Magic Academy's Genius Blinker - Chapter 277

Chapter 277

Field Training (6)

***

Haoya Plains, Lotus Inn.

Built on a giant lotus floating in the sky, this mystical inn, often used as a landmark by weary travelers, has a gambler who visits like a regular customer.

“That white-haired geezer? He hasn’t been around lately.”

“I know. It was annoying how he always swept the board clean, so it’s probably for the better.”

“I hope he never comes back. He completely ruins the game, you know?”

No, there ‘was’ a gambler who used to come.

For some reason, he had completely disappeared recently, and he was nowhere to be found. Since those who were winning were disliked in this place where gambling was a form of entertainment, no one bothered to look for him.

“Miss. He seems to be nowhere. He completely vanished after that day.”

It had already been two weeks since the search for the gambler, presumed to be Silver Age November, began.

With no progress, they had resorted to asking about his whereabouts at the Lotus Inn as a last resort, but no one seemed to know anything.

“…This is troublesome.”

Zeliel stroked her lips and stared at the inn with a hardened expression. People noticed her gaze and discreetly hid their cards and dice.

It was Zeliel who had previously swept away all the speculative gambling here, and although gambling was somewhat legalized now, people were still wary of her.

“Let’s move. It seems people are uncomfortable because of me.”

“…Ah! Yes!”

The mages following her were slightly surprised to hear such unexpected words from Zeliel.

It was because words of consideration for others naturally flowed from the mouth of Zeliel, who used to not care about others at all.

Back in the VIP room reserved for the Starcloud Trading Company on the top floor of the Lotus Inn, Zeliel sat at her desk and sighed.

Has it been about a month?

Ever since the day Silver Age November came to save Baek Yu-seol, she had been constantly tracking him to find out his whereabouts, but his location was completely unknown.

It was strange.

Even before, she could at least find some traces of him.

Silver Age November liked to live among people, and it wasn’t that hard to find him if you just asked around.

But recently, at some point, Silver Age November completely disappeared.

Zeliel unlocked the drawer, took out a yellow file, and pulled out a photo from inside.

Far East of Aether, Isterus Promontory.

Thousand Dragon Cliff.

It was said that this place, once so beautiful that it was blinding, had been eroded by dark mana and refused human footsteps for 100 years, but it had recently been completely destroyed.

In the photo, Isterus Promontory was unrecognizable from its former beautiful Thousand Dragon Cliff, as if it had been crushed by multiple meteorites or trampled by a giant.

‘It was said that at least two or more mana of 9th class or higher were detected here.’

Since it was investigated that Silver Age November’s last trace was headed to Isterus Promontory, it would be reasonable to assume that he collided with someone, destroyed Thousand Dragon Cliff, and then disappeared.

‘Could it be, he died there…?’

No. That couldn’t be.

Silver Age November is an omnipotent being who manipulates time. He is not someone who would die easily. Then there must be another reason why he disappeared…

“Miss.”

While she was quietly lost in thought, her secretary came and handed her a document.

“Professor Yeon Hwa-ryeon from the Starflower Tree Magic School sent a letter.”

“Ah.”

Professor Yeon Hwa-ryeon was one of the high elf mages tied to the Starcloud Trading Company, and in fact, she was practically Zeliel’s right-hand woman.

Thanks to her, Zeliel had the authority to intervene in some incidents that occurred within the Starflower Tree, which was practically the best fairy school. Until now, there had been no need to do so, but recently, Zeliel had taken an interest in a certain matter.

[Stella Academy Exchange Student]

The exchange student project between the human magic school Stella and the fairy magic school Starflower Tree. It was an annual event, so there was nothing particularly different, but this year, Zeliel was particularly interested in the list of names.

Zeliel slowly scanned the list of exchange students and stopped at a student’s name.

Baek Yu-seol.

He was not listed on the exchange student list. Zeliel could bring Baek Yu-seol here with just a 3-second investment of holding a pen.

But she didn’t.

Baek Yu-seol might have a busy schedule, and she shouldn’t disturb him. It would be better to meet him in person later and ask for his opinion.

“Oh, by the way, Miss.”

“Yes?”

“I heard that student Baek Yu-seol recently entered the Poong Empire. I think it was for a Stella dispatch mission.”

