I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy-Chapter 376

"Time to start expanding your territory."

The northernmost reaches of the Bingbaek Mountain Range.

Baekryeong Plateau Fortress.

Duke Seolparam's golden eyes glimmered as he tried to comprehend Cheonhwangjeong Palwol's words.

"Expanding... my territory?"

To him, Cheonhwangjeong Palwol was a god.

She was the one who had cured his younger sister Sansaeram’s incurable illness, as well as the savior who resolved crises that could have shaken the very foundations of the Baekryeong Plateau Fortress.

If not for her intervention, he believed he might have lost the fortress’s title of "impregnable" during his tenure.

For that reason, he followed Cheonhwangjeong Palwol's words without question. Yet, this time, he couldn’t help but hesitate.

"Yes, it’s time to broaden your domain.

Doesn’t it infuriate you? For generations, your family has lived its entire life trapped in this freezing wasteland. If you don’t act now, your descendants and their descendants will remain shackled in this icy prison, enduring cold, stagnant lives."

"...Why me?"

"Now is the perfect time. Think about it—a genius mage who reached the 8th Class in his thirties, and a commander of unparalleled skill. If not now, when?"

"You praise me too highly, My Lady. I can only cast a single 8th-Class spell—"

"The difference between having none and having even one is something you, as a mage, should understand well."

"More importantly, your true gift lies not in magic but in your innate talent for leading armies."

Born with the trait [Royal Charisma], Seolparam had transformed the Baekryeong Plateau forces into an impenetrable wall far superior to those of previous generations. The fortress now boasted the strongest military in recorded history.

But there was one issue.

"Your timid personality is the problem."

"...My apologies."

Despite his exceptional charisma and leadership, along with the rare talent of achieving the 8th Class in his thirties, his overly cautious nature held him back.

He feared change.

Even though he already had the power to subjugate the forbidden regions of the northern Bingbaek Mountains, he couldn’t bring himself to act.

"What if I fail?"

"Is this army truly enough?"

"With just one 8th-Class spell, will it really make a difference?"

Such hesitant thoughts circled endlessly in his mind. Even with all the qualities to become the greatest commander in the history of Baekryeong Plateau, he did nothing.

In truth...

"I made him this way," thought Cheonhwangjeong Palwol with a sly smile.

Since his childhood, she had carefully molded his personality. The result was a paradoxical combination of charismatic leadership and crippling timidity.

Why go to such lengths? To ensure that, even as an adult, his mind would remain easy to control.

Once someone reached a certain level of strength, their will could no longer be entirely subdued. But a hunting dog trained to follow commands blindly—such a servant was more than sufficient.

"Your indecision and timidity? I can cover for that. Your abilities combined with my drive... Together, we could conquer the world."

Her words were not a jest.

"This is the only chance."

When Seolparam was born, he was hailed as a once-in-a-century talent. Cheonhwangjeong Palwol had poured all her power into shaping and dominating his mind.

A genius mage born in an unnoticed northern stronghold, commanding the mightiest military force in history.

But she hadn’t foreseen this.

In just a few years, even greater prodigies had emerged.

Two boys with [Imperial Dignity], a trait surpassing [Royal Charisma]: Mayuseong and Jeremy Scalven.

Two mages with [Mana’s Love], far superior to [Mana’s Blessing]: Full Frame and Hong Biyeon.

Two with [Nature’s Love], surpassing [Nature’s Blessing]: Aeijel and Hong Biyeon.

Recalling this, her anger flared, and she crushed the cup in her hand.

Crash!

"...Are you alright, My Lady?"

"Ah, yes. I just miscalculated my strength."

As the servants entered to clean up the mess, she cursed fate silently.

For centuries, she had awaited the perfect prodigy to shape into her tool. She had chosen Seolparam as her champion, only for talents even greater than his to emerge within a few short years.

"The heavens mock me," she thought bitterly.

"No," she resolved, "think positively."

Seolparam might not surpass those prodigies in any one field, but he excelled across multiple disciplines.

A jack-of-all-trades unmatched by any other.

"My choice... was not wrong."

Reaching out, Cheonhwangjeong Palwol grasped Seolparam’s hand.

"Duke Seolparam."

"...Yes, My Lady?"

"As a human... what dream do you hold?"

Her voice was gentle, though it sent chills down her spine to maintain the act. Yet Seolparam, deeply captivated by her, noticed nothing.

"My dream..."

After a moment of thought, he gave a plain answer.

"To live quietly, like my father, guarding this fortress until I die."

His father had passed down the fortress to him, maintaining its defenses in peace until his death. Seolparam wished for the same.

It was a modest dream.

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Of course, defending the fortress against the endless hordes of northern monsters was an immense responsibility. The weight of it kept him from dreaming of anything else, for fear that his ambition might lead to disaster.

"The world will forget your name."

"...That doesn’t matter to me."

"No, it does. Without Baekryeong Plateau Fortress, the central continent would already be overrun."

Millions of monsters poured forth daily, held back only by the fortress’s iron defenses.

In the distant past, the people of the central continent had expressed gratitude for their sacrifice. But over time, their efforts had been forgotten.

"No one remembers your struggle anymore. Your soldiers die, and no one notices."

