Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Clown - Prince of Carnaval - Main Story
Chapter 1 - A Dazzling Encounter
Kingdom of Jesters, Carnaval...
In a far-out vast flower field, it became enveloped in a bright light...
MC: ...!
After I closed my eyes from that brightness, I slowly opened them...
Clown: Hm, you are...? Ah, what a beautiful woman!
MC: Eh? You are...?
The eyes of the man in the jester outfit that has just woken up sparkled brightly. His pale hair was like a gradation of a sunset turning into dawn. Also, his eyes were mysteriously dazzling.
Clown: I'm Clown. I'm a jester that brings smiles to people as a living.
MC: Clown-san...
Clown: Since it seems like I've been sleeping for a long time, you must've woken me up. To think that such a beautiful woman would be the first thing I see when I woke up, it's like a dream... It feels like I have forgotten the fact that my dreams were snatched away. You have my thanks from the bottom of my heart. Thank you very much. Well, I got to get back to training.
When Clown-san got up, he took of his distinctive silk hat and bowed with a smile.
(Even though his smile is nice, it feels like he's hiding his true face with all that makeup... But...)
The jester-like smile that Clown-san was making somehow gave me a strange feeling from the bottom of my heart.
Clown: All that's left are 3 people... Just 3 more people.
MC: 3 people...?
(What is he talking about?)
As Clown-san made a satisfied smile, he fixed his silk hat and held my hand with his white gloved hand...
Chapter 2 - The Purpose of the Journey
-Flashback-
Clown: All that's left are 3 people... Just 3 more people.
-Flashback-
(3 people...?)
Just as I became confused from those words...
Clown: In my kingdom, everyone in the royal family must go on a journey to train. The purpose of the journey is to make 100 people smile and the first person to finish their training will be recognized.
MC: 100 people...!?
While looking at me as i widened my eyes, Clown-san made a sunlike smile and winked at me.
Clown: Fufu, but there's nothing to worry about that! Just as I had 3 more people left, I got attacked by dream eaters, but then, you woke me up. It's all thanks to you.
MC: ...!!
His nicely shaped lips placed a kiss on the top of my hand. Feeling that warm sensation made my heart skip a beat.
Clown: My journey to bring smiles... Won't you join me?
As it felt like Clown-san's eyes have casted a spell on me, I returned a nod.
Clown: Then, let's go!
MC: ...!
Suddenly, he easily picked me up.
Clown: Yep, you're a girl that's light as silk. Cute, beautiful and you smell nice.
MC: C-Clown-san...
Clown-san's scent that tickled my nose was the sweet scent of makeup.
(What a strange scent...)
Aside from looking at the view from a slightly taller height than usual, I could see the side of his face up close. All of it increased my curiosity and heartbeat.
After proceeding down the main road, we arrived at a small town and we heard the sound of a baby crying.
Clown: Looks like there's someone I need to bring a smile to.
MC: Eh...?
Ahead of Clown-san's gaze, there was a mother holding her baby to her chest in a panic.
Mother: Ah, how troubling, I can't get him to stop crying at all.
Clown: You there, Ma'am, you look troubled, just leave this to Clown.
Mother: Are you a jester?
The mother's mouth went agape as Clown-san stood before her jokingly.
Clown: Now then, it's showtime!
MC: ...Wow!
Clown-san looked at the baby and pulled out a stuffed animal out of nowhere. At that moment, the stuffed animal moved and brought out various colorful flowers in front of the baby.
Baby: Goo...? Kyakya!
Mother: Oh, my! Despite that he was crying just a while ago.
Before we knew it, the crying baby was smiling broadly. As the mother was smiling as well, she thanked him and left happily. I...
///Choices///
- How did you do that? (☽)
MC: How did you do that?
Clown: It's a simple hand trick.
As I watched Clown-san's hand with great interest, the stuffed animal in his hand disappeared the next moment.
- Amazing! (☼)
MC: Amazing!
When I looked at Clown-san while applauding, he took off his silk hat and hid his mouth as he looked a little embarrased.
Clown: Fufu, this is just the beginning.
///Choices///
Clown: Of course, a magician never reveals his secrets.
As he made a mischievous smile, I became excited...
Chapter 3 - The 100th Person
Clown: Now that I've dealt with the mother, that clears it, so just two more people to go.
MC: Let's go look for the next person.
Clown-san and I entered the main street of the town to search for his next target...
Old Woman: Someone, help! Thief!
MC: ...!? Oh, no...!
Although, just as we stopped right before we entered, a thief took a woman's bag and ran off from there. When I suddenly panicked, Clown-san paced his hand on my shoulder.
Clown: That was fast, looks like I've found my next target.
(Eh, by next target...)
///Choices///
- The woman who got ambushed? (☼)
MC: The woman who got ambushed...?
