Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 17: Elicia

After parting ways with Johanna, I walked down the Academy corridor toward the Special Class. Perhaps because classes were about to start, the halls were mostly deserted.

Was it because I was walking alone through the nearly empty corridor? A poem suddenly sprang to mind.

"I am a clown. A handsome clown.

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠am a clown, a handsome clown.

I am a clown. I craft poems in a trice.

I am a clown, a master of verse.

I am a clown. A powerful clown.

I am a clown, a mighty clown.

Today, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I charmed a lady with ease.

Today, I toyed with a beauty’s heart.

What shall I do with this radiant face?

What shall I do with this dazzling visage?

I am a clown. A handsome clown.

I am a clown, a handsome clown.

The title... hmm, 'The Handsome Clown' seems fitting."

"What's with that crazy bastard?"

"Don't you know him? He's the guy from the entrance ceremony."

"You think I'm asking because I actually don't know? I mean, what the hell is he doing in the middle of the hallway?"

The few students in the corridor began whispering as they overheard my recital.

I couldn't catch their exact words from this distance, but surely they were buzzing about my handsome face or my melodious poetry.

"Next time, I should write a poem titled 'The Handsome Clown Who Is Also Good at Poetry' instead of just 'The Handsome Clown.'"

It was only polite to do so for those who had just become fans of my work.

Lost in thought about my next masterpiece, I soon reached the stairwell.

At the Academy, first-years use the first floor, second-years the second, and third-years the third. The reason I, a first-year, had come to the stairs was that the Special Class was located in the basement, not the first floor.

While the first floor was bright, with sunlight streaming through elegant windows, the basement was the exact opposite. In a place without a single window, the only light came from sparse, old lightbulbs on the ceiling. They were so worn out they flickered incessantly, barely functioning.

"It’s like a horror movie."

My voice echoed through the wide corridor.

From what I knew, the basement was originally used as a warehouse. The person who suggested using this storage space for the Special Class was their homeroom teacher, Elicia.

I knew exactly why Elicia had established the Special Class in the basement.

I stopped at the furthest corner of the dark basement. The door looked ancient, but the nameplate was shiny and new.

[Special Class]

Without hesitation, I threw the door open and shouted.

"Good morning, everyone!"

The classroom was spacious and clean—a complete mismatch with the dilapidated exterior. The desks and chairs showed no signs of previous use.

When I shouted my greeting, everyone in the room turned to look at me. Though I say "everyone," there were fewer than ten people.

I scanned the students. It looked like everyone except Lucas had arrived. Where was he?

First, I approached Kuran Isar.

"Mr. Kuran, how did you like the inn I recommended?"

Kuran let out a hearty laugh, looking satisfied.

"It was excellent! There were many fine warriors there."

"Aha~ I'm glad to hear that."

The inn I recommended to Kuran, the Snake-Eating Frog Inn, was a place in Croaka that suited him perfectly. Because of its low prices, mercenaries frequented the place. Given the nature of mercenaries and Kuran’s personality, a fight was bound to break out.

And Kuran would have been able to grow stronger there. That was exactly why I had recommended that inn to him.

I could reach the ending even if I were the only one to get strong, but for the ending I desired, everyone in the Special Class needed to be powerful.

After a brief chat with Kuran, I moved on to the other students.

"May the blessing of the Gods be with you."

"Let's visit the Temple together sometime."

A bald priest who was similar in stature to Kuran Isar.

"Your movements were most impressive, sir."

"Your movements were quite excellent as well."

A swordsman from the now-ruined East.

Next, I spoke to Sepia Rivayden, whose pink hair was quite striking.

"Hello, Sepia!"

Sepia reached out her hand as if she had been waiting for me to speak to her. Was she asking me to hold her hand?

"Sepia, I don't think we're at that stage yet. I'm sorry."

At my words, Sepia’s face turned bright red as she yelled.

"What kind of bullshit is that! I'm telling you to take ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this thread back!"

In Sepia’s outstretched hand was the thread I had given her before.

"This is far too expensive for me to take for free."

It seemed she had discovered the value of the thread I gave her over the past week. Since the Marquis Rivayden family was a merchant house, it wouldn't have been difficult for her to figure it out.

"The owner of that thread is already you, Sepia. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have others to greet."

"Hey! Hey!"

