Nero advanced slowly, his new shoes clicking softly against the floor. He opened the door with care, making sure his cards were well hidden.
On the other side stood the young Merlin.
He wore his characteristic hat and wand, but also elegant black clothing and a cloak that began at his shoulders and fell below his waist. The fabric was fine—perfect—the kind very few people could boast of having in their wardrobe.
That cloak had clearly been made by him… because someone as stingy as Merlin would never spend a single Long or Lokg on such luxury.
He was a good weaver.
Ha… I'll have to ask him to make high-class clothes like that for me.
Nero showed a genuine smile, the kind only truly happy people could offer.
"We all look good, but…"
Sunday looked uneasy.
"…Merlin, are you really going out dressed like that?"
Merlin lowered his head and smiled faintly, a trace of melancholy crossing his face. He ran his hands over it before raising his gaze toward Sunday.
"Believe it or not, being a magician has certain social advantages… you can intimidate people, politely ask for money, or go to a restaurant and leave without paying."
"Eh…?" Rose murmured, tilting her head. "You're a magician?"
Merlin's face filled with almost palpable confusion.
"But you saw me in my magician's outfit just a few hours ago."
Rose shrugged and stretched her arms.
"Honestly, I don't care whether you're a magician or just an ordinary human."
Merlin seemed slightly hurt by those words. He looked at the group and gestured for them to leave.
One by one, they stepped outside.
Lux glanced sideways at Merlin.
"So… where exactly are we going?"
Merlin grinned from ear to ear.
"To the Nevue restaurant."
He slipped his hand into his pocket and touched something Nero couldn't see.
Rose looked up, startled, almost tripping over her new heels.
"Nevue?! The one in all the magazines?! Just getting inside costs more than a kidney—imagine ordering!"
"Nevue… it must be a cozy place," Nero commented with complete indifference.
Then his expression shifted into genuine confusion.
How the hell are we going to pay for that?
…Wait… Merlin said that as a magician he can leave without paying… that's an incredible power!
I would love to do the same. Maybe, if i convinced Merlin to teach me magic, i could delve into mysticism and climb further along my path.
"Relax," Merlin said. "I've got an ace up my sleeve."
I've got several aces up my sleeve, Nero thought, mentally shuffling his cards.
…
The Nevue restaurant rose before them like a temple of glass and light. White columns, delicate stained glass, and an entrance guarded by polished metal doors. Even the air itself felt expensive.
A massive guard in a flawless uniform stepped forward as they approached.
"Halt. Do you have an invitation?"
Merlin took half a step forward.
The guard looked at him… and froze.
His eyes widened slightly. Color drained from his face. He swallowed.
"I-I… my apologies, sir."
He bowed immediately and stepped aside, opening the way with a hurried gesture.
"Please… go ahead. It's an honor."
Rose blinked.
Lux smirked.
Sunday frowned.
Nero watched Merlin with renewed interest.
…I definitely want to learn magic.
Without further questions, the group passed through Nevue's doors, leaving the guard trembling slightly behind them.
The doors closed with a soft, elegant… ominous sound.
Hundreds of people were inside. They turned and scanned the group like wolves searching for a new prey.
Every gaze stopped on Merlin.
Rose clung to her brother's arm, seeking protection.
"Nero," Kōri whispered, "want to play a game?"
"Huh…? Sure."
"Pretend to be my boyfriend tonight."
Nero blushed from head to toe.
Rose covered her mouth, hiding a mischievous smile.
"Y-yeah, I accept," Nero said, feeling a knot tighten in his throat.
By the wind! Why am I getting so red?! It's not like it's forever… Is it because I've never had a girlfriend… no, damn it—Argh!! Don't think about that, don't think about that! Don't remember you're a virgin and get depressed…
The group moved through the stares heavy with disdain and curiosity until they reached a table for six that remained empty, as if no one had dared to occupy it.
They sat down.
The restaurant's murmur slowly returned, lower now, tenser.
A waitress approached with careful steps. She was immaculate, but her hands trembled. She tried to smile… and failed miserably when her eyes met Merlin's.
She froze.
"W-would you like to order?" she asked, swallowing.
Merlin nodded calmly.
"Whenever you're ready."
She took a deep breath and looked at the others, clearly grateful to avert her eyes from him even for a moment.
