Magic Academy's Genius Blinker - Chapter 200

Chapter 200

A Gamble with Time (3)

When Baek Yu-seol lived on Earth, he resided in Seoul. However, just because he was a Seoulite didn’t mean he had visited all the tourist attractions in Seoul.

Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway, the Yeouido underground secret bunker, Hangang Yeouinaru, Yanghwa Bridge…

Even with such a small piece of land, there were so many tourist spots, so how about the capital of the Elf Kingdom, the Cradle of the Heavenly Spirit Tree?

The capital, Heavenly Flower Cradle, was so large that calling it a metropolis seemed an understatement, boasting an immense vertical height rather than just a wide horizontal area.

It is said that the atmosphere of Heavenly Flower Cradle varies according to the reigning Elf King’s disposition.

If a blunt and rigid Elf King takes power, the city appears monotonous, as if it were copy-pasted. But if an Elf King with a great artistic sense rules, a beautiful and vibrant atmosphere comes to life.

In the case of the current Elf Queen, Flowerseorin, it was the latter.

Fond of all things beautiful and pretty, and often lost in melancholy, she had elegantly decorated Heavenly Flower Cradle, making it a popular screenshot destination for players when they played Aether World online.

So, someday in the distant future.

Baek Yu-seol thought that if he ever had the leisure, he might enjoy traveling to such landmarks.

“Hehe, you came quickly.”

“Yes…”

But he never dreamed that he would be touring the sights with the Elf Queen, Flowerseorin.

“Shall we… go then?”

She spoke in an excited voice, her face flushed with a rosy hue. Dressed in a black veil and dress, there was no fear of the Lovesickness curse leaking out.
T hi s wa s c o pi e d f ro m ki n gm t l. or g

Moreover, she hadn’t slept for several days and nights in preparation for today, so it was understandable that Flowerseorin was excited.

“Of course.”

Although he felt a bit flustered, it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.
T h i s w a s c op i e d f r o m k i n g m t l . o r g

This act was one of the ways to properly utilize the first sacred relic of Red Spring March.

Like the ‘Heart of Winter’ of Blue Winter December and the ‘Flower of Fire’ of Red Summer June, Red Spring March also possesses a sacred relic called the ‘Petal of a Gentle Heart.’

It doesn’t grant the power to freeze Leviang’s Coast or set the land ablaze, but it has a very special ability to calm the mind.

Of course, knowing that mishandling the sacred relic could cause a catastrophe, he had never properly touched it since acquiring it.

However, Red Spring March said.

T h i s w as co p ied f r o m k i ng m t l .or g
‘Feel the same emotion in the same space and time while holding the sacred relic.’

When Baek Yu-seol first heard that, the first thing that came to his mind was PvP.

The exhilaration that bursts out when two men’s magic collides, feeling a burning competitive spirit in the same space and time! Excitement!

But Flowerseorin had a different opinion.

‘Then, shall we go sightseeing in the city?’

‘Sightseeing?’

‘Yes! It’s like a date.’

‘Ah… yes…’

He realized for the first time that Flowerseorin could smile so purely and happily.

And even now, she had joy written all over her face.

“Let’s go quickly.”

Where had the stern and dignified queen gone? Flowerseorin, peeking from beneath her veil, was truly like an excited girl looking forward to a city tour.
Th i s wa s c o pie d fro m k in gm tl . o rg

“Yes, well… let’s go.”

Whether or not this would activate the effect of the first sacred relic, he wasn’t sure… but he decided to follow her, thinking of it as a decent way to spend his summer vacation.

Now, he truly had no urgent matters at hand.

“I know the sightseeing routes well, so just follow me.”

“Oh my, that’s great since it’s my first time.”
T h i s w a s co p i e d fr om ki n g m t l.or g

It was her first time proudly touring her city as the Queen of the Heavenly Spirit Tree.

In a way, it seemed quite pitiable.
T h i s w as c o p i e d f r o m k i n g m t l . o rg

“…But, are you sure it’s okay?”

Just before leaving the White Castle, Flowerseorin hesitated for the last time.

If the veil didn’t function properly, a catastrophe could occur.

“You’ve been living just fine in the castle, haven’t you?”

“That’s true, but…”

“Or what? Will you go back without doing anything after sneaking out?”

“That’s… not right. I snuck out without the Laim siblings knowing, so I can’t turn back now…”

Eventually, Flowerseorin made up her mind and confidently stepped into the city. Her stride was so proud, as if she wanted everyone to see her walking boldly right in the middle of the street…

“Wait a minute, that’s the carriage road!”

Sure enough, the driver of the automatic carriage soon honked the horn.

“Hey, lady! What are you doing in the middle of the road!”

“Ah, lady?”

Flowerseorin, shocked by the unfamiliar word, froze in place.

“Oh, really.”

He quickly rushed over and pulled her onto the sidewalk.

“Huh, what?”

“Your Majesty… That’s a road for carriages only.”

“Really…? I used to walk there alone during my rounds…”

“Back then, they cleared the road for Your Majesty.”

But not now.

They didn’t know the existence of Her Majesty at all. They just thought of Flowerseorin as an ordinary lady passing by.

“Oh…”

Finally, Flowerseorin could see her surroundings.
T h is w a s c o p i e d f r o m k i n gmtl.or g

Nobody paid attention to her.

