OP: Lord of Mischief C20

The villagers were still suspicious of Augustus and his crew, but after some internal debate, they chose to give them the benefit of the doubt. After all, if it really were a trap by the Krieg Pirates, they wouldn't need deception—their name alone would be enough to take over the entire village.

So, with wary glances but cautious hope, the villagers allowed them entry. Surprisingly, Augustus kept his word—he caused no harm, made no threats, and in fact… began spending money like a true merchant.

He bought goods in bulk—meats, eggs, vegetables, fruits—and even treated the tavern crowd to wine. The village's tension began to fade, replaced by murmurs of curiosity and slight admiration. He had already spent at least 50,000 beli on supplies, stocking up for the next leg of their journey.

But while the villagers warmed up to him, Augustus was growing increasingly bored. With no real action or pranks left to play on Rudolf and the crew—who were now too scared to react—his TP gain had practically flatlined. The last time he got anything was from a weak prank on Rudolf days ago, earning only 1 TP.

“I need better targets,” he muttered, leaning back lazily in a chair before snapping upright with an idea. “Or I need to train harder.”

He activated The Mask. The system notified him:
[Proficiency Level: 1]

His usage time had increased slightly, and while he still couldn’t fully mimic others or shapeshift, his facial control had improved—his eyebrows stretched comically, his cheeks puffed like balloons, and his slapstick physics now allowed him to bounce from light hits as if made of rubber.

His speed, too, was faster and more cartoonishly fluid. Even the props he could summon from his limited Hammerspace came out quicker.

Out near the forest edge, in a secluded training area, Augustus trained relentlessly. He squashed his own head with a rock to test recoil, forced exaggerated expressions to push muscle control, and summoned props mid-motion for fluidity drills.

Unbeknownst to him, a young woman had wandered nearby—Elena, a striking village girl with soft blue hair and piercing red eyes. She’d snuck out of the village for a walk, but her steps froze the moment she saw Augustus’s face turn green.

Her eyes widened in alarm. She slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp.

‘That face… that grin… I’ve seen it before…’ she thought, heart pounding.
A memory flashed—a new wanted poster posted recently in the village square.

The image had been just a rough sketch—a wanted poster hastily drawn, barely detailed. But the face… that eerie green face and exaggerated grin—it was unforgettable.

WANTED: Green-Face Augustus
Bounty: 10,000,000 Beli

Even if the drawing was unclear, Elena knew. The moment she saw Augustus’s face shift into that strange form, her breath caught.

“That’s him… he’s the one,” she whispered, trembling.

Her instincts kicked in. ‘I have to warn the others—now!’

But as she turned to flee, her foot rustled the grass loudly. Augustus snapped his head toward the sound.

“...Huh?” he narrowed his eyes.

Panicking, Elena darted off, heart pounding—but in mere seconds, she froze again. Augustus was already in front of her.

He leaned forward slightly with a curious grin.
“Pretty lady—wait a second… Elena?”

Elena’s eyes widened. “Y-you know me?”

Augustus tilted his head, studying her more closely. “Oh yeah… you’re the village girl from that food stall, right?”

Elena’s lips trembled. She wasn’t sure whether to scream or faint.

Augustus noticed Elena’s trembling posture, her eyes full of fear, and for a moment—even under The Mask’s influence—he felt a strange mix of pity and a thudding heartbeat.

It wasn’t just sympathy. It was something warmer. Softer.

‘Romantic?’

Yes. He’d had a quiet crush on Elena ever since he saw her in the village. But now, with The Mask's power heightening his emotions and eccentricity, that mild admiration had bloomed into full-blown infatuation.

"Ah~ I must look presentable," he muttered theatrically.

Elena stared in stunned disbelief as Augustus, still green-faced and grinning, pulled out a small bottle of hair gel from his Hammerspace. He began slicking back his hair dramatically, giving himself a comically suave look. Then he straightened his shirt, adjusted his pants with a snap, and even gave his boots a quick shine with a silk cloth that appeared from nowhere.

With a flourish, he summoned a tiny flower prop from thin air and twirled it between his fingers.

"My lady," he said, voice suddenly smooth and flirtatious, "you need not tremble before me. I am but a humble butterfly…"

He sniffed the flower, then gave her a charming, exaggerated wink. "A butterfly hoping to land upon the most radiant flower in this entire village—you."

Elena’s face flushed slightly—not from fear, but from the absurd charm of it all. Her heart thudded despite herself. She was caught between alarm and confusion.

