NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29: Accepting Being a Disciple
Merlin fell silent at the question. He lowered his head, as if weighing whether to tell her or not.
Of course, that was how it looked from Linda's perspective. In reality, Merlin was having a discussion with the system.
'System, what do you think? Is it okay if I tell Linda about the Blood Viroth curse?' Merlin asked hesitantly.
The Blood Viroth was a mysterious curse. Even Linda, in the past, had been unable to detect it. He wasn't sure how she would react.
There was a chance she might see him as a threat. If that happened, there would be no way out.
The system immediately sensed Merlin's anxiety and reassured him, "[Don't worry, Master. That fear of yours won't come true. You can see Linda's affection for you. I'm certain your worries will vanish."]
Surprised by those words, Merlin raised his head slightly and glanced at Linda.
"Status panel," he whispered.
[Status]
Name: Linda Thalsis
Age: 27
Identity: Headmistress of Freya Academy of Magic, the Nameless Mage
Talent: S
Guardian Spirit: Silver-Eyed Tiger (★★★★★)
Rank: First Spirit Core
Bloodline: Angel's Golden Blood (Gold)
Favorability: 60
As Merlin read the panel, his eyes widened in shock.
'Is this her status? Damn it! No wonder she's one of the strongest characters in the novel!' He swallowed hard, both amazed and afraid.
But a moment later, he regained his composure. Merlin recalled Linda's statistics he had once read in the databook. Those powers had been explained in detail—even the magic techniques she had mastered were recorded there.
Still, reading about them in a databook and seeing them in person were two very different things.
"Merlin, why are you silent? Don't tell me you don't want to tell me?"
Linda's cold, disgruntled voice cut through the air. Merlin snapped out of his reverie and took a deep breath to steady himself.
"Sorry, Linda," he said, his tone more polite than before. "I was just debating whether to tell you, because I wasn't sure you'd believe me."
Linda grew more curious. Crossing her arms over her chest, she reassured him softly, "Don't worry, Merlin. I'll believe every word you say. You have my guarantee."
Her face radiated genuine seriousness.
With Linda's assurance, Merlin set aside his hesitation and told her about the Blood Viroth curse.
Linda listened intently without interrupting once. But anyone sensitive enough could see her expression slowly darken.
"So, you're saying there's a curse inside your body—and it's been there for two years—yet I can't detect it at all?" Her voice was cold and tinged with annoyance.
"Yes," Merlin answered plainly. "The curse is real, and you can't detect it."
Linda was clearly skeptical. She was the most powerful mage in Saint Freya Academy, her level already at the First Spirit Core. If she wanted to boast, she could easily claim a place among the strongest on the continent.
Yet Merlin was saying she had failed to detect a curse within him—and that felt like an insult.
Even so, she wasn't the type to be stubborn or insist on always being right. From Merlin's expression, it was obvious he wasn't joking.
'It could be an ancient curse,' she murmured, narrowing her eyes.
The ancient era was shrouded in mystery. Many relics still remained, but almost no clear or complete records of that time survived. It wasn't impossible that the Blood Viroth curse Merlin mentioned truly originated there.
With a soft sigh, Linda regained her composure.
"Alright, I understand. But how do you know about the curse?" she asked, her tone curious yet tinged with suspicion.
"Ahem!" Merlin cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, Linda. I can't tell you. But I assure you, I'm not lying."
He certainly couldn't reveal that the information came from the system. And if he claimed some mysterious person had told him, it would only create more problems.
In Linda's databook, she was described as extremely curious, the type who would investigate something relentlessly until she uncovered the truth.
Had Merlin fabricated a story about some mysterious person, it wouldn't have been impossible for Linda to mobilize the troops—or even the full power of Saint Freya Academy—just to track that person down.
By refusing to reveal the source, at least her curiosity could be held back. After all, Linda respected the privacy of others—even Merlin's, despite him being only eight years old.
And just as he expected, Linda restrained her curiosity and gave a reluctant nod.
"Alright," she said with a soft sigh. "To be honest, once you and your sister finish your awakening, I should return to the Academy to deal with a mountain of work. But since you've asked, I'll extend my vacation a little longer."
As head of the academy, she could take leave whenever she wished. But Linda was a disciplinarian who valued time above all. Wasting even minutes—let alone hours—just to relax was unthinkable for her.
Hearing that, Merlin felt delighted. He bowed his head and said, "Thank you, Linda."
Linda immediately pouted. "I'm already your mentor. How can you just call me by my name?"
Her words jolted Merlin, and he quickly corrected himself.
"Sorry, Master! And thank you for your kindness!"
Linda nodded in satisfaction. She patted Merlin's shoulder before turning around and saying, "Then, come back here tomorrow morning. We'll start the training. But…"
Her words trailed off as a faint smile curved her lips. She glanced back over her shoulder.
"The training won't be easy, you know?"
Merlin straightened up at once and patted his chest with confidence.
"Don't worry, Master! I'll try my hardest to survive! To become strong, I'll do anything!"
His face carried a seriousness far beyond his years. For a moment, Linda felt as though she wasn't looking at a little boy but at a powerful figure radiating a majestic aura—so much so that she found herself briefly mesmerized.
'Maybe it's just my imagination,' she murmured, shaking her head.
Without another word, she walked away, leaving Merlin behind.
As he watched her retreating figure, Merlin clenched his fists and exclaimed joyfully, "Hahaha! What a lucky day!"