Chapter 113

At the academy renowned as the continent’s finest, its dean and one of the Four Great Magi of the modern era—Merlin Gregory.

Despite his advanced age, the dean still maintained radiant, snow-white skin. He was preparing a speech to deliver in front of hundreds of students soon.

However, for some reason…

Merlin’s emerald eyes were fixed not on the upcoming speech but on a letter clutched in his hand.

On the pristine paper, just a few words were scribbled in black ink:

<We haven't found him yet. Sorry about that. By the way, are you sure you didn’t mistake someone? There’s no record of a hunter from decades ago who killed someone while drunk and fled. We’ve searched everywhere, but nothing turns up.>

It wasn’t good news. Merlin leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes.

As the world grew darker, his thoughts became clearer. A single mask of pure white appeared in his mind.

The identity behind the mask was a hunter from Demon Forest—so Merlin believed.

But over the years of chasing this “Suoka,” doubts began creeping into Merlin’s mind.

Because Suoka—the hunter who supposedly killed someone and fled—didn’t exist.

Even after investigating under different names or circumstances, there was no trace of such a criminal in the Empire’s southern region where the arrest rate was nearly 99%.

‘That Meteor spell I saw back then… it definitely wasn’t mine. At the time, I had my doubts, but now I’m certain. Someone at Dragon King Endros’ level wouldn’t die from something as simple as a Meteor spell.’

There’s a saying: “You see what you know.” As knowledge expands, things once unnoticed begin to appear. The great sage Merlin agreed wholeheartedly with this.

Back when hunting Dragon King Endros, Merlin thought the Meteor spell would be enough to kill him because it was the strongest magic he knew.

But now, having reached the Ninth Circle, he realized how naive that assumption was. Endros wasn’t the kind of monster who’d fall to just a Meteor spell. Even if Merlin himself were to fight him now, he’d only have an 80% chance of winning. Endros truly deserved the title of king among monsters.

So why did he collapse under a simple Meteor spell back then? The answer was simple: the only person who remained conscious when everyone else lost their minds—or their lives—was…

Demon Forest Hunter, Suoka.

From the moment Merlin sensed something off about this fact, he began tracking down “Suoka.” He even hired the continent’s top intelligence network.

And yet, progress remained zero since the day he first issued the request.

“Yohan? Is that really you…?”

One day, a man named Yohan who had been part of Suoka’s group showed up, accompanied by Beatrix, a noble swordsman.

“Merlin, teach me.”

He bluntly demanded to become a probationary student at the academy. In exchange, Merlin asked for all the information Yohan had on Suoka.

“Suoka? Never heard of him.”

“That… What do you mean!?”

“There’s no Suoka. Honest truth, I don’t lie.”

Speechless, Merlin let the matter drop.

After quite some time passed, it was finally the day of another annual entrance ceremony. Today.

“Dean! It’s time for your ‘words of wisdom and guidance’ to the new students!”

“Ah, already…?”

“Yes! Everyone’s waiting!”

At the call of a probationary student, Merlin stood up, wearing his magical robe that hadn’t faded since childhood.

‘Come to think of it, there are some notable figures among this year’s freshmen… Frey, destined to be a hero; Princess Albrecht; and Maria, chosen as the Saintess… Will any of them surpass the Heavenly Hero from two years ago?’

Time ages humans. Though nearly a hundred years hadn’t changed Merlin physically, they certainly had matured his spirit.

‘I wonder what kind of students will come this year… Looking forward.’

***

After greeting the hero, Maria returned to sit beside me. She seemed excited about meeting the hero who would one day bring ruin to the continent… though she might not realize it. Her hands trembled slightly.

“Is that person really the Saintess?! This is the first time I’ve seen one in person!”

“Same here. I’ve only seen her in newspaper articles before. She really does look like an ordinary nun.”

“Whoa… She’s genuinely holy-looking… But who’s that guy next to her? The one with bangs covering his eyes?”

“You mean the punk with his hair slicked back?”

“What are you two talking about? The guy next to the Saintess is bald! Seriously, does Eden Academy really accept bald people?”

“Hmm… That could be controversial…”

Now everyone knows Maria is the Saintess. After openly greeting the hero, it’s impossible not to notice. Thus, attention has been drawn. Real-time. And whispers about me and Aru have also started circulating.

“Maria, aren’t you going to talk more with the hero?”

“I’ll greet him later when the opportunity arises. Right now, we’re in the middle of welcoming the new students, so we should act accordingly.”

“But you didn’t need to sit next to me, right?”

In Maria’s current mindset, I’m just an average student. The hero is someone she must build a relationship with for the future.

So why did she return and sit next to me? Curious, I asked.

“Do you dislike me being here? Does my presence bother you?”

“Huh? No?”

“Then that’s settled. There’s no rule saying I must sit next to the hero, right?”

