Chapter 21

21. The Jester, the Hero, and the Parrot (3)

The crack that started from the tip of Rodelin's wooden sword gradually spread across the stage.

This was one of the secret techniques of the Lucid family, to which Rodelin belonged, called [Earth Flip].

The crack grew rapidly, and its end was heading towards me.

‘Damn it!’

I quickly rolled to the side.

The stage was narrow, so the side was just dirt, but now wasn't the time to be picky.

Now I understand why.

Thud!

“Ouch!”

“Planks are flying!”

As the stage broke, wooden splinters began to fly everywhere.

The audience, who had been watching the play, were startled and moved back.

Rodelin finally came to her senses.

“Oh…! Demon, are you… No, no! Zero, are you okay!”

Feeling around, I grabbed something.

A small pebble. I threw it to show that I was still alive.

‘We have to end the play first. The jester might not give the skill if he's angry.’

Perhaps this is the first time the jester has ever been angry in the game.

Usually, he would be happy to discover a new hidden piece, but the situation is different now.

The skill given by the jester is something that any veteran player starts with.

So, I have to do my best to finish the play.

Fortunately, Rodelin stopped her actions when she confirmed that I was lying under the stage.

Dust filled the area around the stage.

I quickly crawled back up onto the stage and lay down on the broken stage.

Eventually, the dust settled, revealing the gruesome scene.

The center of the stage was split lengthwise, and the wooden planks were twisted in all directions.

And lying on top of it… no, the demon.

“Grr… I lost…”

I dropped my head, which I had been holding up with difficulty.

Then I extended my tongue to the side.

Snap.

The demon died.

The hero Rodelin gently embraced the princess Luna.

The jester's narration followed.

"Thus, the hero and the princess lived happily ever after."

“Wow!”

“I’ve never seen such a play!”

“Destroying the stage as part of the performance! That’s amazing!”

The cheers of the children and their parents.

While the jester was dealing with them, Rodelin and Luna hurried over.

“Zero, are you okay?”

“Huh, it seems I’m still alive. I’m not sure if all my limbs are still attached, though.”

“I’m sorry. I got too into the acting…”

Rodelin bowed deeply.

Of course, it was partly because she got too into the acting. But from my perspective…

‘It’s because I insulted her family.’

The comment about her crude sword skills.

It was a joke, but the consequences were clear.

This was a good opportunity to understand how important her family is to Rodelin.

Click!

Our eyes turned to the source of the sound.

It was the jester. He was holding a camera and looking at us.

“Keehee! Friends should get along well. Cheese!”

Click!

This game, set in a medieval fantasy world, has cameras.

A low-quality fantasy setting where they operate using mana stones.

For reference, the camera looks exactly like a Polaroid.

Perhaps it was inspired by that. A photo came out with a ‘zing’ sound.

“I’m not your friend. I’m your senior.”

“Keehee! You’re much cooler than you look. But we’re still close, right? Cheese!”

Click!

The jester pressed the shutter button again.

Three photos. He gave one to each of us.

“Hmph! What? It doesn’t capture my beauty at all?”

But despite her words, Luna kept looking at the photo.

She seemed to like it.

“Hmm, I’ll pay for the repairs out of my own pocket.”

“Keehee! No need! The kids loved it.”

Indeed, it was probably the first time they had seen a play that destroyed the stage.

From the children’s perspective, it must have felt like a 4D movie.

“Keehee! Time to eat! You have to eat well to grow!”

“Hmm, I’m not a child, but you’re right. I’ll eat well.”

That’s how we managed to have a late lunch.

* * *

Chomp chomp!

Luna and Rodelin’s hands moved non-stop.

They both ate ferociously, as if they were going to eat the plates too.

“Keehee! Aren’t you going to eat more?”

The jester suddenly appeared and stuck his face in.

I was quite surprised, but it didn’t show on my face.

“Keehee! Wasn’t it fun?”

“Huh, it was fun. Not as much as playing with children, though.”

“Kiki! That’s true. Children are fun just to watch.”

While Luna and Rodelin were focused on their food, the jester approached me.

I felt a strong sense of déjà vu.

It felt like someone was telling me that now was the time to have a conversation.

‘If so, I should proceed.’

This was a good opportunity to turn a near-certain guess into a certainty.

“Huh, how many children do you have? You seem to like children, so I thought you might have a large family.”

“Family…”

The jester muttered. The smile vanished from his face, which became serious.

The question seemed to hit home.

“An Andwood Academy student, you said? In fact… my son was like you.”

