Magic Academy's Genius Blinker - Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Masked Ball (5)

Meanwhile, an emergency had arisen within Stella’s Magic Security Department.

“…What? A real Persona Gate has formed inside the Stella Dome?”

“Y-Yes, that’s correct.”

Not just Stella’s Magic Knights, but even the professors had been dispatched en masse to the Stella Dome.

Unlike the other fake Persona Gates where students had entered, this one was emitting an ominous light—a real Persona Gate.

“How could a real Persona Gate form inside the Stella Dome? Why didn’t we know about this sooner?”

Persona Gates emit a unique wave upon formation, which the Magic Department instantly detects and disseminates to the magical community, allowing Magic Warriors to be dispatched.

Despite being a school, Stella Academy boasted the world’s best Magic Warriors and the finest security systems.

But for Stella Academy to be unaware of a Persona Gate forming within its premises?
T h i s w as c o p i ed fr o m k i ng m tl . o r g

Could there be a more embarrassing situation?

“It’s because… we didn’t detect any waves from the Persona Gate.”

“What?”

“It’s as if someone completely reversed the space wave detection system within Stella, causing the unique wave emitted upon the Persona Gate’s formation to be entirely bypassed. We’re as confused as you are. The Security Department is currently bolstering the system…”

“Damn it, that’s not the issue right now!”

Lee Han-wol gritted his teeth and shouted, supported by a voice from behind.

“He’s right. The important thing now is who entered that Persona Gate.”

“…Captain Arain!”

Lee Han-wol turned his head at the unsettling voice. A man with a dark, shadowy face, resembling that of a dead person, was walking over with a cold expression.

Arain Blackswan, the captain of Stella’s Magic Knights, one of the top five Magic Knight Orders in the world.

A man notorious for creating a sea of corpses from the Dark Mages he had slain, he was now making a rare appearance on Stella Academy grounds.

“What’s the situation? Is a second wave entry possible?”

“N-No, it’s impossible. It seems like… someone is already challenging it from within…”

“I see. So we just have to wait until the students fail and die.”

“That’s not what I meant…!”

The assistants lowered their heads, their jaws trembling under Arain’s piercing gaze. He was known to disregard and belittle the weak and talentless, and it seemed evident now.

“Stop that! Arain, why do you torment the staff when you know follow-up entry to a Persona Gate is impossible?”

Arain stared at Lee Han-wol with a sinister smile. Others might not notice it, but Lee Han-wol could see it clearly.

It was a mocking smile.

“You sure have a lot to say for someone who can’t even manage a single issue properly.”

Lee Han-wol’s forehead veins bulged, but he held back. That was just Arain’s personality.

“Enough. Let’s stop the pointless arguments. What’s the estimated risk level of the Persona Gate?”

“It’s estimated to be between 4-Risk and 5-Risk.”

“Estimated? Give me an exact figure.”

“Well… it was originally 4-Risk, but the moment students entered, the risk level suddenly increased by one grade.”

“That’s rare. For a Persona Gate to emit fake waves…”

What in the world was happening at Stella? He couldn’t hide his troubled thoughts.

“Bring me the list of students who entered.”

After a while, the list of students who had entered the Persona Gate was handed to Arain and Lee Han-wol.

“Hmm, this is…”

“Hah, hmm.”

The professors could not hide their surprise at the list.

T h i s wa s co pi e d f r o m k i n gm t l . o r g
While the other nobles were of no particular concern, Princess Hong Bi-yeon Adolevit was among those listed.

Though Stella Academy’s training was notoriously tough, with students often dying during practical training, the death of the Adolevit Princess would severely damage the school’s reputation.

This was worrisome.

But.

“…There really seems to be no solution.”

The Persona Gate had a 5-Risk level. It required thorough preparation by veteran mages to clear.

The likelihood that the students inside could interpret the world’s patterns was low.

Even if they did…

Could mages at the 2-3 class level manage it?

Arain clicked his tongue and turned away.

“Prepare sixteen body retrieval coffins.”

“Captain Arain! What are you doing!”

“Why? It’s just an instruction to ensure efficient operations. Are you going to tell me that first-year brats will clear a 5-Risk Persona Gate, Lee Han-wol? You might as well say an ant killed a tiger.”

After saying that, Captain Arain left with his Magic Knight Order, leaving Lee Han-wol clenching his fists.

Yes, logically, Arain was right.

But he wanted to believe.

‘Among the students who entered, some survived the 5-class necromancer attack.’

Even Baek Yu-seol, who directly pierced the necromancer’s heart, was included.

Lee Han-wol closed his eyes and prayed.

‘Please, let the children escape safely…’

* * *

Two obstacles remained to clear the Persona Gate.

Th is was c o pi e d f r o m k i n gm t l . o r g
One was the Dancing Clock Tower, and the other was the grand masked ball.

The masked ball wasn’t much of a concern. Flame knew well what would happen there.
T hi s w as c op ie d fro m ki n g m tl . or g

However, the Dancing Clock Tower was worrisome.

As she remembered, spider-like monsters with a 4-Risk danger level would appear there.

“Hey, do you remember what happens here?”

T h i s wa s c o p ie d f r o m ki ng mtl . org
Flame’s sudden question made Baek Yu-seol, who was walking ahead, ponder for a moment before shaking his head.

