I’m Just an Ordinary Clown at the Academy

17 – Elysia

Meanwhile, the worried Loki asked Johanna, “So, did you really get punished on the first day just for oversleeping?”

“Well, if I were to summarize it simply, yes.”

Kneeling before Professor Elysia, Loki raised his hand and was being scolded.

After parting ways with Johanna, I walked through the academy corridor to get to the special class. There weren’t many students in the corridor, probably because it was almost time for classes to start.

Is it because I’m walking alone in a corridor with few people? A poem came to mind.

“I am a clown. A handsome clown.

我是個小丑。英俊的小丑。

I am a clown. I can even write poetry.

我是個小丑。能做詩的小丑。

I am a clown. A strong clown.

我是個小丑。強壯的小丑。

Today, I effortlessly teased a woman again.

今天又輕易地戲弄了一個女人。

How can I handle this shining appearance?

光輝的外表該如何處理？

I am a clown. A handsome clown.

我是個小丑。英俊的小丑。

The title is… Hm, I think ‘A Handsome Clown’ would be nice.”

“What’s wrong with that crazy guy?”

“Do you know who he is? He’s the one from the entrance ceremony.”

“Are you really pretending not to know? I mean, what was he doing in the hallway?”

Only a few students in the hallway could hear my poem, and they murmured in response.

Although I couldn’t hear their conversation from a distance, it was probably because of my handsome face or the mellifluous poem.

“Next time, I should write a poem not just about a handsome clown, but a handsome clown who also writes good poems.”

It’s just a courtesy to those who have become fans of my poetry.

As I pondered about the next poem, I found myself standing near the stairs.

At the academy, the 1st-year students use the 1st floor, the 2nd-year students use the 2nd floor, and the 3rd-year students use the 3rd floor.

The reason I, a 1st-year student, had come to the stairs was that the special class was not on the 1st floor but located underground.

If the 1st floor was bright because of the sunlight coming through the luxurious windows, the underground was the opposite.

In a place with no windows, the light was scarce, and the dim, old light bulbs on the ceiling were the only source. They were so old that they flickered and didn’t function properly.

“It’s like a horror movie.”

My voice echoed through the wide hallway.

As far as I knew, the underground was originally used as a storage room. The one who suggested using the underground, which was only used as a storage room, for the special class was the homeroom teacher of the special class, Elysia.

I know why Elysia made the special class underground.

The place where my steps halted was the darkest corner even in the dark underground. It looked worn on the outside, but the sign sparkled as if it were new.

[Special Class]

Without hesitation, I forcefully opened the classroom door and exclaimed, “Good morning, everyone!”

The classroom was remarkably spacious and clean, in stark contrast to its worn exterior. There were no signs of previous use on the desks and chairs.

As I greeted them with a shout, everyone in the classroom turned to look at me. Though, to be fair, there were barely ten people in total.

I scanned the students in my class. Almost everyone was present, except for Lucas. Where could he be?

I approached Kurane Isaru first.

“Kuran-san, how was the inn I recommended?”

Kuran grinned as if satisfied and replied casually, “It was great! There were impressive warriors there.”

“Ah, that’s a relief.”

The inn I suggested to Kurane, known for frogs that devour snakes, was so well-suited for him that even in Croatia, he spoke highly of it.

Perhaps due to its low cost, mercenaries frequented the inn. Given the characteristics of mercenaries and Kurane’s personality, conflicts were bound to arise.

But that would only make Kurane stronger. That’s why I recommended that inn to him.

Even if I became stronger on my own, to achieve the ending I desired, the entire special class needed to become stronger.

After a brief chat with Kurane, I exchanged a few words with other students.

“May the blessing of the gods be with you.”

“Let’s visit a temple together sometime.”

A bald priest, similar in build to Kurane Isaru.

“Your movements were excellent, Guild Leader.”

“Yours were equally impressive.”

A detective from the East, where everything had now fallen.

This time, I struck up a conversation with Sepia Libaiden, with her striking pink hair.

“Hello, Sepia!”

Sepia extended her hand as if she had been waiting for me to speak. Is she asking me to hold her hand?

“Sepia, I don’t think we’re at that level of familiarity yet. I’m sorry.”

Upon hearing my words, Sepia’s face turned red as she shouted, “What nonsense! Take this thread back!”

The thread I had given her before was still in the hand she had extended to me.

“This thread is too valuable for me to accept for free.”

It seems she has realized the value of the thread I gave her during the week. Being from the merchant family of the Ryvaiden household, it wouldn’t have been difficult for her to ascertain the value of my thread.

