possible and do not give vague answers.
Luna also needs to gain something from this.
That way, she'll continue to listen to my requests in the future.
"Keke, ask away."
Contrary to my casual response, I was extremely tense.
Luna, noticing my state, threw her question at me.
"Are you on my side?"
--TL Notes--
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