Magic Academy's Genius Blinker - Chapter 171
Chapter 171
The 7th Main Tower (2)
The culprit is actually the protagonist.
You might not understand this abrupt statement, but I felt no need to drag out the story, so I went straight to the conclusion.
“Baek Yu-seol! You have a talent for ghost hunting. As the world’s greatest ghost hunter, I guarantee it.”
“From now on, will you call me Master Poongryujin?”
“No.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
Currently, I am in the haunted village of Malentires for an event.
I successfully met the ghost hunter Poongryujin, who is the main character of this sub-event, so now I have to solve the mysteries occurring in the village… That was the main content.
To get straight to the point, the ghost that was tormenting the villagers was actually Poongryujin himself, and the player helps him realize this and pass on peacefully.
The direction was good, and the story was quite touching with a twist, so it received favorable reviews, but it was a predictable plot, so many people weren’t deeply moved.
It was criticized for being too similar to the movie ‘The Sixth Sense,’ with a twist that was too expected.
Moreover, honestly, the quest was repetitive and tedious.
‘There’s a rumor that a ghost appeared! Go investigate quickly!’ Poongryujin would rush off, and the player would follow behind, defeating monsters in a repeated pattern, making it quite boring.
[You have gained skill experience.]
[You have gained a large amount of skill experience…]
So, was I complaining?
Not at all.
Thanks to Poongryujin, I was able to defeat powerful monsters that I couldn’t handle alone, which was quite profitable.
No wonder this sub-event was considered a sweet deal.
“Your help is invaluable. Would you consider working as my assistant after this?”
“Not really…”
“Baek Yu-seol. You have everything, but you lack a clear sense of purpose. What is your dream?”
“To prevent the end of the world.”
“Haha! Ridiculous, but you should have such an ambition. At one time, my dream was world domination.”
Being a ghost hunter is a job that could starve you to death. Why would you leave a promising future as a Magic Warrior for that?
If the world doesn’t end, I’ll live well, flaunting my Magic Warrior certification and living in luxury.
“Well, it’s a pity. I am about to retire. But even without me, there will still be spirits wandering this world.”
Poongryujin looked into the air with a bitter expression.
“This world is filled with spirits that couldn’t pass on, unbeknownst to us. My duty is to relieve their grudges. How much attachment must they have if they can’t leave even after death?”
“Indeed.”
What kind of grudge could leave so much attachment?
He puffed on his pipe, occasionally staring into space.
There was no smoke coming from the pipe.
That was one of the proofs that Poongryujin was a ghost. When I didn’t know anything, I thought it was a graphic error.
“But I have almost reached the peak. Do you see that mansion? They say you can hear a woman crying sorrowfully every night.”
“I can see it well.”
“Tonight, we will infiltrate there. This time, it will be certain.”
It had been a week since I stayed in Malentires.
T h is was co p i ed f r o m k ing m t l .o r g
The end of the story was approaching.
The crying woman in the mansion was not a ghost. And as everyone would expect, the woman was someone Poongryujin loved in life…
Poongryujin had died protecting her, and he became a vengeful spirit, wandering to guard her even after death—a heartbreaking tale.
When reading the story, I thought it was cliché and boring, but seeing the person involved right in front of me…
I couldn’t just laugh it off.
“This time, let’s definitely solve the case.”
With that resolve, Poongryujin set off energetically, while my shoulders felt heavy.
Because I already knew what fate awaited him.
“Let’s do that.”
T h i s w a s c o p ie d f r om k i ng m tl . or g
Nevertheless, I followed him.
No matter the destiny, I came here prepared for this situation.
Sometimes, knowing the future isn’t always a good thing.
‘Sigh… what am I thinking?’
Let’s not get sentimental. I still have more dangerous and perhaps more challenging tasks ahead.
I need to quickly finish this event and return to Stella, prepare for the Dark Mana Erosion with Flame.
In terms of time… nothing significant should have happened yet.
Although the future has changed significantly, I hope things remain quiet.
“Let’s go!”
With a heavy heart, I followed Poongryujin.
I have too many things to do to get lost in thought.
* * *
The ghost stories Aiselle heard from her father were mostly true.
1. Do not look at the grandfather clock in the corner when the moonlight shines on the 12th floor D-3 corridor of the 5th Main Tower after midnight. There is no grandfather clock on the 12th floor.
