I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy-Chapter 373

After dealing with the mysterious white mirage and being escorted back to the Cheongseol Gyeong Magic Academy by the city’s magic warriors, Baek Yuseol noticed that their attitude toward him had changed significantly.

Whether or not the city's magic warriors could have handled the situation themselves, they were profoundly grateful to the outsider who willingly stepped up to address the city’s troubles.

Having spent nearly a year in Aether World and frequently sneaking away from Stella Academy to explore remote cities like this one on weekends and holidays, Baek Yuseol had grown adept at reading people's sentiments.

"I didn't act with the intent of getting rewarded, but if good things come my way, I won’t complain."

In any case, Baek Yuseol had his own objectives in mind.

“Phew, what a mess. You’re the ones who helped fight, correct? Truly, thank you.”

Billek, the headmaster of Cheongseol Gyeong Magic Academy and a sixth-class mage, appeared visibly exhausted, likely from dealing with the city’s post-attack chaos.

While magic warriors were tasked solely with combat, the administrative sector carried the heavy burden of handling civilian casualties and financial damage—an intricate and vital responsibility.

It was often said that the cleanup crew had the most mentally taxing job. Although they didn’t risk their lives in battle like the warriors, they had to deal with far more tedious and physically demanding tasks.

"You’re a student from Stella Academy, right?"

“Yes, I am.”

Baek Yuseol displayed his pocket watch. After examining it slowly, Billek spoke in a measured tone.

“I caught a glimpse of your combat earlier... Your skills are far beyond what one would expect from a student.”

“I get that a lot.”

Billek stared intently at Baek Yuseol’s nameplate.

“Baek Yuseol, huh... You’ve been active on the Central Continent, haven’t you? I believe I’ve heard your name in passing from some rumors.”

“I doubt anyone works harder than I do.”

“I see. In that case, the person behind you...”

When Billek’s attention shifted to Ggotseorin, she simply bowed slightly in greeting. Even though her Enchanting Presence ability had weakened significantly and could now be partially controlled, her sheer presence was still so intense that she saw no need to draw additional attention to herself.

“She’s connected to the mission I’m conducting for the academy.”

“Understood. If she’s your client, then it makes sense for you to act together.”

Billek hesitated momentarily, then opened a drawer and began flipping through some documents. Stroking his beard thoughtfully, he eventually broached the subject carefully.

“Do you know about the Frozen Crystal Mine?”

Here it comes.

Internally pleased, Baek Yuseol nodded.

“Yes, I’ve heard of it. It’s one of Tralkanta’s persistent headaches.”

“Indeed. To address the mine, our academy conducts annual purging operations as part of training exercises. We’ve managed to secure parts of it and even establish an outpost.”

“That’s impressive.”

“Not particularly... Anyway, if it’s just to the outpost, we can arrange for you to be taken there. You’ll probably meet your companions there. What do you think? Would you consider joining this year’s exercise for a short while? Of course, we won’t impose any overly strenuous tasks on you. This is a gesture of gratitude for helping our city.”

“I’d be happy to. I couldn’t figure out how to navigate the northern pass otherwise.”

“Great. The mission begins the morning after tomorrow at dawn. See you then.”

“Understood.”

After finishing his conversation with Billek, Baek Yuseol immediately left the academy.

The sun had fully set by then, leaving the snowy city blanketed in pitch-black darkness.

“Let’s find a place to stay for the next two days. I know a good spot.”

“Have you been here before?”

A question he heard often.

“There’s actually a secret I haven’t told you.”

“A secret?”

“Yes.”

He feigned a serious expression to exaggerate his joke.

“I’m actually from the future.”

Ggotseorin froze for a moment, then slowly nodded.

“I see... That makes sense...”

Wait a second.

“Uh, excuse me? It was just a joke, so you don’t have to take it so seriously...”

“Haha, I was joking too.”

Only then did Baek Yuseol realize he had been outplayed. Internally, he berated himself for letting her turn the tables on him with such a simple remark. Despite Ggotseorin’s challenges, this misstep bruised his pride.

"Just wait... Next time, I’ll craft a joke that’s impossible to counter."

But it wouldn’t be easy.

Although she appeared to be in her early twenties, her aura suggested centuries of experience, far surpassing that of an ordinary human.

To make Ggotseorin falter with a joke, he’d need to target a part of her life she had never experienced.

'There’s one thing for sure, though...'

In the original game, Ggotseorin eventually fell for the protagonist Full Frame and completely transformed into her male form. One surprising revelation from this development was that, despite her extraordinary longevity, she had no romantic experience.

For a character so flawless and skilled in everything, her complete lack of romantic knowledge provided an unexpected charm that resonated strongly with female fans.

"Yeah, if I focus on that...!"

Lost in these thoughts, Baek Yuseol abruptly snapped out of it and hung his head in shame. To think he was drawing on the original game’s lore just to win a silly joke contest.

“Hey, miss—”

“Oh!”

A sudden gust of wind caused Ggotseorin’s hood to lift slightly, revealing her face for a brief moment.

Wind? No, it wasn’t. A small figure in black clothing had bumped into her as it rushed past.

'A pickpocket!'

Before he could process the situation, Baek Yuseol felt a chill. Even though it was only a fleeting moment, someone might have caught a glimpse of her face in the crowded city of Tralkanta.

‘Please, let no one have seen her...’

Hoping fervently, he blinked forward and grabbed the pickpocket by the back of the neck.

“Gah?! Let go of me!”

“Oh, really? How about I chop off your hand first and then we’ll talk?”

“W-what? You barbarian—”

“Where’s my knife again... Hang on, I’ll make it painless.”

“Ahhh!!”

