Magic Academy’s Genius Blinker

Chapter 82

Soul Chess (4)

‘Edmund apologized to Baek Yu-seol.’

The rumor spread like wildfire throughout the school, growing uncontrollably.

It was widely known that Edmund had been using his connections to bully the first-year student, Baek Yu-seol. But for him to suddenly apologize?

Naturally, the question ‘why?’ followed.

The reason was soon clarified by the many students who had eavesdropped on their conversation at the cafe.

‘Baek Yu-seol is actually a co-developer of Alchemy Magical Engineering.’

That was a fact even more shocking than the rumor of Edmund’s apology.

The fact that Baek Yu-seol was a co-author of the Random Aeration Cross Formula had been kept a secret, known to only a few. There had been rumors that one of Stella’s students might be a co-author, but it had never been confirmed.

But to think it was true, and even more so, that a first-year student was the co-author?

While a few who knew about the close relationship between Alterisha and Baek Yu-seol had expected it, most students and faculty were taken aback.

The entire Stella Academy was thrown into chaos, and his name spread throughout the Arcaneum, causing a massive uproar.

In just a few days, Baek Yu-seol had become the center of major controversy.

The news reached Aki Haydn, the vice principal of Stella Academy, but most rumors didn’t concern him much.

However, the fact that Baek Yu-seol had taken Edmund’s Aslan Seminar attendance rights was deeply unsettling.

Thi s w as c o p i ed f ro m k i ng m t l . o r g
“It’s quite intriguing.”

Several professors bowed their heads at Aki Haydn’s words. They had done nothing wrong, but it somehow felt like they had.

“Why is there not a single person who can be of help? Can’t they just stay still? I can’t understand it.”

He seemed to be merely expressing curiosity, but it was restrained anger.

If there were no variables, he could slowly but surely plant the seeds of the Dark Mages in the magical society, but idiotic humans kept ruining his plans with their foolish actions.

This was the second time.

And the variable had always included ‘Baek Yu-seol.’

In the case of Maizen Tiren.

In the case of Edmund Atalek.

“Should we handle it quietly?”

A man dressed as a janitor spoke up, causing Aki Haydn’s expression to harden.

“Are you insane? If even one student of Stella goes missing without reason, it will cause an uproar.”

“But he’s a commoner, isn’t he?”

“Yes, but he’s one of the students the principal is watching closely. Besides, his name has already become too famous to handle quietly.”

There was no choice.

It was unexpected that Baek Yu-seol, the commoner, had taken the attendance right for the Aslan Seminar… but it was only for this year.

To attend Aslan regularly, even prestigious families needed to provide appropriate papers and knowledge every year.

A family could be considered prestigious for consistently maintaining such knowledge and papers over decades.

T h i s w a s c opi e d fr o m k i ngmt l .o r g
Until now, the Atalek family had shown such outstanding performance that they had been attending regularly, but this was taken by Baek Yu-seol.

But… is that a bad thing?

No.

On second thought, it might actually be advantageous. It would be far easier to take the attendance right from a mere commoner like Baek Yu-seol.

The method was simple.

At the Aslan Seminar, they could debunk all of Baek Yu-seol’s knowledge and magic, proving his ignorance (無知) and informing the magical department that he was unqualified for attendance, thereby revoking his attendance right for the following year.

That was all.
T h i s w a s c o p ied f r o m ki n g m t l . o r g

“This year, the students attending Aslan will be Aiselle and ‘Selien.’ So… make sure to inform her well.”

Selien was a genius girl whom Aki Haydn trusted. Her talent in magic was exceptional, but her severe lack of mana prevented her from showcasing her abilities.

It wasn’t difficult to tempt such a girl into becoming a Dark Mage. She would probably deal with Baek Yu-seol herself.

No student in Stella could defeat Selien in logic and theory.

“Understood.”

As Aki Haydn finished speaking, a few shadows that had been lingering in the vice principal’s office disappeared into the ground. After sending off the remaining personnel, Aki Haydn spoke separately to Laydin.

“Are you monitoring Maizen’s progress?”

“Yes. So far, the suppression technique from the cult leader is controlling the dark mana, but it’s on the verge of breaking…

“Hmm.”

Aki Haydn clicked his tongue.

The Dark Mages of the current era were different from the past.

In the old days, they attempted to engulf the world in the ‘Other World’ through indiscriminate warfare with mages, but they realized that method no longer worked.

So they changed their approach.

If they couldn’t dominate through war, what if they infiltrated from within?

Thus, Dark Mages began sealing or suppressing their dark mana to blend into human society, gradually securing key positions within the magical world.

