Magic Academy’s Genius Blinker

Chapter 271

Memory (5)

***

A red oval barrier spread out widely around Isaac Morf’s body, reaching up to the ends of the sky.

Hong Bi-yeon activated the compass of memory she had been harboring in her heart while establishing the Fire Spirit Formation.

The mana does not leak out.

No one notices.

“Dual Casting”

Casting more than one spell at a time might still be overwhelming for a 4th class mage, but her concentration is exceptional.

Considering that Aiselle had used “Supernatural Resonance,” which is impossible for a mage below 6th class, during her 3rd class days, it’s not strange that Hong Bi-yeon is already using Dual Casting.

Their talents and efforts were relentlessly reaching sky-high.

Whoooosh!!

The compass of memory spins, pointing to the direction of time.

1 year and 4 months ago, 9 years and 7 months ago, 71 years ago, 34 years ago, 3 years and 6 months ago.

The times it points to are all mixed up.

It’s because she isn’t able to properly control the compass.

Those times must all be significant events that carved a mark in history to the extent that they are engraved in the memory of this place.

“I need to find the exact time.”

She is composed about herself.

This compass is not an easy artifact that a mere 4th class mage can handle.

If she accidentally skims through memories of the far distant past, she might not be able to return.

“It’s okay. My calculations are precise.”

She had thoroughly prepared for this moment.

She lightly took her hand off the staff and freely unraveled the Fire Spirit Formation.

Once the formation is perfectly established, it will maintain itself with Hong Bi-yeon’s mana until the purification ritual is completed, even without her intervention.

From now on, she will look back at the past.

Hmm!

As she forcefully infused mana, the rotation of the compass became more and more violent, and finally, when its speed exceeded a critical point…

…Flash!

In an instant, a bright white light flashed before her eyes,

– Ah.

When she opened her eyes again…

A breeze came in.

A cold and dry autumn wind.

But it’s different from the current wind.

Hong Bi-yeon slowly lowered her head and looked at the ground.

Nothing was left where the grand altar had just been.

“…I’ve made it here correctly.”

There’s no time to waste.

The time she has to skim through memories of the past is extremely short.

Having consumed considerable mana and mental energy for establishing the Fire Spirit Formation and evading the golden restrictions, her limit would be to stay for only about an hour.

“I need to hurry.”

During the process of skimming through memories, she cannot move by walking.

After all, it is a process of skimming through the ‘memories’ of the past; adjusting the coordinates is necessary to look at other locations.

Thump!

After consuming a bit of mana to move to an adjacent location, a command tent that is presumed to be a forward base appeared.

– Is this… the command tent of the Morf Magic Corps?

Turning her head, she looked at a slightly distant spot and indeed saw the base of Adolevit, the magic tower, and the tent of the Mage Association all at a glance.

“Is that so?”

At that time, the Magic Association had reportedly united to eliminate the dark mage Isaac Morf.

But…

Something feels strange.

“Your Majesty, please do not worry and rest.”

“It’s done. I must see the final adjustments with my own eyes. There will be a battle tomorrow, and I cannot afford to relax.”

– Huh…?

The gathered troops in this location were supposed to eliminate Isaac Morf, but for some reason, the target of the elimination was confidently strolling among the allied forces.

– What in the world…?

“Your Majesty.”

“…What is it?”

“You seem to be filled with worry.”

“Yes. I am worried about having to face the White Tiger Flame Spirit, and I still find it puzzling why the princess of Adolevit is so obsessed with that beast.”

“Haha. In my opinion…”

Isaac spoke with his aide and vanished into the distant command tent, while Hong Bi-yeon remained behind, mulling over their conversation.

‘The White Tiger Flame Spirit…?’

Right, it was said that hunting the White Tiger Flame Spirit was Hong Si-hwa’s true objective.

‘Where could she be?’

There was barely a few dozen minutes left.

Hong Bi-yeon quickly moved back and forth between the tents, using coordinate shifting, and was able to find the location she desired.

The detestable second sister.

The tent of Princess Hong Si-hwa.

“It’s all set.”

Hong Si-hwa, with her upper body partially undressed, was injecting a red, ominous liquid.

Although she couldn’t analyze the components due to the absence of mana sensitivity, she could tell at a glance that it was a troubling solution.

“…I see.”

Hong Si-hwa, drenched in cold sweat and looking visibly weakened, was a sight that Hong Bi-yeon had never seen before.

Her usual, unlucky smile had vanished, making this weak state considerably strange and alarming for Hong Bi-yeon.

“The pain will not heal just yet.”

“…The pain doesn’t matter. As long as I don’t die, that’s enough.”

Then she spat those words out.

“I don’t want to become like my sister.”

In an instant, Hong Bi-yeon’s expression hardened.

