Chapter 157: Clown Union Club 4
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 157: Clown Union Club 4
Why?!
Loki couldn't wrap his head around the situation.
How could not a single person raise their hand?
—Slam!
Fuming, Loki slammed both hands onto the lectern.
“How could you all betray me like this?! Have you already forgotten our promise? We were going to form the Clown Union Club and conquer this Academy—the very symbol of this rotten Empire!”
Any other student in the Academy would have been appalled by such a statement, but these were the students of the Special Class. Having witnessed Loki’s nonsensical antics more than anyone else, they simply watched him with serene expressions that said, ‘There he goes again.’
“I wonder what his concept is this time.”
“Hey, Loki. I’ll have you know I’m the Crown Prince of that ‘rotten Empire.’”
“It seems to this one that he has become even more unhinged since it was revealed he is His Majesty’s disciple.”
Regardless of how the Special Class students reacted, Loki pressed on with his rant.
“After everything I’ve done to raise you all! Do you really think this party will function properly after kicking me out like this?!”
The students ignored him and continued chatting amongst themselves.
“Wh-why is he suddenly talking about a p-party?”
“Frederick, if you’re trying to understand Loki’s words, you clearly haven't learned your lesson yet. Let’s go work out after lunch.”
“P-pardon? What does that have to do with anything?”
“Exercise is a daily requirement.”
“Kuran, you’re coming too.”
“Gwahahaha! Of course! I would be honored!”
“The current meta is to kick out the most unassuming person in the party, only for them to turn out to be an incredible powerhouse who builds a harem of beautiful girls while the original party falls to ruin! Don't you people study?! Well, I suppose that's why you said you wouldn't join my club.”
At this point, even the Special Class students began to sense something was off. Loki’s antics were a daily occurrence, but it was rare for his nonsense to drag on this long.
“He’s laying the bullshit on thick today. Why is he acting like that?”
“Isn't it because no one raised their hand when he asked who wanted to join that Clown-whatever club?”
“Wait, he wasn't joking?”
The students looked at Loki with weary eyes as he stood at the lectern, head bowed, muttering incessantly to himself.
“Still, seeing him like that... I almost feel bad for him.”
“Get a grip, Ren. Remember when Loki told us Professor Elicia canceled class? We went out to play, got caught by her, and do you remember what happened next?”
“...My mind is suddenly very clear. Thank you, Lucas.”
Sensing the atmosphere, a single thought finally crossed Loki’s mind.
‘Wait... do I have zero credibility with the Special Class?’
No, that couldn't be it.
He needed to stay calm and talk this through. Surely, they were just too stunned by the sudden invitation to raise their hands.
“Fine. Let’s hear it. Tell me exactly why you don’t want to join my club.”
Lucas was the first to raise his hand.
“You know what you said right before you announced the club? About how there’s nothing for us to learn in a club?”
“But honestly, what could you people possibly learn in a club? No one can teach Spirit Arts to Miss Sepia, no one can teach magic to Miss Clara, and no one can guide Mr. Lucas in the use of his power...”
Lucas was likely referring to that speech.
Heh, I really do have a way with words. No wonder the ladies are head over heels for me.
“Isn't that just a blatant rip-off of what Professor Elicia said during our first class?”
“In truth, there isn't much the other professors can teach you. No one can teach magic to the disciple of the Tower Master, and no one can teach a Spiritist whose affinity is so high they’ve contracted with all four Great Spirits. No one can teach the art of combat to one who carries the blood of the Isar tribe...”
Busted!
Loki broke into a cold sweat behind his mask.
Wait, they remembered that? From all the way back then? No wonder he’s the Crown Prince. Tsk.
Following Lucas’s remark, the entire class looked at Loki with cold, judging eyes.
“Ahem! Plagiarism? What a harsh word. We have much better terms like ‘parody’ or ‘homage,’ so please mind your vocabulary.”
As soon as Loki finished, Frederick, the most timid student in the class, raised his hand.
