Magic Academy's Genius Blinker - Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Stella Magic Knights⑴

[Magician Daily]

[The Return of the Magic-Eating Calavin…]

[Why Did the Psycho Killer Target Stella’s Cadets?]

[The Mage Killer Who Disappeared 10 Years Ago Reappears as a Dark Mage!]

A photo taken by a journalist during the attack on Baek Yu-seol’s group created a major controversy.

It vividly captured the scene of the psycho killer, who had become a Dark Mage, tearing through the train and attacking Stella’s cadets!

The Stella cadets leaping out of the half-destroyed train and being chased by two Dark Mages.

If not for the life-threatening situation, it was an image beautiful and artistic enough to serve as a musical poster.

This image generated numerous rumors and debates.

T h i s wa s c o p i e d f r o m k i n g m tl . o r g
[How Did Stella’s Cadets Survive?]

[Not Even the Killer Calavin Could Hunt Down Stella!]

The legendary Magic-Eating Calavin had a history of killing numerous mages even before becoming a Dark Mage. For him to reappear as a Dark Mage after 10 years and yet fail to hunt down even seventeen-year-old boys…

If killers had a ‘career,’ this incident would have severely tarnished Calavin’s.

Regardless of Calavin’s embarrassment, the magical society was on high alert.

Losing Calavin after failing to capture him was one of the biggest black marks on the Magical Escort Battalion’s history, and just as it was about to be forgotten, he reappeared.

Even though he failed the Stella hunt, being a killer who had hunted numerous Magic Warriors meant the magical society had to tense up again.

…For Stella’s cadets, however, this was still a distant issue.

A week had already passed since the incident, and the students were busy living their own lives.

Sunday morning.

Even for the elite of the prestigious Stella Academy, a bit of a lie-in was allowed on this one day of the week.

There was a girl who had spent a night together with the dusk fading and the dawn emerging.

Hong Bi-yeon Adolevit.
Th is wa s c o p ie d f r o m k i n g m t l . o rg

She fought to keep her eyes open as she put the final dot on her thesis.

‘It’s done.’

Although her mind was hazy and her body lacked strength to cheer, a deep sense of joy and fulfillment welled up in her heart.

Hong Bi-yeon raised her hand and cast a spell based on the thesis she had written.

…Bang!

Though the size was as small as a candle flame, it sounded like a small bomb exploding. The manifestation of the spell was more like an explosion than a blooming flame.

This was the result of the idea that flashed in her mind after hearing Baek Yu-seol say “that’s not like you” two weeks ago, turned into a thesis.

‘It’s a success…’

Up until now, she had tried her best to control magic, and that part would not change.

However… the essence of fire-type magic is ultimately explosive power.

Recalling this, Hong Bi-yeon completely abandoned the ‘control’ of flames and focused solely on firepower.

T h i s w a s c o pi e d f r om k i n g m t l. o r g
And, quite coincidentally.

Just as dwarves had discovered gunpowder in ancient times and developed the curious thing called a bomb, Hong Bi-yeon had developed an attribute change that could be called ‘magical gunpowder.’

Although it lacked control, it could produce incredibly powerful flames with a very small amount of mana.

Truly

It was an original magic, more fittingly Hong Bi-yeon than any other magic.

Magic that she solved on her own without anyone’s help.

Hong Bi-yeon smirked as she stood up, holding her precious thesis close to her chest.

Now, the only thing left was to present it properly at the Aslan Seminar.

As she packed her writing tools and was about to leave the library, she noticed a familiar figure in the corner.

Aiselle was lying face-down on the desk, not moving an inch, like a corpse.

Hong Bi-yeon was about to pass by indifferently but glanced at the thesis in front of Aiselle.
T h is w a s c opi e d f r o m k i n g m t l . o rg

It looked like Aiselle still hadn’t finished the thesis to present at the Aslan Seminar.

Feeling a strange sense of victory, Hong Bi-yeon became even more elated and, despite the fatigue weighing down her body, she could return to her dormitory with a light step.

* * *

After finishing breakfast, Hong Bi-yeon headed to the professor’s office in the First Main Tower. She was eager to submit her thesis as soon as possible.

“In such a short time…”

When she submitted it to the unfortunate staff member working even on the weekend, he widened his eyes in surprise, astonished that she had written a new thesis in just two weeks.

Feeling another surge of superiority, Hong Bi-yeon brushed back her hair and slightly lifted her chin.

