Magic Academy's Genius Blinker - Chapter 180

Chapter 180

Unreality (4)

Dudududu!!

An attack helicopter crossed the skies over Incheon City. The ground was half-destroyed and ablaze, and a monster roared above it.

-ROOOAAAR!!

A shockwave erupted, shaking the helicopter, but the crew wasn’t afraid.

They knew there was someone who would protect them.

-Point. Deploying Code Magician.

The entity fighting the monster wasn’t a fighter jet, a tank, or a missile.

It was just an ordinary schoolgirl.

Flame, who jumped down from the slowly descending helicopter, swung her staff.

Flash!

-Wow, that’s real magic…

-It’s my first time seeing it in person, but as expected.

-Amazing.

Light clashed with the monster.

As spears of light shot from the magic circle inscribed in the air, piercing the monster, it retaliated by spewing flames in all directions.

-Oh no!

The helicopter hurriedly performed evasive maneuvers, but Flame stood her ground. She erected a wall of light in front of her, raising her staff high into the sky.

Flash!

A massive pillar of light penetrated the dark clouds and sliced through the monster’s neck.

Thud…!!

-Wow!

-She did it!

-Flame killed another monster!

The monsters had special barriers on their skin, impervious to any missile or bullet, making them incredibly difficult to handle. However, Flame seemed to deal with them effortlessly.

The arrows of light she shot easily penetrated the monster’s skin, and no monster could withstand the blade of light.

“Whew…”

Having successfully finished another hunt, Flame turned and smiled, waving toward the sky.

It was a fan service for the countless drone cameras filming her somewhere.

She couldn’t hear them, but she could feel it.

The fervent cheers of her fans.

I was the only mage on Earth, their savior.

Such treatment was deserved.

* * *

Click! Click!

Rattatat!

“Flame! You’ve successfully completed another monster hunt, can you share your thoughts?”

“Is it difficult balancing school and your hero activities?”

“The principal of Chilwol High School has officially expressed his support. Any response?”

On her way back by helicopter, a swarm of reporters had already gathered at the landing site, pointing cameras and microphones at her. Flame answered each of their questions.

It was a bit tiring, but it wasn’t difficult. Plus, it made her fans happier.

‘Schoolwork…’

She didn’t want to give up, but she had to partially let it go. As monsters started appearing all over the world, Flame had to travel around the globe.

But did her grades drop because of it?

Not at all.

[National First Place, Mage Flame!]

“I’m short on time, so how did I get first place? I studied mainly from the textbooks.”

[Love calls from prestigious universities worldwide! What will she choose?]

Even with minimal study, she ranked first in the country, and renowned universities around the world were contacting her.

Even without studying, getting into a prestigious university might not have been that hard.

She was on a winning streak.

Everything she touched turned to success without fail.

Be it studies, dance, singing, or magic.

When Flame bought a lottery ticket, she won first place. When she donated with a light heart, it became a hot topic, praising her as an angel. The clothes and accessories she wore became trends, gaining explosive popularity worldwide.

The world was watching her.

Wherever she moved, the world followed. Wherever she pointed, the world nodded.

Th is w a s co pi e d fr o m ki ng m tl. or g
It felt like being the center of the world.

Walking a smooth path with no obstacles, could others understand this feeling?

She was happy.

She thought she could continue to open up a bright future like this.

– Flame! Can you deploy right now?

One day, during class, Flame hurriedly left school after receiving a call.

She was now accustomed to managing her schedule under government supervision, often missing school, but she still managed to maintain the minimum academics.

Recently, the appearance of monsters had become more frequent.

-Monsters have appeared simultaneously in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, and Okinawa, Japan. We plan to deal with the monster in Gangwon first and then move to Japan. If delayed, we may have to use missiles.

“Ah…”

Monsters appearing simultaneously?

This had never happened before.

‘Missiles are not an option.’

Okinawa, Japan, is a famous tourist destination with a large floating population. Using missiles meant assuming the city would collapse, a last resort that had to be avoided at all costs.

Moreover, it was uncertain whether missiles would be effective against the monster, so she had to hurry.

“Please hurry.”

Flame decided to take her mission seriously. If not her, who would save the people of Earth?

People needed her.

…But things didn’t always go as planned.

Bang!

“Ugh…!”

-Flame! Are you okay?

“I’m okay!”

Height: 15 meters.

Red skin.

A single eye.

These were the features of the second monster she encountered in Okinawa, Japan, after defeating the monster in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province.

T h i s w a s c o p i e d fr om ki ng m tl . o rg
A notable feature… it fired lasers from its eye.

‘It’s too strong!’

Having been active as a mage for half a year, Flame was starting to notice.

Her magic hadn’t grown at all.

That was to be expected.

‘…I don’t even know where or how I learned magic.’

Suddenly, magical knowledge had been etched into her mind, and she used it as if it were her own. But growing beyond this was impossible.

She objectively assessed her level as ‘Stage 4.’ Until now, the monsters she encountered were at most Stage 2 or 3.

So far, they hadn’t been difficult to handle…

Zzzzap! Bang!

“Ugh!”

As she dodged the violently exploding laser, debris from a nearby building collapsed.

‘At least Stage 5…!’

This level of destructive power was beyond her capability.

Thankfully, the giant monster couldn’t control its massive body well, making it less mobile. However, the powerful lasers from its eye prevented even fighter jets from approaching.

