[Subquest Sponsor]
The first quest I completed after coming to this world.
Back then, I had just arrived, so everything was clumsy.
I was pushed around by the Laughing Man and even got shot.
The quest itself was simple, and the reward was small.
But the ripple effect was significant.
Not only did it activate the Main Quest Circus Grand Prix, but it also gained a sponsor to fund my travels for two and a half years.
The problem was that this quest was derived from TT3.
The enemies in TT1 and TT2 were not enemies at this point in ti.
They would beco monsters in the main storyline later on.
Currently, they were mostly ordinary people, so forming any kind of relationship with them didnt burden for the future.
Ghost Derek, for example, was a future ally, but I had to kill him.
However, the enemies in TT3 were different.
They had been connected to Wonderstein from before the main storyline.
My changed behaviour could influence them and have a direct impact that would co back to haunt .
I had to handle quests related to TT3 with caution.
But at that ti, I couldnt think that far ahead.
I had to adapt to my new body, experint at the Evolution Research Lab, and deal with the first tasks given to .
I didnt know what information Pierre had passed in the Carribean.
But it had definitely influenced the judgnt of their leader, Rabbit.
Sothing had piqued her interest.
Perhaps jealousy, suspicion, or mischief.
There were several possible reasons, but nothing was certain.
She had a relationship with Wonderstein, but she couldnt be considered a complete ally.
In the ga, her personality was whimsical, and her actions were unpredictable.
She might try to hinder one day and cooperate with the next.
Why did he spread such rumours?
To tarnish my reputation.
Anais let out a bitter laugh.
She, too, was amazed at how her uncle was manipulating her nieces love life behind the scenes.
Two months ago, I reported my uncles attempted murder to the Council. And I issued a warrant for his arrest. He fled without any excuse, which was practically an admission of guilt. So the faction on his side quieted down. They knew that if they intervened, they could be charged with complicity in his cris. But just a few weeks ago, strange rumours started circulating.
She paused here and glanced at .
It seed like those rumours were about the Circus that had damaged the rchant Unions reputation.
Dont misunderstand . Its just that the rumours are like that. So, what are they about? Well, its about a suspicious magician who hangs around , using sweet talk to cloud my judgnt and manipulate .
I inwardly sighed.
It wasnt entirely false.
After all, the original Wonderstein approached her with that intention.
They even brushed off the fact that my uncle tried to kill as a delusion. They said I was just spouting nonsense under the magicians spell.
Do people believe that?
Anais pursed her lips.
Its true that my actions may seem strange to people. A lord of a territory and the head of a rchant Union traveling with a circus The only testimony people hear is that Im always with the Ringmaster and rumours that Im deeply infatuated with the Ringmaster Thats the only thing they hear So, its inevitable that people think that way.
Well, there was no room for defence in that regard.
The owner of a prestigious rchant union ranking among the best in the world has fallen in love with an unknown wandering magician?
The reaction of sane people was that she had lost his mind.
Now I understood the murmurs of the people on the first floor earlier.
My familys directors even heard the news and sent a protest letter, telling not to do foolish things. The fact that they did that ans everyone in the business world thinks the sa way. They must believe I was definitely tempted by the ringmaster. Otherwise, theres no reason for to suddenly sponsor such an unknown circus troupe.
Her face turned bright red.
She fanned herself rapidly.
They all said Ive been emotionally unstable since my father passed away and want to lean on anyone. Hah, its ironic, considering not long ago they were praising Chairman of Vergsong as the pinnacle of the business world Funny.
At this point, I couldnt help but have one question in mind.
Even if its just a rumour with no clear evidence, why is she allowing it to spread like this?
Couldnt she have said sothing during the interview earlier?
All you have to do is deny it, right?
Why is she letting this rumour escalate like this?
Theres an effective way to handle it.
Im not involved with anyone, she could have said.
That would have easily resolved the issue.
It seed that the reason this incident had escalated to this point was because she was allowing this rumour to spread.
Before the problem grew larger by denying and trying to recover, it could have been nipped in the bud.
