Chapter 161: The Language of Datura Flowers

Merlin, let's begin.

And I don't have much to say here, but if I don't say it here, I won't have another chance to say it again, so I'm sorry, but... I haven't played FGO, so I don't have any confidence in my portrayal of Merlin.

If I just look like a pachimon, I am truly sorry.

"You are free to come and see truly beautiful things."

――――This is what I want to send.

＊＊＊

Gon stood alone in a garden blooming with colorful flowers.

I don't doubt how long I've been there, how I came to be here, or why I am alone.

Despite having been here for a long time and thinking it natural, Gon still cheered at the garden of various flowers.

"Wow! Amazing! Beautiful!!"

It felt like I had been here for a long time, and it wasn't strange to be here. Without realizing it, I walked while being careful not to crush the flowers.

The flower bed didn't look intentionally arranged; it bloomed so irregularly, as if it were a natural cluster of flowers. But looking closely, the colors, shapes, and even scents of the flowers clashed with one another; it was merely gaudy, dazzling to look at, and the scent was neither too strong nor unpleasant.

On the contrary, even delicate horticultural varieties like weeds, roses, and moth orchids were blooming naturally, and the blooming seasons included spring blossoms and autumn blossoms.

The garden was completely unreal.

It was "another world."

But Gon did not notice.

I only know the main horticultural varieties, but since I am a wild child, I know a lot about weeds. A normal Gon would have noticed things that didn't match the season or environment blooming at the same time.

However, although he knew wildflowers wouldn't bloom at this time of year, for some reason, he naturally thought, "That's just how it is," and sat down to start Picking flowers.

Picking flowers one by one, carefully selecting them so as not to pull them out by the Root, as souvenirs for Mito, Biscuit, and Sora.

I don't find this thought strange.

Except for Biscuit and Sora, they didn't realize they had to return to the real world from the Dream World to give these flowers to Mito. When I was in a place where I could see her after a walk, Gon picked the flowers without hesitation.

It wasn't until he called out to me that I was immersed in Picking flowers and didn't notice "him."

"You should stop doing that."

It wasn't as gorgeous as a tree, but there was a tall flower with a magnificent stem that could be called grass.

The color was dark purple; it couldn't be called very beautiful, but I thought the round, bell-shaped petals were cute, so I warned Gon, who was reaching out casually.

When he suddenly spoke to him in a voice as gentle as a spring Wind, he looked up and saw a stranger standing before him, looking at himself with a smile as gentle as his voice.

While looking down at Gon, he pointed at the flowers at his feet with a cane and said in a voice like a spring Wind.

"That is a poisonous flower; I do not recommend it as a gift."

Merlin kindly told Gon about the danger of the flowers Gon was about to pick.

However, Gon couldn't even say thank you.

"Oh, this is a dream," he said.

I suddenly understood, just like the appearance of a man. Recognizing the unnaturalness you had noticed but hadn't paid attention to until now, and realizing they were all constructed because they were a dream.

There was no logical reason to notice it. It was just a premonition, but the moment he saw the person in front of him, he realized this was not real.

In that sense, he was an unrealistic opponent.

Rainbow-colored hair, a face that could be identified as a man at a glance, and the only description that came to mind was "flower-like," which didn't suit a man.

A Mantle and robe that looked like a Magician's, although it was based in white.

And it was hard to tell because there was something on the ears that looked like petals, but they weren't as large as Medea's elf ears, just a little bit; they were pointed and couldn't be called normal ears.

Although not as prominent as Medea's, his features combined with his flower-like beauty gave him a fairy-like appearance.

This alone was enough to make him an unrealistic opponent, but that wasn't the factor that made Gon realize it was a dream.

Soft, gentle, refreshing, a smile hung on his face. No matter how you looked at it, it was an expression of friendship toward Gon, a smile that melted like snow in the spring sunshine.

Whether he was human was doubtful, but he didn't seem to have any Malice. Regardless of whether this was a dream or reality, Gon thought so himself.

But Gon looked into his eyes and thought.

"Far," he said.

It wasn't that there was a look of alienation or avoidance in his eyes, but there seemed to be a gap.

It wasn't an active refusal to have a Wall, but an unreachable distance seen in my eyes.

Precisely because he had such eyes, he couldn't believe this person was so close to him.

Because it was a dream, I could maintain this distance. That was the feeling.

If I had to give a reason why I realized it was a dream, that was it.

I don't know if this makes sense, but Gon realized it was just a dream, so I kept thinking, "What should I do?"

Immediately after, the other party's flower-like smile gradually turned into a smile similar to Gon's, and at the same time, he tilted his head and said:

"……By any chance, do you know that is a dream?"

Not expecting the character in the dream to point it out, Gon was stunned for a moment and nodded, and the other party laughed again. This time, it wasn't a hearty smile, but he laughed like a child.

"Haha! You really live by intuition!"

"……I don't know if I'm being praised?"

"Of course, I am praising you."

Gon was confused by his words, laughing at what he said that could only be considered stupid or sarcastic, but he wasn't harmless; he puffed out his chest and said, "I am praising you," so Gon was even more troubled by his reaction, but he replied for the time being, "Um, thanks?".

Although they had met for less than five minutes, Gon's impression of the other party had changed from "a gentle yet mysterious adult" to "an unreasonable person." Because he wanted to further strengthen the impression.

"You're welcome. Yes, I know you, but you are young, or rather, you are young; unlike those guys, you are an obedient child.

