Magic Academy’s Genius Blinker

Chapter 215

Old Story (11)

The Twelve Disciples of the Progenitor Mage, the descendants of the great Morf, and the 8th-Class mage, Isaac Morf.

Wilhelm, the aide who had pledged his loyalty to him, had a rather businesslike and honest personality.

In truth, to put it nicely, he was honest, but to put it bluntly, he was rigid and lacked flexibility.

“…This way.”

With a face full of dissatisfaction, Wilhelm guided me to my private quarters.

Of course, it would have been outrageous for a mere bodyguard like myself to use the same luxurious mansion as Lady Aiselle, so I was assigned to an external dormitory, which apparently was still a high-class accommodation reserved for someone of the rank of a knight captain.

‘Your Grace! This is unbelievable! Entrusting the Lady’s protection to an outsider and even granting him such status…!’

I still remember the moment when Duke Isaac introduced me to Aide Wilhelm. His foaming-at-the-mouth opposition, as he stood firm in his beliefs, would have been admirable if I weren’t the one on the receiving end.

Even so, Wilhelm was actually one of the more reasonable ones.

Who would agree with suddenly assigning an outsider as the ‘dedicated bodyguard’ to Lady Aiselle?

To be honest, I was also quite shocked when I first received this request.

But most people kept their mouths shut because it was the Duke who had made this decision.
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Only the loyal Wilhelm continued to oppose it, fuming with anger.

Although he didn’t show much favor toward me, he was undoubtedly a loyal person, and there was nothing particularly unpleasant about him.

“Yes, it’s a nice room. I’ll make good use of it.”

Wilhelm stared at me for a long time before finally speaking.

“That mask.”

“…Yes?”

“It’s suspicious.”

What did he expect me to do?

Even though he said that, I couldn’t just take off the mask. Duke Isaac had already permitted it, so Wilhelm couldn’t just order me to remove it.

Besides, the mask had become like a trademark, a symbol of hidden power. Though I was hiding no such power…

“Never mind.”

When I didn’t budge, Wilhelm turned around and spoke in a low voice.

“Consider this a warning. Do not put the Lady in danger. I won’t forgive you if you do.”

With that, he quietly walked away.

He’s not a bad person, but… there’s something about him that makes it hard to get close.

“Sigh…”

Flop.

I lay on the bed that was far superior in quality to the one in Stella Academy’s S-Class dormitory and stared blankly at the ceiling, organizing my thoughts.

“The rules for time travelers…”

There was one particularly powerful rule, almost like a dilemma.

Never change a ‘confirmed event’ that happened in the past.

For example, let’s say that [Tonight, Aiselle will eat a strawberry cake] is a confirmed historical fact.

If I know that detail and change history so that she doesn’t eat the strawberry cake, the future will be heavily distorted.

There’s a 0.00001% chance that Aiselle, having been denied her strawberry cake, might suddenly go astray and run away from home.

So, what happens then?

When I return to the present… it will be a completely different future, a different world.

Aiselle might not enroll in Stella, Flame might not exist, and the world could be one where Ma Yuseong has fully turned into a Dark Mage.

In short, an unexpected storyline that wasn’t even in the original game could suddenly emerge.

And that world… would not be ‘my world’ that I know and love.

They might not remember me, or it could be a world where I don’t even exist.

From now on, as I live here, I must be careful not to change any future events.

Fortunately, there aren’t many confirmed events.

This era’s ‘Morf Duchy’s story’ is barely recorded. Even if Aiselle wrote a diary, I haven’t read it as a time traveler, so the contents of the diary aren’t part of confirmed history.

All ‘confirmed events’ are determined by the knowledge of the time traveler, the observer.

The only confirmed history that I know of is one thing.

‘The betrayal and death of Duke Morf.’

Only that one fact.

Of all the events, the one I most want to change is the one I can’t. Isn’t that what they call irony?

It was such a fitting word for my current situation that I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

“Hah, I don’t know anymore.”

It’s unsettling to live near Aiselle, but as long as I live quietly, nothing will happen that could change the future.

So, let’s stay as quiet as a mouse.

Until I return.
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* * *

…My resolve to live quietly was shattered in just one night.

At the Morf Duchy.
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The Blue Mane Knights’ training grounds.

“I heard you’re the new bodyguard for Lady Aiselle.”

“Yes…”

Though I’m called a knight, I’m really just a mage who carries a sword as a kind of symbol, with a staff being my main weapon.

I’ve never seriously used a sword before, so wearing one merely for show might seem laughable.

