I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy - Chapter 73

While Baek Yu-Seol was chatting with Alterisha, the office door creaked open, revealing Halsecoden, who looked utterly drained.

"Oh, Baek Yu-Seol is here!"

Halsecoden approached with a broad grin, though the weariness in his eyes was unmistakable.

Baek Yu-Seol lowered his head and said, "You look tired."

"Hmm. Well, there have been various things happening lately. It's exhausting."

“Did the Paldanglam Republic cause trouble again?”

"That’s right. But how did you know? Their visit was supposed to be kept confidential."

"There was a carriage parked at the entrance. I saw the emblem sculpted by a sculptor known for working in a magesque style and guessed."

"Oh... Impressive observation skills. Those people are certainly troublesome.”

“They must be eager to get their hands on this technology."

Halsecoden sighed, rubbing his temple with a finger.

"That's right. Even though you're not in Alchemy Castle, you seem to know the internal affairs. You’re like a ghost."

"I wouldn’t say that..."

Alchemy Castle prided itself on neutrality, unaffiliated with any nation. However, in a world where true neutrality was a fantasy, even this sanctuary was not exempt from outside interference.

Its alchemists, scattered across various homelands, carried ties to nations that could not be severed entirely.

Whenever groundbreaking technologies emerged, the outside world inevitably took notice. Governments often exerted pressure, leveraging personal connections or issuing veiled threats to obtain advancements.

This time was no exception.

Alterisha had gathered many alchemists under her wing - bound by strict contracts - yet no contract could safeguard against betrayal when loved ones were at risk.

"They came to intimidate the alchemists who have families in Paldanglam. Thankfully, the information reached me first, and I managed to drive them away. But I can’t keep doing this forever."

Halsecoden, known as the Golden Alchemist, was revered as one of the greatest minds in alchemy. It was said he could create entire islands in the sea. His influence rivaled that of Class 9 mages, and with unparalleled authority, he could shatter foreign attempts to meddle in Alchemy Castle.

Yet nations persisted, scheming to lure away researchers under his supervision. Though Halsecoden had thwarted their efforts thus far, whether he could continue to do so remained uncertain.

"This is becoming a real headache. We’ll need to take decisive measures soon."

Baek Yu-Seol knew exactly what those measures meant, and with the thought that the opportunity had come, he opened his mouth. “You’re planning to make an example out of someone, aren’t you?”

"Hmm..."

As Halsecoden's eyes widened slightly in surprise, Baek Yu-Seol quickly added, "I saw it in a newspaper from 10 years ago. It mentioned what happened to those who coveted Halsecoden's 'multi-construction' technology."

"Ah, that incident..."

Multi-construction was a revolutionary technique that allowed alchemists to manipulate multiple alchemical circles simultaneously, akin to multi-casting for mages.

Before its invention, alchemy had always been linear, but this breakthrough opened a new frontier.

Naturally, it attracted countless attempts to steal its secrets.

Back then, Halsecoden made an example out of Lagandal Corporation, a seemingly untouchable giant.

‘I’ll suspend all transactions with Lagandal Corporation.’

Those simple words sent ripples through the market, triggering a storm that completely obliterated the corporation.

Not only could they no longer trade any of the goods in Alchemy Castle, but while others were expanding their reach using the multi-construction technology, being left alone meant an inevitable decline in the market.

That was how Lagandal Corporation completely disappeared into history, leaving no trace behind.

The world learned an unforgettable lesson that day… Halsecoden’s words carried the weight to topple empires.

Baek Yu-Seol planned to leverage that very authority.

Edmon Atalek had no inkling of Baek Yu-Seol’s ties to the Golden Alchemist, which was why he had spoken so recklessly.

"Who are you thinking of using as an example?"

"For now, it's Paldanglam. They're the most dangerous. There are many Paldanglam natives within Alchemy Castle, making it difficult to control."

"Hmm..."

After pretending to contemplate for a moment, he cautiously brought up an idea. "In my opinion, we can leave Paldanglam alone."

"Hmm... and why is that?"

"In a year, their government will change. The current president may be brash, but he’s already a lame duck. There’s no need to act hastily."

"That’s plausible, but..."

"Besides, the next presidential candidates lack influence over the alchemists here. How about focusing elsewhere?"

Baek Yu-Seol knew appearances mattered in conversations like these. It wasn’t enough to seem informed… he had to prove he could see the bigger picture.

Baek Yu-Seol had been pretending to be knowledgeable so far through his thick-rimmed spec, and it seemed to be quite successful as Halsecoden now looked at him with a serious expression.

