Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! Chapter 77: 77-You Are Allowed To Retreat

Read chapter 77 of Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! by A_Random_Turtle on NovelPedia.

Merlin felt like a boulder had been lifted off his shoulders after his meeting with the headmaster and his parents came to a rather abrupt end. He had not thought he would be courageous enough to speak his mind, but he had done it, and, honestly, it felt so refreshing. However, that feeling had come about in exchange for his father’s usual calm stare taking a nose dive in quality, and his mother bursting into tears. He had not meant for his words to hurt them, he had just wanted them to know about what was in store for his future. He was sorry, but this was the only way he would be able to protect them. And protect them, he would. “Can I have a minute, Merlin?” Headmaster Im Ilseong started as Merlin and Nora approached the door, finally taking the liberty to lean back into his chair and relax. The whole conversation must have been stifling. After all, Merlin could have been pulled out of the Academy, and considering what the headmaster wanted of him, that would be anything but good. Merlin glanced over his shoulder at the man and sighed softly. “Sure.” He walked back in. “I’ll be outside,” said Nora, and she left the office. “Have your seat,” offered Headmaster Im Ilseong. Merlin took it. “First of all, no one is going to be letting you have close shaves with death. Now, I get it, you are serious about trying to help the world, and I take the blame for pushing such a proposition onto you in the first place. But, surely, you do not think I would let a student of mine kill himself just because he wants to become strong, do you?” Merlin had realized that this was what their conversation would entail, but that still didn’t prepare him for it. After all, he couldn’t tell the headmaster that the only way for him to actually get strong enough to combat the Cataclysm was by having those encounters where his life flashed by his eyes. At the end of the day, it was not like the headmaster could do anything about that anyway, so he just decided to go along with whatever the man said. There was no point in dragging things out. He nodded and said briefly, not really in the mood for any long talk, “I understand.” Then silence descended upon the room, and a certain feeling bit into him concerning how he had acted the past night. His anger had been justified, but that was no way to talk to a person of authority. His shoulders dropped. “I also want to apologize for my behavior last night. That was rude of me.” He bowed slightly. Headmaster Im Ilseong chuckled, waving his hand listlessly as though he didn’t care for the apology. “Eh… It’s fine. I’ve been spoken to in worse manners throughout my life.” “That doesn’t make it any better,” Merlin added. “I apologize.” Headmaster Im Ilseong smiled. “Next time, however, do well to let me finish talking first.” Merlin blinked, unsure what the headmaster meant by that. Perhaps that bled into his expression, because Headmaster Im Ilseong stroked his beard and added, “Because of that you missed me announcing that you earned thirty points for Cohort Spearhead for your quick thinking and bravery in the presence of danger.” Merlin’s eyes widened as he did a double take. Surely he had heard wrong, right? Did the headmaster just say that he earned points for his actions? Goodness, now he felt even worse than he was feeling already. He really shouldn’t have lashed out like he’d done. What was he to say now? He stared blankly at Headmaster Im Ilseong’s face and realized that the man was relishing in the incredulous look he wore. The man was more sly than he seemed. “Isn’t this the part where I get a ‘thank you’?” Headmaster Im Ilseong commented, and Merlin snapped back to his senses. “T-Thank you, headmaster,” he said, standing up and bowing. “And, once again, I apologize for my actions.” “It’s fine,” the headmaster said. “Your actions were noble, and your anger was from a good place. However, if you ever come upon such a situation again—which I sincerely hope not—I suggest you don’t fight the monsters head on,