Advent of the Three Calamities

Chapter 752: Well deserved rest [3]

The white sun blazed in the sky.

A second sun flared into existence, just as pale, its brilliance surpassing the real one as the air around it grew hotter and heavier.

"What’s going on?"

"....It feels so hot."

"It’s almost as bad as the Crimson Shade."

"Uk! My eyes!"

Noel’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the second sun. Just one look was enough to blind one’s gaze, but to Noel, this was of no concern. His eyes repaired just as quickly as they melted.

He could also feel his strength increase now that he was in the mirror dimension.

Within the white sun, a figure stood.

He stared down at the world.

Although Noel wasn’t connected to his heart, it was almost as if he could feel his own heart palpitating in his mind.

Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump!

This was no longer the outside world.

This was the mirror dimension.

And within the mirror dimension... Dawn was a completely different being.

He was like the sun.

Radiant and inexinguishable.

"Shit..."

Noel quietly cursed under his breath as he pulled his gaze away. He had to get away quickly!

But even though he knew that, it was too late. He was too injured. He had long lost his energy.

The sun blazed.

A radiant glow burst down from above, landing right on the spot where Noel was.

His figure vanished completely.

Every little trace of his body faded. Almost as if he had never existed in the first place.

"....!?"

"...!"

It was all so fast that nobody even had the time to react. No words. No screams. Absolute silence.

But then—

Swoosh!

They too started to fade as the sun shone down from above.

Everything under its ’gaze’ faded completely from existence. In just a single breath, a small chunk of the safe station completely disintegrated.

The sun was bright.

It was hot.

And it was unforgiving.

***

"And so I was like, what the hell is going on?"

"Hahahaha."

"Haaaaahahahaha."

The crowd roared with laughter.

Some slapped their thighs, some slapped the table, and some even spilled their drinks. They seemed to be really enjoying the show.

In the dimly lit room where a man stood on a small stage, laughter could be heard everywhere.

"....."

’What is this shit?’

I didn’t find any of it funny at all.

If anything, this was boring. The guy was sharing stories of his past. Most of them were probably fake, too. It was just that his scenarios were so absurd and his mannerisms were so exaggerated that it seemed funny.

It wasn’t funny at all.

"Hehe."

Even Leon was laughing. I narrowed my eyes.

’This is disappointing to see. I’ve always known that he’s got a terrible sense of humor. This confirms it.’

"...This is not all. Do you know what she said to me after I said goodbye to her?"

The laughter suddenly died down as all attention fell on the man on the stage.

There was a moment of suspense.

And then—

"On second thought, let me stay a little longer. As if she didn’t stay at my place for the past two days. I guess I was that good, eh?"

"Hahahaha."

"Hahahahahaha!"

"Oh my god!"

"Haaarrr!"

"....."

Paid actors!

Everyone present had to be a paid actor.

How was this nonsense funny at all?

I looked at Loen and then Linus. Both of them were struggling to contain their own laughter.

As if noticing that I was looking at them, both turned in my direction. Leon covered his mouth as he tried his best to hold his laugh back. Linus simply lost the will to laugh after looking at me

I gave them a look before looking back at the show.

’Competition my ass... They’re not on my level.’

Crossing my arms, I leaned back on the chair and waited for the show to end. Talk about relaxing... I felt more stressed just being here. I would’ve much rather have spent the time training.

’...I shouldn’t have trusted Leon. Just when I thought he had actually had a good idea.’

What a disappointment.

What a di—

"Hey, you."

The place suddenly turned quiet. When I raised my head, I saw the host staring directly at me. I blinked a couple of times before looking around me. He was talking to me?

I pointed at myself.

"Yes, you."

"Yes...?"

Was something wrong?

The man leaned forward a bit, squinting his eyes to get a better look at me under the dim lights of the small place.

"I’ve been noticing for quite some time, but are you not satisfied with my performance?"

"Oh."

I was that obvious?

I didn’t really know how to reply. I didn’t want to come off as rude. In the end, I was just about to reply with, ’I’m just not feeling well today,’ when the host spoke up again.

"You’re not going to tell me you’re not feeling well today, right?"

"Huh?"

The man cracked a smile.

"...That’s what everyone who reacts like you says. Don’t think you’re special."

"Hahaha."

"Hahahaha!"

The crowd laughed as the host looked at them while pointing at me.

"Take a look at this guy. Does he think I don’t have any experience in this? I’ve met my fair share of people like him. They’re all the same. You’re like the same dude just swapping out different outfits. Like mannequins in a clothing store. Same expression, different shirt."

The crown roared with laughter again.

Even Leon was laughing. He was probably laughing not because it was funny, but because I was the one being targeted.

Linus was no different.

I licked my teeth.

