While walking through a quiet street, Merslin heard a familiar voice calling his name.
"Merslin, have you heard about the Hangul Magic Research Institute?"
Elena's expression was a mix of amusement and concern.
Merslin tilted his head curiously.
"The what?"
She sighed.
"The mages of this world have set up a research institute to study your magic. The royal court and the Mage Academy are funding it together, trying to analyze and replicate your spells."
Merslin smirked.
"Interesting. But magic isn't something you can perfect just by imitation… Still, this could be fun to watch."
Deciding to see for themselves, Merslin and Elena headed toward the tower-shaped institute. Inside, dozens of mages were poring over scrolls, meticulously studying Merslin's magic.
One researcher's eyes widened upon seeing him.
"Oh! You're finally here, Mage Merslin! We've been studying your Hangul Magic!"
The tables were cluttered with scrolls titled "Analysis of Hangul Incantations."
One of the mages stepped forward, beaming with excitement.
"We've already broken down your spells and even tested them ourselves!"
He raised his hand and recited a spell.
"불꽃이여, 하늘을태워라! (Blaze, set the sky aflame!)
A small flame flickered in the air… only to fizzle out pathetically.
The researchers frowned in confusion.
"Huh? But we followed the incantation exactly—why is the effect so weak?"
Merslin crossed his arms, his smirk widening.
"You thought you analyzed my magic correctly… but you missed a few things."
He lifted his hand and spoke the same incantation.
"불꽃이여, 하늘을태워라!"
A massive inferno erupted, scorching the ceiling, causing the mages to stumble back in shock.
One of them stammered.
"W-We said the same thing… Why is your spell so much stronger?"
Merslin chuckled.
"You made a few mistakes."
He picked up their research scrolls, scanning them with an amused look.
"First of all, your pronunciation is wrong."
He pointed to their handwritten transcription of his spell.
"You wrote this as: 'Bul-koch-i-yeo, ha-neul-eul tae-yu-eo-ra…'"
Merslin's expression was utterly unimpressed.
"…What the hell is this?"
The researchers shifted awkwardly.
"Uh… Korean pronunciation is difficult, so we did our best to approximate it…"
Merslin sighed, shaking his head.
"Listen. Magic is not just words—it's intent, precision, and harmony. Even a slight deviation in pronunciation disrupts the incantation's power."
Another researcher protested.
"But the meaning is the same, right? 'Blaze, set the sky aflame!' should work regardless of slight pronunciation errors."
Merslin smirked and waved a finger.
"Which brings me to your second mistake."
He pointed at another transcription.
"You changed the word order. Korean sentence structure is crucial.
'불꽃이여, 하늘을태워라!' (Blaze, set the sky aflame!) and '하늘을태우는불꽃이여!' (Flame that burns the sky!) may sound similar, but their magical function is completely different."
To prove his point, he gestured to a test target in the lab.
"Try using the incorrect phrase."
A researcher hesitantly recited,
"하늘을태우는불꽃이여!"
A weak flame appeared… and veered off course, nearly setting another researcher's hair on fire.
"Agh!"
"W-Whoops, sorry!"
Merslin smirked.
"See? Changing word order alters the entire nature of the spell."
The researchers groaned in frustration, realizing how complex Hangul Magic truly was.
One of them sighed.
"So… we'll never be able to use Hangul Magic like you?"
Merslin shook his head.
"Not necessarily. With decades of study, you might get close. But…"
He extended his hand and unleashed another incantation.
*"불꽃이여, 태양처럼 타올라라!" (Blaze, rise like the sun!)
A colossal sphere of fire ignited, illuminating the entire lab. The mages gasped in awe.
Merslin smirked, watching them reel back.
"Even if you study for years… I'll always be ahead."
The researchers sighed in defeat.
As Merslin left the institute, Elena chuckled.
"Merslin, you'll always remain a mystery to them."
He simply shrugged.
"Let them try. They won't catch up anytime soon."
*******
The Rising Fame of Merslin
With Merslin now being recognized as the legendary savior, many people began to gather around him. Among them, numerous women attempted to approach him, drawn by his charm and reputation. However, this attention only brought confusion to Merslin. His relationship with Elena became unstable, but he soon realized his true feelings and resolved to remain devoted to her. Meanwhile, Lisa, Serena, and Aria played crucial roles in supporting him.
One evening, Merslin was invited to a royal banquet. At the grand hall of the palace, he was surrounded by nobles and mages. Among them, many women sought to engage with him.
"Merslin, I'm always in awe whenever I hear about your achievements. Would you care for a dance?" a woman asked him in a soft, alluring voice.
Merslin smiled, intending to politely refuse, but the woman persistently held onto his arm. Just then, Elena approached, swiftly intervening as she pulled Merslin away.
"Merslin, what are you doing here? Let's go somewhere else and talk," she said firmly.
Merslin followed Elena, feeling a storm of emotions within him. "Elena, all this attention is overwhelming… but I trust you."
Elena squeezed his hand tightly. "Merslin, I trust you too. And you must trust me as well. What we have is real."
At that moment, Lisa, Serena, and Aria joined them. Lisa spoke first. "Merslin, trust Elena. She's the one who truly understands and belongs by your side."
Serena nodded. "Yeah, and we're here to help. We'll keep all these other women away from you."
Aria blushed slightly before adding, "Honestly… we've all liked you at some point, but we know how important your relationship with Elena is. We'll protect it for you."
Lisa wrapped her arms around Serena and Aria's shoulders. "Let's all stick together and make it through this banquet. If we stand united, we can handle anything."
Merslin, deeply touched, smiled warmly. "Thank you, everyone. I feel so lucky to have you all."
Hand in hand, they walked through the banquet hall. Though many women continued to show interest in Merslin, Lisa, Serena, and Aria ensured that none got too close. With Elena by his side, Merslin enjoyed the evening, his feelings for her becoming even more certain.
"Elena, I feel happiest when I'm with you. I'll protect what we have," Merslin declared.
Elena smiled, her eyes full of warmth. "I feel the same, Merslin. As long as we're together, we can overcome anything."
After the banquet, Merslin and his companions reaffirmed their bonds and prepared for the challenges ahead. With his position more solidified than ever, he continued to safeguard the peace and stability of Luminaria.