Magic Academy's Genius Blinker - Chapter 162

Chapter 162

Lovesickness (2)

After the school competition ended.

Eltemon Eltrine personally sought out and interrogated a Stella Dome associate named ‘Kavaren,’ following a tip from Anella.

Of course, it wasn’t a peaceful method.

“…Ugh.”

Drip, drip!

Blood soaked the floor. Pieces of flesh scattered and cooled, and the pool of blood had long since congealed.

Yet, Kavaren did not die.

He was a Dark Mage.

Eltemon coldly watched him. For him, killing a Dark Mage was akin to killing a mosquito; there was no sense of guilt at all.

“There were more vermin hiding in Stella Dome than I thought?”

“Gah, please… spare me…”
T h i s was co pi e d f r o m k in g mt l . org

Crunch!!

“Speak without permission, and I will not be so lenient.”

“Guh…!!”

As Eltemon clenched his fist slightly, Kavaren’s body twisted in unnatural directions. His eyes bulged as if they were about to pop out, and he could only groan without even screaming.

‘This is troublesome…’

The Dark Mages’ technology was advancing at an abnormal rate, to the point of being grotesque.

Mages could no longer detect them lurking in society, allowing them to quickly establish themselves in the magical world.

It was truly a curious thing.

Those who couldn’t resist their impulses of pleasure and desire, committing terror acts dozens of times a day, were now blending into society as soon as they developed technology to hide their identities.

‘Anyway, Anella…’

That little exchange student girl had indeed been helpful. Thanks to her tip, they were able to uproot several Dark Mages, including Kavaren, who had infiltrated Stella.

But.

‘That girl is also suspicious.’

There was no concrete evidence, but the suspicion was strong.

However, without solid evidence, there was no way to pursue it. Without a direct kill, there was no way to prove someone was a Dark Mage.

So, for now, he decided to leave her alone.

At a glance, Anella seemed to have feelings for Baek Yu-seol, so she wouldn’t cause any major trouble for the time being.

Crunch!

As Eltemon clenched his fist, Kavaren’s body twisted and vanished, leaving no trace behind.

Without a word, Eltemon turned and left. Having dealt with the Dark Mage who orchestrated this incident, it was now time to handle the aftermath of the school competition.

* * *

After the school competition, there was another person who garnered attention along with Baek Yu-seol.

“Cadet Dokcheolgwang, can we interview you about your feelings at the time?”

“Hey, looking at your arms, you must have worked out a lot. How much do you bench?”

“No, not that, please answer the interview…”

Stella’s second-year Class S, Dokcheolgwang.

After the competition, news spread that he had held off a Dark Mage for some time, preventing significant casualties, making him a hot topic along with Baek Yu-seol.

Dokcheolgwang’s hospital room, where he was hospitalized in a single room, was swarmed with reporters. Although he seemed quite annoyed, he let them in.

Just before the interview, a Class S instructor had drilled into his ears that “recognition is very important for a Magic Warrior!”

“Do you use any specific protein?”

Of course, his absurd answers were driving the reporters who came to interview him to the brink of exploding.

After finishing the interview, Dokcheolgwang’s partner from Class S, Banyurin, came to visit.

“Hey, you look good?”

“Huff!”

Despite the nurse’s advice to rest for a while, Banyurin looked at Dokcheolgwang with an exasperated expression as he exercised on the floor.

When she threw some protein snacks from her pocket, he caught them without even looking back, tore open the packaging, and began eating them.

“The hospital is too suffocating.”

“Who told you to get hurt?”

“This will heal with exercise. No need for surgery or medicine. Doctors suffer because their bodies are weak.”

“…Bullshit.”

After stretching his muscles adequately, Dokcheolgwang loosened his shoulder muscles with a crack and rotated his arms. He seemed restless in such a confined space.
T h i s w a s co p i e d f r o m k i n g m tl. or g

Banyurin quietly watched him. He was undoubtedly a musclehead to the core, saying things that others might find ignorant and incomprehensible, but… perhaps, seeing him confidently face the Dark Mage without turning his back made him a commendable Magic Warrior.

That was what she thought.

‘What am I thinking…’

Suddenly being sentimental didn’t suit her personality.

“By the way, who is that kid outside? A friend of yours?”

“Hm?”

“She’s been hesitating in front of the room, wondering whether to come in or not.”

At Banyurin’s words, the sound of shuffling feet outside became more pronounced. The sound of nervous footsteps pacing back and forth echoed to where they stood.

“Who? Another reporter? Annoying…”

Dokcheolgwang scratched the back of his head and poked his head outside the hospital room.

But there was no one… except for a small girl standing there, fidgeting.

“What are you doing here?”

“Y-yes? Uh… umm…”

As Dokcheolgwang spoke to her, the girl’s pupils widened with visible panic, and she lowered her head, stammering.

“The other day… in the survival… do you remember me…?”

“No.”

