I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy-Chapter 380

In this age of magic, people often think of "white magic" when they hear the term, but where there is light, there must also be shadows.

A small yet persistent group of mages dedicates their craft to the forbidden art of dark magic.

Dark magic, often requiring the sacrifice of living beings or resulting in brutal consequences, has been outlawed in this society.

As a result, practitioners of dark magic gather in secrecy, their meeting places known as "Black Towers."

There are dozens of Black Towers scattered across the continent. Unlike regular mage towers, these towers have no unique names. Instead, they are referred to by their order of construction: the First Black Tower, the Second Black Tower, and so on.

Deep within the icy valleys of the Frozen White Mountain Range, in the White Ridge Highlands, stands the Second Black Tower, a spire that rises higher than the clouds. This place is untouched even by raging snowstorms, and its skies remain perpetually tinged red.

*Caw—! Screech—!*

Over the Second Black Tower's peak, enormous winged creatures, resembling ravens with demonic wings, circle protectively. Observing this from a distance, Heavenly Emperor August Moon dismissively mutters to herself, What gaudy decor.

With an ominous screech, the tower's doors creak open as she approaches, as if welcoming her.

The twisted, narrow mountain path leading here had been enough to irritate her endlessly. Had there been no such "grand entrance," she might have lost her patience entirely.

*Clack!*

As August Moon steps inside, flames ignite along the walls, illuminating the dark interior.

“What’s this, showmanship? Since when did dark mages enjoy such theatrics?”

Not knowing where her host might be, she carelessly speaks into the void. Moments later, a spiral staircase materializes, and a towering figure—a man nearly two meters tall—descends. He leans on a long staff, his steps deliberate.

"Hehehe, such an esteemed guest has graced us..."

The man’s body is covered with unsightly warts and blemishes, his exposed flesh twisted and grotesque under his dark robes.

Suppressing her disgust, August Moon inwardly grimaces. Her love for beauty makes the sight nearly unbearable.

"Are you the master of this tower?" she asks.

“Indeed, I am. I go by Maran Kaltz, the Left Hand of the Dark God and a 9th-class dark mage.”

“Good. I’ve heard of your name.”

“Oh, what an honor... hehehe.”

Maran Kaltz. A name known even among the Twelve Moons. Once, he had almost received their blessing.

The Twelve Moons care not for good or evil, white magic or dark. What matters is alignment of values. Should someone share the Twelve Moons' ideals, they might grant their blessing regardless of morality.

For centuries, humanity misunderstood this.

They believed the Twelve Moons existed solely to serve humanity.

It was this very Maran Kaltz who shattered that illusion, spreading the truth of their impartiality. He became known as a master of Lunar Magic.

"To think that one of the Twelve Moons would visit my humble tower," Maran Kaltz says, his voice slow and deliberate. "I must offer you proper hospitality."

He slams his staff into the ground.

*Rumble—!*

The interior of the Black Tower trembles, the space warping.

August Moon, currently unable to wield her usual powers, watches calmly despite the potential danger.

Although her abilities are sealed, she remains a master of reading people. The mage’s gaze and demeanor reveal no immediate intent to harm.

"Interesting trick," she remarks.

The gloomy, cramped tower transforms into a grand, opulent ballroom.

“I thought you might enjoy this atmosphere,” Maran Kaltz says.

“Not bad. It suits me.”

Walking to the center platform, August Moon pretends to sit, and a throne adorned with crimson ribbons materializes beneath her.

But her expression sours. "Red? Of all colors, I despise red the most."

Maran Kaltz chuckles softly and snaps his fingers. The throne instantly shifts to a golden hue.

Satisfied, August Moon crosses her legs and gestures for Maran Kaltz to sit across from her.

“What brings you to my domain, Twelve Moons?” he asks.

“I’ve come to propose a deal.”

“A deal? How intriguing.”

