The Return Of The Exiled Villain-Chapter 179: A Date With Lyra (IV)

Chapter 179: A Date With Lyra (IV)
The laughter didn’t die down immediately. It rolled through the tent in waves, mixing with claps, whistles, and amused shouts.
Gray straightened up slowly, one hand pressed to his chest as if deeply offended.
"Almost passed out?" he said loudly, peeking back at the man he had scared. "Sir, I assure you that was a professional heart attack. Very controlled."
The crowd burst out laughing again.
He spun around, tripped on purpose, barely catching himself before face-planting into the stage.
"Oho! See? Still alive! Mostly!"
More laughter.
Children were practically crying from how hard they were laughing.
Gray didn’t stop moving as a clown would never let the silence settle.
He pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve, wiped his brow dramatically... then kept pulling.
Grip!
And pulling.
And continued doing so.
The cloth kept coming, long enough to trail across the stage, over the edge, brushing past the first row. A little girl grabbed the end, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Ohh!!!"
Gray gasped in complete disbelief.
"Hey! Thief! Security!"
He pointed accusingly at her.
The girl froze, then burst into giggles as the crowd laughed with her.
"Alright... you can keep it. But only if you promise to laugh." Gray leaned closer to her, whispering loudly.
She nodded furiously.
Snap!
He snapped his fingers, and suddenly the cloth vanished!
"Huh?"
The girl blinked in surprise as the handkerchief reappeared, tied neatly around Gray’s neck like a scarf.
"Ooooh!!!"
Gray exclaimed loudly in surprise.
"So that’s where it went."
The applause grew louder.
He jumped onto a barrel, balancing with exaggerated wobbling steps, arms flailing as if he was about to fall at any moment.
"Do not worry!" he announced.
"I have trained for this my whole life!"
Slip...!
He slipped, but just before he could hit the ground, he vanished from the crowd’s sight.
"....."
He reappeared sitting cross-legged on the barrel, chin resting on his palm.
"...Nailed it."
The tent erupted.
Claps thundered through the tent, sharp and loud, mixing with whistles and stomping feet.
"HAHAHAHA! THIS GUY’S BETTER THAN THE REAL ONE!"
"WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS CLOWN?!"
"I’M CRYING!!!! MY STOMACH HURTS!"
"BRING HIM BACK AGAIN!"
Even a few adults were wiping tears from the corners of their eyes, laughing just as hard as the children, while others slapped their knees or leaned forward, shouting over one another.
The noise swelled into a single roaring wave of applause that refused to die down.
"Oh, well~" Gray bowed deeply, his hat nearly touching the floor.
Just as the laughter began to settle, a clear voice rang out from the side of the stage.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen," the announcer called, smiling broadly, "let’s give our clown a round of applause as we prepare for the next performances!"
The applause surged once more.
Gray waved enthusiastically, blowing kisses to the crowd, then hopped off the stage and slipped behind the curtain.
The moment he stepped backstage, the noise dulled, replaced by hurried footsteps and murmured voices.
A tall acrobat stared at him in disbelief.
"...Who are you?"
"Someone who really didn’t want a date to end early," Gray wiped imaginary sweat from his brow.
"Pfft..."
A woman adjusting her feathered costume laughed at his words.
"You saved the show. I thought the tent was going to empty."
The announcer approached, shaking his head with a wide grin. "I don’t know where you came from, but that was incredible."
"Well... most people are ordinary humans. So, well, any kind of ’magic’ trick is more than enough to make them surprised..." Gray shrugged lightly.
One of the jugglers extended a hand.
"Name’s Corin. I’ve been doing this for ten years, and I’ve never seen someone improvise like that."
"Gray," he replied, shaking it.
"Temporary clown."
RIIIIIIIIIINGGGG!
A bell rang.
"Alright," the announcer said, clapping his hands once.
"Aerial act, you’re up!"
The acrobat nodded and jogged toward the stage entrance.
Gray stepped aside, watching as they passed him one by one. Each performer gave him a nod, a grin, or a quiet word of thanks as they went.
"Don’t go anywhere," the announcer added before leaving. "The crowd’s already asking when the clown’s coming back."
"I won’t leave until my little girlfriend is satisfied," Gray laughed lightly.
"You’re unbelievable..."
The announcer snorted, shaking his head as he walked off.
Backstage buzzed briefly with movement, but the show rolled on without fuss. Jugglers leapt into the ring, blades flashing under lantern light.
A pair of acrobats followed, bodies twisting and snapping through the air like living ribbons.
A beast tamer drew cheers, then musicians, then fire, each act earning its own applause, the crowd still riding the lingering excitement Gray had left behind.
And then... the drums slowed down.
Bam, boom!
The announcer stepped back into the ring, wiping sweat from his brow, his voice echoing through the tent.
"Ladies and gentlemen! For our final performance of the night...!"
He hesitated, then glanced toward the curtains.
"...We leave it to our clown."
Behind the curtain, a few performers exchanged looks.
"That’s it?" one muttered.
"We didn’t plan anything special," another admitted.
"Can you... just do something?" the announcer whispered urgently, leaning in toward Gray.
"Anything big. Finish strong."
Gray blinked once, and then a wide grin spread across his painted face.
"...Leave it to me."
The drums hit hard.
Gray leapt back into the ring, arms thrown wide, spinning once in a dramatic bow as the crowd immediately erupted again.
"HE’S BACK!"
"THE CLOWN!"
"YEEEAHHHH!"
"Ah, ah, so much love! Careful, careful, my heart can’t take it!" Gray pressed a hand to his chest, staggering as if overwhelmed.
Laughter rippled through the tent.
