Chapter 9
Inside Division 13’s Shining City branch, the air felt heavier than usual.
The meeting room was full. Every seat was occupied—
except one.
Julia’s.
She had requested leave.
To rest.
Captain David stood at the head of the long table. His gaze moved slowly across his subordinates, steady and unreadable.
“What do you think about this Grim Mirth?”
Hubert answered first. His massive frame nearly overwhelmed the chair beneath him.
“Based on Julia’s report, he likely possesses an illusion-type ability.”
His voice was deep and certain.
Leo leaned back in his chair, arms crossed behind his head.
“I don’t think it’s that simple,” he said lazily. “Whatever Grim Mirth is… it’s not just an illusion.”
Alfred adjusted his glasses.
“I agree.”
He paused briefly before continuing.
“She didn’t miss because her aim failed.”
Another pause.
“She hesitated.”
The room grew quieter.
“She experienced fear,” Alfred continued calmly. “Sudden. Overwhelming. Every time she tried to strike.”
Hubert frowned.
“Or it’s simply a level gap. Grim Mirth might just be stronger. Julia has only served for a year.”
Silence settled over the table.
Then David spoke.
“For now, we classify his ability as illusion-type.”
His tone carried quiet authority.
“A written report cannot fully describe what she experienced.”
He folded his hands behind his back.
“What concerns me… is whether he poses a threat to this city.”
The industrial district incident lingered in everyone’s mind.
Smoke.
Ruin.
Panic.
“We still don’t know if he is connected to yesterday’s attackers.”
Low murmurs spread through the room.
Leo shrugged slightly.
“He didn’t kill Julia. That already separates him from the factory terrorists.”
Hubert scoffed.
“Not killing someone doesn’t make him harmless.”
A brief pause.
“He left her traumatized.”
David’s expression hardened.
“Until further information is obtained—”
He paused deliberately.
“Grim Mirth is classified as a C-Level threat.”
Silence followed.
“If Julia struggled…”
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David’s gaze sharpened.
“…then he is not low-tier.”
That statement alone ended the discussion.
David straightened.
“Leo. Observe him if he appears.”
Leo lowered his arms.
“Just observe,” David continued. “No reckless engagement.”
“Report immediately.”
Leo nodded slowly.
“…Understood, Captain.”
“Meeting adjourned.”
Chairs shifted.
Footsteps faded.
One by one, the officers left the room.
Soon—
only David remained.
Silence returned.
“Haaa…”
A long sigh escaped him.
Julia’s trembling voice echoed faintly in his memory.
The hoarseness.
The fear she tried to hide.
“You should blame me,” he murmured quietly.
“Not yourself.”
His fingers pressed against his temples.
“If I hadn’t arrived late…”
His grip tightened slightly on the armrest.
Though he appeared to be in his thirties—
Captain David was eighty-six years old.
Awakening had extended his lifespan.
Preserved his youth.
But regret remained untouched.
“I’ll visit her tonight.”
He rose slowly.
“And ask more about Grim Mirth.”
Elsewhere—
inside a modest apartment washed in fading afternoon light—
“Huff… huff…”
Jack lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
His body felt heavy.
Drained.
“Why am I still this exhausted…?”
He had collapsed into sleep immediately after returning from the church.
Yet the fatigue refused to leave.
A dull ache pulsed behind his eyes.
Memories surfaced.
The woman.
The attack.
“Who was she…?”
His brows furrowed.
“Was she connected to the man who killed this body?”
He stared blankly at the ceiling.
“If she were his partner…”
“…she wouldn’t have warned me.”
A moment passed.
“Good thing I bought the Talent first…”
He reached for the system interface—
And suddenly—
laughter erupted.
A distorted circus melody echoed through his mind.
Then came the laugh.
Broken.
Sharp.
Like a thousand shattered bells ringing at once.
Jack shot upright.
Cold sweat slid down his back.
He scanned the room.
Empty.
Only the floating interface remained.
But something was different.
Changed.