“Make sure to review it properly.”

“Yes, ma’am…! I will report it to the professor immediately.”

After submitting it neatly, she left the professor’s office and, confirming that no one was around, stretched.

“Haah…”

It felt refreshing.

She had no hobbies, didn’t enjoy leisure activities, and even lacked a sense of taste, having no joy in life, but today, it felt like all her stress had been washed away.

So, she was about to go back happily.

“Oh, fancy meeting you here.”

She ran into Hong Si-hwa as she was passing by the professor’s office.

“You seem busy even on weekends? Ah, didn’t you have something important recently?”
T h i s w a s co p i e d fr o m k in g m tl . o r g

Beside her was Sa Yelan Orkan, a third-year senior and a member of Hong Si-hwa’s faction.

The Orkan family, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Duke Atalek family, one of the two major powers of the Adolevit Kingdom.

Sa Yelan, with her lifeless eyes, looked almost like a corpse, with her pale skin and expression, often called a ‘living doll.’

“…Yes. What brings you here?”

“I’ve been busy preparing for the Aslan Seminar~ Did you know? I’m a spectator too! Oh, I can watch my little sister’s presentation up close? I’m so excited! Our Bi-yeon, are you preparing well for the seminar?”

Brazen and disgusting.

It was astonishing how she could say such things so shamelessly after causing this situation.

But…

It didn’t matter at all.

Rather, a smile spread across her face.

If she hadn’t completed her thesis, she might have been furious with a deep sense of defeat, but thanks to Hong Si-hwa ruining her previous thesis, she managed to develop her original magic.

“Yes. I’ve prepared well, so you can look forward to it.”

“…Really? You’ve prepared well?”

When Hong Bi-yeon said that with a smile, Hong Si-hwa was momentarily taken aback.

‘This isn’t right?’

At this point, Hong Bi-yeon should be burying her head in her bed, crying helplessly, but why was she so confident?

Feeling slight unease since it wasn’t the reaction she wanted, she reminded herself that Hong Bi-yeon was still Hong Bi-yeon.

No matter how hard she tried, Hong Bi-yeon’s dimwitted brain couldn’t possibly write a new thesis in two weeks. Even she would find it difficult.

“Right, our cute little sister~ If you lack talent, you should at least work hard! Good luck~”

Hong Si-hwa hummed a tune and led Sa Yelan to the Main Tower.

‘How is that even a princess…’

It was pathetic.

But… she felt even better.

Knowing Hong Si-hwa would be a spectator at Aslan. Imagining Hong Si-hwa’s face crumbling as she presented an even better thesis made her happy already.

Anyway, she was starting to feel heavy-eyed. Having stayed up all night for several days, she felt all the fatigue hitting her at once.

Though she wasn’t usually a fan of morning naps, she thought she might really collapse if she didn’t take a nap and hurried to her dormitory.

Meanwhile, she happened to see a scene.

“No, you’re doing it wrong. Why do you keep applying the theory wrong for the spell you created?”

“Argh! It’s so frustrating! Who even created this stupid spell?”

T h i s was c o p i e d f r om k ing m tl. o r g
“You did…”

Baek Yu-seol and Aiselle were sitting on a park bench, heads together, working on something busily.

He was seriously reviewing her thesis.

“The seminar is next week. What if you still haven’t finished it?”

“Ugh, damn it. Stop talking. It’s making me feel worse. I didn’t know I was so weak in theory.”

“Study more.”

“…I’m actually top-tier in theory, you know?”

“Yeah. I’m number one. Shut up and study.”

“Ugh! It’s so annoying! Hearing it from the number one makes it worse…”

Hong Bi-yeon glanced at them and turned away. She didn’t want to pass by them.

‘Pathetic.’

Asking for help because she couldn’t solve her thesis on her own. She had solved hers without much help from Baek Yu-seol.
T h i s w as c opie d f r om ki ng mtl.o r g

Proof that she was superior to Aiselle.

…So she thought.

But the good mood she had earlier disappeared, replaced by a strange surge of irritation.

* * *

T h i s w as co pie d f r o m k i n g m tl . or g
Since the dungeon exploration, I had more things to do with Hae Wonryang. Our relationship hadn’t suddenly gotten closer.

It just happened due to circumstances.

“Fool. That’s not how you handle that equipment.”

“…Oh, really?”

I sighed as I fumbled with a magical tool resembling a modern microscope.