Th i s wa s c o p i e d f r o m ki n gm t l .org
‘Can I… win this?’

Zzzzap-!

Thud!

Each time the giant’s gaze swept across, traces of civilization collapsed one by one. Flame could do nothing in the meantime. The destructive power was at least two stages above her, and she couldn’t withstand its attacks with any shield she could currently deploy.

‘What should I do…’

As she tightly gripped her staff, hesitating,

Whoosh!

A breeze lighter than a feather brushed past her ear.
Th is w as c o p ie d f r o m k i n gm tl. o r g

When she looked up, a boy was standing with his back to her.

A familiar figure.

“Baek Yu-seol…”

He stared at the giant and then turned to Flame.

“My mistake.”

“Huh?”

“The world went out of balance because you tapped into happiness too quickly.”

“What are you talking about…?”

“…Wait a moment.”

Baek Yu-seol took out a small, short staff, unlike hers. As mana was released, a blade of white light emerged.

“Wait, that won’t…!”

But before Flame could finish her sentence, Baek Yu-seol soared into the sky. Blinking between buildings, he quickly reached the giant.

Zzzzap!

The giant shot a laser at Baek Yu-seol, but it missed. He skillfully dodged the laser, guiding it away from the ground.
T hi s w as c o p i e d f r om k i ngm t l. org

“What…”

It all happened in a flash. Moving freely through the air, Baek Yu-seol finally reached the giant’s nape and stabbed a blue spot there with his sword.

Shortly after,

-ROOOAAAR…

The giant lost its strength and collapsed to the ground.

Thud!!!

“Ugh!”

Due to its massive size, the aftermath of its fall was considerable.

T hi s wa s c o p i ed fr om k i n g m t l .or g
As Flame hurriedly put up a barrier and protected herself with her arms, she heard footsteps nearby. Looking up, Baek Yu-seol stood over her with a troubled expression.
T h i s w a s c o p i ed fr o m k i n gmt l . o r g

Despite having just fought the giant, his attire remained impeccable.

“How…”

She couldn’t believe he had effortlessly defeated the monster she couldn’t even scratch.

“You could have done it too.”

He glanced at the fallen giant.

“It’s going to get harder from now on. More powerful monsters will keep appearing.”

“Wait, what do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said.”

Then, Baek Yu-seol fell silent for a while.

Unlike before, he didn’t disappear like the wind.

He was waiting.

Waiting for Flame to ask a question.

Her mind was in turmoil.

Finally meeting Baek Yu-seol, she didn’t know what to ask.

‘Who are you really?’

‘Are you another mage?’

‘Why are you wearing our school uniform?’

Numerous questions came and went. Eventually, Flame asked this.

“…What happens now?”

More powerful monsters would keep appearing. Modern weapons couldn’t stop them. Why? No one knew. The monster’s barrier was still unexplained by science.

“This world will end.”

“W-What… Are there no other mages like you… or me?”

Could she even call herself a mage? Flame hesitated slightly when referring to ‘myself,’ but Baek Yu-seol didn’t seem to care.

“No. It’s just you and me.”

“That can’t be…”

Flame, staring blankly at the ground, slowly parted her lips.
T h i s w a s cop i e d f r o m k i n g m tl .or g

“…So, what should I do?”

Why did she ask him?

Why did she think Baek Yu-seol had the answer to this situation?

She didn’t know.

But her ‘instinct’ told her that if she asked Baek Yu-seol, he would have a solution.

He hesitated for a long time.

Finally, he took a step and spoke.

Thi s w as c o p i e d f ro m k i n g m t l .o r g
“You must choose to die.”

Whoosh…!

Before she could ask what he meant, Baek Yu-seol had already left.

“I must… die?”

Nonsense.

If she died, who would stop the monsters? How could she give up such a happy life…

“Ah…”

Flame sat there for a long time, unable to move.

* * *

That night, Flame had a terrible nightmare. It was awful and horrifying, yet incredibly realistic.

In her dream, Flame was a wanderer.

Shuaa-!!

T h i s w a s c o p i e d f ro m ki ng m tl. o r g
Walking through the downpour, Flame wandered a desolate street. Civilization had left only traces. Once glorious and noble human technology had been destroyed by monsters, and now scavenging for survival had become the norm.

It was no different for Flame.

She traversed the ruined city.

Perhaps to find her daily meal, she walked and walked.

In the dream, she hid behind a building.

A giant monster passed through the rubble of the collapsed building.

She held her breath, waiting for the monster to pass.

The Flame who had been the center of the world was now gone. In the dream, she was just prey, nothing more, nothing less.

-ROOOAAAR!

-Screech!

Right next to her, monsters fought each other.

The sky was occupied by winged demons, preventing free movement. Underground, toxic gas filled the air, making it impossible to breathe.

If there were a living hell, it would be here.

While crawling silently between buildings in the dream, she discovered something.

[December High School]

Her collapsed alma mater.

Everyone was dead. The school had been the first to collapse when monsters took over the world.

And on top of it,

Baek Yu-seol sat.

Holding an umbrella, he stared at the rainy sky.

“You became happy too quickly… and the world lost its balance.”

In the dream, she knew.

In the dream, she blamed herself.

“Sob…”

In the dream, she wept.

“It’s because of me, because of me.”

She wept endlessly.

End of Chapter.