“Y-you said there’s nothing to l-learn, but aren't clubs also m-made just for s-socializing?”
“......”
Dammit! Attacking with facts? How cowardly!
As expected of a sorcerer who fights dirty.
Once one or two people started questioning him, the others joined in.
“Did you get permission from the Academy to start this? From what I know, the process is quite complicated.”
“For now, the Student Council and the Disciplinary Committee have agreed to help.”
“Setting aside how you got those two groups to help, it sounds like you haven't received official approval yet.”
Dammit! Another factual assault!
What on earth is Professor Elicia teaching these kids?
However, he could answer the next question with confidence.
“I believe a faculty advisor is also required.”
“I’ve already found one!”
“Oh? You actually managed that? Who is it?”
“Professor Idra!”
“......Never mind.”
The students’ expressions turned sour for a simple reason.
If the Special Class had Loki, the faculty had Idra.
No further explanation was necessary.
The students continued to pepper him with questions—less because they wanted to join and more because they were curious about the club and found Loki’s reactions entertaining. Meanwhile, Clara sat silently, focused on her book.
This won't do.
For Loki’s plan to work, Clara absolutely had to join the Clown Union Club.
“Miss Clara.”
“What.”
Clara answered without looking up from her book.
“Honestly, no matter what club you join, people are going to bother you and be noisy. Why not join my club and just read your books in peace?”
“You are the most bothersome and the noisiest.”
“Hey now, that hurts. I’m still better than the rest. At least I don’t pester you with questions about magic.”
“I’d rather you ask about magic.”
“I don’t want to; it’s too hard. Is there a specific reason you hate the idea of my club so much?”
Clara finally looked up from her book and stared at Loki.
“You want to know why?”
“Yes!”
“I hate the name.”
“Loki? I quite like my name, though.”
When Loki gave a completely irrelevant answer, Clara knit her brows.
“The club name.”
“What? You really think it’s that bad? ‘Clown Union Club.’ The syllable count, the pronunciation, the vocabulary... it’s linguistically perfect...”
Seeing Loki look genuinely shocked, the students were the ones who felt taken aback.
“Wait, he wasn't joking? He actually thought that was a good name?”
“His naming sense is... catastrophic. Even my tribe wouldn't come up with something that bad!”
“Ugh, what do you expect from a pushover? I knew it the moment he named that bird ‘Chirpy.’”
“It’s way better than that ‘Lightning Thunder’ name you were trying to come up with, Miss Sepia!”
“Sh-shut up!”
The debate continued for a while, but in the end, not a single person expressed interest in joining.
“Hehehehe! Hahahaha! Fine! Very well! If that’s how you’re going to play, I have a plan of my own!”
The students felt a chill down their spines at Loki’s laughter. They, more than anyone, knew the depths of his madness.
—Slam! Slam!
Loki slammed the lectern again, and this time, the poor thing finally gave up and shattered.
That’s the third one.
The students offered a silent prayer for the third lectern to fall victim to Loki’s hands.
Ignoring the wreckage, Loki spoke.
“As you all know, the club experience period ended today. You now have one week to make your final selection.”
Curious about what he would say next, the students ignored the broken furniture and focused on him.
“I ask only one thing! Do not join any other club until the final day! During this week, I will convince every single one of you to join my club!”
As the students stood stunned by his confidence, Lucas raised his hand once more.
“Loki, remember what you said before? ‘I don’t negotiate with terrorists.’”
“Mr. Lucas, if you don’t negotiate, the terrorist has no choice but to keep committing acts of terror.”
“......Fine. I won't pick a club until the last day.”
Loki smirked behind his mask.
Lucas Leonhart.
Clara Adelian.
Sepia Rivayden.
Kuran Isar.
Frederick Nicholas.
Ren.
Gashurin.
Loki looked at the students who had mocked his naming sense and made a vow.
He would make them join, no matter what.
* * *
“Sigh... So that’s why the lectern ended up in that state?”
“Yes!”