’Looks like the people here are living too comfortably. Time to increase the taxes.’

"Haha. I’m just joking. I hope you don’t take it seriously."

No, but I did.

"In any case, care to tell me what you don’t like about the show? Is it the jokes?"

"...Yes."

I didn’t hold back this time.

"I didn’t find them very funny."

"Oh?"

The host looked at the crowd and made an exaggerated expression while mumbling to them, ’He doesn’t find me very funny. I’ll be damned. And here I thought the money I gave all you to laugh at me was enough.’

His mumbles were followed by subdued laughs.

"Ehm."

Clearing his throat, the host looked back at me.

He motioned with his hand.

"In that case, if you don’t think I’m funny, what do you think about going up here yourself?"

Clank!

The table shook slightly. When I turned my head, I saw Leon staring at me with wide eyes and a pale face. He instantly shook his head, seemingly terrified.

"No, don’t do it."

I ignored him and stood up.

"No, Julien..."

Desperate, Leon reached for my shirt. I swatted him away.

"Let go of me."

"No, don’t..."

Leon started to shake. I ignored him and went up on the stage. The lights were bright, and it was hard for me to see everyone’s faces properly.

That didn’t really matter to me.

I didn’t need to see their faces. All I needed was to hear their laughter.

"Are you ready?"

Standing next to me, the host gave me what appeared to be a small device as he clipped it to my shirt.

"This will amplify your sound so that everyone can hear."

"Oh."

I nodded before turning my attention back to the crowd. Before I could start, the host spoke, "Haha. Well, sir, over there! There’s no need to leave just yet! This segment will just be small. And who knows, you might be in for some entertainment."

As he said those words, all attention turned towards the door where a certain individual stood, his body frozen in place.

With a stiff face, Leon turned back.

"Ah, well... It’s not that I don’t want to—"

"Just a few jokes. It’s nothing much."

I said softly while staring at Leon. Of course, that wasn’t what I was actually saying.

’Sit down or you’re never flying with the dragon.’

Leon’s face turned complicated then. In the end, with slumped shoulders and with slow and unsteady steps, he sat back down on his seat while covering his face. Linus leaned closer to him to make sure he was okay.

"Are you feeling sick? Did something happen?"

I no longer paid attention to him and looked at the crowd.

Warming up my voice with a few sounds, I began my show.

"I’ll tell you all a construction joke. Do you want to hear it?"

The crowd remained quiet.

I didn’t mind and just continued.

"No takers? Well, it’s fine... I’m still working on it."

I cracked a laugh right after that.

Fucking funny!

"...."

"...."

Strangely, the place was quiet. I didn’t care and just continued.

"Let me tell you all something funny about my life. There was a time when I used to hate facial hair."

I reached for my face and stroked it.

"But then it grew on me."

I slapped my thigh.

I was too fucking funny!

"...."

"...."

And yet, for some strange and unknown reason that I couldn’t understand with the life of me, the place was entirely quiet.

I stopped and frowned.

’Why is nobody laughing? This doesn’t make sense.’

My delivery was also brilliant. I wasn’t the problem.

Narrowing my eyes, I looked at Leon again. He was white as a ghost, his face scrunched up. Linus, on the other hand covered his face with both hands. As opposed to Leon, he looked red.

His shoulders also looked to be shaking.

’As expected. Leon’s the problem. Linus definitely finds this funny.’

I felt a lot better when I saw Linus.

Still, seeing how dead the crowd was, I decided to cheat a little. I used the fifth level and scanned the room.

"....!?"

I almost shouted in surprise when I saw the number of red orbs present.

The hell...?

"Who is this guy?"

"....What horrible jokes!"

"Get him out!"

They all soon started to jeer at me. I stared at the scene with wide eyes. Jeer...? Me?

"My ears are fucking bleeding. Holy shit."

"Is this part of the skit? Fucking horrible."

"Haha, everyone."

Seeing the situation turning sour, the host stepped up, but I stopped him.

Looking around, I clenched my teeth.

"Why did the scarecrow win an award?"

The room turned silent again. I could see the red orbs growing. I pressed my hand down. The red orbs fade. In their place, green orbs appeared.

"Because he was outstanding in his field."

"Hahahah."

Everyone roared with laughter.

I scratched the side of my face.

"Thank you. Thank you."

I continued.

"Why don’t skeletons fight each other?"

I pulled my hand up further. The green orbs increased.

"They don’t have the guts."

"Hahahaha!"

The roar of the laughter was even louder. They were laughing so hard they were crying.

I stared at the scene with a smile.

’Now this is how things are supposed to be.’

I nodded to myself again before telling another joke.

The crowd roared again, and I smiled happily.

Fair enough, Leon.

This was indeed a well-deserved rest.

"Someone save me!"

"...H-help!"