I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy - Chapter 63

Leaving behind the fierce clash between Baek Yu-Seol and the great blade spider, the students finally descended the spiraling stairs.

The masquerade ball was being held on the first floor of the clock tower. As they reached the bottom, the elegant sounds of music drew them naturally into the festivities.

However, just before stepping inside, Hong Bi-Yeon came to a halt.

“I should tidy up my dress before going. Rags like these don't suit a banquet."

Everyone was dressed in formal attire, but their appearances had become disheveled after the series of intense battles.

Hong Bi-Yeon deftly adjusted their clothes. She boldly tore away frayed sections to create shorter, sleeker dresses and covered the rest with accessories. Her handiwork was surprisingly skillful.

Flame looked at her with a newfound curiosity.

‘Was Hong Bi-yeon like this in the original story?’

She couldn’t recall such a scene.

‘Something feels... different.’

By this point, Hong Bi-Yeon should have been stewing in jealousy over Eisel’s strategies. Instead, she quietly helped tidy even Eisel’s dress, showing no signs of spite.

“Tsk, you look like a beggar.”

“What did you say?”

Of course, she had to interrupt with a comment in the middle of it.

“Well, it’s somewhat passable now. Let’s go.”

With that, Princess Hong Bi-Yeon took the lead, entering the grand ballroom. The rest of the students followed behind her, their faces taut with nervous tension.

"Wow..."

Someone couldn’t help but let out a gasp.

And it was no wonder.

The hall was far more dazzling than anyone expected for a gathering held in a mere mansion.

Crystal chandeliers sparkled brilliantly above, while masked nobles twirled gracefully across the floor, their laughter blending with the vibrant melody.

At the far end of the hall stood a grand pedestal adorned with intricate steps. However, it remained empty for now.

The students quietly melded into the crowd. The music was oddly familiar, making it easy to fall in step with the rhythm of the dance.

‘This is... the music from earlier.’

‘Yes, we danced to this earlier.’

A strange sense of déjà vu lingered as the melody flowed through the room.

Bang! Bang!

Suddenly, loud echoes resounded, and some of the lights dimmed. All at once, the spotlights shifted to illuminate the pedestal at the end of the room.

The lively murmurs died away.

The nobles fell silent as if they had been waiting for the arrival of a central figure.

In the dim light, a woman stepped gracefully into the spotlight.

Click, click!

Her heels echoed with each measured step.

It was likely the final boss of this world, Duchess Aeron.

However, the duchess was not wearing a mask, and the students, facing her, widened their eyes in astonishment.

‘Wait. That face…’

‘Could it be...?

Finally, Duchess Aeron spoke, and her words sent shockwaves through the crowd.

"Nice to meet you, everyone. I am Jecky Aeron."

It was none other than Jecky.

"How... How is this possible?"

"This is unreal...!"

Click!

While whispers of disbelief rippled through the students, Jecky smiled and offered a graceful bow.

Her movements were so poised and elegant that they seemed flawless… yet they felt utterly out of place.

Flame’s face went pale.

‘What... is happening here?’

This was never part of the original story. In fact, Jecky wasn’t even a character in the romance fantasy novel, let alone someone capable of becoming an NPC inside Persona Gate.

And yet, here she was… not just an NPC but the final boss.

‘Could it be...’

There were rumors of certain individuals who could transform into NPCs within persona gates. They were known as dark mages.

Which meant...

‘Jecky... was a dark mage?’

Struggling to process the revelation, Flame bit her lip and scanned her surroundings.

"Wow!"

"Oh my! Duchess Aeron! You're as beautiful as ever!"

"What do I do? I think I'm falling for her even though I'm a girl..."

The noble NPCs were enraptured. Meanwhile, a guideline message appeared before the students.

[Duchess Aeron has revealed herself!]

[The nobles seem to be acting strangely. It seems like they've been enchanted by the Duchess's magic.]

[So many nobles had gone missing and were found in the Duchess's mansion. No one expected such a secret to be hidden.]

The pieces began to fall into place.

[There is only one way to oppose her.]

[Dance more beautifully than Duchess Aeron to bring the nobles back to their senses!]

“What… We have to dance?”

“Dancing all of a sudden…?”

The students exchanged bewildered glances as the fervor of the nobles escalated.

"Aeron! Aeron!"

"Please, just give us a smile in this direction!"

"Kyaaah! The duchess waved her hand!"

"Darling, I think I've come to love Duchess Aeron more than you."

"Ahh, to be able to dedicate my love to the duchess. It's the greatest honor for me."

"I offer my heart!"

The nobles’ devotion bordered on madness. Meanwhile, Jecky responded to their adoration with a charming wave before descending the stairs with a coy smile.

‘This feels exhilarating.’

Everyone was ecstatic about her appearance. 

‘Look at this rapture. Doesn’t it feel like I’m the main character?’

Moving gracefully through the crowd, Jecky reached the ballroom floor and scanned the students with an amused gaze.

Then, a student stepped forward.

