Chapter 58: The Show is Over But Trouble Begin
Because the laughter is loud enough to make people outside the tent hear it, they decided to buy the tickets and watch the show. Little by little, the empty seat is filled with new audience.
Thomas who watched the seats is filled, is extremely happy. Usually a circus never have full seat. There"s always some empty seats. But if we continue like this, we might be able to fill all the empty seats.
For me, the strongman already left and there"s no one to make fun of anymore. But soon come the contortionist. Unlike the big strongman who has just left, she"s really thin. The contrast between both performers make the audience curious about what she will do.
The contortionist entered the stage carrying my greatest enemy. Balloon filled with helium. There are also some staffs entered with her to prepare the props for her performance.
Seeing the balloon, I pretended to be afraid of it. When she politely give me the balloon, at first I rejected it. But finally I reluctantly accepted it. This one has a string attached so I grabbed the string. The balloon floated without me having to lift it up myself. I make a happy expression and the audience laughed at me.
As I grabbed the balloon, she moved her hand to grab her own head. Then she makes a jump and spin 180 degree while keeping her head in the same position facing the same direction. Which makes her neck is turned 180 degree.
Everyone gasped seeing that. Including me. Then she makes many other extremely difficult moves to make the audience left in awe.
Finally, her last performance is using bow and arrow with her leg in difficult position as she shot the arrow to the balloon I was holding. I pretended to act like I"m really scared and looked like about to leak out. I run away from where I stood several times until she can"t take it anymore and force me to stand there.
I covered with my eyes with the hand which not holding the balloon as she shot the arrow.
It"s a bullseye!
I heard the balloon popped and I see that she hit the target. Again, everyone"s applause fill the entire tent.
After that, although I wasn"t on the stage the entire time, the audience is satisfied with many of the other performers. The strongman also come out a few times to a.s.sist other performers. And whenever both of us on stage, we acted like mortal nemesis. It was interesting for the audience to watch a rivalry between me and the fierce looking strongman.
I also did what I said during my entrance test. I walk on a tightrope and fall into a cart full of merchandise which was brought by the strongman to advertise the circus. Then I come out of fine except that I wore a red dress. At first everyone panicked because of my fall. But when they see me come out wearing a dress, it turned into a laughter.
By this time, all the seats are already filled. No more empty seats.
I gestured to the staff that the safety net need to be placed while I was being chased by the strongman. Not expecting that the tightrope walkers are already on the rope on each side of the rope.
The staff tried to tie the net faster in case someone falls again. But the truth is no one will fall. It was only for the audience to think that there won"t be any danger.
But the two walkers are already in the middle of the rope with their balancing pole before the net is fully prepared. Everyone gasped, but when they see that one of the walker crouching, while the other one is climbing the crouching one so they both can reach the other side safely, there"s another thunderous applause from the audience.
Finally, we reached the climax. The trapeze artists.
They did a simple switch from one swing to another as a warming up. Everyone already amazed with their skills but it"s not the real thing yet. Of course I have my turn here as well.
I climbed on one high platform. Both hands are grabbing the bar on the swing and I swing on it. It feels good to just swing, but that"s not what everyone want to see.
The trapeze artist on the other side, is hanging with his leg on the swing to receive me. And so as I jumped over to the other swing, I actually letting myself fall to the safety net. Everyone gasped in shock seeing I jumped too soon.
The net was actually adjusted so that when someone actually fall, the net will break the part where the net is tied to. Which makes the net unusable anymore.
I was safe from the fall, but I pretend to panic seeing there are still many people above doing some acrobatics move. Making the audience looking at the same spot.
Then I pretend to freeze with their awesomeness while I"m still caught in the net and sat on the ground. They did some awesome acrobatic move up there without thinking about falling.
After finished doing their moves, they stood on the platform and gave bow to the audience. That performance make the audience gave a standing ovation toward us performers. Someone even yelling my stage name, Clarence, over and over again.
Finally the show is over with all of us performers bowed to the audience following Thomas instructions. But something big happened as the audience is still clapping.
Someone entered the tent without tickets to announce something horrifying.
"The orcs are attacking! There are dozens of orcs attacking outside the city!"
And so the audience who were just happily enjoying the occasion, panicked o her the news. Then from the top of my lung, I yelled.
"CALM DOWN!"
It was so loud that everyone stopped screaming and looked at me.
"Calm down! They"re still outside the city! What you need to do now is to calmly go home and lock the door until it"s safe. Just walk out there calmly, while making sure you won"t block the way of the hunters and guards who will go out there to defeat the orcs. Do that, and I"m sure you will be safe. Now calmly go out the tent, and do what I said. And thank you for watching. Good night!"
In the end, it was me who closed the show. Everyone also calmly leave their seats and went home.
"Since there"s monsters coming, we should go back to the inn. We can clean up this place tomorrow. What about you, Roy?"
"I…"
As I was thinking about what to do, the Hunter"s Card in my pocket is beeping. I always carry it even in this clown costume. It"s a signal from the guild that there"s an emergency quest and all hunters should go to the guild unless they want their rank to be dropped or have a sound reason to why they didn"t come.
I turned to Thomas and the others saying that I already have a plan.
"Well, since it"s beeping I already know what I"m about to do."
"About your payment, we"ll talk tomorrow."
"Okay! Good night! Be safe!"
"Wait! You"re going to the guild wearing that?"
"There"s no time!"
With that, I left the tent. And outside the tent, there"s three girls waiting for me. They were Angela, Kayla, and Sophie.
"I knew you will come if we waited."
"Where"s the other?"
"They already went home. Victoria is with them. Saying that once she get home, she will grab your spear. So when you summoned her, the spear will come along."
"Cool. Did you enjoy the performance?"
"It was great."
"You were amazing!"
"It was hilarious seeing you on bad term with the big guy."
It was Kayla, Sophie, and Angela respectively who answered. I knew my rivalry with the strongman is the most memorable part of the show.
"Then, let"s go to the guild!"
"Wearing that?"
"Yes!"
It must be funny for other people to see three girls and a clown running to the guild.
As we reached the guild we hear someone quarrelling.
"You just run away leaving your friend to their death, and luring the orcs here? Are you a clown?"
Hearing that remark, I can"t just let it go. I kicked the door to the guild open and entered.
"Wait! Even a clown is better than that! Don"t insult a clown unless you know the guy better!"
I see one of the A-rank hunter that tried to flirt with the girls three days ago, and an overbearing man who seems to be a high ranked hunter as well.
"Who are you?"
"My stage name is Clarence the Clown!"
"Alright. Since I already know who you are, I"ll call you a r.e.t.a.r.d!"
"There you have it! You only insult a clown after knowing him. Do you even know the guy whose collar you"re grabbing?"
"I don"t know yet. I just know what he did is wrong. I apologize for insulting clowns."
Seems like he"s cooled down with our stupid conversation. That"s good now we can have a proper discussion.
Good thing I"m here still in my clown costume.