Well, Mr. Gon. As you know, this is a dream, but I am not just a resident of a dream, a product of your imagination, because you think this is crazy.

My name is Merlin. A reliable advisor for everyone who travels through dreams. Please kindly call me Brother Merlin."

Having received Gon's inexplicable words of thanks, and thinking he looked quite satisfied with himself, the man exaggeratedly spread his hands and began to explain what Gon was thinking and who he himself was.

However, the only thing he understood from that explanation was the other party's name, so naturally, he could only be even more confused.

Thus, Gon asked suspiciously.

"Um... yes, I understand. Brother Merlin."

"... I didn't expect you to actually call me; innocent children are so terrifying."

"What should I do!?"

For some reason, when I addressed him by the name he requested, Gon was easily offended.

"Hmm, I don't know why they are the same in the pure and simple parts, but the types have subtle differences? I didn't expect the son of the Jin family to be so honest."

"I didn't expect the Jin family's son to be so honest."

"! You know my father!?"

Merlin was talking to himself, foolishly and honestly using the name "Brother Merlin" amidst the seaweed, and Gon stood up to ask, because the name of someone he could not ignore had slipped into his monologue.

Then Merlin replied with a smile like a spring breeze, like a flower. It was still far away, with distance in his eyes.

"I know. About 10 years ago, he and I had an interesting killing relationship."

"What kind of relationship!?"

Gon instinctively jumped in, answering with a truly refreshing smile.

Merlin showed a pouting reaction when asked about their relationship after answering it, but he had no right to pry. Gon's reaction was correct.

However, for Merlin, the current explanation was the most direct and easiest to understand, which was the relationship between him and Jin.

"There was a little bit of a misunderstanding; the djinn wanted to take my property. Ah, it was hardly the djinn's fault. But, as you can see, I am not human, so human laws do not apply. That is why a misunderstanding occurred.

As for that, we reconciled through killing, and I gave Jin what he wanted."

While sitting at the scene, he explained the overly blunt details of the "killing," while once again revealing information that should not be ignored.

However, Gon, who had known from the beginning that he was non-human, did not rashly make a move, and Jin did not do anything unreasonable as Merlin had said, which made Gon sigh in relief; I sat down and continued to ask questions.

"Um, Mr. Merlin, do you have the ability to appear in people's dreams?"

"It might be more of an ability or a constitution."

His appearance and personality were too crazy, not someone he had imagined, and he was very familiar with Jin, so I felt he was a real person; what was the situation? When I asked a question to unravel the doubt, Merlin still carelessly filled in a large amount of information.

However, Gon, who was already accustomed to receiving shameless information, did not seem surprised at all, tilting his head and parroting back: "Mom?"

Perhaps anticipating that Gon would have such a flashy reaction, Merlin showed a slightly disappointed bitter smile and answered the parrot.

"As the name implies, they are people who live for dreams. Also, I wish I could tell you what 'dreams are nourishment' means, but I'm afraid your guardian will find out. This is a secret for the next three years."

"?"

In the end, I didn't understand most of it, and before Gon could ask: "What does that mean?"

"Well, anyway, I know your father, and I understand that I can interfere with your dreams. So the next question is, 'Why did you appear in my dream?'

There are two reasons. First, I wanted to talk to you because I just found you, who look like someone I miss."

I want to know what Merlin would do if he decided on Gon's question and answered it himself.

Merlin answered with a smile.

Like a flower, like a spring breeze, endlessly soft, warm, and sweet.

"I am a Happy Ending Supremacist."

Squatting down, resting his chin on his elbows supported by his knees, and looking straight back at Gon, Merlin first gave an answer that did not answer the question and seemed to have no context at all.

"My eyes are Clairvoyance; I can see the world.

So I have known about you for a long time. I like you more than Jin. Watching you is interesting.

You head straight forward with your friends, you never give up on the good ending I like, you rush toward no other ending, and you grasp the ending you want."

He still did not explain why he appeared in his dream. However, information was provided to the extent that it could be guessed in some way.

Although Gon himself did not think he was smart, he had a good intuition and could live so much by instinct that Merlin said "I praise him" with a triumphant expression.

That is why, at this point, I realized that I had almost skipped the reasoning.

Gon said he was a Happy Ending Supremacist who liked the lifestyle of people who didn't give up like him, and he connected this garden to the flower shape he imagined himself.

"... Could it be that the 'fan' of Sora who gave Sora a bouquet of flowers two weeks ago was Mr. Merlin?"

"Your intuition is really good."

It was definitely a confirmation; he immediately responded to Gon's affirmative words, praising his good intuition.

If he knew himself because he had Clairvoyance that could see distant events, then it was no surprise that he also knew about Sora.

And if you like your own lifestyle, then why don't you like Sora, who struggles to find someone's happy ending, living more painfully, strictly, and desperately than Gon? There is no reason.

The similarity to the flowers was almost far-fetched, but enough to remind me of a bouquet of flowers.

"That's right. I like you too, but my favorite is Sora.

Be good to her. She is a cute girl, she is interesting because she can't imagine what she would do in the right way, or she is cute when she abuses it, no matter how desperate she is, she won't give up, she will get a happy ending, worth playing, she is a girl. Oishi."

"Mr. Merlin, aren't girls stronger than boys?"

He admitted that he was a "fan," that he gave flowers to Sora and talked about what he liked about her, but Gon poked him sharply.

However, Merlin, like a spring breeze, ignored Gon's words and continued to look at Gon's gaze. Does this guy realize that Gon's evaluation has changed from "a bit strange" to "a bit unfortunate"?