Clown: No, the 99th person is... that thief!
MC: That's... That's dangerous!
Clown: It'll be okay, there's no need to worry.
When he smiled to reassure me, Clown-san stood in front of the thief.
- You don't mean the thief!? (☽)
MC: You don't mean... the thief!?
Clown: As expected, you are correct.
MC: That's dangerous!
Just as Clown-san gave me a wink from his unbaffled face, he lightly turned around and stood before the thief.
///Choices///
Thief: What's with you, move!
The thief took out a knife and attacked Clown-san. Although, Clown-san paid no mind and continued his performance while dodging the thief's attacks.
Thief: Stop messing with me!
As Clown-san was dodging the thief's attacks with mime-like movements, I couldn't take my eyes off him for some reason.
Clown: For a thief, your eyes aren't sharp. You must have some kind of good reason for stealing.
Thief: W-What!?
Clown-san nimbly took the knife out of the thief's hand. Then, he took out some flowers out of nowhere and gold coins were in the thief's hands instead.
Thief: Huh? Is this... for me?
Clown: This is quality magic, but if it'll bring a smile back to your...
Thief: ...Thanks, I guess. This'll be enough to get some medicine for Mom!
Then, the fierce-looking thief smiled happily. The next moment, a white dove flew out from the silk hat in Clown-san's hand.
Old Woman: Thank you, Mr. Jester.
After returning the bag to the old woman that was ambushed, the thief and the woman headed off in different directions.
Clown: That makes 99 people.
When I saw a light scratch on his makeup applied face, I approached Clown-san...
///Choices///
- Worry about his injury (☽)
MC: Is your injury okay...?
Just as I got closer to him, Clown-san looked at me with a surprised expression.
Clown: Were you worried about me? Thank you, but to me, something like this is...
He took out a red cloth from his pocket to hide his face with it. After a moment, he wiped his face with the cloth and there wasn't a single scratch on it.
- Hand him a handkerchief (☼)
I took out a handkerchief from my pocket and used it to wipe Clown-san's injured cheek.
Clown: You're so kind... But, I do this whenever this happens.
When Clown-san softly smiled that was different from a jester's, he snapped his fingers. Then, what I thought was an injury on his cheek disappeared completely.
///Choices///
MC: What a relief... So, you weren't injured!
Feeling relieved, I smiled at Clown-san. Then...
Clown: Yes and now, this ends my long journey of training.
MC: Eh...?
Clown: MC, you just became the 100th person!
At that moment, along with some popping sounds, colorful confetti fluttered down in the area...
Chapter 4 - A Wholehearted Smile
-Flashback-
Clown: MC, you just became the 100th person!
-Flashback-
Among the confetti that was fluttering down beautifully, Clown-san smiled at me. His refreshing smile didn't have that wonderment like from when we first met.
(Is this Clown-san smiling wholeheartedly...?)
Clown: I've made all kinds of people smile up till now and you became the 100th person with your smile... It can't be helped that the best smile that I wanted to see would be yours.
MC: My... smile?
Clown: Yes, that's right. I wanted you to make your best smile with my own hands. So, what do you think? A princess' smile being the last one is dreamy, right!
When he showed a natural smile that was different from a jester's, I...
///Choices///
- You have a nice smile too (☼)
MC: You too, Clown-san... Right now, you're making a really nice smile.
Clown: That's because of your power.
As his large eyes narrowed, Clown-san smiled jokingly.
- I like that smile (☽)
MC: I... I like that smile of yours, Clown-san.
Clown: Me, this smile?
Clown-san tilted his head to the side oddly.
MC: Yes.
///Choices///
As I became really happy, I looked at him and smiled broadly. Then...
Clown: ...!!
MC: What's wrong...?
Clown: Nothing, my jester self is just... I never thought that someone else would surprise me. Your smile has a mysterious power. Your smile is the best of the best.
Clown-san smiled bashfully. Although, he instantly went back to smiling like a jester and did a card trick with his fingers to hide his behavior just now.
MC: Clown-san, you're amazing...
Clown: Please, call me, Clown. Also, I want you to speak with me more casually.
MC: Okay... Clown.
Clown: Yes, MC.
While continuing the conversation, he continued to bring out an infinite number of cards from his hands like magic. On the back of the cards that were appearing and disappearing one after another, they all had red hearts on them.
MC: Wow...!
Then, he did a performance by turning the cards into small balls and used them to juggle with.
MC: Amazing! They're all colorful balls now.
I smiled as I said that from his wonderful performance...
Clown: ......
(Huh...? His smile turned gloomy.)
For the first time, his smile disappeared from his face that never stopped smiling once until now. The balls fell from his hands and scattered around.
MC: What's wrong?
Clown: How troubling... I-
As Clown wasn't all flustered despite how sad he was, he spoke with an indescribable mixed expression...
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