Extra To Protagonist-Chapter 15: Creepy Ladies

Merlin channeled his wind and space affinity, pushing his movements to their limit.

He had no weapon. Nothing but his fists.

'Alright, don't be useless now."

He launched a kick at the clone. It blocked it effortlessly.

'Again.'

Merlin swung a right hook. The clone sidestepped, reaching for him—

[Trickster's Reflex]

Merlin twisted out of its grasp.

Morgana's eyes flickered with interest.

'Huh. He's definitely not entirely hopeless.'

She tracked his every movement, down to the rhythm of his breathing.

Reinhardt, meanwhile, was watching with the wide-eyed intensity of a man betting on an underdog.

'You got this, kid.'

Merlin kept attacking.

Then—

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

The clone struck.

It moved for his throat, fingers curled like claws.

'I'm gonna die I'm gonna die I'm gonna die—'

Panic seized his brain. He activated his time affinity—

And suddenly, the clone's movements slowed.

'Oh. That... worked?'

He dodged. The clone hadn't expected that. Merlin countered with a punch to the face, sending it skidding back.

Morgana's expression remained neutral, but her eyes burned with something dangerous.

'I want him as a disciple, but I can't make it too obvious.'

She licked her lips.

Reinhardt, watching from the side, paled.

'What the hell is this demon woman planning...?'

He shook his head and looked back at Merlin.

Merlin, meanwhile, was frozen.

Because the clone was smiling.

Okay, nope. That's terrifying.

Then—

The clone shot toward him like a bullet.

'Shit—'

Merlin tried slowing time again—

The clone countered, restoring its speed instantly.

'I'm so cooked.'

[Trickster's Reflex]

Merlin threw every ounce of affinity he had into dodging—

The clone grabbed his arm anyway.

'Oh for fuck's sake—'

He was slammed into the ground. Face-first.

His arm twisted behind his back. A knee pressed against his spine.

"..."

Merlin tried very, very hard to ignore the feeling of the clone pressed against him.

He cleared his throat.

Morgana clapped her hands.

The clone vanished.

The pressure on his back lifted. Merlin groaned, pushing himself off the floor.

Morgana snapped her fingers.

Reality ripped.

Next thing he knew—

They were back in her office.

'...This is normal to them. It shouldn't be. But it is.'

Merlin sighed, rubbing his face.

Morgana, meanwhile, rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

Reinhardt and Merlin exchanged glances. Then looked at Morgana.

'What is she plotting?'

They thought it in perfect sync.

If Morgana was thinking this much, it was never a good sign.

Sweat formed on Merlin's brow as she met his gaze.

"Not bad."

...Here it comes. She's gonna keep talking. She always does this. She loves leaving sentences unfinished just to mess with people.

Merlin waited.

And waited.

...And waited.

The office was dead silent.

Like an abandoned graveyard.

Without the abandoned part.

"...So?" Merlin finally asked, breaking first.

"So what?"

'...Is she serious?'

A giant question mark might as well have been drawn on Merlin's face as he searched Morgana's expression for anything.

Nothing.

She sighed. Then, staring straight into his soul, she said—

"The Battle Royale games for first-years are coming up soon."

'...Battle Royale? Ah, right. That dumb event Nathan always won.'

Merlin grimaced.

Morgana continued, "If you place first—"

She leaned forward slightly.

"—and defeat at least ten other students—"

Reinhardt's eyes lit up.

"...I'll teach you."

A deal.

Morgana stepped closer.

'Too close.'

Merlin shifted uncomfortably.

"I accept the offer."

Merlin met Morgana's gaze, watching as her lips curled into a devilish smile.

'Yeah, I don't like that.'

Reinhardt cleared his throat. Both of them turned to him at the exact same time.

"The kid should get back to training. If I recall correctly, he doesn't have any more classes today."

'...How does he know that?'

Merlin resisted the urge to smack himself.

'Did he seriously check my schedule?'

Morgana shrugged. "Fine."

The door swung open without a sound.

"Thanks for the opportunity."

Merlin nodded slightly before stepping out with Reinhardt.

The moment the door closed behind them, Reinhardt clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"See? You survived."

'Survived? Since when are we close enough for shoulder pats, old man?'

Merlin sighed, pushing forward toward the training hall. He ignored the odd looks he got along the way.

'Where the hell is Nathan?'

As he walked, his mind drifted.

'Shouldn't he be done with training by now?'

Merlin shook his head, snapping himself out of it.

'Not my problem.'

The facility was packed. Students filled almost every room—

Except one.

"Perfect—"

"You want to use it too?"

A cold, familiar voice cut in.

'Oh, this can't be good.'

Merlin turned.

Elara Vaelith stood behind him, arms crossed like she owned the place.

This day just keeps getting better.

Meanwhile, Reinhardt...

Reinhardt was smiling.

But not in a normal way.

In a creepy, definitely-up-to-something way.

'What is this old man planning?'

Elara and Merlin both glanced at him—

Just as he started rubbing his hands together like some evil mastermind.

'That's so unsettling.'

"How about a spar—"

"No."

"Sure."

Reinhardt didn't even finish before Merlin rejected the idea outright.

Meanwhile, Elara agreed. With a smirk.

'Why is everyone acting so goddamn weird today?'

Merlin sighed, shaking his head.

"Fine. But this is the first and last—"

Before he could finish, Reinhardt was already shoving him toward the training room.

Elara followed with a cold, almost amused smile—like she was watching a kitten struggle.

"Grab the weapon you want to use."

Reinhardt's voice echoed as they stepped inside.

'...I have to go all out.'

Merlin exhaled sharply and picked up his usual rapier.

The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, he felt it.

Like the blade had been made for his hands.

Like it was a part of him.

'Perfect.'

He swung it a few times—quick, precise cuts. The air whistled with every motion.

Then, he took his stance.

Elara, on the other hand—

She grabbed a spear.

A long one. Longer than she was tall.

'...This is a terrible matchup for me.'

Merlin clicked his tongue but quickly adjusted his stance.

Elara was way more experienced with weapons. However, Merlin was him.

'I wouldn't lose though.'

Reinhardt watched, eyes narrowing slightly at Elara's weapon choice.

Then—

"Fight!"

His voice cracked through the room like an explosion.

Both of them launched forward at the same time.

Merlin channeled his Space Affinity.

'He never said I couldn't use it.'

Elara, however—

She still wasn't using hers.