I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy - Chapter 54

Starcloud, the world's greatest trading company.

An exclusive contract with Starcloud was, without a doubt, an unparalleled opportunity. With the right product, one could amass a fortune that would last a lifetime… and then some.

However, it was not the right path to take.

‘The exclusive business of items.’

Melian was an exceptional businessman, but he had an unyielding nature when it came to claiming what he believed was his.

He was the sort of man who could summon mountains of gold, provided the technology was bound solely to Starcloud.

‘But, what happens when the technology is tied to him?’

First, only the most profitable items would be mass-produced, stifling variety, creativity, and performance.

Moreover, such an overwhelming monopoly would bar countless mages from acquiring the tools they needed, skewing technological advancements toward commerce… and giving dark mages the chance to close the gap.

In reality, Baek Yu-seol had seen a couple of players who proceeded with such a strategy to earn money as they pleased, ultimately ending up losing everything.

"May I ask for the reason?" asked Melian, unfazed by the sudden rejection.

Baek Yu-Seol studied Melian’s face intently. Even in his fifties, Melian’s elven heritage granted him an unearthly beauty, his features so youthful and elegant that it was almost unfair.

Wealth only added to his charm, making him a coveted partner despite already having a daughter.

But it wasn’t his wealth or his looks that made Melian so irresistible to women.

To be honest, from a purely romantic perspective, the over-thirty-year age gap should have raised eyebrows.

Perhaps if there were a significant age gap of 300 to 3,000 years, people might be more intrigued, calling it a romance between a transcendent being and a human.

In truth, Melian’s allure among players had little to do with him. It all traced back to his daughter, the High Elf Jeliel—better known as Jeliel the Villainess.

Throughout the story, Jeliel’s ruthless, cunning schemes made her despised by players. Her actions left many determined to see her pay for her crimes.

The ultimate solution was to marry her father, Melian, and bring ruin to her family. It sounded like a joke, but it was true.

However, players from around the world, especially Koreans, were enthralled by this dramatic turn of events.

Recalling those events, Baek Yu-Seol shook his head at the absurdity. Feigning deep contemplation, he allowed Melian to wait, testing the patience behind the man’s poised exterior.

"There’s definitely a reason."

"Is it the terms of the contract? If there are any shortcomings, I’ll immediately address them."

"No, it's not about the conditions. I simply don't want an exclusive contract."

Melian’s face stiffened, though only slightly. It was clear that he wanted this technology under his control.

However, Baek Yu-Seol couldn't just decline the contract like this, since losing the tremendous sponsorship of a company as prestigious as Starcloud would be quite regrettable.

He intended to compromise with him as much as possible.

"This technology, which combines magic engineering and alchemy, would be useful in our daily lives, but it would have the most significant impact on the production of equipment for mages. In fact, as we unraveled this formula, we created quite a variety of blueprints."

“I see. And what does that have to do with avoiding exclusivity?”

“We want this technology to be accessible to more mages. Think of it as our small contribution to creating a world free from the shadow of dark mages.”

"Your ambitions are rather lofty. Having great aspirations is a good thing. However, money is always necessary to realize noble dreams."

"Yes, that's right. We've been in talks with numerous investors. You’re one of them."

“So you intend to make deals with others while keeping me under contract? That would mean ignoring many of the terms I proposed.”

“Exactly. But I must admit, your terms are very tempting.”

Melian’s eyes gleamed with interest. His expression seemed to ask, And what’s your plan now?

He probably wouldn't be easily persuaded. So Baek Yu-Seol offered a straightforward solution.

"Even if everyone uses items, it's impossible for everyone to use the same item. Luxurification of the items. That's what I propose."

"Ah...!"

Around that moment, Alterisha, who had been looking anxious, seemed to realize something and let out a gasp.

Melian also straightened up and displayed an expression of interest. That expression revealed that he was no longer looking at Baek Yu-Seol as a child.

"Luxurification, huh…?"

"Yes. In this world, there are truly countless rare materials. The thunderbolt iron ore that Starcloud Corporation monopolizes is one of them. What if we refine that ore using the technology of alchemy and magic engineering’?"

“That would yield extraordinary items.”

“Precisely. We aim to distribute common items widely, but for luxury-grade creations - those rare and intricate masterpieces - we’ll establish an exclusive partnership with Starcloud. Isn’t that the essence of branding?”

Melian’s lips curved into a faint smile and he nodded his head.

“Interesting. But how do I know this vision of yours isn’t just a pipe dream? I never make losing deals, especially not in business.”

Despite his words, Melian’s tone suggested curiosity rather than rejection. He was waiting for proof.

"Yes. That’s why I’m not asking you to sign the contract immediately. Six months. We’ll hold an investor briefing exclusively with you within that time."

"Oho..."

He had a few things planned. Even if he didn’t think about them, Alterisha would surely come up with more ideas.

"If you are satisfied with the products presented during that time, please consider entering into an exclusive contract with us."

"That... is truly..."

After a brief hesitation, Melian finally nodded his head.

“Impressive.”

That was something Melian reserved for when he was genuinely impressed.

"Alright then, here’s a messenger scroll.”