"Well, having eyes like this, and living much longer than a human lifespan, I basically have a lot of free time.

That is why I love you and Sora, who do not waste time, but destroy and kill me. As I have said many times, I am a Happy Ending Supremacist. So... I am also very sad that you, the authors and characters of my favorite stories, look so gloomy."

Merlin spoke softly, with a gentle smile.

Finally, the second reason, the reason he appeared in Gon's dream, was explained, but Gon did not care about the reason he appeared in his own dream.

However, I realized the true nature of the impression I felt, and still felt "distant."

"Gon. Can you tell me what is troubling you?"

"I want to help not only you and Sora, but your friends as well. Because this will be a very beautiful, happy ending."

Just as he said himself, I guess he is a happy-ending supremacist.

He loves happy endings and believes that people's happiness is beautiful. No matter how clumsy Gon and Sora are, no matter how severely they are hurt, or what they have done, he clings to them and does not give up; he appreciates the endings they reach.

There wasn't a single lie.

But this is all from the perspective of an audience member or a reader.

He might not sympathize with Gon, Sora, or anyone else at all.

Even if I did, that would be sympathy for characters in a book, not for the sake of others, but merely for my own enjoyment.

Asking "What is troubling you?" just now does not mean I want to help Gon. Just as he said, he wants to see the happy ending he likes, so he doesn't want to leave Gon alone because he is about to deviate from it.

There is no intention of taking care of Gon there. Perhaps, even if the ending Gon wants goes beyond that step, it is just because he doesn't like it; he is a selfish person trying to force Gon onto the track leading to the ending he likes. However, Gon doesn't understand what is wrong with that.

Just realizing this, a chill ran down Gon's spine.

It is not scary for Merlin to stare into my eyes, but being seen makes me feel very uncomfortable.

Without a doubt, they are the same kind of creature, but everything is different.

I cannot understand the other party, and I feel very uncomfortable because those distant eyes remind me of that "Goddess."

But Gon did not look away from Merlin.

Looking straight into his eyes, which felt further away than the moon, he said.

"If I talk to you, can you give me some Suggestion?"

"Far from just giving a Suggestion, I truly want to help you."

Merlin answered the Gon who was holding him, refreshingly, kindly, and easily.

It is a pity that no sincerity can be found in his words, but Gon believed it.

Perhaps, just as he said himself, although he has human lineage, his perspective is fundamentally different from humans because he is a non-human, and his thoughts are incomprehensible; Gon understood that part.

However, as for the self-proclaimed "happy ending supremacy," I don't think it is a lie.

Even if we think of it as someone else's business, even if we think that all the events we bet our lives on and are proud of are nothing more than "interesting reading material," this is not an ending that makes us hurt and unhappy. It is just because he thinks this creature called "Merlin" is real, just for a laugh, hoping for a happy ending.

"... I want to make Killua and Sora smile."

Because I thought only this wish was the same as mine.

So I opened my mouth.

I am convinced that the "happy ending" Gon himself pursues, like this purely mechanical and objective creature, has a way of thinking that is incompatible with human wisdom.

＊＊＊

"Killua says he doesn't mind, but if the culprit is the Mandrake, then creating such an environment is Jin's fault... Even if I say I don't care, I still feel responsible."

Gon said this to end the story.

I threw away everything I wanted, everything that bothered me, and the problems I wanted to solve.

Only after saying it did I realize the content involved the privacy of Killua and Sora, and I felt embarrassed to leak it without permission, but with Merlin's insight, perhaps he knows more than I do. Sorry, I am going to open up about it.

I wanted to do something about it, to the point of being scolded for exposing it, so I told him everything I knew.

Even so, Gon knows very little about it.

... The only information that can be called certain is that the two of them, Killua and Sora, have been acting strangely ever since they were covered in Mandrake pollen.

Not just Gon, even Biscuit knows.

However, what happened after Killua took Sora away, neither Gon nor Biscuit knows.

I was worried that the two of them didn't return to their rooms after dinner, but while Gon went to the restroom, Killua returned to the Inn room, covered his head with a blanket, and did not get out of bed until morning.

Even when I called out to him, he said, "I beg you to leave me alone," so Gon could only do as he asked.

Similarly, when Biscuit was not around, Sora returned.

By morning, at first I thought Sora and Killua were surprisingly normal.

Putting Sora aside, Killua would not appear in front of Sora for the time being, and even if nothing happened, even if he did appear, I think his behavior would be suspicious in many ways. Although I thought it was a temporary effect and expected it to be moody, when the two met normally, they greeted each other with "Good morning."

While thinking this, I felt relieved; it was better than being awkward, but this ease did not last for half an hour.

The two were having a normal conversation. Not to mention necessary contact matters, we also had some trivial small talk; regarding shopping, Training, and game strategies, we cooperated with each other without unnecessary avoidance.

But they did not make eye contact.

Looking closely, Sora never touched Killua, even when he would usually joke around by hugging Killua or patting his head in praise. Killua also cursed at Sora's ridiculous words and actions, but did nothing.

Both of them were smiling.

They smiled at me, smiled at Biscuit, and we were smiling, but those smiles were a bit lonely, and I felt a distance.

Biscuit, of course, also noticed the coldness between the two and asked Sora, but Sora seemed to only say, "I'm sorry, please take care of me."

