Man's Way!

As Merlin spoke calmly, Yol's heart suddenly filled with dread.

Through her empathy, Yol tried to understand the event, but the result was that she herself could not accept such a situation.

Unconsciously, her heart began to pity the unknown Marine.

Unconsciously, her heart grew more urgent, and a seed called decisiveness took root and sprouted deep within.

Merlin turned his head to look at Yol, his gaze gentle as he said:

"Yol, you must understand that people are different. Some are born kind, while others are born evil.

I won't force you to get used to things or do things you don't want to do.

If something like this happens again in the future, you can tell me. Cherishing life is not a weakness. If you can't bear to do it, you can tell me.

I will send them to hell, and you only need to pray for them and bid them farewell."

Looking at Merlin's gentle, understanding voice, Yol's heart began to pound uncontrollably.

Her body also grew warm. Yol slowly lowered her head, but she couldn't see her toes. She felt a little embarrassed:

"This isn't right! I can't push all this sin onto you. If someone has to go to hell, I don't want you to go alone."

Merlin's mouth twitched, and he said exasperatedly, "Are you cursing me to die?"

He turned sideways and pressed down on her head, then patted it. Yol's hair was messed up, and she shook her head in dissatisfaction, saying helplessly:

"You've messed up my hair."

Merlin pouted, and his right hand, which had been on her head, moved to her shoulder.

After patting her twice, Yol tilted her head and looked at him curiously. Merlin smiled and said:

"A long time ago, I read a very special poem. Do you know what it is?"

Yol rolled her eyes at Merlin and then retorted, "How would I know if you don't tell me?"

"Killing one is a sin," Merlin said in a low voice, his gaze calm as he slowly spoke:

"Slaughtering ten thousand is heroism. Slaughtering ninety million makes one a hero among heroes."

Yol listened quietly as Merlin finished this passage. Her eyes unconsciously became a little dazed, and she felt as if she saw a scene of bloody slaughter before her.

"Killing one is a sin, slaughtering ten thousand is heroism?" Yol murmured.

Merlin gave a faint smile:

"This line can be said to be the most essential part of the entire poem."

"Then what is the full poem?"

"Man's Way. A man should kill..."

Merlin made some minor edits and then slowly recited the poem he had memorized during his chuunibyo phase in his past life.

Yol listened to Merlin's words, which were filled with killing. Her heart trembled, feeling as if she were facing a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

But while trembling, a unique sense of heroism, through her empathy, allowed her to experience the poem's bold spirit.

It wasn't aimless slaughter, but an indescribable justification, like righteous killing, like responsible killing.

Gradually, Yol's mind became immersed in it, and she gained her own understanding of killing.

After a long while, as Merlin finished speaking.

Yol's gaze gradually calmed from confusion. She looked at Merlin, but her words were intertwined with a complex emotion:

"I understand! Thank you."

Merlin looked at her, slightly bewildered.

Wait, sister, what do you understand?

Yol's lips curved slightly, with a unique gentleness, "I shouldn't dwell on the superficial act of killing. Killing is also for the sake of protecting life.

To stop killing with killing!

For the sake of protection, killing is also a form of release for each other. As long as my conscience is clear about my killings, it's fine.

As long as it doesn't violate my own sense of justice, then what does killing matter?

I will pray for them properly after I kill them."

Merlin looked at Yol in surprise. This sister's comprehension was quite good. Yol gave Merlin a helpless, exasperated look:

"I'm not an idiot. I just needed a reason to kill.

And now I have that reason.

So thank you, Merlin."

At this point, Yol asked curiously, "The theme of this poem is profound. It's a masterpiece that should be passed down through the ages, but why have I never heard even a single word of it before?"

A hint of melancholy flashed in Merlin's eyes, but it quickly disappeared. He smiled and said:

"The person who wrote this poem is very, very far from us, farther than the stars in the sky.

And he did not leave his works in this world. I obtained this poem through a chance encounter."

Yol's eyes showed regret. "What a shame. If he were still around, this poem would surely be widely acclaimed."

"No," she quickly added. "It's better if it's not. If some people misunderstand it, this poem could be used to incite others to wanton slaughter."

Merlin could tell Yol had misunderstood something, but he had no intention of correcting her.

It was just a beautiful misunderstanding.

Yol looked out at the vast, distant sea. The fiery sun had completely sunk into it, turning the ocean a deep crimson, as if it were a harbinger of something.

Taking a deep breath, Yol thought of a suspicion that had been weighing on her mind for the past two days. She looked at Merlin and asked, "Are you planning to go find those people from the Don Quixote Family?"

