I’m Just an Ordinary Clown at the Academy

7 – Entrance Ceremony 5

The reason why I was able to slip through the crowd of students earlier and grab the mask.

[Shadow Step]

An item brought from my existing character along with a legendary-class space, it was also evaluated as the highest-level skill in the thief category within Croarker. However, the character I raised was a spearman, so I had no use for it.

Unlike the space that I could use immediately upon entering Croarker, I couldn’t use Shadow Step right away because the exact name of the item I brought was Shadow Step Skill Book.

“It’s really given as a book.”

In the game, unlike the simple click of a mouse to learn it, it was impossible to do so in reality. In the end, I had no choice but to open the book and learn it myself, doubting my own eyes.

[Pretend to move left and then move right. However, you must also exist on the left]

Written in a book so thick that it could be mistaken for hundreds of pages, there is only one sentence. At first, I thought it was utter nonsense.

But in order to learn, everything in the book was essential, so I eventually mimicked it with my body. I swiftly moved left and right as much as I could. However, it was impossible for me to exist on the left.

“In the end, it’s ridiculous that I succeeded.”

I got so frustrated that I pretended to go left, then went right, and finally created an illusion on the left, which led to success. Even then, I was astounded by my success.

After succeeding once, I was able to use the Shadow Step without needing to use an illusion separately.

“I never thought I’d need an illusion for the Shadow Step after that.”

Thunk! Thunk!

The golems were pounding toward my clone, but not a single blow landed.

“Is it really possible to move like that?”

“No one moves like that even in Isar’s Insufficiency.”

“And there’s no one like that in the East either.”

“Moreover, with 10 people moving like that, it’s understandable that the golems can’t hit them.”

To put into words what I’m doing right now is simple.

Nine clones, including myself, execute the Shadow Step.

It’s simple to describe, but for me, doing it felt like I might die for two reasons.

First, it consumes too much mana. Maintaining nine clones continuously depletes my mana rapidly.

Second, it’s so, so painful.

“I feel like I’m losing my mind!”

I move, thinking about every step of each clone. Since the golems shouldn’t notice who the real one is, everyone moved naturally. Handling nine clones like that made me feel like my head was going to explode.

Nevertheless, I spoke toward the inanimate golems. I didn’t know at first, but I could also produce sound with illusions.

“Golem, who is the real one?”

Boom! Bang!

My doppelgänger and I spun around the golems. I made sure to avoid the golem’s attacks so as not to reveal the illusion.

“I am the real one.”

“No, I am the real one.”

“What are you all saying? Obviously, I am the real one!”

“I am not the real one.”

“What am I…?”

If I were a woman, having ten handsome men say that to me would have been a dream come true, but unfortunately, the golems couldn’t understand my words.

Boom!

“Even when you see my handsome face, there’s no response, so you must not be a lady.”

As soon as the golem showed a gap, I rushed over and stabbed it with my staff.

“I am the real one.”

I didn’t forget to blend into my doppelgänger right after stabbing. It was my own doing, but it was truly pathetic.

“I was the one who just stabbed you.”

“What! Are you trying to steal my magic? I can still feel it on my staff!”

“The two handsome ones over there attacked the golem.”

Despite my non-stop chatter, my mind was calculating. The distance between me and the golem, between the golem and Lucas, Clara.

If I got too close to the golem, I would be attacked, but if I stayed too far, the golem would ignore me and go to Lucas and Clara.

So, I continued to circle around the golem, maintaining that subtle distance. The two golems kept swinging their fists, but neither my doppelgänger nor I were slow enough to be hit by their attacks.

“Do you think I would be able to withstand this level of attack?”

“Well, you seem to be good at avoiding lies as well as attacks from good-looking people.”

“hahahaha, thank you. You’re handsome too, just as much as me.”

“I am-“

In order to manage my mana properly, I reduced my clone by about half. With the decreased clone, the golem was able to attack more comfortably, and I had to concentrate more to avoid damage.

Bam!

My focus was disrupted as one of my clones was hit by the golem’s attack. If that hadn’t been a clone but me, it would have been the end. Now I had three clones left. It was risky with just three, but it was enough.

