Magic Academy's Genius Blinker - Chapter 140

Chapter 140

Summer Vacation (4)

Second Main Tower, Lee Han-wol’s Office.

“A trip, huh…”

Instructor Lee Han-wol looked at the children holding out travel applications with a peculiar expression.

Princess Hong Bi-yeon, Grand Duchess Aiselle, and Flame.

Three girls who didn’t seem to match at all suddenly wanted to go on a trip together. Honestly, who wouldn’t be curious?

“Is it not allowed?”

“It’s not that.”

There was no particular reason to refuse.

It was summer vacation, after all.

“It’s a week-long trip. Where are you planning to go?”

“The Diamond Coast of Laplati Island. It’s famous for being a resort, isn’t it?”

“Ah, right… but isn’t it more famous as a hunting ground? Don’t tell me you plan to pretend to be adults?”

Flame flinched at Lee Han-wol’s words. She had just blurted out the name of a famous resort she heard from the original story, not knowing such a backstory.

“Ehe, of course not.”

“Well, considering how famous your faces are, even if you wanted to hunt, it would be obvious you’re teenagers. Just don’t cause any unnecessary trouble.”

“Surfing and sunbathing! And grape juice instead of wine under the warm sun! We’ll do everything one can do at the beach and come back!”

Thud!

As soon as Lee Han-wol stamped the approval, the girls rushed out of the office.

“Phew. Who would have thought Laplati Island was a meeting place for men and women.”

“We’re teenagers; how would we know that…”

“Quite a few.”

Hong Bi-yeon answered.

When Flame and Aiselle stared at her, she coughed and explained.

“Some of my faction members bragged about pretending to be adults to go to the beach and attract the opposite sex.”

“Wow… there are people like that.”

“Ugh, kids are so impudent nowadays.”

“Flame, you talk like an adult.”

“I am mature mentally.”

“Oh… I see…”

As the conversation veered off-topic, Hong Bi-yeon cut it off sharply.

“Enough chit-chat. We’re leaving immediately, right?”

“Yes. There’s no reason to delay.”

“Then pack your things and meet at Warp Hall Gate 4.”

After saying that, Hong Bi-yeon coolly disappeared. Aiselle watched her back, then looked towards the Stella Dome from where cheers were rising.

Around this time… the tests to select participants for the School Competition should be taking place.

“Why? Are you disappointed?”

Noticing her expression, Flame asked slyly, but Aiselle shook her head with a bitter smile.

“I was looking forward to it, but there’s a priority to problems. There’s always next year to participate in such events.”

“True. But if we resolve our task as planned, we might still be able to watch the main event. I wonder who will represent our school.”

“Who knows…”

The School Competition was an event where mages could genuinely showcase their skills to the world, something Aiselle had been eagerly anticipating.

But now, it didn’t matter as much.

She had already succeeded in spreading the name ‘Morf’ through the Aslan Seminar, so she didn’t need to stake everything on the School Competition.

Even if she did, comparing the Constellatio Project to any other event was absurd.

“Anyway, if we want to enjoy the main event after returning, we must finish this task successfully.”

“Of course.”
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Nodding firmly, Aiselle turned to Flame, who patted her on the back affectionately.

“Alright, let’s go.”

* * *

Their journey was both smooth and not. Given their fame, it was bound to be tumultuous.

Laplati Island’s airship port.
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“Wow… that’s Princess Hong Bi-yeon.”

“She must be going on vacation…”

“I thought she was a model.”

Hong Bi-yeon, in a simple white dress, had one hand on a silver travel case and the other on her hip, peering somewhere in the distance from behind black sunglasses perched on her nose, as if saying, ‘Take my picture.’

As if understanding the telepathy, reporters clinging to her took pictures from various angles.

Of course, she enjoyed it. Knowing that her every move would be followed and become news, and that the dress she wore would become a trend among teenage girls, she had put thought into her simple white dress.

[Elegant because it’s not flashy, a fashion that highlights a brilliant appearance!]

[Exploring June’s fashion]

[Analyzing Princess Hong Bi-yeon’s fashion in detail!]

