Chapter 7
The streets of Shining City were quiet.
As a small town with a relatively low population, there wasn’t much activity—especially in the morning. The sidewalks were nearly empty, and the distant hum of traffic sounded muted beneath the clear sky.
Along the pavement walked a man in a colorful costume.
White makeup covered his face, and the soft ringing of bells followed each step.
Jack adjusted his gloves slightly as he walked.
“…Now then,” he murmured, “how should I begin my experiment?”
“Excuse me, sir.”
Jack turned when he heard the voice.
A man stood a few steps away, with a small girl hiding shyly behind his leg.
“My daughter really likes your costume,” the father explained with a polite smile. “And… it seems she wants to take a photo with you.”
Jack’s expression brightened immediately.
“A photo with me? Of course.”
“Thank you.”
The man gently nudged the girl forward.
“Come on, sweetheart. You said you wanted a picture, right? Daddy will take it.”
The girl slowly stepped beside Jack.
Jack lowered himself to her height so they could stand side by side. The father raised his phone and snapped the picture.
The girl turned to return to her father—
but Jack called out softly.
“Wait, little girl.”
She stopped.
“Would you like some candy?”
The girl’s eyes brightened, and she nodded immediately.
“Alright then,” Jack said cheerfully. “Hold out both hands and clench your fists tightly.”
“After I tap them with my magic wand…”
“…a candy will appear in your palms.”
“Ready?”
He reached into his inventory and pulled out his wand.
To the child, it looked as though the wand had appeared from thin air.
Her eyes widened in amazement as she clenched her fists tighter.
Jack tapped each hand gently with the wand.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The girl suddenly felt something inside her palms.
Her eyes widened as she opened her hands.
Two candies.
One in each palm.
For a moment, the child simply stared.
Then her mouth opened in wonder.
Even her father, standing nearby, looked stunned.
“Wow… how did you do that?” he asked in disbelief. “That doesn’t look like normal magic tricks at all.”
Jack laughed lightly.
“Hahaha…”
“Well then, I hope we meet again.”
“Yes! Goodbye! And thank you for the candy!”
The girl waved happily.
Jack continued walking down the street, leaving the father and daughter behind—still puzzled about how the candy had appeared.
Jack chuckled quietly to himself.
“Haha… her expression was priceless.”
Truthfully, frightening mischievous children had always been amusing.
But moments like this were different.
Seeing genuine joy on a child’s face—
that was another reason he had enjoyed being a clown.
[Congratulations, Host. You have gained 15 points from your performance.]
[Points: 930 → 945]
Jack blinked.
“…Only fifteen points.”
That was only half the reward he had earned when entertaining the crying child at the park entrance.
The situation had been almost identical.
Two spectators.
A simple trick.
Yet the reward was smaller.
“So it really is about emotional change…”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Jack narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
“The audience’s emotional shift affects the points.”
Then another idea crossed his mind.
“So if a performance fails…”
“…but the audience experiences a strong emotional reaction…”
“Would I still gain points?”
He rubbed his chin.
“And if I intentionally make a mistake…”
“…to provoke stronger emotions…”
“Would that earn more points than doing everything perfectly?”
A second realization surfaced.
Using skills felt easier now.
The mental cost from the candy trick had been almost negligible.
His proficiency was improving.
“…Good.”
Jack smiled beneath his makeup.
“Alright.”
“Let’s find the next audience.”
He continued walking, the faint ringing of bells following him through the quiet streets.
Throughout the morning, Jack entertained passersby.
Small laughter echoed along the sidewalks.
Curious stares followed him.
Coins occasionally changed hands.
Cards vanished from palms.
His points rose slowly—
like the hands of a clock creeping toward noon.
By midday, Jack had gained forty-five points.
But a failed trick in front of a couple cost him twenty-five.
[Points: 945 → +45 ?25]
[Points: 965]
[Best Professional Clown System]
[Host: Jack Wilson]
[Points: 965]
[Talent: —]
[Skills: Card Trick (Expert), Magic Trick (Proficient), Throwing Knives (Proficient)]
[System Shop] [Inventory]
Only thirty-five points away.
Jack leaned back against a bench along the sidewalk.
“…Finally.”
“I’m almost able to buy my first Talent.”
“And now I know something important.”
“A failed performance causes point loss.”
Just as he finished that thought, two young women approached him.
“Excuse me… are you Mr. Grim Mirth?” one of them asked.
“Yes,” Jack replied with a graceful bow. “I am Grim Mirth. You may call me Mr. Grim.”
The first girl gasped excitedly.
“Wah!! I can’t believe we found you again!”
“I told you he was sitting here!” she said to her friend.
The second girl giggled.
“Hehe, you were right. Good thing I listened.”
“Um… Mr. Grim, could we take a photo with you?”
“We were part of the audience yesterday at the park.”
“Yes! And I still have the card from your performance!”
The second girl pulled a card from her bag.
Three of Hearts.
Jack’s smile widened.
So they had been among his first spectators.
He agreed, and they took photos together.
Then Jack added with a playful tone,
“As fanservice… how about I do some juggling for you?”
“Really?”
“That would be amazing!”
They knew exactly what his juggling involved.
Not colorful balls.
Knives.
Sharp ones.
Jack reached into his inventory and pulled out the blades.
Soon the knives were dancing through the air.
People nearby slowed their steps.
Curiosity drew them closer.
