I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy - Chapter 103

The ceremony marking Maizen Tyren’s defeat was a subdued occasion.

Unlike the previous time, they refrained from the pomp and grandeur of gathering all the students.

Instead, notable figures such as the Stella Magic Knights, the Stella Board of Directors, shareholders of Stella Tower, and the Stella Magic Research Council attended the event.

In addition, various representatives from the Magic Daily newspaper and other magic tower affiliates were present, making this event quite an honor for a first-year student.

The students being commended included Flame, Eisel, Hong Bi-Yeon, and members of Hong Bi-Yeon’s faction, led by Ma Yu-Seong and Baek Yu-Seol.

Though Ma Yu-Seong and Baek Yu-Seol had defeated Maizen, others received recognition for their courage in confronting the enemy even before the battle began.

"Let us now present the awards."

In the spacious auditorium, around two hundred renowned mages gathered.

Orenha swept a disinterested gaze over Stella’s students. He struggled to understand why he had to endure this tedious event simply because they had averted an incident involving the world tree.

Despite his skill in diplomacy and politics, their justification escaped him. His attendance was a matter of obligation, nothing more.

Click! Click!

Cameras flashed from every direction.

Yes, those cameras were significant.

As the elf king's representative, Orenha personally bestowed the awards and captured the moment in photographs to spread the news.

"No matter what the dark mages have done, Stella and the world tree will remain firmly united!"

It was amusing how even the most intelligent individuals could reduce politics to a childish game. Then again, if dark mages threatening the world’s safety could act so petulantly, perhaps it was only fitting for the world’s premier magical institution to mirror their behavior.

"First-year, Class S, Ma Yu-Seong. You have become an exemplary role model for your fellow students..."

Handsome young men and elegant girls stepped forward to receive commendations from the council elders.

Although it was a formal and dull affair, it meant a great deal to those students.

Orenha stood by, prepared to deliver the second medal, engraved with the mark of the world tree. The faces of the students receiving multiple medals shone with elation.

"Congratulations."

Orenha handed over the medal in a flat tone, and Ma Yu-Seong accepted it with a confident smile and a polite nod.

"Thank you."

‘Hmm?’

For a moment, Orenha sensed something eerie from him, but upon reevaluation, the student seemed entirely ordinary.

He possessed greater power compared to others his age, but that was all.

'That was odd.'

Suppressing his irritation at his own overreaction, Orenha forced himself to remain composed.

If a sour expression got captured in a photograph and became a topic for the world tree elders, it would earn Florin’s resentment, something he desperately wanted to avoid.

“First-year, Class S, Baek Yu-Seol. Likewise…”

Next, he presented a commendation to a small, unassuming student who carried a subtle, boyish charm.

Rumors whispered that Baek Yu-Seol and his companion had taken down a Class 6 dark mage. Yet, judging by his appearance, it was difficult to imagine him achieving such a feat.

However, that was the extent of it.

Orenha couldn't find anything particularly intriguing about him.

“Congratula...tions.”

As he reached out to pin the medal on Baek Yu-Seol, an inexplicable energy suddenly brushed against Orenha’s senses, sending a shiver down his spine.

'This sensation!'

He recognized it. It was the energy of Leafanel, Florin’s old friend.

He quickly glanced around, but it seemed he was the only high elf who noticed this energy.

Of course, to the untrained eyes of humans, the ability to perceive the energy of familiars simply did not exist.

"Is there a problem?"

“It’s nothing.”

The council's mage inquired, but Orenha swiftly composed himself and awarded Baek Yu-Seol the medal.

But his mind was already racing.

‘Why do I sense Leafanel’s energy from him?’

No matter how much he pondered, there was only one plausible answer.

‘He’s the one who killed Leafanel.’

It was still nothing more than a theory.

Divine Slayers inherently possessed corrupted souls, and high elves' senses would react keenly to such darkness.

Since he didn't sense any of that from Baek Yu-Seol, he couldn't be entirely sure.

However, his thoughts soon shifted.

A dark mage had breached the divine barrier and infiltrated their sanctum. Who was to say there wasn’t a hidden technique capable of concealing a corrupted soul?

Even if they were students of Stella, it was nearly impossible for two Class 3 mages to defeat a Class 6 dark mage. 

Baek Yu-Seol had brushed it off as good fortune. But what if he possessed powers that couldn’t be disclosed?

What if he indeed held the power of a spirit?

And what if his enrollment at Stella Academy was nothing more than a façade to hide that power and cleanse his name of Leafanel’s death?

The pieces of the puzzle fit perfectly.

