"Is it really okay to just leave him with that dwarf?" Nysera asked curiously.

Merlin walked leisurely, his right hand tucked into his pocket.

"Don't worry. Gorim is trustworthy. Besides, he and Jared will work well together—they're both passionate about blacksmithing. I'm sure nothing will happen to Jared. If anything, he'll regain his forging abilities and become even stronger," Merlin replied casually, his voice full of confidence.

He knew Gorim well. In the novel, Gorim was described as an annoying old man but also a kind one.

Furthermore, after befriending Abel, he hadn't hesitated to give him several Mythic-grade items. That alone proved how reliable Gorim was.

Of course, Merlin knew his relationship with Gorim was still superficial. But he was certain it wouldn't be a problem.

Eventually, Gorim would fall completely under his control. When that happened, Merlin wouldn't have to worry about a shortage of Mythic-grade artifacts in the future.

Nysera pursed her lips and said nothing more. Since Merlin had said so, she decided to trust him.

"By the way, Nysera." Merlin turned to her. "After the exam is over, Margaret, Luna, Catrine, Monica, Liora, and I are planning to go to the beach. Do you want to come?"

Nysera was surprised. "The beach?"

"Yes, the beach," Merlin repeated with a smile. "Monica and Liora have never seen the ocean before. And coincidentally, after the knowledge exam, we'll have a week off. We can use that time to relax. What do you think?"

If Nysera came along, it would be even better. Nysera's affection for him had already reached 60 points, while her fiery side was still at 25 points.

Although it was relatively low, Merlin wasn't worried. The system hadn't given him any deadline to resolve it.

Nysera looked happy, but she quickly calmed down. Lowering her head, she asked hesitantly, "Is that okay?"

"Huh?" Merlin was caught off guard.

Before he could ask what she meant, Nysera continued.

"I'm just your servant now. I'm not very close to the other girls either," she murmured softly. "Wouldn't I just get in your way if I came along?"

She lifted her head and glanced at Merlin, her heart feeling heavy. It would be a lie to say she wasn't interested in the offer.

But Nysera knew her place. She was Merlin's servant, and their relationship was purely transactional.

She would serve him for a while, and in return, Merlin would help her awaken her bloodline.

She was afraid that if she grew too comfortable with Merlin's kindness, she would only end up losing herself.

Merlin fell silent for a moment, then chuckled softly.

"You're overthinking it." He patted Nysera on the head. "I know those five girls. There's no way they'd see you as a burden. I'm sure they'll accept you."

Merlin had already explained why he had made Nysera his servant.

Although they had initially refused, the five girls eventually accepted his decision and didn't protest anymore.

They knew that once Merlin made up his mind, it would be difficult to change it.

Nysera felt better after hearing Merlin's words. She smiled again and gave a small nod.

"Since you're forcing me, what choice do I have?"

She even pretended to sigh deeply, putting on a helpless expression.

Merlin rolled his eyes. Sometimes, he wondered if this girl had been secretly studying his annoying habits.

Otherwise, how could she mimic his behavior so perfectly?

But Merlin was too lazy to think about it. He shifted his attention forward.

After arriving at the academy, he parted ways with Nysera and headed to Linda's office.

Knock!

"Master, it's me, Merlin. May I come in?"

He waited quietly. Strangely, there was no response from inside, which made him uneasy.

Knock!

"Master? Are you in there? I need to talk to you about something."

Once again, there was no reply. A bad feeling crept over him.

He took a deep breath and gripped the doorknob.

As he channeled his mana, a click sounded, and the door unlocked.

Merlin opened it without hesitation—and froze at the sight before him.

Linda was lying unconscious on her desk!

"Master!" he exclaimed in panic.

He rushed over and checked her condition. She was breathing, and her heartbeat was steady.

There were no signs of poisoning or injury. Linda seemed completely fine.

"Then what happened?" he wondered.

Just then, a loud, thunderous sound came from Linda's stomach.

GRRR!

Merlin: "…"

***

"Ugh…" Linda groaned softly.

Her eyelids fluttered, then slowly opened.