Even Aki Haydn, the vice principal of Stella, was one of them.

The idea that the vice principal of Stella, an institution for training magical warriors to hunt Dark Mages, was a Dark Mage would be laughable to the world.

Because of this, Maizen Tiren had become quite useless.

So consumed by dark emotions that the suppression techniques no longer worked, she was on the brink of losing control.

However… she could still be used as a disposable pawn.

Principal Eltemon Eltrine was surely suspecting that there were Dark Mages hidden within Stella.

In such a situation, if Maizen Tiren lost control and caused chaos, she would have fulfilled her role adequately.

“Now is not the time. From tomorrow, it will be the Familiar Contracting Ceremony…”
T h i s w as copi ed fr o m k i ng m tl. o rg

The event where numerous faculty members and the entire first-year class would have outdoor activities, the Familiar Contracting Ceremony.

It was a special day for interacting with the fairy kingdom, ‘Cradle of the Heavenly Spirit Tree,’ so it was best to avoid any accidents.

The elf king, Flowerseorin, was a disaster for Dark Mages.

Though she had been reclusive deep within the World Tree mountain range for decades, it was better not to provoke her.

Even though it was humiliating to still have to tread carefully around so many powerful forces, Aki Haydn endured it, thinking it was all for the future.
Thi s w a s c op ie d f r om k i ngm t l . o r g

“Laydin. Finally, make sure to check Maizen’s condition. Ensure she doesn’t lose control.”

“…Understood.”

With those final words from Aki Haydn, Laydin left the vice principal’s office and headed to the faculty building.

Normally, faculty members lived in private residences in the Arcaneum, but Maizen was currently under isolation orders, confined in a secret and quiet place within Stella.

A scarcely populated building.
T h i s w a s co p i e d f r om k i ng m t l. o r g

Inside a darkened laboratory.

Once bustling with scientific equipment for exploring knowledge and seeking truth as an alchemy lab, it now showed no signs of intellect.

Beakers were shattered and droppers broken, with microscopes and other tools disassembled.

Even the wallpaper was torn as if by a beast, unrecognizable as the work of a human.

In the center of this chaos was a shredded newspaper. It boldly reported Alterisha’s new technology causing a worldwide sensation.

“Maizen.”

Laydin called out to Professor Maizen, who was crouched in a corner of the laboratory. Several shadows flickered around her.

-Endure and wait~ Endure and wait~.

T h i s w a s co p i e d fr om k i n g m t l. org
-Prove your worth! Ah, have you already failed? Hehehe!

Voices echoed in her ears.

They were true Dark Mages, fully transformed and unable to operate openly in their true forms.

-Oh~ Who is this~! Is it really the beastly Laydin? Wow, you’ve become so handsome after becoming a professor at Stella!

-Oh my, where did you get that suit? You look so sexy. Want to go out with me?

-Hmph, I liked the beastly you better. How exciting your howls were, Laydin. Do you know how thrilling they were?

Laydin ignored all the voices and waved his hand.

-Oh my, so rough…

With that, all the shadows sank into the ground and disappeared.

The laboratory became instantly quiet.

Laydin slowly approached Maizen, placing his hand on her shoulder.

“Grr…”

As soon as he touched her, Maizen growled like a beast and backed away.

Her condition had deteriorated to the point of no return. A little more, and she would fully transform into a Dark Mage.

However, Laydin had the ability to control it, which was why Aki Haydn had sent him. To prevent Maizen from losing control.

But.

Was there really a need?

“…Did you come to tell me to endure and wait too?”

Maizen, her eyes bloodshot, asked.

She had lived her entire life tormented by inferiority complexes. She did whatever it took to make up for her lacking abilities. She stole papers, framed other alchemists, and brought down those more successful than her.

That’s how she had clawed her way up.

And there lay the problem.

Her achievements weren’t built on a solid foundation but on a shaky one. Just a little push, and it would all come crashing down.

Because she had acquired far more fame than her abilities warranted…

In an instant, she lost everything and fell.

“If I endure and wait… can I return to my original position?”

Gritting her teeth, Maizen asked.

Utter nonsense.

Laydin didn’t even bother laughing.

The very fact that she mentioned ‘original position’ was laughable.

She had spent her life taking from others, and now she was whining for losing something once.

Even so, Laydin decided to show mercy.

“Impossible. Your usefulness is over. Once the plagiarism review is held, you will be stripped of all positions and expelled from academia. That’s already decided.”

“What, what, what…”

No, that couldn’t be. Then why had Aki Haydn kept her here?

