Chapter 94

94

This was a scene showing the most terrifying moment of fear for me, or rather, for me as Sharent Clown. Or perhaps it was a dream.

When I faced the Griffin, it was the first time I truly thought I might die.

The second encounter at the shelter was with an unknown figure in a robe.

Perhaps it was the man from the orphanage who gave me the second most unsettling feeling.

And this was the third and final fear and nightmare.

"How disappointing, you're dead."

The fake Sharent Clown said.

I stared blankly at the scene and then turned around.

Sharent Clown looked down at me, seemingly unable to understand the situation.

I turned my head back to look at the fake Sharent Clown.

‘...Is this my nightmare?’

The fact that it appeared last meant it was the most terrifying.

Does this mean I fear this situation the most?

‘What a joke.’

Magic is still magic.

It can't beat a person.

Do you think I can't kill this? It's just a fake, and even though it looks like that, it's very weak.

It will probably end with a single stab to a vital point, just like before.

Moreover, there was a crossbow with an arrow loaded nearby. It seemed like a child's crossbow, which I could use without much trouble.

I held the crossbow and aimed it at the fake Sharent Clown's forehead.

The fake Sharent Clown didn't move, as if to prove that it wasn't dangerous, even when I pointed the arrow at it.

‘Just shoot it.’

All I had to do was pull the trigger, and the arrow would be fired.

It was a crossbow made for a child, so the recoil wouldn't be severe.

‘Shoot.’

All I had to do was pull the trigger.

But for some reason, my finger wouldn't move easily.

When I didn't pull the trigger, the fake Sharent Clown spoke again.

Why does it have to be such a handsome face? Yeah, it's all because of that face.

"Liar."

"..."

"I trusted you."

The fake Sharent Clown said.

"Shelina, you don't have to push yourself. If you're troubled, I'll handle it."

The real Sharent Clown, standing a step behind, said with his arms crossed. Honestly, it was an unnecessary interference.

"I can do it."

I insisted stubbornly.

How can I move forward if I can't overcome such a trial?

This isn't something to be afraid of. It's something that will naturally happen in the future.

Yeah, it was something I had to overcome alone, without anyone's help.

‘I have to do it.’

Because no one will help me.

I took a deep breath and tightened my grip on the crossbow.

Bang!

The moment the crossbow was fired, something beside me leaped out and cut the arrow in half. It then sliced the fake Sharent Clown's neck with a horizontal slash.

The fake Sharent Clown's body blurred and disappeared instantly.

A red rhombus-shaped gem rolled on the ground.

This was the third gem, including the black gem obtained from the second shelter.

When the fake Sharent Clown disappeared, two doors appeared in the shelter, which had been empty.

I bent down to pick up the gem and approached Sharent Clown.

"I could have done it alone."

"Maybe. You did shoot, after all."

His voice was subtly cold.

When I looked up, Sharent Clown was putting away his sword, looking displeased.

There were so many questions I wanted to ask, but he remained silent.

"Let's go."

"…Are you angry?"

"Maybe."

His answer to my question was still cold.

I hesitated, thinking that seeing himself die in front of him must have been unpleasant, and then shook my head.

There were two doors: a blue one and a pink one.

Instead of keyholes, there were devices to insert three rhombus-shaped gems.

I inserted the gem into the blue door.

Click, the lock opened, and the door swung open.

When we entered the fourth door, the space changed again. This time, it was a magnificent, beautiful, and vast garden.

The garden, filled with beautiful butterflies and the scent of flowers, seemed leisurely under the sunlight.

It was hard to believe it was a subspace, with so many insects and trees.

As I took a step into the garden, words slowly appeared in the air.

Garden of Honesty - Tend the garden.

Your intimacy is a mere 8.79%! It seems the distance between parent and child is far.

Intimacy grows when you are sincere with each other. Ask and answer questions.

A new life is born in the garden when the other tells the 'truth'.

However, if you lie, a monster will be created and ruin the garden. Be careful! Also, take turns asking questions. Good luck.

What is that strange thing at the end? Is it a rabbit picture? Damn rabbit.

‘I’ll definitely turn it into a bear.’

The words began to fade slowly.

Sharent Clown, who seemed to have read the content, lowered his head with a more sinister expression.

Perhaps he was trying to hide his emotions so they wouldn't be visible.

‘What is this...’

I only provided the blueprint.

The court mage, who made the modifications and adjustments, was the one who created it, so I couldn't know the details.

I stared blankly at the room, which had become barren and desolate, leaving only dry earth.

Sharent Clown remained silent, not saying a word.

* * *

"What is that?"

"Have you seen something like that before?"

"Is it a new trial?"

As Sharent Clown's room changed, the entire Colosseum became noisy.

This was already the second change.

Ever since the usually gentle and playful gatekeeper got angry, everyone had their eyes glued to Sharent Clown's video feed.

They held their breath and watched the fourth trial, which had changed strangely again.

Many people were familiar with the game, which was held regularly, but this was the first time they had seen such a case.

The murmurs were so loud that even the emperor could hear them.

The empress, Esmeralda, frowned under her veil.

"Empress, did you make any changes to the design for this game?"

"I didn't. It seems to be the gatekeeper's doing. The gatekeeper is designed to make its own judgments to some extent. It won't exceed the danger level."

The emperor nodded at Esmeralda's explanation.

She was somewhat knowledgeable about magic, though she was more skilled in the study of magic rather than using it.

"Indeed, he's an interesting child, whether in the ruins or now."

"Hehe, I'm more concerned about Sharent Clown being angry."

The emperor chuckled at the empress's words. He reached out and lightly wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her slightly toward him.

While it was common for the emperor and empress to have separate seats, the emperor had prepared a seat where they could sit together.

The absurd reason was that the empress's health was fragile and needed to be monitored, but no one could argue with that.

"Is teaching the youngest clown fun?"

"Yes, he's very clever and a bit calculating, but he seems to love learning, so it's enjoyable."

"That's good to hear."

The emperor let her lean comfortably against him and turned his gaze back to the video feed.

Everyone in the Colosseum was holding their breath, watching the video feed of Sharent Clown and Shelina Clown.

When Shelina Clown tied the rabbit's ears and angered the gatekeeper for the first time, the entire Colosseum burst into laughter, and it seemed the special prize was already decided.

‘He is a bit... subtle, though.’

The way he found the path in the ruins couldn't be dismissed as just hearing the voice of the ruins.

And just now, he didn't hesitate to raise his sword and kill the Griffin.

‘He was left in the care of a maid and neglected, they said.’

He must have been a headache for the proud Clown family.

A half-breed, born outside and with an unknown mother.

Upon investigation, there were quite a few actions that were hard to believe were those of a child.

Using magic was one thing, but he had also attempted to kill other children, almost in a torturous manner.

Moreover, he had run away on his own, causing Sharent Clown to wander for a considerable time.

‘Most importantly, the owner of the artifact.’

A child who had just been born couldn't possibly meet the conditions of the artifact.

And the killing intent and malice when using the artifact were so vivid that it was hard to believe they belonged to a child.

"I'm curious."

"About what?"

"I'm curious about what kind of child Shelina Clown is."

And why Sharent Clown, who must feel this strangeness even more deeply, is pretending not to notice.