“No.”

“Really…”

“But I know it’s dangerous.”

Of course, even a returner wouldn’t remember every single event. But he seemed to know that something would happen.

While Flame accepted that, Baek Yu-seol thought about the place.

‘I really don’t know the story well.’

To Baek Yu-seol, this was merely a dungeon for item farming, not a place he knew the story in detail.

He vaguely remembered that the final boss strategy involved dancing, and that Aiselle and Hong Bi-yeon were good at dancing but had some issues. However, he didn’t remember the specifics as he had skipped through the event cutscenes by mashing the ESC key.

Not by choice. If one person watched the cutscene, the other 15 players had to watch too, filling the chat with “Skip, skip!” and “Which idiot isn’t skipping?!”

‘Still, I wanted to see Hong Bi-yeon dance…’

Though Hong Bi-yeon was a villainess, her unique beauty made her a beloved character among male players in the game.
T h i s w a s copi e d fr o m kin g m t l. o r g

There was even a famous gamer who broke his monitor every time Hong Bi-yeon died in various branches of the story.

And today, it seemed he wouldn’t get to see it either.

He didn’t remember the story details, but he knew what to catch for ‘hidden rewards.’

[You’ve reached the Dancing Clock Tower.]

[Descend the stairs below to reach the ballroom.]

[The masked ball seems to have just started, so hurry!]

Seeing the guideline message, Flame let out a brief exclamation.

“Wow, it’s high…”

Though called a clock tower, it didn’t quite feel like one. It was just an endlessly spiraling staircase leading far below.

And.

At the top of the clock tower, where students would never set foot, lived the ‘Major Blade Spider.’

Flame swallowed dryly and took a deep breath.

‘That thing is dangerous.’

She had studied the Blade Spider extensively as a countermeasure, but it would still be difficult to prevent damage.

‘It might be better if I handle it alone.’

If Aiselle safely fought the final boss, no one would die.

As Flame made up her mind and opened her mouth—

“Wait a moment.”

Baek Yu-seol, who was walking at the front, stopped and looked up at the ceiling.

“There’s something here.”
T h is w a s c op i ed f r om k i ngm tl. o r g

He turned back and nonchalantly asked Aiselle.

“Did the guideline message say anything?”

“No. It just says to head to the ballroom immediately. That’s strange… it mentioned something happening at the Dancing Clock Tower earlier.”

“Alright. That means this stage isn’t necessary to clear. You guys go ahead. I’ll check it out alone.”

“What…”

Flame involuntarily looked up. The Blade Spider hadn’t moved yet, and the ceiling was quite high. Moreover, he claimed not to remember what happened here, so he shouldn’t be aware of its existence.

Yet, he already sensed it?

T h i s wa s cop i e d f r o m k ing m t l .or g
‘Well… he’s a person who sees and blocks magic with his eyes, so it’s not strange for him to have extraordinary senses.’

Seeing other students wavering, Flame stepped forward.

“Let’s listen to him for now. It seems urgent to get to the ballroom quickly.”

Originally, Flame intended to stay, but if Baek Yu-seol offered to remain, she could trust him.
T h i s w a s c o p ied f r o m ki ng mt l . o r g

“Right. I agree with the commoner. There’s no need for many of us to stay behind for something unnecessary.”

“If the Princess says so…”

“I’ll follow the Princess.”

“Me too.”

Half the students here were Hong Bi-yeon’s faction members or followers. With her strong stance, it was easily decided that Baek Yu-seol would stay behind alone.

Ding! Dong!

The clock tower’s bell rang, and suddenly, a massive creature’s scuttling echoed from the ceiling.

At that ghastly sound, the students simultaneously looked up, horrified.

“A spider?!”

“A Blade Spider! And a Major Blade Spider…!”

“Damn, it’s 4-Risk! Hurry! We need to get down!”

As the students hurried down the stairs, Baek Yu-seol drew his Terivon Sword.

The students looked back at him worriedly, but they had no choice but to flee.

Clank! Clatter!

As the Blade Spider crawled down the wall, sparks flew everywhere. The Blade Spider had eight legs, all as sharp as blades. Even a simple attack could be fatal in such a confined space.

T h i s w a s c o pi e d f r o m k i n g m t l .org
Moreover, the Blade Spider spun strong, sharp webs to connect spaces and move freely.

A clock tower structure with an open middle was practically a stage made for the Blade Spider.

“How did that thing…”

“Can Baek Yu-seol hold it off?”

“I don’t know. We have to trust him…”

As they worriedly murmured, a massive spark suddenly erupted from the ceiling where Baek Yu-seol and the Major Blade Spider were facing off.

It wasn’t just a friction spark; it looked like a magical effect.

“What’s that…”

Looking up, the students gasped in astonishment.

Dozens of blue lines stretched between the walls of the clock tower.

And Baek Yu-seol, jumping across the blue lines in mid-air. Watching him swing a sword emitting a transparent light, the students finally felt reassured.

‘Baek Yu-seol must have another trick up his sleeve…!’

‘As expected, he had something.’

Now, all they had to worry about was one thing.

Reaching the final goal, the masked ball, and finding a way to escape this dreadful world.

That’s all.

End of Chapter