Mentioning her first sister, Hong Erin, with such a disgusting face was like a thorn in her heart.

But Hong Bi-yeon was no longer a child.

There was no longer any need to lose her temper over every single word from Hong Si-hwa.

– Not wanting to become like her sister…

Her first sister, Hong Erin, was blessed with the flames so intensely that it turned into a curse, leading to her tragic demise at such a young age.

Both Hong Si-hwa and Hong Bi-yeon would also face a similar fate soon enough.

“Princess Hong Si-hwa, do you really believe you can find a way to lift the curse of Adolevit from the White Tiger Flame Spirit?”

At that moment, the doctor’s voice made Hong Bi-yeon realize why she had taken such reckless actions.

– To find a way to lift the curse, she would defeat the White Tiger Flame Spirit?

That was fine up to that point.

– But she failed.

She had secretly read Hong Si-hwa’s diary previously, so she knew.

Hong Si-hwa had failed, and Isaac Morf would surely fall into corruption.

Suddenly, she recalled Isaac’s face, filled with anxiety, and immediately shifted her coordinates.

She arrived at Isaac’s personal tent.

“I do not know… Is it truly correct to unseal the White Tiger Flame Spirit right now for the sake of inquiring about my well-being?”

“Your Majesty. We can completely exterminate the White Tiger, so do not worry. Princess Hong Si-hwa surely did not come here without any plan.”

“Indeed.”

Considering his guts to threaten the grand duke at such a young age, it was clear he had something troubling in mind.

If five years, or even ten years pass here… he would undoubtedly become a more terrifying mage.

Threatening.

He certainly said so.

Come to think of it, didn’t Hong Si-hwa write in her diary about ‘threatening Duke Morf’?

– What will happen next…?

To unseal the White Tiger Flame Spirit was a story she had never heard before.

She had no idea how that incident would be resolved.

– There’s no time for this.

She had gathered most of the information she could find here.

Hong Bi-yeon hurriedly manipulated the compass of memory to adjust the history she could glimpse to twelve hours in the future.

…Thump!

– Ugh?!

Right after, a shockwave hit her entire body, almost causing Hong Bi-yeon to lose her balance.

Even though she was merely peering into the past, the overwhelming wave made her feel as if she were about to fall.

…

As she raised her head, Hong Bi-yeon let out a sigh.

A world completely stained white.

Fallen warriors.

Kneeling royal and grand duke armies.

– How arrogant, descendant of Adolevit…

It was higher than a mountain, steeper than a cliff, bluer than the sky, and lighter than a cloud.

Suddenly, Hong Bi-yeon felt awe as she laid eyes on ‘that existence.’

The ultimate flame had been awakened.

She gazed at the end of the flames.

Its chest burned hotter than the sun and shone pure white as if it would erase everything in the world.

Knowing she shouldn’t, Hong Bi-yeon found herself admiring it.

“I want to burn like that.

I want to be enveloped by that pure white flame.

Even if I might die unable to bear it, if I could become the flame itself…”

– …Ugh!

Suddenly feeling dizzy, Hong Bi-yeon quickly shook her head to regain her senses.

– No way…

She belatedly realized the situation.

Even the 8th class mages had all fallen, and the knights had been wiped out.

The remaining forces were just a handful, and even they were unable to fight.

It was despairing.

– Now that I have opened my eyes again, I shall cover the world with my flames according to our ‘promise.’

Sit there and realize, Adolevit.

The White Tiger Flame Spirit spoke enigmatic words and elegantly took a step forward.

With each step, the whole world would be engulfed in pure white flames and revert to blankness.

While Hong Bi-yeon, merely peeking into memories, was overwhelmed by that pressure and unable to move, someone blocked its path.

Isaac Morf.

“You cannot pass through this place…”

Even though half of his body was melted by flames, he did not fall.

But what could he possibly do with such a body?

When that thought crossed her mind…

“I am not a descendant of Morf.”

Isaac Morf declared, taking out an unidentified dark crystal.

“From this day forth… I shall become a dark mage.”

It was indeed a fierce battle.

Or rather, is it even right to call it a battle?

The sight of calamity colliding with calamity is truly something that cannot be expressed in human language.

Ice and fire covered the world, and all life on this land shattered and disappeared.

In the end of that battle…

The one left standing was Isaac Morf.

Was it a blessing or a curse?

He seemed to retain a fragment of reason, as his gaze shone sadly.

But if he were to be left alone like this, he would soon lose that reason and undoubtedly turn the forest into a wasteland.

– Such records do not… exist in history.

But the Magic Corps had been annihilated.

Unless a miracle occurred where Isaac Morf decided to stop himself, it appeared that no one could stop him anymore…

No. No, there was one.

She desperately recalled Hong Si-hwa’s diary.

