Magic Academy's Genius Blinker - Chapter 92

Chapter 92

Familiar Contract Ceremony (4)

In fact, the term “Familiar Contract Ceremony” might be somewhat inaccurate. The primary reason mages contract with Divine Beasts is not to form familial bonds, but to gain mutual benefits.

People often think that anyone who contracts with a Divine Beast can summon their Familiar anywhere, but that’s not the case.

When a mage and a Familiar contract, they each provide certain ‘benefits’ to one another, but summoning the Familiar requires building a significant level of intimacy beyond that.

For example, contracting with a fire-based Familiar might grant you passive effects such as “faster casting speed and increased power of fire spells,” but to reach the stage of actually ‘summoning’ the Familiar, you need to build an extraordinary level of intimacy.

In the original ‘Romantic Fantasy’ as well, there aren’t many mages who reach the stage of directly summoning their Familiars.

And one of those who did was Aiselle Morf.

Flame walked alone in the 3rd layer, reflecting on this. She hadn’t brought her friends along. Her plan was to find and contract with the ‘Radiant Flower,’ which was slightly risky.

The Radiant Flower, which was only briefly mentioned in the original novel, was a Divine Beast with a faint presence that amplified light properties, making it perfect for Flame.

“Ah, found it.”

As expected.

At the edge of a cliff, in a place barely touched by light. The description mentioned finding the Radiant Flower there, and she found it just like that.

Divine Beasts in flower form are extremely rare, and this one was almost at a 4-Star level.

Flame calmed herself and reached out towards the Radiant Flower.

Flutter!

The Radiant Flower scattered a glow like a dandelion in the wind. Though it couldn’t communicate, this was undoubtedly a positive sign.

“Great…!”

Given her strong affinity with light properties, she thought it would be easy. Flame, having contracted with the Radiant Flower, trembled with joy.

She was exhausted from rushing here, and since she had nothing left to do, she planned to find a spot to rest until the ceremony ended.

“Let’s see….”

She had already spotted a flat area that seemed suitable, so she headed there.

But there was someone already there.

“Hello? Flame.”

“Oh, hello?”
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“Ma… Yuseong? Aiselle?”

Ma Yuseong was sitting by a campfire, grilling meat, and Aiselle was quietly sitting beside him, illuminated by the gentle firelight.

Seeing these two, whose beauty made even the campfire’s glow seem like perfect lighting, Flame held her breath. It felt different from reading about them in the novel.

No human description could ever fully capture their appearance.

“What a coincidence, meeting here.”

“I know, why are you guys camping out in such a gloomy, deserted place?”

“I just happened to pass by.”

“I’m just killing time.”

“Oh.”

Come to think of it, Ma Yuseong could not build rapport with Divine Beasts. All the Divine Beasts avoided him, so he couldn’t even interact with them properly. Knowing this, he must have set up his tent in this secluded place to kill time alone.

It was unfortunate, but what could be done?

“Hey, mind if I join you for a meal?”

Aiselle probably also passed by and happened to meet Ma Yuseong, ending up eating together.

Flame plopped down in front of Ma Yuseong, cross-legged, and grabbed a skewer. Feeling unsatisfied, she rummaged through her bag and took out some seasoning.

“Eating so blandly? Here, sprinkle this.”

“What is this?”

“You should carry salt and pepper. It’s so bland, no wonder it tastes awful.”

Aiselle and Ma Yuseong looked at her in surprise. She knew. She remembered how tasteless their meals were in the original novel.

Ma Yuseong sprinkled the salt Flame handed him and asked.

“Flame, did you make the contract?”

“For now, yes.”
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“…Really?”

“Really?”

Aiselle and Ma Yuseong looked surprised at her early success. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Flame scratched her cheek.

Before entering, she already knew which Divine Beast to contract with and where it was, making it possible.

‘Speaking of which, I wonder how that guy is doing.’

Flame thought of Baek Yu-seol, who had headed to the 4th layer.

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That place was an unknown area even to Flame, as it didn’t appear in the original novel.

But he was a ‘returner,’ and might have some information about it. She didn’t know what he was planning, but it was undoubtedly a dangerous place.

‘Well, he won’t die, I’m sure.’

While Flame was chewing on Ma Yuseong’s meat.

…Boom, crash!!

A loud explosion echoed from a distance. They immediately got up and looked around.

“What was that?”

“It sounds like a battle nearby….”

But could a student cause such a huge explosion?

‘There is one.’

There was one student in the first year who could, Hong Bi-yeon.

But something felt off. The explosion from where it came from had an eerie, unpleasant feeling.

“It’s probably nothing. There are many wild animals here, so there’s no need to worry too much. If they made it to the 3rd layer, they must be confident in their abilities.”
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“Yes… that’s true, but something…”

Just as Aiselle was about to say something.

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…Shiver!

A disgusting, electrifying sensation passed through the air, making their whole bodies shudder.