"Alright, this is great! Our goal is to dance more beautifully than Duchess Aeron, and if you're Duchess Aeron herself, it should be an easy task, right? Help us win!"

Then, silence.

All the music and commotion came to a halt. One of the spotlights that had been illuminating Jecky shifted and focused on the audacious student who had spoken.

The entire audience turned cold gazes toward him.

Jecky raised her chin, covered her mouth with a fan, and spoke.

"Why should I do that?"

“W-What…?”

Her tone was so cold it sent shivers down their spines, and the students couldn’t help but wonder if this truly was the same classmate they once knew. A suffocating aura of death began to seep from her presence.

"Hehe."

However, Jecky laughed.

Despite the menacing energy that seemed ready to peel flesh from bone, she radiated an air of unwavering confidence.

With exaggerated gestures befitting a performer, she strolled through the ballroom and addressed the nobles like a queen surveying her subjects.

“Everyone, what should we do with this insolent fool?”

The responses came immediately.

"How dare he?!"

"Drag him out!"

"To speak ill of the duchess!"

"I'll personally rip out his tongue!"

"Ahahahaha!" Seeing the nobles who were ready to offer their hearts to her every word, Jecky burst into laughter.

Then, just as suddenly, she stopped. Raising her fan to her lips, she concealed her smile and cast a piercing gaze across the room.

"No. I’m merciful, so I'll be satisfied with just expelling this student from here."

"Ah, indeed, Duchess Aeron."

"How can someone be so kind-hearted?"

"Sob. I am ashamed of the uncivilized remarks I made!"

With a wave of her hand, the knights strode forward and seized the boy who had dared to speak.

"Wait, wait! Why are you doing this? Nooo!"

Thud!

After the boy was expelled, the main entrance closed firmly, and a heavy silence fell.

No one could comprehend what had just unfolded.

Why did Jecky become the final boss?

But why wouldn't she cooperate?

Could it be that the persona gate had seized control of her body?

‘No, that couldn’t be it.’

Flame’s eyes narrowed.

That was definitely Jecky. She wasn’t being controlled. She was acting of her own free will.

‘Was this the reason why Baek Yu-Seol warned me to be cautious around her?’

Flame thought back to their time together. She had observed Jecky closely, yet there had been no signs of her succumbing to darkness.

It meant that without a doubt, the seed of darkness had been transferred to her from someone else.

By failing to rein in her emotions, Jecky had allowed the darkness to take root and fully awaken the moment she entered this cursed space.

Desperation rising in her voice, Flame shouted, clinging to a thread of hope.

"Jecky, please calm down. If you succumb to that power, you might transform into something terrible!"

"Hah! Nonsense! Are you jealous of my popularity?"

"No, it's not like that! I'm really worried about you..."

"Shut up, Flame. If you envy my charm, just say it. Look, everyone loves me, not you. They're all looking at me."

It was no use. Her mind was already devoured by darkness, twisted beyond reason.

Not only had she surrendered to her role in the persona gate, but she had also embraced it wholeheartedly.

There was only one remaining option. To win in the dance battle and strip her of the power of temptation, returning her to her original self.

‘Yes... Nothing has changed.'

If they could overpower her with elegance and beauty, they could shatter the enchantment and bring her back to her senses.

"Well then! Shall we start the party together?"

Jecky lifted her arms high and twirled in the center of the ballroom.

"Wowww!"

"Whoo-hoo!"

"Aeron! Aeron!"

Everyone in the ballroom cheered for her.

It was exhilarating. It felt like her head, chest, and heart would melt away. The feeling of being in the spotlight and receiving attention from people came with such an electrifying thrill.

"Haaa..."

Letting out a blissful sigh, Jecky turned toward Flame, her cheeks flushed, her eyes brimming with adoration.

"Flame, my dear Flame..."

She spoke in a slightly chilly voice that only Flame could hear.

“You… have been hogging this amazing feeling all to yourself?”

"What are you talking about?"

"You’re such a bad, selfish person. Look, it's so sweet, thrilling, and delightful. I feel like I'll never forget this."

As she was speaking, Jecky realized something and immediately licked her lips, wearing a seductive smile.

"... No, I won't ever let go of this."

This world was perfect.

Here, she was the most beautiful, adored, and admired being.

Why should she leave?

Why help those fools when she could stay on this stage forever?

Even Flame, Eisel, and Hong Bi-Yeon were nothing more than mere extras in her world...

‘This is heaven.’

‘A world just for me.’

‘A stage just for me.’

"Flame, don't you want to dance with me?"

In her mind, she felt countless rhythms, music, songs, and dances. Though she had never been trained in dance, at this moment, Jecky felt as though she could move with unmatched grace and beauty.

Tap, thud!

Her steps resonated, and tendrils of dark magic flared with each motion.

Creating a magic circle ablaze with crimson flames, Jecky spoke gracefully. "It's better to charge with full power. In this place, I have no intention of losing to you."

[The boss battle, ‘Ballroom of Temptation,’ has begun.]