“If you find a grandfather clock, leave the area quickly before the clock chimes 12 times.”
2. When entering the basement of the 4th Main Tower around 3 a.m., always go in pairs.
“If you enter alone, don’t try to find the exit. Quietly go to a corner, close your eyes, and wait until morning. At least you won’t end up in a strange place.”
And so on. Aiselle’s ghost stories were like Neapolitan ice cream, not particularly scary. They were just ways to reach the 7th Main Tower.
But those wouldn’t always work.
In the original romance fantasy novel, Aiselle tried all the ghost stories and succeeded in entering the 7th Main Tower only after dozens of attempts.
In other words, the conditions written in the ghost stories didn’t always apply anywhere, anytime.
Around that time, strange occurrences began happening at the school.
“You know the ghost story about the 7th Main Tower? The one about counting to ten with your eyes closed if the water is running in the girls’ bathroom at midnight.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Senior Henetley experienced it recently.”
“What? That’s impossible. There’s no girls’ bathroom there in the first place.”
“That’s what makes it scarier. The senior was really shocked, but when the ghost story came to mind and she counted to ten with her eyes closed, the bathroom suddenly disappeared.”
T h i s w a s c o p ied f ro m k i n g m tl. o r g
“Could it be real…?”
“I don’t think that serious senior would lie.”
It wasn’t just once or twice.
“Did you hear about Abek in our class?”
“Of course. He said he saw a puddle of blood while walking in the 6th Main Tower at dawn.”
“It sounds like a lie. That guy always exaggerates.”
“But he was trembling like crazy and got carried to the infirmary. If he was acting, he deserves an Oscar.”
Ghost story experiences started to spread throughout Stella.
Some students returned home, and even diligent ones who usually attended classes holed up in their dorms, not daring to come out. At night, most students moved in groups, too afraid to walk alone.
“Something… feels off.”
It had only been a day since Hong Bi-yeon went missing. Yet the situation escalated so quickly.
-The Stella Magic Knights will personally investigate the ghost story incidents, so please focus on your studies without worry.
Stella’s administration announced a full-scale investigation, but it was in vain.
While students frequently encountered ghost stories, the Magic Knights and professors never did.
It was as if the ghost stories were selectively targeting people.
This was the scariest part of the episode. Even though incidents occurred within the school, students couldn’t get any help from the professors.
By the third day, students started to go missing one by one.
Despite heightened vigilance and nightly patrols by the professors in all the Main Towers, they couldn’t prevent students from being drawn into the ghost stories.
What kind of magic is this? A mystery incident even the world’s greatest magic institution, Stella, couldn’t solve.
‘…As expected, it’s Abeline’s magic.’
In the pitch-black night.
With starlight hidden by clouds, all Flame had to rely on was a single magic orb, but she walked the corridor without any sign of fear.
‘Experiencing it firsthand is quite terrifying.’
Even in the world of science, modern mysteries that science couldn’t explain would cause fear.
The same was true for the magic world of Aether World.
Mysteries that couldn’t be explained by magic. But this wasn’t a mystery or an enigma; it was real magic.
Just… ‘supernatural magic’ that surpassed the levels of modern mages by several stages.
Even knowing it was magic, it was hard to believe it as such. How much scarier would it be for ordinary people?
By now, Eltemon Eltrine would have noticed the nature of this incident.
That the ghost stories were fragments of reality-altering magic left by Abeline, who disappeared over half a century ago.
But waiting for him to solve it directly would be too late.
There was still a long time before the end of summer vacation, and already the ‘Ghost Story Disappearance Incident’ had occurred. Soon, it would escalate to the Dark Mana Erosion event in the 7th Main Tower…
‘Before that, we need to enter the 7th Main Tower.’
T his w a s c o p i e d fr o m k i n g m tl . o r g
Though it took a few days, she had prepared thoroughly.
She gathered various artifacts from outside cities and even ripped off the wings of angels she met in dreams to make special items with Alterisha’s help, filling her backpack.
Knowing what would happen inside through the original romance fantasy novel made it somewhat manageable.
“…It’s a little eerie.”
Aiselle, walking behind Flame, spoke. It was uncertain if they would encounter a ghost story tonight.
This situation was similar to what happened in the original romance fantasy novel.
One day, Aiselle was kidnapped into the 7th Main Tower but escaped with Hae Wonryang’s help.