Though I was theoretically proficient thanks to the Bulbul Glasses, I was inevitably lacking in handling actual magical tools.

Luckily, the excuse that I was a commoner and hadn’t had the chance to handle magical tools worked, but Hae Wonryang didn’t seem to buy it.

“Do it again.”

“Damn it. You do it then!”

“We agreed to divide our roles and not interfere with each other, didn’t we?”

“I said I’d handle the theory.”

“Looking at you, I don’t think you’re better than me.”

“Damn it.”

Reluctantly, I tried operating the magical tool again, but Hae Wonryang’s expression remained icy. His face seemed to say, ‘I can’t believe I have to do a group project with this idiot.’

Group project.

Yes, a group project.

Hae Wonryang had very few friends, and I was the same.

So, whenever a group project came up, we were always randomly paired, and unfortunately, we ended up doing a group project together in the ‘History and Understanding of Magical Tools’ class.

Despite the grumbling, the class ended, and the magical tool worked correctly, so I managed to catch my breath. Though Hae Wonryang constantly nagged, unsatisfied.

Anyway, to avoid seeing his face any longer, I quickly got up and headed out, running into Flame in the hallway.

She was dressed in gym clothes, clutching a basketball under her arm, chatting with some boys. When she saw me, she waved.

“Oh, Baek Yu-seol. What are you doing?”

“Busy.”

“Going for a nap?”

How did she know?

“Wanna play basketball?”

“Too bothersome…”

“Oh, come on. Let’s go. The basketball club boys are getting cocky. We need to put them in their place.”

“What club are you in?”

“Healing Camp.”
Th i s was c o p i e d f r o m ki n g m t l.o rg

A basketball match between the Healing Camp and the Basketball Club…

That’s interesting.

“So, are you in or not?”

Flame watched me with a friendly smile.

Since her contract dating ended, a few days had passed.

Flame told others that ‘we’ve become friends again’ and treated me as usual.

Honestly, it wasn’t awkward for me either, so I went along with it.

We weren’t actually dating, and we had planned to return to normal after some time.

But watching others feeling awkward made me laugh.

“Well, okay… just a bit.”

“Great! We win.”

Watching Flame clench her fist, I heard a chilling voice from behind.

“…Baek Yu-seol. Instead of thinking about playing, learn how to use the magical tool properly by next class.”

“Oh, uh… yeah, sure.”

Hae Wonryang said and walked to the other end of the hallway. It felt like facing a real murderous aura, more than a Dark Mage, sending chills down my spine.

“Anyway, go change quickly.”

Pushed by Flame’s insistence, I reluctantly changed into gym clothes.

“Sigh, so bothersome…”

I thought I’d never play ball again after my military service, but here I was, doing it at Stella.

‘Life is unpredictable.’

I leisurely headed to the gym in my gym clothes… but the atmosphere was off.

“What? You can’t use it now?”

Nine first-year Stella cadets in gym clothes… surrounded by burly men.

The men were wearing neatly matched white uniforms with ‘Stella Magic Knights Academy’ written on them, exuding an overwhelming presence.

‘Magic Knights Academy…’

Come to think of it, there was such a thing. It appeared in an episode, so I was aware of it.

Unlike regular Stella Magic Warrior cadets, they underwent additional education after graduating to join the ‘Stella Magic Knights’… akin to graduate students.

Having been admitted to the Stella Magic Knights Academy, they were likely top performers during their academy days.

More importantly, they stayed within Stella, whereas other graduates scattered to various kingdoms or Magic Towers, making them slightly better treated than regular cadets.

For example…

“We have a small sports event at the academy today, so leave. You can use another gym, right?”

“But this is the first-year exclusive gym.”

“That doesn’t matter. We’ve decided to use it.”

Such things.

“Ha, this is…”

Flame glared at them with fiery eyes.

If she really caused a scene, they might regain the gym, but the other cadets didn’t seem keen on that.

Both the Basketball Club and Healing Camp were essentially clubs of commoners who didn’t want to provoke the elite Magic Knights cadets.

Well, it was a bit pitiful…

But for me, who found basketball bothersome, it was actually beneficial.

“Oh, Baek Yu-seol.”
T hi s w as co p i e d fr o m k i n gm t l . o r g

Flame, who noticed me late, looked at me with a tearful face, hoping I’d do something, but unfortunately, I had no intention of intervening.

If the Magic Knights cadets were using it, what could we do?

Wouldn’t it be better to take a nap?

End of Chapter