[When I woke up again, both the White Tiger Flame Spirit and the rampaging Isaac Morf had fallen.]

[And in front of them, an unidentified man was standing.]

[He was peculiar and mysterious.]

[He wore a mask and held a silver staff in his hand.]

The moment she recalled that, a brilliant golden light suddenly burst forth from the void, and a massive wheel began to spin.

– What in the world is that…?

Hong Bi-yeon opened her eyes wide at the summoning she had never seen before, and then she discovered too late.

The man in black who appeared alongside the wheel.

– Huh?

But his attire was strange.

He wore a pure white mask, and his outfit oddly resembled Stella’s uniform.

Even without the unique patterns and designs, she could recognize it at a glance.

It was too much of a resemblance to merely be called similar.

There was something even stranger.

She was sure she had seen that man for the first time today, but somehow, his impression felt familiar.

– Wait, could the unidentified man possibly be…?

Whoosh!!!

A whirlpool of mana spiraled around.

Isaac slowly turned his head and spoke to the man.

“You are Baek Seolgi, aren’t you? Have you come to… stop me?”

“Yes.”

In that moment, she realized.

That familiar voice.

That familiar outline of a body.

That familiar mana fragrance.

– Baek Yu-seol…?

The traits unique to Baek Yu-seol, which she had never lost even in her imagination.

There was no way Hong Bi-yeon could confuse those traits.

“Right now, I am in a very dangerous state, but… is that okay?”

“Didn’t we promise?”

Baek Yu-seol pointed his sword at Isaac and said.

“To protect Aiselle.”

“…I see. So that’s what it means.”

What in the world is happening?

Why is Baek Yu-seol in the past, ten years ago, and what does he mean by wanting to protect Aiselle?

– He’s not just a simple time traveler…?

Isaac looked at Baek Yu-seol with sad eyes and spoke.

“If that’s the case, then please stop me.”

That was the beginning of the clash between Isaac and Baek Yu-seol.

This was not the Baek Yu-seol that Hong Bi-yeon knew until now.

With at least 8th class or even greater overwhelming power.

He fought equally with Isaac, who was like a calamity, and ultimately melted the everlasting frost of Isaac.

It was a mysterious event.

The ice did not harm Baek Yu-seol.

It was as if he were under the protection of the ice.

As Baek Yu-seol aimed his sword at Isaac’s heart, Isaac closed his eyes.

If he only pierced his heart now, everything would be over.

Hong Bi-yeon sighed.

The cause of Aiselle’s downfall was none other than what was happening directly at Baek Yu-seol’s hands.

Thwak!

Ignoring Isaac’s feeble resistance, Baek Yu-seol ruthlessly pierced through his heart.

As she turned her head, unable to bear the horrific sight, suddenly Baek Yu-seol pulled out his sword without finishing the job.

– Why isn’t he finishing it?

Thud thud thud thud!!!

The sound of hooves echoed from all around.

The Magic Corps, sensing the dark mana wave, was invading this place.

“Uh…”

– I…

And from afar, Hong Si-hwa’s awakening figure appeared in Hong Bi-yeon’s sight.

– What is she trying to do…?

Baek Yu-seol spoke to Isaac.

“You cannot change history.”

At those words, Hong Bi-yeon instinctively understood.

The Baek Yu-seol she was seeing didn’t just appear here in a normal way, but had somehow come back in time through some special method.

“People will remember this way.

Isaac Morf became a dark mage and rampaged, but Hong Si-hwa Adolevit stopped him.”

“Then, what in the world are you doing…?”

Baek Yu-seol reached out his hand toward Isaac, and the golden wheel began to spin violently.

“But in reality… you will embark on a journey.

This will be a fact known only to you and me.”

A miraculous event unfolded.

From Isaac’s body, a pure soul that had not yet been tainted emerged and was absorbed into the wheel.

In other words, Isaac’s soul was still alive and continues to wander somewhere in this world.

Once Baek Yu-seol finished his task, he suddenly turned his head.

What on earth is Hong Bi-yeon doing standing there?

Is it coincidence?

Or is it that his existence, peeking into memories, is truly hidden?

It felt as if Hong Bi-yeon made direct eye contact with Baek Yu-seol.

However, he did not say a word and vanished, leaving only an echo, and by the time the Magic Corps arrived, Isaac Morf was already a cold corpse.

Thus,

The “Myth of Princess Hong Si-hwa from Ten Years Ago” was completed.

The one who caused the disaster was Hong Si-hwa.

The hero who defeated it was Isaac.

The one who quelled the hero’s rampage was Baek Yu-seol.

All the accolades were seized by Hong Si-hwa.

– There is little time left…

The time to peek into memories is now running out.

But she cannot go back like this.

There are still final questions that remain unsolved.

She pushed the time forward, one day, one day at a time.

