Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! Chapter 40: 40-Who Wants To Do The Honors?

Read chapter 40 of Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! by A_Random_Turtle on NovelPedia.

Merlin was met with a pleasant surprise once he stepped outside the auditorium. “Hey! Hey! Merlin!” One of the first years popped up before him, waving her hand. She had black hair so short that it stopped just before it got to her neck, and drew unusually close with every word of hers. “Remember me? It’s me, Kim Minji.” “Of course I remember you,” said Merlin with a simple smile. “I’m glad to see that you got in.” She chuckled. “Right back at you.” Then she furrowed her brows and looked him up from head to toe. “Woah, you got really fit since the last time. That’s crazy. How much do you work out?” She leaned in closer again. Merlin shifted back slightly, putting his hands up in between the girl and himself, trying to create some space. “Haha… A lot, I’d say,” he replied stiltedly, then he was drawn to the murmurs around him. “What’s going to be his use here? This is a magical academy; someone who can’t cast magic shouldn’t be here.” They were muttered by some students leaving the auditorium, and it was then that he noticed that there were gazes on him from every corner. At this point, he’d say he had a lot more attention coming his way than even the S-Class Mages in his set. He sighed. He had been expecting the reception, but it was still hurtful to experience “Don’t mind them,” Kim Minji snorted. “They just don’t know how smart you are yet. And they aren’t stronger than you, you know? I’m a Mage, but I know I’d stand no chance against you if we ever fought.” Merlin chuckled. Not even factoring in the part where she’d said he was smart… “I’m sure that’s a lie.” Well, that depended on what sort of Mage she now was. There were a lot of things to consider. How many spells she could cast in quick succession, how long it would take for her mana to settle down after he had deconstructed a spell of hers, and how many spells he could even deconstruct at a go. So, all things considered, he was nowhere near the powerhouse she thought he was because of their exploits in the Dungeon raid exam. “Ehhh… You’re belittling yourself. Are you that kind of person?” Kim Minji narrowed her eyes at him. “I’d thought you would be more—” “Minji!” a girl called, putting a stop to their conversation. “What are you doing? We haven’t checked in yet!” “Ah! I’ll be right there.” Kim Minji turned to Merlin with a smile. “Well, see you later?” “Sure,” Merlin replied, then sighed when she was long gone. “I should have asked for her contact.” He was so strung up on making friends that it was becoming unhealthy. As for Nora… she just kept waving them away when they approached her. She was not even considering that she was building a bad reputation so early on. Now everyone would think she was so smug because she was an A-Class Mage. “You know, making even a single friend wouldn’t hurt,” Merlin said as he walked up to her. Their luggage was not with them, so they couldn’t check in yet. Nora had told Merlin that they should report it already to the auditorium, but he had told her to wait for like a minute more. For some reason he believed Kim Yiseo wasn’t so petty that because she and Nora had had a fight she would go back on her words. But that notion of his was faltering now; time was ticking by. “That’s the thing, though, nerd,” replied Nora. “They’re not trying to be friends. They’re trying to leech off of me.” Well, when she put it that way. “And I’ve had enough of waiting. I’m filing that report.” Merlin sighed, unable to stop her any longer. “Go ahead.” However, her fingers were forced to stop when they noticed a familiar figure standing a few steps away with two luggage bags at his side. It was Kim Yiseo’s chauffeur. His gaze met theirs and he bowed. “Our things,” Merlin said, not particularly to anyone. Nora took in a deep breath and sighed. Her mind had perhaps flown back to her and Kim Yiseo’s falling-out earlier, and the fact that the lady had not taken it to heart. Now that the headmaster had clarified the situation, Merlin knew that his sister was p