Merlin explained everything about the System to Sunny. How he had gotten it and why. How it helped make him stronger and gave him the power to cancel magic. And, most importantly, its risks.

  It was a lot easier spilling the information this time, since he had already done it for Chima and Hakyun. And, thankfully, Sunny’s reaction was a lot more tame compared to his roommates’.

  “I see,” said Sunny when Merlin was done. “That’s…impressive.”

  Merlin licked his lips. “Is that all you have to say?”

  Sunny hummed. “Well, I’m not exactly sure how to react, or how you want me to. All you said comes across to me just as weird as your reveal of anti-magic, and you were right about that, so… On the other hand, even with your explanation, I still don’t know anything about a System so it’s hard for me to digest what exactly you’re talking about, besides the fact that it enhances you in some way.” He paused, but Merlin didn’t interrupt. “Anyway, I do believe you. It’s obvious you’re not pulling my legs. If you are, though, I’m honestly going to kill you this time.”

  Merlin breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m not.”

  “Yeah,” said Sunny. “I know.”

  Merlin pressed his lips together. “Thank you for being such a good friend to me,” he said. “And tolerating me.”

  Sunny snorted. “Now I regret losing to your sister on that day we met. I should have charged more. Darn that Nora.”

  Merlin chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. We do owe you one.”

  “You owe me more than just one, kid,” Sunny scoffed. “By the way, that little devil’s notion on you being carted off to a lab and dissected makes more sense now. Is this the real reason why she had said that?”

  Merlin recalled the conversation Sunny was citing. It was on the day after the dungeon raid entrance exam, when Janeth had managed to make a mess of the ending by gulping down a bottle of soju, getting herself drunk. On that night, he had revealed his ability to use anti-magic, and Sunny had claimed that no one in their right senses would throw him into a lab considering how useful he would be as a Mage to them. Nora had countered with the possibility existing, but Sunny had managed to come out on top in the argument. Or he hadn’t? Merlin couldn’t quite recall much.

  “Yes,” replied Merlin. “If it gets out that I have a System, things could become quite messy.”

  “Yeah,” said Sunny. “Anti-magic is one thing, the ability to get stronger and enhance your mana is a completely different ball game. You will definitely be tested if it gets out. Have you told any person in authority?”

  “Yes,” Merlin replied. “My headmaster.”

  Sunny was silent for a moment. “Do you think that’s a good decision?”

  “I… I don’t know, Sunny,” Merlin said. “After the Tower raid, I realized how risky the System is to me and everyone around me. It would be irrational for me to continue keeping it a secret when my existence could result in the death of someone else. It’s the reason I’m revealing it to all of you now. I’m sorry about that.”

  “It’s fine,” said Sunny. “Who am I to tell you how to live your life?”

  Merlin sighed. “The headmaster was the only person of the highest authority I could confide in.”

  “And that professor of yours?” added Sunny. “Did you tell her?”

  Merlin rubbed his forehead, exasperated. “No.”

  “Will you?”

  Merlin hesitated. “I don’t know if that would be a good decision.”

  “Why not?” asked Sunny. “You’re telling everyone close to you, and from how you’ve spoken about her in the instances she has been mentioned, it seems she’s even closer to you than your headmaster. So why do you think it won’t be a good reason to share your burden with her? Also, if I recall correctly, you mentioned that she asked you to come to her if you wanted to ease your mind. Sounds like a good person to me. Or is there something I’m missing?”

  Merlin shook his head. “She is a good person,” he said. “It’s just that I’m not exactly trying to tell the whole world about my secret yet. There are still a couple of my friends I haven’t spoken to about it, and doubt I will. I just think the more people I tell, the harder it will be to, you know, keep it a secret.”

  “If you say so,” said Sunny. “It’s your decision to make.” He yawned. “Goodness, Merlin. I need to sleep. You had me staking out Club Spiral all day.”

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  Merlin’s brows jumped up. His mind took a spin from his worries about the System to his worries about Nikolai and the drug that had incapacitated him.

  “What did you find?” he blurted, forgetting all about intending to wait until Sunny was ready to tell him about how the situation was going.

  Sunny took his time, which was almost too long, but Merlin, as usual, didn’t push.

  “Nothing,” said Sunny soon after. “I’m yet to find anything.”

  Merlin’s brows drew closer, his face tightening. He stared at his phone’s screen for a moment, then sighed.

  “All right,” said Merlin. “Let me not keep you for any longer. Good night.”

  “Yeah,” said Sunny. “One more thing.”

  Merlin blinked. “What’s it?”

