Magic Academy's Genius Blinker - Chapter 202

Chapter 202

A Gamble with Time (5)

Shwaaah!!

The rain was falling steadily.

-…So, you’re having a good summer vacation, I presume?

“Yes, it’s a complete vacation.”

I reported my current location to Instructor Lee Han-wol of Stella Academy’s Class S, who was likely still enduring a heated work life.

When a Stella Academy student is dispatched or on vacation, it’s mandatory to send a letter once a week to update on their well-being. However, thanks to Flowerseorin, I could report through a simple call.

Some might find calls more inconvenient, but I’m quite adept at lying, so it wasn’t an issue.

-Is that so? Have you been doing well without any problems so far?

Lee Han-wol knows.

He knows that I’ve recently intruded into the Adolevit Kingdom and done something suspicious.

However, since there are no reports about me in the media or newspapers, it was awkward to mention it.

Because.

“Yes. I’ve been enjoying suntanning while drinking cola… I mean champagne by the sea.”

-…I see.

Th i s w a s c o p ie d f r om k i n g m t l . o r g
He must suspect something.

But just as you can’t throw someone in jail without evidence, I had an impeccable alibi.

After all, the third princess of Adolevit, who is the protagonist of this incident, would vouch for my alibi. What could Lee Han-wol possibly do?

-Be careful and come back safely.

With those words, Lee Han-wol ended the call, and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders.

I feel sorry for him, but I have no intention of returning immediately.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Yes.”

Flowerseorin seemed to be at a loss for words, her lips moving a few times before tightly shutting.

Perhaps it was because it had been a while since she’d spent time outside, and it was understandable she’d feel reluctant. But after finishing the first “communion” through the sacred relic, there was no reason to spend more time wandering the city together.

Both of us were busy, and it was practical to quickly go our separate ways.

“…Can you make time like this again?”

“Oh, if the queen asks, I’d quit school and come running.”

“Hehe, there’s no need to go that far… but it feels nice.”

Did she think it was just flattery?

But it was genuine.

“Yes. It’s a shame, but we have to part ways for today. Knights looking for me are already spread throughout the city…”

Even though it was just one night, the queen’s disappearance was a huge incident for the knights, like a bolt from the blue.

Running away without a word.

Despite appearances, she has a knack for causing trouble.

“Then, I’ll be going!”

Perhaps to shake off this regretful time, the queen ran toward the knights without looking back.

Though she couldn’t remove her veil yet, her steps seemed much lighter, which was a relief.

I’m the only person who can still see Flowerseorin’s bare face.

Maybe this is quite a unique experience.

“Shall I get going then.”

Shwaaah-!

The rain continues to fall steadily.

While the Stella Academy uniform comes with basic waterproofing, an umbrella is necessary because getting wet can lead to hair loss.

Hmm.

Is Aether World an exception?

The rainy season exists in this world too, and it was accompanied by the sound of rain throughout this trip.

“Where are you headed?”

“Southern Haoya Plains, to the Starcloud Trading Company.”

After purchasing a ticket and boarding the train, the scenery outside the window blurred with raindrops.

Nevertheless, this world was still beautiful.

Too precious to let perish.

“Young man. Want your fortune told?”

A fortune-teller, moving from car to car, spoke to me. I showed her the Stella mark and replied.

“I don’t believe in those things.”

“Eh, you ignorant spellcaster. Magic and astrology are distinctly different.”

Astrology existed as a subject in Stella, but it was closer to a folk belief. It wasn’t magically proven, nor did it show clear effects like Lunar Studies.

“I’ll listen if it’s free.”

So, I set a trap.

Most would get annoyed and walk away, while the type that tried to squeeze money would try luring me with fortune-telling once.

“Okay, fine. What fortune should I tell you?”

It seems this fortune-teller lady fits into the second category.

“Uh… romance luck?”

Mentioning the fortune everyone was most curious about, the fortune-teller grinned, revealing crooked teeth.

“You have the face that shouldn’t easily engage in romance. I guarantee it.”

…What?

“Aren’t you supposed to sweet-talk at this point? And you didn’t even ask for my name or birthday?”

“Only lowly ones ask that. I can read the heavenly secrets by just looking at the sky and see through a person’s nature by meeting their gaze, so why would I need a name or birthday?”

T h i s w a s c o p ie d f ro m k in g m t l .or g
“Oh, okay.”

I nodded vaguely, as I wasn’t the type to believe fortune-tellers.
T hi s w a s co pi e d f ro m k i n g m t l . o r g

“So, what does it mean? A face that shouldn’t easily engage in romance. Don’t you usually say that someone will find love in a few years or meet a certain person?”

“It’s as I said. You shouldn’t meet people easily. A disaster on a continental scale will occur.”

“…Yeah, right.”

A continental-scale disaster from dating? Now it was just ridiculous, and I didn’t want to listen anymore.

“So, anything else you’re curious about?”

“I have no money.”

