"All jokes aside," Reinhard begins with his undiminishing smile "As a knight, it is my duty to help my country's people."
"I'm not even from this world."
"But now that the sages have agreed to you remaining with me, it seems you can be considered a Lugunican."
"Sages?" Merlin repeats the word in a questioning tone.
"It is a council of old men that sits at the top and manages the kingdom." Adelheid explained in a way that would help Merlin understand it without any questions.
"Ohhh, that helps."
"Hm. Is there anything you want Merlin? Considering you have done quite a bit by protecting lady Felt, lady Emilia and lady Priscilla."
"The first two i can understand but...the last mentioned was the one protecting me, really."
"Even if that were the case, you still have done work worthy of merit. Lady Emilia was praising you quite a lot. She even wanted to take you back to her residence as a way to repay the favor."
"Really...? She praised me?"
"Yea big bro! You saved my ass so you're already way better than most people I know! Also, if he's giving ya' rewards then make sure ta' suck this knight dry—"
"Phrasing Felt...thanks by the way."
Felt slapped Merlin's back several times in encouragement but leaned sideways towards him to whisper the last part. Not that it was at all effective as everyone heard it perfectly well.
"And also," He looked from Felt to Reinhard.
"And you're saying that I was invited by a girl to HER house and YOU dragged me HERE?!?! YOU'RE THE WORST WINGMAN KNOWN TO MAN!!!"
Adelheid felt her eyebrows twitch slightly but managed to maintain the face she was well known for.
"I can guarantee Merlin that I brought you here for a reason." Reinhard raised both his hand slightly above his chest and tried to defend him from Merlin's wrath.
"Argh! Whatever it is, it better be good you hear me?!"
"Yes yes I do." The red knight in question just smiled politely after exhaling a sigh of relief. "And about what you want—?"
"Oh yeah, that's there too. Hmmmmm...lemme think. What should I askkk..." Tapping his lips and closing his eyes, he was lost deep within his thoughts of the endless possibilities of stuff he could ask over.
Money fame power or whatever. He can definitely ask it. But would it really suffice for his future?
After a few seconds of him contemplating his limitless yet limited options, he finally opened his eyes.
He had decided.
"Then in that case, you owe me four favours don't you?" Even though he knew he had done considerable work. Like dying, getting info, getting help, saving Milli and Felt by them, there still remained a growing sense of heaviness in his chest that made him believe he did not deserve it in any way. He had not done enough. Yet why is he asking for more? I don't know...
Everyone's eyes widen slightly in surprise and caution, except Felt who felt unnaturally excited that big bro was about to suck this man dry for sure!
Reinhard was the first to break this silence.
"Why four Merlin? Don't think that I'm denying them but I sure am curious as to why you would pick four specifically?"
Merlin held up four fingers.
"Well first, i was the one who brought everything into place to prevent the girls from dying." He put the index finger down.
"Yeah yeah! Big bro's right!" Felt backed him up.
"Second, i saved these two girls whom you refer to as 'Ladies' so I assume that they must be important, right?" The middle finger went down.
"We are! We are! Though I don't even know why I'm here"
"Third, I did a major work in driving away an assassin who came for our lives." The ring finger went down.
"Yea, big bro helped me get way too!"
"Fourth, I saved an elderly innocent citizen who was caught in the mess." And so the final finger went down.
"Yea!"
The whole place was silent.
Felt sat in her seat grinning maliciously. Though supporting him using Old man Rom as a mean to fulfill his greedy desires left a sour taste in her mouth. It was revenge. It's not like it'd harm anyone except that red ass.
The twin maids sisters were glaring daggers at Merlin for trying to take advantage of the young master's kindness.
Adelheid was neutral to Merlin's demands. Trying to get what you need while being in a situation as risky as Merlin's, who had been left alone in a world different from his is totally understandable.
Reinhard pondered for his words for some time.
"I see, then I will have to comply with your wishes as long as it is something that I can do."
"Great!" Merlin gave him a thumbs up.
"So Merlin, state what you desire."
"Ooookay so, first I'll need a run down of everything 'bout this world. Just a brief overview of everything from the history to the present conditions of this country or world or whatever."
"You ask for our world's knowledge but I was the first one to ask about your world which you still haven't answered. Don't you think you're being a bit unfair?" Adelheid complained.
Merlin looked at her, a little surprised. "You really wanted to know?"
"Of course!"
"Oh. Then let's wait for this end. If I get some time I'll definitely share all that I can!" Merlin's smile was gentle, yet brighter than ones he had been using up until now.
Even if Adelheid just wants to know about another and isn't actually interested in talking to him, he would still be happy that she wants to talk to him.
Sensing his inner thoughts, Adelheid smiled gently, something that suprised both the twin maids greatly, but they chose to keep quiet about it.
The matter at hand was significantly more important. Yet, they were overjoyed at the sight of the young mistress smiling after so many years. Though it was strange that what they had failed to do in so many years, the new and mysterious boy, who's apparantly an alien, managed to pull it off on his very first day awake here. It was strange but the good kind of.
Merlin didn't even realise that his social likability had gone up high in the list of all those present in the room currently, with the sole exception of Felt who was blissfully unaware of the inner thoughts of those around her.
Not to say that she viewed him as any less than most in the room currently. It was without a doubt on the same level as them, probably on the same level as Adelheid. He did save her life, regardless of the fact that it was because he himself wanted to survive too. Not to forget, he's funnier than Rom and friendlier than most she'd met so that books him for a close seat to her favourite in her list.
"Ahem,"
Reinhard cleared his throat to garner everyone's attention as the topic would definitely derail much much further if this conversation went on for any longer.
A vein popped up on Adelheid's head. She shot a sharp glare towards her brother, irritated by the fact that he had to interrupt a good talk.
Reinhard obviously aware of Adelheid's anger, felt guilty. But his feelings can be addressed later.
"So knowing about our world is your first wish?"
"Yea."
"I see. It's a shame. I was going to tell you about it anyways."
"Oh—huh? Ay that's not fair! Then that wish doesn't counts, right?!"
"A wish done is a wish made." Reinhard smiled apologetically as he replied with a playful tone.
"This not fair at all!" Merlin complained in a voice of betrayal.
"What a sore loser..." Adelheid snickered.
"Yes Lady Adelheid, what a whiner." Flam huffed.
"Yes Flam, what a crybaby." Grassis smiled.
"Yea pink girl, what a sorehead." Felt snorted.
"WHY ARE ALL OF YOU GANGING UP ON ME?!?!"
The entire table erupted with laughter. Even the icy Adelheid giggled into her first and the all-time serious work junkie Reinhard also struggled to manage a straight face.
This would've shattered any man's pride. But Merlin wasn't that dumb.
He could hear the difference, even feel it. Their laughter was not mocking him, degrading him. It wasn't a kind of laughter to be laughed at the cost of someone, instead, it was a laughter that Merlin could join in.
A type which filled his heart with nothing but joy. His own lips tugged up in an arc before he found himself joining in on the fun and laughed together.
After a few seconds, the laughs soon subsided into small giggles before stopping. A smile remained on everyone's lips.
Merlin looked at everyone around the table and the smile before addressing Reinhard.
"So bro? Wanna begin?"
"Yes. I shall do so. And I strongly suspect that what I'm about to say will involve you greatly."
"Me? Now you've got my full attention."
Reinhard drew in a long breath before starting. It would be a long one.