Exploring Technology in a Wizard World
Chapter 479 - 478 Circus, Clown

Chapter 479: Chapter 478 Circus, Clown

Next, just as Richard had predicted, a series of troubles followed one after another: falling rocks, dead ends, broken bridges...

In this way, Richard traveled slowly and eventually arrived at a village by dusk.

The village was ordinary and not too large, with a few hundred houses scattered around roads arranged in a "field" pattern. Since it was dinner time, plumes of smoke rose from many of the houses. A group of five- or six-year-old children were chasing each other and, seeing Richard on horseback, a stranger, they seemed frightened and ran off all at once.

Richard shook his head and was about to enter the village when he suddenly turned his head instinctively to one side.

A few hundred meters away, on a dead tree, a White Crow took off and flew away.

"Still not giving up, huh?" Richard squinted his eyes and muttered to himself, "After putting so much effort into hindering me all this time, what exactly do you plan to do?"

Shaking his head again, Richard rode into the village, planning to pass through.

As he crossed a small square in the center of the village, he saw a group of people busily setting up a wooden stage. The children, who had run away in fear earlier, were now curiously gathered around the stage, looking on with anticipation. The villagers who had finished their meals were also gradually gathering around.

What was this?

Richard wondered and suddenly heard someone call out to him, "Traveler, stop for a moment!"

Richard turned and saw a thin, tall man wearing a Clown mask standing up beside the stage, his entire face hidden behind the mask as he spoke, "Traveler, you’re heading north, right? But it’s about to get dark, and the road won’t be easy to travel.

Take my advice, stay and watch our Circus perform. I assure you that you won’t regret it. When day breaks tomorrow, we can set off together, looking out for each other to ensure you have a fast and safe journey without delays."

Listening to the Clown’s words, Richard’s eyes flickered, and he studied the Clown carefully, "It seems like there’s more to your words, Mr. Clown?"

"Oh no, you’re just overthinking it, traveler," the Clown waved his hands dismissively, speaking, "As a Clown, I tend to use convoluted words to express my thoughts, which might lead to misunderstandings. But I am sincerely inviting you to stop and watch my performance. Oh, we have lions too!"

While speaking, the Clown pointed to a black-cloth-covered cage nearby, "See that cage? The lion inside is called Kuba, and he’s a good companion of our Beast Tamer Tolles."

"That one is our Circus ringmaster—Oliver," the Clown pointed to a short, plump man on the stage, introducing quite naturally.

Looking over, Richard saw a man shaped like a ball standing and directing the others in work. The man wore black pants and a white shirt, comically round with a pot belly, and his fingers were almost indistinguishable.

"That one is the strongest man among us. You can tell by his size," the Clown pointed again to a muscular man who was busy on the stage, "His name is Tain, and he often performs shows with the lion Baku."

"That one is our Coachman," the Clown pointed to an old man who seemed to have a limp, "His name is Maki. He isn’t in the best health but treats us well, cooks for us, and drives the carriage for our performances."

"Oh yes, almost forgot, there’s one last person, our beautiful lady—Amy!" the Clown directed towards a corner where a gorgeous woman in a purple dress was putting on makeup in front of a mirror, "She’s the most important person in our Circus, often performing with Tain and the lion. Many people come to see our Circus just for her."

"Alright," the Clown looked back at Richard and asked, "I’ve introduced all my companions to you. Out of courtesy, shouldn’t you also introduce yourself, traveler?"

"I?" Richard raised an eyebrow and said to the Clown, "As you can see, I am just an ordinary passerby. You may continue to call me ’passerby.’"

"Alright alright, passerby, you can also keep calling me ’Mr. Clown,’" said the Clown. "So, are you going to stay and watch our performance or not?"

"Is there any benefit in staying?"

"Just like I said before, you will get to see a splendid show, and it definitely won’t delay your journey tomorrow. Isn’t that enough?" the Clown said.

Richard fell silent because he saw the White Crow suddenly fly over and land on a cage covered with a black cloth in the distance, inspecting it somewhat.

Richard’s eyebrows shot up, he thought for a moment, and looking at the Clown, he said, "Alright then, I’ll stay."

"That’s the best decision. You definitely won’t regret it, passerby," said the Clown. "Now you can find a place to sit anywhere and wait. Once the wooden stage is ready, the performance will begin. And I need to get busy now, otherwise, our leader Oliver will surely scold people."

As soon as he finished speaking, the portly leader on the stage shouted, "Jack! Where’s Jack? Where has he gone to die, didn’t he see the Circus is short-staffed and slacking off again?"

The Clown spread his hands towards Richard, then walked backwards to the wooden stage and started working.

Richard turned his head towards a metal cage at the side and noticed that, somehow, the White Crow had disappeared.

"What’s with all the mystery?" Richard said, dismounted his horse, tied it to the side, and looked towards the wooden stage.

...

Before long, night fell, and many torches were lit in the small square to provide light.

The wooden stage was also set up, and the Circus’s performance began.

The first to take the stage was the Clown, stepping in a comical manner, performing actions that made everyone laugh and cry, and speaking witty words that kept the audience laughing incessantly.

Richard didn’t laugh; he watched serenely from the outskirts of the square, pondering the identity of the mastermind behind the scenes and what he wants to achieve using the Circus. Could it be that the Clown was the so-called mastermind? But it was odd; the other Circus members seemed quite familiar with the Clown. Or perhaps, was the mastermind controlling the Clown?

As Richard was thinking this, he suddenly saw two children—a boy and a girl, about five or six—holding hands and joyously running up to him.

"Um... sir..." the little boy looked up eagerly and asked, "Do you perform tricks?" his face full of naive innocence.

"Hmm?" Richard looked at the little boy, interested, and asked, "Why do you ask me that?"

"Because... because the Circus is supposed to have horses, and you have a horse. So, you must be with the Circus, and naturally, you would perform tricks," the little boy said, believing his logic to be flawless.

Richard spoke out, "Although I have a horse, I am not part of the Circus, so I don’t perform tricks."

"Oh, is that so..." The little boy’s eyes showed a hint of disappointment as he took the little girl’s hand and walked away.