Extra To Protagonist-Chapter 14: Demon Headmaster

Class ended quickly—nothing special happened, and Nathan was still nowhere to be seen.

The other students started filing out, chatting amongst themselves.

Merlin, sensing an opportunity, tried to slip away unnoticed.

Unfortunately, a massive hand clamped down on his shoulder like a vice.

'Here we go again..'

Turning around slowly, he found himself staring into Reinhardt's piercing gaze.

"We're going to the Headmaster's office."

'Yeah, saw that coming from a mile away.'

Merlin sighed and met Reinhardt's gaze.

"Am I allowed to say no?"

"No."

The sheer finality in Reinhardt's voice struck Merlin like a hammer.

"...Alright, lead the way then."

As they made their way toward the main building, hushed whispers followed them down the hallway.

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"What the hell did he do this time?"

"Probably something stupid."

A few students even chuckled, their amusement at Merlin's expense.

A vein twitched on his forehead.

'Great. Just great.'

Reinhardt exchanged a few words with the Headmistress's secretary—a woman with striking red hair and fiery eyes—before she stepped into the office and shut the door behind her.

'What now—'

Moments later, she reappeared and gave them a nod.

"You may enter."

Reinhardt pushed open the door, and they stepped inside.

At first glance, Merlin almost thought they had entered the wrong office.

Sitting—no, lounging—on the desk was a woman who looked far too young to be the Headmaster.

Long blue hair cascaded down her back, and her sharp, almost predatory gaze locked onto him.

'Morgana Thorne Vyle.'

Merlin immediately tried—tried—not to stare.

'...Her outfit is way too revealing.'

His face grew red as Reinhardt coughed, clearly telling him to snap out of it.

"I've brought the boy—"

"You can leave for now."

Morgana's voice cut him off with a wink as her gaze shifted to Merlin.

Her eyes were white—completely white, like a snow-covered landscape untouched by imperfection.

Reinhardt's expression twitched, but he didn't dare argue. He simply nodded and glanced at Merlin.

'Help me.'

And then, just like that, he was gone.

Merlin gulped.

'This is bad.'

Morgana stood, closing the distance between them in an instant. Her hand rested on his shoulder.

"You're the one with Time Affinity."

'So she already knows.'

Merlin wasn't sure if Reinhardt had told her, or if she had simply sensed it herself. Considering she was a Ten-Star Mage, one of the strongest humans alive... it wouldn't surprise him if it was the latter.

"Three affinities, actually."

Morgana leaned in closer, her nose practically touching his collarbone.

And then—she sniffed him.

Merlin jumped back as if electrocuted.

'She was weird in the novel... but experiencing this firsthand is way worse.'

His face flushed as their eyes met again. There was something suffocating about her gaze, like falling into an abyss.

"Hmm... all your affinities are still at One Star." Morgana clicked her tongue, as if disappointed. "You're as weak as an ant."

Merlin's expression twitched.

'Thanks. I love being reminded.'

"I could train you..."

His heart skipped a beat.

If Morgana personally trained him, his progress would skyrocket. His life would instantly become 500 times easier.

'This is it—!'

"But you're too weak."

Morgana shook her head, her tone flat.

Merlin's shoulders slumped as he shut his eyes and took a deep breath.

Acceptance. Inner peace. Whatever.

"You have three affinities... and yet you're still this pathetic."

She sighed, genuinely sounding let down, as if she had expected something more.

"Pity. I was starting to get excited. I'll have to see for myself though."

She said the last part quietly so that Merlin couldn't hear it.

Her expression remained cold and unchanging as she studied him, while Merlin stood there, frozen like a statue.

'Someone. Anyone. Save me.'

Merlin stood completely still.

He wasn't sure if it was because Morgana's gaze had him rooted in place like an insect pinned to a board... or if he had simply given up on processing what was happening.

'I'm so cooked.'

She continued circling him like a predator inspecting its prey, her white eyes practically glowing in the dimly lit office.

"Hmm... You have a terrible physique and your foundation isn't the best either, it's clear you haven't been pushed properly at all."

Her voice was like silk laced with something dangerous.

Merlin clenched his jaw.

'Yeah, no kidding. If I was properly trained, I wouldn't be One Star at everything.'

"Do you at least have combat experience?"