Gon asked Killua. If you don't want to say why you have become estranged from Sora, you don't have to. However, when I asked Killua if there was anything I could do for him, he looked embarrassed... with a smile on his face that was about to cry.

"Sorry. Take care. But it's fine. Give it some time and it will be solved."

He said something similar to Sora, gently but clearly refusing Gon's inability to help.

In fact, he realized that Gon was powerless.

I am glad I didn't say it out loud, but instead made Killua worry. Gon revived Killua's wounds and dug out the cause of the estrangement between the two.

"Don't worry. I just fell in love."

Killua answered so easily and honestly that I couldn't help but suspect the lack of honesty until now, and he smiled.

It was a smile that made one want to cry.

Therefore, Gon could not ask for more details.

But I want to do something.

I want to do something about the cold air between the two, but more importantly, I want to make them smile.

I cannot bear to see that kind of smile full of pain, depicting joy and happiness.

Gon hugged Gon tightly, because he wanted to let them smile from the heart like before, instead of that kind of smile that makes Killua and Sora want to be Together and say it is hard to be Together.

No matter how much I think about it, I cannot figure it out, so I hope I can find a path to a "happy ending," in a way I would never think of myself, because I understand the other party cannot understand. Then, when I told Merlin all the details, Merlin leaned on his chin, agreed with Gon's final statement, and said: "Ah, I see."

"You yourself have absolutely nothing to do with it, but I know you feel responsible. I mean, I feel that way too."

It was I who taught Ging about the mandrake as an aphrodisiac ingredient or something, and I was also the one who came up with the idea of the screaming line."

"That, Mr. Merlin is the culprit!?"

"However, it was Ging who suddenly burst into laughter and gave the go-ahead gesture."

"What is my father doing!?"

In many ways, Gon revealed that he was the originator of the terrifying scream that made Gon want to die.

What are you doing, this person!? Thinking this, I felt a little relieved that those low-level remarks were not Ging's idea, but Merlin still smiled and revealed that Ging's level was too low, so in the end, Gon died again. I think.

"Well, setting that aside, if Gon feels responsible, those two will feel even more guilty, so you shouldn't think it's your fault.

The mandrake is undoubtedly the reason for what happened to the two of them, but it is not the mandrake, but Sora, who is responsible for making up for this painful 'past relationship,' so you and I are of course the culprits. You don't have to feel..."

"Maybe that's so, but Mr. Merlin feels responsible in a different way."

Merlin said he felt responsible, but he nodded and put the responsibility behind him.

"But is it because of Sora? Isn't it because of Killua?"

"Speaking of who is wrong, Killua, is it you? But the victim is Killua. But Sora is not the perpetrator either. She is the victim of Alaya and Gaia, of human rationality. I can say..."

The current situation is precisely because Killua partially understands this. I am sorry to say this, but because of Killua's superficiality, everyone is embarrassed."

After all, even if Gon didn't say it, he seemed to know everything, so Merlin explained that he didn't expose his privacy like Gon did.

There was nothing specific, and even if it were explained, I felt it only added to the mystery. It's fine, I didn't want to ask either, so I didn't ask again.

I feel there is no need to know the details.

All Gon wanted to know was the only information he needed.

"Mr. Merlin. How do you think Killua and Sora could be funny?"

I just want to know what I must do to reach this conclusion.

And Merlin, with a certain intention, narrowed his eyes, further away than the inorganic eyes of a doll, further away than the inorganic eyes of a doll.

"I just want to make Sora happy."

Faced with Merlin's overly simple answer, Gon widened his eyes.

Perhaps the reaction was interesting, he continued to say with a smile.

"Killua cannot smile like before, not because Sora dumped him.

No matter how much Sora insists on herself, she realizes she cannot be saved. To protect something very precious and shining, she made an extremely painful choice, and she knows what she cut off, so she cannot smile anymore. I can no longer smile, because I realize my happiness is built on the foundation of what she cut off."

And Sora also knows she cannot smile, because Killua is thinking of him, so he cannot smile.

In the eyes of others, that is nothing but misfortune, and her life path cannot be saved, but no matter how much she is hurt, no matter how much she is hurt, no matter how much she is hurt, no matter how much she is trampled, she wants to protect the one she loves, the shining thing. As long as I can continue to shine, I am happy, so my greatest misfortune is that Killua can no longer smile, and I am the reason."

Precisely because they are thinking of the other, they cannot smile, but they still try to smile, so they inevitably end up with a painful smile. This also fuels the other's guilt, creating a vicious cycle of trying to smile, even though it gets harder and harder to smile.

So the solution itself is simple.

Hope Sora is happy... and saved."

After all, what happened in the end, Killua said nothing about the 'previous problems' that Killua knew, why the two were so indifferent, trying to maintain the 'relationship until now' so painfully. Explain why you want to mock both, and then draw a conclusion.

Gon, who had been listening to Merlin's explanation with round eyes, understood what he was saying, and a touch of blood-red appeared in his eyes.

From confusion to joy, the emotions in her eyes were repainted.

"... So that's how it is. Thank you, Mr. Merlin!!"

Convinced, he stood up to thank Merlin, but this time Merlin widened his eyes and raised his voice, "Hmm?"

Gon could not understand their confusion, and also said: "Hmm?"

"... Isn't that where you would ask many questions, 'What should I do to save Sora?'"

When Merlin told him with a wry smile why he was confused, Gon folded his arms and tilted his head, as if for some reason he still could not understand.

"If I rely on you so much, I am nothing more than a substitute for Mr. Merlin, and I don't want to rely on Mr. Merlin alone."

