Magic Academy’s Genius Blinker

The first dungeon practicum had finally ended.

There were 39 dropouts out of a total of 141 students from classes A and S.

Despite finishing second, Hae Won-Ryang felt defeated and was left with a bad aftertaste, so he went straight to the Class S training ground in the evening.

Even if Eisel had not interrupted at the last minute, a victory would have been difficult.

Although Ma Yu-Seong was almost exhausted, he would have quickly recovered his stamina with a brief break. On the other hand, Hae Won-Ryang had almost run out of mana, so he was not sure whether he would have won or lost had they fought any longer.

‘I… I can’t beat him no matter what I do.’

‘Is the gap in our talents so big?’

Ma Yu-Seong was sloppy about everything, but when he found something that ignited his curiosity, he would do anything to excel in it.

Then? Ta-da!

The results would surpass even experts who had focused solely on one field for over a decade.

Ma Yu-Seong had always been like this. As a result, he lived a life favored by everyone.

‘Sorry, I did it for fun, but I did it better.’

It was a sincere apology. Never even intended to make fun of the other person

So Hae Won-Ryang became even more enraged. The limitations of not being able to win even one battle against a guy who made no effort ignited his ego.

‘… No, I don’t have time to blame myself. I need to push myself to the limits.’

He took out his staff and stood in front of the massive scarecrow puppet, his mana wildly dancing.

From beginning to end, he showcased one magic skill after the other. The scarecrow puppet did not even get the chance to activate its signature defensive abilities before being bombarded to a sorry state.

“Hae Won-Ryang, why don’t you take it easy?”

“Princess Hong Bi-Yeon.”

Hae Won-Ryang, who had been madly burning his mana for a long time, finally calmed down thanks to Hong Bi-Yeon’s call.

He had already used a few magic skills which took a heavy toll on his body, and he was in a state of exhaustion.

No matter how much he trained his stamina, devoured magic formulas, or even practiced magic skills day and night, he could not break past the limit of mana stored by his body.

While wildly calling forth her flame-attribute magic, Hong Bi-yeon stood next to Hae Won-Ryang and reminded him to calm down.

Despite the fact that she could not use as many attributes as Hae Won-Ryang and that her talent was weaker compared to his, she was able to perform magnificent Class 3 magic skills thanks to her massive amount of mana and powerful inherited royal skills.

“Did the Princess get beaten by someone too?”

“… Too? Did you also get defeated?”

Hae Won-Ryang flinched at those words. He had slipped up, which was unusual for his personality. 

However, Hong Bi-Yeon remained silent. She was not the type of person who was bothered by such trivial matters.

“I did. And from last place in the entire first year. It’s killing me.”

There were many excuses.

For example, the terrain was constantly changing, all of her magic skills were already known because she was famous, or her skills focused on destruction which resulted in low accuracy while her opponent excelled in speed.

In the end, however, excuses were just excuses.

The fact that Hong Bi-Yeon lost because she was not good enough did not change.

Then, she got a point stick and finished third. Despite the fact that she did not win first place, her mother was rather satisfied.

Suddenly realizing that she had only gotten third because Baek Yu-Seol did not take those point sticks, Hong Bi-Yeon stabbed her staff on the floor.

To be honest, it felt suffocating to hand over the point sticks to Baek Yu-seol out of pride.

Bang! Bang!

The target ahead was completely burned down.

‘What would have happened if Baek Yu-Seol had truly snatched all of the Point Sticks? What would I have done if I hadn’t made it into the rankings?’

She could recall how relieved her anxious heart had been when he returned them.

‘Annoying!’

She did not like it. Not that she disliked Baek Yu-Seol. She just hated herself for being scared, anxious, relieved, and ecstatic at every action of a mere commoner.

‘One day, I’m going to set that annoying face on fire.’

When she imagined that stupid scarecrow’s face as Baek Yu-Seol’s, the destructive power of her offensive skill increased unexpectedly.

Suddenly, Hong Bi-Yeon remembered the special lecture that happened a few days prior.

‘Pretending to be a good commoner. Hmph.’

Surprisingly, her magic achievements began to soar after trying to alter her thinking while solving the three trick questions.

She could direct the flames in more varied directions and devise a more deliberate strategy for defeating the enemy. She was still not confident in solving the three devil’s questions, but she had made progress.

Hong Bi-Yeon’s staff stopped when her thoughts reached that point.

He was only a commoner who had the worst grades and the worst personality, but… he was the only boy who could make up for the one flaw she possessed.

None of the teachers in the royal family had ever proposed a unique method like Baek Yu-Seol’s.

“Princess.”

At that moment, Hong Bi-Yeon’s escort magic knight Yeterin appeared with a small box.

“Yes. What happened?”

“A parcel has arrived from the artisans. The modification for the wand ‘Teripon’ has been completed. Shall I inform him right now?”

“Uh, yes. That would be best.”

“Alright.”

Seeing that Yeterin was about to leave the training ground, Hong Bi-Yeon subconsciously grabbed her shoulder.

“What’s wrong, Princess?”

“Uh… No, leave it. I’ll give it to him. I happen to have something to do on the way.”

“I see.”

As Hong Bi-Yeon received the box, she sighed deeply.

‘I’m crazy…’

‘I’m not sure what I was thinking when I said I’d bring it to him myself.’

‘Anyway, since I agreed to do it myself, there’s nothing I can do at this point.’

She made her way to the Second Main Tower, where Baek Yu-Seol was.

Stella Academy’s exterior resembled a large mansion, but the 12 Main Towers and 24 Star Towers scattered throughout gave it the appearance of a castle rather than a mansion.

