The young knight standing before Merlin was none other than Argus, who had once accompanied Old Wilson from Blackwater City to the Kingdom of Blackmoon. Back then, Argus had been an ordinary knight, lacking even the qualifications to be a heavy-armored knight or elemental warrior. But as Merlin looked at him now, he saw that Argus had grown into a strong, well-built man, almost as if he had undergone a second growth spurt, now possessing the physique and strength of a peak-level first-grade elemental warrior.
Merlin immediately guessed that Old Wilson must have taught Argus the unique postures from the mysterious stone carving, which had helped him build his impressive physical strength.
Seeing Merlin reveal his face from under the black hood, Argus's voice shook with excitement. "Baron… Baron Merlin? Is it really you?"
Merlin nodded. "Yes, it's me. I've come home. Let's go inside together."
Merlin led Argus into the castle.
Inside the hall, the maids had gathered with young Celia and Constantine, having already explained Merlin's identity to the two younger maids, who had joined the Wilson Castle after Merlin's departure. They bowed respectfully, saying, "Welcome back, my lord!"
Merlin waved a hand dismissively, focusing his attention on Celia and Constantine. The two little ones looked at him with wide, curious eyes, unafraid of the unfamiliar figure before them.
Merlin gently picked up Celia and Constantine, who didn't fuss, reaching out instead to tug curiously at Merlin's black robe.
As Merlin held his children, he felt a warm, gentle feeling in his heart—not overwhelming, but a quiet sense of peace. Celia and Constantine were his most tangible ties to this world, their lives a continuation of his own.
"Merlin!"
A pair of familiar voices called out as two beautiful women hurried down from the second floor. It was Merlin's wives, Shelly and Avril.
Shelly hadn't changed much, while Avril, a bit younger, had grown into her fuller figure over the past year. Her once doll-like face had matured, now carrying an allure of a woman in her prime.
Merlin put down Celia and Constantine, a warm smile spreading across his face as he walked over. "Yes, I'm back."
Shelly and Avril, overjoyed, rushed to his side and each took one of the children in their arms.
Avril, though visibly excited, stayed reserved, her gaze lingering on Merlin, clearly full of questions but holding them back. Shelly, always the bolder of the two, spoke first. "Merlin, in your letter, you said it might be two or three years before you returned."
Merlin shook his head with a hint of regret. "There was a bit of upheaval in the Dark Spirit Domain, so I returned earlier than expected, but I may need to leave again at some point."
He then inquired about Celia and Constantine, and as the conversation turned to the children, even Avril, typically shy, couldn't stop herself from excitedly talking about them.
As he listened to his wives' stories and watched his children play, Merlin felt a sense of warmth wash over him, bringing a rare relaxation that only home could provide. They continued talking, laughing, and enjoying their time together. The maids, noticing this, tactfully withdrew, leaving the family to their privacy.
After a while, Merlin asked about Old Wilson.
"Where is Father? Still at the estate?"
Shelly nodded. "Yes, he's been overseeing things in Constantine Town. But lately, due to rising tensions with the nearby city-state of Labis, many merchants have stopped coming, and tax revenue has dropped by at least thirty percent these past few months."
Her face showed a trace of concern. Old Wilson had been managing the estate alone in Merlin's absence, while Shelly, with the help of the old steward, had taken over the castle's daily affairs. Thanks to her capable management, everything had remained in good order, though the declining tax revenue worried her.
"Labis?" Merlin recalled the suspicious elemental warriors he had encountered on his way back and guessed they were likely scouts from Labis.
"What's going on?"
Shelly shook her head. "I don't know the specifics, but only Count Selin might know the real reason. Tensions have been building for months, and even the count has recruited additional spellcasters, seemingly preparing for conflict."
Avril nodded, adding in a quiet voice, "Yes, after you left, the count brought in two more spellcasters, including a certain Bellis…"
Shelly interrupted, "Avril!"
Merlin frowned, noticing Avril's nervous glance at Shelly. Understanding the power Shelly now held in the household, Merlin's expression softened, turning to Shelly. "Go on, Shelly. Tell me what's going on."
Shelly hesitated, but seeing the intensity in Merlin's gaze, she relented. "It happened about three months ago. Count Selin recruited a spellcaster named Bellis, who somehow heard that you defeated Merrilon from the Abyssal Fortress and obtained his ring. Bellis made several attempts to enter Wilson Castle, but we denied him access each time. Eventually, he tried to force his way in, likely believing you had left something valuable here. Luckily, Hil the mage arrived just in time to scare him off…"
A flicker of cold intent passed through Merlin's eyes as he asked, "Did he harm either of you?"
Shelly and Avril shook their heads. "No, we're unharmed. Hil did a lot to keep us safe, but I heard he hasn't been doing well recently and hasn't appeared in public."
Merlin nodded, remembering that he had asked the black-robed elder, Hil, to look after the Wilson family. Without his intervention, the castle might not have remained so peaceful. However, he was aware of Hil's fragile health and the toll defending the castle might have taken on him.
"So, Bellis… It seems I owe Hil yet another debt. Well, as long as you're both safe. Enough of these troubling matters—let me enjoy some time with Celia and Constantine…"
With a smile, Merlin turned his attention back to the children, and soon he, Shelly, and Avril were laughing and playing with them, filling the hall with the sounds of joy and family warmth.
***
Meanwhile, at the Count's castle, a guard was delivering the news of Merlin's return to Count Selin.
The count's face lit up with delight. "You're certain? You saw him clearly?"
The guard nodded solemnly. "Yes, it was indeed Baron Merlin. I'm certain of it."
"Haha, excellent news! With Merlin back, we have a powerful ally in these troubled times!" For Count Selin, who had been troubled over the Labis situation, Merlin's return was the best news he'd had in months.
"Oh? This Merlin… he's the one who defeated Merrilon from the Abyssal Fortress and protected the castle before?" asked a man standing beside the count, his voice tinged with excitement.
Count Selin nodded, smiling. "That's right—he's now a baron in Pugasi. Bellis, you mentioned wanting to meet him. Now's your chance; I'll have him brought here immediately."
With that, Count Selin dispatched a few guards to invite Merlin to the castle.
"Yes," Bellis murmured with a gleam of anticipation in his eye, "I'm quite eager to meet this Merlin."
***
Back at Wilson Castle, Argus, looking sturdier than ever, entered the hall and respectfully announced, "My lord, there are guards outside. They say Count Selin has sent them to invite you to the castle."
The cheerful expressions on Shelly and Avril's faces faded slightly as they looked at Merlin, worry crossing their features.
Merlin stood, his expression calm yet cold. "Since the count requests it, I'll go. It's time I paid him a visit anyway."
He straightened, his aura subtly darkening as he made his way out of the castle to follow the guards to Count Selin's estate.