Let's be direct.

Moreover, almost no one worried about the phrase "relying on Merlin alone is not good." It was just a somewhat strange Jainist saying, "Don't do what you want to do recklessly."

Seeing this, Merlin lowered his head slightly and muttered: "... As expected of a freak family."

Gon did not realize that even this free-spirited outsider could not grasp the rhythm, pointing out that he was a selfish family running at his own pace, and Gon tilted his head at Merlin's reaction.

However, Merlin also understood that if he hesitated with such a person, he would only be disturbed, and since his real age was three digits, he had no memory of hesitating, and did not want to do so. It wouldn't happen again, so I immediately raised my face and poked at the sore spot.

"But do you have a way to save Sora?"

I am going to hit a sore spot.

However, Gon remained unmoved.

"Yes. I can't think of anything right now, but it definitely exists. So find it... together with Killua!"

He had no hesitation, and while laughing heartily, he said he still relied on others.

"Right now, Killua has a sense of guilt and can only see this, but there is no doubt that Killua wants Sora to be happy and saved, so let's look for it together.

Not just Killua. Even Biscuit is not honest, but I am sure Sora wants him to be happy, and Kurapika and of course Leorio will help him. Kurapika would rather be angry than ask for help.

Most importantly, I want Sora to be the happiest. Sora might be happy enough now, but if there is a way to make Sora happier, just say we want it too, and if you know, Sora will pick up what you let go. Give it to me because you won't give up... so you don't have to give up. I will find you."

Although he didn't think of anything and didn't know anything, Gon still believed in the future where "Sora will be saved."

He declared that even if he couldn't do it alone, he could find people who aimed for the same ending.

And, those eyes looking straight at the end, eyes shining like the Sun... Merlin smiled, conveying these with the same look as someone seeing a wreck.

"Thank you, Mr. Merlin. For listening to my worries. For telling me how to achieve my wish. For finding a way to save Sora."

But there is no more. It is not that I do not trust you, but rather... we are too far apart from Mr. Merlin, so although our goal is the same place, the paths to reach it are different. Even if it is the best from Mr. Merlin's perspective, from our perspective, the happy ending leading to that path might not be a happy ending.

"... So it doesn't matter."

While thanking Merlin, he refused.

Because he understood the existence of a creature called Merlin, he said he would appreciate and believe in it, but he would not hold his hand.

Merlin sat down, looked up at Gon, his eyes widening slightly, just listening. No, it is unknown if he really listened to Gon's words.

For better or worse, the spring breeze-like smile that had dissolved tension and vigilance had disappeared from his face.

It was just a surprise that made me say, "I can't believe it."

... At this moment, Merlin did not feel "very far."

If I reached out my hand, I felt it was as close as it is now, but before Gon reached out his hand, it was already far away, too far, and I doubted if I could even see him.

"... I understand. You really are my favorite happy ending maker."

At such a distance, Gon's spine trembled again, but he felt relieved because Merlin's smile did not show any anger or displeasure at his good intentions being rejected.

To my relief, I did not notice.

Gon's words and that kind of displeasure from Merlin did not really feel like an answer to him.

But it was like when you see an insect jump into a fire, don't be afraid to say: "I don't understand!".

I could not understand their words and actions, but I just thought it was natural that they could not understand them, because they were too different as creatures, so I did not care about them at all.

He had no desire to understand, and even if he did understand, that would be intellectual curiosity, not sympathy, nor a desire for communication.

From the beginning, Merlin just treated Gon's words as information before refusing.

By simply changing or modifying the "plan" based on that information, the required "final result" would not change. It could not be a factor in changing the "ending."

However..., what I overheard was that the smiling mask that was not a lie but not what I really meant was peeling off... the more the mask peeled, the closer it was to what Gon could reach. Teeth----

"You are free to come and see truly beautiful things."

Because I remembered that "regret," which proved that although I was inversely proportional to a human's appearance, my inner spirit was indeed not human, but I definitely had human lineage.

Merlin said, covering that "regret."

"Gon, I will give you two pieces of evidence that this is a dream, but it is not.

One is the player list in the Binder. Come and check it in a while. My name is in the file, so if you change your mind, or if there is anything I can help with, please let me know."

"Eh? Mr. Merlin, are you actually a player?"

Gon felt that he and Merlin could not understand each other, but forgetting his true intentions and the fact that things were further than he imagined, Gon naively asked Merlin about the information he brought.

Merlin smiled beautifully and continued to speak to such a simple and foolish child.

"Well, rather than a player, it's more like a guest character slot for the background or hidden events?"

Jin, G. M., and others said: "Oh no. I cannot come out forcefully because I have the ability to steal the law as a shield, but you are just a greedy person." Intending not to deceive Gon. Merlin himself truly recognized his status in GI.

Still not knowing that GI was in the real world, Gon thought everyone except players were NPCs created "just in case," and was a bit confused by Merlin's answer, but it seemed he was involved in the production of GI, and because of some involvement, he could appear in people's Dream World, so I firmly believed that I could also enter the game world in the same way, and prepared an explanation in my head that confused Merlin who did this.

"That's right. Thank you, Mr. Merlin! If anything happens, I will also find Merlin's event through Contact!"

"... Yeah, I like your honesty, and I think it's a virtue, but I think you should consider it a bit more, even if you are an old woman. Besides, my events are only for girls, so you can't do it."

Regarding Gon's overly naive answer, Merlin gave a weak look with correct and distant eyes. At the same time, I naturally made an event about my bad habits regarding women.