“…The previous bodyguard was responsible for His Grace’s childhood and protected Lady Aiselle until recently. Though he couldn’t overcome illness and passed away, none of us have forgotten him.”

So, that’s the story behind it.

“But! For an unknown wanderer like you to take his place… His Grace may have acknowledged you, but we cannot!”

Thunk!

Carmen, the captain of the third assault team of the Blue Mane Knights, pointed his staff at me and shouted loudly enough for everyone to hear.

“I cannot personally demote you. However, we must test your skills!”

Whoosh!

Carmen threw a glove at me. So this is the fabled duel challenge of knights.

Thanks to my heightened sensory stats, the flying glove seemed to move in slow motion, giving me plenty of time to think.

Should I accept it or not?

Honestly, with the blessing of Silver Age November, defeating Carmen wouldn’t be a problem.

What’s important is the perception.

Is it okay to wield a sword in front of Aiselle?

As far as I know, the first time future Aiselle learned about swordsmanship and the peculiar combat style of Blink was when she encountered me ten years from now.

But if I were to suddenly showcase Blink in front of the past Aiselle… history would be altered.

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I can’t allow that.

Whoosh!

I sidestepped, letting Carmen’s glove fly past me and fall to the ground in vain.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m not a knight, so I don’t accept duels.”
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“Hah, nonsense. You’re a bodyguard knight…”

“I’m not a knight, but a dedicated bodyguard. Should I show you the contract? I was hired as a mercenary, and as such, I’m not bound by the same roles and methods as knights. Don’t regard me as one of you.”

I turned coolly and walked away.

…And I was a bit nervous.

The knights here were all built like tanks and were glaring at me with murderous eyes. Who wouldn’t be frightened? But I kept my composure by drawing strength from the blessing of Red Spring March.

“I have no intention of participating in your knightly culture.”

“You, you bastard…”

“How dare you insult knights!”

Having said my piece, I turned away, ignoring the knights’ curses, most of which weren’t worth responding to.

“Cowardly bastard.”

I had to ignore it.

“Clearly, you don’t have any skills, so you’re just running away. I see.”

I tried to ignore it.

“A wandering mercenary, huh? I wonder if you’ve ever even been in a real magical battle.”

…But my pride was slightly hurt by that jab, so I turned back to Carmen and said,

“A duel? All I have to do is beat you, right?”

As I fell for the childish provocation, a sinister smile crept across his lips.

“Indeed. If you’re confident in your skills, then draw your staff and face me with honor!”

A staff, huh.

My primary weapon was a sword, and the only magic I could use was Blink.

In other words, as long as I don’t reveal my sword and Blink, it shouldn’t be a problem, right?

Approaching the weapon rack, I found a silver staff of a decent length. It seemed to be one of the ones used by the knights, and its weight and strength were just right.

“Hmm, I’ll use this.”

“You’re using a staff? So, you’re a Bishop.”

“Yes… something like that.”
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Strictly speaking, my position was that of a Knight, but since I was holding a staff, there was no need to correct him.

“The duel will begin.”

One of the knights stepped forward to mediate the duel.
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“Salute.”

Salutes differ from nation to nation.

The Morf Duchy’s salute involved raising the staff with the right hand so that it pointed toward the left shoulder.

I almost instinctively performed Stella’s salute but clumsily mimicked Morf’s instead. My attempt was so poor that laughter erupted from the onlookers.

“Duel, begin!”

As soon as the duel started, a red magic circle began to glow in front of Carmen.

Carmen’s position was Knight.

Since his fighting style was based on close combat and he viewed me as a Bishop specializing in ranged attacks, he likely…

“Hup!”

…thought I’d be a long-distance fighter.

That wasn’t an incorrect assumption, but unfortunately, while I might be holding a staff, I was completely useless at ranged combat.

In fact, when it comes to close-range combat… I’m more confident.

Smack!!

My move was simple.

I struck Carmen’s head with the staff as he charged in, both hands brimming with fireballs that he had prepared to swing.

“Ugh!”

A short cry escaped as his protective shield shattered with a loud crash.

Even though it wasn’t a Terivon Sword, my current level was equivalent to that of a 7th-Class mage. Breaking the shield of someone like Carmen, whom I estimated to be around 5th-Class, was more than manageable.

“What is this…?”

Carmen, who had fallen to the ground in an ungraceful heap, quickly rolled backward and swiftly conjured a magic circle in front of him. But I simply charged forward, shattered the magic circle with my staff, and then struck him on the head.

Smack!!

This time, the hit had a satisfying impact.

A sign that his shield had been completely broken.

Smack! Thud! Smack! Thud! Smack!!

