I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy-Chapter 417

Crack—!!

The massive whirlpool, spanning hundreds of meters and reaching into the dark clouds, began to freeze at an astonishing speed, leaving Cheoncheong Haeowol stunned.

“How could this...”

He had anticipated it.

Every bit of this.

In his plans, even Baek Yuseol choosing to freeze the whirlpool with Bronze Twelfth Moon's power was a foreseeable outcome.

Cheoncheong Haeowol knew.

He knew that Baek Yuseol, lacking the capacity, would inevitably need Eijel’s help if he chose such an "extreme method."

He knew that Admiral Halysveil would inevitably make contact with Flame and that, in the process, Eijel would arrive on the scene.

He knew that Eijel would hear about the whirlpool disaster in the Eastern Sea and would rush there first.

He even knew that Baek Yuseol would arrive one step too late.

That’s why, the moment Eijel reached the whirlpool, he manipulated the environment.

He orchestrated strange weather phenomena to create a mystical atmosphere, forcing Eijel to make a "choice."

Cheoncheong Haeowol knew.

That Eijel’s only choice would be sacrifice.

“It was all expected.”

Even the scene of Baek Yuseol breaking through the dark clouds to intervene when Eijel approached the whirlpool was well within his calculations.

He had perfectly assessed Baek Yuseol’s capabilities.

He could confront seventh-class mages and grow stronger under certain conditions, utilizing consecutive teleportation.

Cheoncheong Haeowol had seen it all.

So, he had laid traps that Baek Yuseol could never escape from.

The dark clouds were but one of countless traps Cheoncheong Haeowol had set, and they were the most powerful.

How could anyone escape the thunderbolts surrounding them from every direction?

It was impossible.

Cheoncheong Haeowol had observed Baek Yuseol’s battles time and again, analyzing his capabilities to perfection.

He had simulated it hundreds, thousands of times in his mind.

“Baek Yuseol’s survival rate is zero percent.”

He had carefully positioned the lightning bolts to leave no chance for Baek Yuseol to escape.

Crack-crash—!

...And yet, here was the shattered whirlpool.

How could this even be explained?

Cheoncheong Haeowol stood at the center of the whirlpool, staring blankly at Baek Yuseol.

The sight of Baek Yuseol slowly descending with Eijel in his arms, almost romantically, was utterly unforgivable to Cheoncheong Haeowol.

But.

There was no time to focus on that.

Roar—!!

“The ocean is...!”

A massive wave over 100 meters tall, a disaster in every sense, entered Cheoncheong Haeowol’s vision.

At the crest of the wave was Admiral Halysveil’s flagship, the Flying Ascension, charging toward the whirlpool with unstoppable force.

Although the frozen whirlpool had shattered and collapsed into the sea, the fleet within its center remained unharmed.

Enormous chunks of ice, akin to glaciers, fell into the water, but the fleet, built to withstand even seventh-class magic, was unscathed.

The real concern was the aftermath. The falling glaciers could cause the sea to overturn, leading to devastation.

However.

Admiral Halysveil had already taken hold of the ocean's currents with his own hands.

Literally.

Follow current novℯls on ƒгeewёbnovel.com.

No matter what happened, no waves would form. The admiral had locked down the surrounding waters so tightly that even the slightest ripple was impossible.

The crew aboard other ships in the Eastern Sea were left in awe and confusion.

“What is this?!”

“The ocean... it’s like a mirror!”

“How can this even be...?”

All waves had vanished.

The surface of the Eastern Sea had become so still that it reflected like a perfect mirror, blurring the boundaries between sky and sea.

“To think a human could wield such power...”

Cheoncheong Haeowol was awestruck, though a cold sweat dripped down his back.

The deal had failed.

If that was the case, as a Celestial Moon, he had to exact the price.

The price was the hostages.

They all had to be drowned.

That was the fair consequence for humans who refused the deal.

But...

“...It won’t budge.”

The legendary trait Blessing of the Sea God, said to have belonged to a mythical pirate king, was now held by Admiral Halysveil. He was the only person in this generation to possess it.

Even without learning magic, he could command the ocean, summon waves, or create whirlpools at will.

And now, as a ninth-class mage, his power rivaled Cheoncheong Haeowol’s dominion over the sea.

With the whirlpool neutralized and Halysveil unleashing his full strength, Cheoncheong Haeowol could no longer manipulate the sea.

Of course, Cheoncheong Haeowol could use his other powers to defeat Halysveil easily. But in a situation where hostages were involved, the disadvantage was evident.

“...It’s my loss.”

Cheoncheong Haeowol released his power and closed his eyes. He tilted his head back toward the sky.

Without a proper vessel, the extent of his authority was limited.

He hadn’t received much power from Hollow Twentieth Moon to begin with.

Now, having squandered the precious authority granted to him, he might never again be able to attempt something like this.

He lowered his gaze to Eijel and Baek Yuseol.

As the dark clouds slowly dispersed, a ray of sunlight broke through, illuminating the pair. Ships flocked toward them, eager to take Baek Yuseol and Eijel aboard.

“So, Baek Yuseol knew.”

The potential of humans as "vessels" was something only the Twelve Celestial Moons could judge. Eijel had exceptional potential as a vessel, so remarkable that the Celestial Moons couldn’t help but covet her.

Lightning, water, and ice.

She had the ability to bring all three attributes to their ultimate form, making her the only human capable of controlling the heavens’ weather.

Such feats were impossible even for the Twelve Celestial Moons.

Even Cheoncheong Haeowol could only summon storm clouds in a limited area.

—Return, Cheoncheong Haeowol.

“Yes, I will.”

