Chapter 163: Clown Union Club 10
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 163: Clown Union Club 10
After the Academy classes concluded for the day, Loki and Lucas met in a secluded spot nearby for a strategy meeting.
Since both of them had busy schedules after school, they skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.
“At the very least, we kept him from joining the Barehanded Combat Club, didn't we?”
“Yes, that’s correct. That alone makes today’s operation a success. I never imagined Mr. Frederick would actually try to join the Barehanded Combat Club in the first place.”
Lucas was still reeling from the surprise that Frederick had even considered such a club. However, his shock didn't change the objective.
The plan remained the same.
“You remember the rule, right?”
“Yeah. We must never directly tell them to join the Clown Union Club.”
“Exactly. We just need to nudge them until they're convinced the Clown Union Club was their own best choice.”
With that, Loki and Lucas finished refining the script for the following day and parted ways.
* * *
The next day. Academy lunch break.
Loki approached Frederick once again.
Perhaps it was because they had met and talked for three consecutive days, but Loki noticed that Frederick’s guard had lowered significantly.
It was a good thing he hadn't pressured him to join the Clown Union Club yesterday, instead advising him to follow Kuran and Ren.
‘To reel him in properly, I need a bit more setup.’
The problem was that time was running out. Besides Frederick, he still had to win over Sepia and Clara.
However, bringing up the club immediately would feel too transparent. Instead, Loki engaged in casual conversation, asking a few questions regarding sorcery. Though he’d initially brought up the subject just to mask his true motives, the conversation turned out to be more interesting than he’d expected.
‘Well, there will be plenty of time to pick his brain once we’re in the same club.’
It was time to start.
Loki acted as if he had just remembered their conversation from the previous day.
“Come to think of it, Mr. Frederick, didn’t you think Kuran and Ren were joining the combat club? How did it go? Did you get a chance to talk to them?”
“O-Oh. Yeah. Just like you said, Loki, they said they wouldn’t join the c-combat club because there was n-nothing left to learn there.”
Despite knowing that Kuran and Ren weren't joining the combat club, Frederick’s expression remained grim.
“Mr. Frederick, is something the matter?”
“W-Well, it’s g-good that I’m joining the s-same club as Kuran and Ren, but we h-haven’t decided which club to join yet.”
Asking him to join the Clown Union Club right now would be a third-rate move. Loki took a different approach.
“What kind of club are you looking for, Mr. Frederick?”
“M-Me? I-I’d like a club without m-many people. And, if possible, one that doesn’t involve... e-exercise.”
“Exercise?”
“Y-Yeah. I like being with Kuran and Ren, but honestly, I d-don’t even know if I r-really need to exercise…”
“I understand, Mr. Frederick. You’re not a warrior anyway, so what’s the point of building muscle?”
“R-Really?”
“Yes, of course.”
That was a lie. Regarding the necessity of Frederick’s physical training, Loki actually agreed with Kuran and Ren. No matter how unlikely it was for Frederick to engage in close combat, increasing his stamina was vital.
‘Stamina aside, the guy should at least be able to walk properly.’
Frederick’s body possessed the absolute bare minimum of muscle and fat required for a human being to survive the day. Loki felt that the fact he had even entered the Academy with such a physique was proof of just how outstanding his sorcery truly was.
“I happened to have a short chat with Mr. Lucas yesterday, and he mentioned that Mr. Kuran and Mr. Ren are also worried because they know you’re having a hard time.”
“T-They are?”
The "hard time" Lucas had referred to was Frederick’s crippling shyness, but Frederick naturally assumed Kuran and Ren knew he was struggling with the physical demands of their training. To be precise, the flow of the conversation forced him to think that way.
“Why don’t you try talking to them? Since they know you’re struggling, you might be able to decide on a good club together.”
“I-I should probably d-do that, right?”
“Yes! Absolutely!”
After finishing his conversation with Frederick, Loki sent a signal to Lucas.
“Then I suppose I should get moving too.”
Having received the message from Loki that things were settled on Frederick’s end, Lucas headed to the training grounds to intercept Kuran and Ren.
Perhaps because he had provided the information about Frederick’s club plans and offered good advice the day before, they didn't look at Lucas with the same suspicion as before.
Sitting beside them as they trained, Lucas naturally brought it up.
“Did you tell Frederick yesterday that you weren’t joining the combat club?”
“Hahaha! Yeah! Thanks to you, I was able to tell him. Thanks!”
“But there’s still a problem,” Ren added, alternating between formal and informal speech. “Specifically, which club to join. I suggested a club for priests, but Kuran shot it down immediately.”
“I hate those! All they do is sit around! You can't get a workout in at all!” Kuran barked.
“Since Frederick doesn’t voice his opinion, it’s quite a dilemma,” Ren sighed.
Lucas and Kuran, having grown used to Ren's speech patterns, didn't mind.
“Hmm. Is that so?”
Lucas paused for a moment, hitting the beat exactly as Loki had written in the script.
“I heard a rumor, though. Apparently, Frederick is showing interest in the Clown Union Club that Loki started?”
At the mention of the Clown Union Club, Kuran and Ren looked at Lucas with suspicious eyes.