Merlin couldn't tell her about the goblins or the training he does with his system.

"...no."

Morgana raised an eyebrow.

Merlin averted his eyes.

Silence.

Then—

"Pfft. Truly pathetic. I already had experience when I was your age."

'Yeah no shit..'

Morgana laughed.

It was soft at first, like she was trying to hold it in, but then it broke into a full, melodic laugh.

Merlin's face burned.

'I just embarrassed myself in front of one of the strongest humans alive. Fantastic.'

Morgana took a deep breath, a grin still playing on her lips.

"Oh, this is going to be fun."

'Fun? That doesn't sound good at all.'

Merlin took a cautious step back.

Morgana took a step forward.

"...What exactly are you planning?"

Morgana's smile widened.

"You'll see."

She snapped her fingers.

BOOM.

The world shifted. Space seemed to distort around Merlin as his mind blurred.

His vision blurred completely and he was pulled by an incisive force as if something had yanked him through space itself.

When he blinked, he wasn't in the office anymore.

Instead, he stood in the center of a vast, empty battlefield?

The sky was a swirling mix of violet and gold, and the ground beneath him looked like smooth, polished obsidian.

Merlin swallowed.

"...Where the hell am I?"

Morgana stretched her arms, rolling her shoulders as if warming up.

"The Training Field. It's one of my personal domains. I want to test your capabilities."

That... was not a good answer. Merlin did not want to hear that..at all.

'One of her domains...I'm so, so fucked.'

A person could use multiple of so called domains, but one needed to be insanely strong to be able to do it..which Morgana just happened to be.

He turned his head slightly. Noticing another person standing beside Morgana.

He noticed Reinhardt, his arms crossed, watching with an amused expression as he looked Merlin in the eye.

'He knew about this?! How the fuck? Did they fucking plan all of this shit?'

Merlin's stomach dropped. His heart was racing, nearly escaping his body.

"Alright," Morgana said, whilst turning to face Merlin with an indifferent expression as she snapped her fingers. "Let's see if you're worth training."

Then another Morgana appeared? No, to be more precise she seemed like a younger version.

'She has a skill to clone herself if I remember correctly. Is she using time to make the clone appear younger?? Does she have some kind of weird fetish of beating children or what the fuck?'

Merlin's eyes widened as the clone disappeared from its place. His heart beating in his head.

"Wait—what?"

BOOM.

Merlin barely had a second to react before the clone reappeared in front of him—so fast it was like it had teleported.

'Oh, sh—'

A fist rocketed toward his stomach.

Merlin moved purely out of instinct.

[Trickster's Reflex]

His body flickered as he dodged just by a hair's breadth. Barely avoiding the strike.

He only had a second to breathe before the clone turned to look at him.

And it smiled. It was creepy as hell.

The original Morgana's voice reverberated through the domain.

"Good."

'Not good. Not good. It's going to kill me!'

It vanished again.

Merlin tried to move—

Too late.

BANG.

A foot slammed into his side, sending him soaring across the field like a ragdoll.

He hit the ground hard, rolling several times before finally skidding to a stop.

His brain barely processed what had happened.

The only thing he could focus on was the searing pain in his ribs.

'She's trying to kill me.'

He groaned, rolling onto his back.

The clone stood a few meters away, her hands on her hips as the original talked.

"I made her hold back, you know."

Merlin just wheezed.

'...Screw this woman. I'll kill that bitch's clone.'

Reinhardt, meanwhile, was openly grinning, obviously enjoying Merlin getting beat.

'Screw him too. They all conspired against me.'

The clone tilted her head as the original Morgana talked.

"Get up."

Merlin did not want to get up. He wanted to just lay there and die or something.

But then the clone raised a hand.

Mana gathered in its palm, swirling like a miniature storm.

'Fuck..she'll actually kill me.'

Merlin's survival instincts screamed.

He immediately scrambled to his feet and dodged the strike.

Morgana grinned as the clone shook her head.

"Good boy."

Merlin's eyes twitched.

He clenched his fists.

'Fine. If she wants a fight...'

He took a deep breath, forcing mana into his limbs.

'Then I'll beat that fucking clone to death.'

Merlin used his wind affinity and space to dash towards the clone...whilst it just stood still waiting for Merlin's attack.

'It's fucking toying with me.'