“Huh, is that so? He must be your senior.”

“…If he were still alive.”

The jester’s voice was tinged with moisture.

I couldn’t say anything. Or rather, I didn’t.

“Ah, don’t worry. He’s probably still alive. He’s smart. He wouldn’t starve anywhere.”

“Then… is he missing?”

“Yes. He disappeared one day. Probably… he was fed up with me.”

The jester’s face changed in a way that was hard to describe.

Sadness, sorrow, a faint sense of relief. All mixed together.

The jester’s makeup, with its white-painted lips and always smiling face.

Perhaps because it contrasted with the emotion, the feeling was even more intense.

“Probably… he wanted to cut ties with me. I’m a childish adult who only likes children.”

“…”

“He’s probably living well somewhere. It’s for the best. He was too outstanding for me to raise.”

The jester’s gaze turned to me.

I waited calmly, until he spoke.

“It’s a tough world to live in with that appearance, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is.”

“Still, hang in there. If you keep hanging in there, someday…”

The jester couldn’t finish his sentence.

He didn’t try to continue the conversation.

‘This must mean the hidden piece is complete.’

Now, let’s proceed as planned.

“Huh, isn’t it hard to play with children?”

“It’s hard. Children have endless energy.”

“Then why do you keep doing this job?”

The jester gave away free balloons to the children.

It didn’t seem to bring in much income. Yet, he continued to be a jester.

The jester’s answer to my question was simple.

“Because the children laugh.”

I already knew.

Throughout the game, every time I played a new character, I heard the same answer.

So, the answer I give this time must be the same.

“I see. My dream isn’t much different.”

“Kiki! Do you want to be a jester? How about learning from me?”

No, my dream is to be a hero.

The jester flinched.

He stopped and stared at me intently, as if seeing someone else in me.

I waited quietly until he spoke again.

“…A hero?”

“Huh, yes. A hero protects and makes children laugh. It’s a childish dream, isn’t it? Maybe it will never come true.”

“No, that’s not true.”

The jester stood up and shouted.

“Kiki! Keep going! I’ll cheer for you!”

“Huh, thank you.”

“When you’re having a hard time, try this pose!”

The jester took a somewhat ridiculous pose.

I mimicked his pose.

At the same time, a blue window appeared before my eyes.

I could mimic the pose quite well.

Finally, I obtained it.

A prerequisite skill for the hidden piece.

* * *

After playing with the children for about two more hours, the square began to turn orange with the sunset.

The jester gestured to us and gathered us together.

“Good job today. You can go now! Keehee!”

“Already?”

“Keehee! You need time to play too. Go on, there’s lots of fun stuff!”

Since I had obtained the skill from him, there was nothing else to do.

After saying goodbye to the jester and moving a bit away, Rodelin spoke.

“Hmm, I have to go now. I have some work to do.”

“Huh, then I’ll rest too…”

“We’ll play more. Go ahead!”

“Alright, Miss Luna. I had fun today. See you next time, Zero.”

My wish to go to the dorm and rest was not fulfilled.

Because Luna grabbed my neck.

“Hey… Miss Luna?”

“Yah, smile. You’re suspicious.”

“…Haha.”

The low-quality thug-like line was more suspicious, right?

But it seemed like a joke between friends to Rodelin.

She smiled slightly and gradually moved away.

That’s how Rodelin left.

“Miss Luna, did you change your dream to be a thug?”

“What? We have something to settle.”

“Settle?”

“Questions. You asked me to do something, so now you have to answer one of mine.”

Right, I had forgotten.

The second main quest, ‘Make a Friend’.

But Luna is a suspicious person with many wounds.

Becoming her friend is not easy.

‘The idea to clear her suspicions was this deal.’

Luna does what I ask, and I answer her questions.

At the time, I thought it was a smart move, but now I realize it wasn’t.

I gave away too much.

‘If Luna asks me to name the person who caused her family’s downfall…’

I would lose a significant portion of the restraints I had placed on her.

I might even be consumed by anger and leave the academy.

‘I could lie, but…’

I should avoid lying as much as possible.

If she discovers that I lied, she will leave me.

Losing a well-raised party member is the most devastating thing.

So, I need to handle difficult questions carefully.

Avoid lying as much as possible and don’t give vague answers.

Luna also needs to gain something from this.

That way, she will continue to do what I ask.

“Huh, ask anything you want.”

Despite my words, I was extremely tense.

Luna asked her question.

“Are you on my side?”