"That’s..."

"There’s an easy solution. One well within your power. Just... open the fortress gates a little and let the monsters spill into the central continent."

Seolparam’s pupils dilated as his thoughts slowed.

"When their loved ones are drenched in blood, they’ll remember the shield of Baekryeong Plateau Fortress."

"And then?"

"You’ll save them. Monster hunting is your specialty, isn’t it? Eradicate the monsters and plant your flag in the ruins. Your name will echo throughout history."

Cheonhwangjeong Palwol smiled, her eyes gleaming.

"That is... my dream. No, our dream. Isn’t it?"

Seolparam nodded slowly. His mind was no longer his own.

"If it weren’t for you and the Baekryeong Plateau Fortress serving as a wall in the north, the central continent might already have turned into a living hell."

For years, the fortress had held back millions of monsters pouring in daily, not allowing even a single one to pass.

In ancient times, the people of the central continent recognized the fortress’s sacrifices and expressed their gratitude. But too much time had passed since then.

Now, no one remembered the Baekryeong Plateau Fortress.

The gatekeepers of hell, standing firm and enduring unimaginable burdens, had been forgotten.

"No... I don’t mind..."

"Aren’t you resentful?"

Cheonhwangjeong Palwol’s golden eyes shimmered with a strange glow.

In that instant, Duke Seolparam’s pupils dilated, and his thoughts slowed.

"Think carefully. While you and your loyal soldiers are bleeding and sweating to protect this world, they’re lying comfortably in their homes, eating snacks without a care."

"And yet, they don’t even thank you anymore. They’ve forgotten your sacrifices. Aren’t you furious? Your soldiers die, and they don’t even glance your way."

"That... that’s not..."

"The solution is simple. Something well within your power. Just open the fortress gates a little... and let the monsters spill into the central continent."

If their loved ones and friends were drenched in blood, they would remember.

They would remember the Baekryeong Plateau Fortress that held back the northern horrors.

"And then..."

"Yes, then you’ll save them. Monster hunting is your specialty, isn’t it? You’ll exterminate the monsters spreading across the central continent, and on the ruined lands, you’ll plant your flag. Your name will resound across the world."

"Let’s spread your name, Seolparam."

"That is... my dream. No, it’s your dream too. Isn’t that right?"

Duke Seolparam, his pupils unfocused, stared blankly into space for a long moment. Though he had only just entered the 8th Class and could only use a single spell, his mental fortitude seemed unusually strong.

But Cheonhwangjeong Palwol smiled. She had been feeding him sweet lies since childhood. He could never defy her words.

"I will do it..."

In the end, Duke Seolparam nodded, unable to resist Cheonhwangjeong Palwol’s will.

Just as she was about to rejoice—

"General! Emergency!"

One of his subordinates burst into the room.

"Tch."

"W-what is it...?"

Regaining his focus, Duke Seolparam turned to face the soldier. Meanwhile, Cheonhwangjeong Palwol quietly stepped back, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Well, it’s a shame it ends here, but the suggestion has already taken root."

By now, Duke Seolparam’s mind was consumed with the desire to carry out her orders.

There was no room left for distractions.

"...What’s the situation?"

"The unidentified monster that annihilated the Blue Wind Advance Base has appeared!"

"An unidentified monster?"

Cheonhwangjeong Palwol tilted her head, unable to understand. But there was no need to puzzle over it. She could simply glance into Duke Seolparam’s memories.

"What... is this?"

She blinked her large eyes in surprise as she viewed his memories.

The wounds, sharp and cleanly sliced, were unlike anything she had ever seen.

If it were the work of wind blade magic, there would have been signs of tearing in addition to the cuts.

"Something... feels off."

Cheonhwangjeong Palwol, with her millennia of experience, trusted her instincts.

This was no ordinary being.

First and foremost, it had to be dealt with swiftly.

With that in mind, she spoke.

"...Open the fortress and give it a path."

"What?"

"E-excuse me?!"

Cheonhwangjeong Palwol’s abrupt command caused the soldier to panic.

However, Duke Seolparam’s resolute gaze didn’t waver. His mind was fixated on a single order.

"Release the northern monsters into the central continent and make our name known to the world."

His goddess had held his hand and commanded him directly.

He could not disobey.

For his dream, for her dream...

"Must I repeat myself? Open the fortress and give that unidentified creature a path. I will head to the command room."

"Understood!"

"Wait! Seolparam, wait...!"

Cheonhwangjeong Palwol called out to him, but it was too late.

The subtle suggestions she had planted in his mind, carefully nurtured with immense effort, were now impossible to undo. Undoing them would require using all of her remaining power, which would leave her as nothing more than a powerless puppet for years to come.

As Duke Seolparam left to command the troops, Cheonhwangjeong Palwol leaned against a pillar, her expression hollow.

A faint, foolish laugh escaped her lips.

"It’ll be... fine... right?"

Even though she couldn’t identify the creature, it was still just a monster, wasn’t it?

There was no need to be so shaken by something as trivial as a monster.

"Yes... this is all part of my plan."

Closing her eyes tightly, she reassured herself, refusing to believe that the great Cheonhwangjeong Palwol, one of the Twelve Moons, could be unsettled by such an unforeseen event.