He straightened up, raising one finger. "But! A circus is nothing without a finale, yes? Something unforgettable!"
The crowd leaned in.
"So tonight," Gray continued, pacing slowly, his boots thumping against the wooden stage, "I will perform my greatest, most dangerous, most unbelievable trick yet!"
Gasps. Whispers.
"But!" He turned suddenly, pointing outward.
"I cannot do it alone."
The audience stirred.
"I need..." he scanned the crowd exaggeratedly, squinting, leaning forward, even standing on his toes, "...a volunteer!"
Hands shot up instantly.
"ME!"
"PICK ME!"
"I WANNA GO!"
Children bounced in their seats while adults laughed nervously.
Gray hummed, tapping his chin, pretending to think, and then stopped.
His gaze locked onto a familiar figure near the front.
Time seemed to pause.
Lyra.
"Huff..!"
Her breath caught.
Gray’s painted smile softened before turning wicked again as he pointed straight at her.
"You."
The tent went silent for half a second before exploding.
"HOOOOOOH?!"
"HER?!"
"LUCKY!"
Lyra’s eyes widened in complete shock.
"M-me?!" she blurted, instinctively pointing at herself.
"Yes. You. Don’t worry..." he added quickly, waving his hands, "...I only
mostly
ruin lives." Gray nodded solemnly.
The crowd roared with laughter.
Lyra froze, heat rushing to her face as dozens of eyes turned toward her.
"Go on!"
"YOU CAN DO IT!"
"THE CLOWN CHOSE YOU!"
She looked around helplessly, then, almost unconsciously, her eyes found Gray’s.
He gave her a tiny nod.
Her heart pounded.
"...O-okay," she murmured.
As she stood, the applause swelled again, and Gray bowed deeply in her direction, sweeping one arm out grandly.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced proudly, "give it up for the bravest soul in the entire tent!"
Gray hopped off the stage and landed right in front of her with an exaggerated flourish, spinning once and bowing so deeply his painted nose almost touched the floor.
"Welcome, welcome!" he announced loudly. "Please do not be afraid, if anything explodes, it will be me."
The crowd burst into laughter.
Lyra stood stiffly at the edge of the ring, hands clenched at her sides, cheeks burning so hot she was sure the makeup on Gray’s face would melt just by proximity.
"I-oI don’t know what I’m supposed to do..." she whispered, leaning closer to him.
Gray straightened and leaned down as well, lowering his voice just enough.
"That’s the best part. Neither do they."
He winked.
Her heart skipped so hard it hurt.
Gray took her hand and gently guided her to the center of the ring. The lantern light bathed them both, shadows stretching across the tent as every eye remained fixed on them.
"Now!" Gray turned dramatically to the audience. "For my final act, I will demonstrate the most dangerous magic of all!"
He paused.
"...Trust."
The murmurs grew louder.
"What’s he gonna do?"
"That girl looks terrified!"
"IS THIS PART OF THE SHOW?!"
Gray raised his hands.
Instantly, thin threads shimmered into existence, almost invisible, glinting faintly like spider silk under the light.
They floated around Lyra without touching her, forming slow, elegant arcs.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Whoa..."
"Are those strings?!"
"MAGIC?!"
Lyra froze, eyes widening as she felt the faint pressure of mana in the air.
"Relax," Gray murmured softly to her.
"They won’t hurt you. I promise."
She swallowed, then nodded.
Gray snapped his fingers.
Fwip!
The threads moved.
They lifted a small stool from the side of the stage, spun it once in the air, then gently placed it behind Lyra.
Another snap, and a shower of colored handkerchiefs burst from nothing, fluttering down like petals.
"HAHAHAHA!"
"THIS IS AMAZING!"
"I’VE NEVER SEEN A CLOWN DO THIS!"
"Behold! My lovely assistant, who is absolutely not questioning her life choices right now!" Gray strutted around her, arms wide, basking in the noise.
"Hahaha..." Lyra let out a tiny, nervous laugh.
Gray’s expression sharpened.
He raised one finger.
"Now comes the dangerous part."
The tent fell silent.
The threads suddenly wrapped around Lyra.
Slowly, carefully, her feet left the ground.
"AH!!" she gasped, instinctively clutching at the air.
Gray immediately placed a hand under her back, steadying her lightly.
"Easy. I’ve got you."
She hovered there, heart hammering, dress swaying gently as if caught in an invisible tide.
The crowd held its breath.
Gray looked up at her.
"Everyone wants power. Strength. Greatness." Greatness," he said clearly, voice echoing through the tent.
The threads shimmered brighter.
"But
power without care
?" His gaze softened.
"That’s just
cruelty
."
He snapped his fingers one last time.
The threads dissolved into light, and Lyra descended safely into his arms. He caught her effortlessly, spinning once before setting her gently back on her feet.
The tent exploded.
"WOOOOOOOO!"
"THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!"
"BEST FINALE EVER!"
"THAT CLOWN IS A GENIUS!"
Applause thundered so loudly the canvas itself seemed to shake. People stood, whistling, stomping, shouting praise without restraint.
Lyra stood frozen for half a second, but as she woke up from her trance, her eyes shimmered as she looked up at him.
He grinned, stepping back and sweeping into one final bow, dragging her gently with him so they bowed together.
"Thank you, thank you!" he called out.
"Please remember to breathe on your way out!"
The cheers only grew louder.
As the curtains finally began to close and the noise slowly dulled into a distant roar, Gray leaned down toward her again, voice low and amused.
"So... how was your first time performing in a circus?"
Lyra laughed breathlessly with her cheeks still reddened.
"...I think..." she said honestly.
"...I’ll remember this forever."
Gray sincerely smiled at those words.
And for once, there was no teasing in it at all.