‘Baek Yu-Seol.’

He was the culprit who killed Leafanel, the very person Florin was desperately searching for.

If he captured him and offered him to Florin, he would surely gain her favor.

‘Not yet.’

For now, the evidence was far too thin.

Moreover, it would be more effective to build up gradually rather than immediately offering him to Florin.

The perfect moment would come when her grievances festered and her anxieties swelled until she could no longer suppress her emotions.

Soon, she would retreat once more to her secluded castle deep within the primordial mountain range, where her awareness of the outside world would dwindle. With Orenha’s absolute authority over White Castle, he could easily control the flow of information reaching her.

Clenching his trembling lower lip, Orenha resolved himself.

‘Yes, I'll wait until then!’

If it meant creating the most dramatic situation possible, he could endure the short wait without any problem.

***

Despite the shocking dark mage attack during the Familiar Contract Ceremony, the first-year students resumed their classes as if nothing had happened.

There were no mobs of panicked parents rushing in to demand, ‘Isn’t this dangerous?!’ After all, Stella was an institution devoted to training magic warriors to face dark mages.

Of course, many parents secretly hoped their children wouldn't become magical warriors, even though they enrolled them at Stella.

Such sentiments were especially common among nobles.

In magical society, holding the title of a magical warrior was a prestigious achievement. Thus, even if parents didn’t want their children risking their lives battling dark mages, enrolling them at Stella for the qualifications alone was a widespread practice.

As a result, complaints about the dangers were sparse. No parent wanted to reveal that their child was simply collecting credentials before quietly retiring from the battlefield.

Time flew by, and summer arrived.

Around this time, a new subject was introduced.

Each year, around 50 to 100 students succeeded in forming contracts with Divine Beasts, prompting separate education to build a bond with these mystical entities.

Professor Pedellote was in charge of the subject, Training Familiars.

Despite her considerable stature, Professor Pedellote seemed like an ordinary middle-aged woman from the neighborhood at first glance.

However, her warm smile left a lasting impression on the students.

"How much do you know about familiars? Familiars are mystical entities that evolve into animals. Most of them have beautiful and extravagant forms, and young familiars are particularly known for their cuteness."

While this class was not mandatory, it was immensely popular among female students.

The chance to observe adorable and gentle yet mischievous familiars throughout the class made it an enjoyable experience, not to mention earning them credits.

"Getting along with your familiar isn’t difficult. You just have to open your heart and try to understand them."

She had formed a contract with a divine beast known as the thunder glacial bird. The name sounded impressive, but in reality, it was nothing more than a tiny, fluffy sparrow.

Its personality, however, was atrocious. It felt like a mix of a cat's sensitive temperament and a preschooler's attitude… full of pure malice. How could anyone get close to such a nasty creature?

Judging by the dark circles under the other students’ eyes, Eisel wasn’t the only one struggling.

Professor Pedellote, on the other hand, appeared to be the only one gleefully smiling.

"To grow closer to your familiar, you need to learn what they like. Sometimes, giving them gifts makes them happy! Spending time playing with them is also important, and there are plenty of ways to do that."

Blah blah blah. The students were barely paying attention until Pedellote summoned a giant tiger, instantly grabbing everyone’s attention.

“If you get close to them like that, someday you might even summon your familiar and stand on the battlefield together!”

The concept of Familiar Summoning sparked their curiosity.

Familiars were meant to form bonds with their contractors, and through this bond, they had to reach a state of utmost harmony.

There were even stories of magic warriors summoning familiars in the form of dragons, soaring across the skies and battling enemies.

This had ignited a burning passion in their hearts.

However, that excitement quickly fizzled out.

Reality struck, and their enthusiasm deflated like popped balloons.

“What am I even supposed to do with this thing?!”

"Ugh! You're annoying! You said we would have fun, so why are you playing tricks on me!"

“First you do this, then that! What am I supposed to do?”

Frustrated shouts erupted from every corner of the room.

Because each student’s familiar was only visible to them, the scene turned downright comical as they flailed and shouted at empty air.

Even Eisel was not much different.

“Peep?”

A blue sparrow, tilting its head, pecked at Eisel’s head. After having teased and annoyed her so much, it was now trying to act cute as she turned away in frustration.

"Ugh, I'm so annoyed..."

Thus, until the end of the class, she couldn’t get close to this cute yet annoying familiar she named Purumi. 

{TN:- The name "푸름이(Purumi)" is a cute and affectionate way of saying "blue" in Korean. It is often used as a nickname for pets or endearing characters with blue features or personalities.}

"Don't be disheartened, everyone! We have plenty of time!"

