I Became the Leader of the Monster Circus Troupe

Oz explained his plan to Lumie.

He drew pictures on the floor, explaining the structure and layout of the place to her step by step.

Although there were detailed steps, the summary was like this: to gather scattered children again, rescue the captured leaders, and escape from Wonderland.

When he first mentioned that he had a plan, Lumie looked at him without much expectation, but her expression was full of surprise when he finished speaking.

She examined the map of the interior terrain of the cards drawn on the floor, then looked up at him with a puzzled look.

“Have you ever been to Wonderland before?”

The Scarecrow shrugged with an expression that it was nothing special.

“Well…how many times did you come?”

Lumie couldn’t tell whether to believe his words or not.

There were many acrobats who claimed to have been to Wonderland. Of course, most of them were beginners who hadn’t even received an Inspira, lying to gain fame.

Their testimonies were all similar. They seemed to have brought suitable content from the same place and embellished it.

However, Oz’s information was something no one had known before. He had a grasp of Wonderland’s social structure, administrative system, and even city geography.

As if he had lived here for a long time.

“Lumie, please memorize everything too. It will be easier for us to work together in the future.”

“Okay, got it.”

Lumie put aside her doubts and diligently wrote down and memorized what he called out.

If there were parts she didn’t understand, she would create an illusion and ask for further explanation.

“Lumie, you’re not very smart, are you? Even Maya can memorize complicated things at a glance.”

Ugh.

Lumie’s expression twisted.

Of all things to compare…

“I mean, she’s incredibly smart!”

“I thought Lumie’s illusions were similar to Maya’s.”

“Illusions are our tribe’s specialty. The mystery of ‘illusion’ is similar to breathing for us. Even babies can do it.”

“Oh, now that you mention it, you did a good job with the kindergarten kids earlier.”

She glared at the Scarecrow with a natural expression.

After speaking, she felt angry for some reason. It was as if she had ended up justifying herself by saying that she was just good as a normsl person from her tribe.

She kicked the drawing on the floor with her foot and said, “By the way, are these informations really reliable? If I go later and you say, ‘It’s changed since I last came.’ Won’t we get in trouble?”

“Ho, hoo, trouble? Hahaha!”

Oz burst into laughter.

Lumie’s face turned bright red. Seeing him like this for the first time in a long time, she unintentionally spoke in a fairy-like tone.

“I-It was a mistake! Why is that so funny?”

When she frowned as if she was going to get angry again, the Scarecrow quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, about the reliability of the information you’re worried about. You don’t need to worry about that.”

He had already verified the knowledge he had.

While walking here, he had mixed in bits and pieces of information from the game, pretending to agree with the guards’ words. Most of them nodded in agreement with what he said.

Lumie didn’t say anything and just stared fiercely at him, but she didn’t press the issue further.

Having shared the plan, they decided to start searching for their missing comrades among the guards.

Lumie gave him wings. Four transparent sheets, like those of a fairy, grew from his back.

This was one of the proud magic of ‘Arno’s Illusion’. After losing her wings, she had tried to create fake wings through illusions to make up for her regret.

It wasn’t just a matter of following the shape. It had to be able to impart physical force to the illusion, and she had to research the principles of lifting the body with wing flaps in order to actually fly.

The completed magic was used to give guests the experience of flying in the sky.

“Wow, look at this, Lumie! I’m flying in the sky!”

She watched him with amazement as he flew back and forth with the wings she had created for him. She was sitting on top of a building dozens of meters high.

Originally, this ‘Fairy’s Wings’ act was controlled by her on the ground. However, after listening to her explanation, Oz suddenly asked to be allowed to control it himself.

She smiled at his request.

There had been many like him before.

However, controlling 18 channels in a 3D space was by no means easy. Especially from a first-person perspective.

Most people couldn’t even do basic movements after practicing for a few weeks.

But that scarecrow did it at once.

Of course, his idea helped.

He asked for the wings’ channeling to be linked to an illusion of a tool. It was a stick with several buttons on it. He held it in both hands and manipulated the wings.

Ascent and descent, stationary flight, and turning.

He demonstrated the movements she requested one by one.

The Scarecrow remembered the flight simulation game he had played in the past. He had tried everything from fighter jets to helicopters and large passenger planes there.

It was much easier now than in the past, when he had to use eye movements to control the mouse cursor and solve button problems with a combination of blinking and a virtual keyboard.

“Wow! With this, we will be able to find people in no time! Shall we go then?”

She immediately stopped him from soaring into the air.

“Just a moment. There’s one problem. You can’t fly high with this.”

“Why not?”

“I told you earlier that it’s difficult to use magic here, right? It’s the same with these wings. The radius around me is limited to 50m…”

At her words, the scarecrow grinned.

“Then can’t Lumie fly with me too?”

“I told you. With the current state, one person’s worth of illusion is the limit.”

She got up from her seat. It was a bit inefficient, but she had to keep walking for him to find people in the sky.

But Oz had a completely different idea from her.

“Then I’ll just carry you and fly?”

“What?”

Her body stiffened. His shadow loomed over her.

“Come here.”