Since no one pointed out there is no such R18 event!! Biscuit might be overjoyed, but don't do that, Sora. If something goes wrong, even Gon will become a victim of the Castration Fist.

Gon did not realize he was setting up a death flag for himself. Handed to

"The second piece of evidence is this, only this flower can be brought back to reality."

Gon looked at the fresh flower presented to him and Merlin in confusion.

Of course. After all, the flower given to me was the reason Merlin spoke to me for the first time, and I was warned that it was a poisonous flower.

Merlin did not look like he meant to blame, but when he realized he was obviously confused, he smiled bitterly, but he did not pick other flowers, instead holding the first poisonous flower he picked... Belladonna, and said.

"Are you naturally confused?

I warned you it was poisonous, but that is only if it is real. This garden is a world I created, so all the flowers here are harmless. It's just that the real toxicity is not very funny, so I just gave him some Suggestion.

Also, this flower language suits me well, so I chose it because I thought a self-introduction was a good idea."

"Flower language?"

Merlin's answer dispelled Gon's doubts, and although he knew there was almost no danger, Gon was still worried about the flower language of choosing a poisonous flower as "evidence," and asked while receiving it.

Merlin looked down at Gon, a beautiful smile curling at the corners of his mouth, like a spring breeze, like a flower.

"The flower language of Belladonna is————"

However, the answer did not reach Gon's ears.

The world around Merlin's smile became blurry. The boundary between Merlin and the garden and blue sky in the background became blurred, and Merlin's words became distant and difficult to understand.

Realizing that his consciousness had risen from the Dream World to reality, Gon's mind was completely clear.

"Hmm? Good morning, Gon."

The flower garden was gone, and looking around, the surrounding scenery was a pitch-black forest, and looking up at the sky, it was a gray, overcast cloud, not a blue sky.

The person in front of him was not the flower-like outsider from far away, but Sora who was making breakfast by the campfire.

Although it was a lucid dream, and it was clearly a Dream World, it was so real that it made Gon feel that the scent of the garden still lingered in his nose, which was why he woke up. Not knowing if this was real or if the dream was still continuing, not just Sora, but even Biscuit who was preparing breakfast and Killua who woke up at the same time as Gon made Gon feel confused.

"What's wrong, Gon?"

"Did you sleep halfway through?"

The two tilted their heads and asked Gon, who had just woken up, when he hadn't even said a word of good morning, and looking around with a confused face, I finally understood what I meant.

"! Gon, what's wrong?"

"Hmm?"

Gon looked at his right hand that Sora was pointing at.

In the dream, there was a poisonous flower handed to him... a Belladonna.

"That was a dream, but it wasn't a dream!!"

"Huh? Did you get it from a Totoro? But that's poisonous."

"Who is Totoro?"

Gon shouted at Sora without realizing it, and Sora rushed in, completely bewildered. However, this push only affected Sora; Killua thought this was a blur and pushed it further.

Killua, as usual, had a subtle sense of distance; he usually just bumped his head lightly, but now he seemed a bit better, perhaps because he was fully focused on Gon's words and actions.

Gon was happy, not realizing that everyone was thinking, "Is he alright?"

"Not Totoro! I got it from Mr. Merlin! It was a dream, but it wasn't a dream!"

"Who is the same?"

"Gon, are you okay? Are you awake?"

Gon showed the three of them a Belladonna flower, chatting happily, though of course, they didn't understand each other at all.

However, Sora had a different reaction.

"............ Hmm?... Merlin?"

I dropped the spoon I was using to stir the pot into the pot, rolled my eyes, and repeated the name of the flower-person to Gon.

No matter how you looked at it, Killua and Biscuit were not confused because they didn't know, but rather surprised and confused because they did know.

"Hmm? An acquaintance?"

When the three asked in unison, Sora still looked like he was questioning: "Why did you come up with that guy's name?"

Then he had Gon hold onto him tightly, hoping for a denial rather than a confirmation.

"... Little brother, did you have that dream in a garden?

Is Merlin that guy with rainbow-colored hair, a flower-like smiling face, and petals on his ears—the kind of handsome guy who makes you want to cause an Explosion and makes his master want to worship him?"

Gon answered with an expression that was hard to tell if it was difficult or easy to understand, but he could temporarily understand that Sora's impression of the other party was not good.

"Hmm? Yes, the stage of my dream was a garden, but there were only flowers. I didn't even look around at the towers outside; there were just flowers to the edge of the sky.

Mr. Merlin... I don't know if Biscuit would worship you, but is that how it is?"

Regarding the strange, trivial part about "Biscuit worshiping," I didn't know, but I didn't deny the "flower-like beautiful liar's smile."

From Killua and Biscuit's perspective, the expression was "What's this?", which was very unfavorable to Merlin, but Gon felt in his heart that Sora's expression was accurate, so he couldn't deny it, but he didn't bother to say it out loud; he temporarily confirmed that the "Merlin" Sora knew and the "Merlin" he met in his dream were likely the same person.

Just then, Sora collapsed to the ground and started yelling.

"I shouldn't have done it with a Totoro! What are you doing there, you scum!!

No, maybe it's because there's Christ, but no Legend of King Arthur! Ah, that's why you aren't imprisoned and are free!! I mean, you have Clairvoyance here too! That Peeping Demon!!"

Before Killua and Biscuit could ask, "Who on earth are you?"

However, as soon as he shouted, Sora quickly got up and lifted his face.

