Magic Academy's Genius Blinker - Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Ballroom of Temptation (1)

Leaving behind the sounds of Baek Yu-seol’s battle with the Major Blade Spider, the students finally descended all the stairs.

The ballroom was held on the first floor of the clock tower, so as soon as they completely descended, they naturally merged into it. However, right before entering, Hong Bi-yeon stopped.

“…Let’s tidy up our clothes for a moment. We look unfit for a banquet.”

Having repeatedly fought intense battles while wearing dresses, they looked quite disheveled.

Hong Bi-yeon skillfully tidied up the students’ clothes. She tore off the ripped parts to make them look like short dresses and covered some parts with accessories, showing quite a deft touch.

Flame looked at her with a fresh perspective.

‘Did Hong Bi-yeon do this in the original story?’

Hmm. She couldn’t recall such a scene.

‘Is something… different?’

Originally, by now, Hong Bi-yeon should have been plotting something out of jealousy towards Aiselle’s strategies. Instead, she quietly helped even Aiselle with her attire.

“Ugh, you look like a mess.”

“What did you say?”

Of course, she still had to throw in a comment, which was the problem.

“This should be good enough. Let’s go.”

Princess Hong Bi-yeon led the way into the ballroom, and the students followed, their faces tense with anticipation.

“Wow…”

However, as soon as they entered, someone couldn’t help but let out an exclamation. It was well-deserved. It was so lavish that one wouldn’t think it was just a ball held in a mere mansion.

Chandeliers hanging in mid-air, glittering brilliantly, and masked nobles holding hands and dancing under the light.

At the end, there was a beautifully decorated podium with stairs, but no one was standing on it yet.

The students quietly slipped into the ballroom. The familiar melody made it easy to follow along with the dance.

‘This is… the music we heard earlier.’

T h i s w a s c op ie d f r o m k i ng m tl .o r g
‘Was it this dance they performed then?’

Listening quietly to the familiar music.
T h i s w a s c o p i ed f r o m k i n g m t l . o rg

Bang! Bang-bang!

Suddenly, with a loud sound effect, some of the lights went out, and all the spotlights focused on the podium ahead.

Silence.

The previously boisterous nobles all fell silent. As if they had been waiting for the protagonist to appear.

From the darkness, a woman elegantly walked into the spotlight.

Click, clack!

She must be the final boss of this world, the Duchess of Aiharen.

However, the Duchess wasn’t wearing a mask, and the students were shocked, opening their eyes wide upon seeing her.

‘Wait. That face…’

‘No way…’

Soon.

The Duchess of Aiharen opened her mouth and said something unbelievable.

“Nice to meet you all. I am Jackie Aiharen.”

She was none other than ‘Jackie.’

“…How is this possible?”

“No way…”

Click!

As the students murmured in confusion, Jackie smiled elegantly and bowed gracefully.

Her movements were not just perfect but exuded elegance, yet they felt completely out of place. Flame’s face turned pale.

‘What in the world happened?’

This development didn’t exist in the original romance fantasy. No, Jackie wasn’t even a character in the original. For a mere human to become an ‘NPC’ within the Persona Gate was impossible.

Yet, she didn’t just become an NPC; she even turned into the final boss.

‘Could it be…’

There is one existence that can become an NPC within the Persona Gate.

The Dark Mages.

So…

Could it be that Jackie was… a Dark Mage?

Unable to believe the turn of events, she bit her lips and quickly looked around.

“Wow!”

“Whoa! Duchess, you are beautiful as always!”

“What do I do? I might fall for her even though I’m a woman…”

The noble NPCs were fanatically enthusiastic about Jackie. Right then, a guideline message appeared in front of the students.
T h i s w a s c o pie d f r o m k i n gm t l . o r g

[The Duchess of Aiharen has appeared!]

[The nobles seem to be under a spell, likely cast by the Duchess.]

[Many nobles had gone missing, only to be found later in the Duchess’s mansion… such a secret was hidden.]
T h i s wa s c o pi e d f r o m k i n g m tl . o r g

The story began to piece together.

[There is only one way to counter her.]

[Dance more beautifully than the Duchess of Aiharen to snap the nobles out of it!]

“What… we have to dance?”

“Dance, out of the blue…?”

As the students were bewildered, the nobles’ fervor heightened.

“Aiharen! Aiharen!”

“Please, smile at me just once, Duchess!”

“Kyaa! The Duchess waved her hand!”

“Honey, I think I love the Duchess more than you now.”

“Ah, it’s the greatest honor to offer my husband’s love to the Duchess.”

“I will give her my heart!”

The nobles’ frenzy was beyond sanity. Jackie waved to the NPC nobles, then slowly descended the podium stairs with a smirk.

‘Ah, this is thrilling.’

Everyone was cheering for her appearance. Look at those enthusiastic welcomes. It felt like she had become the protagonist.
Th i s w a s c o p i e d f ro m k i n g m tl. o r g

Crossing the nobles slowly, Jackie moved to the center of the ballroom and stood among the students, leisurely looking around.

