I'm Not Your Husband, You Evil Dragon!-Chapter 86: Unknown Joker

(Yuuta POV)

People fear what they don’t understand.

They always have.

Once upon a time, they blamed the unknown on witches, demons, curses. Things that looked different, or didn’t behave the way they expected — they became something to burn, banish, or fear.

And honestly... not much has changed.

Now they look at me that way.

Like I’m some walking omen. A black cat in human form. A shadow that brings ruin to anything it touches.

So no — I don’t hate Mr. James.

I get it.

He finally had a daughter after years of heartbreak. A miracle child. Something fragile and precious. He’s terrified of losing her, and somewhere along the way, he convinced himself I was the danger.

I get the fear.

But understanding someone doesn’t mean you forgive them.

Because when he insulted my wife — when he threw her name around like it was just another curse to spit —

that’s when the air shifted.

My vision narrowed. My breath shortened. My hand tightened into a fist before I even realized it.

I was ready to strike.

To silence him.

To defend the woman I love — not with words, but with the weight of everything I’ve ever held back.

And then —

"Boy."

A single word.

Low. Calm. Measured.

Grandpa.

I felt his hand lightly touch my shoulder, grounding me. Not pulling me back — just reminding me that I could choose. That I still had a choice.

His voice didn’t rise. It didn’t scold. It simply... understood.

"I know how you feel. Believe me, I do. But every step you take now — every breath — you’re not walking alone anymore. You have Elena. This isn’t just about pride. It’s about her future."

And just like that... everything slowed.

I turned my head slightly and looked down.

Elena was standing behind me. Tiny. Still holding the edge of my coat with both hands.

Her big, innocent eyes looked up at me, filled with concern.

"Papa..." she whispered. "Are you mad?"

My chest tightened.

She didn’t understand what was happening. And I didn’t want her to. Not yet. Not like this.

I unclenched my fist.

Mr. James, of course, took that as some kind of victory. He puffed up his chest, grinning like he’d just won a war.

"Oh? That’s what I thought," he said, loud enough for the crowd to hear. "Violence. That’s how orphans solve problems, isn’t it? Can’t argue with brains, so you throw fists instead."

The crowd murmured. People shifting uncomfortably. A few already pulling out their phones. Parents holding their kids closer.

I took a deep breath and stayed still. Not because I was afraid. But because I knew — just one wrong move, and everything I’ve built could collapse like a card tower.

I opened my mouth to speak.

I didn’t even know what I was going to say. Apologize? Defend myself?

But before a word could leave my lips—

"Mr. James."

The voice cut through the air like a knife.

Sharp.

Unmistakable.

"What the hell do you think you’re doing?"

The crowd turned. So did I.

Everyone turned. Even James.

And just like that, his entire posture changed. His arrogant expression dropped into something... submissive.

He swallowed. "E-Erika Hemut. I... I was just trying to Save my child from him."

The woman who approached had an air of authority that made the crowd instantly go quiet. She walked like someone used to being listened to — someone who didn’t need to raise her voice to make the whole room stop.

She didn’t even look at him. Her eyes were locked on me.

And that’s when it hit me.

This was Erika Hemut.

The same Erika we’d only heard about. The same one we were pretending to date Fiona for — just to keep up appearances.

And now she was here.

In front of me.

Looking me dead in the eye.

If she found out that Elena... that my daughter was actually mine...

Everything we’d built could fall apart.

Erika’s gaze locked on me.

Sharp. Calculating.

She tilted her head, just slightly — like she was trying to match a face to a memory buried deep in some file she couldn’t quite place.

And then... her eyes widened.

She pointed directly at me, her voice ringing out in stunned recognition.

"You? ...What are you doing here?"

The world seemed to pause.

My breath caught.

I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out. My throat tightened. Every possible explanation vanished from my mind.

And then—

"Papa..."

A soft voice tugged me back to reality.

I looked down.

Elena was standing beside me now, peeking out from behind my leg, her small hands clutching my pants like I was her lifeline.

She looked up at Erika with curious, wide eyes. Not scared — just unsure.

And that single word...

Papa.

Everything changed.

Erika’s face shifted instantly. Surprise gave way to something else — a slow, dawning realization.

Her brows lifted slightly. Her lips parted, and then curved into a soft, knowing smile.

"...Oh."

She looked back and forth between me and Elena.

Then she let out the quietest laugh — short, breathy, almost like the sound of a puzzle piece snapping into place.

"So that’s why Erza’s been visiting the academy."

Her voice was light, almost teasing. But I felt a weight behind her words. Like something much deeper was stirring just beneath the surface.

"Yes!" Elena chimed in cheerfully, her voice bright and innocent, completely unaware of the tension in the air. "Mama comes sometimes too!"

I opened my mouth again, finally trying to explain, to say something, anything—but of course, James couldn’t help himself.