“For example?"

"Adolevit. Specifically Atalek."

"Hmm..."

"There's a justification for it. Edmon Atalek, the heir of the Atalek family, told me he would refuse to trade."

"Huh."

Baek Yu-Seol wasn’t powerful, but his shared ownership of the technology gave his words weight.

Of course, Atalek could still act unilaterally, disregarding a commoner like him.

The Atalek family had long been a pillar of magical power and alchemy, their influence deeply woven into Alchemy Castle’s foundations.

That was precisely why Baek Yu-Seol needed Halsecoden’s backing.

"Hmm, Adolevit... That’s a tricky one too..."

Halsecoden trailed off.

Even for the Golden Alchemist, targeting an entire nation was no simple feat. Dismantling a corporation was one thing; toppling a kingdom was another matter entirely.

"Still, we can’t cut ties completely. If Adolevit retaliates, things could escalate quickly."

"That's true."

"But Adolevit won’t act aggressively right away. They’ve benefited too much from our technology to risk open conflict. The Queen will likely try diplomacy first."

This was the crux of the plan.

"Before that 'peaceful' turns into 'forceful,' we can retract our statement. We’ll end up dealing with Adolevit, but... anyway, the whole world will come to know."

Ah!

Alchemy Castle could even influence Adolevit.

Halsecoden, absorbing Baek Yu-Seol’s reasoning, rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Alterisha still seemed dizzy, but she didn't have much to do anyway. 

"Well... That's fine. It's perfect timing, with a legitimate reason and an opportunity to show our fangs."

There were countless hyenas currently chasing after the technological prowess of the items. But what if the prey they were targeting momentarily showcased strength like a lion, the king of beasts?

What if the existence they thought was prey actually revealed itself to be stronger than a lion?

The hyenas would naturally become fearful and cower.

"I will take care of the royal trading rights."

"Is that possible?"

"I have a friend among the Adolevit royalty."

Upon hearing that, Halsecoden smirked as if his bluff had been called.

"That's great! The more I see you, the more impressive you are. I really want to take you on as my apprentice."

Alterisha, who had been sitting quietly without saying a word, seemed to sense that the conversation was coming to an end and slowly spoke up.

"Um, but... aren’t you a commoner like me? How did you become so knowledgeable about politics?"

"Well..."

Baek Yu-Seol hadn't anticipated such a question, so he hesitated for a moment, but he managed to dodge the topic.

"Well... Watching the news is my hobby, you know? It's entertaining to see politicians bickering and fighting with each other."

"Couldn’t be me."

"It's really entertaining, though."

By the way, when Baek Yu-Seol mentioned politicians bickering and fighting, he meant it quite literally. Watching them throw punches and roll around on the floor in parliament was genuinely amusing.

Whether his excuse was convincing or not, Alterisha gave a faint smile.

"That's good. Once again, I'll be receiving your help."

If he admitted that it was all for his own benefit, wouldn’t it be hurtful? The thought pricked his conscience like a needle, but he did his best to push it aside.

And so, their conversation came to a close.

***

Time passed swiftly, and the second round of exams began.

Since the results of this round would directly affect rankings, Stella’s students buried themselves in their studies, day and night. But for Baek Yu-Seol, it wasn’t much of a concern.

'Tactical Magic Utilization Test.'

While he lacked confidence in most subjects, this particular test promised to be a spectacle.

Whoosh! Crackle! Crackle! Sizzle!

Fireballs and lightning bolts tore through the air, putting on a dazzling display rarely seen in ordinary schools.

Since magic had various attributes, the criteria for scoring were also diverse.

Lightning magic measured maximum voltage and chain reactions.

Fire magic focused on explosive force and area of effect.

Ice magic was tested for range and intensity of cold.

And then there were the more specialized attributes—healing, curses, divine moon studies, matter manipulation, light magic, and even rare bloodline-based abilities.

Among all these dazzling powers, Baek Yu-Seol thought fire magic stood out the most.

Lightning was flashy. Ice and water were elegant. But fire? Fire was loud, chaotic, and overwhelming.

As expected, Hong Bi-Yeon dominated the fire magic category, securing first place. However, her mother, Hong Yi-El, who oversaw the exam, still seemed dissatisfied.

Because Hong Si-Hwa, who could skillfully wield even more destructive and explosive magic than her, emerged as a grand mage.

Hong Bi-Yeon was still young and had a lot of potential, but it seemed like her mother was even more impatient than her.

"You're still lacking. Work harder. The fact that your magic can backfire on allies is a deduction factor."

