Mr. Merlin looks at the glowing butterflies and starts talking.

'It's not a very long story, though. 'It's not a very long story,' he says, 'but it's the kind of story that inspired me to become an adventurer.

Yeah.

　I was surprised.
　As a famous adventurer, I've been asked this in various interviews.
　What made you want to be an adventurer?　And.

　The same is true for Ms. Merlin, but in her case, no one knows what the real trigger is.
　It's because she tells a different story every time.

　Some fans enjoy her different stories every time, and some even speculate that there is a real episode hidden in what she has told so far.

'Don't worry, what I'm about to tell you is true,'

...and that's for me?

　She gives a thin smile, then opens her mouth.

'Hey, it's not that big of a deal. When I was a little girl, I saw a genie once.

　Merlin's story was like this.
　When she was a little girl, she saw spirits. The spirits played with all sorts of magic: shining butterflies, dancing petals, popping sparks, rain falling toward the sky, stone statues that constantly changed shape.

　It may or may not have been meaningful to the spirits.
　But Mr. Merlin was fascinated, and they seemed to be playing and enjoying themselves.

　If they looked like they were having fun, they would want to mix it up, that's what kids were for.
　However, Ms. Merlin was not allowed to mix in with the spirits' play.
　When they noticed her, they all disappeared, as if the events leading up to that moment were a lie.

''It's a simple matter of me trying to master every attribute of magic. It's because I want to be able to mix it up this time when I meet the spirits again sometime.

　As she said this, Merlin-san waved her wand.
　The play of the spirits she spoke of has become a reality.
　The fantastic scene leaves me speechless.

'Do you laugh?'

No way.

　He answered on the spur of the moment.
　With his childhood dreams, he was able to handle magic on par with the four great spirit contractors.
　Considering his efforts, it was impossible to laugh at him, even though he respected him.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. After all.........

　I'm beginning to understand.

...because I'm the kind of person who follows his childhood dreams, right?

'Yes, you're right. Unlike me, though, you weren't afraid of being judged by others who didn't understand you.

I don't think I'm afraid of Mr. Merlin.

'Haha, thanks. It's true, I just don't like to be bothered, that's all. It's unpleasant to have a stranger who doesn't know your face decide what will or won't happen. But that's not what I want to talk about. You'll understand why I joined the party in Ex, won't you?

"Because you're a human who got to know the spirits without going through the 'Shrine of the Spirits'?

'Yes. What's the difference between me and them? Could I, by choice, be friends with the spirits? I was curious. Well, I wasn't sure after all. In addition, we even came in second place together. No, I guess I do understand one thing.

Is that so?

'Spirits like interesting people. This 'interesting' is difficult because this 'interesting' is a genie standard, but at least it wasn't a girl who approached you saying 'beautiful' or something like that.

　A simple example would be [Lake Brave] Wraith-kun.
　He said that he didn't use the power of spirits at first. That's why the water spirit body liked him.
　I'm not sure what criteria the spirits use to choose people. Of course, it would depend on the spirits.

''........perhaps this job too?''

'Hmm, I heard that if you go to the deepest part, you might be able to meet a spirit. Of course, that's not all, though.

　As she lowered her wand, all miracles stopped.
　There was nothing left to do.

'I am, Leme. My purpose was to reconnect with the spirits, but I've enjoyed improving my magic. No matter how it started, I like my current companions, too. It's fun, even though most of life is supposed to be nothing more than a process of achieving our goals. Isn't that weird?

No, I don't think so.

'Yeah, I know. It's okay to enjoy the process. It's okay to enjoy the effort. Nothing says you have to suffer for the time it takes to achieve your goal. Right?

Yes.

How about you?

What?

''You're an excellent [black mage]. After this trip, I understand how you did it during the Fenix Party days. Rather than showing off the awesomeness of black magic, your shadow efforts to show off the awesomeness of your companions is easier to understand, more flashy, and a more enjoyable strategy for the audience. And you can't even detect magic power behind the screen. Looking at Alba's reactions and other things, he was using magic while hiding his magic power so that his friends wouldn't find out, right?　That's some serious technology.

....

　It was necessary in order to have my companions fight comfortably.
　Alba is a 【Warrior】, so the deception still works, but if he hadn't hidden it, he would have been noticed by Lily and others, as expected.

''There's a difference between effort and patience. As a friend, I hope that you yourself will fall in love with black magic and enjoy the journey to becoming a brave man.

　I froze at Merlin's words.
　It was too shocking.

　Not so much for her words, but for the realization of my unconsciousness.
　I love being an adventurer. I love watching strategy videos, and I love being a brave person.
　But do I ever think about it? I'm not sure if I ever thought about it.

　Did I ever truly think that I love black magic?

"Leme?

　Merlin-san, noticing my condition, approaches me.

''........I may have never thought about it. Because it wasn't that I wanted to become a [Black Mage]. And yet, I became a 【Black Mage】. Still, I couldn't give up and decided to become a brave person.....................but I guess so. That was a very rude thing to do, to black magic.

''Although it's tremendous that you've worked up to that point without passing your likes and dislikes.

　I'll think about it.
　It's true that the support of black magic doesn't overlap with the image I once had of a brave man.
　But I don't dislike the black magic that contributes to the victory of my friends. I don't hate it.