"What happened to me?" she muttered.

Once her vision cleared, she realized she was lying on the sofa.

A blanket covered her, meaning someone must have carried her there.

"Who did this? Could it have been Melinda?" Linda frowned.

As she tried to piece things together, footsteps sounded from outside.

Merlin appeared, carrying a tray with three plates.

The main plate held rice and dark brown stir-fried beef, sprinkled with sesame seeds that made it look even more appetizing.

The second plate contained a vegetable salad, while the third held neatly arranged fruit slices.

Beside the main plate was a glass of water filled with ice cubes.

Seeing that Linda was awake, Merlin looked surprised, then broke into a wide smile.

"You're awake, Master. I thought it would take longer," Merlin said as he walked over.

"How did you get here?" Linda asked, startled.

Merlin set the tray on the table and arranged the plates neatly before replying, "I came earlier because I wanted to discuss something with you. Who would've thought I'd find you unconscious instead?"

After finishing, he straightened up and asked, "What's wrong, Master? Are you sick?"

Considering Linda was an expert at the First Spirit Core stage, it seemed impossible for her to fall ill. But Merlin knew that in this world, nothing was truly impossible.

Anything could happen.

Linda looked dazed for a moment, then shook her head.

"I'm fine. I was probably just too tired and passed out," she replied, rubbing her temples.

She hadn't slept for four days. Her work had piled up endlessly, as if it would never stop.

Although she was at the First Spirit Core stage, she was still human. She could get tired too.

Merlin smiled reassuringly. "I understand. But next time, take better care of yourself. I brought you lunch, so eat first. I'm going to make something to drink. What kind of coffee do you want?"

"I don't want coffee," Linda refused. "Just make me some tea. There's special tea powder I bought from a merchant in the northern region three days ago. It tastes delicious and refreshing."

She pointed toward the cupboard.

Merlin nodded and began preparing drinks for both of them.

Linda slowly sat up and looked at the dishes on the table. They looked appetizing, especially the salad and the stir-fried beef.

Without hesitation, she picked up the main plate and a spoon, then started eating.

As the savory, sweet, and slightly sour flavors blended together, her eyes sparkled.

"It's delicious!"

She hadn't expected her beloved disciple to be able to cook such a tasty meal. If she had known, she would've asked him to cook more often.

Merlin glanced at Linda, who was eating heartily, and smiled faintly.

A few minutes later, he returned with two cups in his hands.

"Eat slowly, Master. I'm not going to steal your food," he teased.

Linda's face flushed. She snorted and turned away.

As he kept her company, Merlin casually brought up various topics—one of which was the real reason he had come.

"Master, I want to ask you something," Merlin said as he sipped his coffee. "After the exam is over, the girls and I are planning a trip to the beach—specifically to the Beethoven family's private island. Since the round trip will take two days, I'd like you to get permission for the seven of us. Can you help me?"

"A vacation?" Linda looked surprised. "How long do you plan to be away?"

"About two days. With the seven-day break after the exam, we'll be gone for nine days in total. Of course, we can always come back before the break ends. I just want those extra two days as a precaution in case something unexpected happens."

Linda nodded. "Is that all? Alright, I'll take care of it. Don't worry."

Merlin couldn't help but smile. Who said having connections was useless?

This was the perfect example. Of course, Merlin wasn't a sneaky person.

He wouldn't exploit his status as Linda's personal disciple for short-term gain.

And he was sure Linda understood that.

"Since you're going on a beach vacation, I want to remind you to be careful," Linda suddenly added. She coughed lightly and said, "You're still young. You have two more years before you're an adult. I'm sure you understand what I mean, right?"

Although she tried to keep her expression calm, the faint blush on her face was hard to hide.

Merlin understood immediately and chuckled softly.

"I understand. Thank you for your concern."

Jealousy… Linda was clearly jealous of those six girls. But what could Merlin do?

Linda was always busy, and it was impossible to bring her along.

Maybe in the future, they could go to the beach together.

"By the way, Merlin," Linda changed the subject. "Have you prepared for the Seven Rings contest?"