Feeling it, Flame and Ma Yuseong simultaneously looked at a certain direction.

“This is…!”

It was definitely ‘Dark Mana.’

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‘Why?’

In the original novel, this didn’t happen. The Familiar Contract Ceremony was supposed to be just a minor conflict between Aiselle and Hong Bi-yeon….

Realizing this, she regretted her thoughts.

‘What was I thinking? This isn’t the first time something different from the original happened!’

While she was blaming herself, Ma Yuseong leaped towards the source without a word.

Fwoosh-!!

“Wow?! What….”

Seeing Ma Yuseong shoot into the sky, Flame also hardened her expression and quickly ran.

“Aiselle! Let’s go!”

“Ugh, okay!”

Something was definitely happening.

There was no doubt.

But what exactly… she had no clue.

‘What’s going on…?’

* * *

The thick smoke slowly dissipated, and Hong Bi-yeon let out a dry cough.

Feeling something pressing on her chest, she touched it and felt something warm.

“Cough…!”

As she coughed and tried to lift her upper body, she saw what was pressing on her chest.

“P-Princess….”

“Arshuane…?”

Arshuane was lying unconscious, covered in dirt, but thankfully, she didn’t seem to be seriously injured.

“What is this…?”

“Princess!!”

She quickly laid Arshuane on her side and turned around as her faction members screamed her name.

Crack, crackle…!

Something shattered into pieces, scattering shards everywhere. Hong Bi-yeon immediately recognized what it was.

‘The barrier of the 4th layer…’
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The barrier that sealed the dangerous Divine Beasts in the 4th layer had completely shattered.

And a Divine Beast squeezed through the broken gap, soaring into the sky and emitting ultrasonic waves.

Pwoooo—!
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“Ahhhh!”

“Ouch!”

The students screamed, covering their ears. Even in such chaos, Hong Bi-yeon looked at it calmly.

Although it was writhing in pain, tainted with dark energy, there was no doubt.

That was the Divine Beast Hong Bi-yeon had been searching for, the ‘Frost Flame Dolphin.’

There was no time to rejoice. Its entire body was unstable, crackling with dark energy, and it looked dangerously volatile.

‘Divine Beast Erosion by Dark Mana…’

A thousand years ago, when Dark Mages began to rampage, this was common, but now that Divine Beasts have hidden in the shadows of the world, it’s a rare phenomenon.

Divine Beasts were particularly susceptible to Dark Mana, and once eroded, they couldn’t suppress the emotions and energy, leading to dangerous rampages.

‘The only way is to subdue it quickly.’

Just as Hong Bi-yeon raised her staff to ignite flames, a massive ice block fell from the sky and struck the dolphin’s back.

The dolphin’s entire body froze, stopping its movement. Then, a chain of light descended from the sky, wrapping around the dolphin’s body. Ma Yuseong appeared above, striking it with a giant rock fist, sending it crashing to the ground.

Boom-!!

Thud….

The thick fog cleared, revealing the scene.

Flame and other students emerged into view. Flame imbued the chain with the power of ‘Dark Mana Purification’ and infused it with mana.

Flash…!!

Perhaps because the erosion wasn’t very advanced, the Dark Mana was quickly purified, and the dolphin closed its eyes as if exhausted.

‘Thank goodness…’

The important Divine Beast, which always appeared in the main story, had almost been corrupted by Dark Mana.

As Flame caught her breath, she shouted towards Hong Bi-yeon.

“Hey! Princess! What the hell happened here!”

However, before she could answer, they also saw it.

Crack….

The red barrier that had sealed the 4th layer shattered completely.

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“What… how….”

And, from the broken barrier, someone walked out.

The students backed away, reforming their lines. Flame and the others also joined them, pointing their staffs at the barrier.

“…The best dishes are usually saved for last, but the plan is ruined.”

The person who appeared was none other than Professor Maizen Tiren.

“P-Professor…?”

Someone called out to her, but there was no need for an answer.

A pair of red horns sprouted from her head.

Eyes covered in a blood-red membrane.

A body that had swelled to nearly 3 meters tall, with grotesque bone fragments protruding everywhere.

She was no longer human, but a Dark Mage.

Maizen glanced at the students. Four students from Class S and about a dozen others presumed to be from Class A.

She licked her lips with her tongue and spread her hands.
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Boom!!

A black mana storm spread in all directions.

“Ahhh!”

“Ugh…!”

Just the release of mana had such immense power that the students staggered backward.

‘Ah… yes, this is it.’

Maizen had been an alchemist, and her talent as a mage was mediocre. She barely reached 4th class.

Her switch to alchemy was almost forced by her limited talent.

But now, things were different.

At least 5th class, with peak output reaching 6th class destruction power.

No longer a mere potion maker.

With her true strength.

With her true magic, she would make the name Maizen Tiren known worldwide.

“Now… shall we enjoy the feast?”

End of Chapter