Then, a student stepped forward.

“Well, that’s great! The goal is to dance more beautifully than the Duchess. And since you’re the Duchess, it should be easy, right? Help us win!”

At that moment.

Suddenly.

All the music and commotion stopped. One of the spotlights on Jackie moved over to the student who had spoken arrogantly, illuminating him.

Everyone began to cast cold stares at the student. Jackie raised her chin and spoke, covering her mouth with a fan.

“…Why should I do that?”

“What…?”

Her tone was so cold that the students could hardly believe she was the same classmate they knew. They instinctively sensed a deadly aura from her.

T h i s w a s c opi e d fr o m ki ng mt l . o r g
“Hoho.”

However, Jackie laughed. Even as she exuded a chilling murderous aura that seemed capable of tearing the skin apart, she appeared relaxed.

Then, with exaggerated gestures like an actress, she twirled around the ballroom and spoke.

“Everyone, what should we do with this rude person?”

The reaction was immediate.

“How dare he!”

“Drag him out!”

“He insulted the Duchess!”

“I’ll pluck out his tongue myself!”

“Ahahahaha!”

Jackie burst into laughter, looking at the nobles who seemed ready to lay down their very hearts at her command.

Then, covering her mouth again with the fan, she smiled with her eyes.

“No. I am merciful, so I’ll be satisfied with just expelling this student from here.”

“Ah, as expected of the Duchess Aiharen…”

“How kind-hearted she is.”

“I’m ashamed of myself for uttering such barbaric words!”

Soon, knights dragged the boy who had spoken out against Jackie by the scruff of his neck and threw him out.

“Wait, wait! What’s going on? Argh!”

Thud!

After the boy was expelled and the main door was firmly shut, the atmosphere grew heavy.

No one could make sense of it.

Why had Jackie become the final boss?

Why wasn’t she cooperating?

Could it be that she had lost control of her body to the final boss?

‘…No. That’s not it.’
T h i s w as c o p ie d f r o m k i n g m t l . org

That girl was undoubtedly Jackie. She was moving of her own will. Flame was certain.

‘Was this why Baek Yu-seol warned us about her?’

Though she had spent time with Jackie and carefully checked her condition, there hadn’t been any signs of Dark Mage transformation.

This meant that a ‘seed’ of dark magic had been planted in her by someone else, and upon entering this realm, she completely awakened as a Dark Mage due to her unchecked emotions.

Flame shouted with her last hope.

“Jackie, please calm down. If you indulge in that power, you might transform into something terrible!”

Thi s w a s cop ied f r o m ki n g m t l .o r g
“Hah! Are you jealous of my popularity?”

“No, it’s not like that! I’m genuinely worried about you…”

“Shut up, Flame. If you’re jealous of my charm, say so. Look, everyone loves me, not you.”

It was no use.

Her mind was already deeply eroded by dark magic. Immersed in the Persona Gate’s ‘roleplay,’ she was beyond persuasion.

There was only one way left.

Win the dance battle, and strip her of her seductive power to revert her to her original self.

Yes… nothing has changed.’

Just defeat Jackie and make her come to her senses.

“Now, everyone! Shall we start the party?”

Standing in the middle of the ballroom, Jackie raised both arms high and shouted, causing a thunderous cheer.

“Whoooaa!!”

“Whoo-hoo~!”

“Aiharen! Aiharen!”

Everyone cheered for her.

It was ecstatic.

Her head, her chest, her heart, everything felt like it was melting.

The thrill of being the center of attention was accompanied by an intoxicating exhilaration.

“Haaa…”

Jackie let out a hot sigh, her face flushed, and looked at Flame with eyes full of love.

“Flame, my Flame…”

In a voice slightly cold, she spoke so only Flame could hear.

“You were… enjoying this amazing feeling all to yourself?”

“…What?”

“You’re really bad. Selfish. Look, it’s so sweet. Thrilling, fun. I feel like I can never forget this.”

Ah.

Realizing something as she spoke, Jackie licked her lips with a seductive smile.

“…No, I will never let go of this.”

Here, like Flame, I can live forever receiving cheers as the most beautiful being in the world.

I don’t want to leave. With such a fantastic place, why should I help them?

In this world, even Flame, Aiselle, and Hong Bi-yeon were mere extras… It’s paradise.

A world just for me.

Thi s wa s c o pi e d f ro m k in g m t l. o r g
A stage just for me.

“Flame? Won’t you dance with me?”

She felt numerous rhythms, music, songs, and dances in her head. Even though Jackie had never learned to dance, she felt that at this moment, she could perform the most elegant and beautiful dance.

Tap, tap!

As she lightly stepped, black sparks of magical energy flew from the floor. Flames of dark red rose in a magic circle, and Jackie spoke elegantly.
T his w a s co p i ed f rom k ingm t l . o r g

“You’d better come at me with full force. Here, I don’t plan on losing to you.”

[Boss Battle, ‘Ballroom of Temptation’ has begun.]

End of Chapter