Magic Academy's Genius Blinker - Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Gourmet Club (1)

The magic performance by Aiselle Morf was recorded on a video storage device and spread all over the class.

Naturally, it was also smuggled outside, making its way to various mages in the academic world. Her magic—no, her art—caused quite a sensation in the academic circles.

Aiselle’s magic was undoubtedly amazing. But many bishop-class mages also took notice of another aspect.

Baek Yu-seol.

From the beginning, he said that he had devised this strategy solely for the bishop.

At first, people didn’t understand what he meant. Such a reckless stage would be difficult to shine on unless one was a knight.

However, his words were true.

From start to finish, Baek Yu-seol moved solely to support Aiselle’s magic.

He planned a stage where he wouldn’t stand out and protected her without hesitation, a sight that touched the hearts of many mages.

Knights exist for the bishops.

So, wasn’t Baek Yu-seol, who sacrificed himself entirely for Aiselle, the ideal form of a knight?

All bishops dream of having a knight like Aiselle’s, someone they can entrust their everything to.

But that remains just a dream; in reality, it hardly exists.

Yet Baek Yu-seol had shown such a sight, and it was inevitable that all the bishops’ hearts would race.

[Mock Monster Battle Practice Results]

[1st Place: Team 32 (Baek Yu-seol, Aiselle)]

[2nd Place: Team 31 (Ma Yuseong, Hong Bi-yeon)]

[3rd Place…]

“We’ve lost completely.”

Looking at the scores posted on the class bulletin board, Ma Yuseong spoke with a bitter tone. Hong Bi-yeon also stared at the scores, her lips tightly shut.

The score difference was overwhelming.

1st place, 199 points.

2nd place, 127 points.

Scoring over 100 points was already remarkable.

No one had ever successfully tackled a large-sized special monster with just two people before.

Yet, there it was, 199 points right at the top.
T h is w a s c o pi e d f r om ki n gmt l . o r g

There was no choice but to acknowledge it.

“Baek Yu-seol was more of a knight than I was, and Aiselle’s bishop was more of a bishop than you.”

“…Yes.”

Some parts had to be recognized.

But one thing couldn’t be accepted.

‘If Baek Yu-seol had been my knight…’

He existed solely for the bishop from start to finish.

He devised a strategy solely for the bishop, selected positions solely for the bishop, and set up a stage solely for the bishop to shine.

Ma Yuseong was an excellent knight. But, in the end, Baek Yu-seol was an even better knight.

If Baek Yu-seol had been her knight?

‘I could have displayed magic no less than Aiselle.’

But then,

‘…Why is that commoner so devoted to Aiselle?’

A sense of unease began to grow.

If the most perfect knight in the world existed, he should be the knight for the one destined to become the most perfect queen in the world.

The fact that such a knight was serving another woman was something she couldn’t accept or understand.

‘I need to investigate Baek Yu-seol more thoroughly.’

Hong Bi-yeon extended her hand to Ma Yuseong. A handshake. The two had a business-like relationship, so it was best to finish cleanly.

“Good job on this evaluation.”

“Yeah. It’d be fun to work together next time too.”

Sensing the lack of energy in Ma Yuseong’s voice, Hong Bi-yeon subtly said,

“Don’t feel too down. We did well with 127 points.”

Ma Yuseong smiled bitterly. Doing his best… She probably didn’t realize that such words meant nothing to him.

“I actually found it exciting. It was thrilling.”

“…What?”

“Didn’t you feel it? Something in your chest… a feeling of wanting to win immediately, to rush and fight, something you couldn’t hold back. Didn’t you feel that?”

Hong Bi-yeon looked at him, truly baffled.

“No? Not at all?”

“Really? That’s too bad.”

What a peculiar guy.

Not knowing what she was thinking, Ma Yuseong smiled faintly.

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

Hong Bi-yeon watched his retreating back for a long while before shaking her head and turning away. She was heading back to the classroom for Class S.
T h i s wa s c opi ed fr o m k i ng m t l .or g

She then met someone’s gaze.

A woman with jet-black hair, an icy demeanor, and snow-white eyes.

Standing almost as tall as Hong Bi-yeon, she wore a third-year badge.

‘…Sa Yelan.’

Frowning, she avoided the woman’s gaze. She had no desire to meet her now, after such a crushing defeat.

Sa Yelan Orkan.

As the successor of the current Adolevit Queen’s confidant, Duke Orkan, she was destined to be Hong Bi-yeon’s adversary.

She supported her sister, Hong Si-hwa.
T h i s w a s c o pi e d fr o m k i n g m t l .or g

Sa Yelan must have rushed over upon hearing that Hong Bi-yeon had lost to a commoner and a traitor group. Despite her icy exterior, she was a meticulous and persistent woman when it came to political loopholes.

So Hong Bi-yeon turned to the opposite corridor to avoid her.

Being too young, she didn’t realize that even such trivial actions looked laughable to Sa Yelan.

Fortunately, Hong Bi-yeon had someone she could rely on. Not her mother, not a friend, but Teacher Hameril.

‘…I should go see Teacher Hameril.’

* * *
T h i s w a s c o p i e d f r om k i n g m t l. o r g

“Hey, did you see Team 32 this time?”

“Seriously amazing. At first, I thought it was a professor performing when they showed the video without any explanation.”

“Did you see Baek Yu-seol? I found him more impressive. How could he perfectly suppress five medium-sized monsters alone?”

“Our monster studies professor said that Baek Yu-seol probably has a level of expertise in monster studies. He’s so knowledgeable about monster traits that he could pull that off.”

After the mock battle, all the students talked about Baek Yu-seol and Aiselle.