“The owner of this thread is already Sepia. I’ll take my leave then, as there is someone I need to greet.”

“Hey! Hey!”

Ignoring Sepia’s calls, I approached Clara.

“Clara, did you fare well at Matop?”

“·······.”

Clara lightly ignored my words and turned her head the other way. Does she still not know much about me?

With a louder voice than when I greeted her just now, I said, “Did you fare well?”

Clara, perhaps knowing that I wouldn’t give up, let out a deep sigh and said, “I fared well at Matop, but I don’t think I’ll fare well here.”

“Is it because of my handsome face that you’re feeling flustered?”

“It’s for a completely different reason, but half of it is because of you.”

I didn’t mention the other half, but I could tell. It was probably because of the old underground.

It was natural for Clara, born as a noble, to dislike such a dirty underground. But the other students, excluding Clara, seemed to be fine with half of them being underground.

“So, is that what’s bothering you?”

If everyone didn’t like it, they could have collectively complained, but if it was only uncomfortable for herself, speaking up seemed a little awkward.

I offered words of comfort to Clara, who sighed.

“Clara, cheer up after looking at my handsome face!”

As I said that, Clara stared at my face as if she could see through it.

It’s really embarrassing to be stared at like that.

“I’ve been thinking since last time, am I really handsome? If I am, then at least take off your mask.”

“By the way, where did Lucas go?”

Ignoring my intentional diversion, Clara, knowing that I wouldn’t show him, briefly answered and turned her head.

“I don’t know.”

As the saying goes, “Even a tiger will come when called,” the classroom door opened and Lucas came in.

I approached Lucas and greeted him.

“Hello, Lucas. It’s been a while.”

“Rocky!”

Lucas, upon seeing me, seemed surprised and raised his voice. It didn’t feel good for a man to react like that upon seeing my handsome face.

Perhaps realizing that he was too excited, Lucas cleared his throat and whispered softly.

“Ahem. Received teachings from Her Highness in the palace?”

“Yes. Did you hear it from the princess?”

“Right, I was so surprised to hear that. I never imagined you’d receive teachings from the princess.”

“I didn’t know I’d end up learning, too.”

“Oh, right. Now that I think about it, Erika asked me to pass this on to you.”

Without further ado, Lucas took something out of his pocket.

What’s this? Did Erika ask him to give me something?

What Lucas handed me was a communication device.

“Isn’t this a communication device? Why are you giving this to me?”

“I don’t really know either. Erika asked me to pass it on to you.”

Come to think of it, when I said goodbye to Erika last time, she mentioned connecting the communication devices.

By connecting the devices, we could stay in touch with each other.

Of course, I didn’t have a communication device, so I said I couldn’t connect.

Could it be that she just gave me the device as a gift because of that?

“This communication device is connected to the princess and Erika’s. I connected it to mine on the way here.”

I’m probably the only one receiving a communication device connected to the communication devices of the royal family. It’s a little overwhelming…

“I’ll gratefully accept it!”

Yeah right. I had to buy a communication device anyway, so getting it for free like this was really great.

“Is that why you’re so late?”

“It’s not because of this, but on the way here, I bumped into a student and had a little chat.”

“Was the person you bumped into a girl, by any chance?”

“Well, yeah, but…”

“Huh?”

Lucas, as if knowing what I was thinking, snapped his fingers.

“It’s not what you’re thinking.”

“Oh~ Are you denying knowing what I’m thinking?”

“It’s not whatever you’re thinking.”

“Was she pretty?”

Lucas fell silent for a moment. It was clear he was thinking about the girl he collided with.

“…Yeah, she was pretty.”

“Oh. This might already be a sign that there will be communication issues with Her Majesty and the Princess.”

“Not really, did you hear about that?”

“Clearly, you’re trying to change the subject, but I’ll let it slide this time.”

“Ugh, thanks. I heard on the way here that a new student already got demerits.”

Already?

“From the beginning? How did they manage to get demerits so soon?”

“I guess they were late on the first day.”

That’s me.

“Late on the first day? That’s quite irresponsible.”

“That’s what I said. I wonder who it is.”

After that, Lucas and I continued discussing the ‘someone’ who was late from the first day.

Suddenly, the front door opened, revealing a woman with ash-colored hair.

Professor Elysia was in charge of the special class.

Professor Elysia walked up to the podium.

Everyone in the class turned their attention to Professor Elysia.

“I originally planned to start with introductions, but it seems we already have a student in our class who has earned demerits.”

As Professor Elysia spoke, Lucas whispered in my ear.

“It seems that tardy student is in our class.”

So, who could it be?

“Rocky, come forward.”

“Yes!”