“Hey, hey! Y-you idiot! F-flying alone… is more beneficial!”

She tried to avoid his hand, but she was caught before she could take a few steps. He was now over 2 meters tall, more than three times her height.

His arms, made of sticks, turned her into a puppet and pulled her towards his body made of straw.

If she was an ordinary person, she would have only seen him as a scarecrow. But she was a fairy. She could keenly feel the soul of her opponent, which resonated with her own soul.

Although their appearances were completely different and their actions were somewhat clumsy, it was undoubtedly the soul of that Wonderstein guy.

“Let me go!”

She shouted as her face turned pale red.

But the scarecrow replied with a silly expression.

“Just hold on for a moment, please.”

With a whooshing sound, his body soared into the air.

He had to hold her tightly with his arms, as he needed his hands to operate the wings.

Lumie’s whole body tingled.

Since the wings fell off, she had always had several layers of illusion wrapped around her body.

It had been a long time since she had confronted someone like this. Moreover, the opponent was not only different in appearance, but also stripped of their physical shell. It was a situation where soul met soul.

“Let me go! Otherwise, I’ll dispel the illusion!”

“Then will we fall? We must be hundreds of meters high.”

He looked down using the diagnostic function.

Indeed, many more people were visible now than before.

She watched him intently as he concentrated on searching.

‘Yeah. We agreed to join forces to escape, right?’

‘I have to endure even if I don’t like it.’

‘There’s no other choice.’

She rested her chin on his arm and protruded her lips, saying, “It’s better to find them quickly. With the two of us flying, we can’t last more than 30 minutes with the current magic…”

“Ah, I found them! Look! We’ll get to them soon!”

The scarecrow chuckled and began to glide downwards as if sliding.

Why are they found so quickly?

This made Lumie angry again.

***

Ella glared at the two people who appeared in front of her.

Her eyes were full of vigilance.

She had been captured by the guards of Wonderland and had barely escaped using her skills.

She had tried to sneak into the giant tent, but she couldn’t muster the courage when she saw the guards watching the entrance.

She could only hide in the crowd, anxiously watching and waiting for a chance to sneak in.

Originally, she hadn’t been this tense.

Touring Wonderland while living in the mountains was one of the dreams of many acrobats.

Although she was mistaken for an intruder, she thought it would be resolved quickly. The book also described Wonderland as one of the safest areas for humans in the Abyss.

However, she overheard people coming out of Card Sun.

She heard that soon, in the central square, the execution of intruders was scheduled.

Public punishment?

She never imagined that such a thing would exist even in the paradise of acrobats.

She had to somehow save them before that.

But the guards who were checking the path to Card Sun were increasing.

Unable to do anything, she was just standing there, feeling anxious, when a man and a woman who introduced themselves as ‘travel agency employees’ approached her.

“What business do you have?”

“We thought you might want to tour Wonderland, ‘Mountain Person’?”

At the mention of ‘Mountain Person,’ Ella quickly stepped back.

How did they find out? She had covered herself thoroughly.

She used the cloth she had brought out when she was captured earlier to cover as much of her body, including her face, neck, and thighs, as possible. With that, she could avoid drawing too much attention from passers-by.

However, these two suddenly approached her and asked if she needed help.

“Who are you? What do you want from me?”

“We just want to help!”

Although Ella was suspicious of the scarecrow’s words, she found them intriguing.

She knew nothing about this place. She didn’t even know how to get to the central square where executions were scheduled. If someone familiar with the place could help her, it would be a great help.

But can she trust them?

“I’m being chased by the guards.”

“Yes, we know. A wanted order has been issued even inside the city.”

Recalling the information he had heard from the patrolmen earlier, the scarecrow said.

“But you’ll still help me?”

“Of course. In fact, if you’re a living person, most people here would welcome you with open arms.”

After hesitating for a moment, Ella said,

“But… I don’t have anything to offer in return.”

“You’re an acrobat, right? At least that’s what you claim. You just need to show us your skills.”

Ella nodded without realizing it at his words.

When she was captured earlier, the guards had said similar things. They had even released her after she had promised to show her skills.

In the end, they were followers of Kirku.

Thinking about the appearance and behavior of the followers of Kirku, she could roughly guess their mindset.

“…Then there must be a way to pass through the entrance of the tent, right?”

“Of course!”

Ella looked at him for a moment and then sighed.

Although she was somewhat anxious, there was no other way.

“Alright. Then please guide me.”

“Haha, then the contract is complete. Shall we exchange names? I’m the President, Oz, and this here is Vice President Lumie. Excuse me, but what’s your name?”

“My name is El…”

She was about to say her real name, but she closed her mouth.

There was no need to reveal even this truth.

“El… Phi. Call me Elphi.”

The scarecrow and the fairy exchanged smiles as they looked at each other.

The fairy pointed her finger at her and shouted,

“Great, Elphi. Welcome to Wonderland Tour!”

The scarecrow adjusted his straw hat and bent his waist in a comical gesture.

“Then let me guide you to the exit of Wonderland! Miss Elphi.”

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Chapter 218: Wonderland – 21