The Freak Show of the Circus (8)
It was already ten in the morning by the time I woke up in the inn after pulling an all-nighter.
“Shit, I’m screwed.”
I had to be at the circus by one, yet here I was, waking up at ten. Franc couldn’t exactly leap out of bed after only three or four hours of sleep either, so we scrambled to change our clothes in a hurry.
“We won’t make it to see Lalirula. What if she’s waiting for us?” Franc asked while fastening her bra. Those poor, pitifully compressed breasts! I felt a profound sorrow for Franc’s abused chest.
“We can stop by on the way and let her know.”
“Oh, that works.” Franc nodded.
The venue for the circus and the inn where Lalirula was staying weren’t far apart. Even if we took ten or twenty minutes to go back and forth, we wouldn’t be late. We finished dressing and set off.
We were hungry, but if we took our time eating, we might lose the good seats. So we decided to have a late lunch after the circus ended.
—Clink, clink.
The scabbard at my waist rattled. I’d considered wearing full armor like a proper adventurer but settled on just carrying a sword at my hip.
‘It’s a lunchtime circus performance. The audience must be fairly well-off.’
Lunchtime during harvest season was usually the busiest part of the day. The fact that they were holding a show at one in the afternoon meant their target demographic was completely different from the Plangunkula Circus.
There were no nobles in this remote area except for the lord himself. I’d forgotten the name of that other circus troupe, but their target audience was probably wealthy merchants, adventurers, or idle rich folks with more money and time than they knew what to do with.
That was why going in full battle gear felt wrong. Wearing armor here would be like showing up to an event where everyone else was in suits while dressed in a full frog-themed military uniform. The wrong dress code invited ridicule.
So I went with neat clothes and just my weapon.
—Buzz, buzz.
We headed to the inn where the Plangunkula Circus was staying, right on schedule. The morning promotional performance must have ended, because the crowd had scattered. In the park, only Lalirula and her marionette remained.
The moment Lalirula saw us, she struck a funky pose.
“Ah☆! It’s the lovey-dovey couple over there! Could it be, could it be that you’ve become fans of this humble performer♡?”
“Yeah. Your students are here. We overslept and just woke up.”
“Is that so! My hair was a mess, so I didn’t recognize you☆!”
Lalirula smiled brightly while making a V-sign with her fingers near her eyes. Something about that smile felt off to me.
“Hey. Did something happen to you?”
“Pardon?”
—Freeze!
At my question, Lalirula’s smile twitched. She recovered quickly, but a shadow had flickered across her face for a brief moment. Even to me, that last smile had looked forced.
“N-no, nothing~? Goodness, really★! A first-class clown must always bring smiles to the audience☆!”
“I see.”
I let Lalirula’s obvious act slide. She flinched, realizing I’d noticed. Finally, she let out a small sigh and confessed.
“It’s not a big deal, but… Erika didn’t come today.”
“Ah, now that you mention it.”
Erika had been the girl who hid behind a tree and avoided us the first time we met. I’d assumed she was doing the same today, but no matter how I searched for any sign of her, it was just the three of us.
“It’s that time of year, after all. I got a little worried, and this Lalirula almost messed up during a performance for the first time in three years.”
“Hmm. I’m sure it’s nothing. She probably just couldn’t make it today because something came up.”
Franc spoke encouragingly. It might have sounded like baseless optimism, but there was actually a reason behind her words. On our way back yesterday at dawn, we’d stopped by the orphanage and heard from the cats’ Big Daddy that no one had left the orphanage all night. Having seen Erika beyond the wall ourselves, we knew that wasn’t a lie.
‘The reason she didn’t come today… did the director catch her?’
Maybe she’d been caught and scolded, or perhaps she’d decided to skip today to avoid getting caught. After all, even kidnappers wouldn’t be reckless enough to snatch a child between six and ten in the morning.
“I think so too, but…”
Lalirula muttered, then suddenly started headbanging left and right. What the hell? Had she fallen off the tightrope and gotten possessed by the spirit of a clown?
“Ahaha☆! I got depressed again without realizing it! Then let’s start today’s training right away♡!”
“Ah, sorry. We actually have plans today. That’s why we came—to tell you that.”
“Whaaat?!”
—Boom!
Lalirula looked as shocked as if lightning had struck behind her head. Why was she so surprised?
“W-what?! Why is this adorable, lovable, universally beloved beautiful girl being left all alone the moment the show ends?! Yesterday we had such a lively, happy☆ after-show, so why are you turning me into an outcast in just one day?! Is it work?! You all think work is more important than me?! Hmph!”
“It is work, actually. We’re going to see a circus today. You know, the one that performed for the lord—the Creamsauce or whatever it’s called.”
