episode_0081

If I were to make my own excuse, I simply forgot to tell Yerika that I wouldn’t be able to call.

Originally, I had planned to finish my disguise as Cardinal and call Yerika before going to sleep.

But unlike my plan, even though Cardinal appeared, the Necromancer’s subordinates didn’t show themselves.

‘Then couldn’t you have just called her after you finished your disguise and entered your room?’ one might ask.

That was impossible because Professor Alicia had remained in my room, preparing for the Necromancer’s subordinates to arrive.

The communication orb rang, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring.

Even as I made excuses in my head, the communication orb seemed to have no intention of stopping, ringing incessantly.

Half in fear, half in worry, I answered the call.

The fear that she had been calling for four hours.

The worry that she wasn’t calling because of some problem.

[………. Clown-nim?]

After I answered the call and a brief silence followed, Yerika spoke cautiously.

“Yes, it’s me!”

I said it cheerfully, to let her know I was alright.

[Phew, I’ll call you right back, so make sure to answer. Got it?!]

After hearing my voice, Yerika let out a sigh of relief, then shouted in an angry voice before disconnecting the call.

‘But why would she bother calling again?’

The communication orb rang, ring, ring.

And just as Yerika had said, the call came right back, and only then did I understand her reason for calling again.

When I had just spoken to Yerika, we could only hear each other’s voices, but now we could see each other’s faces; it was a video call.

“Did you want to see my face that badly?”

[………………]

Even at my joke, Yerika said nothing, staring intently at me with a scrunched-up expression.

I also stared at Yerika, who was staring intently at me.

With beautiful blonde hair and mysterious golden eyes, Yerika wore little makeup, as if she didn’t need it. She was already beautiful.

Perhaps because of her smooth skin, her furrowed brow was even more noticeable.

Perhaps because of her fair skin, the slight dark circles under her eyes were noticeable.

[Could you stand up for a moment?]

“Of course. It’s not particularly difficult.”

Yerika stared at me, who had stood up, even more intently than before.

[Haa….. Thankfully, you’re not hurt.]

I don’t know why, but Yerika leaned her head back on the chair as if her tension had released.

“But why did you call at this hour?”

[Are you calling that a question? Do you know how worried I was!]

Oh? I guess I said the wrong thing.

[Clown-nim kept not answering calls long after the usual time we talk, so I called Lucas Oppa, but Lucas Oppa kept not answering either!]

Yerika continued speaking without a moment’s pause.

[Because of Clown-nim, I couldn’t sleep and kept worrying, and you ask what I called about? Are you messing with me?!]

It seems those dark circles were caused by me.

[Haa…… Haa…..]

Perhaps exhausted from speaking so many words so quickly, Yerika was breathing heavily.

For reference, the reason Lucas couldn’t answer was because I had snuck Lucas’s communication orb.

And because I had been continuously talking to the Emperor using Lucas’s communication orb, I didn’t know Yerika was calling.

‘Oh? So, was it all my fault?’

[How much I worried…. Hmph!]

Yerika let out a hmph and turned her head to the side, as if to show she was sulking.

Indeed, if Yerika, with whom I talked daily, suddenly stopped answering calls, I would worry too.

Anyway, ‘hmph’! I shouldn’t, but she was so cute I felt like a laugh might burst out.

‘No. I must hold back.’

If I really laughed here, it’s clear Yerika would sulk even more.

Thinking I needed to cheer Yerika up first, I thought of things Yerika might like.

Things Yerika likes…………

Come to think of it, Yerika diligently searched for the Phantom Thief Cardinal, didn’t she?

Though I don’t know why she was looking for him.

And today, Cardinal appeared.

To be exact, I appeared disguised as Cardinal.

Still, with this, wouldn’t I be able to cheer Yerika up?

I told Yerika that Cardinal had appeared today.

[That’s not important right now!!]

Yerika slammed the desk, speaking. The screen shook, showing how hard she had hit it.

It seems she had placed the communication orb on the desk.

[Haa… If you won’t be able to talk like today in the future, please tell me beforehand. I was really worried.]

Yerika sighed once and said with a soft smile.

Actually, we hadn’t made a separate agreement to talk every day. But somehow, as we kept talking, it became natural to talk every day.