"Wh-what are you even saying?! You're a wanted man!" she finally shouted, shaking off the haze. "You’re dangerous! The villagers need to know who you really are—not some kind merchant, but a criminal!"

"Oof!" Augustus clutched his chest in mock pain. "Ah! That wound goes deeper than any sword could! You stab me with words, my sweet bloom!"

He pulled a lacy handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed a fake tear beneath his eye.

"I swear… I’m just a merchant. A hopeless romantic merchant, cursed with good looks and bad rumors."

"Stop lying!" Elena snapped, pointing a trembling finger at him. "And I’m not your sweet bloom!"

"Not yet," Augustus said dramatically. He stepped closer, prompting her to step back quickly.

"Don’t come near me!" she cried.

But fate had other plans—Elena's foot slipped on a rock, and she stumbled. Before she hit the ground, Augustus swooped in and caught her effortlessly in his arms. The flower now comically clenched between his teeth.

"I would never harm such delicate petals," he said in a deep, theatrical whisper. "A beauty such as yours must be protected… cherished… admired…"

Elena’s cheeks burned. Her body tensed in his arms, but her eyes met his—green, gleaming, and oddly sincere beneath the mischief.

Then Augustus, still holding her close, suddenly spun her into a waltz.

"Shall we dance, my lady?"

"W-What—"

Before she could resist, Augustus began to sing in a smooth tone, his voice rich with dramatic flair:

"Wise men say… only fools rush in…
But I… can't help… falling in love… with you…"

Despite her better judgment, Elena’s breath hitched. The melody echoed softly in her ears, as if the world quieted just for them.

Somehow, her feet moved—her body swayed to the rhythm, drawn by his charm, his eccentricity, and that inexplicable aura around him.

"Take my hand… take my whole life too…"

Augustus twirled her, dipped her low, then pulled her close again.

"For I… can't help… falling in love… with you…"

As they danced under the golden light seeping through the trees, Elena felt her confusion deepen. This green-faced was chaotic, ridiculous, and maddening… yet in this moment, he made her feel like the only person in the world.

As the final notes of his serenade faded into the breeze, Augustus slowly released Elena from his arms. She stepped back, her heart pounding, face flushed—and eyes wide with realization.

She stepped back slightly, face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and confusion.

“W-Who… who are you really?” she asked, her voice shaking.

Augustus, still wearing that signature grin, gently placed the flower down and replied smoothly, “I’m just a man in love with a beautiful woman.”

Elena’s jaw dropped slightly. She didn’t know whether to be flattered or terrified. In the end, she settled for speechlessness.

[Mission accomplished: Confess your feelings to your crush.
Note: You’re very brave for making a move!
Reward: +20 TP]

Augustus ignored the notification. His gaze remained on Elena, as if savoring the moment.

But for Elena, those two minutes felt like an eternity—an odd mix of awkwardness, tension, and bewilderment.

Then suddenly, with a light puff, Augustus’s green face vanished. His expression softened, his energy faded, and the playful madness was replaced by a more grounded, sheepish look.

The transformation startled Elena again. Her breath hitched as she took a step back.

“Wait—what…?” she stared at him in disbelief, now seeing the normal Augustus she had met in the village.

Augustus scratched the back of his head, trying to force a casual smile. “Uh… I can explain?”

“You don’t need to!” Elena snapped. “You’re a wanted man! You have a ten million bounty on your head!”

Augustus raised a brow. “Wait, I do? Ten million?”

Elena gawked at him. “You didn’t know?!”

“Nope,” he said, nodding rapidly like a clueless bird. “That’s news to me.”

She blinked, completely thrown off by his reaction.

“Must be from that corrupt marine captain I pranked the other day,” Augustus muttered with a small chuckle. “Didn’t think he’d take it that personally.”

Elena furrowed her brows. She remembered the bounty poster, but something about the way he said it made her hesitate.

Before she could say anything else, Augustus looked her in the eye and said quietly, “Look… I know how this all looks. But I swear—I’m not here to hurt anyone.”

His tone was more serious now. “If I wanted to harm this village, I wouldn’t be standing here talking to you… and you wouldn’t still be breathing.”

That sent a chill down Elena’s spine—but she knew he wasn’t wrong.

Her shoulders eased slightly, though her guard remained halfway up. She looked at him, unsure of how to feel, but willing—just barely—to listen.

“…Fine,” she said softly. “I’ll hear you out.”

Augustus let out a small sigh of relief. “Thank you.”