“A different!!! Circus!!!”
Lalirula clutched her chest as if she’d been shot by an arrow, tears welling in her eyes.
“That’s cheating! It’s an affair! Adultery! Cheating! Was our time together just a game to you?! Were you planning to toss me aside the moment you found a better woman?!”
“What the fuck?”
She’d just stabbed me straight in the solar plexus with dialogue straight out of a bad ending route from some harem visual novel. I nearly went into a seizure, but my adultery resistance—honed by years of watching afternoon drama reruns—kept me sane.
“Tsk. It’s just for a little while. Why are you being so clingy? It’s a bit pathetic to act like this after only half a day apart.”
“You’re so mean! My heart’s been scratched! The Chrysos Circus has been pretending not to care while secretly viewing us as rivals ever since our Romania days! This is betrayal!!”
Having thrown away all shame, Lalirula latched onto my leg and whined.
“Don’t go! I can do better than them! The Chrysos Circus is waaay worse than us! I’ve never seen them, but still!”
“Hey!!!!!! Have you no shame at all!!!!!!! How dare you judge others when you’ve never even seen them with your own eyes!!!!!!!!”
“But!! Whenever I try to get in, they spot me like ghosts and kick me out at the entrance!! Even if I want to watch, I can’t!!”
—Whoosh, whoosh!
I shook my leg, but Lalirula refused to let go. This girl was holding on with pure arm and leg strength alone. Her acrobatic skill at barely avoiding chest contact while clinging to me was truly worthy of a circus ace.
But she couldn’t go even though she wanted to?
“Isn’t it because you walk around looking like that? If you wipe off your makeup and wear a hood, what’s stopping you from getting in?”
“I don’t know! I want to watch too, you know! If you’re going, take me with you! Then I’ll forgive you even if you cheat on me!”
“I’ve never cheated on anyone.”
Still, if they were rivals, it made sense that she’d be bothered. It’d be like Samsung executives loitering in front of Apple headquarters—security guards armed with bats would come running to become secret friends.
“Hey. Lalirula.”
Having thought that far, I smiled down at the girl still clinging to my leg.
“Do you have anything to do if you stay behind?”
The rune’s effect blurred our faces and clothing in the minds of observers, making us difficult to identify.
***
The Chrysos Circus’s performance venue was right in the middle of the city. While Lalirula’s troupe had performed at the colosseum, this one had a completely different atmosphere. They’d rented an entire section of the city and set up tents to create an amusement park vibe, all with the lord’s permission.
“Admission is ten coppers!”
The insane pricing really screamed amusement park. In this isekai world, a one-day pass to A1Meland cost a measly hundred thousand won! Wow! These bastards would probably try to sell unlimited plans to parents too!
“W-we’re in! We actually got in♡!”
Lalirula, wearing a frilly pink robe, bounced around excitedly. Even with the black-and-white mask covering her face, her high energy remained unchanged.
“Oh my goodness! I can’t believe I didn’t get kicked out at the entrance with them saying ‘Someone like you would cause problems’! Can I shed a few tears of joy right now?!”
Having slipped past the guards thanks to my rune’s Impression Camouflage effect, Lalirula looked overjoyed. I spoke to her gently.
“The kid who keeps whining isn’t one of ours. Luri lives here. Mom’s going home.”
“Ah! Could you please not call me by a nickname so casually? What is this? Are you trying to use this opportunity to close the distance between us with a sudden ‘shoot’ and fall-in-love maneuver? What do you think, big sister Franc?”
“Hehe. I fell for that one too.”
“Kyaa♡! So romantic♥!”
I had no idea what went on in girls’ heads. I understood even less when it came to isekai girls. So I gave up thinking about it and said,
“Let’s go. There’s less than forty minutes until the circus show starts.”
The main show of this circus troupe would begin inside the large tent at the center of this isekai A1Meland.
—Dash!
We hurried over. There were plenty of laid-back isekai NEETs milling about, but it wasn’t so crowded that we couldn’t find space. If it got that bad, we’d just form a triple Bremen musicians stack with Lalirula-me-Franc. Bring it on.
Flap—.
When we opened the tent flap and stepped inside, the space was designed with the exact feeling of ‘Ah lol, this is what a circus is lol.’ Chairs were packed tightly in a 360-degree circle around what looked like a large auditorium that might be used for a university or high school festival.
“Thank goodness. There are still quite a few seats left.”
Franc spoke quietly, matching the dim atmosphere inside. As she said, even though it was the first day, about thirty percent of the seats were empty. Well, not many people would pay the equivalent of a hundred thousand won to play during working hours. It was more impressive that this many had shown up.
—Thump.
We sat down in the seats closest to the performance area.
“Here, some simple refreshments.”
