Chapter 112: Special Training 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 112: Special Training 2
"It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you in person, Clown."
Yerika spoke with a smile so radiant it could make even a priest who had meditated for decades lose his mind.
"............"
I realized for the first time that when a person is truly flustered, they lose the ability to speak. I had so much I wanted to say, but the words died in my throat, vanishing before they could even form a sentence.
Since the Emperor’s Shadow had summoned me and the Emperor himself was currently at the Academy, I had naturally assumed it was the Emperor who wanted to see me.
But the person waiting in the classroom wasn't the Emperor; it was Yerika.
"Hehe. Are you surprised because I’m even prettier in the flesh?"
Even though I was wearing a mask, Yerika seemed to notice my confusion instantly. With a mischievous giggle, she took one step after another, slowly closing the distance between us.
Watching her, a small chuckle escaped my lips.
She definitely wasn't like this when we first met.
At some point, Yerika had started showing a brazen side of herself, much like me. Not that I disliked it. Unlike the other people I’d grown close to, Yerika didn't appear much in the game, so I didn't know much about her until we actually became friends.
But because of that, every new side of her felt refreshing.
Come to think of it, Johanna has changed subtly at some point, too.
Like the cold gaze she sometimes gives me, or the way her chilly hand brushes against my neck.
"Clown? Am I not pretty?"
Before I knew it, Yerika had stepped right up to my nose, tilting her head as she looked up at me.
"Of course not. You are so beautiful that I momentarily forgot how to speak. When I first walked in, I thought a goddess had descended upon the Academy and almost dropped to my knees."
"Ahem! Well, I suppose I am that pretty."
If a priest had been nearby, they would have been fuming at the blasphemy. But Yerika and I didn't care about that as we continued our shameless banter.
"Honestly, aren't I prettier than the Goddess? I never really understood what people saw in her anyway."
Suddenly, Yerika began badmouthing the Goddess like a villainess gossiping about a rival. I could tell instantly that she was acting. To begin with, the role of a villainess didn't suit Yerika at all, making every line sound incredibly awkward.
"I’ve secretly thought the same for a long time. Should the two of us just start our own religion while we’re at it?"
I played along with her act, rubbing my hands together like a sniveling sycophant.
"Hehe, then you’ll be my first follower, right?"
"Are you making me the Pope? I didn't expect to climb the social ladder like this."
"Not quite. Well, if you follow my orders well, I might consider making you the Pope."
If the real Pope saw this, he’d probably collapse from high blood pressure. But as I said, it was just the two of us in the room.
"Just give the word. If I can become the Pope... no, if I can be of service to my Goddess, I would jump into a pit of fire!"
"Khmm! Then come over here and massage my shoulders. I’ll specially allow you to touch them."
"Yes, Goddess! I shall consider it the honor of a lifetime!"
And so, our bizarre little play continued.
The cast: Yerika and me.
The audience: Yerika and me.
The script: Entirely ad-libbed.
The title: The Religious War of the Villainous Princess and the Sycophantic Clown.
Since I even used the title "Goddess," surely the Holy Kingdom wouldn't complain, right?
Just as the new religion Yerika and I founded had half-demolished the existing one—
""Pfft!""
Unable to hold it in any longer, we both burst into laughter at the same time. For a while, only the sound of our laughter filled the empty classroom.
"By the way, Princess?"
After laughing for a good while, I was the first to speak.
"............"
Yerika didn't answer. Instead, she puffed out her cheeks and turned her head away, making it blatantly obvious that she was sulking.
Of course, I knew exactly what I’d done wrong. It was because I called her "Princess" instead of "Yerika."
It was true that I’d become more accustomed to calling her Yerika than Princess, but seeing her in person made the old title slip out unconsciously.
"Yerika."
"Yes! Clown!"
Her voice was bright and clear, as if her sulking from a moment ago had been a lie.
"Clown, why don't you just start speaking casually to me now?"
"Ahaha, I’m still more comfortable with this for now."
"I’ll let it slide this time. But! One day, I’m definitely going to make you speak casually to me."
I chuckled at her strange determination before asking the question that had been on my mind since I first saw her.
"But Yerika, why are you wearing our school uniform?"
Yerika was currently dressed in the Croa Academy uniform. It looked so natural on her that I’d momentarily forgotten to ask.
"How is it? Does it suit me?"
Yerika spun around gracefully, then lightly lifted the edges of her skirt as if curtsying at a ball.
"Aaaaaagh!"
For the sake of the best reaction, I clutched my eyes and collapsed, pretending to be in agony like someone who had stared directly at the sun.
