“Eh?!!! What do you mean you have to be able to cancel out the headmaster’s spell by the end of the year?!”

  “The disciplinary committee? Why?!”

  Hakyun and Chima roared in unison at Merlin’s reveal. Their reactions were more exaggerated than that of Nora and Kim Yiseo, but that was only normal. The former were more expressive people.

  “And why are you just telling us that now?” Hakyun added with a frown.

  If he was angry, he was right to be.

  When Merlin had returned from his meeting with the headmaster, he had told them that the discussion had not been anything important and had headed into his room immediately. He had wanted to sit on it first at the time, because it had been too much for him to handle. That was why he hadn’t told Nora of it as well. He’d only just now decided on his pns moving forward after speaking with Professor Jung, which was why he could now tell them.

  However, that didn’t mean they did not have the right to be annoyed with him. He had kept it from their ears for three days after all. Nora had been angry too, so much that they had been given a strike for making noise in the library. Thankfully, she had stopped then, if not they would have been kicked out after strike two.

  “Don’t pester him, four-eyes,” Chima said. “He must have had his reasons.”

  “Of course you’d take his side,” Hakyun snorted. “Don’t you get it? It’s only normal that roomies don’t keep secrets from each other. And we’re more than just roomies. We’re friends.”

  He was right. Merlin sighed despondently.

  “I’m sorry, okay,” he apologized. “I just had to think about it all first. It wouldn’t have been right to have just sprung it all up on you guys when I was not yet sure what my pn was.”

  Hakyun narrowed his eyes, then heaved out an exhale, leaning back on the couch. “Then that’s fine. I accept that reasoning of yours.”

  Chima shook his head. “Don’t mind him, Mel. On the other hand, what do you pn to do? I kinda think it’ll be nigh impossible to be able to use anti-magic on someone like the headmaster in under a year.”

  “Same here,” Merlin agreed, seated cross-legged on the floor. He had kind of grown a certain liking to doing that. “That’s part of the reason why I’m joining the disciplinary committee, well, besides Professor Jung maniputing me to; the more I cancel spells, the more experience I get.”

  “So stubborn students become your guinea pigs,” Hakyun chimed in, eliciting a grimace from Chima followed by an elbow to the ribs. “What was that for?!”

  “Why would you put it that way? That’s disgusting.”

  “But I’m right.”

  “And,” Merlin cut in before their bickering dragged on. “Professor Jung said I’d be made the center of focus during our practical courses, so I’ll have more chances to bolster my skills.”

  Chima licked his lips. “Will that be enough, though? I highly doubt it. It’s like saying making those S-Css Mages in our year the center of focus would put them on par with the headmaster at the end of the year. You get how that sounds, right?”

  First of all, those two S-Css Mages had names. They were Kim Yiseo and Lee Jaehyun. Secondly, Merlin did know how absurd it sounded. But this was the only way for him to boost his anti-magic. At least that the Academy could provide him with.

  In truth, he had another one.

  He recalled that there was a particur Dragon Kieran had released during his expedition into one of the Dungeons in Singurity Mage. Dragons were cimed to be exceptional beings in the art of magic. With Merlin’s Dungeon Artist Perk, he could get that dragon, and have a personal trainer. The problem was, the Dungeon was anything but in the range of his current abilities. Even Kieran had broken a sweat while tackling it. Merlin had to get stronger if he was to attempt to raid it, or he would die.

  So, for now, he had no other way. He would have to just depend on the Academy until he felt like he could raid a Dungeon on his own.

  However… He gnced at Hakyun and Chima. Did he really have to raid the Dungeon all alone? Couldn’t he ask for their help? He shook his head inwardly. No. It was risky. What if they got injured or died? Also, if he told them about his ability to create Dungeons, that would mean he would let loose on the System too.

  He disliked that he had to keep secrets from them, but he was too scared of what the consequences of revealing them would be.

  “You know, I agree with this dimwit for once,” Hakyun said, causing Chima’s lips to twitch. “I doubt the Academy’s support will be enough. You need to double—no, triple your training regime. How about we help you with that instead in your free time? I found out that there’s a training area on the ground floor. We just have to let the dorm master know beforehand.”

  Chima’s fury at Hakyun’s jab at him vanished and he nodded in support.

  Merlin smiled. That he could do.

  “Alright.”

  His phone beeped at that moment, and he pulled it out of his pocket to see an unknown ID pop up on his screen. He was only confused for a second until he saw the message he had received.

  [Hi. It’s Sofia. How are you doing?]

  Merlin’s chest stiffened for a moment, so noticeably too that Hakyun and Chima narrowed their brows in unison.

  “Any problem?” Chima asked.

  Merlin sighed. Knowing he couldn’t get through this dilemma alone, he decided to spill his worries out to his roommates, maybe they could be of some help. By the time he was done, their furrowed brows jumped up as their eyes widened.