[Is the perfect fashion really just about the face?]

[Top 10 fashion styles ordinary people should not attempt]

Soon, this dress would become a global trend, and many girls would cry over not being able to wear it like Hong Bi-yeon.

“Phew… it’s so hot.”

Regardless, Flame didn’t care at all.

In blue hot pants, a blue cap, and a white tank top, her simple outfit perfectly showcased her good looks.

In contrast, Aiselle, nervous about the attention from all around, fiddled with her hair.

‘I should have dressed more carefully…’

Wearing capri pants and a sky-blue T-shirt, Aiselle felt envious of Hong Bi-yeon and Flame’s summery sense of style but pretended not to care.

The gazes didn’t bother her anymore. Though it was burdensome, Aiselle, who had lived under malicious stares, could handle this level of attention.

Soon after, the three girls boarded the airship and, without exchanging a word, opened their books.

Hong Bi-yeon read a celebrity magazine.

Flame read the June issue of This Month’s Trend.

Aiselle… read a philosophy book objectively summarizing the significant impact on civilization’s progress and historical flow from the development of magic from ancient civilizations.

‘Comfortable…’

Thanks to Hong Bi-yeon’s private funds, all three were in business class for the first time in Aiselle’s life, making everything feel new.

Except for the brief mistake when a flight attendant, mistaking Hong Bi-yeon for an adult, tried to serve wine, there was nothing to worry about.

‘This is the power of money and authority…’

Flame, having fallen asleep while reading her magazine, snored quietly, while Hong Bi-yeon elegantly gazed out the window despite the boredom.

Feeling like she was the only one burdened, Aiselle tried to lie back in her chair comfortably.

Though her body was comfortable, her mind was not, a fact she was unaware of.

After a long silence during the flight.

“Aiselle.”

Suddenly, Hong Bi-yeon called her.

Her voice was so natural that Aiselle almost didn’t realize her name had been called.

“Oh… yes?”

“What are you planning to do after saving that commoner?”

“What do you mean?”

Hong Bi-yeon turned from the window and met Aiselle’s blue eyes.

“Why are you so obsessed with that commoner’s life? What’s the reason?”

“That’s…

Aiselle hesitated, unable to answer, and Hong Bi-yeon, as if expecting it, spoke firmly.

“I intend to make that commoner… Baek Yu-seol, my person.”

“…What?”

Aiselle, shocked by the sudden declaration, couldn’t fully grasp it, her eyes wide.

“Make him your person? That means…”

“Literally. I will keep Baek Yu-seol by my side. By any means necessary.”

Aiselle understood that ‘any means necessary’ included a lot.

“I appreciate your effort to save Baek Yu-seol’s life. But this is the last time I act with you. If you hinder my goal… I won’t hesitate to completely exclude you.”

Aiselle lowered her trembling eyes.
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What should she say?

It was a kind of declaration of war.

‘This item is mine, so don’t touch and get lost.’

Why say that to her? Flame was right next to her.

Though her mind thought that way, her heart already understood.

Why?

It was obvious.

“…Do as you please.”

Raising her head, Aiselle stared piercingly into Hong Bi-yeon’s red eyes.
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“You’re free to try.”

Hong Bi-yeon smiled faintly and looked back out the window. Aiselle felt a surge of anger but noticed it was Hong Bi-yeon’s way of provoking her, so she suppressed it.

‘Damn it, just wait and see.’

* * *

A quiet cafe in Arcaneum.

The reasonable price of $5,000 for a cup of coffee was enough to captivate a few commoners’ hearts, including Baek Yu-seol.

Those who knew would know, but Baek Yu-seol was already rich. Quite wealthy, actually.

So, many people wondered why he frequented such cafes…

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There was no particular reason.

‘It’s too far to go elsewhere.’

When choosing a gym, even if it has perfect equipment and facilities, and excellent trainers, one should choose it based on proximity, so they can attend regularly.

Of course, Baek Yu-seol didn’t come to the cafe for training, but he enjoyed 30 minutes of coffee daily to truly relax.

