Magic Academy's Genius Blinker - Chapter 184

Chapter 184

Isolation (2)

Dark Mages do not train.

They achieve rapid growth solely through real-world experience and the absorption of blood through slaughter, which is the norm in the world of Dark Mages.

In that sense, Ma Yuseong is truly an anomaly.

-…Is he training right now?

-What an unpleasant guy.

This w a s c op i e d f r o m k i n g m t l. o r g
-Just like the inferior half-blood he is, his actions are also base.

-I actually find it entertaining.

This place, called the Black Castle, stands on a cliff where the Black Wind blows, and it is not a place just anyone can enter.

Even among Dark Mages, who have a vague hierarchy, only those of the highest rank, akin to ‘nobles,’ can dare to set foot in the Black Castle.

The residents of the Black Castle are mostly the highest-ranking Dark Mages who inherited power and blood from the Dark Mage King, or his offspring.

Ma Yuseong, as the son of the Dark Mage King, belonged to the highest tier of Dark Mages within the Black Castle, but he was unfortunately a half-blood.

A mix of Dark Mage and human.

The act of distinguishing this was quite laughable.

There are no ‘pure Dark Mages’ to begin with.

Elves, Dwarves, Humans, and various other races must cast off their souls into the Other World to become beings known as Dark Mages.

However, that could be the very reason why Ma Yuseong is ostracized.

To those who became Dark Mages by abandoning their own race, Ma Yuseong, who is neither fully human nor fully Dark Mage, was merely a filthy hybrid.

And such a hybrid engaging in something as lowly as ‘training’? How could they see it favorably?

-It’s laughable. No matter how much he does that, he can’t truly possess black mana.

So, he shouldn’t expect to be looked upon kindly by his ‘siblings.’

His image of meditating in place to train his mana, simulating battles against imaginary foes, focusing to cast spells faster, and even studying various tactics and magic to become a better mage was highly commendable as a mage, but to the Dark Mages, it was just a disgusting act of desperation.

They felt a sense of superiority, thinking he resorted to such base acts because he couldn’t possess the same power as them.

However, there was one thing the ‘siblings’ didn’t know.

Ma Yuseong’s potential had already far surpassed theirs, and his training was to erase the black mana.

Ma Yuseong could not control the black mana. When his stamina was exhausted, it would release and rage uncontrollably.

At that moment, Ma Yuseong would lose all emotions… and he hated that feeling immensely.

Boom!!

Ma Yuseong, who had half-destroyed a section of the castle wall with a massive fireball, looked up while wiping away his sweat.

He met the eyes of his siblings.

He smiled warmly and spoke to his siblings, who were looking at him with disgust.

“Brothers. Would you like to come down and spar with me?”

However.

-Ahem, I’ll pass.

-I don’t want to sully my hands with a half-blood.

-Are you avoiding it out of fear?

-I’m avoiding it because it’s filthy.

The siblings avoided sparring with him.

Indeed, Ma Yuseong was weak. However, once he entered a ‘berserk’ state, his inherited nature and abilities as the closest recipient of the Dark Mage King’s blood would emerge… and no one could stop berserk Ma Yuseong.

T h i s w a s c o p i e d f r o m k i n g m t l . or g
If they sparred normally, the siblings would win effortlessly, but if, by any chance, they were defeated by a half-blood, it would be a lifelong disgrace, so they didn’t bother engaging with him.

Ma Yuseong quietly watched them, then picked up his wand again. It was an item that Dark Mages did not use, exclusively for mages, making it even more precious to him.

However, he could no longer continue his training.

“Son.”

…The Dark Mage King suddenly appeared. He glanced at the castle wall Ma Yuseong had destroyed, then dismissed it and spoke.

“Return to Stella.”

“I was told to stay until the end of summer vacation.”

The Dark Mage King spoke impassively.

Ma Yuseong stared at him.

Neither father nor son was smiling.

The Dark Mage King felt Ma Yuseong’s gaze for a moment.

In that gaze, devoid of any emotion, he saw eyes that so closely resembled ‘hers.’

That filled him with both resentfulness and gratitude for being born with eyes so similar to hers.

For now, there was no trace of her left in this world.

“That’s right. The schedule has changed.”

“May I ask the reason?”

“You don’t need to know.”