  “You already got a girl gushing over you?!” Hakyun jumped up from the couch, jealousy evidently ced in his voice. “Goodness, popurity is such a cheat code.”

  It was also a double-edged sword. Merlin thought to himself. After all, his popurity was bringing unwarranted attention his way, and now he wasn’t sure how to deal with Sofia because he knew how painful his answer to her would be, if it eventually turned out that what he was thinking was actually true.

  “Hmmm…” Chima rubbed his chin. “How much do you like this Janeth girl?” he asked.

  Merlin tilted his head, blinking owlishly. “What do you mean?”

  “I’m just asking. This Janeth girl, how much do you like her? Is it so much that you’d break down if you get rejected?”

  Those words struck Merlin like a crossbow’s bolt had been shot into his chest. He had not thought about things like that before. It was just a crush; he’d never considered asking her out. After all, he had no success in such things. Liking someone from afar was far better for him.

  Or so he’d thought. Because now that Chima had thrown that question his way…

  “Yes,” he answered. “It will hurt.”

  “I see.” Chima nodded. “My advice? Don’t lead Sofia on. Be straight with her, and tell her where you stand. Also, I think you should let Janeth know how you feel. The earlier the better. Things will only get awkward ter on. Especially when she gets a boyfriend; that’s if she doesn’t have one already.”

  Merlin muscles quivered, his heart pounding so quickly he heard his blood rushing.

  Goodness, why were Chima’s words hitting him so hard?

  “Then… Should I ask her out on a date?” Merlin started, his gaze pced on his phone.

  “Yes,” Chima replied bluntly. “It’s better to confess in person than over the phone. What do you think, Hakyun?”

  “Don’t ask me,” Hakyun fell back down on the couch. “I know nothing about women. I’ve been unpopur my whole life.”

  Well, Merlin was the same. And that was why this whole situation was like a boulder being dropped onto his head. Chima, however, seemed like he had a lot of experience concerning such matters.

  “Should I do the same for Sofia?” Merlin asked. “I mean go on a date with her then tell her where I stand?”

  “Probably,” Chima said. “Her case is kinda different, so it just depends on which you feel fine with. You do you. I’ll be honest, though, you do not have the time to be so focused on who and who doesn’t like you right now. So the quicker you set your emotions right, the quicker you can focus on what is more important.”

  Merlin pressed his lips together, falling into his thoughts. Chima was right. He did not have the time to be splitting his attention. He had to find out how Janeth felt, and had to clear the air with Sofia. That was the right direction to take.

  “I agree,” he nodded. Then unlocked his phone and typed in a message for Janeth.

  [Merlin: Hi, Janeth. I hope I’m not bothering you. I was just wondering if you would be free this Saturday. Please let me know.]

  “I just sent Janeth a text,” he said.

  “Good. What did you ask her?” Chima replied. Hakyun just stared, really having nothing to contribute.

  “If she was free this Saturday.”

  Chima just nodded in response.

  Merlin didn’t stop there, though. He replied to Sofia's text next.

  [Merlin: Hi, Sofia. I’m doing fine. How about you?]

  He then heaved out a sigh, pnning to put off his phone and lie in wait for Janeth’s reply. But he was not even given that moment as a notification rang out immediately, and it was Janeth. Merlin’s heart froze for a moment.

  “She’s replied,” Merlin said.

  “Who? Sofia?” Hakyun asked, leaning forward on his seat, quite interested in how things would turn out.

  “No. Janeth, obviously,” Chima was the one who replied. “What did she say?”

  Merlin opened the text, and his face brightened slightly. “She said she is.”

  “Alright. Now drop the bomb.”

  Merlin licked his lips and did as he was told.

  [Merlin: Great. I’m also free this Saturday, and was hoping we could spend some time together. If you don’t mind, of course.]

  He clicked send, and, along with his two roomies, waited for a reply with his heart in his throat. This time, though, it took a longer while than the st, every second feeling like a minute to Merlin. And when the three dots that signified Janeth typing appeared, heat rose beneath his eyelids. Then she replied.

  [Janeth: Sure. What do you wanna do?]

  Merlin’s shoulders dropped and he fell back to the floor, his chest rising and falling.

  “What did she say?” Hakyun asked. And when Merlin didn't reply, he snatched the phone from his hand, impatient. Then he sighed. “No wonder he’s smiling like a quokka.”

  “Well, there you go,” Chima said. “You got your date.”

  Merlin suddenly jolted upright then, recalling a certain question he’d kept at the back of his mind to ask Hakyun.

  “Hey,” he began. “I have something to ask you.”

  Hakyun gnced at him. “Me?” Merlin nodded. “What’s it?”

  “That guy during the physical assessment…”

  “Nikoi? What about him?”

  “No, not Nikoi. The one who kind of cheered you on as you were walking down,” said Merlin.

  Hakyun flinched for a split second before settling down and sighing. He handed Merlin’s phone back to him.

  Merlin added then, “What’s your deal with him?”