“You have already fully transformed into a Dark Mage. As a ‘different kind of tool,’ you will fulfill your role. That’s why you were kept.”

Maizen, being quite clever, easily understood the meaning behind his words.

‘…They plan to make me lose control.’

It coincided with a certain ‘plan’ being discussed within the Moonshadow Church.

They did not want to waste the Dark Mages hidden within Stella, so they planned to use her, who was already disposable, and clean up neatly.

“Damn bastards…”

T hi s w a s co p i e d fr o m kin gm t l . o r g
How much had she sacrificed for the Moonshadow Church!

As Maizen bared her fangs, ready to vent her anger, Laydin spoke again.

“That’s why you need to get out of here.”

What?

“I don’t want to see my comrade sacrificed like that.”

He handed her a small crystal from his pocket.

“Go to the western end, to ‘Paradise.’ There, our comrades are hiding. If you survive until you find them, break this crystal. It will undo the spell suppressing your dark mana.”

After saying that, Laydin left the laboratory without hesitation.

Holding the crystal, Maizen blankly stared at the door Laydin exited through.

Why?

Why was he suddenly trying to save her?

Was there some scheme here too?

But… it wasn’t bad.

If she could survive and undo the suppressive spell, that would be great.

T h i s w a s c o p i e d f r o m k in g mt l . o rg
Slowly standing up, she staggered towards the laboratory exit. Then, she glanced at the annual plan written on the blackboard back when she was still human.

‘Familiar Contracting Ceremony’

Tomorrow, a massive event attended by hundreds of faculty and first-year students.

Seeing that, Maizen’s lips trembled.

It might have resembled a smile… but she was no longer capable of expressing normal human emotions.

“How dare they use me as a disposable pawn…”

Quietly slipping away to live in the Dark Mages’ paradise might be a good idea. But it didn’t sit well with her.

She wanted revenge.

She wanted to tear apart that boy and girl who had put her in this state.

To give a thorough death to the Moonshadow Church that had used her when useful and discarded her when not.

And coincidentally, hadn’t she just received a very nice item?

Caressing the black crystal shining in her hand, Maizen laughed silently.

“Do you think I’ll just let this slide?”

Maizen quietly disappeared from the laboratory.
T h i s w a s co pied f r o m k i n gm t l .o r g

* * *

Tower of the New Moon.

Unit 13, Leader Kaen.

“Message received.”

Though the Tower of the New Moon could rival the ‘Tower of the Full Moon,’ they always operated in the shadows, keeping their name hidden.

Even Kaen, who had killed hundreds of Dark Mages and would be considered a great hero if his name were known, was the same.

As Kaen looked up, a white light emerged from the darkness, carrying a voice.

-Maizen Tiren, who had infiltrated Stella, has gone missing.

“Is that so.”

At the mention of Maizen Tiren, Deputy Leader Hyeijin Macaron frowned. She couldn’t believe a professor at Stella would be infected by dark mana.

She couldn’t express this aloud, so she kept her mouth shut.

-In a few days, first-year students from the magic combat class at Stella will be engaging in outdoor activities. Dark magic activity is expected there. If it’s Maizen Tiren, infiltrate and observe the situation.

“Understood.”

“Yes.”

Click!

As the communication ended, the darkness lifted, revealing a field.

Spatial transference.

A unique magic of the Tower of the New Moon that allowed instant long-distance travel, usable only by the tower master.

Despite the remarkable magic, they walked unfazed. Macaron grumbled with a frown.

“Why are we so obsessed with Stella?”

“The tower master has the power of prophecy. Just follow orders.”

“Yeah, sure! But half of those prophecies are always wrong!”

“In most cases, that’s because we prevent disasters before they happen.”

“Sometimes nothing happens even when we do nothing.”

Kaen stopped and stared at Macaron.

“That’s because, in those cases, other variables prevent or resolve the incidents before we intervene.”

“…Hmph, why so serious all of a sudden? Ah, whatever. I was planning a vacation after this mission.”

Despite her grumbling, Macaron vigorously scraped her staff against the ground. It might have seemed rough and haphazard, but she was drawing a 6th-class magic circle.

A sight that would astonish any mage!

Few mages could draw a magic circle that usually required at least ten 5th-class mages to complete, and she did it so effortlessly.

“There, it’s done. Let’s quickly check it out and be done with it~”

Kaen nodded heavily and stepped onto Macaron’s magic circle.

Immediately, a rainbow bridge stretched high into the sky, and the two vanished without a trace.

End of Chapter