Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! Chapter 97: 97-The Kid’s Playing Hero

Read chapter 97 of Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! by A_Random_Turtle on NovelPedia.

Merlin’s words had been the words of a madman; not only had he proposed sneaking into the guardhouse and checking records he was not meant to have access to, he had gone further to initiate an expedition out of the Academy without informing the necessary authorities. And, yet, Chima and Hakyun had followed him. Though not without giving him an earful. But that hardly mattered in the grand scheme of things. Merlin was graced with Itaewon’s atmosphere as he stepped out of the cab they had boarded, and it was one that left him standing in awe for a moment. The streets were filled with vibrant colors, and packed full with a high concentration of foreigners. Most of all, it was lively, diverse, and featured a wide range of pubs, restaurants, and clubs, no matter where one looked. However, amazement aside, the location they had followed to trace Nikolai’s steps had brought them to the doorsteps of a club in particular. One named Club Spiral. “I don’t get it,” Hakyun started. “If Nikolai really came to this place, why didn’t he lie about his destination in the records? Isn’t this making it too easy for him to be caught, assuming Mr. Sam checked through everything written?” “If he came here for the first time, it’s only normal that he didn’t lie,” Chima answered. “The records are so that if something happens to one of us, the Academy can know where to look. He was being cautious.” Hakyun sighed. “Goodness, Nikolai, what have you gotten yourself mixed up with? Why even take steroids in the first place?” Merlin was well aware of how it felt to think of one’s self as a failure, and the subsequent thoughts that followed it, but not for once had he thought to enhance himself with illegal drugs. So he was justified in his thoughts that things were most likely not as it seemed with Nikolai. The problem was he had no idea what exactly had filled the boy with the audacity to take such a step. There was a way he could find that out, or at least come close, but he wondered if that would be too drastic of him. “Oh, don’t you even think about it, Mel,” said Chima as soon as he noticed Merlin narrowing his eyes at Club Spiral’s building. “There’s no way I’m walking into a club as a minor.” Hakyun recoiled at that statement. “Hey. Leaving the Academy is already a big deal; do you really want to have us killed? And, besides, there’s no way they’ll let us in.” Merlin glanced at his roommates. “Nikolai went in.” Hakyun jerked back, then scoffed. “And so?” “That means it doesn’t matter if we’re minors,” said Merlin. “We can get in if we want to.” “Don’t be foolish, Mel,” Chima argued. “Nikolai had come looking to buy a drug. That meant someone had told him of this place, and they had probably given him a password of some sort that allowed him to enter. That’s how stuff like this usually goes. There’s no way we’ll be let in.” “Isn’t that just movies?” Hakyun chimed in. “No, it’s not just movies, four-eyes. That’s what genuinely happens.” Merlin pursed his lips and glanced at the building they stood some ways before and the long line of people that spread out from its front door. For some reason, he felt really compelled to walk into it. It was almost like something inside was calling him, and that a lot of the answers he sought out, both about Nikolai and a few other things that bothered him, could be found within its walls. But he knew better than to let his own selfish desires determine the fates of his roommates. It was already past eleven. If they stayed out too long, getting back into the dorm would prove to be quite the hurdle, and if they got caught, well, there would be only one outcome. “The evidence isn’t solid, but I think we have enough to draw a bit of conclusion,” he said. “We should report this to a higher authority. At least, if they check the address and find their way here, they’ll be able to discover if Nikolai really used steroids or not.” Chima and Hakyun nodded. “It’s still crazy that someone would sell illegal drugs to a child, tho