I Became The Academy’s Joker Character

Chapter 24

—–CROW—–

The day of the freshman party arrived.

The party started in the evening and continued late into the night. Fortunately, the next day was the weekend, but the midterm exams were only a week after the party. This brutal scheduling, reminiscent of university festivals, made my teeth grind. If it was a party, let us enjoy it as a party.

“Hello.”

“Uh… Yeah, hello.”

Early morning. While patrolling and checking the traces left by the [Hades King] the previous day, I ran into Marie. She still seemed gloomy, like a walking corpse. I hadn’t expected her to greet me first. I was always the one to initiate conversation when we crossed paths, so this situation was a bit disconcerting. After all, wasn’t I practically stalking her, checking the traps she’d set? If she’d realized that, it would be incredibly awkward.

She wouldn’t report me, would she?

“Patrolling this early in the morning?”

“I’m on the disciplinary committee.”

“Doesn’t suit you.”

“Really? Other people say it suits me.”

Mainly Eleanor, who would yell indignantly after being apprehended by me. Was my gaze so intimidating that it could prevent crimes before they happened? Despite saying that, I was getting used to Eleanor’s unpredictable antics, which were impossible to stop. Now, I would be bored if she *didn’t* cause trouble.

“I came to say hello to you today, too.”

“Why?”

“I’m trying to say hello to everyone I know.”

It was blatant. She was blatantly tying up loose ends, acting as if she were about to die. Marie knew that if she followed the [Hades King]’s plan, she would be killed.

How pathetic.

“Really? How many people are left?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why…?”

“There are a lot.”

“You have a lot of friends?”

“I don’t know if they’re friends, but I know a lot of people.”

“I, I see.”

I was a little surprised. She acted like she was quiet and friendless, yet she knew more people than I did. I shouldn’t think this way, but it was somewhat humiliating.

“That Noah introduced them to me.”

“Really?”

Why didn’t she introduce them to me? More importantly, Marie’s eyes seemed to hold more life than when we first met. It was probably because of Eleanor, the mood maker and (future) most popular person in Scientia, that she was able to draw Marie in. Or perhaps she was swept up in Noah’s whirlwind of trolling.

“It’s thanks to you.”

“I don’t understand what you mean by that.”

“You told me to speak up for myself. That’s why I know so many people now.”

“Really? Then I guess it is thanks to me.”

“Haha…”

I joked. This approach was probably better for Marie now. Since she’d mustered up the courage, I should make her feel comfortable.

“So, will you tell me your name?”

“I’m quite famous, didn’t you know?”

“Are you narcissistic?”

She suddenly hit me with that… I hadn’t expected her to say that, and my head spun from the unexpected criticism.

“…I’m Oz Quabadis.”

“I see.”

“And you are?”

“Huh?”

Marie tilted her head. It was a doll-like gesture, but there was a hint of humanity in it. This was also thanks to Eleanor’s prior efforts. Things might be easier than I thought.

“What’s your name?”

“Didn’t you know my name? You clearly knew it when we first met…”

“Are you narcissistic?”

“…But you definitely knew it last time…”

“I’m kidding.”

I wished she wouldn’t make that bullied hamster face. It made me feel like a bad guy.

“Still, you should introduce yourself in situations like this.”

“Is that so? Then I’m Marie. Marie Sistus.”

“Alright, Marie Sistus. Since you came to say hello to me, I’ll come to say hello to you next time.”

*Flinch.*

Marie shuddered at my casual reply. Her inner thoughts were so transparent that I couldn’t even laugh. She must have thought there wouldn’t be a “next time” for her.

There was tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow. Considering the midterm exam schedule, there was still a week left. Yet, her reaction was obvious.

This greeting was her final farewell.

“Prepare your answer for when we meet next time.”

“…Answer?”

“Yeah, think about what you’ll say when I greet you.”

Marie remained silent. She couldn’t answer. It meant she was so honest that even a small lie was difficult for her.

“You can just say ‘hello,’ or you can prepare something special.”

That’s why she was trembling, clutching the hem of her skirt, as if in pain. But I wasn’t going to stop.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“…”

My current goal was to make her want to live.

“Then see you next time, Marie Sistus. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Leaving Marie, who was still hesitant and unable to answer, I went to search for the traces of the [Hades King] she’d scattered early in the morning.

* * *

Parting the Red Sea.