Merlin raised an eyebrow, curious. "Why do you say that?"

Yol sighed. "Don't underestimate a woman's intuition. Ever since you saw those bounty posters the other day, I had a feeling you were very interested in them.

Coupled with the issue you mentioned earlier about the Rockheart Kendo Dojo, I've formed a guess.

Are you really going there?"

Merlin thought for a moment and said, "I haven't decided yet. I'll take it one step at a time!"

Yol's eyes showed helplessness. She had to change her approach. "If you do go, will you take us with you?"

Merlin: "..."

Yol fell silent. Then, Merlin spoke. "It's not a suitable place for you. They are a group of wicked individuals. I don't think you'd like to be around them. Besides, my intentions aren't pure, so it's not ideal to bring you along."

Yol blinked. "Even if you go there, will you eventually leave them?"

Hearing this, Merlin's expression became somewhat unreadable. He then retorted, "Do you think I'm the kind of person who would willingly submit to others?"

However, Merlin shook his head and chuckled. "Alright, let's not talk about them. It's not even certain if I'll go!"

"What we need to consider now is, once we get to Sea Swallow Island, whether we should buy a house or rent one."

With helplessness in her eyes, Yol sighed softly, realizing she hadn't gotten any concrete answers. "Are you planning to settle on Sea Swallow Island long-term? If not, then we should rent."

Merlin smiled. "Let's buy a house! I earned twenty million Belly this time, which is enough to buy a decent house there."

"Ah?" Yol exclaimed in surprise. Merlin then told her the source of the Belly.

After hearing it, Yol was happy for Merlin's gains, but at the same time, she felt a sense of helplessness. "All my expenses, from food and clothing to housing and transportation, are all paid for by you. I feel like I'm being kept by you."

As she said this, Yol secretly glanced at Merlin. Merlin looked out at the distant sea and said with a light chuckle, "If being kept is what you call it, then so be it. You're the only ones I'm close to. Living with you makes me feel at ease. Besides, I trust you. We're like family."

Yol looked at Merlin with gentle eyes. She reached out her right hand and slowly placed it on Merlin's head, stroking it. She smiled tenderly and said, "Yes, we are family. From now on, I'll take care of your and Lami's daily lives! I'll learn to take care of you like a mother would."

Merlin immediately slapped her hand away with annoyance. "Shameless! Always trying to take advantage of me."

Hearing this, Yol burst into cheerful laughter, her curvaceous figure swaying rhythmically. It was quite a dazzling sight.

A smile touched Yol's lips. She reached out and pinched Merlin's cheek, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Then who was it that called me 'nun mother' when they were six years old?"

Merlin's mouth twitched. He couldn't help but recall the time he was six and first went to the Church. He met Yol, who was twelve and already five-foot-three, dressed as a nun. He got lost inside the Church and saw her with her back to him. Out of politeness, he asked for directions and called her "nun mother." Yol immediately grabbed him and proceeded to pinch and torment his face, clearly displeased. Merlin was too small to break free from her strong grip. Eventually, his crying attracted the wet nurse who later adopted him, saving him. This incident, along with the collision and merging of his memories from two lives, brought back many blurry childhood memories with clarity. He also remembered why, despite her constant care when he was in the Church, he always avoided her. At that moment, Merlin glared at Yol and grabbed her left cheek, saying with a forced smile:

"How dare you say that? I clearly remember how you treated me back then! Shameless, freakishly strong woman."

Yol's eye twitched. She grabbed Merlin's cheek in return, her gaze unfriendly.

"You think I forgot? Back then, I was just a novice nun. I'd just been severely scolded for doing something wrong, and then some little shrimp rushed up and yelled 'Sister Mother' at me?

Don't you know that's a title only senior nuns can be called?

And you threw a tantrum, making the wet nurse come over and scold me again?

You were lucky, Lucia took you home. But I was miserable, I was punished by standing for two hours that night!

It was winter. It was very cold."

Merlin bared his teeth and glared furiously, while Yol glared back with wide, bared teeth.

Just then, Lami walked out, curiosity in her eyes, and asked softly, "What are you two playing? A face-pulling game? Or... are you fighting?"

Merlin immediately glared at Yol, releasing her hand. Yol, not to be outdone, continued to glare back, muttering, "This isn't over, I'll remember this for the rest of my life."

Merlin was speechless. "Well, if you're so resentful, why did you take such good care of me back then?"

Merlin was referring to the time after he became an orphan.

Yol: "..."