Despite pouring in so much effort, Hong Bi-Yeon merely bowed her head and accepted the criticism.

Hong Yi-El then shifted her attention to the second-place contender… Arshuang.

"Your control is remarkable. While your firepower is a bit lacking, precise control can make up for it. You’ll excel in delicate missions or dealing with agile enemies."

Unlike Hong Bi-Yeon, who received harsh criticism, Arshuang was met with nothing but praise.

Hong Bi-Yeon’s expression darkened, though Arshuang didn’t seem particularly pleased either.

Fire magic was all about raw power. No matter how refined the control, weak firepower was a fatal flaw.

Arshuang shot Hong Bi-Yeon a sharp glare before leaving with a sly smirk.

"Baek Yu-Seol, it's your turn."

Fortunately, Baek Yu-Seol also received a passing grade in the special magic category, so he didn't fail as he did during admission.

Of course, he still scored poorly in most other magic application subjects, but he’d come to terms with it.

[Flash]

Wearing protective gear, Baek Yu-Seol dashed toward an obstacle eight meters ahead. He blinked through the gap between barriers, landing precisely where he intended.

The test itself wasn’t particularly complicated. The key elements were Flash’s maximum range, cooldown time, and precision.

"Hmm, impressive. No delay at all, and his control is spot on..."

Even the professors and assistants watching the test murmured in admiration. Flash was known as an unstable and difficult-to-control spell.

"Ahem, how on earth can one train to control Flash?"

Some professors probed, hoping to learn his secret, but Baek Yu-Seol stayed silent.

No, he couldn’t answer.

How could he possibly explain something he didn’t understand himself?

‘I don’t know. It just works.’

"Ah, well. A mage should always keep a bit of mystery about their abilities, right? Got it, I understand."

When he kept silent, they would react sullenly and then disappear, but at least they didn’t heap curses on him.

Even if he was a commoner, forcibly prying into someone’s magic wasn’t considered proper conduct for a mage.

Of course, there were always shadowy groups willing to steal magic secrets by any means necessary, but since Baek Yu-Seol lacked any impressive heritage, he wasn’t worried about attracting that kind of attention.

After using Flash a few times appropriately, the exam ended, and he moved to the next exam venue.

'Magic Protocol Interpretation Exam.'

This was one subject Baek Yu-Seol actually felt confident about.

At the center of the test room stood a complex magic circle, and the task was to interpret its structure. The faster a student completed the analysis, the sooner they could leave.

For some, it could take as little as an hour. For others, it dragged on for six grueling hours.

[Prokitex’s Stacked Circuit Design]

As he examined the intricate patterns with his spectacles, Baek Yu-Seol felt like he was seeing something incredible… but he had no idea what it actually was.

Not that it mattered.

He was planning to copy someone else’s work anyway.

‘But why does it seem like it's taking longer than usual to interpret?’

Wasn’t this level of complexity a bit excessive for first-years?

Then again, he was hardly an expert on magic.

Discreetly glancing around, Baek Yu-Seol stood up after just twenty minutes. He could’ve finished in five minutes, but rushing would’ve made it obvious that he was cheating.

'Already?'

'What the...'

Baek Yu-Seol couldn't speak during the test, but he could feel the students staring at him with wide eyes.

‘While you guys were working hard, I didn't really bother. When it comes to exams, I want to finish quickly and relax.’

’I'll probably get a perfect score, 100 out of 100.’

He had to secure as many points as possible in the written and theoretical sections.

Since he messed up the practical part so badly, if he didn’t score well in the written part, he could even fail.

"Here."

"You’re submitting already?"

The professor took his paper without even looking at it and placed it in the chart, assuming he had given up.

"No, I’m done."

"...Already?"

"Yes. I’m leaving now."

The professor retrieved the paper and began flipping through it with a suspicious look.

It was finally break time.

Baek Yu-Seol had no intention of using the exam period wisely and wanted to go to the classroom and take a nap.

Unfortunately, a group of students blocked his path as soon as he stepped out.

"Are you Baek Yu-Seol?"

A glance at their second-year name tags told him everything he needed to know.

Edmon had made his move.

Stella was notorious for its hazing rituals, and Edmon had sent these second-years to harass Baek Yu-Seol under the pretense of teaching him a lesson.

This was no surprise. Edmon wanted to push things until there was no turning back.

“Look at this punk, staring at us like we’re nothing.”

“Hey, don’t you know how to respect your seniors?”

“Kids these days are so full of themselves.”

“Back in my day, this wouldn’t fly.”

‘… But now that it’s actually happening, it's fucking annoying, isn't it?’