The serene voice of Hollow Twentieth Moon echoed in his ears, devoid of emotion. There was no hint of anger, as if this failure had been expected all along.

As the whirlpool crumbled, Cheoncheong Haeowol’s form gradually faded into blue light.

For the last time, he glanced at Baek Yuseol.

“This time, you’ve won again.”

What on earth could this all mean?

Since the dawn of the earth, the Twelve Celestial Moons have been revered as the most extraordinary beings to exist. Among them, Cheoncheong Haeowol, renowned for his cunning strategies, had crafted what he believed to be a "perfect" plan. Yet, it was thoroughly dismantled.

Was it because Baek Yuseol’s strategy was superior to Cheoncheong Haeowol’s?

No. In fact, Baek Yuseol had fallen right into the plan. Even so, he managed to overcome the situation through a factor beyond the imagination of the Celestial Moons—a “miracle.”

A variable so unprecedented that it froze even lightning—a feat Cheoncheong Haeowol could never have foreseen.

It was this ability to create such miracles that made Baek Yuseol exceptional.

"I’m looking forward to what’s next."

He admitted his defeat.

Freely and without reservation.

Perhaps he would never be able to win against Baek Yuseol in the future, either.

"And that’s what makes it all the more intriguing."

What would happen, he wondered, if Baek Yuseol were to confront Hollow Twentieth Moon directly?

With that thought, Cheoncheong Haeowol, filled with anticipation for that day, surrendered himself to the folds of the otherworldly dimension.

***

The great incident in the Eastern Sea was now known across the entire world. If there were anyone unaware of it, they would have to be an alien.

“[The Mythical Twelve Celestial Moons Appear—Holding the Whirlpool Fleet Hostage!]”

“[Why Did They Reveal Themselves to the World?]”

“[Experts Discuss the Existence of the Celestial Moons...]”

“[Whirlpools in the Eastern Sea: Seen as Divine Punishment by the Shinyul Cult...]”

“[Shinyul Cult Protests Against Newspapers Portraying the Celestial Moons as Evil...]”

Not only had the Twelve Celestial Moons revealed themselves to the world for the first time, but they had also taken the Whirlpool Fleet—known as the "police of the world's seas"—hostage, demanding Eijel.

The display of the Celestial Moons’ power at the scene was nothing short of divine, causing members of the Shinyul Cult to erupt in a frenzy. This fervor had grown into a significant social issue.

“[Traitor Isaac’s Daughter, Eijel Morph, Chooses Sacrifice...]”

“[Photographs Capture Her Back as She Flew to Her Doom...]”

“[Public Opinion Pushes Back Against Stigmatizing the Child of a Traitor, Defending Eijel’s Honor...]”

Naturally, Eijel’s story filled the newspapers.

The sight of her flying toward the whirlpool without hesitation, under the watchful eyes of thousands of ships and millions of witnesses, was unforgettable.

Photos of her flight were taken from every conceivable angle—above, below, left, right, and every diagonal in between. They flooded every publication.

A radiant beauty, flying on icy wings bathed in a single ray of sunlight amidst dark clouds and whirlpools, was an image that carried immense rarity.

And yet...

"You’ve caused quite a scene," Eijel said, sitting up halfway in her hospital bed as she read the newspaper. She glanced at Baek Yuseol, who awkwardly gripped her hand tightly.

“...That hurts.”

“I need to infuse warmth into you.”

That was true.

Due to the forced infusion of Bronze Twelfth Moon’s blessing at an extreme level, Eijel was now cursed to feel cold for the rest of her life.

Chills would be a constant companion, and she’d perpetually feel the icy numbness in her hands and feet.

To counter this, Baek Yuseol had taken on the blessing of Scarlet Twilight, which had been temporarily held by the Celestial Moons.

Originally, it was meant to return entirely to Hong Biyeon, but without someone to control the blessing, Eijel’s life had been in immediate danger. There had been no choice.

If Hong Biyeon had fully awakened Scarlet Twilight’s blessing, she could have periodically shared it with Eijel...

“...That would be awkward, though.”

It might have been a practical solution, but knowing their personalities, both Hong Biyeon and Eijel would likely bite their tongues and die before agreeing to it.

As if she could read Baek Yuseol’s thoughts about such a possibility, Eijel gazed at their joined hands and spoke.

“Oh, right. You’re not going to do that for me, are you? You went so far as to kiss Princess Hong Biyeon.”

“T-that was... Do you want me to?”

“You’re really clueless. Forget it. What’s the point if a woman has to bring it up first?”

“...Is that how it works?”

Eijel turned away and flipped the newspaper in her hand.

Front page, back page.

Everywhere, images of the shattered whirlpool filled the headlines.

And in the center of those photos...

The scene of her and Baek Yuseol embracing amidst the collapsing ice wings, scattering brilliant shards of light, was plastered in every publication.

Eijel found herself quite pleased with that image. She couldn’t help but think of Hong Biyeon, who had looked both relieved and utterly uncomfortable about her survival.

“Hehe.”

“...Why are you laughing like that? It’s creepy.”

“It’s nothing. Just something good happened.”

“Something good? Isn’t surviving already a big good thing?”

“Well, yes, that’s a very good thing. But I mean something else... just something small and pleasant.”

“Really?”

Baek Yuseol had no idea what she was referring to, but an unsettling feeling nagged at him. Somehow, he had the distinct impression that this "small pleasant thing" wasn’t good for him at all.

“...It might even be something completely terrible,” he thought grimly.

Without knowing exactly what it was, Baek Yuseol’s intuition screamed at him, leaving him feeling deeply uneasy.