I’m Just an Ordinary Clown at the Academy

110 – Before the Disciplinary Committee Meeting

Before the Disciplinary Committee Meeting.

Lying on my exclusive pillow, I swallowed the snack that Johanna handed me and spoke.

“I’ll be gone for a moment. Please don’t run away like earlier, okay?”

Johanna didn’t seem to want to let me go, as she pressed her forehead against her knee.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll just go to the restroom for a moment. It won’t take more than 5 minutes.”

Fortunately, Johanna didn’t stop me from going to the restroom.

It pained me to lie to Johanna, but I had no choice.

I wanted to forget everything and just chat with Johanna.

With the determination to leave the bed like in the morning, I got off Johanna’s knee.

The moment I stood up, I wanted to lie down again, but I endured it with superhuman patience.

If it were someone else and not me, they wouldn’t have been able to escape.

Of course, there’s no reason for someone else to lie on Johanna’s knee except for me.

“Let’s finish as soon as possible and go back.”

If it takes too long, the disciplinary committee will start, and then Johann cannot kneel for long.

Of course, she kneels on Johann’s knees every morning, but that’s that and this is this.

When she lies down after training in the morning, it’s too difficult for her to chat.

Most of the time, she just nods or gives short answers to Johann’s questions.

I made sure there was no one around and took out the communication device I use every night.

But this time, it wasn’t Erica, who I talk to every night, that I was going to contact.

[What’s going on?]

The signal went through, and soon a voice came through, and I saw the Emperor’s face on the communication device.

“…………..”

I was surprised when I looked at the communication device.

It wasn’t surprising to see the Emperor now.

From the beginning, it would have been more surprising if someone else had answered instead of the Emperor.

The reason I was surprised was…

“Why are those people coming out here?”

It was because of the two people behind the Emperor.

The black-haired man, just like Clara and Joden, I saw him every day before entering the academy.

And the platinum-haired man, just like Johann, I saw him when I went to the Freya Duchy last time.

The Duke of Adelian and the Duke of Freya were staring at me through the communication device.

“Um… Are you busy right now?”

I froze for a moment as I looked at that combination.

Just by looking at the combination, it seemed like they were in the midst of discussing an important issue at the meeting.

[I’m looking for documents to pass on to Jaesang, but it’s not that busy of a task.]

While the emperor was speaking, flipping through the documents.

Duke Adellian leaned in through the communication device.

A rugged beard and a fierce face.

Looks like a bandit, but even looking like that, he’s one of the strongest wizards in the empire.

[Hey! How did I contact you? I can contact the emperor, not you. You didn’t contact me once!]

It was a loud enough sound to make my ears ring.

The emperor and Duke Freiya next to me seemed to hear it even louder, both covering their ears with their hands.

Duke Adellian is like a benefactor who helped me regain my sanity and taught me how to fight.

Contacting Duke Adellian may seem like a courtesy in a way…

“No, you need to have the communication device connected to contact.”

I got the communication device after enrolling in the academy.

[Oh, is that so? hahahahaha! I seem to have forgotten for a moment due to busy days!]

Duke Adellian scratched his head with a charming laughter.

[By the way, have you been sleeping well these days?]

If someone else said it, it might be considered changing the topic or just asking a casual greeting. But if it’s Duke Adellian who said it and I heard it, it’s a bit different.

He’s probably asking if I have nightmares without any clues.

“I sleep deeply every day. To the point where I don’t want to get out of bed in the morning.”

[Fortunately, that’s a relief. I’ll visit your home soon…]

The words of Duke Adellian were cut off before reaching the end, as someone firmly pressed against the communication device, pushing Duke Adellian’s face out of view.

“Step aside, I have something to say to that guy.”

In an instant, Duke Adellian’s face disappeared from the communication device, replaced by the face of Duke Freya.

“It’s been a while, Duke Freya.”

[Who’s talking about my father!]

“………..”

Without even uttering ‘father’…

Indeed, this person is not normal.

[What is our Johanna doing right now?]

Johanna is currently waiting for me, becoming my exclusive pillow.

If I tell the truth, Duke Freya might personally come to the academy and turn me into minced onions.

[How would that guy know? He’s a guy with a head covered in swords.]

[What did you just say?]

Suddenly, Duke Adellian and Duke Freya started quarreling.

The Emperor, whether fighting or not, was checking documents as if this situation were familiar to him.