This habit was from his time on Earth.

Despite training and school taking up much of his time at Stella, his life on Earth wasn’t much different.

For someone living a hectic reality, moments of respite came from coffee after lunch and gaming after work.

Since he couldn’t enjoy gaming here… he drank coffee as he used to in reality.

‘Ah, annoying.’

Recently, he couldn’t fully enjoy his leisure time. Despite lacking television or computers, ‘Magic Screen’ quickly uploaded newspapers and news, making the spread of issues fast.

Due to recent fame, the sharp gazes of lurking reporters in the cafe were burdensome. Some students openly stared, clearly there to gawk.

‘Exchange students, perhaps.’

But no one approached him directly, which was a relief.

“Excuse me…

Just as he thought that, someone approached.

Looking up, he saw a girl with pigtails fidgeting nervously.

“What is it? Want to give me a love letter?”

“N-No! That’s not it…”

“Hmm…”

Her uniform and appearance were unfamiliar.

Name, Anella…

Never heard of her.

He wanted to put on his glasses, but Anella handed him something first.

“Um… could you… give me an autograph?”

“…Autograph?”

Never had he received such a ridiculous request, but he realized it made sense.

After all, he had become famous.

‘Come to think of it, was there something like this in the original game…’

When a certain route was unlocked, an absurd event called ‘autograph session’ occasionally opened for players who could play the character ‘Ma Yuseong.’

Every time, additional attributes like personality or charm increased, so players who wanted to make characters look pretty and cool often participated, but experiencing it firsthand was unexpected.

“Sure.”

It didn’t cost anything, and since she came to him, there was no reason to refuse. Baek Yu-seol took the paper and uncapped the pen.

Then, suddenly, Anella grabbed his shoulder and brought her face close.

“What are you doing…”
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“Look into my eyes.”

“What?”

Slowly…

From Anella’s eyes, a black aura swirled.

“What… are you… doing…”

As Baek Yu-seol gazed blankly, his pupils began to blur, and Anella smiled victoriously.

‘Good, it worked!’

Anella’s supreme trait, [Resurrection of Nightmares].

It delved deep into the target’s mind, triggering their deepest trauma… a mental attack rare in the world.

Splash!

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Anella, diving into the ocean named Baek Yu-seol, looked around with a refreshing expression.

This was his mental world.

T h i s w a s c o p i e d f r o m k i ngm tl . or g
While it was impossible to understand the absurd ability to read someone’s mind, Anella, inheriting some traits of the long-extinct ‘Dream Demon Tribe,’ could transform the target’s most painful past into a dream to explore.

The downside was that she couldn’t choose the dream; only the most painful memory would unfold before her.

Because, if the caster couldn’t endure it, their mind could collapse along with the victim’s.

But this didn’t concern Anella.

Having survived countless horrific experiences, most pain and trauma were just slightly sad tragedies for her.

‘Now… let’s poke around a bit.’

From her investigation, Baek Yu-seol’s past should be filled with painful memories.

‘When were you most desperate?’

When you lost your hometown?

When you lost your parents?

When you lost your closest friend?

‘Just tell me, I’ll see for myself.’

Thinking so, Anella extended her arms toward the ocean.

Stab!

At that moment, a sharp thorn pierced her chest.
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“Wh-what…?”

With trembling hands, she looked at the thorn impaling her chest.
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Her heart stopped beating.

Bright red blood poured out.

‘Death.’

Baek Yu-seol’s most painful memory was…

Death.

His own death.

‘How… can death… be the most painful memory?’

‘That’s… absurd…’

As she thought that, a massive tombstone fell from the sky, crushing her.

‘Ugh…’

Crushed to death without a scream.

-Raaagh!!

Before she could shake off the pain, a monster swooped from somewhere, tearing at her body. Enormous flames shot up, engulfing her, while sharp spears pierced her, and she was shattered by a myriad of magical attacks.

‘Save… me…’

With ‘deaths’ pouring in without a moment’s pause…

Anella slowly, slowly…

Collapsed.

End of Chapter