A/N: Hello there everyone! Thank you for all the Kudos and Reviews for this work. Today's chapter is a little short and there is not much going on but I think there is a need to pause for a fresh breath.

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Merlin strolls through the household's corridor. His face is sweated and a little red along with shallow breathing.

He is currently exhausted from the training session Paul gave him. It seemed unending and filled with pain. His muscles are strained and hurting, in response, the Wizard looks slightly annoyed. As an incubus Merlin never had to exercise much because of his inhuman nature but now this laziness has returned to bite his ass. That's why it's obvious he doesn't find it funny but infuriating.

This is still necessary whether he likes it or not, the human body is too weak to provide proper protection.

"Master Rudeus, may I take a moment of your time?" A voice calls out and Merlin instinctively turns around at the mention of his human name. The maid is speaking politely to the extreme but something is different. There exist almost non-noticeable changes, her posture seems more at ease and her shoulders appear less stiff.

This person is undoubtedly not the same.

"I don't mind," Merlin says casually, sending a comforting smile her way, "Is something wrong?"

"That's not it…"

"Hm?"

"If you allow it, I wish to apologize for treating you coldly until now." She confesses guilty, looking down at the hem of her maid-dress.

"What are you saying, Miss Lilia? It is just you acting professionally." He tilts his head, "Did Mother say something?"

"It's not the case. In truth, I have been observing you for quite a while and had many ugly things on my mind." Lilia stared at him in a way that truthfully made Merlin feel downright awkward and uncomfortable because of how many lies he kept to himself.

"What?"

The woman takes a deep breath, "Frankly speaking, you have been behaving strangely since the moment you were born-"

That far?

Merlin's amethyst eyes widened.

"-and I did not truly consider you a human for some time but now that I think about it, this was incredibly ridiculous and selfish of me."

"I s-see," He stuttered, genuinely astounded by how perceptive this maid was. Merlin was starting to suspect her to possess some sort of mystic eyes. Of course not on the level of fairy eyes but still a pair of capable ones.

That or the redhead was just unusually intelligent to find loops like these from what was stated between her and Zenith.

"I will try my best to make up for my mistakes. Even if Master Rudeus is something else I shall follow my duties to the end as this household maid." Her tone is serious and filled with raw-found resolve, "Whenever Master Rudeus is a blessed child or else, I do not care."

"That's… hehehe… hahaha!"

Merlin laughed, actually laughed. It was carefree and filled with joy. The same one he had as his previous form when he saw something that impressed him greatly.

He knew the image of himself was distorted to the maid but to this size? How silly!

Is this possible for this wizard's transcendental charisma to be at work here? Properties of the soul from another world.

Merlin amusedly tapped the floor with the butt of his stuff before realizing his hand was empty.

A thought for another time.

Finally, the reincarnated boy stopped, his orbs portraying mirth towards the surprised face of this woman, "My bad, it seems I was wrong about you after all, Miss Lilia."

"Huh?"

He smiled, "I'm sorry for being like that, I know some would say me infuriating at times so it's certain Miss Lilia would call me out on that. This mischievous side of mine is something I like to hide currently, however it is slippery. I felt a little carefree to act in your presence."

"I-is this Master Rudeus' true personality?" Images of his weirdness come to mind along with his somehow shrewd appeal. What, my fault? How is that Merlin's fault?

"Not exactly," Merlin waves this off, "I don't think it a trait I would call my main. I'm still trying to figure out who I am, is this easy to understand?"

"I'm studying magic so fast because of the wish to see you all well. I do not know what danger lurks in the shadows."

The reincarnated wizard is leaning towards comprehending what is his humanity like as currently there are too many parallels running between the part of Merlin that is Incubus and the human part.

What is it that makes him human beyond love? Are there any further changes he is unaware of?

I don't know. He chants in his mind repeatedly. No amount of clairvoyance will allow us to understand the invisible. Even with understanding the world's nature at a molecular level and phantasmal, he is incapable of sympathizing with the simplest things. Is it a curse or a blessing in disguise?

"This type of thinking… Master Rudeus is just a boy so he shouldn't focus on that."

"I guess a little relax wouldn't hurt." Merlin nods in agreement with her words, "Please take care of me as well!"

"As you wish!"

Lilia is more motivated than ever, to Merlin who is watching her walk away silently, her figure glows with new purpose. One greater than the other.

He felt jealous of this progress, of how it changed the maid. Merlin as well, waits impatiently for his turn.

Nevertheless, there is a great change coming to this process of thinking and it will either be delightful or dreadful.

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Merlin calmly sipped his honey-accented tea while sitting at the end of the dinner table. It is sweet and leaves a delicious sensation in the taste buds. He hums a praise. Honey is such great stuff, one only fools do not appreciate.

