Magic Academy’s Genius Blinker

Chapter 199

A Gamble with Time (2)

The meeting between Aiselle and Flame was bound to be a coincidence.

“How did you find your way here? I stumbled upon this place by accident too.”
Thi s w a s c opi e d fr o m k i n g m t l . or g

T h is w as c opi e d fro m k i ng mt l . o r g
“Oh, did you get lost like I did?”

Meeting in a secret corner of the library when no one was around would certainly make it seem that way.

But for Flame, it was an intentional encounter.

She had guessed that Aiselle would be here around this time and remembered the knowledge from the original story to find the secret space without any effort.

“I just… uh, yeah. I found it by accident.”

“Right? Anyway, the librarian leaves right on time, so we can stay a little longer.”

“I bet they don’t even know we’re here. That librarian hates recording things.”

Aiselle spoke with an excited voice, pleased with the knowledge that she could read a bit more. Her sweet voice had a strangely calming power, though it didn’t ease Flame’s bitter heart.

“What were you reading?”

“Oh, look at this. I got curious about the Twelve Divine Moons recently. You know about the incident on Leviang’s Coast, right? It was because of the curse of the Blue Winter December.”

The curious girl had a personality that made her dig into anything she was curious about.

“And then, wouldn’t you know it, there’s a book right here about the Twelve Divine Moons? Well… it’ll probably just cover some folklore.”
Th is was co p i e d f r o m ki ng mt l . org

Aiselle probably didn’t know.

The book she held was one that only a few professors at Stella could read, and it was personally written by Principal Eltemon Eltrine.

Back when he was in his prime, Eltemon Eltrine traveled the world when he sensed it was time to retire.

T h is was c op i e d f r o m k i n g m t l . o rg
During those travels, he met countless heroes, recluses, mystical creatures, and legendary beasts, and among those special encounters was the ‘Twelve Divine Moons.’

It would be normal to think there wouldn’t be detailed records of such mythical beings in a school library.
T h i s w a s c o p i e d f rom k i ng m t l . or g

Like Aiselle thought.

But this place was not somewhere just anyone could enter.

Just naturally, truly.

Aiselle, who thought she reached this place by ‘coincidence’ while wandering, had no idea.

“Sounds interesting.”

“Want to see it together?”

The moment Aiselle started reading that book, her tragedy began. The best way to stop it would be to prevent her from reading that book.

“Really? I’m curious, can I see it for a moment?”

“Here you go.”
T his wa s c o p i e d fr o m ki n g m t l . o r g

Aiselle handed over the book without a hint of suspicion. Flame stared at the book now in her hands, pondering for a moment.

She was certain.

The moment Aiselle got involved with this, she wouldn’t encounter a good future.

Perhaps… the ‘truth’ Aiselle would come to know would lead her to live like a recluse, wasting away her time. That’s something even Baek Yu-seol couldn’t prevent.

All the countless incidents and disasters Baek Yu-seol had resolved couldn’t prevent tragedies born from the truth.

However.

There was one way to stop it right here, right now.

With just a tiny bit of mana, tearing this book apart.

In that way, Aiselle would never know why her father died or the secret hidden within.
T h i s w a s c op i e d f rom k i ng m tl . o rg

‘…Let’s tear it up.’

It was an inevitable choice.

Because sometimes, living without knowing anything might be better.

…But.

“Oh, I already read the middle section. There’s a very intriguing part there.”

“…What?”

“The book discusses ‘Silver Age November’ among the Twelve Divine Moons.”

“You read it? Already?”

“Huh? Yes? Yes… Is that a problem?”

Flame’s body trembled, but Aiselle, not noticing, continued speaking.

“Anyway, just as Blue Winter December left ‘Heart of Winter’ as its fragment and Red Summer June divided ‘Flower of Fire,’ Silver Age November did the same. One of those magical items allows you to glimpse past events… Huh? Flame, what’s wrong?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Too late.

Now that she knew that much, there was no reason to stop her.

Flame gazed at the book with a blank expression.

“Well… there’s still a bit of summer break left, right? So I’m thinking of going to find it myself.”

“…You’re going to find it?”

“Yeah… Seems a bit foolish, right? I’m just thinking of it as a trip to clear my mind since it might not even exist.”

Yeah, it really does seem foolish.

“Who knows? If it really exists, I might be able to reveal the truth about my father!”

Aiselle’s father, Isaac Morf, was killed by the Adolevit royal family, bearing the most disgraceful insult in the magical world as a Dark Mage traitor.

For the past ten years.

Aiselle claimed her father’s innocence countless times, but the magical world wouldn’t accept it.

So, she waited, strengthening her own power. To reveal the truth to the world and clear her father’s unfair charge.

“So, I’m willing to try anything if there’s even a glimmer of hope.”

“I see.”

Flame nodded with a firm expression and spoke to her in a determined voice, as if she had made up her mind.

“Then I’ll go with you.”

“…What?”

“You said it was like a trip, right? I’ve been super stressed lately too, so this is perfect.”

“To-together? I can go alone…”

“We’re going together. Just so you know.”

Flame declared and then turned around, leaving the library.

“Uh, wait!”

Aiselle’s flustered voice called out, but Flame didn’t pay it any mind.

If Aiselle was truly going to follow the original story… Flame decided she would accompany her through that journey.