“He certainly didn't say anything like that when we talked to him yesterday,” Kuran noted.
Lucas shrugged his shoulders confidently.
“Kuran, Ren, you know Frederick’s personality better than anyone, don’t you? Have you ever seen him voice his own opinion?”
“………………”
Kuran and Ren couldn't refute that.
“But it is strange,” Ren mused.
Not being able to say which club he wanted? That was understandable given Frederick’s personality. But joining the Clown Union Club? That didn't make sense.
“Why the Clown Union Club of all places? Considering Frederick’s tendencies, wouldn’t it be more natural for him to join a quiet club?”
Since Ren’s remark was also anticipated in the script, Lucas countered it immediately.
“The most important thing to Frederick is the people. No matter what club he joins, there will be plenty of strangers, right? But what about the Clown Union Club? Loki said he’s only accepting students from the Special Class. From Frederick’s perspective, it’s a group where he already knows everyone.”
Kuran and Ren nodded at Lucas’s explanation.
“That’s true.”
“As expected, Lucas is smart!”
Lucas didn't stop there; he leaned into the promotion.
“I was originally going to join another club too, but then I thought about how people would flock to me no matter where I went. So, I just joined Loki's club so I could at least be comfortable while I'm at the Academy.”
Kuran and Ren, who hadn't understood Lucas’s sudden change of heart, finally felt they understood his reasoning.
“So that was the reason.”
Of course, that was a total lie. In reality, Lucas had been blackmailed into it because he couldn't sleep due to Yerika’s blinding light attacks and constant, loud Bible readings.
Kuran and Ren began to think seriously about the Clown Union Club.
Since it’s where Frederick wants to go, let’s go.
Or rather, let’s persuade Frederick to go somewhere else.
The Clown Union Club isn't it.
It’ll be a disaster if Frederick goes to a club where he can’t exercise at all.
Then we just need to persuade Frederick and take him somewhere where exercise is possible.
As Kuran and Ren continued to deliberate and a brief silence fell, Lucas delivered the killing blow.
“And think about it carefully. If you join another club, there will definitely be seniors there. In that case, you won't be able to make Frederick exercise however you want during club hours, will you? From what I know, didn't you have a few clashes over that in the Barehanded Combat Club too?”
Kuran and Ren nodded. It was true; there had been friction while they were trying to "teach" Frederick. Kuran and Ren didn't care much about the upperclassmen's opinions, but Frederick’s expression had been sour all day.
“Hmm…”
“I cannot deny that!”
Sensing that their minds had already tilted, Lucas finished it.
“And according to Loki, most of the time during club activities—except for the occasional outing—will be spent training. Couldn't you just make Frederick exercise then?”
With that, Kuran and Ren solidified their decision.
“Then I should tell Frederick after classes end that we’re joining the Clown Union Club.”
“Frederick will definitely worry if he finds out you guys chose the club just for him,” Lucas warned, covering all bases. “So, how about you pretend you don't know his preference and suggest joining the Clown Union Club first?”
“That’s a great idea!”
After spending the rest of the lunch break exercising, Lucas went outside and contacted Loki.
“They took the bait.”
[Then all we have to do now is wait.]
* * *
They took the bait faster than expected.
When the Academy classes were over, Loki and Frederick met. The difference this time was that Frederick had sought Loki out first.
‘I thought he’d come during lunch tomorrow, but he’s earlier than expected.’
Frederick spoke first.
“T-That c-club you made…”
“Are you referring to the Clown Union Club?”
“Y-Yeah. What are you g-going to d-do during c-club hours?”
Loki acted surprised for a moment. “Are you thinking of joining our club?!”
“Y-Yeah. Kuran and Ren said we should j-join, and I thought it would be o-okay if there were only p-people I know…”
“That’s an excellent choice! Wow, I was about to give up, but to think all three of you are joining. This is very reassuring. Ah! You asked what our club does, right?”
“Y-Yeah.”
Hidden piece hunting. Snatching up fortuitous encounters. If Loki said that, the boy wouldn't understand a word. He hadn't signed the application form yet, so Loki had to be careful.
“I’m thinking of several things. The first thing we’ll do is train together to coordinate our moves so we can get back at Professor Elicia!”
“P-Professor Elicia?”
Loki explained to Frederick that although they faced Elicia every day, they fought impulsively without setting specific tactics. He argued that to increase their chances of winning, they needed to understand each other’s abilities and coordinate during training, not just in actual combat.
Hearing Loki’s words, the corners of Frederick’s mouth lifted into a happy smile.
“T-Then, I d-don’t have to e-exercise?”
“Leave that matter to me. I’ll handle it perfectly!”
I’ll just have to tell Kuran and Ren to make sure he exercises thoroughly.
“T-Thank you.”
“No, thank you!”
* * *
The next morning. The Special Class.
There were four days left until the club selection deadline.
“Loki! Do I just sign here?”
“Yes! Mr. Kuran, right there.”
“I look forward to our time in the club.”
“Yes! Mr. Ren, I look forward to it as well.”
“You’re n-not thinking of ch-changing the club name, right?”
“Of course not. Mr. Frederick, please sign quickly as well.”
Frederick, Ren, and Kuran.
All three had officially joined the Clown Union Club.