Anais also had nothing to worry about in her position as a sponsor, and she could defend from the rabbits mischief.
A three-pronged strategy.
However, after hearing my words, she laughed bitterly.
You an to say Im not involved with anyone?
She exhaled heavily and bowed her head deeply.
Her green hair hung like curtains, casting shadows on her face.
When her breathing finally cald down, she spoke again.
Thats right.
Her voice sounded as if it had cracked, like the dry bottom of a river during a drought.
I swallowed my saliva.
Sothing was wrong.
I said sothing wrong.
It wasnt until I spoke and she reacted that I realized it.
Even the directors pushed for to make that announcent.
She laughed.
Among all the laughter I had heard from her until now, this one was the coldest, most suffocating, and harshest.
Im not involved with anyone
She lifted her head.
Tears were flowing from her two eyes.
Her lips carried the sa sad smile I had seen several tis since yesterday.
Thats right. What kind of relationship can there be? Huhu. My relationship with the ringmaster was just a business deal
She wiped away her tears with her sleeve.
I guess I got a bit greedy.
Her smile distorted.
Slowly.
And then she smiled widely again.
Quickly.
The ringmaster didnt do anything wrong.
I wanted to deny her words.
But I couldnt think of a suitable response.
The ringmaster is a good person. He took bullets to save .
Because of money.
He jumped into the water to save a girl.
Because of favourability.
He shielded his mbers from an explosion with his body.
Because of quests.
He pursued his dream tirelessly without losing sight of it.
Because of the rewards I would receive.
I know. The director is a good person.
No, I am not.
Otherwise, you wouldnt have taken my teasing so well with a smile.
Its because of the curse.
Thank you for putting up with my antics for a month.
I should not be receving thanks.
No, its actually who should be thankful.
I just realized why she chose today of all days to reveal this.
She could appeal that she alone cant defend against the pressure and would need to withdraw the sponsorship.
Then, she could have easily obtained what she wanted.
But she didnt.
She didnt use her sponsorship as a weapon to hold captive.
Even though it was my position to kneel if she did.
The reason she revealed this on the day of the opening ceremony was that once the competition started, sponsors couldnt withdraw their support.
She was considerate of , so I wouldnt be anxious if I heard such rumours.
To her, I
Were not on bad terms, I say.
Im sorry for suddenly crying. I was prepared, but still However, hearing those words directly from the ringmaster hurts my heart.
What should I say to comfort her
My words wouldnt co out.
I just stared at her stupidly.
Just what do you think of after spending a month together, ringmaster?
I had the urge to run out of this room imdiately.
Anger and embarrassnt towards myself were fighting inside .
I should entertain the sponsor.
Why does she keep bothering ?
Love, what nonsense. It must be a misunderstanding.
I once confessed my love to a helper who used to lift my feet.
I mistook her kindness and smile for affection.
I wish she had just pushed away.
She said she was just doing the job for money.
Kindness and smiles were all just consideration for the custor.
I wish you hadnt smiled at .
I received a phone call saying they were replacing the helper.
Why did she run away like that?
I wish she had just gone back to our original relationship.
I wish you had said you didnt like .
But what if she had rejected my feelings and then continued to lift my feet with the sa smile, the sa kindness, as if nothing happened?
Wouldnt that have been even more cruel?
I guess it was more considerate to cut ties cleanly.
It took a few years to realize that.
What I did to her for the past month was not just building a wall.
It was a cowardly outburst of anger.
I was mistaken back then.
So what I am doing now is also a mistake.
But was my heart really just a mistake back then?
Didnt I like her?
Wasnt it because I wanted to deny being rejected?
I was lying to myself because I didnt want to admit that.
I couldnt understand my own feelings, yet I pretended to understand the other persons feelings and poked fun at her.
I wanted to scream loudly.
But no words ca out of my throat.
I could only smile at her quietly.
I hoped that it would be a lonely and sad smile, just like the one that seed to hang on her lips.
If not, I wanted to make it look like I was crying, even if I had to tear my own lips /CircusTL
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