Flame completely lost in terms of points, but she didn’t care about such trivial matters. She felt relieved in her heart.

During class.

Students gathered in groups of friends, whispering and looking at Aiselle. There was still a distance between her and the other students. Flame could feel it too.

However, it was slightly different from before.

Previously, it was pure dislike. Now, students felt a sense of awe toward her.

‘According to the original story… by now, Aiselle should have been deteriorating more and more.’

After the significant shock from this mock battle, Aiselle would have been stuck under Prince Jeremie’s influence, unable to break free, rotting away.

But that future had completely changed.

The Aiselle she knew no longer existed.

Look at her now. Enjoying the subtle admiration of other students, confidently smiling.

‘To think she’d blossom Crystal Flower so quickly.’

That magic was supposed to be her identity magic, blooming far in the future after overcoming all adversities and regaining her self-esteem.

To display it so early, in front of everyone.

It must be thanks to Baek Yu-seol.

And from this incident, Flame became certain of something.

‘Baek Yu-seol must have returned for Aiselle.’

In the original romance novel, Aiselle and Ma Yuseong shared their feelings, leading to the world’s destruction. A sad ending.

But what if there was an extra story she didn’t know about?

It might go like this.

A nameless character, Baek Yu-seol, loved Aiselle his entire life. But he never received her love, even until the world’s end.

Instead of Ma Yuseong, he chose to return… Such a story.

‘Is that too far-fetched?’

Watching too many romances made strange ideas pop into her mind. But in this incident, Baek Yu-seol had created a stage solely for Aiselle. No one else could have done that.

How much time had Baek Yu-seol spent preparing, for this day alone?

T hi s w a s c o pi e d f r o m ki n g m tl . o r g
…If she knew he casually picked an arbitrary plan from the Bulbul Glasses, she’d be shocked, but she didn’t know that. So, her strange misunderstanding grew.

T hi s w as cop ie d fr o m k i n g mt l . or g
‘Unrequited love.’

Returning for the sake of love, and for a world where his beloved could live.
Th i s w a s co pi ed f ro m k in g m t l . o r g

Even if, at the end of his return, his existence was completely forgotten by his beloved.

Could he truly not regret it in the final moment?

‘Ah, that’s too much…’

Somehow, it made her chest feel heavy and sad. Watching a romance with a confirmed sad ending in real life was too much.

Baek Yu-seol said he wanted to live.

That must mean he didn’t want to be forgotten.

So, she made a decision.

To find a way for Baek Yu-seol not to disappear from everyone’s memory at the final moment.

‘If not me, no one else can.’

Someone who walks back in time can’t reveal their secret, so only she, who knows his secret, can help.

T h i s w a s c o p i ed f r o m k i ngm t l . o rg
‘So, I must find it.’

Then, she wondered.

How does it feel to be the woman loved so earnestly, to the point of time travel?

‘…No, what am I thinking again.’

Flame shook her head vigorously to clear her thoughts.

* * *

The mock monster battle ended successfully. I hadn’t expected much, but not only did Aiselle but even my score was generously high.

Of course, since I messed up my other subjects, getting a scholarship is probably out of the question. But accumulating small successes like this might help me avoid academic probation. My current grades are so terrible that I’m a bit worried.

[Episode 5 ‘Mock Monster Battle’ completed.]

[You have gained a large amount of experience!]

[Successfully leading the story in an excellent direction, you are promised additional rewards from the ‘Constellatio Project.’]

“Alright.”

The more I change the story in a big way, the more those suspicious people reward me.

T h i s w a s c o p ie d fr om k i n gm t l . o rg
‘What should I get this time?’

Though I had some ideas, I hadn’t decided yet.

Strengthening Blink was tempting, but I felt that would be a waste.

Moreover, I wanted something that would be useful for the upcoming episode, [Familiar Contract Ceremony].

Globally, only a handful of mages have contracted familiars, but Stella Academy gives aspiring mages a one-time chance to contract a familiar.

Only about 5% to 10% of students successfully contract a familiar.

There’s no guarantee I’ll succeed.

‘But, items that raise affinity are useless after one use…’

Growth of Mana Leakage Syndrome, and future episodes.

A reward that could catch both rabbits.

Suddenly, I thought of a good item.

“I’ll take an item.”

[What item do you want?]

“That would be…”
Thi s wa s c o p i e d fr o m ki ngm t l .o rg

Without hesitation, I touched one of the items my past character possessed.

[Leafanel’s Green Key]

Though not as powerful as the ancient relic gear, it was one of the ultra-rare items that only high-level players could obtain. A key that connected to a spirit.

But, it had only one function.

Opening the door to a specific dungeon.

Would its function be diminished?

[System review complete.]

[Reward granted.]

“Great!”

As expected, the item was granted as-is, with no diminishment. Exploiting a system loophole, perhaps, but there aren’t many such items anyway.

‘Leafanel’s Green Key… Why didn’t I think of this before?’

Though it connected to a spirit, it was more famous as an ‘alt character leveling item’ among players.

Despite being an entry ticket to a dungeon, obtainable only after reaching a high level, it was useless at high levels. But for low-level characters, it was a ‘golden hunting ground,’ a low-difficulty dungeon with high experience points.

I had kept it for alt character leveling but never used it. Who knew I’d use it in reality?

But to get there, I need to go out…

‘How do I get permission to go out?’

Since this incident, the conditions for going out have been tightened, making it difficult to leave.

“Sigh…”

As I scratched my head in frustration, I remembered how I managed it in the game.

There were similar restrictions on going out back then.

‘So how did I handle it?’

The thought didn’t take long. It wasn’t much of a problem to begin with.

‘Club.’

Right.

I definitely joined a club.

End of Chapter