Chapter 156 – Chapter 156 – Merlin (2)

Merlin’s appearance for the first time was that of a benevolent middle-aged man, just as he had seen in previous photos.

A bowler hat and a neatly trimmed beard.

Unlike what I saw in the ordeal, seeing him younger now, I felt a sense of difference.

“Wheeik~ Whiik~.”

I definitely realized that Merlin was right for that characteristic low hum and that hum.

Old Merlin spits a spell called ‘sting’, and I can’t forget her humming voice.

Although I was taken aback by the sudden appearance of Merlin, I kept my composure as much as possible and studied Merlin’s intentions.

Then, Merlin casually suggested to me, ‘Where would you like to sit down and have a cup of coffee?’

After thinking for a while, I stepped into the cafe that appeared after walking for 15 minutes.

Merlin followed me without showing any sign, even after walking for quite some time.

“Whip-whee-whee-whee.”

I stared blankly at Merlin.

She smiles slightly, but deep within that smile, it was clear that she already knew my intentions.

‘A strange place.’

Embroidering runes in the air, using magic.

In a way, he had to avoid places familiar to Merlin, a user of inefficient rune magic.

According to Hong Ma-dong’s hint in her dream, if Merlin crawled into the place where he prepared the runes… That would be her suicide.

So she came to the cafe at the end of the nightlife district as part of it, but Merlin followed my instructions without saying anything.

“Um, can I sit here?”

Hairy.

In the center of the cafe, Merlin pulled out a chair and sat down.

I looked at her calmly and pointed her finger at the other end.

“No, I’m going over there.”

“That’s right.”

Hairy.

“Now let’s go over there.”

“Okay.”

After moving my seat three times, I sat down with Merlin.

The waitress coming to take my order looked at me like I was crazy, but I had to make sure this was the case.

“Two cups of coffee.”

As soon as the waitress arrived, I handed her a black card.

The waitress was once again startled by the card I handed over.

“It doesn’t matter how many times you scratch with the tip, don’t pay attention to this side.”

“Yes… Yes!”

The waitress picked up the card with trembling hands and ran to the counter.

He seemed to have guessed at once that Merlin and I were unusual people.

“Cluck, he’s a sensible employee.”

Merlin seemed to find this amused, and ran his hand under her chin.

“Well.”

But when she didn’t catch anything, she looked back at me with a strangely awkward look on her face.

And said hello

“Nice to meet you again, Merlin. He is currently the head of a conducting family, and he is an old man who occupies one of the ten seats in the House of Representatives.”

“I’m Kang Han-jun. Even if I don’t say anything in particular, you’ll know clearly, so just tell me why you’re visiting.”

I answered Merlin quite coldly.

Not only taking over the evil forces, but also causing the extinction of her mother’s clan.

In fact, since she had never seen her mother, when she heard about the extinction of her mother’s clan, the Imoogi clan, the feeling of displeasure was stronger than anger.

Whatever it was, it was impossible to treat that Merlin favorably.

And Merlin didn’t show any reaction to my callous attitude, as if he was aware of this fact.

“Aren’t you being too cold-hearted? Even now, since I’m one of the shaman who truly respects shaman Kang Yi-joon, I wanted to talk to you, his son.”

“Even though he lives with a straw in the world his father created, he seems to have that kind of heart.”

Even if he showed open hostility, Merlin laughed it off.

“Yes. The magic that creates the world is the best creation and work of art, so I can be proud of it. I am always grateful for the fact that I live on a work of art.”

Before she knew it, Merlin, who was handed the coffee to a waiter who approached with a coffee, took a sip of her coffee and continued her words.

“I also respect you.”

“He didn’t just make my father, he made my mother too.”

At my words, Merlin kept her silence for a while, then smiled strangely.

“That’s true, but to be honest, I’m not the type to like youkai that much. I don’t really have much respect for your mother.”

“I know because I heard it from Hong Ma-dong.”

“… Have you heard of that?”

Merlin gave her a look of amazement.

Apparently, during the midterm exam, he knew that I killed Hong Ma-dong.

I didn’t think I could have imagined that Hong Ma-dong would talk to me in such a short amount of time.

“Yes, well. There’s an old man who’s a shamanist like himself, and that’s you?”

“… This is amazing. I never thought I’d mention this old man before I go.”

Pushing up the red sunglasses in her head, the image of Hong Ma-dong smiling smirking came to mind.

If it was Hongma-dong, it was clear that he would have said this.

