I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy - Chapter 62

Meanwhile, chaos erupted within Stella’s Magic Security Department as an emergency was declared.

"What? A real persona gate has appeared in Stella Dome?"

"Yes, that's correct."

Stella Knights and professors all rushed toward the Stella Dome.

Unlike the other fake persona gates that had been created for the students' training, there was one real persona gate emitting an ominous light.

"How is it possible for a real gate to appear here? And why are we just finding out?!"

Persona gates emitted a unique wavelength that resonated across magical realms, alerting the Ministry of Magic and enabling swift deployment of magic warriors.

Stella Academy prided itself as the training ground for the world’s finest magic warriors, reinforced by an impenetrable security system.

Yet, how could such an anomaly slip past their defenses unnoticed? It was nothing short of disgraceful.

"That... The wavelength of the persona gate was completely undetectable."

"What?"

“It’s as if someone completely inverted the spatial wave detection system. The distinct wavelength emitted by a persona gate was entirely concealed. We’re just as baffled, but the security team is already reinforcing measures—”

“Damn it, that’s not what matters right now!”

Instructor Lee Han-Wol’s voice thundered, echoed by another equally tense voice.

“Yeah, he’s right. The real question is…. who’s inside that gate?”

“Commander Arein!"

Lee Han-Wol turned at the sound of the chilling voice.

Even at a glance, the man approaching with a chilling expression and a shadowy presence had a face that resembled that of a dead person.

Arein Blackswan - the commander of the Stella Knights, one of the world’s top five magic knight squads - stood before them.

The man, rumored to have left a sea of corpses after slaughtering dark mages, had made a rare appearance within Stella Academy.

He approached with a cold demeanor. "How’s the situation? Is it possible for the reinforcements to enter?"

"Ah, no... It's impossible. It seems that the people inside are doing a challenge..."

"I see. So we have to wait patiently until the students fail and die."

"That's not what I meant...!"

As Arein glared at them with disgust, the assistants trembled and lowered their heads.

It was no secret that he regarded incompetence as inhuman, and his behavior today confirmed the rumors.

"Enough! Commander Arein, you know secondary entry into the Persona Gate is impossible… Why torment the staff about it?"

Arein stared at Lee Han-Wol and gave a sinister smile. Others might not have noticed, but Lee Han-Wol could tell.

It was a clear expression of ridicule. "You talk a lot for someone who can't even manage such a trivial task."

Those words infuriated Lee Han-Wol, but he held it in. After all, that was Arein's usual personality.

"Enough. Let's stop the pointless argument. What’s the risk level of the persona gate?"

"For now, it's estimated to be between level 4 and level 5."

“Estimated? Give me the exact figures."

"Well... originally, it was level 4. But as soon as the students entered, it suddenly rose by one level."

"Unusual indeed. The persona gate is emitting fake wavelengths..."

What on earth was happening in Stella? It was hard to conceal the confusion and unease in their hearts.

"Bring me the list of students who entered."

"Yes!"

Soon, a list of students who entered the persona gate was handed to Arein and Lee Han-Wol.

"Hmm, this is..."

"Cough, ahem."

The professors stiffened at the sight of the names.

Among them was Princess Hong Bi-Yeon Adolevit.

Stella Academy’s training was infamously harsh, and casualties during practical sessions weren’t unheard of. But if Princess Adolevit were to die, the consequences for the academy’s reputation would be catastrophic.

They were facing a crisis.

However...

“...It seems there's no way to handle this.”

A risk level 5 persona gate. It meant that even seasoned mages would have to prepare extensively and strategize to overcome it. The students who entered were likely to fail in properly interpreting the patterns of that world.

No, even if they interpreted it completely...

Could class 2 or 3 mages really accomplish it?

Arein clicked his tongue, turned around, and said, "Prepare 16 body bags."

"Commander Arein, what are you doing?"

“Why? It’s just for operational efficiency. Or are you suggesting that a bunch of rookies can clear a level 5 gate, Han-Wol? You might as well claim an ant can kill a tiger.”

With that cutting remark, Arein disappeared, his knights trailing behind, leaving Han-Wol clenching his fists.

Logically, Arein wasn’t wrong.

But Han-Wol refused to give up hope.

‘Some of the students who entered are survivors of the Class 5 necromancer attack.’

Even Baek Yu-seol, who was responsible for taking out the necromancer, was included in the group.

Lee Han-Wol closed his eyes and prayed.

‘Please… let them return alive.’

***

There were only two obstacles left to conquer the persona gate.

One was the dancing clock tower. The other was the long-awaited masquerade ball.

Flame didn’t care much for the banquet. She already knew what would happen there.

But the clock tower worried her.

She remembered a risk level 4 spider-like monster would appear there.

"Old man, do you remember what happened here?" Flame suddenly asked.

Baek Yu-Seol, who was walking ahead, hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "No."

"I see..."

"But I know it's dangerous."

‘Well, as a regressor, he can’t exactly remember everything. Thankfully, he knows what’s going on.’

