[You’ve mastered exceptionally skilled circus techniques, even reaching a level where you’d be invited to perform for a country’s royal family, thereby successfully activating the hidden Black Iron Level profession badge "Colorful Clown"]
[Colorful Clown: A special comedic performer commonly seen on stage, in circuses, carnivals, etc., typically wearing oversized shoes and flamboyant, contrasting garments, and usually possessing some juggling skills, using their own awkwardness to entertain the audience.]
[Effect when worn: After years of diligent research and careful practice, your skills in portraying the Colorful Clown have reached perfection. You’re adept at tricks, and even your everyday actions carry a humorous clumsiness that delights onlookers.]
[Advancement path: None]
[Hidden trait (without need to wear): No one guards against a lovable fool; while performing as a clown, everyone’s vigilance towards you will greatly decrease.]
"See, I told you he’s a clown!"
Seeing Leon’s colorful attire and the suddenly appearing big nose on his face, the young Andre Prince couldn’t help but laugh excitedly, then reached out to grab Leon’s arm, eagerly pulling him toward the garden platform.
"Quick, quick! Show that trick to my mother too! If you perform well... huh?"
When he got to this point, noticing something strange, the young prince stopped, puzzled, and asked:
"Where’s your magical little dagger? Did you hide it?"
Magical little dagger?
Hearing the inquiry from the young prince, Leon, currently examining the new badge, blinked in surprise.
Does the dagger refer to the [Silver Dagger of Cutting]? Wasn’t it just in my hand... Damn!
Looking at the handful of balloons he held, Leon’s mind went blank.
Where’s my dagger? It was definitely in my hand earlier!
"Looks like your dagger is gone."
Right then, a cold and distant voice suddenly emerged from the young prince’s mouth.
No matter whether it had "returned" or had never "left", the sunny-faced Andre Prince held Leon’s wrist and nodded with satisfaction at his wary expression, saying:
"That’s better; clowns should hold balloons, playing cards. Carrying a dagger, how does that fit?"
Without responding to Andre Prince’s words, Leon immediately tried to contact Youha and three cleaners from the Scorpio Branch but got no response from any of them, which made his eyes narrow. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ ɴo(v)elFɪre.ɴet
"All my abnormal objects have stopped working?"
Andre Prince continued pulling Leon toward the platform, calmly replied:
"You’re just a Colorful Clown responsible for amusement in the circus now—why would you have abnormal objects in your hand?"
"Remember, now you’re a clown my father invited, and that’s your only identity. Anything not belonging to a clown should not appear on you, nor should you indulge in behaviors that betray your identity."
"Then there won’t be a ’you’ anymore."
Facing Leon’s inquiry, the young Andre Prince spoke without turning his head:
"The canvas you are in now contains a tiny fragment of a deceased material world, and the scene depicted under my brush is the rules of this world.
Just like no real living is in the Realm of the Dead, and the deceased cannot long stay in the world of the living; according to the new rules I just painted, in this world I govern, you can only be a trick-performing clown.
If you truly perform actions that violate the rules, you’ll be rejected by the entire world like living people straying into the Realm of the Dead. Each violation deepens the rejection until the world will completely erase you, turning into a stain on the canvas."
This painting... has a fragment of a dead world?!
After Andre Prince’s response, Leon couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
No wonder [Silver Dagger of Cutting] could cut open this painting yet couldn’t maintain the "opening"; if Andre Prince’s words were true, this painting equals a greatly reduced world.
And aiming to freely cut through worlds and traverse doors, the threshold requires the True God level with 60 Contamination Value; being 1 point short, Leon could temporarily break open this world but is unable to truly escape from it...
"I said, you’d regret ever refusing me."
After glancing at Leon’s expression, Andre Prince spoke coldly:
"First, this painting is something I created for myself, and you are neither family nor friend; given a choice, I’d rather not see you here.
Second, about why I caution you against making trouble—it’s because I don’t want you to be rejected by the world and become a filthy ink stain that dirties my painting."
"Finally, your Undying Body merely prevents harm, yet this rejection stemming from world will doesn’t involve life or death, but a more thorough ’erasure.’
If you’re dissatisfied and don’t want to play the clown in my painting, wishing to test if your Undying Body could resist, then suit yourself, but I’ll let guards escort you far so the stains won’t mar the garden hosting this banquet."
After thoughtfully listening to Andre’s warning, observing the young prince’s bouncing silhouette, Leon silently donned the "Words Betray" badge and gently asked:
"Prince Andre, is that fragment of a dead world the object you obtained from the Slaughter King Association by sacrificing your entire family to ensure the Crolock royal bloodline is wiped out?"
Facing this malicious inquiry with self-breaking effect, even with Andre Prince’s notable calm, he still couldn’t help but tremble all over, and his slightly plump little hand tightened, harshly pinching Leon’s arm.
"Your Highness, you’re hurting me."
Lightly patting the young prince’s hand’s back, Leon looked at him kindly and asked:
"Did my words strike your achilles heel, leading you to release your anger at misguiding your parents’ death by scratching a helpless clown’s skin?
"It’s okay; I forgive you."
Patting the young prince’s stiffened back, Leon said softly with sympathy:
"Although you’ve matured early, to me, you’re still a pathetic giant baby, unable to face your own faults, only using creating a false world to mentally self-tend, how can I blame you?
Prince Andre, your life, from beginning to end, is a meaningless comedic farce; as a clown dressed in clown attire in your painting, you’ve succeeded in showing me what a true clown is."