Dokcheolgwang’s dismissive answer left the girl looking hurt, but she quickly bit her lip and continued.

“You saved me back then…”

“Oh, that was you.”

Dokcheolgwang spoke nonchalantly as he scratched his ear, but it seemed to be a big deal to the girl.

“I-I’m Banyurin… Please accept this!”

With her head lowered, face flushed red, she pushed a gift box with a pink letter envelope into Dokcheolgwang’s chest and then quickly ran away.

“What was that?”

Dokcheolgwang couldn’t understand her actions at all, but Banyurin, who had been watching from behind, smacked his back.

“You idiot! Even you finally get to experience spring.”

“It’s already summer.”

“You dense idiot. How do you expect to date?”

“My only girlfriends are barbells and protein. Two of them, in fact.”

“Ugh…”

Watching the overly dense Dokcheolgwang, Banyurin could only be dumbfounded.

“Live your life like that forever…”

Saying that, she was suddenly struck by the fear that he really might live like that forever.

The day Oranha regained consciousness was about a week after the incident.

Heavenly Spirit Tree Cradle, Sariflower Hospital.

Infused with the energy of the World Tree, it caused an addiction similar to a drug, so ordinary elves were prohibited from entering. Only high elves who could control the energy were allowed.

“…What did you just say?”

Oranha, who had woken up after a week, shivered as he listened to the high elf doctor.

“What did you say I…?”

“We had to remove all the mana from your body to save you. Please understand…”

“Who gave you permission? Who gave you permission to touch my mana!!”

Jumping up, Oranha grabbed the doctor by the collar, but his muscles cramped due to a week of inactivity, causing him to lose strength.

T h i s wa s c o p i ed fr o m k i n g mtl . o rg
The doctor lowered his head with a sorrowful expression, feeling guilty for being unable to do anything for the patient.

“Was it you? Was it you? I’ll kill you… How dare you touch my mana…!”

Crash!

“Aaaah!!”

A mage who loses their mana typically reacts in similar ways.

Some get angry and lash out, while others collapse in despair.

If not that, some even choose the extreme option of committing suicide.

For a mage, magic is life itself. While Oranha had learned magic for Flowerseorin’s sake, it had become a part of him.

His arms, his legs, his eyes, his nose, his mouth.

But waking up to find those parts severed…

All that remained was his mind.

No matter how hard he tried to move his arms, no matter how hard he tried to walk, no matter how hard he tried to see, no matter how hard he tried to smell, no matter how hard he tried to taste.

He couldn’t do anything.

A mage who loses all their mana ends up feeling just like that.

“Who… who gave permission…?”

“I’m sorry, Oranha.”

At that moment, a voice called out.
T h i s w as c o p i e d f r o m ki n g m t l . o r g

Looking toward the door of the hospital room… there stood Flowerseorin, dressed entirely in black.

Immediately, Oranha’s mood lifted.

Flowerseorin had come to see him in person.

The person who had been raging and breaking everything around him was gone, replaced by someone who greeted Flowerseorin with an ecstatic expression.

“Ah… Your Majesty. Welcome.”

Seeing him like that, Flowerseorin couldn’t help but feel deeply sorrowful.

He was already in a severe state.

Enchanted by the magic of Lovesickness, Oranha had suppressed even his anger over losing his mana, deceived by this false love.

Indeed… was this the right treatment?

If she didn’t return his feelings, he would eventually succumb to lovesickness and die.

But it was too late to worry now.

Oranha had lost all his mana.

He had fallen in love with her.

…But she couldn’t return his mana or love.

Flowerseorin tightly closed her eyes and forced herself to speak calmly, word by word.

“Aide Oranha.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“…I truly regret what has happened to your body.”

Th i s w a s c o p ied f ro m k i n g mt l . o r g
“It’s not your fault, Your Majesty. Even in this state, I have the confidence to serve you for the rest of my life!”

Seeing his confident demeanor, Flowerseorin’s heart ached even more. But she had to say what needed to be said. It was only right.

“No, it is my fault.”

“…What?”

Flowerseorin’s tone seemed off. Having always observed her closely, Oranha sensed something was wrong.

And then, the shocking words came from her lips.

“I was the one who ordered your mana to be castrated.”

“…Ah.”

What did he just hear?

Oranha stared in disbelief, unable to comprehend, as her sorrowful expression deepened.

At times like this, she was glad she was wearing a mask. Her ability to control her expressions was comparable to that of a child.

“Oranha… as you know, I am cursed. Ordinary people who see my face die soon after, and high-level mages lose their minds and go on a rampage.”

“I… I know that, but…”

“When you met my gaze, you went into a mana rampage. I had to make a decision. I didn’t want you to die.”

“…Ah.”

Oranha bit his lip hard. His vacant expression was filled with immense loss.

“Still… it’s okay.”

He struggled to lift his trembling head and met Flowerseorin’s eyes.

“Even without this mana, I am confident I can serve you for the rest of my life.”