　Since joining the Demon King's Army, I've felt it more and more.
　It's probably because all of my fellow members recognized me.
　I've been able to fight off the adventurers because of my contributions. They told me that I could win.
　I'm sure that's the kind of black magic I'm talking about.

Thank you, Merlin. I'm a sucker for black magic. And every time you help out a fellow human being, you just love it more and more. I admire a brave man who lets his friends win. I've been blessed to meet people who make me believe that black magic can be a brave man.

　This time Mr. Merlin looked surprised.

''Oh no, you're not at all ... normally, you'd be more likely to drag it out. No, you just didn't recognize it, but you already had the answers. Your new job sounds like a good place to work, doesn't it?

Yeah, I guess so.

Well I wish that guy would take a page out of your book.

That guy...?

　Mr. Merlin nodded.

'Oh, as a matter of fact, here's the thing. You've noticed that, haven't you?　To the issue of the one in Ex.

"...problem, I don't know if it's a problem. He seemed distressed about something.

　Like in the hot springs, I sometimes felt the fading, as I did in the hot springs.

'That's it. The party got a little rough on that one.

I was without both of you...

'Oh, the two of them said they were going to train and didn't attend. That's fine, but I'll keep an eye out for the Ex one.

Although I didn't notice any hiccups in the way he fought.

I'm a professional. I don't let my worries hold me back when I'm working. But the problems run deep. It's more than just a minor quarrel.

...and why is that for me?

'Ex was heartbroken by your departure. Somewhere along the line, he must have been overlapping himself.

　The day we met again, he said the same thing.

　[Black Mage] and [Jet-Black Brave Man].
　Black magic and the shadow spirit art.
　An unnecessary [Position (Job)] and a spirit contractor who does not belong to the four great spirits.
　You might be able to overlap them, and some people might think that they have nothing in common.

　However, I felt that Ex-san wasn't lying when he said he cared about me.

'It can't be me or any of my other friends. You're too close to the distance. Aerials and Fenixes are out of the question. It would be rather poisonous to hear those guys sound like the heroes of the world. There are people all over the world who yearn for them and can be saved, but they can't save Ex.

　Some people look at good-looking people and admire them, while others envy them.
　Some people are saved and others feel miserable when they associate with someone who is kind.
　Regardless of how good or bad the other person is, it's up to you to receive them.

　The problem that Ex-san is facing right now cannot be solved by her friends and those who are loved by the four great attributes, can it?
　At the hot spring, Ex-san was trying to tell me something.

''Ex-san is........suffering from the process, isn't she?

　This is where Ms. Merlin's revealing her dream, which has not been disclosed to the world, and mentioning her purpose and process, leads me to this.
　She smiled sadly at my words.

"Please give our leader what you think is best. Could you do that for me?

　The answer is obvious.

''If there's something I can do, I'll do it. Because I love [Jet-Black Brave] too.

　She smiled kindly for a moment and immediately afterwards made a stern face.

''........Hey, I 'too'?　That makes me sound like I care about him, too.

Yeah.

Come on. I didn't give a f*ck who he was.

　Merlin-san cowers her shoulders, "Oh dear.
　Seeing her like that, I can't help but blurt out.

'Why are you laughing?'

'No, I'm a little jealous. You're so close.

Oh?

　He gave me a very uncomfortable look.

''Huh, well, that's fine. If you get a chance, do me a favor. I'm sure your words will be able to reach that idiot.

Yes, sir.

　And so I returned to my tent.
　When I woke up in the morning, I was surprised to find Mr. Fulkus looking down at me.

'Oh, good morning,'

Uh, good morning.

...fishing, right? It's okay, I remember.

　Since it was the early morning hours, I called out to Jos-kun, being careful not to wake the others, and then went outside.
　What I didn't expect was that Ex-san also woke up and offered to go with me.

''It's been a long time. My father used to take me there a lot,''

　He smiles happily and at first glance seems to have no worries.

　But there's a lot going on in life. Adventurers are a popular business, and I know some of the problems we face.
　We try to hide them, we try to conquer dungeons and we laugh in front of the fans.

Devouring.

Well Mr. Fulkus, I was hoping you would moderate.

　By the way, the fishing was good.
　We rounded up at the end of the day and brought it back to camp.
　I was relieved to see that Mr.Flukas didn't intend to catch so many fish that he couldn't keep them out of the river.

If it's gone, I won't be able to eat it. That's a loss.

　It seemed to be the case.
　I wouldn't be surprised if you can catch and eat enough to lose it. It's possible for Fulkus-san.

　Today, we're going to do two dungeon surveys, one in the morning and one in the evening.

What's up, Leme?

　Ex-san said as he chewed on a grilled fish on a skewer.
　Apparently, she was unconsciously looking at him.

''No, I'm not sure how it tastes,''

Yeah, it's good.

That's good to hear.

　I remember what he said to me at the spa.
　Ex-san said after he praised me for having a strong heart.

　--I'm........weak.

　There must be something about him that makes him feel that way himself.
　If I can help, I want to do something about it.

　While thinking about that, I put breakfast in my stomach.

　And that day, the investigation of the original dungeon begins as well.