I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy - Chapter 100

As the boy vanished from sight, Florin snapped out of her daze and regained her composure.

"Leafanel..."

— Hmm, hello...

A surge of emotion welled up within her chest.

How long had it been since she heard that voice? She was certain it was the voice she longed to hear, even in her dreams.

"How... How did you manage to regain consciousness...?"

— He... saved... my heart...

Ah, just as she suspected.

The boy had indeed saved Leafanel. She should have expressed her gratitude, but he disappeared before Florin could do so.

Where on earth did he vanish to?

"It's been so long. I'm so glad to see you."

— Yeah... I'm glad too...

Leafanel weakly smiled and reached out her hand towards Florin. Yet her form wavered, growing hazy and insubstantial, as if her strength were fading.

— I... wanted... to see you...

Florin tightly held her hand. Even as Leafanel drifted off to sleep, she radiated a bright smile.

It was the same smile Florin had seen before.

Tears streamed down Florin’s face.

There were no words to capture this overwhelming joy. Even finding the right thing to say felt impossible.

All she could do was weep and laugh in equal measure.

Her heart was filled with questions.

Why did you leave me and fall into a deep slumber?

How did you manage to awaken?

There was so much she wanted to say.

Many things had happened during their separation.

Florin had risen to become both the elf king and the fairy king. She had earned their trust and admiration, yet she remained cursed… unable to set foot outside.

Countless tangled thoughts spun through her mind, but as Leafanel’s eyes grew heavy with sleep, she surrendered to weariness and closed them.

— I... am... very... sleepy...

"Ah..."

The desire to pour out her feelings overwhelmed her, yet not a single word escaped her lips.

Was there anything more pitiful than this?

Longing for a deeper conversation, they were hindered by circumstances that prevented them from even holding hands.

A wave of regret swelled in her chest, but Florin swallowed it down and gently embraced Leafanel instead.

Without her noticing, Leafanel had drifted into slumber, her figure now as faint and ephemeral as sunlight shimmering through the trees.

Florin gently laid her body on top of a pillar. It was undeniably endearing to see Leafanel curling up, like a small shrimp seeking warmth and refuge, as she surrendered to sleep.

Only after Leafanel had succumbed to slumber did she manage to regain some composure and organize her thoughts.

‘Who was that boy?’

Leafanel’s weakened heart might require a long period of rest.

The situation had robbed Florin of the chance to ask about the boy’s identity.

Countless questions churned in her mind.

How did the boy come to know of this place?

Even if he was aware, how had he managed to enter?

And if he did enter, how could he possibly have known about Leafanel’s need for a heart?

Even if he knew, how did he manage to retrieve it?

"Ah..."

Frustration welled up as the answers remained out of reach.

It felt suffocating.

Unconsciously, her lips pressed together, and at that very moment, a chill ran down her entire being.

'My mask…?'

As her memory pieced itself together, she recalled removing her mask earlier to enjoy the crisp morning air, carefully placing it within her embrace.

And that boy, without a doubt, met her gaze.

In doing so, he should have fallen prey to the curse.

Yet something about the situation felt off.

Those ensnared by the enchantment of the curse were utterly incapable of defying her. To resist her became a forbidden act etched into the depths of their souls.

However, the boy took a step back.

The reason behind his retreat was surprisingly simple, easily discerned even by Florin.

When using a solo warp, others nearby were at risk of injury, sometimes even dismemberment. The boy must have stepped back out of concern for that danger.

'Strange.'

Those bound by the curse typically lost all reason, consumed by obsession with her.

It was unfathomable for someone under the curse to show such careful consideration.

Then, another thought surfaced, sharp and sudden.

'Could he be immune to the curse?'

The boy emanated an unmistakable aura that was far from ordinary.

There was no trace of the stagnant mana that any human would undoubtedly possess on him.

Florin hadn’t sensed his presence at all until the moment her eyes fell upon him.

It was as though he blended seamlessly with Leafanel, emanating an ethereal energy that defied explanation...

If that were the case...

Ordinary individuals would never be aware of the existence of this garden.

Even if marked on a map, they would never find it.

It had been designed to remain untraceable.

And yet, the boy not only found this hidden garden but also possessed the power to awaken Leafanel’s heart and commune with her slumbering spirit.

It was possible he truly possessed immunity to the enchanting curse.

Just because Florin was who she was did not mean she had seen everything the world had to offer. After all, she had never cast her curse upon the entire world.

Therefore, it was possible that at least one person might be immune to the curse.

'I must find him.'

‘I don't know where he lives or who he really is, but I will find him.’

Part of that resolve stemmed from her desire to repay the debt she owed for saving Leafanel.

But perhaps it was also because she believed the boy might be the only person in the world with whom she could have an honest and open conversation.

***

Thud!

"Ouch!"

Immediately after the warp ended, Baek Yu-Seol collided with a rough and hard stone floor.

Unfortunately, his fall didn’t land cleanly, and his awkward position did little to ease the jolt of discomfort shooting through his waist.

Unfortunately, his fall didn’t land cleanly, and his awkward position did little to ease the jolt of discomfort shooting through his waist.

"If you're going to send me off, at least do it properly..."

He sprawled on the floor, voicing his frustration.

‘Florin, huh?’

Why did that woman come looking for them?

Were there similar events in Aether World?

He couldn't recall it clearly, but it didn't seem to exist.

Then again, it wasn’t as if every intricate detail of this elaborate reality had been faithfully reflected in the game. It wasn’t surprising to encounter the unknown.

Besides, his knowledge was limited from the start.

Nonetheless, he had a rough understanding of their relationship.

'They must have been friends.'

He had assumed that Leafanel, who seemed like a slumbering spirit tucked away in a corner, would merely sleep and lounge around.