Flame seemed content with his answer, while Baek Yu-Seol brooded silently.

‘I don’t know the story very well.’

For Baek Yu-Seol, this place was just a dungeon for item farming, and he didn't know the story in detail.

While Eisel and Hong Bi-Yeon were excellent dancers, he vaguely recalled something happening during the event. However, he had spammed the ESC key to skip every cutscene, so the details in his head were hazy.

And now, he regretted it.

The 15 other players would be forced to watch the cutscene alongside the one person who refused to skip. The chatbox would inevitably be filled with messages like ‘Skip!’ or ‘Who’s not skipping?’

‘I wanted to see Hong Bi-yeon dance...’

Hong Bi-Yeon, the villainess, had a beauty so mesmerizing that she captivated countless male players.

One gamer, in particular, became infamous for smashing their monitor every time Hong Bi-yeon met her end in different story routes.

And today, it seemed there would be no chance to see her dance either.

Baek Yu-Seol didn’t remember the story’s details, but he knew what had to be caught to unlock the hidden reward.

[You've reached the dancing clock tower.]

[If you go down the stairs here, you'll reach the ballroom.]

[The banquet seems to have just started, so hurry!]

Reading the guideline messages, Flame let out a short exclamation.

"Wow, it's high..."

The spiraling staircase stretched endlessly downward, giving the clock tower an almost dreamlike sense of height.

But at the very top, where no student’s feet would dare to tread, lurked the commander blade spider.

Flame swallowed dry saliva and took a deep breath.

‘That thing is dangerous.’

She studied the commander blade spider in detail as a precaution, but it would still be difficult to prevent damage.

‘It's better if I handle it alone.’

If Eisel could safely confront the final boss without casualties, the rest of the group could advance.

Resolving herself, Flame opened her mouth to speak.

"Wait a moment."

Baek Yu-Seol, who was walking at the front, stopped and looked back.

"There's something here."

He turned around and asked Eisel, breaking the silence.

"Did you see any message in the guideline?"

“No, it says to head straight to the ballroom. Strange... earlier it mentioned something happening at the dancing clock tower.”

“Alright. That means it’s a stage we don’t necessarily need to clear. You all go ahead. I’ll check it out by myself.”

"What...?"

Flame instinctively glanced up.

The great blade spider hadn’t moved yet, and the ceiling still seemed far away.

He claimed not to remember what happened here, so he shouldn’t have known about the spider in advance.

Yet, he’d already sensed its presence?

‘Well... He’s someone who can see and counter magic with his eyes. It’s not surprising that his senses are exceptional.’

While the other students hesitated, Flame stepped forward.

“Let’s trust him for now. The most important thing is reaching the ballroom quickly.”

She had initially planned to stay behind, but with Baek Yu-Seol volunteering, she felt oddly reassured.

"Yes. I agree with the commoner's words. It doesn't seem necessary for a large number of us to be tied down to something when it's not even a stage."

"Even the princess agrees..."

"I'll follow the princess's orders."

"M-Me too."

Half of the students belonged to Hong Bi-Yeon’s faction, so Baek Yu-Seol was left behind without further debate.

Ding! Ding!

Soon, the clock tower's bell resounded throughout.

Then, with a thunderous crash, a massive creature descended from above.

The sound of sharp legs scraping against the walls echoed through the tower.

At the chilling sound, the students simultaneously looked up at the ceiling. Their eyes instantly widened in astonishment.

"A spider?!"

"It's a blade spider! Wait…! It’s a commander blade spider!”

"Insane! The commander blade spider is a risk level 4 creature! Hurry! We need to go down quickly!"

Seeing the students rushing down the stairs in panic, Baek Yu-Seol drew out his Teripon Sword.

The others shot him worried glances, but they had no choice but to keep running.

Clang!

As the blade spider descended along the wall, sparks flew in all directions. It was exactly what its name implied—a spider with eight legs, each consisting of sharp blades. Even a simple attack from it could be fatal, so it should never be confronted in such a confined space.

Moreover, it also used its sharp and sturdy spider thread to freely traverse through space.

A structure like this clock tower - narrow and filled with empty gaps - was its perfect hunting ground.

"How did this happen…?"

"W-Will Baek Yu-Seol be able to hold it off?"

"I don't know. We'll have to trust him..."

As their murmurs filled the air, a sudden burst of dazzling light erupted from the ceiling.

Not ordinary sparks… but pure magical energy.

"W-What is that...?"

The students looked up at the ceiling, their expressions turning pale as they let out sighs of astonishment.

Between the walls of the clock tower were dozens of thin, serpentine lines shimmering with blue color.

Baek Yu-Seol stepped onto those glowing paths, leaping through empty space as though walking on air.

In his hand, his transparent sword shimmered with radiant light.

Seeing this, the students were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

‘Baek Yu-seol did something again...!’

‘As expected, there’s always something with him.’

Now, there was only one problem they had to worry about.

Their ultimate goal: to reach the masquerade ball and find a way to escape this dreary world.

That was all.