The small gathering began to grow.
Across the street, a woman noticed the forming crowd and walked toward it.
Jack observed the gathering audience carefully.
Then he made a decision.
This would be his final experiment.
“…Let’s see.”
“If I perform perfectly…”
“But add a touch of ‘accident’…”
“…will the system reward me more?”
The knives spun through the air.
Then—
two blades collided.
KRANG!
The metallic crash echoed sharply.
Everything stopped.
For a heartbeat—
the knives hung in the air.
Then gravity took hold.
They began to fall.
The crowd froze.
No whispers.
No movement.
Even the air felt heavy.
Breath held.
Eyes wide.
A silence so thick—
it pressed against the lungs.
Then Jack moved.
Without hesitation.
He threw the final knife upward.
High.
Spinning.
At the same time his other hand snapped forward.
Two falling knives dropped toward him.
He caught them.
Clean.
No fumbling.
No panic.
Just control.
Then the last blade descended.
Straight down.
The entire crowd watched.
Frozen.
Jack raised his arm.
Snap.
The knife landed perfectly in his palm.
For half a second—
silence remained.
Then the crowd exploded.
Cheers erupted.
Applause thundered.
Whistles pierced the air.
Relief flooded through the spectators as the tension shattered.
Jack stood calmly at the center.
Still smiling.
Even though his heart pounded violently in his chest.
Even though his palms were damp inside his gloves.
“…Hoo.”
“That was close.”
He bowed gracefully.
The bells on his costume chimed softly.
The crowd roared even louder.
[Congratulations, Host. You have gained 300 points from your performance.]
[Points: 965 → 1,265]
Jack narrowed his eyes.
“…So it’s true.”
The stronger the emotional turbulence in the audience—
the greater the points.
But he also understood the risk.
He couldn’t repeat this too often.
If people realized the mistake was intentional—
the trick would collapse.
Jack continued bowing to the crowd.
Not far away—
a woman with short black hair watched silently.
She wore formal clothing.
Around her neck hung a dog tag.
Engraved on its surface was a single number.
Her breath escaped slowly as she stared at Jack.
Predatory.
Focused.
“Hahaha…”
“Found you.”
At that exact moment, Jack felt a sudden chill crawl along his spine.
But standing before the audience—
he maintained his cheerful smile.
“Everyone, thank you.”
“But since I don’t wish to disturb public order…”
“I will stop here.”
After saying goodbye—especially to the two girls—
the crowd slowly dispersed.
Jack walked away feeling exhilarated.
“Hahaha…”
“Finally.”
“I can buy my first Talent.”
He glanced around.
“I should find a quiet place to purchase it.”
“…and test it immediately.”
A thought crossed his mind.
“There’s an abandoned church on the edge of town.”
“And it’s on the way home.”
Jack began walking toward it.
Unaware—
that the woman had begun following him.
Her smile widening.
When Jack finally reached the building, he paused outside.
The structure looked old and weathered.
“…It resembles churches from my old world.”
“Just with a different faith, perhaps.”
He wasn’t sure.
This body held no religious knowledge.
Seeing no one nearby, Jack pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Dust covered the prayer hall.
Cobwebs clung to the corners.
Broken stained glass loomed above the altar.
Jack walked forward and opened the system interface.
[Best Professional Clown System]
[Host: Jack Wilson]
[Points: 1,265]
[Talent: —]
[Skills: Card Trick (Expert), Magic Trick (Proficient), Throwing Knives (Proficient)]
[System Shop] [Inventory]
Jack’s eyes lit up.
He opened the Talent section.
[Fear Carrier Lv.1 — 1000 points]
[Dream Carnival Lv.1 — 1000 points]
[Comic Stage Lv.1 — 1000 points]
Jack hesitated.
Dream Carnival could turn dreams into performances.
Comic Stage could manipulate situations during a performance.
In the end—
he chose Fear Carrier.
Not only would it help him earn points—
it could also protect him.
Even if it only frightened enemies.
That alone was worth it.
Jack pressed the option.
[Are you sure?]
[Buy] [Cancel]
He hesitated briefly.
Carrying fear sounded… sinister.
But survival came first.
He pressed Buy.
The abandoned church remained silent.
Dust floated through thin beams of light.
Broken stained glass cast fractured colors across the floor.
Jack stood alone before the altar.
The system window glowed before him.
Bright.
Alive.
[Installing Fear Carrier — Level 1]
The letters burned crimson.
Deep.
Unsettling.
Like fresh blood behind glass.
Jack’s pupils reflected that red light.
“Installation Complete.”
The message lingered.
Flickering slightly.
Unstable.
Jack exhaled slowly.
He could feel it.
Something new inside him.
Cold.
Patient.
Waiting.
Before he could test it—
before he could even move—
a sensation crept across his back.
Cold.
Sharp.
Not quite pain.
Not quite touch.
But precise.
Like the edge of a blade resting between his shoulder blades.
Or—
a gaze.
So sharp it felt like steel.
The air behind him shifted.
Subtle.
Controlled.
Predatory.
His heart thudded once.
Heavy.
Then steadied.
A voice spoke behind him.
Calm.
Female.
Close.
“…Don’t move.”
Silence swallowed the church.
Dust hung motionless in the air.
The crimson system window flickered—
then vanished.
Leaving only the cold presence behind him.
And the faint ringing of bells—
that had not moved.