"Miss Erika," he said, stepping forward like a self-righteous rooster. "This man is cursed! He shouldn’t be anywhere near this school. And now he’s bringing his child—corrupting the very foundation of our children’s future!"

He said it loud. Like he wanted the crowd to hear.

But Erika... didn’t even look at him at first.

She just exhaled, a long, slow breath that seemed to cool the very air around us.

Then — with the kind of deliberate calm that could make steel flinch — she turned her head.

Her eyes found James.

And when they did, they were like ice.

Frozen. Unforgiving.

"Wait a second..." she said softly, dangerously measured. "I just heard you insult my lovely sister earlier."

James blinked, visibly thrown off.

He opened his mouth. Then closed it. Then opened it again.

"I—wait... your sister? You know his wife?"

Erika’s eyes shifted toward me now, and for the first time, she looked at me fully.

The expression on her face was unreadable — her lips curled into something between a smirk and a warning. Like she knew exactly the game I’d been playing.

"Wife?" she repeated, slowly, as if she were testing the weight of the word on her tongue.

There was a pause — a long one.

Too long.

Her gaze didn’t waver. Her face didn’t twitch.

I had no idea what she was thinking.

No clue what was going through her head.

But then... she said something that didn’t just surprise me — it staggered me.

Something I couldn’t even begin to guess was coming.

"...Oh yes. I know her very well."

I froze.

The weight of her words landed like stone.

Then, without turning, she spoke again — but this time to James. And this time, everything in her voice changed.

Gone was the lightness.

Gone was the charm.

What replaced it was something cold. Deadly.

"How dare you insult my sister... and her daughter."

The courtyard went still.

And then — in a single, fluid motion — Erika reached to her side and unsheathed her blade.

Silver. Elegant. Sharp enough to split the wind.

It shimmered faintly, magical runes etched across its surface glowing softly in the light.

A collective gasp rose from the crowd.

People instinctively stepped back. Some stumbled over their own feet. Others just stared, wide-eyed.

James?

He looked like he was going to faint.

"You’re lucky," Erika said, her tone now low and heavy with threat, "that I’ve been assigned to protect you."

She stepped forward — just once.

The tip of her blade aimed directly at his chest.

"But if you ever insult them again..." she said, voice barely above a whisper, "I won’t be so polite next time."

James stumbled backward, his arms flailing slightly as he tried to maintain some scrap of dignity.

"Y–You can’t threaten me like this!" he barked. "I’ll report you to Chief Sara! This is an official threat—!"

Erika didn’t blink.

"Go ahead," she said coldly. "Report it. I don’t care."

There wasn’t a hint of hesitation in her voice. Just complete, unapologetic certainty.

She took another step forward.

This time, James didn’t move.

He couldn’t.

"But if you think," she continued, eyes boring into his skull, "for even a second... that I’ll forgive you..."

She let the sentence hang in the air.

Unfinished. Unresolved.

And somehow... that made it feel even more dangerous.

The silence that followed wrapped around us like a vice.

And then—

DING — DING — DING.

A loud bell rang from the academy building, the sound echoing through the open courtyard.

The speakers crackled.

"Attention students and staff. Orientation will begin in ten minutes.

All guests must proceed to the main hall. Thank you."

Just like that, the moment unraveled.

Like someone had snapped their fingers and broken the spell.

People began to shift. Whispering. Moving. Avoiding eye contact.

But I could still feel the stares.

And the tension? It hadn’t gone anywhere. It had just tucked itself beneath the surface.

James shot me one final look — furious, embarrassed, helpless — before turning on his heel and storming off like a child who didn’t get what he wanted.

I didn’t chase him.

Didn’t say a word.

I just looked down... and found Elena smiling up at me, like none of it had happened.

Still clutching my leg. Still innocent. Still unshaken.

And then... I looked up at Erika.

She was already sliding her blade back into its sheath.

Calm. Composed. Like drawing a weapon in public had been no more disruptive than brushing a strand of hair out of her face.

She stepped closer.

Her voice was low — just for me.

"I’m glad you have a good relationship with your sister," she said, leaning in.

Then her tone shifted.

Sharper. Colder.

"But don’t go around pretending to be her husband. It’s... sickening me."

She pulled back before I could respond.

Gave me one final glance.

And then, without waiting for an answer... she turned and walked toward the academy doors, her coat catching in the breeze like a closing curtain.

I stood there.

Stunned.

Speechless.

My hand slowly reached for Elena’s, grounding me.

Because honestly...

I had no idea what Erika really knew — or what she was planning or she is dumb to think I am Erza brother.

"Mama is famous, right, Papa?"

Elena’s voice was soft, laced with curiosity, her little hand tugging at mine. Her wide eyes looked up at me like I had all the answers.

I managed a weak smile. "I... I don’t know, Elena. Honestly, I’m not sure how your mom knows someone like Erika. But—" I ruffled her hair gently, forcing a chuckle. "The good thing is, we survived."