For someone who spent his life striving to become one of the Twelve Moons, such a proposal must have piqued his interest. However, a mortal becoming one of the Twelve Moons is impossible. By now, he must have realized that.

Nevertheless, the fact that a Moon herself sat before him meant she held all the power in this exchange.

“I need a favor. In return, I’ll grant you one as well. Simple, isn’t it?”

“A favor, you say?”

Maran Kaltz strokes his chin thoughtfully, his sharp eyes narrowing.

“Could it be... you seek my help in resolving the anomaly plaguing the northern settlements?”

“You’re sharp.”

“Hehehe... For you, who sees humans as mere tools, to come to me for their sake... what an amusing sight.”

“Well, you’re not wrong. But even tools have value. It’d be a waste to throw them away when they’re still useful.”

The conversation drags, Maran Kaltz clearly stalling to assess her motives. While she doubts he can outwit her, she has no patience for delays. His cunning could cause unnecessary complications.

“Let’s cut to the chase. Can you do it or not? If not, I’ll leave.”

“Hehehe... Anything in exchange for a favor, you say? Even a secret of the Twelve Moons?”

“Sure, if that’s what it takes.”

His tone shifts. His gaze, once directed at her eyes, now trails down her form.

“How filthy,” she mutters under her breath.

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“Everyone says as much.”

“Are you seriously willing to waste an opportunity to learn a secret of the Twelve Moons?”

“Oh, I’m curious. Very curious... but what I really want to see is this: How will the mighty August Moon, so high and untouchable, react when crushed beneath the weight of humanity?”

Something feels off. His response is not what she expected.

For a man who once aspired to be one of the Twelve Moons, his reaction to her offer is puzzling.

“You’ve given up on your dream.”

“Yes... that’s correct. Hehehe... I’ve come to realize that mortals can never ascend to the stars. With that knowledge, I’ve abandoned all my childish curiosity.”

She sighs. The man before her is too old, too broken.

For a mage, the loss of curiosity is akin to a death sentence. A lifeless husk, no matter how powerful, cannot conquer the world.

“If that’s the case, this conversation is over. I’ve lived a thousand years without letting petty mortals stain my soul.”

Maran Kaltz likely never intended to pursue her offer. Knowing she lacked a physical body, he had no real interest in her form. This entire exchange had been his way of politely declining.

The deal falls apart.

As she stands to leave, August Moon hesitates, recalling a certain human mage she had recently investigated.

“You said you’d given up on your dream, correct?”

Maran Kaltz stops in his tracks, turning to look at her with faint interest.

She smirks faintly.

“Tell me... have you heard of a mortal who might just achieve what you could not?”

"Yes... that's correct."

Maran Kaltz tilted his head, intrigued by why August Moon suddenly revisited the topic. She smirked, leaning slightly forward.

"The times have changed," she said. "I thought I'd never see another human striving to become one of the Twelve Moons. But as it turns out, that's not entirely true."

"Heh heh heh... Another foolish mage chasing mirages?"

As expected, the mage standing before her, having lost all his curiosity and dreams, was utterly unaware of the world’s current state.

"Not quite," she continued. "This mage is a little different from you. He's not chasing an illusion—he's aiming for a clear destination."

"And what does that mean?"

"As one of the Twelve Moons, I can confirm this: that mage has a genuine chance of becoming one of us. The probability is low—around 0.001%, maybe—but it’s not impossible."

The odds were slim because Baek Yuseol's adversary was none other than Hui Gong Shiwol himself. Without him, Baek Yuseol might very well have become one of the Twelve Moons already.

"You don't mean—"

"Mm?"

Before she could finish her sentence, the atmosphere abruptly shifted.

*Whirl—*

The ballroom, once an elegant venue, was consumed by swirling black mana, turning monochrome. The ground beneath them cracked, and the once-stable space seemed to collapse in on itself.

*Clatter! Boom! Crack!*

A vortex of mana engulfed the room, tearing the ornate ballroom apart. In the chaos, Maran Kaltz stood firm, regal and undisturbed.

