0 – Prologue
Rain fell as if a large hole had opened in the sky.
The sound of the pouring rain seemed to herald the end of the world.
Shooooo.
The place where the academy used to be was completely destroyed, and only the sound of desperate screams could be heard instead of the students’ cheerful conversations.
A devil, treading on the debris of the collapsed academy, shouted, “hahahahaha, the Empire’s academy has crumbled in my hands.”
♬♪♬♬♬♬♬
At that moment, completely out of place, music could be heard.
Bright and cheerful music. The devil looked in the direction of the music and exclaimed, “Who’s there?!”
There was a man standing there.
Even in the midst of the situation where the academy had completely collapsed and dust was flying, not a speck of dust clung to his clothes, and his red cloak fluttered with each step he took.
But the most striking feature of the man was the mask covering his face.
The white mask, completely concealing his face, made the man seem mysterious, but the exaggerated smiling pattern on his eyes and mouth made him look like nothing more than a ridiculous clown.
“There are countless words to describe me, but for now, I’m just an ordinary clown as you see.”
The clown spoke with exaggerated gestures, as if he were an actor in a play.
“Is there a survivor? Die!”
The devil rushed at the clown without hesitation, swinging his sword, and the clown was split in half without even reacting.
“hahahahaha. Now everyone is truly dead—”
“Oh my, you’re quite fierce. Swinging your sword without a word.”
The jester, who had undoubtedly been split in half, now found themselves behind the demon.
The demon turned back and swung the sword, once again cleaving the jester in half.
“This time, you’re truly dea—”
“The jester’s delivering lines, and you interrupt. Seems this audience lacks patience.”
Time and again, the demon struck the jester, yet each time, the jester revived the same.
“Argh!! Who on earth are you!”
“I’ve said it before, yet you ask again. This audience seems not just fierce but lacking wit as well.”
“No matter how many times you revive, nothing changes. The academy is already in my hands!”
Upon the demon’s words, the jester feigned a moment of contemplation before speaking, laughter laced within their voice.
“The stage seems too real. It appears this audience might be mistaken.”
Snap.
The jester said this, flicking their finger.
As the jester flicked their finger, the landscape the demon beheld transformed completely.
The pouring rain ceased, the sun shone brightly in the sky, and the academy building stood undisturbed.
“Who are you, really?”
Unlike before, the demon’s question held not anger but a sense of dismay.
The jester bowed theatrically, introducing themselves.
“No matter how many times I say it, I’m just an ordinary jester.”