However, as students began to disappear one by one, she decided to use the ghost stories herself to enter the 7th Main Tower to prevent further harm.
But the process wasn’t easy.
Ghost stories wouldn’t occur just because you wished for them. She wandered through all the Main Towers every night, trying to make the ghost stories happen.
‘At least… it might take a week.’
As then, it wouldn’t be easy for Flame and Aiselle to encounter a ghost story.
Even now, with Anella included, they were three. Ghost stories were more likely to occur when someone was alone, so it might take even longer.
If by the third day, there were no signs of a ghost story, she planned to suggest they move separately.
…However.
“Huh?”
Splash!
With a step, cold water splashed. Looking down the corridor… it was filled with cold water.
No doubt.
This, too, was a ghost story.
※When walking on the 15th floor of the 4th Main Tower, if the corridor is filled with water…
And things like that. The details didn’t matter.
What mattered was that they had encountered a ghost story.
“It’s a ghost story…”
Thi s wa s c o pi ed fr o m k i ng mt l . o r g
Aiselle spoke with a tense voice, and Flame nodded.
But… something felt off.
‘On the first try?’
It wasn’t from multiple attempts.
Just once.
Today, they approached a ghost story for the first time and succeeded on the first try. Does that even make sense?
‘Is it just a coincidence…?’
She wanted to believe that, but couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.
T h is w as c o pi e d fr o m k i n g m tl . o rg
“Let’s go. According to the ghost story, we shouldn’t walk to the end of the corridor, so we should do the opposite.”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
There was no other choice. Despite the strong suspicion that someone was deliberately leading them, they had to head there.
Many students were still missing, and most importantly, Baek Yu-seol’s effort to save Hong Bi-yeon from evil was in that place.
So, without hesitation, they tried to move ahead.
“Wait.”
A boy’s voice came from behind. Recognizing the voice immediately, Flame turned with a stern expression.
“…Jeremie.”
Th i s w a s c o pie d f r o m k i n g m tl . o rg
“Yeah. Flame.”
A boy with golden hair, shining like a star despite the lack of starlight, Jeremie Scalven.
There was no reason for Jeremie to be here at this hour, except that he had been following Flame.
“Why did you follow me?”
“…I had no choice. To protect you. Please. Don’t go further.”
“Why?”
“Can’t you feel something strange? This is… luring you.”
“Hah, luring? The only luring I know is your pathetic attempts.”
She knew. Flame knew but had no choice but to go.
“Besides, who would lure me with what intention?”
“…I can’t say.”
T hi s w a s co p i e d f r o m k i n g m t l . o r g
“Acting like you know something?”
“Sorry.”
Jeremie shook his head firmly but did not withdraw his opinion.
“Don’t go any further. It will be… very dangerous.”
“No. We have to go.”
“…Why?”
“Because our friends are trapped.”
“Are you trying to rescue them? You can’t do it alone. Even the professors can’t find them.”
T h i s w as c o p ied f r o m k i n g m t l . o r g
“I know. But we still have to go.”
Seeing Flame’s unwavering determination, Jeremie smiled bitterly.
As if he had expected it.
“Then… I will go with you.”
“What?”
“I can’t just watch you go there.”
“Are you crazy? Suddenly, why…”
Aiselle and Anella had already stepped back. They were wary of Jeremie Scalven.
So was Flame.
He was undoubtedly a significant force, but teaming up with him… was too burdensome.
“Go back. I don’t want to work with you.”
“…Just as you won’t listen to me, I will do as I please. I will follow you.”
After saying that, Jeremie stepped back ten paces.
“I won’t hinder you. I’ll keep this much distance. I won’t speak to you. Let me watch and protect you from afar. Can’t you even allow that?”
Honestly.
T h i s wa s c o p i ed fr o m k in g m t l . or g
She didn’t want to allow even that.
Flame hated Jeremie as a person.
But knowing Jeremie the Crown Prince had come this far, she couldn’t stop him.
Reluctantly, she turned and moved forward.
Aiselle and Anella followed Flame, keeping an eye on her, and Jeremie followed from a considerable distance.
Thus, the very peculiar and mismatched group of four set out to explore the 7th Main Tower…
End of Chapter.
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Molart_Note
Eu sei que ele é um antagonista, mas tô começando a sentir pena dele