Messenger scrolls… ancient and highly secure magical devices for communication.

Though phones had made them obsolete in most places, the scrolls remained a symbol of trust, used only for the most critical exchanges.

Although phones weren’t as widespread as they were on Earth, major institutions (kingdoms, mage towers, nobles, companies, etc.) already had sufficient telephone networks connected, so it wasn't really necessary.

However, there was significance in the act of giving it.

Messenger scrolls were incredibly secure with numerous protective spells, making them expensive and valuable as a means of communication that could reach anywhere. In other words, it was an item given only to trusted individuals.

With that in mind, Alterisha opened her eyes wide and eagerly accepted it.

“Th-Thank you!”

“And here, I’m giving you my phone number. I have a personal phone, and you'll probably get one soon too. If needed, you can contact me using public phones in Stella.”

Having finished his business, Melian adjusted his hat and said, “Well then, I’ll take my leave. Have a pleasant day.”

Watching Melian swiftly disappear like the wind, just as he did when he arrived, Baek Yu-Seol let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew, I thought I was going to die from the tension.”

Alterisha looked bewildered as she asked, “Is that how a tense person acts?”

“I was really tense, though.”

“That's impressive. Being able to smile like that while being so tense.”

“Huh?”

"Uh-huh, it's nothing!"

Saying that, Alterisha smiled warmly as Baek Yu-Seol leaned his head against the window. Now that the tension had finally lifted, fatigue weighed heavily on him.

"I should get some sleep..."

***

In the southern region of the continent lay the Waning Moon Plains.

It was once referred to as the land of milk and honey.

It was understandable because Waning Moon Plains had seven major rivers running through it as well as various rare plants, animals, and minerals.

Enchanted by its beauty, a wandering bard once proclaimed, ‘To stand upon these endless, rolling meadows is to feel the yearning for freedom… even when already free.’

The land of freedom, Waning Moon Plains.

In the central part of the plains was a peculiarly tall green stem, and at its top bloomed a giant pink water lily.

On that lotus was a beautiful inn called the Lotus Inn, and today, a very special guest had arrived.

Jeliel, the only daughter of Melian, the president of Starcloud.

Though her father was an ordinary elf, Jeliel bore the blessings of the World Tree, ascending to the rank of a High Elf at a young age.

However, she wanted to explore the world with her father and left the world tree for adventure. Now, she gazed at the azure meadow that seemed to unfold endlessly with an expressionless face.

There were people who burst into tears upon seeing this scenery and people who were so captivated by the breathtaking beauty that they couldn't leave this place forever.

It was said a painter had once spent his final years capturing this scenery until his failing eyes stole the colors away.

But none of that beauty touched Jeliel’s heart.

In her world, all things were measured by their worth.

[Value of All Things]

Jeliel had a unique ability to see everything, whether it be humans, animals, or material objects, in terms of numbers.

The least valuable was 0.

The most valuable was 100.

"I see the value of this land is rising..."

Instead of appreciating the beauty of Waning Moon Plain, Jeliel focused on its value and smiled slightly. She had invested heavily there, and it would soon become a fertile land, yielding abundant profits.

"Um, Miss Jeliel..."

As she absentmindedly admired the Waning Moon Plains, a man who had been kneeling behind her cautiously spoke up.

"Who dares to call my name so casually?"

Slam!

Upon her sharp rebuke, her bodyguard ruthlessly stomped on the man's head.

"Gah...!"

Jeliel sighed and turned around to sit down. The pitiful figure of the man, with tears, snot, and blood mixed on his face, was truly pathetic, and the number ‘3’ floating above his head was even more pitiful.

A value no higher than a discarded pebble.

"P-Please... Have mercy, just once..."

“Why did you let yourself go bankrupt?” Jeliel’s voice was calm but sharp, cutting deeper than any blade. “If you had stayed in your lane and done as you were told, none of this would have happened. I warned you not to dabble in foolish ventures.”

The man bit his lips with force and slammed his head down.

Her words were wrong. This venture was undoubtedly a successful one. In fact, it was on the verge of success, but that woman ruined it.

The reason? It was obvious. It would bring in more money this way.

By completely destroying and ruining the man's business, the plummeting value of the byproduct seemed more valuable in Jeliel’s eyes.

However, there was no evidence. No evidence that Jeliel was involved. It was obvious to everyone that she was behind it, but that cunning woman never left any traces.

Left with no other choice, the man groveled. Jeliel had the power to twist fate itself to her will.

"Do you want to live?"

The man vigorously nodded his head up and down, and Jeliel chuckled.

There was no reason to spare him.

Nevertheless, she wanted to pass the time with some entertaining content.

"Oh, right. Didn't you say you know how to play soul chess, Mister?"

‘Why ask that all of a sudden?’

Despite his doubt, the man hastily nodded his head.

"Alright. Would you like to play a game of soul chess with me? If you win... I'll grant you any wish you desire."

"...!"

Soul chess, known as the intellectual sport of mages, began by selecting 20 out of over 200 different chess pieces and placing them on the chessboard.