Even while walking through this many people, no one became entranced by her.

“Oh…”

Only then did she truly realize that her curse had weakened.

T h is w a s c o p i ed fr o m ki ng mt l. or g
Thump.

Her heart beat.

The sensation of being alive.
T h is w as c opi ed fr o m k i n g m t l.or g

Yes, Flowerseorin had always liked walking around in crowded places like this from the beginning. She dreamed of this situation every day, and now that dream had finally come true.

“…Follow me for a moment.”

“…Yes?”

Flowerseorin grabbed Baek Yu-seol’s wrist and quickly headed somewhere.

They wove through the crowd and crossed through the masses.

People enjoying the summer festival, singing on the street drunk, dancing, visiting with their lovers, family, or friends of different races.

Cutting through that multitude, Flowerseorin finally found a quiet spot.

The end of a branch of the World Tree, a place a little farther from the city center.

Even so, because the view was wide open, it was a beautiful place where the moonlight shone brilliantly beyond the horizon.

There…

Whoosh!

“Whew, it’s refreshing.”

Flowerseorin abruptly took off her veil. Although she was checking in real-time through the messages from the fairies and the World Tree that there was no one around, even so… it was a very bold action for Flowerseorin, and Baek Yu-seol couldn’t help but be surprised.

“Wait, is this okay?”

“Hehe, it’s refreshing and feels so good.”
T hi s w as co p i e d f r o m k i n g m t l . o r g

“Well, as long as you’re happy…”

Her smiling face under the moonlight was so beautiful that, if she declared right then and there to destroy the world, he felt he would have no choice but to bow his head and say, ‘Yes! As Your Majesty wishes!’

“Haa…”

Flowerseorin let her hair sway in the gentle breeze as she faced the moonlit horizon and looked at him.

“Baek Yu-seol.”

“…Yes.”

“I think I’m really happy right now.”

“Is… that so.”

“Actually, I’m not sure. This is the first time I’ve felt this way… I’m even doubting whether this is happiness.”

She turned her head, silently gazing down at the Heavenly Flower Cradle below.

Above and below.

People full of joy were singing and dancing, living happily in the city. And now, she too could quietly blend into that.

“I think it is.”

“You’re right, aren’t you? There’s no way this pleasant feeling isn’t happiness.”

She twisted her hair with a shy smile.

The image of ‘Elf Queen Flowerseorin’ slowly crumbled the more he looked at her.

The kind and gentle yet decisive and charismatic Elf Queen was now smiling purely, free of worries and concerns.

I don’t know if the Flowerseorin I knew was right, or if the real Flowerseorin was the one right in front of me…

Now, I’m not sure.

“Haa… It’s refreshing.”

She closed her eyes and savored the cool breeze for a long time.

As Baek Yu-seol predicted, even if someone saw her bare face now, they wouldn’t immediately fall into a curse and suffer. The effect of the first sacred relic was soon to activate.

So, he left Flowerseorin to stay as long as she wanted, and shortly after, she began to put her veil back on.

“Then… shall we truly enjoy the city tour now?”

“…Yes.”

That night, he led Flowerseorin through every corner of Heavenly Flower Cradle.

Eating skewers sold on the street, blowing glittering balloons high into the sky, setting off fireworks.

Enjoying the little yet not-so-little joys of life.

Until the moonlight, dazzlingly full, faded away, he stayed with her.

…Far east, in the barren wasteland.

In a land so forsaken that only adventurers who didn’t value their lives would visit, suddenly over a hundred members of an expeditionary force appeared.

Crackle, crackle!

—Ahh. This is Sprout Team 2.

The recently developed, newly deployed walkie-talkie crackled harshly, apparently threatening to explode if used any longer.

But Zeliel, the girl receiving the transmission, calmly squeezed out its performance.

“Confirmed. Report.”

Leading the expedition team from the Starcloud Merchant Guild, it had been about a month since the departure.

—We detected a magical power exactly matching Miss’s data. Analysis shows part of a ruin is buried deep underground. We’ve sent three infiltration teams.

“…Is that so?”

Confirming the report, Zeliel felt as if her heart had sunk.

“Oh my!”

“Oh, God.”

“Truly, it really exists…”

Archaeologists and numerous explorers, who were listening to the transmission together, embraced each other and danced with joy.

The barren wasteland was a harsh journey, filled with monsters and severe climate changes, but finally achieving results was a delight they couldn’t suppress.

Zeliel was equally pleased but tried to maintain her composure.

‘Not yet.’

They had just discovered the entrance to the Ruins of Ancient Carmenset.

Baek Yu-seol.

The journey that had begun because of that boy was slowly reaching its end.

Though he had given her the most terrible curse, he was also the boy who granted her the greatest blessing she had ever desired.

“Miss Zeliel. Do you intend to personally enter the ruins?”

To obtain what I desire, I must play Soul Chess with the ‘Spirit of Carmenset’ appearing at the final gate and win.

For this, she had honed her Soul Chess skills throughout her life. Although there was one person in the world she couldn’t defeat… her skills were undoubtedly among the best.

‘I can do it.’

No.

‘I must do it.’

Finally reaching the destination she had sought for a lifetime, she couldn’t lose because of a defeat in Soul Chess.

‘I will surely succeed.’

Zeliel stood up with firm determination. Her eyes, unlike usual, were imbued with a blue spirit.

End of Chapter