Every time his shield broke, it regenerated quickly, showing that his combat instincts were quite good, but even with the blessing of Silver Age November, it wasn’t enough.

He creates a shield? I break it again.

If he makes another one, I’ll just break it again.

“Ack! Ugh! Aargh! Urgh!”

I swung and swung again.

To be honest…

This wasn’t so much a magical battle as it was a straight-up beating. I wasn’t using any magic, just mechanically swinging the staff, while Carmen curled up to take as few hits as possible.

“Crazy!”

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“What kind of duel is this…!”

“What a nasty guy… He’s intentionally hitting the same spots over and over…”

“No, if you look closely, he’s hitting everywhere so precisely that there’s nowhere left untouched… But then he’s hitting those spots again…”

“What a demon!”

“Hahahaha.”

Amidst the knights’ exclamations(?) of admiration, I merrily beat up Carmen until the evening.

“…I’ve heard you beat up one of my knights.”

A meeting with Duke Morf.

I wasn’t particularly bothered. After all, I was in the wrong for beating him up, but they were the ones who started it.

“There was a reason.”

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“Let’s hear it.”

“I was curious if it’s true that dust flies when you beat someone like a dog on a rainy day.”

“Haha.”

Duke Isaac chuckled and nodded.

“So, did dust fly?”

“No, it didn’t. I guess I didn’t hit him hard enough.”

“I see.”

He responded calmly and then fell silent for a moment before quietly speaking again.

“Perhaps my knights, who weren’t fond of you, picked a fight. Perhaps they even insulted you. You could have just reported it to me… Were you trying to protect my knights from me?”

That wasn’t exactly my intention…

I just enjoy a good joke.

“I’m seeing you in a new light. You’re more thoughtful and considerate than I imagined. I wish you were truly one of my knights…”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“Haha. In any case, I didn’t summon you to reprimand you. Injuries during a duel aren’t uncommon, after all.”

“So then…”

“I called you because I want to take you along for tomorrow’s mission.”

He handed me a document. Honestly, even after reading it thoroughly, I couldn’t understand most of it, but something stood out.

‘Adolevit Royal Seal’

“This is…!”

“You recognize it. The royal seal is something an ordinary person wouldn’t see.”

“Is it a cooperation request from the Adolevit Royal Family?”

“Indeed. It’s nothing major; they’ve requested access to the Morf Forest where you first encountered me. As you know, the Morf territory borders the Adolevit Kingdom.”

“That’s right.”

“They claimed that the time was nearing for the beasts in the Morf Forest to awaken. Magically speaking, it wasn’t a baseless claim. I was convinced as well. However…”

Duke Isaac removed his monocle and massaged his temples as if he had a headache.

“Why are they so eager to force their way into my territory to hunt down the beasts?”

I read the document again.

Although it was written in a polite and formal tone, it was full of threats that could be interpreted as international bullying.

Morf Duchy wouldn’t be shaken by something like this, but it seemed the Duke wanted to avoid unnecessary conflict.

Or perhaps…

“If we don’t comply, it seems they’re willing to start a war.”

“…They’re insane.”

“Indeed. The commander leading this operation is supposedly a seventeen-year-old girl named ‘Hong Si-hwa.’ I’ve heard she’s not yet highly skilled in magic, but she’s a genius in strategy and command.”

But even so, something still didn’t make sense.

“Why is the Adolevit Royal Family… so obsessed with the beasts in Morf Forest?”

Isaac Morf didn’t answer.

He just smiled bitterly and continued speaking.

“Reluctantly, I’ve granted them permission. Of course, since it’s my territory, I’ve made it a condition that I and my knights will accompany them on the mission, which they didn’t refuse.”

“I see…”

“So, I’m asking you. Are you interested in this mission?”

Was this the real reason?

Taking me on this mission after my abilities have been proven. I don’t doubt Duke Isaac’s integrity, but… I suddenly wondered if the duel with Carmen had been orchestrated by him.

“Well…”

Is it right for me to get involved in such an important event?

Moreover, this is an unknown event that isn’t even recorded in history, let alone in the Bulbul Glasses.

But then I realized that, precisely because it’s an unknown event, it could work in my favor.

If it’s an event no one knows about, then whatever happens there won’t impact the future at all.

In that case, this is perfect.

I had been curious to learn more about the mystery surrounding Isaac Morf’s betrayal.

“Yes. I’ll go.”

“I like your bold answer.”

And so…

I found myself deeply entangled in the major incident between the Morf Duchy and the Adolevit Royal Family.

Even now, I’m not sure if this was the right choice.

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End of Chapter