"Master Merlin..."
A beautiful, soothing voice drifted through the room.
"Can we take a break? I'm tired."
The voice was gentle and calm, though a faint trace of annoyance lingered beneath it. Its owner lay beneath the sheets, her long white hair scattered messily across the pillow. She was beautiful enough to draw attention without trying, yet the exhaustion in her expression was impossible to miss.
Merlin, positioned above her, sighed. After a brief pause, he pulled away and gently climbed out of bed. The girl watched him with quiet concern.
"Was I not pleasing?"
Merlin glanced back. His expression softened.
"You were."
He ran a hand through his normal-length black hair. It was silky and slightly disheveled, though his calm eyes and gentle features remained as composed as ever.
"It's fine," he continued. "You can rest. I just want to read this message."
The girl slowly nodded. Merlin dressed without much concern — a simple black shirt, black trousers, dark shoes. Finally, he placed his usual warlock's robe over his clothes before adjusting a pair of glasses against his face.
Behind him, the girl frowned.
"W-We can continue, Master."
"I didn't mean for us to stop."
Merlin chuckled.
"I know. But you're tired. Take a break."
She lowered her eyes.
"...I should've simply tried something else."
Merlin paused. Then shook his head.
"Don't overthink it."
With that, he left the room.
Merlin walked downstairs before entering the kitchen. After preparing himself a cup of coffee, he entered the enormous lounge and activated the recently discovered entertainment projector.
A massive holographic screen appeared in the center of the room. He transferred the message from his academy bracelet onto the projection. Then he began reading. His expression remained calm.
Behind him, the girl eventually followed. She had changed into a short skirt and a fitted top. Several belt-like straps crossed around her waist, each designed to carry small throwing knives. A single sword rested at her hip.
Merlin barely acknowledged her arrival. His attention remained fixed upon the holographic message. The girl quietly approached. She lowered herself in front of him before looking up at him.
Again, Merlin didn't react. Her expression became slightly nervous.
She reached toward him, her hands clasping the sides of his pants, seeking his attention more directly. Still, no reaction , she lowered his pants, unfamilliar to this as she was she took him in her mouth— until, a few moments later, she'd finally managed to pull him away from the message, and Merlin glanced down.
The girl smiled in relief.
A few moments later, Merlin relaxed against the sofa.
"Good girl."
Her smile widened. Then she shook her head.
"This is emotional abuse."
Merlin raised an eyebrow.
"Emotional abuse?"
"Yes. You were clearly interested. Then I asked for a break. After that, you ignored me until I felt guilty."
Merlin chuckled.
"I was interested. And then I was suddenly told to stop."
He took another sip of his coffee.
"What guy simply accepts that? What guy suddenly acts like everything is fine while suffering from disappointment?"
The girl laughed quietly.
"You're impossible."
"That's unfair. You started it."
Several seconds later, the girl finished before stepping away to clean herself. Merlin returned his attention to the holographic screen. Once she finished, she sat beside him, her eyes drifting toward the projected message. Merlin reached over and gently rubbed the top of her head. She looked up.
"My bad."
The girl shook her head.
"It's fine. I promised you this when you took me in. The least I can do is avoid failing you as a woman."
Merlin's expression immediately changed.
"You're making me feel worse."
"You don't have to."
She smiled before turning back toward the holographic screen. Then she asked—
"So... what's the plan?"
Merlin scratched his cheek.
"The first two phases sound manageable."
The girl laughed.
"The third phase is your worst nightmare?"
Merlin nodded.
"I know some people. But trusting them enough to rely upon them during a dangerous examination—" He took another sip of coffee. "—I don't know."
The girl tilted her head.
"Like the nameless guy?"
Merlin nodded.
"Yeah. He's calm. Confident. Strong. But he's equally unnerving."
The girl thought for a moment.
"What about Luna?"
Merlin immediately coughed, his coffee nearly spilling. The girl grinned.
"You still can't talk to her?"
Merlin frowned.
"It's difficult. She rejected me. Twice. Very clearly."
The girl nodded as though she completely understood.
"So... what's the plan?"
Merlin shook his head. With a simple snap of his fingers, a thick book appeared beside him. It floated through the air before opening on its own. The pages slowly turned. Merlin studied the information written inside.
"I should be fine alone. For now, we'll use the first two phases to understand the examination. Then we'll decide what to do during the final phase."
The girl nodded.
"Yes, Master."
After a moment, her expression changed.
"What about that woman? Vexion. You said she was quite strong."
Merlin nodded.
"She is. Very."
The girl leaned closer.
"Will you try recruiting her again?"
Merlin took another drink.
"We can. But I don't only want her inside the faction."
His gaze remained fixed upon the book.
"I want her beside me."
The girl raised an eyebrow.
"As your woman?"
Merlin nodded.
"She appears to already belong to someone."
"What's your plan?"
Merlin shrugged.
"That depends. If her man is a Mythical-tier being, I'm sure he and I can reach some kind of agreement."
The girl stared at him.
"And if he isn't?"
Merlin closed the book.
"If he's only Legendary-tier, then I'll remove him. And offer Vexion a place beside me."
The girl stared silently. Then—
"You're certainly romantic."
Merlin chuckled.
"I'm not planning to use brute force. I'm considering different approaches. Vexion is powerful. Possibly one of the strongest women I've encountered."
He leaned back.
"And she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
The girl narrowed her eyes. Merlin continued before she could respond.
"I doubt I'm the only person interested in her. If I prove that I'm the only person capable of protecting her, then she may eventually reconsider."
He gestured toward the academy grounds beyond the window.
"There are Incubi throughout this academy. Not to mention the senior students we haven't encountered. She's powerful. But she'll eventually need allies. She may need me."
The girl slowly shook her head.
"That's true. But it still sounds forceful."
Merlin coughed awkwardly.
"I'm simply desperate. Desperately in love."
She stared at him. Merlin smiled. The girl responded with a glare.
Without warning, Merlin reached forward and pulled her onto his lap. She released a quiet yelp before wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Of course... you're my first love."
She shook her head.
"That sounds like something you've said a hundred times."
Merlin answered with a toothy grin.
"I've only said it to you. Probably."
The girl sighed.
"You're terrible."
"And yet you're still here."
She stared at him. Then smiled despite herself.
The conversation gradually moved away from the examination. Eventually, Merlin looked toward her again.
"If you encounter Vexion, you can make her aware of my interest. I don't mind."
The girl chuckled.
"Very well." She nodded. "I'll let her know."
Neither of them returned to the original discussion. The Final Selection Examination had somehow become the least important subject in the room.
Yet neither Merlin nor the girl understood something. While they discussed Vexion, while Merlin considered different ways to recruit her, his eye had already fallen upon her — an eye Vexion had no means of confronting alone, an eye capable of seeing far more than either she nor Dante realized.
And although Dante and Vexion remained unaware, their paths had already begun moving toward one another.