‘I’m sure you’d be even more surprised if you noticed that you’re similar to me, even in the phalanx technique and the dagger technique.’

I wanted to show this as well, but I decided to save it for future reference.

Merlin asked me, shaking her head as if lost in her old memories.

“Did you have something to say to me?”

“Rather than saying anything, Hong Ma-dong mentioned that he was an old man to be torn to death.”

“Clap, that’s right.”

Merlin nodded her head, savoring her coffee.

As if enjoying the aroma of coffee that lingered in her mouth, Merlin, who had been exhaling calmly, spoke to her.

“Thanks for bringing up a good story, can I share a good story with you too?”

“If it’s a good thing.”

Merlin gave a meaningful smile.

“I’m not sure if it’s good, but I’m sure it’s an interesting story. It’s related to Kim Ji-hye, whom you’re entrusting yourself with.”

“……”

I kept silent.

Merlin must have interpreted my silence as an affirmation, so she spoke slowly.

“Do you remember the first cause that came over to your side?”

“Because I was attacked by a shadow fiend, what?”

“Yes, I know. Well, there’s no way I don’t know. Since the beginning of everything remains in everyone’s head, so am I.”

After humming for a moment, Merlin smiled strangely.

“What I’m trying to say is this, it’s highly likely that Kim Ji-hye planned that you were attacked by the Shadow Fiend.”

I didn’t say anything.

Then Merlin, who was smiling strangely at her, tore the corner of her grin.

“You must have guessed to some extent. This fact.”

Still not saying anything, Merlin went on with her.

“The only child of Yi-Jun Kang and Si-A Lee. Since you came, the world behind this world started to fluctuate. Unlike before, we also collided directly. And who would want this current situation… Don’t you know?”

“It could be you, because things are like this now. No one would have known then.”

“Cluck, it’s not like that.”

Merlin didn’t specifically contradict my words, she agreed.

And she immediately gave her next opinion.

“But do you think Kim Ji-hye, who was guarding you from the other side of the world, is a sorceress who would only miss her Shadow Fiend?”

“Since it was a shadow fiend who also created barriers, that could be the case.”

I looked at Merlin.

Merlin met my eyes, and she let out her first mad laugh.

“It’s interesting, very interesting. To say that it didn’t matter what happened from the beginning. Blind trust, you’re quite twisted.”

“How can you doubt Kim Ji-hye noona, who is indebted to you and who is suffering because of me now? I don’t betray like anyone else.”

Merlin burst out laughing, applauding her.

“This, it looks like it was hit very hard. I was expecting a big reaction from this, but I gave it to you… It’s a pity.”

“What, so let’s get to the point now. If we keep fighting each other like this, will we get hit with a big one?”

I put the bankruptcy sword on the table.

Merlin looked down at her broken sword, then she poured some of her coffee into her mouth.

“Okay. I’m also not good enough to deal with you, even Kim Si-hee.”

‘Shit.’

I swear inwardly.

I couldn’t feel any presence around me and Merlin right now, but Kim Si-hee was attached.

Kim Si-hee’s keyword support.

Kim Si-hee’s shadow magic not only applied to her others, but she could also apply it to herself.

Minus rather than plus.

That’s why, even though she doesn’t have the power to harm anyone, Kim Si-hee, who erased all of her presence with a minus, was escorting me.

Merlin noticed this right away.

“Ah, I’ll tell you in advance just in case. I didn’t prepare anything either.”

Merlin sewed her fingers into the air.

Then, for a brief moment, a white light similar to moonlight shone inside the cafe.

This white light, which can only be seen by concentration, was sparsely placed.

A line drawn naturally on the mug that Merlin placed on the table.

The line hanging from the frame behind me.

Lines on the window frame.

One by one, if you look closely, it’s nothing.

Seen from afar, it was drawing a pattern, sending light to Merlin’s signal.

‘Before giving a chance, killing is the first method.’

Hong Ma-dong didn’t say this for nothing.

In preparation for the worst, he was planning the shortest route to kill Merlin.

Merlin finally got to the point.

“I’ll ask you directly. Maybe you’re sleeping.”

Merlin stroked her chin.

“Did the dragon’s blood bloom?”

I looked at Merlin.

And she put on a meaningful smile.

“I guess.”

One thing I could be sure of.

If I show a gap here, it is clear that something big will happen.

In this situation where instinct and reason vomit danger.

I took a sip of coffee leisurely and continued the smoke.