“Grand Duke Isaac Morf is dead.”

“But why is that such a chilling coldness still emanating from the corpse?

It must still be alive!”

“Fool! It is completely biologically dead!

That mana has research value!”

A day passed, and the mages began to argue among themselves.

“It is impossible to dispose of the corpse.”

“If it is the flame of Adolevit, it should be easy to burn it!”

“If only Her Majesty the Queen were to arrive…!”

A day later, Queen Hong Seriu arrived and sealed Isaac’s corpse temporarily until she would come to burn it.

“The White Tiger has met its death, and Grand Duke Isaac has been sealed.”

“But even so, the white flame and the blue ice still remain, causing chaos in the forest…”

“The mana of the forest must be restored.”

Another day passed, and the forest began to be tidied up.

After quickly passing through about a week’s worth of memories, she was finally able to see the scene she desired.

“The brightest flame under the sky!”

“Your Majesty!”

The magic knight squad dressed in red knelt down in unison to welcome the great queen of Adolevit.

Queen Hong Seriu, riding on a white horse, leisurely surveyed the mess that was Morf Forest.

Then she elegantly dismounted from her horse.

Slap-!!

Out of nowhere, she slapped Hong Si-hwa across the face.

The princess’s cheek turned sharply, and though her body swayed, she did not fall and instead raised her head to face the queen.

“Welcome, Your Majesty.”

“Do you know what you’ve done?”

“Yes.”

“Quick to answer.

Bind Princess Hong Si-hwa at once, seal her mana, and throw her into the underground prison.

Let it be known that the only reason I am not killing you right now is that it is my last act of mercy as a king.”

Queen Hong Seriu was indeed as ruthless as her reputation, quick to decide without hesitation.

She knew very well that dragging the second princess Hong Si-hwa out like this would lead to the throne returning to the one she despised, Hong Bi-yeon, but it was of no concern to her.

Those who have sinned must be punished.

If this leads to Hong Bi-yeon becoming queen, so be it; that would be her fate.

“Then, may I say one thing before you leave?”

Despite her fate being decided, Hong Si-hwa met the queen’s gaze with deadened eyes.

“Do you wish to make an excuse?

Very well. Speak.”

“You may seal my mana.

You may sever my head right here.

However, there is one request I must ask of you.”

“How presumptuous.”

“Do not burn Isaac Morf… please preserve his body completely.”

“What?”

Queen Hong Seriu’s eyebrow twitched in confusion.

With a whoosh!

Suddenly, the ground cracked open, and all the nearby trees began to burn.

This was all due to a single glance from Queen Hong Seriu, releasing her mana.

Hong Si-hwa’s clothing also began to burn fiercely in the flames, but she spoke without regard for her pain.

“He carries the Morf bloodline most strongly.”

“What does that matter?”

“Like Adolevit, he too is of the Morf family, born with the ‘Curse of Ice.’

However, they overcame that curse long ago, unlike us.”

Curse. Blessing.

As those sensitive words came out, Queen Hong Seriu’s mana gradually subsided.

“And he has not fully died even in death, as infinite coldness continues to emanate from his corpse.”

“Get to the point.”

“He is still alive.

If you dispose of the corpse now, you will surely regret it.”

“Ha, what if he is resurrected as a dark mage?”

“Seal him with the Fire Spirit Formation.

That way, Isaac’s corpse will be preserved, and we will obtain eternal coldness, allowing him the opportunity to resurrect at any time.”

The Fire Spirit Formation seemed to be quite a reasonable judgment.

Even if Isaac Morf were to resurrect as a dark mage, it was the only magic capable of responding immediately.

Queen Hong Seriu pondered for a while and came to a conclusion.

“Do you expect me to believe your misguided judgment again?

Take her away at once.”

With a clang!

The knights shackled Queen Hong Seriu’s neck, arms, and ankles with heavy mana cuffs and dragged her away, but she continued to convey her opinion to the queen until the end.

“It is understandable that you don’t trust my words.

But please remember my lifelong wish.”

“I, we, our descendants… must forever inherit that terrible curse and live in flames of agony.

Your Majesty, do you truly think this is right?”

“Can you not keep quiet!”

One knight, unable to hold back any longer, roughly pulled on the shackles around Hong Si-hwa’s neck to silence her, but she did not stop.

Until the very last moment, she hoped Queen Hong Seriu would grant her request.

“If only I could sever this wretched fate of being born a descendant of Adolevit, cursed to die young in burning agony…

I would gladly fall into hell or become a demon.”

Thud!

In the end, Hong Si-hwa fell unconscious from the knight’s grip and was carried away.

Remaining in that place, Queen Hong Seriu silently gazed into the distant horizon.

“The weather is truly wretched…”

It was a clear and sunny day without a cloud in sight.

End of Chapter