“In the meantime, many good-looking people have disappeared.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the remaining three clones rushed towards the golem. In the meantime, I ran to the position to fulfill my plan.

The golem eliminated all of my remaining clones, but it didn’t matter. I had already arrived at the location I desired. The two golems, having killed all of my clones, looked at me.

“hahahaha. Looks like I’ve been exposed, I’m the real one.”

The two golems rushed towards me, but I was faster at grabbing something invisible in the air than the golem reaching me.

In my hand, there was an invisible thread that would be impossible to see even though it was right in front of them. While running alongside the golems, I had set up the thread on the ground. As I pulled the thread connected to my finger, the thread tightly bound the golem’s body.

The thread was a product of the spider monster called Kezard, and I had processed it with my characteristic touch as a creator.

The golem tried to tear off the bound thread somehow, but the thread didn’t break easily.

“You won’t be able to untie that easily, will you?”

I had put the processed thread in my pocket dimension. And the thread that was put in the pocket dimension became even more transparent and resilient.

This was the first ability of a mythical-level pocket dimension: enhancement of items in the pocket dimension.

In my heart, I wanted to deal with the bound golem myself, but I didn’t have such means of attack, and the thread wouldn’t last long either.

“Unfortunately, I’m not the protagonist of this stage.”

I looked at the place where Lucas and Clara were while saying those words.

There, Clara, who had finished her performance, and Lucas, who had finished his preparations, were present.

Chilling magical power was emanating from Clara’s staff, and a sacred golden aura gathered around Lucas’ spear.

“You were amazing, Loki.”

“Even if I didn’t know the spell earlier, I’ll admit it this time. Without you, we wouldn’t have been able to defeat the golem.”

After saying that, Clara threw her magical power from her staff towards the golem, and Lucas also hurled his spear at the golem.

Naturally, the bound golem couldn’t evade that attack.

Kwaaah!!!!

With an immense sound, the golem disappeared without leaving a trace.

.

.

.

In the situation room where the Academy professors were gathered.

The professors were in an extreme state of excitement.

“We actually captured that thing.”

“Is this year’s class extraordinary, or are those three extraordinary?”

“Did you see the magic written by student Clara? Is that the magic taught by the legendary master?”

“What about student Lucas’ throw? That golden aura must be the power that only the noble descendants possess, right?”

Without realizing it, they started referring to Lucas and Clara as students.

“Student Loki is… a user of unique magic, right?”

The bustling professors fell silent at the words spoken by Professor Han.

Everyone knew how mysterious “Innate Magic” was. Unlike general magic, it was absolutely impossible to teach.

Innate Magic is not acquired, but born with. There is still much unknown about it. Some innate magic was utterly useless, while some could change the course of wars.

That’s why Innate Magic was still a subject of research, and the professors couldn’t afford to miss the opportunity for research. And Professor Hydra, who had been taking pictures of Loki for a while, was not pleased with the situation.

“Please don’t stare at my student. Loki is my student!”

“Oh, come on, your student, Professor Hydra. Isn’t he everyone’s student?”

“Only call me ‘Professor’ at times like this, really!”

The club representatives considered overlooking Loki upon hearing that he was an innate magic user, but they gave up because they didn’t have the confidence to beat the Student Council President and the Head of Discipline.

In reality, Joden Adelian and Johanna Freya were glaring at each other in hostility.

“Well, then, I have something to attend to, so I’ll go first.”

The principal left the situation room and walked to his office.

Then, he took out a communication device from the drawer and made a call.

Beep-beep.

It took a while to connect, given the status of the recipient.

“For the glory of the Empire, Your Majesty, I bow.”

[Isn’t this the principal, Your Excellency?]

A man appeared on the communication device, with the same blond hair and eyes as Lucas. However, the aura of dominance felt even through the communication device made it impossible to compare with Lucas.

“Please lower your words, Your Majesty.”

[Back in the days when I attended the academy, I often got scolded by the principal. How could you say that?]

“Those were the good old days.”

[So, what brings you to contact me?]

“Your Majesty, considering your busy schedule, I’ll get straight to the point. Is there an individual named Loki among your disciples?”