However, it turned out that she had a remarkable number of friends.

Even the ancient swordmaster with mana leakage disorder and the elven king were among her acquaintances.

It seemed she had quite an extensive network. Perhaps he should have paid more attention to that.

‘By the way…’

‘She’s beautiful.’

Even now, he couldn't shake off the memory of Florin’s startled expression.

Thanks to the [Blessing of the Pink Spring Moon], he had successfully resisted the allure of the enchanting curse.

But in truth, she was naturally breathtaking. Even without the curse, he believed anyone, regardless of age or gender, would have been captivated by her charm.

'It would have been a disaster if I hadn't received the blessing.'

Despite all the time he had spent at Stella and the progress he’d made, Baek Yu-Seol nearly lost his composure over Florin… a character relegated to the sidelines rather than the center of the story.

Feeling a renewed sense of gratitude towards Pink Spring Moon, a sudden thought crossed his mind.

'Wait, can the blessing of Pink Spring Moon completely nullify Florin’s curse?'

Though its powers had weakened considerably, leaving only traces of its former strength, there was still a faint possibility that the blessing could aid Florin.

'Hmm...'

Although Florin was merely an extra, he knew that she was a character who leaned towards goodness and possessed abilities that could rival Elthman Elwin within the Heavenly Spirit Tree’s framework.

Her future, however, was precariously balanced on the choices made within the branching paths of fate.

There was also a grim future where Florin and Flame would never meet and she was condemned to carry the curse for eternity.

While the exact course of events remained uncertain, Baek Yu-Seol knew he couldn’t leave things to chance. He had to take matters into his own hands and find a way to free her.

'Well, that would only matter if I get a chance to meet her again.'

The odds of crossing paths with her were slim, and he hadn’t the faintest idea how to wield the blessing to lift the curse.

Still, Florin’s situation could wait.

At that moment, the place Leafanel had sent him was of utmost importance.

'It's pretty ordinary.'

While it lacked the mystical quality of Leafanel’s garden, he had hoped for a somewhat intriguing location, but it turned out to be just a cave.

Not just any cave, but one filled with descending passages.

Yet, it wasn’t impassable. With steady determination, he quickened his pace and ventured further inside.

Flicker!

As he reached the very bottom, the torches hanging on the walls lit up one by one, illuminating the path ahead.

At the end of the narrow corridor, reminiscent of a mine, an old wooden door awaited, emanating a faint magical aura.

“Leafanel’s presence confirmed.”

As he approached, a voice resounded, and the door opened with ease.

It seemed to be thanks to Leafanel’s necklace.

Stepping inside, he discovered a space that served as a storage area with few items present.

Stacks of weathered bottles and old books were neatly arranged on shelves.

The desk, chair, and bed showed signs of someone having lived there, but they appeared too worn out for practical use.

In contrast, the swords and books scattered throughout the room seemed oddly untouched by age, their pristine condition making them appear as if they had only recently been placed there.

What caught the eye above all else was the gleaming silver sword positioned at the center of the warehouse.

Despite his attempt to approach, an intangible barrier surrounded it, obstructing his path and refusing to let him draw near.

He even held Leafanel’s pendant against the barrier, but it elicited no response.

It seemed as if it had been safeguarded, rendering it untouchable.

‘I'll have to inquire about this from Leafanel later.’

However, what he truly desired was to find books pertaining to mana leakage disorder.

The shelves brimmed with magical tomes, their spines adorned with elaborate symbols. But nestled deep within the rows, almost hidden from view, was a single handwritten manuscript.

[On Mana Leakage Delay]

[Author: Ha Tae-Ryeong]

The writing had a modest simplicity, and the title was concise.

As Baek Yu-Seol ran his fingers across the pages, he could discern their coarse texture.

Upon opening the book, he found it lacked an introduction and instead delved directly into the narrative.

— From the moment of birth, all lives embark on a journey towards death. Yet my existence was different. From the instant I set forth, my destination lay just before me.

Someone said, "You shall perish before reaching the age of twenty."

Mana leakage disorder—a rare condition bestowed upon only one individual per generation.

Unfortunate as it was, I had fallen prey to this unique trait.

Historically, those burdened with mana leakage delay met an untimely demise, and many presumed I would be no exception.

Yet look at me now.

Despite surpassing the age of forty, I have continued to live, albeit with death looming ever closer.

Curse it all. If only I had realized the truth about my body sooner, I might have prolonged my life.

Or perhaps it was for the better.

With little time remaining, I found the courage to face my mortality and even dared to challenge those who held dominion at the pinnacle of humanity… —

Initially, Baek Yu-Seol believed these writings were intended solely as a personal journal, not meant for others to peruse.

However, as he progressed to the next chapter, he discarded that notion entirely.

— Perhaps, even after my own demise, someone with the same inherent condition as mine will be born. If that someone happens to be you, congratulations.

By reading this text, you will be able to prolong your lifespan.

I have diligently recorded the findings of my research on mana leakage delay here.

Or rather, it would be more appropriate to refer to it as the culmination of my efforts.

Mana leakage delay defies the grasp of any medical, scientific, or magical intervention.

Our physical bodies exist beyond the confines of conventional magic.

In a world governed by mana, we stand apart by contradicting its very essence.

Our choices do not involve scouring for elusive elixirs, seeking the counsel of esteemed authorities, or invoking unknown deities.

Rather, it boils down to self-trust and relentless self-discipline.

That is all there is to it.

To persevere with mana leakage delay, one must strive to become resolute and unwavering in their pursuit of strength. —

Baek Yu-Seol swallowed hard, a strange mix of excitement and anxiety tightening in his chest.

His hands trembled slightly as he turned the page.

— I will now describe the method.