Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! Chapter 20: 20-Breathe In. Breathe Out.

Read chapter 20 of Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! by A_Random_Turtle on NovelPedia.

“Outside parties aren’t allowed,” said Prestige Academy’s security guard, a middle aged man who looked every bit the threat he was. “I’m sorry.” “Ahhh… Shucks!” Janeth spat as she retreated, her expression suddenly glum. “That means I won’t get to watch you both thwack everyone else and come out on top. Ugh… That’s a rubbish policy.” Merlin chuckled stiltedly. “It’s an exam, Janeth. I told you that you won’t be allowed.” “Still…” She groaned. They were standing at the front gate of the Academy, which was one of the most magnificent gates Merlin had ever seen, with thick iron bars as large as those of a medieval castle’s gate, and golden insignias of the Academy’s sprouting tree emblazoned all over it. However, the rest of the examinees here to take Prestige Academy’s assessment exam weren’t focused on the same thing Merlin was as they walked into the Academy grounds. After all, a certain person was dressed in a shaman’s robe. “Couldn’t you have worn something else and just changed when you left?” Nora criticized Sunny, her arms folded. “No can do,” replied Sunny as he fanned himself gently. “I’m heading straight to work from here.” “Yeah, I get that,” said Nora. “But you’re drawing unwanted attention here. I don’t like it.” She clicked her tongue. “Well, put up with it until you walk in through those gates,” Sunny replied, unbothered. “This is your payment for making a fool of me when you came to my studio.” Nora scoffed. “That was purely business. I didn’t make a fool of you.” “Business, making a fool of me, same difference.” Sunny flashed his nose at her. She rolled her eyes. “I guess we should let you guys go in now,” Janeth said, still upset that she wouldn’t be able to watch them take the exam. This was the thing about keeping one’s hopes up. Most of the time, the disappointment hit hard. But for every disappointment, there was a new opportunity waiting. And Merlin saw one—for himself, that was. “I could tell you all about it after,” he said, cheering himself inwardly for having the courage to propose something. After all, he’d never really been the best at asking a girl out or anything of the sort—if this even counted as one. Janeth’s eyes glowed. “Really? Like you won’t leave out any details.” Merlin smiled. “I have a very good memory. I’ll make sure to tell you about every single thing. At least the ones I get to witness.” Janeth grabbed his hand and wrapped her pinky around his. “That’s a promise.” I would have preferred, ‘that’s a date’, but I guess this is good too… “Sure,” he said. “Make sure to ace the exam, okay? Don’t believe in all that nonsense about no one has done it before so it should be impossible. There’s always a first time for everything, and you put in the work. Your muscles are proof of that.” Merlin’s cheek turned red. He couldn’t stop that from happening whenever she mentioned his muscles. It always made him feel…naked. Even now that he was dressed fully in a tracksuit, as instructed by the Academy, it still felt like he had been stripped of his clothes by those words. “Haha… Sure. I will,” he replied with a strained laughter. Janeth turned to Nora next. “You too,” she said. Then her eyes suddenly widened. “Oh, and before I forget. After the exam let’s all go out and celebrate. You guys haven’t had soju yet, right? My goodness, soju and barbecue would make you guys float, I promise.” She was even more excited about the whole exam than the examinees themselves. Merlin found that cute. But they were seventeen. They couldn't be caught taking alcohol. Sunny shook his head, still waving his fan about. “Not even taking into consideration the fact that you get drunk over a single shot, they’re minors, Janeth. Refrain yourself.” He relayed Merlin’s thoughts on his behalf and Janeth flushed. “Also… Please don’t involve me in crimes. The ones I’m already caught up in are enough.” Nora seemed to take an abundance of pleasure at those words, because she immediately shot a smirk at Sunny. “I’m glad you’re well