Ignoring Sepia’s calls, I approached Clara.

"Clara! How have you been at the Magic Tower?"

"……."

Clara flatly ignored me and turned her head away. Does she still not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠know me very well?

I spoke even louder than before.

"How have you been!"

Realizing I wasn't going to give up, Clara let out a deep sigh.

"I was doing fine at the Magic Tower, but I don't think I'll be doing fine here."

"Could it be because your heart is fluttering at the sight of my handsome face?"

"It's for a completely different reason, but half of it is because of you."

She didn't mention the other half, but I could guess. It was probably this dingy basement.

It was only natural for someone born into a Ducal family like Clara to hate such a grimy basement. However, the other students didn't seem to mind having their class down here.

Is that why she’s even more annoyed?

If everyone hated it, they could have protested as a group, but if she was the only one uncomfortable, it was a bit awkward to speak up.

I offered a word of comfort to the sighing Clara.

"Clara, look at my handsome face and find strength!"

When I said that, Clara stared intently at my face. It’s actually a bit embarrassing when someone stares that hard.

"I've been thinking this since last time, but are you really handsome? If you are, try taking off that mask."

"By the way, where did Lucas go?"

At my intentional change of subject, Clara gave a short reply and turned away, seemingly knowing I wouldn't show her anyway.

"I don't know."

As if on cue, the classroom door opened and Lucas walked in. I approached him and offered a greeting.

"Hello, Lucas. It's been a while."

"Loki!"

Lucas raised his voice, looking genuinely surprised to see me. It didn't feel great having a man react that way to my handsome face. Realizing he had been too excited, Lucas cleared his throat and whispered softly.

"Ahem. I heard you received instruction from His Majesty at the Imperial Palace?"

"Yes. Did you hear that from the Princess?"

"Right. I was so shocked when I heard. To think you’d be taught by His Majesty."

"I didn't expect to learn from him either."

"Ah, right. Come to think of it, Yerika told me to give this to you."

Lucas fumbled through his pocket and pulled something out. What was it? Does Yerika have something for me?

What Lucas handed me was a communication device.

"Isn't this a communication device? Why are you giving this to me?"

"I don't know the details. Yerika just told me to deliver it."

Now that I thought about it, when I parted ways with Yerika last time, she had mentioned linking our communication devices. If you link devices, you can contact each other. Of course, I had told her I couldn't because I didn't own one.

Did she seriously just gift me a device because of that?

"This device is linked to His Majesty's and Yerika's. I linked mine to it on the way here, too."

I’m probably the only person in the world to receive a communication device linked to three members of the Imperial Family. This is a bit of a burden...

"I'll accept it with gratitude!"

Like hell it is. I had to buy a communication device anyway, so getting one for free was fantastic.

"Is this why you were so late?"

"Not just because of this. I bumped into a student on the way and ended up talking for a bit."

"Was the person you bumped into a girl, by any chance?"

"Well, yes, but..."

"Oho?"

Lucas waved his hand dismissively, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking.

"It's not what you think."

"Ayy~ How can you deny it when you don't even know what I'm thinking?"

"Whatever you're thinking, it's not that."

"Was she pretty?"

Lucas was silent for a moment. He was clearly thinking about the girl he bumped into.

"...She was pretty, I suppose."

"Oho. It looks like I might have a reason to use this device to call His Majesty and the Princess already."

"I told you, it's not like that! More importantly, did you hear?"

"It's obvious you're changing the subject, but I'll let it slide this once."

"Phew, thanks. I heard on the way here that a freshman has already received demerit points."

Is that me?

"Already? How did they get demerit points so soon?"

"Apparently, they were late on the first day."

It is me.

"Late on the first day? What an irresponsible person."

"Exactly. I wonder who it could be?"

I continued to chat with Lucas about this 'someone' who was late on the first day. Suddenly, the front door opened, and a woman with ash-gray hair appeared.

It was the professor in charge of the Special Class, Elicia.

Professor Elicia walked up to the lectern. Everyone in the class turned their gaze toward her.

"I was originally going to start with self-introductions, but I heard there's already a student in our class who received demerit points."

As Professor Elicia spoke, Lucas whispered in my ear.

"I guess that latecomer is in our class."

I wonder who it could be, indeed.

"Loki, come forward."

"Yes!"