That was the best way to describe how I felt right now. No, was it two phrases? Anyway, the students were avoiding me, keeping a distance of one or two meters.

It was already evening after checking the traces Marie had left and patrolling. Students were flocking towards the banquet hall where the freshman welcoming party was being held. I hadn’t seen this many people before, probably because I mostly interacted with combat students. I’d also never seen so many people avoid eye contact with me, lowering their heads as they passed. I’d never experienced this in my previous life either. What was going on?

“…This is surprisingly hurtful.”

Honestly, I thought Oz, being handsome, would be popular. I’d even looked forward to it. But I hadn’t expected to be avoided to this extent. Was social status this difficult? Or was my gaze with [Observation] active that unsettling? Or was it because I’d pulverized Professor Gerard like cookie dough? Honestly, there was no excuse for any of it. But I couldn’t deactivate [Observation]. I was, after all, currently fulfilling my duties as a member of the disciplinary committee. I hadn’t intended to act like such a goody-two-shoes, but it couldn’t be helped. There was a reason I had to show this side of myself.

*Crack*

My neck, twisted by Tia, was still stiff. Considering the trouble I was about to cause, if I didn’t earn some brownie points now, it might actually get ripped off. The only advantage was that I didn’t have to push through the crowd. I found solace in the ease of movement, allowing me to comfortably observe my surroundings.

“Ah…”

Then something caught my eye. A girl with silvery-blue hair and a white dress. The blue accents, similar to her hair color, suited her well. It was somewhat plain compared to the attire of nobles and royalty, but it was captivating. Yes, not just me, but everyone’s eyes were drawn to her. Was this the power of the protagonist?

No, absolutely not.

“What’s that…?”

It was because of the massive greatsword strapped to her back, which clashed horribly with her dress. What was she planning this time?

* * *

Eleanor was elated by the large crowd. She was overjoyed that so many people were looking at her at this moment.

“Noah.”

“…?”

Eleanor turned towards the voice. An armband on their shoulder. A member of the disciplinary committee, her enemy. The moment Eleanor saw that, she prepared to flee.

“Eek?”

“…You’re being blatantly suspicious again today.”

But the moment she tried to run, she was grabbed by the shoulder. Caught off guard by the natural response, Eleanor finally looked at the person who’d grabbed her.

“Master…?”

“Yes, Noah. What are you planning to do?”

This was… betrayal. Eleanor was shocked to see Oz, who had promised to hang out with her at the freshman party, wearing the disciplinary committee armband.

“What are *you* doing here, Master…?”

“Patrolling. This is my area.”

“I’ve been had…!”

“Had by what?”

Eleanor’s dramatic exclamation was filled with various emotions. The gap in the disciplinary committee’s patrol route, which she’d confirmed beforehand, was a trap. Moreover, Oz, who had promised to hang out with her, was working for the disciplinary committee. What did this mean?

‘I can’t believe the Saintess would use such underhanded tactics!’

She’d been careless. She shouldn’t have assumed Arieta would be the one caught off guard. Eleanor was disgusted by her own naiveté. Eleanor had been the one to strike first, but that wasn’t important now. In the end, Eleanor had been completely outmaneuvered by Arieta. That was the only thing that mattered.

‘What should I do?’

It was a moment of decision for Eleanor. Her plan to hang out with Oz was already ruined. The Oz she knew was dedicated to his duties.

‘Then I have to at least succeed in turning the party into chaos.’

Eleanor made that calculation in a split second.

“Noah, don’t try anything funny.”

“Ugh!”

But Oz was faster. Eleanor, attempting to flee again, was completely subdued by him. He no longer had any chivalrous notions of ladies first. Oz seemed to see Eleanor only as a potential criminal.

“…Master, you’re a mage, so how can you use joint locks so naturally?”

“Noah, we must always live diligently. Learning is important. Have you learned your lesson?”

“That sounds nice, but it’s not very inspiring.”

Eleanor’s eyes, like a fish caught out of water, began to rapidly lose their sparkle.

“There’s a hole in my perfect plan…”

“I don’t understand what’s so perfect about it.”

Eleanor narrowed her eyes at Oz’s indifferent response, expressing her dissatisfaction. Of course, since she was being restrained with her arm twisted behind her back, she couldn’t directly show him her displeasure.

“How did I get caught?”

“Well, you’re too conspicuous. You stand out even from afar.”

“…”

“What, are you sulking?”

