Yurakne quickly moved to the seat next to Wonderstein.
Before the two old n left, they clenched their fists towards her.
It was a clear show of support.
She suppressed the laughter trying to co out with both arms covering her mouth.
"Uhuhu, I didn't expect it at all… Thank you, thank you."
Her arms attached to her back and waist tried to flutter with joy.
She barely suppressed it and said,
"But did you know Sven was over 90? I've heard he's old… Have I been abusing the elderly by hitting him so much?"
Wonderstein looked at her like a child and burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, well, don't believe the clown's words too much. It could just be a joke."
Na: Sven
Age: 59
Favorability: 20 (Next reward: Favorability 30)
Title: Skull Clown
Occupation: Clown
Trait: Inspira-Clown's Falsehood
Target: Sven's Audience
Effect: The target exerts a weak hypnotic effect on people other than the mbers. The effect is nullified if used while laughing.
Requirents: Sven's Favorability x15
Three weeks ago, thanks to the promise to help the mbers, their favorability all exceeded 15.
Sven received Inspira at that ti.
Clowns were different from acrobats.
While acrobats were admired for their 'success', clowns received applause for their 'failures'.
Perhaps that's why the blessings they received were sowhat twisted.
Just looking at Sven's Inspira was enough to tell.
He had never deceived the audience with lies.
Instead, he seed to enjoy telling obviously false lies to elicit reactions like "Does that make any sense?".
Perhaps because of that.
By lying, he ended up receiving the blessings that people believe his lies.
Even Gascon, who didn't lose in verbal sparring with Ella, was completely drawn into his lies; whenever he spoke without a hint of laughter, Gascon nodded absentmindedly.
It seed very effective for light jokes.
"That aside, it's been a while. Being alone with the leader."
Yurakne naturally pulled his arm and linked arms.
If it was Ella, Wonderstein might have felt discomfort and awkwardness.
It wouldn't have been different with Anais.
And might have pushed Maya away.
But Yurakne pulled off this approach as if it was a natural rhythm.
Her smile and gaze, though sowhat hesitant, seed to make it impossible for the other party to push her away, but rather to embrace her more.
This was why Gascon rated her so highly.
The tactics of a woman who once got hold of a man and even led him to marriage.
It was sothing the other three didn't have.
"I've been busy too, you know. I should've given Gascon a break now and then. In Luz, I made sure to have tea with you once a day…"
Wonderstein said regretfully.
Yurakne, expecting this, took out sothing from her bag.
"Ta-da! I knew it so I brought tea! Surprised?"
What she held out was a red thermos.
What Anais had given her was split in two by the Grim Reaper's scythe.
So he hadn't been able to drink tea for a while.
Even after arriving at the villa, he had barely managed to have a cup when it coincided with her ti.
"He was such a tea lover…"
Yurakne heard that he hadn't asked Anais for a new thermos.
It seed a bit shaless to demand a thermos for tea while a healer was requested because Ella was ill.
She had been saddened by the sight of him carrying around the thermos every day.
What's inside is my tea!
Should I shout that out loud, to the point of impulse?
Yurakne heard that he didn't ask Anais for a new thermos.
It seed a bit shaless to demand a thermos when requesting a healer for Ella.
She had been saddened to see him carrying the thermos he had been given by Lady Vergsong every day.
What's inside is my tea!
Should she shout like that, it was almost an impulsive urge.
But here was the opportunity.
Wonderstein accepted the thermos she handed over with a welcoming smile.
He missed having tea these days because he got used to it when completing the quest.
Drinking it made him feel relaxed.
She didn't know that he could overco the crisis thanks to the tea she brewed.
"I know you've been holding back for my sake all this ti. But I do have ti to make a cup of tea for the Director. Please feel free to ask anyti."
The villa they were staying at belonged to a nobleman with ties to Anais.
The villa had caretakers, security guards, and servants, but they had all been given vacations and sent away.
They were employees of the nobility.
They were different from the staff of a first-class hotel.
They couldn't hide their contempt and hatred for the mbers of the Monster Circus.
So Yurakne personally prepared als for the mbers and cleaned the mansion.
The ratn helped, but it was not easy to train for exams and do physical training at the sa ti.
"I'm fine. The Director is also busy with Ella's affairs… And… making such a promise to us."
Promise.
Wonderstein's hand, which was carrying the cup to his mouth, stopped at the word.
"Can we really get out of this body?"
"…We'll have to try."
As a habit, Wonderstein checked the quest notification window again.
The mber quest still didn't appear.
Kirku still judged the mbers' wish as 'impossible'.
"Oh, it's not that I don't believe in your abilities! But… I just… think it's okay to stay like this."
Wonderstein recalled that she had only passively responded when he had said he would heal their bodies. Was it because of her calmness or simply because she didn't want it?
"Miss Yurakne, are you feeling better now?
"Oh, no. I want to be as normal as possible… But if there are side effects to the treatnt…"
"Side effects?"
Her tone in her last words was different from before.
There was a sharp yet sowhat poignant emotion in it.
She bit her lip and clenched it.
Her story could be helpful information for the treatnt research he was conducting.
But he couldn't bring up that story.
It contained mories that were too painful for her, ones she didn't want to reveal to anyone.