His other hand holds a significantly worn book about Magic Circles discovered by Lilia who was cleaning the upper side of the household at that time.

The book looked interesting enough for Merlin. This work contains more than basics concentrating the drawings of proper Magic Circles. It wasn't that different from the thaumaturgical system the wizard was familiar with, however, in some cases, it alienated as there were vast changes.

This was most likely the result of another creator, following this train of thought pointed at the origin of their first sketch.

Even so, if something works correctly then there is no need to search for the other way. That's why the Magic Circles introduced on Gaia intimated this world's ones.

The formula was nearly the same, the mana which was embedded into a magic circle by a caster flowed as well. This is the reason why they stood similar.

These were drawn using special mana-sensitive ink which greatly helped their management, and in turn, resulted in making it easier to change their destination.

This ink was an intriguing concept but Merlin stood certain he could replace it with something better. There exist ways to draw a magic circle that triumphed before all this. He was excited to see if his methods would do the job here.

He could read it much faster normally but it would be an impossible action now. His what humans call photographic memory is gone.

"Still, I didn't expect this thing to be here! I have thought of losing it somewhere a long time ago." Zenith exclaimed surprised to see this old paper here, "I opened it once and kind of forgot about it after that!" She replied sheepishly to Lilia's questioning look who smiled a little amused.

It was a nice change to witness in the maid, Merlin was elated secretly, the family maid from time to time formed these tiny smiles whenever she found something humorous.

A grand change from the usual stoic look she wore constantly. There is no longer this fearsome and icy look sent this way. With sound and healthy steps, Lilia appeared genuinely happy at this moment which brought Merlin to respect that.

The Greyrat Family never felt more alive.

"Have you not read this before?" The maid asked, "I assume you wished to study magic so it seems unusual for me to find it in this state."

Coincidentally, Lilia found the book in the dust-filled attic and gave it to Zenith who passed it to her studious son.

His mother made a sound akin to whine at such mention, "Learning other magic than healing was on my mind at that time but even then I did best with Healing Magic so it disappeared to the back of my mind..."

"Mother, no need to be so down. Thanks to you I'm already advanced in healing magic so there do not be hard on yourself!" Merlin spoke to comfort his parent, raising his hand and showing a pink glow surrounding it, "See? It helped Lilia and she is far happier than ever! It's unmistakable that without you it wouldn't be possible."

Indeed, without Zenith, Merlin could not become what he is today. Was he reincarnated in worse circumstances would it be the same?

"Ah, that's right." Zenith smiled so widely that Merlin felt like staring at the Galatine Sword, pink coloring his cheeks, "It's a miracle that Rudy cured Lilia's leg, you're truly my little flower."

He looked away for a moment, clearly to avert his eyes so they could not notice the massive blush on his face.

"It's not a miracle but magic," Closing the book, Merlin mumbled causing Zenith to giggle. The whole sentence didn't make sense to her as Magic was a gift from the divine and the world. Counting her son healing an injury that couldn't be treated by even royal mages, how would one call that if not a miracle?

"I haven't noticed her injury at first, oh, and by the way, how did Lilia receive such a nasty wound I wonder."

The maid sighed at the innocent question, harmless curiosity didn't bother her but she obliged to clarify things, "While it isn't a knowledge kept in shadow, I would like you not to impart it to another. Lady Zenith already did hear part of it so there shouldn't be much surprise. After all, it's required to know my full capabilities."

"That's serious," Merlin commented with narrowed eyes, knowing from experience it's better to mimic the pressured atmosphere unless, well, you want people to label you a bad wizard.

Then Lilia began explaining the whole story without missing a bit. No crucial information was left unsaid but she left some things deemed unimportant. The maid wished for the trust to be brought to the table. Zenith by the end of the story had a hand on her cheek and her eyes glistened with tears.

"I h-had no idea it was that bad! Lilia!"

"My Lady, I assure you this is the past, being free of these circumstances sent me here." Lilia bowed in reference, feeling uneasy at seeing Zenith react this way, "Don't waste your tears please."

The blond woman practically flew and brought Lilia into a hug, "Don't say such things!"

"But-"

"No buts!"

As an emotional and caring person, Zenith couldn't leave this explanation as final.

Merlin though...

Honestly, he had not expected to hear the sorrow-like narrative from the maid at the dinner table since a few days ago the woman was all about stoic. Now this happens? It made his tea taste awful. Merlin frowned his brows, wondering about this new phenomenon that tightened his chest. Was he actually sympathizing with her story beyond simple question-seeking?

Or was it reprimanded for recognizing it as such?