The conversation ended there.
T h i s w as c o p i ed f r om k in gm t l. o r g

The Dark Mage King, judging that there was no need to spend more time, turned away.

‘There’s no need for him to stay here any longer.’

Though he bore no child he wouldn’t grieve over, for the Dark Mage King, it was different. He loved Ma Yuseong more than anyone. The problem was that his way was entirely unlike that of humans.

He was aware that Ma Yuseong was not treated well in the Black Castle.

Th i s w a s c o pi ed f ro m k i n g mt l . o r g
The reason he summoned his son was that a ‘fragmented soul’ he had hidden in Stella was about to awaken.

The fragmented soul was part of himself, but it had created another self after retaining the memories of 50 years ago.

In other words, the ‘other self’ wouldn’t recognize his son.

Fearing that the ‘other self’ might harm Ma Yuseong, the Dark Mage King summoned him to the Black Castle, which was a very wise decision in retrospect.

The news of the catastrophe in Stella had reached even this far, thousands of kilometers away.

‘But… I failed.’

Knowing that the Child of the Stars would be born and enter Stella one day, he had made his own preparations, only to fail miserably.

He believed his plan was perfect, but was there some unforeseen variable?
Th i s w a s c o pi e d f r o m k ing m t l .o r g

Or had it been arrogant to think that a plan of his could work against the Child of the Stars?

Standing at the top of the Black Castle, the Dark Mage King looked up.

The Milky Way in the night sky sparkled as if it might pour down any minute, yet it seemed precarious like a candle about to go out.

‘As my master’s prophecy said… is the world heading toward its end?’

It was an extraordinary generation.

The descendants of the Twelve Disciples of the Progenitor Mage began to awaken their ‘blessings,’ and the Child of the Stars was born.

‘At most… ten years is the limit.’

Whether he would still be alive by then was uncertain… but my son would undoubtedly face that day.

Hoping that the future my son would face would be peaceful, the Dark Mage King quietly closed his eyes.

Then, no more constellations would be visible.

* * *

When one thinks of the palace of the Adolevit royal family, images of a magnificent and splendid castle come to mind.

Th i s w as c o p i e d fr om k i n g m t l .o r g
But reality is different.

The fortress built on a frigid cliff is more of a fortress than a palace, with an eternally cold wind blowing, making every day akin to winter.

Arriving in Teharlan, the capital of the Adolevit Kingdom, Hong Bi-yeon felt the chilling air that didn’t match the season as she moved in the carriage.

The Fire Mage Adolevit, one of the Twelve Disciples of the Progenitor Mage, settled in the harsh and cold northern region, establishing the Adolevit royal family. The reason for such a choice remains a mystery to this day.

“Princess, we have arrived.”

At the words of her dedicated escort knight, Yetherin, Hong Bi-yeon nodded.

She lifted her head and gazed at the massive palace before her.

‘Frostcliff Palace’

The name itself was bone-chilling. This was the place where Hong Bi-yeon was born and raised, her cradle and home.

“…Princess.”

“Are you mentally prepared?”

“Do I need such a thing to return to my home?”

“I see… that’s fortunate.”

There was no one to trust in the palace.

At best, there were a few retainers she had personally taken in, including Yetherin.

Even the hundreds of knights currently escorting her carriage were not her people.

She couldn’t breathe easily, filled with anxiety that they might point their wands at her at any moment.

‘Get a grip.’

She closed her eyes and cooled her head. She must never show weakness in the Frost Palace.

She needed to be stronger than anyone.

As she steeled her resolve, the carriage crossed the massive bridge connecting the cliff to the palace, ‘The Path of the Sun,’ and finally arrived at the Frost Palace.
Th i s w a s c opi e d fro m k ing m t l. o r g

Without a moment’s rest, she entered the ‘Red Hall’ to meet the king as per the protocol.

“Princess Hong Bi-yeon greets the Great Sun.”

Boom!

With the sound of the drums announcing the princess’s entrance, the towering doors opened, revealing the overwhelming scale of the hall. At the end of it stood a woman.

With red hair that was close to pink and eyes redder than anyone else’s… she was the queen, ‘Hong Seriu Adolevit.’

Hong Bi-yeon walked along the red carpet. With each step toward the queen, her heartbeat gradually slowed.