The First Main Tower served as the academy’s main building, housing Stella Academy’s magic knights, principal, vice-principal, and board of directors, while the Second Main Tower housed the faculty’s laboratory.

The fact that he went to the Second Main Tower suggested that he went to meet a professor.

‘Is there anything worth asking the faculty from the start of the semester? I’ve been thinking about it, but I’m still not sure.’

“Student Hong Bi-Yeon. Please fill out the entry form.”

“…”

Hong Bi-Yeon, who was about to enter the Second Main Tower, came to her senses.

‘Why am I doing it myself?’

‘We could meet on campus or at the training ground. Wouldn’t coming all the way here be like I, a member of royalty, is chasing after a commoner?’

It would hurt her pride.

“No. I’ll go back.”

Hong Bi-Yeon walked out of the Main Tower entrance and sighed. “He really annoys me in many ways, that commoner…”

“Oh, Princess. What’s going on?”

At the same time, when she heard a familiar voice, Hong Bi-Yeon smiled brightly and raised her head.

“Ah… It’s been a while, Miss. Hameryl.”

“Hehe, I’m just a humble professor here now.”

Professor Hameryl was a professor who once taught magic to Hong Bi-Yeon in the royal palace. She had a gentle personality and knew how to use elegant magic, so she was more than a role model for Hong Bi-Yeon.

She was, in some ways, a true life teacher. Hong Bi-Yeon was sad when she said she was leaving the castle, but it was great to see her again, and in Stella, at that.

“What brings you to the Second Main Tower?”

“Oh, I had a little errand, but now I’m heading back.”

“Really? Well, the professors in the Second Main Tower are all going insane right now.”

“Did something happen?”

“Nothing happened. It’s just because of that student named Baek Yu-Seol. Mages came to visit him, so it’s very chaotic.”

“…”

She was hearing it again. 

That name. 

Hong Bi-Yeon asked nonchalantly, pretending to be uninterested, “What’s the matter with the commoner?”

“I shouldn’t say this, but have you ever fought with Baek Yu-Seol?”

“That’s right.”

“He did not use any magic skills.”

“Yes.”

She bowed her head in shame. The other party was not even sincere while fighting her, but she still could not beat him. She felt as if she had been greatly embarrassed in front of her favorite teacher.

“You don’t have to be ashamed. He was serious while fighting.”

“What…? But he didn’t even use magic skills?”

“It’s because of his belief.”

“A belief? What is it…?”

“After seeing the training today, the principal left a message in person.”

Hong Bi-Yeon gulped. The great archmage, Eltman Eltwin, had watched the training. Furthermore, he even left a message.

“Perhaps that student is aiming to revive the chivalry that disappeared in the old days.”

“C-Chivalry…?”

Chivalry. A word that had long disappeared. However, modern people still remembered it.

This was because most of the heroes in fairy tales who stood up against all odds and fought evil to protect the world wielded swords.

Even in this world where everything revolved around magic, the dream of being a knight who could wield a sword was still alive in their hearts. But in the end, it was all a dream.

Everyone fell for its charm, but in reality, the sword was really of no use.

In this day and age where mages could command thunder, call forth the power to split the earth, and fly in the sky, they would not waste their energy to sharpen blades.

In other words, chivalry was regarded as a joke these days.

“It’s no joke,” Hong Bi-Yeon wanted to say, but…

‘… That commoner didn’t actually use a magic skill against me.’

He treated the point stick like a sword and defeated her with only flash. That was pretty cool too.

In other words, Baek Yu-Seol did not play a prank on her but faced the situation with a sincere heart while adhering to his beliefs.

Besides, not long ago, in exchange for giving a special lecture, he requested that the academy’s staff be converted into a magic sword.

‘Would he ask me to remodel that precious, upper-intermediate grade staff just for fun? He wanted to wield the sword even at the cost of giving up all other magic skills.’

‘But I did not know that  and I became furious, telling him not to joke around with me.’

“Is he crazy?”

“A little… Yes. Yes.”

Anyone speaking of chivalry would be mocked to no end.

What was chivalry in this day and age?

However, being born a commoner, he worked hard enough to enter the world’s most prestigious Stella Academy and even made it into Class S. He had the strength to fight against her, who ranked fifth…

Baek Yu-Seol was not joking around. It meant that he was sincerely pursuing Chivalry.

“But, there will be huge penalties for not using magic skills in the Academy of Magic, right? During training, he will inevitably receive penalty points, and that…”

“Yes. He knew that and decided to walk this path. Isn’t it simply great? He’s pursuing a path that others are too afraid to take.”

As Hong Bi-Yeon’s expression became complicated, Professor Hameryl continued, “Student Baek Yu-Seol has already achieved the great feat of controlling the uncontrollable magic, flash. Even if he walks the path of a mage in this way, his name will undoubtedly become well-known. Still, to allow him to achieve great heights… we have no choice but to believe in his belief.”

Hong Bi-Yeon remained silent, and Hameryl apologized for taking so long. She bade her farewell and walked away.

As the sun began to set, Hong Bi-Yeon stood there for a long time, as if nailed to the spot.

“What are you doing here?”

“Uh…”

Baek Yu-Seol walked out of the Second Main Tower’s main gate, chewing on what looked like a medicinal herb root.

He had a light gait that did not resemble a knight.

‘What exactly is chivalry…?’

Hong Bi-Yeon shook her head to disperse her previous thoughts. He was just an unlucky commoner.

“I’m not here because of you.”

“Oh?”

“Take this.”

“Oh, Teripon? Hey. Can I have the box? It should fetch a bit of money if I sold it.”

Hong Bi-Yeon ignored Baek Yu-Seol.

She believed that if she stayed any longer, she would be misled by that strange commoner’s aura.