  “Have you told Janeth?”

  Merlin paused. He winced slightly, and said, “She didn’t reply to my text. I don’t want to bother her when she’s busy, so I’ll wait until she’s ready.”

  Sunny sighed. “Come on, Merlin. You have a twin sister, you should be well aware that if a lady ignores your texts, there’s a high chance she’ll never contact you. I’m not saying Janeth did ignore your text, but if she did, then I doubt you’ll be hearing from her unless you reach out.”

  Merlin bit the inside of his lip.

  “I know that,” he said. “But what can I do? I don’t want to be a bother and push her away. The only thing I can do is acknowledge her pace and follow it.”

  “You’re right,” replied Sunny. “But that’s depending on what you want.” He paused. “I know about your feelings, and I’m not trying to involve myself with both of you. But if you really want to tell her about your secret, then you’ll have to be a bit more assertive than you are. Because, I’ll be honest with you, Janeth has avoidant issues. She won’t reach out to you, even if she wants to, and will be fine with letting things fade away the way they are. You? Are you fine with that?”

  Merlin’s heart skipped a beat. Of course he wasn’t. If his feelings were a joke, then by now they should have disappeared. But despite all that had happened, he still craved her presence. Perhaps it had been a simple crush at first, but it wasn’t anymore.

  Yes. He did like her.

  “No,” he replied.

  “Good. Because I’m not too,” said Sunny. “You both should sort yourselves out. Good night.”

  The call ended, leaving Merlin stumped as to which action he should take now. He leaned back on the bench, heaving out a deep breath as he stared at the sky, stars glistening in the black expanse, twinkling and beautiful. He wished his life was as beautiful as they were. Calm and without worries. His head was aching.

  “I should take a walk,” he mumbled to himself. “Clear my head.”

  Merlin immediately pushed himself up to his feet. Then he glanced left and right, deliberating on which path he should take.

  Shortly after, he decided on left. Right led in the direction of the academy’s main building, and further down that was the girl’s dorm. He had no business going that way.

  The left, on the other hand, led towards the sport’s field. And it was quite some distance, giving him enough time to stretch his legs and body, and calm his mind.

  Halfway through his walk, Merlin decided to take Sunny’s advice, but only after giving Janeth a bit of space. If she didn’t call or text by the next week, he would pester her once more, with a bit more force too. Hopefully she bit.

  “Yes, father,” a voice sounded from a corner Merlin was approaching. He stopped. It was Choi Sangook’s voice. “Dragon Eye has taken first position again.”

  “Good,” said another voice, deeper and flat.

  Choi Sangook was on a call with his father, Merlin realized. And he also realized that listening in on another’s conversation wasn’t the best of things to emulate, even though they were basically asking for it by not using a headset or earphones. But his curiosity was a damning thing, and it held him in place, even though his mind ushered him to leave.

  “Uhm… Will you be coming for the tournament?” Choi Sangook asked, timid.

  Merlin was surprised. The boy was always so gruff when he spoke to others. But, well, it was his father he was speaking to at the moment.

  “No,” replied Sangook’s father curtly. “Your mother and sister will.”

  “Oh. I see.”

  Choi Sangook’s tone dropped even further in quality. Merlin knew that tone. It was that of disappointment.

  “Because I will not be there does not mean I will not be watching,” Sangook’s father continued. “You have already failed more times than not in Prestige Academy. Do not disgrace me any further by losing in the tournament.”

  “Yes, father,” replied Choi Sangook. “I’ll make sure to live up to my role as the heir to the Golden Crown Guild and C.B group.”

  There was a dismissive hmph from the other side of the phone, and Merlin felt his heart sink. He was not listening to the conversation between a father and his son.

  “And the boy?” Sangook’s father added.

  “You don’t have to worry about him, father,” said Choi Sangook. “He doesn’t dare speak to me.”

  “Good. Remember, you are my heir, but you are not my only child. And I have no problems transferring your rights to your little sister. If that is what you prefer, then you can go ahead with becoming friends with plebians.”

  “I assure you, father,” said Choi Sangook, his tone a mockery of resolve, “I have no intention of being friends with him any longer. Please forgive the mistake I made as a child.”

  No reply came, and the next sound Merlin heard was a beep that signified the call being ended.

  He bit his lower lip as the conversation played in his head. But even though he was trying to piece together all he had heard, waiting any longer where he was would be giving himself up to be caught by Choi Sangook. And their interactions never ended well.

  Merlin turned around. And at that moment, Choi Sangook yelled, “Fuck!”