[Best Professional Clown System]
[Name: Jack Wilson]
[Points: 965]
[Talent: Fear Carrier Lv.1]
[Skills: Card Trick (Expert), Magic Trick (Proficient), Throwing Knives (Proficient)]
[System Shop] [Inventory]
The interface shimmered in crimson, black, and muted gold.
Like a circus stage waiting for its performer.
Jack frowned.
“Why did it change…?”
He opened the shop.
[Talent]
[Skills]
[Accessories]
He selected Talent.
Three options appeared.
[Dream Carnival Lv.1 — 10,000 Points]
[Comic Stage Lv.1 — 10,000 Points]
[Joy Bringer Lv.1 — 10,000 Points]
Jack’s eyes widened.
“What the hell…?”
“Everything increased tenfold?”
He inhaled slowly.
“So the tutorial is over.”
At least there had been one.
Otherwise reaching ten thousand points would have been impossible.
His gaze lingered on the final entry.
[Joy Bringer: The host becomes a bringer of happiness.]
Silence filled the room.
“I’m a clown.”
“A clown should hear laughter… shouldn’t he?”
“But the system doesn’t care.”
“It only cares about reaction.”
He exhaled slowly.
“This one feels closer… to what a clown should be.”
Then doubt surfaced again.
“…But isn’t that the opposite of Fear Carrier?”
“What would I even use it for?”
He checked the Skills tab.
Nothing had changed.
Then he opened Accessories.
At first—
nothing unusual.
Then the items appeared.
[Playing Cards — 125 Points]
[Tarot Cards — 125 Points]
[Smoke Bomb — 200 Points]
[Jester Cane — 300 Points]
Jack’s eyelid twitched.
“Did the clown system become capitalist?”
Even the cheap items had inflated.
Except one.
The unicycle.
Unchanged.
Jack stared at the list.
“…Should I test something?”
Curiosity won.
He purchased the cards.
[965 → 840 Points]
A set of metal playing cards formed in his hand.
Thin.
Light.
Deadly.
He flicked one.
Shhk—
The card embedded itself deep into the wall.
Jack stared at it.
“…A weapon disguised as a prop.”
“But I can’t use this on stage.”
He imagined blood beneath bright lights.
The image made him uneasy.
Yesterday—
seven hundred points.
Earned through fear alone.
Normal performances earned far less.
“…Because I traumatized her.”
Silence lingered.
Jack slowly lay back down.
“My head still hurts…”
Soon, sleep claimed him again.
Night fell over Shining City.
Moonlight washed across quiet streets.
Captain David stood before a modest house, carrying a small bag of food.
He rang the doorbell.
Ding… ding…
“Coming…”
The door opened.
Julia blinked in surprise.
“Captain!?”
David smiled gently.
“I told you. Off duty, call me Uncle.”
He reached out and patted her head.
Julia immediately slapped his hand away.
“I’m not a kid.”
David stepped inside anyway.
“Hey! I didn’t invite you!”
The living room was neat.
Too neat.
Every light in the house was turned on.
Even the bathroom.
As if darkness itself were unwelcome.
“Hm,” David muttered.
“I expected a mess.”
“Hmph. What kind of person do you think I am?”
Julia crossed her arms.
“Why are you here?”
“To check on my niece.”
A brief pause.
“You’re fine?”
“Of course.”
Her voice sounded steady.
Too steady.
David’s expression softened.
“Are you really?”
Julia’s fingers tightened slightly.
“I…”
Her eyes trembled.
“Julia.”
His voice lowered.
Gentle.
“Are you okay?”
Her composure shattered.
Tears slipped down before she could stop them.
David stepped forward and embraced her.
“You’re safe now.”
His arms tightened around her shoulders.
“Your uncle is here.”
Julia finally broke.
The fear she had buried all day spilled out in quiet sobs.
David held her silently.
From now on—
he swore—
no one would make her cry again.
Outside—
the moon watched quietly.
And somewhere in the city—
the spotlight was shifting.
For the first time—
Jack was not the one holding the lamp.