“…Is that so?”

Zeliel’s expression hardened.

It would have been nice if he had said something when he came to the Poong Empire. Is it that difficult to make a phone call?

No, it could be.

He is living a very busy life. An incomparable… a valuable life.

It would be more of an apology to ask Baek Yu-seol to spare his time for someone like me.

Still.

‘Just a quick glimpse of his face…’

That wouldn’t be a problem, would it?

Thinking this, Zeliel stood up. Finding Silver Age November was urgent, but something more important had come up.

***

“Did everyone hear the briefing perfectly?”

In the 2nd year S class, Dokcheolgwang’s words made Flame make a dumbfounded expression.

“What briefing?”

When she asked back, Dokcheolgwang thumped his chest with his fist and said.

“Understanding the enemy with your heart and exploding the burning passion to destroy them! That is the best way to deal with monsters.”

“No, where is the passion?”

“In your heart!”

“You want me to explode it? Then I’ll die.”

“A man has two passions!”

“I’m a woman, though?”

“There is no distinction between men and women in passion. I will share one with you.”

“I don’t need it!”

Flame stepped back with a completely disgusted expression. Of all people, the instructor for the monster hunting mission had to be Dokcheolgwang.

His character wasn’t bad, but his fighting style was too ignorant to accept him into the party… it was off-putting.

“Are you guys okay with this?”

When she asked with a tired expression, Ma Yuseong and Hae Wonryang nodded indifferently, and Feng Hwarang didn’t react.

“I don’t mind.”

“I think that senior is fun and nice?”

I don’t know what’s okay about this.

“Ah, well, it’ll work out somehow.”

Flame stretched and admired the scenery around her.

The Poong Empire, a country built on the wind.

Breathing in the fresh air in this place, said to be as beautiful as any fairy country, it felt like all my stress was being relieved.

“Hey, Feng Hwarang. This is your hometown, right? Are there any tourist spots?”

“Hmm! This is my hometown too! There is a very good tourist spot.”

Dokcheolgwang interrupted and pointed somewhere with his finger. It was a dark and gloomy cave that looked very dangerous.

“That place.”

“…What is that?”

“I don’t know. But it looks fun!”

“Excuse me, senior…”

What kind of crazy person is this?

As Flame was making a dumbfounded expression, Hae Wonryang stepped in to mediate.

“We don’t have time to look for tourist spots. We need to find and defeat the monsters as quickly as possible and return! Plus, we need to prepare for that ‘Unexpected Contingency’.”

“Ugh… that’s true.”

Still, it would be nice if we could play a little. If it were Baek Yu-seol, he might have said, ‘Huh? Shall we? Let’s play a little? It won’t be a problem if it’s just for a while?’ and agreed with Flame’s opinion.

“I think sightseeing would be a bit fun too…”

“Shut up.”

The only person who took Flame’s side was Ma Yuseong, but even he was silenced by Hae Wonryang.

‘Still, the party composition is the best…’

Knight positions Ma Yuseong and Dokcheolgwang.

The best Bishop, Hae Wonryang, and even Feng Hwarang.

Even if a boss monster of 4 risk or higher appears, we should be able to destroy it without any problems.

“Sigh… Okay, let’s finish quickly and play with the remaining time. Hey, local. Guide us.”

Feng Hwarang nodded and looked at the distant cityscape.

‘…The air doesn’t feel good.’

Is the reason why I feel so uneasy just by stepping on the land of the Poong Empire because the succession ceremony is scheduled soon?

Although he is the successor of the Feng family, the most powerful among the Seven Wind Families, Feng Hwarang’s position is very precarious.

As the youngest among seventeen siblings, Feng Hwarang had little chance of inheriting the throne. Not to mention the political strife with other families, Feng Hwarang’s position was already shaky from within.

‘…This is not the time to worry about useless things.’

He laughed self-deprecatingly and followed Flame.

Anella di Polanche.

It was Anella’s fake name for infiltrating Stella. To be precise, the name Anella was real, but for some reason, her real name was included in the alias.

It’s just the way Dark Mages do things, but she didn’t have much to say since she was still a Dark Mage herself.