“But isn’t it better for appearances if you sit next to the hero instead of me?”

“Why care about others’ opinions? I learned that what matters is following my heart.”

“Does that mean… You want to sit next to me regardless of what others say? Why?”

“Well, I don’t know exactly why, but I feel at ease with Mr. Evans. It’s like I’ve known you forever. Ever since I first saw you during the entrance ceremony, I’ve felt this way.”

“Hooh… Well, that makes sense…”

Maybe my existence has imprinted itself on Maria’s soul.

It’s entirely possible. Though young in personality, Maria’s soul hasn’t changed, meaning our centuries-long communication through rosaries remains intact.

Five hundred years. For five centuries, Maria longed daily for our communication. When it was delayed, she sometimes fell into panic attacks.

Her soul has become conditioned to respond to me. Not intentional on my part, but not a bad development.

“Anyway, that’s why. Actually, I wanted to sit with you too. I just wondered why you weren’t sitting next to the hero. That’s all.”

“Really? You wanted to sit with me…?”

“Oh? Isn’t that the dean? The great Merlin. Looks like he’s about to give the welcome speech.”

Surrounded by several probationary students, a boy ascended the podium. I pointed him out, cutting off Maria’s sentence.

A blue robe covering his head, green hair sticking out underneath—it was Merlin.

“The Great Sage?!”

“To think the Great Sage himself would show up at the entrance ceremony… Truly fitting for the continent’s best academy.”

When Merlin stepped up to the microphone and pulled back his robe, gasps echoed through the crowd.

“What? He looks like a complete teenager! And so handsome too!”

“Haven’t you read any newspaper articles or interviews about him? His magic prevents aging. He’s achieved immortality.”

“He’s clearly old, yet he looks flawless. Is he using a disguise?”

“No, it’s real. His magical prowess is said to have reached unparalleled heights. Like dragons, they don’t age.”

Merlin looked exactly the same as when I first met him. Only his eyes seemed slightly dimmer. Out of nostalgia, I waved at him.

“Huh? Do you know him, Evans?”

Maria, focused on Merlin, hadn’t noticed, but Aru, who was fixated on me, caught my wave and questioned it.

“Well, you don’t have to know someone to greet them, right?”

“Greet strangers? Woof?”

“There’s no law against it. Besides, not greeting someone you know can get you scolded for lack of manners.”

“Oh, I see! Woof! Hello! Nice to meet you!”

Trying a little nonsense, Aru immediately stood up and waved enthusiastically toward Merlin. What am I supposed to do with this clueless mutt?

“Aru? Do you know the Dean personally?”

“Nope! Never met him before!”

Maria’s expression shifted to one of confusion. I sighed and turned my focus to Merlin’s impending speech.

Though many claim the headmaster’s speech is the most boring thing ever, my memory of Merlin paints him as a cute youth full of charm. How would he start the welcoming address? I was curious.

But as soon as Merlin opened his mouth, my expectations shattered.

“Uh… First of all, congratulations to all the new students admitted to this academy… Uh… And thank you to the teachers who will work hard with them this year… Back when I was your age, I always gave my best effort in everything I did… I sincerely hope you will do the same… Uh… Finally…”

“…”

Swish—

What happened afterward is a blur. As soon as Merlin started speaking, I succumbed to the lull of sleep. His constant “Uh…” and repeated “Finally…” made his speech sound more like a lullaby than anything else.

I wasn’t the only one who dozed off. Through my fading vision, I saw students nodding off or leaning against each other for naps. My memories of Merlin as a lively youth capable of exclaiming “Hiiii!” upon being poked were dashed. He was just another typical headmaster.

Unable to resist, my head tilted to the side.

***

“Huh?”

Maria was startled to find something resting on her thigh.

She and Albrecht, who had brought earplugs, were among the few students still awake.

“Keeerrrr…”

To her right, a girl had collapsed onto a boy’s hips.

Similarly, a boy lay slumped on her thighs.

“Mmph…”

“Aahh… What do I do…”

No matter how thick the clothing, a woman’s thighs remain sensitive. Maria shivered.

But seeing the boy sleeping peacefully with his head nestled on her thigh, her trembling subsided.

An inexplicable sense of familiarity settled over her. She gazed down at the boy.

“It feels… peaceful… Like this is how it’s always been…”

It would’ve been her duty as a student to wake him and continue listening to the headmaster’s speech. But she doubted he’d stay awake much longer anyway.

Gently lifting her hand, she carefully adjusted his position so his neck wouldn’t hurt when he woke up—a small act of kindness.

‘It feels… like finally meeting someone I’ve long missed…’

Shhhhh…

Maria raised her soft hand and placed it on the boy’s forehead. Slowly, she brushed away his hair fluttering in the outdoor breeze. Her delicate fingertips grazed his skin.

The wind kept blowing…

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