But that face looked very similar to Hisoka's, although it was better than Hisoka's.

And facing the three who were more doubtful than confused, Sora smiled vaguely and said:

Who is the "Merlin" you know?

"... Gon.

After all, I saw him about seven years ago."

".................. Teeth?"

He said some more incomprehensible things... I thought about it, but I immediately understood the first half of what Sora meant. I didn't understand, because I could do it.

About four years ago, Sora came to this world. In other words, the meeting seven years ago meant that "Merlin" was...

"That guy, in my world, is the 'Flower Magician' who appears in the story of 'King Arthur'.

Perhaps, or more accurately, he is the same person in a so-called Parallel World."

Sora picked up the spoon that had fallen into the pot with chopsticks, poured the breakfast soup into bowls to divide it, and told "Merlin" about his world and how he knew him.

"Merlin is a hero in a legend called 'Legend of King Arthur', and he is the Guide of the protagonist, King Arthur.

Because he is a hybrid of a dreamer called a muma and a human, he doesn't fit human values. It's not that it's completely different, but it's result-oriented.

That is why they interact with humans, because they pave the stage for a happy ending, give them triggers, and help them in various ways; that is why they have a bad nature."

"What does that count as? Even if it's the same self-satisfaction, isn't being result-oriented better than people who mess up the environment without producing results? Especially if a happy ending is supreme, it's convenient for humans, isn't it?"

Biscuit asked with a serious expression, indicating she didn't understand what Sora was saying while drinking her soup.

Killua had the same doubt on his face, but he drank his soup without saying it out loud. Gon, while thinking about how to deal with this sense of distance, answered Biscuit's question instead of Sora, who had started eating.

"... I don't think Mr. Merlin is a bad person. But he isn't a 'good person' as we humans call it.

I think that person only sees the result and isn't interested. The future that person pursues, the ending he or she wants to reach, might be what everyone longs for, but I think it doesn't matter how many sacrifices are made in the process of getting there.

Even if Mr. Merlin and we humans have the same final destination, that person will choose the shortest path to get there, no matter how long it takes, and we will make the fewest sacrifices.

I think such a 'deviation' exists."

When Gon thought about how to make people understand the "distance" he felt in his dream, he chose his words and explained that he wanted to prove the "Legend of King Arthur".

"Merlin provides Suggestion and help to King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table to overcome various difficulties.

As for that, he isn't making you die. This land is already dead, but there are many invaders.

... Although he knew it was such a country, he still cooperated with King Arthur's father, making adjustments before King Arthur was born to make him the best king. It seems he was giving him advice, letting him choose whether to be king, but the choice was just a facade.

That is how he used the life of a human named 'Arthur', just to make the events that occurred during the process leading to the destruction of England as beautiful as possible, not letting the destruction of England become a tragedy that would only bring misfortune.

Gon's impression and perception are correct. He isn't a bad person; he is more like a kind person, but he always pretends to be a 'reader', so he doesn't care about human emotions or the environment. I mean, I really don't understand.

But the supremacy of the happy ending is true, and it is precisely because results are produced that it is a bad character setting. What really annoys me is that even if he is trash, he is right, and doing what he wants to do is the best thing."

After speaking, Sora finished his soup without another word; not only Biscuit and Killua, but even Gon, who had met and talked to him, were deeply impressed by "Merlin's" personality and Sora's reaction.

"... I somewhat understand why he calls himself your 'fan.' But where did you meet such an almost mythical inhabitant? If it is here, in your world?"

After Biscuit voiced her impression with an impressed face and tone, a question suddenly occurred to her.

To Biscuit, everything in this world was normal, so he didn't really feel anything, but Sora said this world was different from Sora's world, and that desire itself was being generated. Because Mana was abundant, from the perspective of Sora's world, it was not an Age of Gods, but a world full of mysteries, as if the Dream World were real.

So, perhaps one could even meet someone there who was nothing more than a fantasy to the world, but I was surprised to find that I had met someone in Sora's world, where the mysteries had been almost dispelled by reality, so I asked. However, the moment I asked, Sora's eyes died.

"Hm?... What's wrong with you?"

"... Merlin, what did you do?"

"That's why you hate him so much."

"Killua, you're right."

Biscuit felt puzzled by Sora's gaze, and Gon pulled away from the Merlin of the Parallel World; Merlin was the same person, yet a complete stranger.

"No, Merlin didn't do anything to me. On the contrary, he helped me."

"... When I encountered a demonic dog known as 'Primate Murder,' because the old man had the absolute right to kill, I thought, 'Ah, this is going to kill me.'"

"Why do you hate him?"

"That demonic dog was originally Merlin's familiar."

"Sorry, you're right."

Although he said Killua's jab was the correct answer, Sora did not intend to falsely accuse him, so Sora restored his dead eyes a little as compensation, and Killua jabbed him further. However, when I quickly told him why the hatred toward Sora was not unreasonable, Killua immediately agreed.

Everything was as usual. However, their gazes were cast toward that bowl which had almost no contents.

Seeing this, Gon and Biscuit, understanding that there was nothing they could do, sighed softly.

"... Come to think of it, that guy in my world also said he was my fan, and although he helped him originally, it wasn't because he felt responsible for his master, but it seemed one of the reasons was 'because he is a fan,' but... for some reason, that person himself was very bad to me."

Feeling that even Gon and the others felt awkward, Sora smiled and looked up to change the subject slightly.

Remember when changing.

