Chapter 176: Clown Union Club 23
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 176: Clown Union Club 23
After discussing it with Clara, we agreed to head to the dungeon holding the Book of Forgotten Memories this weekend.
Unlike in the game, I had already cured the Duchess of Adelian. I had been worried that Clara might no longer be interested in the Book of Forgotten Memories because of that, so this was a relief.
‘Wait, I guess I can’t really call it a relief.’
The very fact that Clara was still after the Book of Forgotten Memories was proof that the Duke of Adelian hadn't told her the truth yet.
At first, I thought curing the Duchess would solve everything. But as it turns out, the human heart doesn't always follow the path you want it to.
‘Thinking about it makes me annoyed again.’
Duke Adelian—the man looks like a bandit king, yet he can’t even find the words to speak properly to his own daughter.
‘It’s a good thing I possessed this body six months before the Academy entrance.’
If I had ended up here on the day of the entrance ceremony, the Duchess would already be dead. If that had happened, it would have been impossible for me to get close to Joden, and the relationship between Clara, the Duke, and Joden would have been shattered like shards of glass—just like in the game, beyond any hope of repair.
Clara stared at me with suspicious eyes. Was she doubting me? I understood. In fact, it was only natural for her to be suspicious. If anything, I would have been the one suspicious of her if she hadn't doubted me.
How did I know about the Book of Forgotten Memories, an item almost no one knows about? Well, if someone spent enough time in the library reading dozens of ancient texts, they might at least know of its existence.
But most people who know of the Book of Forgotten Memories consider it a fictional artifact that only exists in stories. So, how did I know exactly where it was? That was also highly suspicious, though one could argue I stumbled upon it by chance in a dungeon.
But to be certain that Clara specifically wanted the Book of Forgotten Memories? Honestly, there was no way to explain that away.
That’s why, when Clara asked me earlier, I didn't bother making excuses. I just acted brazen.
“Hey, how did you know I wanted this?”
“I didn’t.”
“What?”
“I mean, I knew you were a mage and that you read a lot, so I figured you might know about it. I just didn't realize you wanted it this much.”
“You really know where the Book of Forgotten Memories is, right?” Clara asked, still looking at me with deep suspicion.
But what was she going to do about it?
“You realize that’s the third time you’ve asked that, Clara?”
“...If we go to the dungeon and it’s not there, you’d better be prepared for the consequences.”
“Of course. And if you actually get your hands on the Book of Forgotten Memories, you’re joining the club I’m starting, right?”
“If it truly ends up in my hands.”
“Then welcome to the club in advance. In honor of that, shall we shake on it?”
Clara ignored my outstretched hand, picked up her chair, and returned to where she had been sitting. My hand, left shaking the empty air, hovered awkwardly with nowhere to go. Still, I suppose I should be glad she didn't slap it away like last time.
Looking at the results, maybe getting utterly crushed by Professor Elicia today wasn't so bad after all?
‘Not that I’m not frustrated myself, of course.’
The Special Class students were never lazy; they always worked hard. But after today’s events, they’d feel a sense of crisis and push themselves even harder. The results of today’s lesson were so shocking that the club’s name managed to slip under the radar naturally.
Clara’s membership was as good as confirmed. And there was one more piece of good news.
“I just need to sign here?”
“Yes! Exactly! You won’t regret it.”
“I look forward to working with you, Lord Loki.”
“The pleasure is mine. Welcome to our Clown Union Club.”
Gashurin raised an eyebrow, looking a bit puzzled by my words. “Wasn't the club name... a bit longer than that?”
“I’m fine with the long version! But it seemed like everyone else was getting confused. Wouldn't it be easier for everyone to just call it this?”
Gashurin’s reason for joining probably had something to do with losing to Professor Elicia today, but Lucas’s constant pitching to him also played a big part.
Clara had already returned to her seat, the snacks were gone, and our conversation was over, so I began to tidy up. Cleaning was easy; I just tossed the trash into my Pocket Dimension to dump in a bin outside later.
The problem was the desks. I had shoved most of them into the corners to create a comfortable space for us to talk. If I didn't want another "consultation" with Professor Elicia, I had to put them back.