“Anella. Get a hold of yourself.”

Startled, Anella turned her head at the voice.

A Dark Mage with a deformed appearance, with horns all over his body, was looking at her with threatening eyes.

“You failed the Stella infiltration mission miserably, and recently you’ve been refusing all missions. You haven’t even been consuming the blood of magic… I hope you’re not having any strange thoughts?”

“Ah, no! It’s not like that!”

Anella hurriedly shook her head.

It had been a month since she had stopped absorbing human mana due to her doubts as a Dark Mage.

She thought no one would notice if she refused all missions and quietly stayed hidden, but it seemed she had been marked firmly due to her previous mission failure.

“You have been given an order. If you refuse this time, Blackkingdon will be furious. Will you still refuse?”

“No…”

Anella twisted her hair and pondered. It was uncharacteristic for her age of 40 to braid her hair in pigtails, but it had become a habit to keep her hair this way. It was ironic to think that the cause of this was Blackkingdon.

She feared and hated Blackkingdon more than anyone.

“If I refuse… I’ll die, right?”

“Yes. If you were any other Dark Mage, you would have died many times over by now. I don’t understand Blackkingdon. Keeping a useless and worthless woman like you alive.”

Anella felt doubts about her life as a Dark Mage, but it was impossible to easily escape this fate.

Because the seed of a Dark Mage had been planted in her body by Blackkingdon, if she tried to run away far, her heart would burst and she would die.

‘Just endure and hold on a little longer.’

Before leaving Stella, Baek Yu-seol had said that and handed her a small amulet.

Would Anella even know that this object, which looked damaged and torn and seemed to have no effect at all, was actually a mythical artifact called the ‘Amulet of the Vengeful Spirit’?

But unfortunately, the Amulet of the Vengeful Spirit had completely lost its effectiveness and had no power at all.

I don’t know why Baek Yu-seol gave this to me, but he said that if I hold on to this amulet and endure, I can escape from this fate that is like a shackle, so I will persevere and overcome it.

“The mission is… what is it?”

“It’s not difficult. The ‘Witch’s King’ has started to move. I don’t know why she’s suddenly wandering around like that, but it’s probably just a clone anyway.”

“Th, the Witch’s King?”

Anella unknowingly grabbed her skirt, and the Dark Mage made an annoyed expression.

Most Dark Mages would discard useless emotions. That idiot woman was a disgrace to the Dark Mages.

“Tsk, pathetic. The Witch’s current location is the Poong Empire. Go there and monitor her. That’s Blackkingdon’s order.”

“Th, that kind of mission is given to someone like me? I already failed my mission, and I’m not capable enough to monitor the Witch…”

Missions related to the Witch were impossible to perform unless one was at least a 7 risk Dark Mage or higher.

At Anella’s trembling voice, the Dark Mage smirked.

“Don’t you get it yet? It means go and die. Well, you’ll die if you run away from here too. Good luck, you idiot Dark Mage.”

“Ah…”

Anella suddenly felt dizzy and grabbed her forehead.

‘The Witch, the Witch’s King…’

I can’t believe it.

Just by being near as a Dark Mage, I’ll be killed instantly by the Witch.

‘Are you really… abandoning me like this…?’

My last value is to identify the Witch’s true form and die. Is that really all I’m worth?

No. Come to think of it, it’s obvious…

Can a Dark Mage who refuses missions and doesn’t even drink human blood be called a Dark Mage?

From Blackkingdon’s perspective, there is no need to keep Anella alive anymore.

So, this means to use her until the last bit of usefulness and then throw her away.

Should I say that it’s very Dark Mage-like to use someone as a tool until the end instead of just bursting their heart?

Anella slowly turned her head and looked at the sunset over the Ruins of the Valkamic Kingdom.

‘Can I… really become human?’

She clenched the amulet tightly to her chest and bit her lip.

It would be great if I could meet Baek Yu-seol again.

‘…No. Think positively. Just a little more effort.’

I’m not dead yet, and there’s no guarantee that I will actually die.

Anella forced a smile, clenched her fist, and stretched it towards the sky.

Didn’t I already realize that frustration and despair only eat away at the soul? I can’t stop here.

“I’ll do something! Aja!”

End of Chapter