Sharing the commonality of feeding on the mental activities of humans who were familiar with the past, when the Wonderland Avalon was imprisoned, I intervened in Primate Murder to help Sora, and I remembered the reason Merlin gave for being indifferent to Sora when he told me in the Illusion City.

"I like you. It's cute, it's interesting, I never get tired of watching it, and it almost brought me to the ending I wanted."

With a refreshing smile like a flower, he praised Sora.

"But at the same time, I'm really not good at it."

While saying he liked him, for some reason, he was unilaterally dumped by Sora.

As for Sora, Merlin simply did not like Merlin in many ways, so although he liked him, he wasn't very happy, but being suddenly dumped was usually annoying too. To be honest, this was also one of the reasons I hated Merlin.

If it were just being shaken, it would be annoying enough. To Sora, this was nothing more than an incident that would be laughed at in a few days.

The reason he didn't go to tease him and instead hated him to the bone was because Merlin claimed to be Sora's "fan," yet felt heartache for her.

I couldn't help but despise him for dropping his dark, flower-like liar's mask and saying something with a somewhat lonely, fleeting, and regretful smile.

"Because, even if you waste your life on me, you will definitely end up—"

In Sora's view, it could only be said that Merlin brought it upon himself, and the hatred was not unreasonable.

(... If there is no "King Arthur" in this world, and he was not imprisoned, does that mean he has no trauma? But if so, why didn't you just come to see me, at least if you were willing to appear in your dreams, why Gon?

Is it because Gon is usually his favorite happy-ending maker? But, if there were no limits to what we could do, if we could meet in person instead of in dreams, Gon and I could be together at the same time... why?)

"... Gon... Sora!"

"! Oh, sorry. What were you saying?"

Suddenly remembering that in Sora's eyes, it was nothing more than an annoying matter, but in Merlin's eyes, remembering the "sin" that caused him to be imprisoned in Avalon Tower until the end of the stars, the original question, Gon brought his consciousness back to the reality that had been absorbed more by the suspected thoughts.

"No, I just called you because you suddenly started spacing out. But Sora. What do you think I should do about Mr. Merlin?"

However, Gon Freecss did not call him because he still had things to do; he was just calling Killua, who could not speak to Sora.

Nevertheless, Gon's consultation was urgent because it turned out to be more important than I thought, but Sora's answer was simple.

"Hm? Do as you please. Like I said before, he is undoubtedly trash, but because he is result-oriented, his Suggestion is accurate, and because he lives in human dreams, he won't be an enemy of an enemy. In many ways, he is a human. He is a man, and I don't recommend getting deep into his feelings, but he is not a dangerous person, so I think Gon should do what he likes."

I don't know if this sentence is praise or criticism, but Gon felt that Merlin was very "distant," but since he was a person who never hated Merlin, I don't know if he wasn't happy that he didn't say "don't get involved," "I understand," I nodded with a very happy smile.

Killua's expression was a bit sullen, glaring at Gon as he finished the little bit of soup left in the bowl, wondering if he would "hurry up"? Contact】 on him?'' he said.

Killua, who was on the side, was a bit annoyed by Gon's reaction to Biscuit, and gave a wry smile.

"Sora, what's special about this flower?"

"Hm~, was interfering here a thing of the past?... No, if he hadn't been imprisoned in Avalon, then I wouldn't have needed to go over. Right?"

If it weren't a dream, the name in the Binder would be enough. Ask Sora.

It really was only to a certain extent.

And Sora, with a bit of Aura in his eyes, looked at the Belladonna, guessed Merlin's intention, and stood up to take it.

It was a flower with a faint scent.

Since it was something Merlin handed over, it was within my expectations. From the beginning, even if I hadn't "stuck" the flower, I could see the lines and points. I just received it.

"Nice to meet you. Apprentice of the magician, Sora-Shichiri."

Not until I grabbed the other's right hand and the other's Finger were intertwined did I realize "that" was not a flower.

Just like a so-called lover's knot, he placed his palm on Sora's palm, intertwined his fingers with his own small hand to catch it, and the wooden horse smiled like a flower.

I couldn't get rid of that hand.

Even for Sora, who had an avoidance reaction similar to Fortune Telling and was constantly sketching countless death illusions in his mind, if he suddenly appeared, even without showing any hostility toward him, it would be impossible to be caught. That much was a reflex. I should have been able to get rid of it, but Sora couldn't.

The moment he held that hand, the moment Merlin appeared, the world was repainted.

Trapped in a field of flowers between reality and the Dream World, I almost fell to the ground, my legs weak, and could only stare at Merlin holding me.

Merlin was far from sky-blue, but continued to smile, holding Sora in his arms and supporting him, even though he stared at her with eyes that had suddenly turned azure.

Among them, he understood the non-standard creature named "Merlin" better than anyone else, understanding that the other party was almost a mythical inhabitant, but he felt sympathy for the incautious Sora.

It was just a compassionate smile, like looking at a small child.

The foolishness taken for granted, the infinitely distant compassionate smile was directed not only at Sora, but also at Gon, who was speechless because he could not accept the sudden reality.

He spoke with pity and deep gratitude.

"Kun-kun. The flower language of Belladonna is—"

Words I could not tell you in the dream, because there is not much time left.

I think the language of flowers is perfect for me, so that I can introduce myself.

"—'The charm of a deceiver.'

Thank you. Thanks to you, I have finally reached this step."

Mother told Gon that he was truly grateful to Gon, he was very pure and happy.