Each piece possessed unique abilities such as igniting flames three spaces ahead and resting for five turns or protecting allied pieces for two turns. The goal was to strategically combine these abilities to capture the opponent's king and claim victory.

Complex? Incredibly so. Soul chess was leagues beyond ordinary chess, and beginners often failed to grasp its depths.

Besides, Jeliel was a grandmaster-level professional soul chess player.

‘Ah.’

In other words, it aligned perfectly with the statement that she had no intention of sparing his life.

However, unwilling to give up hope, the man reluctantly stood up and sat in front of Jeliel. And thus, the game of soul chess began... and ended in a flash.

He never stood a chance from the start.

‘... How boring.’

A man with no value, even in soul chess.

"Bury him."

"I understand."

Jeliel’s bodyguard, Seong Tae-Won, nodded slightly and covered the man's mouth as he left the room. He did so to prevent the person from making any more noise or causing a scene, as the lady disliked it.

"Mmph! Mmmph! Mmphh!!"

As expected, the man struggled and thrashed, but he couldn't resist Seong Tae-Won's strength.

‘Sigh, it would’ve been more fun to just let him be.’

There was no one left who could be her opponent in soul chess. She had never achieved victory against Archmage Doaron Carcest, but she was confident that there was no one else she couldn't defeat.

Therefore, she grew impatient.

The sole purpose of Jeliel learning soul chess was because of the ancient Karmenset's ruins.

‘If you win a game of Soul Chess against the soul of Karmenset, you will be granted eternal light.’

Only a few people in the world knew that this ancient myth, considered a mere legend by others, actually held true.

Now that her skills were sufficient, all she had to do was win against Karmenset in soul chess. But where on earth was that ruin located?

Her frustration was growing, but she held it in, knowing that rushing wouldn’t lead to the ruin’s discovery.

"Miss, It’s been taken care of."

"Good. Well done."

Jeliel sifted through the man’s papers one last time, then set them ablaze and cast the ashes into the waste bin.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Who is it?"

“It's Dad.”

"Ah..."

A rare smile appeared on her face.

"Please come in."

As the door opened, the first thing that caught her eye wasn’t a number… but a question mark.

It was Melian's value.

Jeliel’s gift allowed her to perceive the worth of everything in existence. Yet, there were two exceptions.

First, when the subject was someone she loved.

When the subject possessed an unknown value beyond her analytical capabilities.

But there was no such thing as an immeasurable value in this world. Moreover, since the only person Jeliel loved was her father, there would be nothing she couldn't measure the value of.

“Did you have a good trip?”

“My adorable daughter, I trust you enjoyed yourself while I was away. Shall we go home?”

"Yes, I'm tired of this place now."

"Haha, it never gets boring for me, even if I see it every day."

That was because her father still had emotions, and Waning Moon Plains was such a beautiful place.

Jeliel hurriedly said, "Me neither. I’m not bored of it either."

It was to prevent her father from knowing that her heart had grown cold.

Melian’s gentle smile remained as he reached out and stroked Jeliel’s head.

"Oh, by the way, did the deal go well this time?"

"In a way, yes, but also not."

"What do you mean?"

Melian took out a piece of paper from the pocket of his coat. 

It was a Messenger Scroll that led to the alchemist named Alterisha.

[57]

‘A scroll that leads to a woman named Alterisha has a value comparable to mine. In that case, just how valuable is she?’

‘As expected, my father has a good eye.’

Jeliel touched the scroll as Melian spoke. "Oh, I should have given another scroll to that boy."

"That boy?"

"Yes. He was an interesting one. The co-author of the Alchemical Engineering Cross Technique and a student of Stella Academy."

"... Is that so?"

Jeliel knew that there was a co-author for Alchemical Engineering Cross Technique, but she didn't expect him to still be a student.

“Apparently, he’s a year younger than you. The world never ceases to amaze me. We’ll have to keep an eye on him, but for someone his age, his business instincts were exceptional.”

"What's his name?"

"Baek Yu-Seol, I believe. It might be good to remember it."

Among the names her father told her to remember, there hadn’t been an unimportant name so far, so Jeliel made a mental note of it.

‘At the age of seventeen, he solved a problem that’s been unresolved for over 300 years…’

It was undoubtedly impressive, but it didn't pique her interest much. Jeliel trusted her father’s insight, but to her, the boy was nothing more than a potential chess piece.

‘I hope Father can make good use of him to turn a profit.’

With that thought in mind, she temporarily stored the name Baek Yu-Seol in a corner of her memory. Whether he knew her thoughts or not, Melian still had a strong interest in Baek Yu-Seol.

"I heard he’s a student at Stella Academy. Who knows? Maybe you might meet him someday."

Jeliel was attending the elven magic academy, Astral Flower Magic Academy. 

Magic academies from various countries often had events such as student exchanges and academy competitions, so there was a chance they would meet each other in the future.

However, the name Baek Yu-Seol had long been pushed to the depths of her memory. Right now, she just wanted to enjoy the time with her father.

"Father, would you like to play a game of soul chess before we go back?"

Today and tomorrow.

As long as she was with her father, Jeliel felt she could do anything.

Even if it meant sinking into the depths of hell.