“No… That’s not it…”

Eleanor hung her head. That unfamiliar feeling was tickling her again, like last time. Oz’s words referred to the massive greatsword, but Eleanor couldn’t care less about that now.

Eleanor whispered, a strange mix of emotions swirling within her.

“Does that mean you’re always watching me?”

“Huh…?”

After uttering those words, Eleanor lowered her head even further, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar feeling. Then she saw the massive greatsword between her legs.

“Ah…”

Eleanor finally understood what Oz had meant. It was humiliating. Beyond humiliating.

‘I want to die!’

Eleanor alternated between recalling her own words and Oz’s, tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn’t live like this. She just wanted to die. Eleanor, who had always satisfied her desires through pranks, was experiencing this kind of misunderstanding for the first time.

“Isn’t it obvious?”

But then, an even stronger emotion swept over her. Eleanor, who had been hanging her head, jerked it up as if she’d been electrocuted.

“How am I supposed to prevent your pranks if I don’t keep an eye on a troublemaker like you?”

Oz continued speaking, but Eleanor couldn’t hear him anymore.

*Isn’t it obvious?*

Only that phrase echoed in her ears. Eleanor stopped resisting Oz’s grip on her wrist. She couldn’t muster any strength.

‘What is this?’

It was an unfamiliar feeling. A feeling she couldn’t get used to. Eleanor still couldn’t understand what it was.

It was strange and uncomfortable, but… not bad.

“Sigh…”

Eleanor took a deep breath. She couldn’t look like this. She always had to maintain an excessively cheerful demeanor. It was easier to attract attention that way. Acting was nothing to her. The moment she finished taking a deep breath, she regained her composure.

“Sigh… Master, let me go now. I won’t run away.”

“Alright.”

Oz readily agreed to Eleanor’s request without suspicion. Eleanor almost lost her composure again at his casual trust, but she managed to hold on by fiddling with her wrist and averting her gaze.

“Sigh… The plan’s failed, then.”

Muttering that, Eleanor plopped down on a nearby bench and gestured for Oz to join her.

“First, hand over the greatsword. You can’t bring such a dangerous object into the party hall.”

“Dangerous…? I even decorated it with a ribbon. See? Isn’t it pretty? Disentra said blue suits me.”

“Who’s Disentra?”

“My attendant… I mean, she’s like a sister to me.”

“Really?”

Eleanor covered her mouth with her hand and corrected herself. She’d almost blown her perfect act. Unfortunately, Eleanor was the type who thought her clumsy acting was flawless.

“No, more importantly, if you were going to decorate it, shouldn’t you have wiped off the blood first? Whose blood is this, anyway?”

“Baekyang’s. I accidentally injured her during practice.”

“You’ve been working hard, then? Even injuring Baekyang.”

“Ugh…”

Eleanor narrowed her eyes at Oz’s arrogant attitude. It could be taken as dismissive, but for some reason, she didn’t feel offended.

‘That’s what’s bothering me.’

And the fact that she *wasn’t* bothered was bothering her. It was baffling.

“I’ll hold onto the greatsword… You can go to the party if you promise not to cause any trouble. What do you say?”

Eleanor considered it. Since her plan had been exposed, the chances of it succeeding were low. So, she’d already abandoned it when she was caught. Therefore, making that promise wasn’t a problem.

“…I can’t promise that. I’ll cause trouble again.”

“Are you crazy?”

But Eleanor lied. And she was surprised by her own absurd lie.

“I’m 100% guaranteed to cause trouble if I go to the banquet hall, so you’ll have to keep an eye on me, Master.”

“…”

“Even now, while I’m being held by you, the attention that should have been on me is fading. How am I supposed to make up for this loss?”

“Your shamelessness is astounding…”

“Heehee.”

Eleanor swung her legs playfully on the bench and reached out to Oz, who was sitting next to her. She flinched for a moment when her hand touched his cold cheek, but then she boldly cupped his face, turning it towards her.

“Master, you might not know this, but I need people’s attention.”

Eleanor needed attention. She couldn’t help it. After being forgotten by everyone in her kingdom, she’d become obsessed with the gazes of others. Many people had to see her. They had to remember her, acknowledge her. Yet, now… Even now, with so many people coming and going, with so many gazes intersecting…

“So, today, I’ll be satisfied with monopolizing the attention of the famous Successor of the Mage King, my Master.”

The gaze of a single person seemed to be enough.

—–CROW—–