* * *

Cradle of the Heavenly Spirit Tree, White Castle.

“Yawn…”

Laim Taesong, a member of the queen’s direct guard, yawned widely, wiping the tears that flowed from his eyes.

Just because he was a knight who served the queen directly didn’t mean he always had to appear proper, right?

“Taesong. I told you to maintain your dignity in the White Castle.”

On the other hand, his twin sister, Laim Taeseon, always displayed an orderly demeanor and scolded her brother.

“Oh, uh… Right…”

Laim Taesong tried to gather his staff to his chest, attempting to appear dignified. Although it didn’t change his lazy and sleepy demeanor.

‘Tired…’

Laim Taesong was one of the two knights who closely guarded Flowerseorin, living in a cabin deep in the forest.

Perhaps because of the habit of living there for years, he no longer cared about others’ gazes, and as a result, he became completely complacent.

Despite this, his skills were reliable, and having served the queen for a long time didn’t make him lose Flowerseorin’s trust.

But from Laim Taeseon’s perspective, his attitude was very displeasing.

“The queen… is working hard today too…”

“Indeed. It’s a good sight.”

When they glanced into the queen’s office, they saw Flowerseorin, tirelessly working from morning till night without a single break.

Her figure, busy while wearing a black veil and dress, looked quite awkward from Laim Taesong’s perspective, who had protected her side for a lifetime.

“Thanks to that, the standing of the Elder Council has significantly diminished lately.”

Laim Taesong chuckled at Taeseon’s words.

“Those disrespectful old folks were strutting around while Her Majesty was away, weren’t they?”

“Indeed.”

When the queen’s seat was vacant for a long time, the power of the High Elf Elder Council naturally rose. For decades, they had been doing as they pleased, but when the queen suddenly appeared to correct all the rules, discontent among the council was rampant.

T h i s w a s co p i e d f r o m k in gm tl . org
But what could they do?
Th i s w a s c o p i e d fr o m k in g m t l . o r g

They couldn’t oppose the one closest to the World Tree.

“Paineal. I told you to remove the Elder Council’s seal from this document. When a department directly under the queen acts, there’s no need to get the Elder Council’s approval.”

As Flowerseorin began to reprimand someone, Taeseon and Taesong’s attention naturally returned to the office.

“…It’s always been like this. For over 30 years, it’s been a tradition…”

“Always? Did you say always?”

Oh dear.

Laim Taesong shook his head.

The word “always” was what the queen hated most.

Elves inherently feared change intensely, and for a very long time, they maintained a conservative culture without changing things that were ‘always’ that way, but it was Flowerseorin who shattered that.

It seemed the younger High Elves who had recently come in hadn’t properly understood that.

“Not during my time. Change it immediately.”

When she started reforming the absurd rule that required the Elder Council’s approval for every action within the White Castle, some executives had bitter expressions.

Flowerseorin closely observed each of their faces. Perhaps due to weakening the Lovesickness and activating the ability of Red Spring March’s blessing, she could properly read the intentions and emotions revealed in their expressions.

‘…I must uproot the Elder Council swiftly.’

The decision was swift.

“Meidi? We need to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the internal executive members. Please have the list on my desk by evening.”

“Ye-yes!”

When a girl named Meidi, who had newly taken the position of an aide, answered in haste, the executives’ expressions turned pale.

“Whew~ Her Majesty. She’s got charisma, huh?”

“…Indeed. I’ve never seen Her Majesty like this.”

If they thought of Flowerseorin during the days she quietly lived in a cabin, she was close to a gentle and flower-loving pure girl.

She feared going outside but longed for an ordinary life more than anyone, loved the sunlight but was afraid to raise her head…

Such a fragile girl.

But that was a misconception because they only observed the timid Flowerseorin while they hid and lived together.

Flowerseorin, as the Elf Queen, was different.

She possessed the charisma and leadership expected of a queen and had the firm determination to completely overturn and change the culture that had been deeply rooted and clogged.

Honestly, since returning to the position of queen, Flowerseorin had only shown cold and intense appearances that made it hard to recall her past self.

Even Laim Taesong and Laim Taeseon, both 7th-class mages, occasionally got startled.

“Still, I think Her Majesty looks even more splendid like this.”

“…Do you?”

“Yeah. It seems like she’s doing what she wants. She looks happy.”

From the perspective of the two knights who always protected her side, seeing her live each day with clear goals, unlike when she just endured, was quite moving.

So.

They believed that Flowerseorin would continue to live as a dignified queen.

She would spark a great transformation by reforming the decayed laws of the palace, actively circulate culture by opening exchanges with many countries worldwide, and further raise the status of elves…

They firmly believed she would rule the World Tree forever as such a charismatic Elf Queen.

Taesong, Taeseon. Sorry.

Tonight, a special guest is coming, so I’ll step out for a while.

I’ll be back soon, so don’t worry!

[・れd)。・°]

…One night.

The queen left a note like an immature young girl and slipped out of the castle without the guards noticing.

“Wha, what’s this—!”

Realizing too late that the queen had gone missing, Laim Taesong shouted, and Taeseon sank into her seat.

“Your Majesty…? This can’t be true…”

The antics of the mischievous queen made the hearts of her two loyal knights drop.

End of Chapter