The queen’s gaze on her was intense and painful. Was it because she was a great 8th-class mage who could burn a person to ashes with just a glance, or… because she hated her?

The reason is unknown, but one thing is certain.

‘You still hate me.’

Knowing that the queen despised her meant that a giant wall stood in her path, but she didn’t care.

There was a valid reason for the queen’s resentment.

“Have you arrived?”

Princess Hong Bi-yeon knelt before Queen Hong Seriu and bowed her head.

Without permission, she dared not look at the Sun.

“I permit it.”

Hong Bi-yeon lifted her head and met the queen’s eyes. The gaze was displeased.

Someone like her called me back to the palace out of concern?

What a joke.

“So, how have you been?”

“Thanks to the Sun’s generous care, I have enjoyed peace and well-being.”

“Your words are flowery.”

Hong Seriu leaned on the armrest, her chin propped. It was clear she found this time bothersome.

“Although you are not my blood, because my daughter loved you, I also tried to love you.”

Hong Bi-yeon bowed her head.

“But you reject my love. May I ask why?”

Why indeed. Should Hong Bi-yeon have to say it?

It was obvious.

T hi s w a s cop ie d f ro m k in g m t l . or g
‘Because you hate me.’

The queen’s biological daughter and first princess, Hong Erin. After her death, the queen was enraged. Although her death was inevitable, the queen tried to find a cause.

No, she created a target for her hatred.

Coincidentally, Hong Bi-yeon looked strikingly similar to the deceased Hong Erin.

With silver hair like moonlight and red eyes like burning flames, her beauty, her overwhelming talent in fire magic, and her charming personality that made everyone love her… all of it.

Then why?

‘Why did my daughter have to die?’

T hi s w a s c o p i e d f ro m k i n g mtl . o r g
The queen asked the princess.

“Do you think of that child?”

“…Yes.”

“I see. Never forget it.”

Only then could Hong Bi-yeon raise her head. It wasn’t out of relief. Rather, it was because the anxiety she had felt turned out to be justified.

“I called you back to the palace to love you. Since you are living in place of my daughter, you must not die in vain.”

“So, stay in the palace until things settle down.”

“…Understood.”

“It’s hot, why don’t we go on vacation together?”

“Vacation…?”

“Yes. Leviang’s Coast sounds nice. It should be cool there.”

“…Thank you for your grace.”

“There’s nothing to thank. I will rest as well. The conversation is over, you may leave.”

Hong Bi-yeon stood and exited the Red Hall. Until then, she wasn’t in her right mind.

Dizziness clouded her head, and she couldn’t even remember if she was walking straight or staggering.

T h i s w as c o p ie d f r o m k in g mt l . or g
Expected, but the things she didn’t want to think about became reality, leaving her unable to do anything.

‘Leviang’s Coast…’

The eternal winter sea.

That place is practically exile for the royal family.

She felt a miserable urge to cry, but she bit her lip and held it back. Blood flowed from her palm where her nails dug in, but she felt no pain.

Today made it clear. She had no intention of making me queen.

She wouldn’t even take me out of the cage until I perished.

A hollow laugh escaped her.

Being confined to the Frost Palace was one thing, but she never expected it to be this extreme.

It was a terrible feeling.

Why am I so powerless?

“Sigh…”

She wandered the ‘Walls of Frost.’ Whenever she felt stressed, this was the place she walked with her sister, Hong Erin.

Looking at the fully bloomed flower garden below was once her greatest joy, but now, not a single flower was blooming.

She walked endlessly.

Then, as she grew weary,

She sat on the wall and looked down at the capital of Adolevit, Teharlan.

A sunset evening.

With many people still bustling about, it was impossible to see each face individually.

Yet, for some reason,

One person stood out clearly in her view.

The reason she could see him was simple.

Amidst the bustling crowd, he stood still, staring from the top of a tall building.

‘Oh…?’

It was too far to be sure, but as soon as she thought he resembled someone…

That figure vanished instantly.

She shot up and frantically scanned the area but couldn’t see anything with her human eyesight.

“…What am I doing?”

Someone came to mind, but it couldn’t be.

He had no reason to come here.

Driven to her limits, she was fantasizing, thinking she had truly reached the end.

It was going to be a very long night.

End of Chapter.