Lux spoke first.
"I want a steak. The most expensive one."
Sunday didn't even look at him.
"Ventos."
The waitress blinked.
"Ventos, sir?"
"Yes. Traditional Vickmolt style."
Merlin raised a finger.
"The same for me."
She scribbled quickly, as if lingering too long might be dangerous.
Kōri raised her hand timidly.
"Fried chicken, please."
Rose followed, her voice soft.
"A salad."
The waitress nodded and finally looked at Nero.
He hesitated for barely a second.
"Pork."
She looked up.
"Any preference?"
Nero shook his head.
"It's my favorite."
She wrote that last part with an extra pause, as if she hadn't expected such a… normal answer.
She closed the notebook and stepped back.
"I-I'll be right back."
She turned quickly and almost ran away.
Lux leaned an elbow on the table.
"Do you always cause existential terror among the service staff, or is today special?"
Merlin smiled with feigned modesty.
"It's not my fault they recognize danger."
Sunday crossed his arms.
"Or power."
Rose glanced around, still holding onto Nero's arm.
"I feel like everyone's staring at us."
"Because they are," Lux replied casually. "And because they think Merlin could erase this place from the map if the wine is wrong."
Kōri leaned closer to Nero, lowering her voice.
"Relax," she whispered. "It's just an act."
Nero nodded… though his face was still slightly red.
"Yeah… right. An act."
Rose watched them from the corner of her eye, smiling to herself.
Sunday surveyed the room carefully.
"There are too many important people here."
Merlin adjusted his hat.
"That's exactly why it's a good place for dinner."
Nero looked at his reflection in the polished cutlery, then at his sister, then at Kōri.
This is going to be a long night… he thought.
And, for some reason, he didn't mind at all.
Minutes passed with a deceptive calm.
The conversation flowed lightly, almost domestically, as if they weren't sitting in one of the most exclusive restaurants on the zone, surrounded by sharp gazes and silent power.
Lux kept ranting about how unfair it was that a steak could cost the same as a modest house.
"This isn't meat, it's an insult with salt," he complained indignantly. "If it doesn't change my life, I demand a formal apology."
Sunday replied dryly.
"If you don't like it, don't eat it."
"And waste someone else's money? Never."
Rose listened with a small smile, occasionally sharing anecdotes about the inn, books she'd read, or absurd things she'd seen from a window.
Whenever she spoke, Nero listened attentively, nodding, adding brief comments.
Kōri, on the other hand, never took her eyes off him.
Every time Nero angled his body toward Rose, Kōri moved closer. If he picked up his glass, she rested her hand over his "by accident."
If Lux made a suggestive comment, Kōri leaned toward Nero, lowering her voice, laughing near his ear.
"You should try this later," she murmured at one point, pointing at her still-empty plate. "They say it tastes better when shared."
Nero choked on his own saliva.
"I-I… sure."
Rose watched them, clearly amused.
Sunday raised an eyebrow.
"Are you acting," he asked Kōri, "or have you gone too far into the role?"
She smiled—sweet and dangerous.
"Does it matter?"
Before Sunday could reply, the waitress returned, pushing an elegant cart. The dishes were placed one by one with almost ritual precision.
The aroma filled the air.
For a moment, everything was normal.
Too normal.
Nero barely had time to take the knife.
A sharp explosion shattered the air.
CRASH!
The window behind him burst into a rain of glass. A projectile whistled inches from his face, so close he felt the heat of metal cutting through the air.
The shot passed before his eyes and slammed into the opposite wall with a brutal sound.
The restaurant erupted in screams.
Rose cried out and clung to Nero.
Kōri jumped to her feet, her chair crashing backward.
Sunday was already standing, a knife in hand, eyes cold, calculating the threat.
Lux was smiling.
Not with joy.
With excitement.
Merlin didn't move.
He simply lifted his gaze slowly toward the shattered window.
"Ah…" he said with unsettling calm. "Looks like dinner comes with a show."
Nero felt adrenaline surge through his body.
He looked at the hole in the wall.
Then at the blood beginning to trickle down his cheek, a tiny wound from a shard of glass.
He smiled.
"Well," he murmured, standing up and pushing the chair back with his foot. "I guess it's not just an act anymore."