Of course, I also had no intention of stopping talking to Yerika.

“If I won’t be able to contact you in the future, I’ll tell you beforehand. Shall we disconnect now?”

I looked outside, where darkness enveloped everything.

It was dawn now, and it was usually time for both Yerika and me to be asleep.

[What? We haven’t talked much today, can’t we talk a little longer?]

Yerika looked at me with eyes like a puppy caught in the rain.

No one could refuse after seeing that look.

[Are you very tired?]

Yerika asked cautiously, in case I was tired.

Seeing that, the corners of my mouth automatically lifted.

“Not at all. So what should we talk about? Shall I tell you about Cardinal?”

[Tell me about that tomorrow. As punishment for making me worry, Clown-nim can’t ask questions today and must only answer mine.]

Seeing Yerika act spoiled like a child, the corners of my mouth refused to fall.

“So what will you ask? Ah, is this also a question, so I shouldn’t say it?”

[Hehe, I’ll let that much slide, specially for you.]

Yerika placed both hands on her waist and said, as if she was being generous.

[Clown-nim, do you have any separate plans for vacation?]

It was a more ordinary question than I expected.

Anyway, vacation. There was no particular reason to hide it, so I told her the truth.

“I haven’t particularly thought of anything.”

[Hmm. I see.]

Yerika nodded, as if pleased with my answer.

[Clown-nim, you’re sorry to me, right?]

It was a somewhat out-of-the-blue remark.

“I am, aren’t I?”

I answered, though I felt uneasy, because it was indeed regrettable that I had caused her worry by not answering her calls for four hours.

[Then, could you help me just once during vacation?]

“Of course I can help, but is there anything I can help with?”

Yerika is the Imperial Princess.

Whether it was military power, wealth, or authority, she could obtain anything she desired.

[Of course. This is something only Clown-nim can do.]

Yerika said with a benevolent yet somewhat ominous smile.

* * *

“Where is Baron Ashro?”

In the morning, the special class students gathered, and Sepia asked Professor Alicia.

“As a result of my investigation at dawn, I found out that the drugs Cardinal left behind belonged to Baron Ashro.”

Professor Alicia casually blurted it out, but the students were dumbfounded, their mouths agape.

Indeed, even though I, disguised as Cardinal, had said the drugs belonged to Baron Ashro, it would have been difficult to believe a thief’s words.

“Then what should we do now?”

The person who asked Professor Alicia a question this time was Lucas.

Lucas told me earlier that he had received his communication orb from Professor Alicia.

“There’s no longer a need to undertake missions, so we’re returning to the academy.”

“Eek! We’re not going by wyvern again, are we?”

Frederic recalled the memory of riding a wyvern yesterday and trembled.

“Of course. Is there a problem?”

“Ah, no. No pro— problem at all.”

Thwack!

“Eek!”

“Don’t worry. This time too, I’ll kindly throw you onto the wyvern’s back. Haha!”

Kuran slapped Frederic’s back with his palm and said.

The sound was very loud, but Kuran seemed to have controlled his strength, as Frederic didn’t appear hurt.

Although Frederic screamed, it wasn’t from pain, but from being startled.

“Yaaawn~”

I yawned, watching the students chattering behind me.

Last night, or rather, at dawn, I talked with Yerika without realizing how much time had passed.

I didn’t stay up all night, but I certainly didn’t sleep for a long time either.

Even though I’m so sleepy now I could fall asleep standing up.

Even so, I had no regrets.

Even if I went back in time, I would probably still talk to Yerika.

“Hogu, sleepy?”

Perhaps having heard me yawn, Sepia appeared before me and spoke.

“I didn’t sleep well. By the way, how long are you planning to call me Hogu?”

Ever since I gave her the threads for free last time, Sepia had continuously called me Hogu.

“What’s wrong with Hogu? It suits you well.”

Spirits that had appeared unnoticed climbed onto my head.

“Hogu, anyway, the midterm exam is coming soon. Are you confident?”

Just now, Sepia emphasized the word ‘Hogu’ as if to tease me.

‘Anyway, the midterm exam……’

Once the midterm exam, consisting of written and practical parts, is over, I can finally create a club.

This means it’s time for my Clown Alliance club to finally show itself to the world.