Behind us, Grandpa let out a dramatic laugh, loud and unbothered, like this whole thing had just been the season finale of his favorite soap opera.

"Oh, I love this drama, boy!"

I turned to him, frowning. "Grandpa. Seriously? I nearly punched a man in front of the entire academy and you were there raising your hands like you were watching a circus."

He shrugged, all casual. "Hey, I wanted to see how you’d handle it. You did alright... barely."

"Yeah, thanks for the support," I muttered. "Let’s just go. We’re already late."

We walked toward the main hall, falling in with the steady stream of parents and children. The tension from earlier still lingered in the air, thick and strange, but I tried to brush it off.

Then we reached the academy gate.

A teacher stood waiting, clipboard in hand and a rehearsed smile on her face.

"Parents, please follow the path to the left. Students to the right, toward the auditorium."

I hesitated.

Of course.

Standard academy protocol. "Security reasons," they always said.

Still, something about today... didn’t feel standard.

Elena looked up at me, clutching her stuffed bunny like it was her lifeline.

"You’ll come too, right?"

My throat tightened. I bent down, brushing a thumb over her cheek. "I’ll be right nearby. Don’t worry, alright?"

She nodded bravely. Then a teacher gently took her hand and led her away. She kept looking back at me — waving with that tiny hand until the crowd swallowed her.

I watched until I couldn’t see her anymore.

Then I turned to follow the group of parents...

...but instead of being led to the main auditorium, like I’d expected...

We were redirected to the academy field.

Wide. Exposed. Far from any protective wards or buildings.

A cold prickle ran down my spine.

Why here?

I scanned the field as we stepped onto the grass. There were teachers everywhere — posted at corners, stationed along the edges. Their eyes weren’t relaxed. They were watching. Whispering.

I didn’t like this.

Then I spotted him.

"Zeke!"

The vice principal turned at the sound of his name. I made my way to him, my brows furrowed.

"What’s going on?" I asked. "We were told the headmaster would be speaking, but he’s not even—"

Zeke looked uneasy. "I don’t know. We all got the same message. Direct orders, it said. That the headmaster was addressing everyone out here."

I glanced around again.

No sign of the headmaster.

The crowd was shifting. Restless.

Some parents were starting to murmur. I caught snippets.

"...This doesn’t feel right..."

"...Did they change the program last minute?"

"...Why can’t I get a signal?"

Then—

CRACKLE.

The loudspeakers came to life.

The voice that followed slithered into the field like smoke through a keyhole — scratchy, gleeful, and wrong.

"Laaaaadies and gentlemen..."

Drawn-out syllables. Mocking. Amused.

"I am your humble Criminal Joker for today. You may call me... Faluni."

A few parents chuckled nervously.

Thought it was part of the show.

But not me.

No, I knew better.

The name twisted something deep in my stomach. Something ancient and instinctual. Like a warning bell in the back of my mind.

"Faluni?" I breathed. My voice came out hoarse. "What kind of... opening ceremony is this?"

Zeke looked at me, alarm rising in his face. "I don’t think this was authorized..."

The voice continued, playful and poisonous.

"Now, now—don’t be afraid. I bring... fun, not fear. You see, the real headmaster?"

A laugh cut through the speakers. Broken. Grating.

"...Well, let’s just say he’s a little tied up at the moment, Ofc with rope and chain."

Silence.

Then panic.

It spread like a crack across ice.

A few gasps. One father swore under his breath.

Another tried to laugh it off. "Okay, real funny, whoever this is."

But the laughter was already dying.

Because deep down, we all knew.

This wasn’t a joke.

Faluni spoke again.

"So please... remain calm. Don’t resist. And most importantly... don’t try to be a hero."

Then, like a blade cutting through fog, his voice dropped all theatrics.

Cold. Precise.

"Because I’m proud to announce... this academy has just been hijacked."

The field erupted.

Shouts. Screams. Movement.

A mother grabbed her daughter and tried to run — only to be blocked by a teacher.

People scrambled for their comm devices.

No signal.

Just dead silence.

Static.

"Y-You’ve got to be kidding," someone whispered near me.

I was already moving.

"Elena—" My voice cracked.

My legs pushed forward before my brain could catch up.

"She’s in the auditorium—"

That’s why they split us.

That’s why they led us here.

They separated the children on purpose.

This wasn’t a random attack.

It was a plan.

A trap.

I sprinted toward the exit.

But then—

CLANG.

The field gates slammed shut behind us. Thick, steel bars dropping like guillotines. The sound echoed over the screams.

Locked.

Caged.

Trapped.

My palms hit the gate. "No—NO! Open it! My daughter’s in there—!"

No answer.

Just silence...

And the sound of my heartbeat pounding in my ears.

To be continued.

R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freew𝒆(b)novel.c(o)m Only