[So, why did you contact me? It’s not just to ask about well-being.]

I quickly conveyed the events with the steward, the need to rest on Johanna’s lap for even a moment, and the upcoming disciplinary committee.

[Do you expect me to help you with the disciplinary committee?]

“No, I can handle the disciplinary committee myself. The problem is someone external interfering with the committee.”

Outside… mumbled the Emperor, tapping the desk before speaking after a moment of contemplation.

[Will you stay in the empire even after graduating from the academy?]

“Yes. There seems to be no better place to live than the empire.”

It was a sudden question, but the answer came out immediately.

All the connections I’ve built so far were within the empire. Except for occasional travels, I had no intention of living in another kingdom.

The Emperor spoke after lifting the corner of his mouth.

[Then, Loki, become Jim’s disciple.]

“Um… Aren’t I already a disciple?”

[To be precise, from now on, you are officially Jim’s disciple.]

I quickly grasped the meaning of the Emperor’s words.

If it became clear that I was the Emperor’s disciple, he couldn’t use his power to pressure me.

What I’m currently concerned about is the engagement with the Dallun family, sponsors of the academy, and one of them being Countess Ganelabra.

But if it’s revealed that I am the Emperor’s disciple, I wouldn’t need to worry about Countess Ganelabra anymore.

“How do you plan to reveal it?”

[Jim will go and tell…]

[No, wait! If it’s about that, can’t I do it instead of the Emperor? After all, I’m the one who originally taught you.]

“Just so you know, there’s a high possibility that Miss Clara will attend the disciplinary committee this time.”

[I’ll make an exception this time.]

Count Adellian and Emperor Freya responded promptly, leaving Adellian’s gaze bewildered.

“Just talk, have a conversation. Most family problems can be solved through dialogue, someone once said.”

In my opinion, it’s a problem that could be resolved quickly through conversation, but both Adelian Duke and Joden don’t talk.

[Sigh! hahahaha!]

The Emperor and Duke Freya laughed at Adelian Duke, who was scolded by me.

“It’s noisy. Do you understand the heart of a father with a daughter? It’s not the right time to speak yet, that’s why.”

“Why does it take more than 6 months to find the right timing? When I treated the Duke’s wife, I called Clara and had a conversation long ago. We wouldn’t have to drag it out like this.”

“I can’t hear you. I can’t hear you.”

Adelian Duke covered his ears and cast “I can’t hear you” spell.

It was creepy to see Adelian Duke, who looked like a bandit, behaving like that.

After that, I kept telling Adelian Duke to have a conversation with Clara, but he pretended not to hear me.

Duke Freya kept asking various things about Johannna, but the Emperor left and shouted for us to talk, so we cut off contact for now.

“It took longer than I thought.”

I checked the time and hurriedly ran.

I only planned to talk to the Emperor and leave, but the conversation got longer because of Adelian Duke and Duke Freya.

“It’s all because of Adelian Duke.”

He becomes timid when it comes to issues related to Clara, despite his large build.

Arriving at the door of the classroom where Johannna was, I took a deep breath and cautiously opened the door and went inside.

“…………….”

Johannna’s posture and position were exactly the same as when I left.

It was as if time had stopped after I left.

Johannna looked at me, who came late, and tapped her knee without saying a word.

I cautiously lay down on Johanna’s lap upon receiving that signal.

Johanna lowered her head and whispered in my ear.

“……. My knees hurt.”

“I’ll move right away!”

As my conscience began to crumble, I tried to get up in a hurry, but Johanna pressed my forehead and prevented me from doing so.

I was clearly pressing it gently with my fingers, but my head just wouldn’t move.

Johanna’s hand brushed against my neck.

I realized for the first time that I could feel both itchiness and coolness at the same time.

“Why did it take you so long to come back from the bathroom?”

“W-well… I wonder why I was late….”

“The student council president came by and said the disciplinary committee will be held in 10 minutes.”

Those words meant that Johanna didn’t have much time left.

“I… wanted to stay like this a little longer.”

My conscience pricked at me!

I quickly turned my head.

“After the disciplinary committee is over, we can do this again, right?”

“Really…?”

“Yes! Of course. I’ll finish the disciplinary committee quickly!”

Johanna finally seemed satisfied and removed her hand from my neck, then stroked my head again.

In my heart, I let out a long sigh of relief.

Sure, everything is resolved with this.

“… Will we be rolling around in our house a year from now…?”

Ah….