The boy stirs the cup and licks his lips, contemplating what is so heavy about this.

Overall this was just a common story from when he served as a court magus. It is certainly heartbreaking nonetheless it is but a passing puzzle.

For all purposes, it should be.

There isn't anything special surrounding this, so why...

Merlin feels partly like he was partly the victim but that hadn't happened. And a few days ago he healed Lilia without thinking, it was purely on a whim. Why did he reveal his excellent progress at healing magic with this action?

Obviously, he would have done it either way, his genuine goodwill towards mankind was unquestionable but he pondered if there was truly nothing of depth behind it.

Because Mother would cry.

Would Merlin be sad if Lilia died then?

Yes, yes he would.

Who was Lilia to him exactly?

Family. Home. Precious.

An answer came right on time, from the bottom of his heart that sent a wave of impulse through his entire being. Memories along the significance of this new journey. It is he who shall stand by their side.

He stared blankly.

Protect. Watch over. Guard.

"Master Rudeus?" "Eh, Rudy?"

Merlin's mind paused with a lost look until Zenith and her concerned voice finally caught his attention.

For a minute the boy stared without blinking at the tea surface held, not reacting to anything around while the two women watched worriedly.

He knew now what was unraveled.

Merlin cares.

"I don't regret helping Lilia at all. I don't think I understand correctly, however, the moment she was in danger the first thing to do was to find her."

Nothing is wrong with helping others but he should stop talking before someone from the other side calls on his bullshit knowing his true personality of mischief.

This Wizard always seems to know best yet when it comes to things he does the complete opposite. After all, Merlin let all these wars battling Saxons transpire along with their resulting cruelty while he observed from the side, simply adding it to the next step in the grand plan.

"It's you who looks down now, Rudy."

"That's not true," He said though the words sounded muffled to his ears, "I'm simply sad because the book is ending. There is no way to read if it's gone."

What was said is not untrue. Merlin cleared all signs that would show his distress and changed the course dangerously approaching.

"Oh," Zenith opens her mouth in realization before looking troubled, "I wish I could teach Rudy some more…"

She would like to contribute more to the education of her son if possible but finds out this is beyond her abilities. It's painful and makes her heart clench.

"Are you not proficient enough?" The maid raised a brow. Zenith was a high-ranking adventurer previously so it is easy to assume things.

"I'm good enough at other spells but don't mistake it. I'm as newbie to this as Rudy! After all, were I good, wouldn't I teach Rudy more than some old paper? I'm just accomplished Healing Mage, it's only special to this."

The other spells that are more offensive? Zenith is just an intermediate.

"That is unfortunate however nothing is always given." Lilia contemplated aloud. Now it seemed obvious why the Greyrats wished for a tutor in teaching Rudeus. Their knowledge regarding magic wasn't close to expertise. In response, they couldn't teach Rudeus what he needed.

Apropos of the person in question, "The tutor should have arrived already, shouldn't he?"

Zenith huffed while crossing her arms, "He was to arrive today but we got a magic letter explaining he got caught up in something. It seems the monsters suddenly ranking up made him uneasy."

His mother then clasps her hands happily and smiles, forgetting the whole ordeal, "Now that is over, how has your little Vatirus-sightseeing gone?" She steps closer to Merlin and ruffles his hair affectionately.

"As good as your mood today, Mother," Merlin says sweetly.

"Oh~! Rudy!" Zenith chirps gleefully.

"Hahaha!"

These two…

"Speaking of which, My Lady, Master Rudeus has made a friend," Lilia declared, Merlin would call it proudly if not accounting for how the friendship was created.

"Ooooh!?" Zenith squealed much too loudly and clasped her hands with Merlin, "Reeeally?" She kept looking at Merlin who was not prepared for what was to come,

TELL ME EVERYTHING!

Why!? Merlin screamed internally, the maid not hearing his sobs, Why was I thrown under the carriage!?

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"Rudy, you're joining me today! We're going to meet Mister Eto."

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A/N: Thank you all for reading this chapter. This update came out late because my brother was out of the country for money business and left me to rot! (For 8 days) This guy, ugh!

Anyway, it felt wrong to write without him so I contacted him and managed to brainstorm together as I wrote this thing. We decided to develop more emotional ties around Merlin that's why this chapter is how it is. Either way, I hope you like it!

Thank you for all your comments and when it comes to the latest one, well…

Better up readability!? Improve yourself by reading!? There is no way I can do that! I don't read many fanfics here aside from a few! Do you see any fav on our account!? Yep, I read only Japanese ones.

The reading is annoying? Do you know who else is annoying?

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ITS MERLIN!

Don't like = don't read.

See you next chapter, BYE!