“Tsk, money isn’t what’s important. I’ve had enough to entertain myself. Heh. We’ll meet again.”

“Huh?”

I was about to ask what she meant, but the fortune-teller lady who had been standing right in front of me was suddenly gone without a trace.

Empty, a vacant space remained.

“What, what the heck?”

I rushed out into the train’s corridor, looking front and back, but there was no sign of anyone passing through.

Movements like a ghost that even fooled the Intuition of Mana Leakage Syndrome.

“Seriously… what was that…”

Thinking that some unidentified presence had passed by sent a chill down my spine.

Zeliel’s expedition was determined to discover the “Ruins of Ancient Carmenset” and smoothly conquer it.
T h i s w a s c o p ie d fr om ki n g m t l . o r g

Th is wa s co p ie d f r o m k in g mt l . o rg
They had a 7th class mage, obtained through her father’s connections, and veteran adventurers skilled in dungeon exploration cleared the path.

The traps set with ancient magical engineering were hard to detect with modern magic, and the lingering spirits continually gnawed at the expedition’s mental strength, yet they persisted without wasting time.

This was the power of capital.

The result of gathering the world’s best adventurers.

Boom!!

T h i s w a s c o p i e d f r o m k i ng m tl . o rg
-Entrance… is… allowed…

After defeating the guardian that protected the last gate of the Ruins of Ancient Carmenset, the 7th class mage Carderphilt approached Zeliel and spoke.
T hi s w a s c o p i e d f r o m ki n gm tl . org

“Miss. Only the final gate remains.”

“…You’ve worked hard.”

Having been a journey that was anything but easy, Zeliel’s condition was also quite a sight.

Her high-quality robe and adventurer suit had long been dirtied and torn, but her face was glowing.

‘Finally, finally, finally…!’

Her heart raced.

When Zeliel stepped forward, the mages and adventurers parted to either side to clear the way.

The final gate.

A Soul Chess with Ancient Carmenset.

Only one person could face that great being and play chess here.

‘I’ve practiced just for this day.’

Focusing solely on Soul Chess with her genius intellect, neglecting even magic studies. To achieve the world’s top-level skill.

A chilling mist rose, and two red dots appeared in the air. Instinctively, the adventurers realized those were “something’s eyes.”

Though everyone took out their staffs to aim, Zeliel raised her hand to stop them.
T hi s w a s c o p i e d f r o m ki n g m tl . or g

-…A poor, pitiful soul has come. What is the reason for waking me?

A heavy, weighty tone emerged. Merely hearing the voice made knees tremble, but she managed to stay upright.

“Eternal life. I wish for eternal life.”

-I see, of course.

She wanted eternal life.

To live forever?

No.
T hi s w a s c o p i e d fr om k i n g m t l . o rg

To save her father, whose lifespan was nearly exhausted… she must obtain eternal life.

-I will grant your wish.

However.

-If you win against me in Soul Chess… heh.

Booming!!!

T hi s w a s co p ie d f ro m k i n g m t l . o rg
Suddenly, the terrain crumbled, soared, collapsed, and reshaped repeatedly, causing adventurers to shout at Zeliel.

“M-Miss!”

“Stay calm!”

She wasn’t afraid, not moving a single step from her spot.

After a brief moment.

…The place where Zeliel stood had become a giant “chessboard.”

Behind her were numerous chess pieces, but the single most crucial piece was missing.

‘King.’

Carmenset chuckled, letting out a sinister laugh.

-You will move as the King yourself. If you lose… your soul will be mine.

Many legends and tales have been recorded about Carmenset. It tempts, promising to grant any wish if you win at Soul Chess, only to take your soul.

The countless lingering spirits that tormented Zeliel’s expedition throughout this exploration must be the souls of those who lost at chess to Carmenset.

‘Granting any wish, they say.’

However, never has there been a case where someone succeeded in making a wish… a legend only filled with notorious infamy.

-Hehehe. Still, will you play Soul Chess?

Is there a need to hesitate?

I’ve lived my whole life for this moment.

“Of course.”

Without hesitation, Zeliel nodded, and Carmenset shouted in an excited voice.

-Good! Thinking of the moment when I claim and covet your noble soul excites me as well! Let’s play Soul Chess quickly!

Boom-!

Carmenset’s chess pieces moved on their own and arranged themselves. Zeliel stepped back, rose to the King’s position, closed her eyes, and raised her hand.

Then, as if directed by her hand, the chess pieces began to move and position themselves.

‘I won’t lose.’

Soul Chess is a strategy that begins the moment a piece is placed on the board.

Zeliel arranged a very special formation. One she had never tried before, a strategy learned from a crushing defeat against Baek Yu-seol.

Though that loss was painful, it allowed her to grow even more.

-Now, shall we begin? I’m curious about Miss’s skills!

Clang-!

Carmenset’s chess pieces moved, and finally, the true “Soul Chess,” risking souls, began.

End of Chapter