That was when it happened.
The timing was good, the sound of a horn was heard.
"Get out, get out!"
"No, really, we're teenagers!"
"Yes! Really! We're 17 years old!"
At the entrance to the hall, two n were grappling with the guards.
Yurakne looked at the two and made a puzzled sound.
"Hey, those two…"
"It's been a while."
The two n arguing with the guards were the cody duo Allen and Jo that he had t in Luz.
They were urging to be allowed to take the entrance exam by bringing fake IDs claiming they were 17 years old.
"Then at least show so sincerity by shaving off that tiny mustache!"
"No way! Don't you dare shave it off!"
"I'm serious!"
With a swift grab of their backs, Professor Yakovlev caught them and escorted them out.
Behind them, their companion, snake handler Suab, covered her face in embarrassnt with her hands.
"That's unacceptable, you idiots…."
During the brief commotion, all preparations for the exam were completed.
A man with a pale complexion, dressed in a black suit with a black cloak, stepped onto the stage.
"Well then, let's begin the freshman selection exam! I am Professor Legault, in charge of supervising the exam."
Although similar to Wonderstein's attire, he differed with a red-lined cloak and a red bow tie, and his coat was raised high.
With his appearance, the students also entered.
They each took their places in pairs in front of 100 equipnt of 25 different kinds.
They were the assistant invigilators for today's exam.
The examinees, dressed in gym clothes and sneakers provided by the school, stood at the starting line.
Those who ca purely for the exam wore turquoise gym clothes, while those from the circus wore pink gym clothes.
Regardless of the type of examinee, no one approached Reyna Maguire's vicinity.
An aura that was untouchable emanated from her.
Then, a black-haired girl in pink gym clothes stood right next to her.
Reyna remained unfazed.
She had anticipated that soone would co to challenge her to so extent.
It didn't matter who it was.
She would just reveal her skills.
Reyna calmly glanced at the girl who stood before her with an imposing attitude.
"Could you move aside?"
Despite the intimidating deanor, she didn't seem to falter, which indicated that she wasn't just any ordinary girl.
"Why? Are you scared of being compared?"
Reyna chuckled lightly and then averted her gaze from her.
Verbal sparring would only tarnish the dignity of a "Golden Libra."
Showing her skills was enough.
Bang.
With the starting signal, the students poured into the auditorium.
So dashed towards the equipnt right in front of them.
So strategically sought out equipnt that suited them.
And so hesitated in the middle, observing the situation.
They ca in all shapes and forms.
Reyna headed towards the equipnt on the innermost side.
There was no other reason.
She was simply drawn to the side with fewer people at the mont.
"She's quite fast."
Reyna briefly glanced at Ella, who was sticking close to her.
Although Ella seed smaller than her and was about 20 cm shorter, her leg muscles were unusually elastic. Her running posture and movents were perfect.
Reyna admired inwardly but was not surprised.
It was a competition among the world's top circus troupes.
Having such talent was only natural.
Even so, no one could defeat her.
Surely there wouldn't be another newcor like Charlie who deviated from the norm.
Reyna chose one of the equipnt on the inside.
It had a mark indicating ground skills.
Ground skills required patience, perseverance, endurance, and stamina.
Such quick types might excel in tightrope walking, but they often showed weakness in ground skills. Enjoy new stories from empire
Reyna intended to demonstrate the difference in skill to the girl who confronted her.
"asurent apparatus number 19. 'Self-Goalkeeper'! Let explain the rules."
The rules were simple.
It involved catching balls shot from a giant slingshot.
Zero points for failing to catch the ball or if any part of the body except the soles touched the ground.
Even if the ball was not blocked before the line drawn on the ground, it still resulted in zero points.
The score depended on how close to the line in front the ball was blocked.
"Get out of the way! This isn't a sport for girls like you!"
A rough-looking guy in pink gym clothes stepped forward.
He arrived panting almost at the end of the explanation and squeezed in front of Reyna and Ella.
Given his nervous gaze and hasty actions, he was clearly a mber expelled due to skill.
There was no reason to refuse to show a demonstration.
Perhaps Ella thought the sa as she allowed him to go first like Reyna did.
"Hmph. I'm fortunate it's this kind of test. I lack a bit of finesse, that's all. Strength doesn't easily disappear."
The man put on gloves and stood on the X mark.
Twang.
The slingshot made of rubber and rubber stretched as if it might break.
The students turning the crank cast glances at the man, and he nodded in return.
The latch of the crank snapped open with a bang.
Simultaneously, the ball shot out like a bullet.
Even though he was expelled, he still had the skill to compete in the Circus Grand Prix.
He caught the ball with both hands without falling or missing.
He looked around.
People were staring at him in astonishnt.
He chuckled and tossed the ball to the ground.
His palm was slightly grazed, and his thigh felt sore, but it was bearable.
"It's nothing, Lekachep! If only my family was wealthy, I would've passed here when I was young."
However, his confident smile quickly faded.
"Beep! Self-goal! 0 points! You crossed the line!"
"What?"
Perplexed, the man looked at the ground.
From the X mark where he stood, a trail of rubber sole marks stretched out, clearly indicating that he had crossed the line despite being told not to.
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