As Baek Yuseol dragged the screaming pickpocket into an alley, Ggotseorin pulled her hood tightly over her head.

Even if no one else noticed, she, who had carried the Enchanting Presence ability her whole life, could sense the fleeting gazes that had landed on her.

But she couldn’t be certain whether those gazes were truly dangerous. It was possible someone with poor vision had mistaken what they saw, or perhaps it was an ordinary person.

‘I hope... nothing happens...’

Baek Yuseol ensured the pickpocket was dealt with and rejoined Ggotseorin, who remained cautious but seemed to have relaxed slightly.

Though everything appeared calm on the surface, Baek Yuseol was well aware of the dangers lurking in Tralkanta, a city infamous for its less-than-reputable inhabitants.

As the two searched for a place to stay, Baek Yuseol finally found what he was looking for: a somewhat run-down inn tucked into the outskirts of the city. It was far from luxurious, with creaking windows that rattled in the evening chill, but it was defensible and safe.

“This place doesn’t look like much, but it’s one of the safest spots in Tralkanta,” Baek Yuseol assured Ggotseorin. “The innkeeper is a retired mercenary mage, and the wards here are surprisingly strong.”

The two checked in and made their way to the room, which, despite its shabby appearance, provided an adequate sense of security. Baek Yuseol had chosen it specifically for its layers of protection—just in case.

As they settled into the room, Ggotseorin raised an eyebrow.

“You went out of your way to ensure we stayed together in one room?” she asked, her tone calm but with a hint of curiosity.

Baek Yuseol, already prepared for the question, replied confidently, “I didn’t want to waste time arguing over logistics. Plus, it’s safer this way.”

He failed to mention that he had spent what felt like hours preparing a meticulous explanation to justify the arrangement, only for Ggotseorin to casually agree without much fuss.

“Alright,” she said with a faint smile. “I trust your judgment.”

The room was cold and unremarkable, but Baek Yuseol busied himself setting up additional wards while Ggotseorin excused herself to shower. When she returned, she was dressed in a modest pink one-piece outfit, entirely covering her skin.

Baek Yuseol, who had briefly entertained the idea of a more relaxed or casual outfit, felt a twinge of disappointment.

“You seem... overly prepared,” he commented dryly.

“Should I have worn something lighter?” she asked with genuine curiosity. “I’m still not comfortable showing too much skin.”

Baek Yuseol froze, feeling as though his thoughts had been read. “It’s fine,” he muttered, turning away awkwardly.

As Ggotseorin settled in for the night, Baek Yuseol remained by the window, scanning the city’s dark streets. The atmosphere outside felt heavy, as though unseen eyes were watching.

“Why do you keep staring out there?” Ggotseorin asked, yawning softly.

“This city has its problems,” Baek Yuseol replied. “It may seem fine on the surface, but there’s always something dangerous lurking.”

Ggotseorin nodded, her exhaustion evident. “You’re probably right. Well, good night, Baek Yuseol.”

“You too.”

As she drifted into a peaceful sleep, Baek Yuseol carefully tucked an extra layer of blankets around her. Even in slumber, her presence was calm and composed.

Suddenly, the window rattled violently.

Baek Yuseol stiffened. The sensation wasn’t hostile intent, but something hot and electrifying—an indication of danger nearby.

‘So someone did catch a glimpse of her face earlier,’ he thought grimly.

He grabbed the Terryphon Sword, his eyes narrowing as he slipped silently out of the room, leaving the door ajar.

The cold night air struck his face as he stepped outside, scanning the surroundings. The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the city.

Behind him, Ggotseorin stirred. Though she appeared to be fast asleep, her eyes opened the moment Baek Yuseol left the room. Wrapping herself in the blanket, she moved to the window, watching him disappear into the night.

The moonlight reflected in her eyes as she whispered to herself, “Be careful.”

Baek Yuseol moved swiftly through the city streets, following the faint traces of magic that lingered in the air. He could feel the presence of multiple individuals, their movements calculated and precise. These weren’t ordinary thieves or mercenaries—they were far more organized.

‘Slave hunters,’ he thought with a grim expression.

Tralkanta was notorious for its black market activities, and mage slavers were known to target vulnerable magic users. Beautiful female mages, in particular, were considered prime targets.

Baek Yuseol’s grip on the Terryphon Sword tightened. He had no intention of allowing such scum to operate freely.

The sound of footsteps approached, and he ducked into an alley, his breathing steady and controlled. Two figures in dark cloaks passed by, their voices low.

“Are you sure she was here?” one of them whispered.

“She had to be,” the other replied. “The aura she gave off was unmistakable. If we capture her, she’ll fetch a fortune.”

Baek Yuseol’s eyes gleamed coldly as he stepped out of the shadows.

“Looking for someone?” he asked, his voice calm but laced with menace.

The two men froze, turning to face him. They immediately recognized the sword in his hand, their expressions shifting from confidence to fear.

“You... You’re not who we’re looking for,” one of them stammered.

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Baek Yuseol smirked. “Oh, but I’ve been looking for you.”

Before they could react, he closed the distance with a single blink, his sword slicing through the air. One of the men fell, his weapon clattering to the ground, while the other stumbled back, attempting to flee.

“You picked the wrong city to hunt in,” Baek Yuseol said coldly, his sword glowing faintly with energy.

The remaining slaver scrambled to his feet and ran, but Baek Yuseol didn’t chase him. He knew the coward would lead him straight to the others.

‘Time to clean this up,’ he thought, his eyes scanning the dark streets as he followed the fleeing figure.

Back at the inn, Ggotseorin watched from the window, her expression unreadable. She clutched the blanket tightly, her thoughts a mixture of worry and curiosity.

The moon shone brightly, illuminating the city’s cold, desolate streets.