"If you are lying to me, no matter your status as one of the Twelve Moons, I will not stand idly by."

This old lunatic!

The sheer intensity of the mana storm caught August Moon off guard. Struggling to maintain her composure, she clutched her hair, barely enduring the pressure.

“Lie? What value would that hold? I simply pitied you for having abandoned your dreams.”

But the vortex did not abate. Maran Kaltz, his pale blue eyes glowing fiercely, bore down on her with an unrelenting gaze.

Ah... I see now.

This was a form of torture.

A mage who had given up on his dreams and relinquished all hope could live peacefully, assured that what he sought was forever unattainable. But the moment someone told him, "It’s possible after all," hope would rear its ugly head.

Hope was a cruel torment.

Having resigned himself to his fate, the possibility of achieving his dream was nothing short of agonizing.

This is bad... really bad.

She frantically searched for a way to escape. Just as she feared the worst, the storm of mana suddenly ceased.

Maran Kaltz turned abruptly, ascending the spiral staircase that reached toward the heavens.

*Thump! Tap! Tap!*

The rhythmic sound of his staff echoed as he climbed. Without turning, he called over his shoulder.

"What are you doing? Aren't you coming?"

August Moon quickly rose to her feet, brushing her disheveled hair back into place. Her meticulously chosen dress was now in tatters.

If only I had my full powers, I wouldn’t have to endure this humiliation.

Suppressing her frustration, she followed Maran Kaltz up the endless staircase. Hesitantly, she tried to make conversation.

"I apologize for... earlier."

"It’s nothing."

Regret seeped into her thoughts.

If only Maran Kaltz, the Left Hand of the Dark God, had remained resigned and dormant, things would have been much simpler. Stirring his will might have been a grave mistake.

Oh well. What's done is done.

She sighed inwardly, unable to focus on anything beyond her immediate predicament.

As they climbed, Maran Kaltz finally broke the silence.

"The strange creatures unleashed upon the surface... you wish to deal with them, correct?"

"Yes. Your magic could easily wipe them out in one fell swoop, couldn't it?"

"Heh heh heh... You jest. Your humor is most unexpected, August Moon."

“Haha, yes, a joke.”

Cold sweat trickled down her back.

Wait, are you saying you can’t wipe them out with a single spell?

She had lived for a thousand years but knew little of magic’s intricacies. Surely a 9th-class mage could summon a meteor or two with ease, right?

"You seem to value the humans below as precious tools. I assume you’d prefer a method that protects them while isolating the creatures?"

Ah!

Her mistake dawned on her. She had misspoken.

The humans on the surface don’t matter to me at all!

The only ones she needed to protect were the soldiers at the White Ridge Highlands fortress. Everything else—humans, beastfolk, and those creatures alike—could be obliterated for all she cared.

But it was too late to retract her words. If one of the Twelve Moons were to contradict themselves, their authority would diminish.

“We’ve arrived,” Maran Kaltz announced.

Finally, they reached the top of the Black Tower.

“This is...”

“Yes. From here, you can see everything.”

Above them, the crimson constellations shimmered. Below, the surface stretched endlessly, every city, town, mountain, and frozen lake clearly visible.

The White Ridge Highlands fortress was nothing more than a playground to Maran Kaltz.

How is this even possible...?

If Maran Kaltz had possessed even a shred of curiosity, if he had whimsically decided to unleash his power for amusement, the fortress—and perhaps the entire map—would have been erased.

The only reason it still stood was because Maran Kaltz had lost all desire to act.

“There is one way to protect the humans and contain the creatures,” he said, spreading his arms wide to encompass the entire vista.

“By saturating the lower levels of the Frozen White Mountain Range with Persona Gate.”

August Moon’s jaw dropped.

She wanted to scream until the heavens shook.

No...!

Or perhaps she already was, her shrieks echoing in her mind.