‘But Professor Elicia always restores the entire classroom with a snap of her fingers after class. Would she really care about this?’
Hmm... No, she would. Considering how often she’s been hitting me lately, she’d definitely find an excuse to hit me again if she saw this.
The other kids offered to help move the desks, but Clara used her telekinesis to put them back in no time. It wasn't quite the instantaneous restoration Professor Elicia performed with a flick of her finger, but comparing a student like Clara to a Dragon like Elicia was ridiculous to begin with.
‘By the way, is it already this late?’
Before coming to the Academy today, my plan was to sleep from the end of Professor Elicia’s class until lunch. But between comforting the crushed Special Class students and persuading Clara, more time had passed than I expected.
“Yawn.”
Still, I was glad there was some time left before lunch. Even if it was only about thirty minutes, I needed to sleep. It didn't matter if I was still tired after thirty minutes. The only student left to recruit was Sepia, so I could sleep peacefully through lunch if I wanted to.
To make myself comfortable, I pushed some desks together and pulled a pillow and blanket out of my Pocket Dimension.
“What are you doing?” Lucas, who had been watching me, asked.
“As you can see, I’m getting ready to sleep. Oh, right! Lucas, sorry, but could you wake me up when it’s lunchtime?”
“I can wake you up, but... I forgot to tell you earlier...”
Seeing the look on Lucas’s face, I felt a sense of foreboding. A feeling that my plans were about to go up in flames. Please...
“Professor Idra said you must come to the faculty office during lunch.”
“Eh? Why?”
“It’s most likely because of the club name.”
“..........”
I contemplated. There was no option not to go. Professor Idra was our club’s advisor, so I had to maintain a good relationship with her. And unlike me—a perfectly normal person who doesn't hold grudges—Professor Idra was a bit eccentric. There was no telling what she’d do if I ignored her.
My dilemma was this: Do I sleep for thirty minutes now and go see Professor Idra during lunch? Or do I go see her now and sleep peacefully during lunch?
“Sigh. I’ll be back.”
Better to get a longer stretch of sleep later. With the heart of a family man leaving his wife and children behind to go to war, I left my blanket and pillow in the Special Class and headed toward the faculty office where Professor Idra was waiting.
* * *
I managed to persuade Professor Idra, who was insisting she couldn't be the advisor for a club with such a weird name, by offering to lend her an artifact related to magic tool production.
Ten minutes left until lunch. It was too late to go to the cafeteria and too awkward to go back to the Special Class. I emptied the trash I had stored in my Pocket Dimension into a bin and lay down on an outdoor bench. Perhaps because classes were still in session, there were no students walking around.
“This really isn't easy.”
Whether it was because no one was around or because I was just tired, the words slipped out of my mouth. Not long ago, I was thinking about which dungeons to hit during club hours. Dungeons? Forget that. In reality, just establishing the club was a struggle.
I know the future. It is the most powerful weapon I possess. But to change the future, I have to move, and moving changes the future. Yet, if I don't change the future, there’s no reason for me to be here.
I don't regret the changes I’ve made so far. I cured the Duchess of Adelian and helped Sepia get her revenge. But I’m afraid. Afraid of the day a future I don't know arrives.
There are still seven Necromancers left. And currently, Sepia is the only one among the Special Class students who has Awakened. This isn't enough.
What I want is a perfect happy ending. Killing the final boss? I’ve done that more times than I can count. But I have never once cleared it without a single sacrifice. In particular, no matter what methods I used, I could never save Johanna.
‘Can I really do it?’
“..................................”
.
.
—Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-da-da-ding...
I snapped awake at the sound of the chime announcing the start of lunch.
‘Right. I acted all high and mighty earlier, telling the Special Class kids that moping wouldn't change anything. I can’t go doing the same thing myself.’
Let’s focus on the positives. It took longer than expected, but I finally succeeded in getting the Special Class students to join the club. With the mindset of getting some healing by having lunch with Johanna, I walked toward the cafeteria.
Completely unaware of the situation currently unfolding there.