Although he tried to look determined, sadly, it was impossible.

That confident and self-assured appearance would only last a moment. The moment Flowerseorin left, his hysteria would erupt once more.

The despair and anger of a mage who lost their mana wouldn’t easily subside. Knowing this, Flowerseorin couldn’t keep him as her aide anymore.

Letting him rest peacefully for the rest of his life was the best way to ease his suffering.

“Oranha…”

“W-wait, Your Majesty. I still…”

“It’s time… for you to retire.”

“…Ah.”

The words he had desperately hoped not to hear came out, and Oranha’s eyes lost focus.

“You can live in the best villa and mansion for the rest of your life, surrounded by countless servants. If there’s anything you want or need… just say it. I’ll grant any request of yours.”

Oranha remained silent, and Flowerseorin waited for him. She couldn’t fathom his feelings as he tried to sort out his complicated thoughts and figure out what to say.

Then, after a long while.

He spoke.

“I don’t need any of it.”

“Neither money, nor fame, nor power, nor even magic matters!”

Oranha shouted at Flowerseorin with flaming eyes.

“All I need… is you, Your Majesty! Please, don’t cast me aside…”

His desperate voice almost shook her resolve, but Flowerseorin, who had vowed not to waver, firmly shook her head.

What he wanted wasn’t just to stay by her side; he wanted her heart.

But that was impossible. Although Oranha had been with her for a long time, he was only a friend; she couldn’t return his love.

Keeping him by her side would only cause him pain.

His love would gradually grow like a balloon, hoping to receive her love someday, but it would eventually burst.

“I’m sorry. Oranha, I can’t give you my heart.”

So Flowerseorin drew a clear line.

Thud.

Oranha’s body lost all strength, and he collapsed to the floor.

Flowerseorin had seen through his heart and extinguished even the last bit of hope he had.

That was the end.

T h i s w a s c o p i e d f ro m k i n g m t l . or g
“Now… rest.”

Unable to bear seeing Oranha’s despairing face, Flowerseorin quickly left the hospital.

“Haa…”

After running for a long time to the garden, Flowerseorin sat down, leaning against a tree to catch her breath. Although beads of sweat formed on her forehead and cheeks, she couldn’t remove her mask, fearing someone might see.

Rustle!

“Did it go well?”

At that moment, Baek Yu-seol emerged from the nearby bushes.

Startled, Flowerseorin let out a sigh of relief as she calmed her heart.

“You scared me…”

He looked around and nodded slightly.

“There’s no one around, so you can take off your mask.”

“…Yes. The fairies are telling me that.”

Flowerseorin, who could hear the voices of spirits and fairies, had already known there was no one around.

“But still, taking off the mask…”

She was still afraid.

Due to her careless actions, she had lost another connection this time.

Baek Yu-seol said nothing more.

Right now, Flowerseorin was likely filled with guilt over Oranha.
T h i s w a s c op i e d f r o m k in gmt l . o r g

But that wouldn’t last long.

Oranha, who had lost all his mana, would reveal his true nature and cause a riot in the hospital.

Seeing his ugly and dirty nature would hurt Flowerseorin deeply, but it would also ease her guilt.

Not a bad result.
Th i s w a s c o p ied f r o m k ing m t l .o r g

In the first place, Oranha was too dangerous to keep by Flowerseorin’s side.

“Well, did everything go smoothly?”

“…More or less.”

Flowerseorin fiddled with the hem of her dress. It was Baek Yu-seol who had advised her to draw a clear line with Oranha.

‘Don’t feel guilty. That bastard… ahem! That person is at fault for sneaking in and exposing himself to the curse when told not to.’

Baek Yu-seol wasn’t good at charming people of all ages and sexes with flowery words like Flame. He couldn’t convey warm feelings with a single word, nor did he know how to empathize genuinely.

So he gave practical advice.

‘Anyway, it’s that person’s fault.’

All those words were meant to ease Flowerseorin’s guilt as much as possible.

‘It’s a relief that things went well enough.’

“Yes…”

“I hope this doesn’t happen again in the future.”

When Baek Yu-seol said that, Flowerseorin looked up at him.

He was a young boy who hadn’t even lived half the days she had, yet he seemed wiser, more mature, and smarter than her.

Actually, he had achieved more than her.

He had received the same curse as her but had overcome it, and despite possessing the worst kind of talent, he had confidently enrolled in a school of the world’s greatest geniuses and was writing a new history.
T hi s w a s c op i ed f r o m ki n g m t l . o rg

Born with the blessing of a high elf, she was evaluated as having the qualities of an Archmage, yet she couldn’t even overcome one curse and lived hidden in a corner…

That’s how it felt.

As if Baek Yu-seol was far away, in a higher place.

So, even more, she wanted to grab him and ask.

How did you manage to do it?
T h i s wa s c o pi e d fr o m k i ng m t l . o r g

Could I someday take off my mask and proudly show myself to the world?

End of Chapter