"Hmm hmm hmm, so that's how it is."
In the living room, after listening to Naoki's explanation, Merlin nodded slightly.
"I think I understand the situation now. I deeply regret and sympathize with what you've been through, Gray. Being treated as a goddess's child and worshipped—I've seen many cases like that in the past. I can somewhat understand your feelings and thoughts."
Merlin patted Gray's head and smiled, "But don't worry, you won't be treated like that anymore in the future. Here, no one will keep worshipping you, and no one will change their attitude toward you because of your appearance."
"Really... is that so?" Gray stared at her with wide eyes, her green eyes shimmering with a hint of doubt and confusion. "If that's the case... no, actually... if someone could hate my face... that would be the best."
Hate?
Naoki and Merlin exchanged glances, and then Merlin suddenly hugged Gray. "I don't think anyone will hate Gray, because Gray is so cute. As long as they don't have terrible taste, no one will hate Gray."
"But I hate my own face."
"Then, big sister will give you a very powerful spell."
"A spell?"
"Yes, for you, it will be the best spell in the world."
Merlin spoke while gently stroking Gray's face, then led her to the window and smiled, "Now, take a look. How is it?"
"Huh?"
Gray looked into the mirror, and when she clearly saw her reflection, she was stunned, frozen in place.
The mirror showed a very ordinary face, one that would remind people of a simple village woman.
It was a face completely different from her previous one.
"T-this..."
"Big sister is actually just like your big brother Naoki, a Magus. But compared to his half-hearted efforts, big sister is much more skilled." Merlin smiled. "And big sister is very good at illusions. Right now, I've just given you a simple illusion to change your appearance."
"As long as you don't meet someone with eyes like mine, or someone with a natural resistance to magic, your appearance will always be like what you see in the mirror."
"Really?!" Gray immediately burst into tears and laughter as she looked at Merlin. "Is what you're saying true? My face will—"
"Yes, it's true. But, little Gray."
Merlin didn't let Gray rejoice immediately. She patted Gray's head and said softly, "Illusions are, after all, just tricks. They're deceptions meant to fool people, whether it's others or yourself. Big sister's magic can help you, but this isn't a real change to your appearance. Your true appearance is still that of the hero. That's a reality that can't be changed."
"Constantly deceiving won't work. One day, you'll have to truly face yourself. Big sister knows this is hard for you right now, so I want to make a promise with you here."
Holding Gray's hand, Merlin said, "Ten years. This illusion can last for ten years, and during those ten years, I hope you can gradually accept your current self. If you succeed, big sister will give you a big reward."
"Accept... my current self?"
Gray looked at Merlin with a face full of doubt. She didn't understand what Merlin was saying at all. Her face had already been changed, so why did she need to accept her current self?
"I don't really understand what you mean, big sister."
"That's okay. You have ten years. Take it slowly. For now, just go to sleep."
Merlin gently snapped her fingers, and an overwhelming drowsiness immediately flooded Gray's mind. Her eyes fluttered shut, and her head drooped as she fell into a deep sleep in Merlin's arms.
Sitting on the sofa and watching the scene, Naoki finally sighed. "For now, let's leave it at that."
"Yes, I'll take her to the second floor, give her a bed, and then we'll settle our matters—after all, you also have a lot you want to say to me, don't you?"
"Actually, there's a lot I want to tell you."
"Just a few days apart, and you already miss me so much. Then, when you go on a long mission—"
"Enough."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
A few minutes later, after placing Gray in the room next to Naoki's, Merlin returned to the living room on the first floor and saw Naoki staring intently at a silver necklace.
No, saying he was staring intently wasn't quite accurate. He was scrutinizing it, even trying to dismantle it.
"Can't you take care of it properly?" Merlin tapped Naoki's head in slight annoyance. "After all, it's the first gift someone gave you. It holds a lot of significance."
"It also has to actually be a gift."
Naoki looked at Merlin.
"I met a Magus at the cemetery. He claimed to be the Dean of the Atlas Institute, and his name was Zepia. He told me many things, including about this necklace."
"Hm?"
"This necklace can indeed hide the part of me that belongs to Arthur. In other words, it's locked with a permission key. But when setting the permissions, you intentionally left a gap, allowing Logos React to sense my presence, which led to everything I've experienced so far—I assume I'm not wrong, am I?"
*👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻*
Merlin clapped her hands. "Yes, absolutely correct. Although I didn't mean to leave a gap, with your level of Magecraft, Naoki, it's impossible you wouldn't notice. But... the Dean of the Atlas Institute, truly an unexpected person."
"He wasn't there when you left last time?"
"..."
As if slightly surprised, Merlin's eyes widened a bit. She paused for a moment, then smiled. "You even know about this?"
"Quoting the words of a famous detective, 'It's elementary, my dear friend.'" Naoki dangled the necklace. "Of course, I can only speculate. I'm not a real detective, and my brain isn't that sharp. If you could tell me everything, that would be best."
"Then, after I tell you everything, what will you do?"
Merlin leaned back on the sofa and asked with a smile.
Naoki immediately raised both hands in mock surrender. "I won't do anything. If you're planning something for me, then no matter what, I won't be able to escape your plans. I just want to know your reason for doing this. You dragged me into something potentially dangerous—for what?"
"I just want to know that."