"Yeah..."

"Whatever..."

Leaving the ever-cheerful Professor Pedellote behind, Eisel and the rest of the class shuffled out of the lecture hall.

“There’s a 30-minute break before the next class…”

With a bit of free time ahead, Eisel decided to return to the Class S classroom and rest.

"Hooh.."

Lately, she had been feeling like her energy was draining away. 

‘Maybe I should start taking some supplements.’

The incident during the Familiar Contract Ceremony was one thing, but meeting the person she despised so much, and by chance... finding out about Baek Yu-Seol’s incurable disease took a toll on her.

It wasn't her body that felt exhausted.

It was her heart.

Was there anything she could do?

That thought wouldn't leave her mind.

"Hey, Eisel!"

"Huh? Yeah?"

Lost in thought, Eisel barely registered the sound of Hariren’s voice calling out to her from down the corridor.

Hariren ran towards Eisel with an excited expression and fired off words rapidly. “You’re so amazing, Eisel! Did you see the notice?”

"No?"

"Quick, quick!"

Without waiting for further questions, Hariren grabbed Eisel’s arm and dragged her toward the bulletin board in the main tower classroom.

Even with her decent stamina, honed through rigorous training, Eisel found herself short of breath as they hurried through the halls.

By the time they reached the bulletin board, the area was already packed with students from every grade, chatting and buzzing with excitement.

“Oh, now that I think about it…”

When the summer season approached, various events took place.

Aslan Seminar.

Academy Tournament (Duel & Battle Royale).

Arcanium Grand Festival.

Of these, the most anticipated were undoubtedly the Aslan Seminar and the Academy Tournament.

The Aslan Seminar, in particular, was a debate presentation attended by the most attention-worthy geniuses among magic aspirants worldwide.

Many elites from all over the world were eager to participate in the Aslan Seminar, and if they qualified, their faces and names would be featured in the Magic Column, the most prominent column in the magical world.

Naturally, everyone's attention would be focused on them.

The following names were written on the board:

[Emerging Rising Star of the Year]

[Eisel Morph]

[Selyen]

Eisel’s name was clearly displayed.

"What... What is this?"

Unexpectedly finding her name in a place she never expected, she was taken aback and couldn't even utter a word.

“Eisel, you’re amazing!”

Hariren shook her shoulder in excitement, barely letting Eisel regain her composure.

"Unbelievable..."

She had been labeled a traitor’s child and was constantly criticized, so she hadn't expected this at all. Perhaps the thesis she submitted about ice magic on the day of the entrance ceremony had earned her the spot.

"I… I...”

Overwhelmed, her words faltered, and she covered her mouth with trembling hands as emotion welled up inside her.

A voice approached from behind, breaking her thoughts. "Hello? You must be Eisel?"

Eisel turned to see a girl standing there, her name tag clearly stating [S-2 Selyen.]

She was one of the participants from Aslan who attended Stella this year.

Selyen’s long black hair cascaded down her back as she adjusted her glasses, her faintly sinister smile lingering as she extended a hand for a handshake.

"So, we'll be attending the seminar together. Nice to meet you."

"Ah, yes... Senior,” Eisel replied, still feeling flustered as she shook the hand.

However, despite her smile, there was something about Selyen's demeanor that didn't seem genuine.

It was as if she was looking down on her.

"Oh, by the way. I read your paper on the day of the entrance ceremony. You did make some interesting discoveries.”

The compliment was thinly veiled, edged with subtle disdain.

"Ah, thank you,” she murmured, not sure how to react to her comment.

"But it was kind of mediocre," Selyen continued, smirking slightly. "Sure, it was an interesting discovery to handle ice in that way, but that's about it, right? You stumbled upon a new spell by chance. Let's face it; you're just an ordinary high school student with average abilities. Even if you claim otherwise, this is probably the extent of your skills."

Her words stung, but Eisel understood why she had sought her out—to provoke a reaction.

However, she had grown accustomed to such situations, so she simply turned away, maintaining her composure.

"Oh yes, Senior, you’re truly remarkable. Your discerning eye probably wouldn’t deign to notice the magic of a junior like me. I look forward to seeing your magic at the seminar.”

Eisel replied politely, pulling her friend Hariren along with her toward the classroom.

Selyen’s smug expression didn’t bother her. Not anymore.

She had long since learned how to weather the opinions of those who looked down on her.

After all, it was just one senior from the second year trying to pick a fight.

"Anyway, the sky is clear, and the clouds are drifting away," Eisel hummed to herself, feeling that the recent stress in her life made such trivial matters seem like child's play.