"It’s too bright! I can’t see!"
Yerika’s giggles echoed through the classroom.
"I didn't really have much desire to attend the Academy originally."
"Is that so?"
"Brother Lucas is the one who’s going to become Emperor anyway, and it’s not like I have a burning desire to become strong, right?"
When we spoke through the communication device last time, Yerika had mentioned she would be enrolling in the Academy next year.
"But I thought the Academy might be fun if you were there, so I decided to attend after all."
I thought the same—that things would be much more interesting with Yerika around.
"I’ll make sure you have the best two years of your life, Yerika."
Since I wouldn't have much to do in my second year anyway, enjoying a normal academy life wouldn't be so bad.
"I appreciate that, but... why two years? The Academy goes up to the third year."
"When you become a third-year, won't I have already graduated and left?"
Hearing my words, Yerika hummed and stroked her chin, falling into deep thought. Then, as if a brilliant idea had struck her, she let out a small "Ah!"
The solution Yerika came up with after much deliberation was:
"Clown, do you want to fail a grade?"
"Pfft!"
"Don't laugh! I thought about this very seriously!"
She told me not to laugh, but anyone would have. To think the solution she came up with was repeating a year.
"That’s a bit difficult... Excuse me for a moment."
I asked for Yerika’s understanding and used an illusion to hide both her and myself. I had sensed someone approaching.
"Clown? Is something wrong—"
"Shh."
I put my index finger to my lips. Fortunately, Yerika stayed quiet. A few moments later—
Click.
The door opened, and someone walked in.
"I’m sure I heard something in here."
"You must have misheard. This is a classroom that isn't in use."
The people who entered were a boy and a girl in Academy uniforms. From the atmosphere and the way they were holding hands, it was easy to deduce they were a couple. Seeing the whip in the girl's hand, it seemed they had just come from training.
A whip, huh? That’s a unique weapon.
Despite supposedly having trained, neither of them was sweating. They probably hadn't come from training, but had stopped by on their way to it.
[Let’s stay like this until they leave.]
I created text with an illusion that only Yerika could see. Yerika nodded in response.
"So, how long are you going to keep holding my hand?"
"You’re the one who grabbed it first."
"No, you did."
"Then on the count of three, we let go at the same time. One, two, three!"
"What the—why didn't you let go? You’re holding on even tighter."
"You did the same thing."
Unaware that Yerika and I were there, the couple began their lovey-dovey antics. How fresh. How youthful.
I remember when I was like that...
Wait, I don't. Before I was reincarnated, I spent all my time immersed in Croaka.
The couple’s physical contact grew more intense, and now they were kissing. Ah, youth. Yes, if you’re young, you should at least swap some spit—
Wait, tongues?
The atmosphere was rapidly becoming erotic.
Well, fine. No one’s around, so swapping spit is whatever.
I’m not that narrow-minded. However, even so...
Stripping is crossing the line!!
I looked down at Yerika, who was pressed against my chest. Yerika was letting out tiny "Auuu" sounds, covering her flushed face with both hands.
I had no hobby of watching other people’s private business, and for the sake of Yerika, whose face was getting redder by the second, I decided to stop this "event." Since I couldn't exactly step out myself, I used an illusion to create a sound.
"Meow."
At the sudden sound of a cat from outside, the students, who were busy sucking face, flinched.
"Did you hear something just now?"
"It’s just a cat. Don't worry about it and keep stripping, you horny mutt."
"Yes, Master."
Hearing the girl’s words, the boy began to take off his clothes.
Horny mutt? Master? Did I hear that right?
"Hurry up and get them off!"
The girl began to berate the boy as he undressed.
Oh, for god's sake. Please tell me it’s not what I think it is.
Crack!
But my cursed intuition was spot on. The girl began to strike the boy with the whip.
Holy shit.
Seeing this, Yerika looked absolutely shell-shocked, covering her mouth with her hands in horror. To be honest, even I was flustered. Why the hell are these kids doing such grotesque things at the Academy?
If I watch any more of this, I’m going to lose my mind.
Instead of a cat, I borrowed the voice of one of the professors I’d heard at the Disciplinary Board earlier.
"Who’s in there!"
At the sound of the voice, the couple scrambled to put their discarded clothes back on and bolted out of the classroom.
".................."
"....................."
Silence dominated the classroom after the perverts left.
"Uh... well, Yerika? Usually, when a man and a woman have a relationship... doing it like that isn't normal, so you shouldn't follow their example—"
"I know that much!"