A man approached and handed us a paper bag. I quickly scanned him with my eyes before accepting it. Inside were biscuits. I folded the top of the bag and set it beside my seat.
“Ahaha! I’m so excited♡ Even someone who’s walked the circus path for ten years like me has never watched a show from the audience’s perspective☆!”
“Keep it down. People might hear you.”
Impression Camouflage didn’t hide the content of our words. If the staff heard that, they might forcibly kick us out. Though since Lalirula had paid for her own ticket, I wouldn’t be the one losing money.
—Toot-toot-toot-toot-toot!!
While Lalirula and I were chatting, it seemed time had come. A member of the circus troupe blew a flute on the central stage.
—Boom! Boom!
Accompanied by the grand sound of the flute, various animals appeared. Elephants were standard, along with rhinos, lions, tigers, and bears! Leading them all was a middle-aged man riding on a tiger’s back. His clothes were neat despite the ridiculous hat, making it obvious at a glance that he was someone important.
“Greetings, ladies and gentlemen who have come to this place!”
As was common in other circuses, it seemed the ringmaster himself was hosting the show.
“I am the man who runs Romania’s greatest circus troupe! I am Roman Taylor! Just as some of you recognize me, I see several familiar faces among the audience as well!”
As Roman Taylor spoke, he glanced toward one side of the seating area. In seats separated from the rest like a VIP section sat a plump woman accompanied by guards. She was probably Heisvent’s top merchant or something similar.
“Today, we present the show of our Chrysos Circus troupe that even the honorable ruler of Heisvent, Earl Hasevent, enjoyed──”
Roman kept droning on. Sensing a long-winded speech coming, I took out my pocket watch. It was too dark to see clearly, but it was still before one in the afternoon.
‘He’s trying to build up the atmosphere before the show starts.’
It was a common tactic even in the 21st century. I put the pocket watch back in my pocket and let Roman’s words go in one ear and out the other.
—Squeeze.
At that moment, Franc grabbed my hand from the side. When our eyes met, she smiled brightly. Damn, I’d finally achieved the ‘holding hands and being lovey-dovey at the movie theater’ milestone that symbolized true social success. I was deeply moved.
“──Then let’s put this rather lengthy introduction aside and begin the show!”
At Roman’s cue, four lions gathered at the center of the stage. Once the other animals exited, the lions climbed onto narrow platforms and stood rigidly, looking tense.
—Flash!
Magical lanterns hanging from the tent ceiling lit up. As the interior brightened, the animals closed their eyes as if dazzled.
“An astonishing beast show that can only be enjoyed at the Chrysos Circus! Please enjoy!”
Roman set off fireworks and returned to the performers’ entrance. From there, the show began in earnest.
“Grrrr!!”
“Grr! Roar! Grr!”
They made the lions sing, had a tiger jump through rings of fire, and even had horses passing a ball back and forth in a rally.
“Hya!!”
—Crack!
The one leading the stage was a man who appeared to be an animal trainer. He directed bears dancing while spinning rings, judged a tug-of-war between elephants, and the show continued for about an hour.
“Ahahaha! Hahaha!”
“Ooooh!! Not bad, not bad at all☆!! But if it’s only this much, we’re still better…!!”
Franc and Lalirula each seemed to be enjoying themselves in their own way as they watched comical monkeys racing while holding apples. The overall atmosphere in the audience seats was bright.
At least until the next act began.
“And with that, the show featuring rare beasts gathered from all over the world comes to an end!”
Once the monkeys’ drumming ended, Roman reappeared and announced. The lively mood in the seats dropped at his words, but Roman spread his arms as if he had been waiting for exactly that reaction.
“However, the main show performed by humans begins now! The finale of a circus must always be joyful!”
The middle-aged man with a bright smile pointed toward the entrance the animals had used.
“Allow me to introduce! The man with two faces──!! The one and only cursed man in the world!!! Spy── Cr!! Old Lion──!!!”
The lanterns in the tent went out, and a gloomy spotlight-like beam illuminated the entrance.
—Thud. Thud.
A man walked onto the stage with strange footsteps.
“What?!”
“Huuuh…”
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
The audience screamed at the man’s appearance. His look was that shocking.
“……Ugh.”
The hand holding mine tightened. Franc covered her mouth and stared at the stage in horror. The man standing on stage had two heads.
““Greetings!!””
Conjoined twins. That was what they were called—deformed twins. He wore an oversized circus troupe outfit, but because he was much wider than a normal person, I could easily imagine what was inside those clothes.
““We offer our gratitude to Director Taylor, who saved people like us with nowhere else to go! We shall now begin!!””
The two men with identical faces twisted their lips into grotesque smiles.
““The freak show of the cursed! Please enjoy!!””