Magic Academy's Genius Blinker-Chapter 431: Freshman (4)

Baek Yu-Seol had devoted countless hours pondering the unique force known as the 'Constellation Project.'

Although its nature wasn't entirely clear, it had acted as a guide for him. From displaying system messages like in a game, implementing a leveling system to allowing him to grow alongside prodigies.

Every time he completed an episode, it rewarded him with new skills or stat boosts, which served as strong motivation. Yet, as nearly a year passed, doubts began to gnaw at him.

'What exactly is Constellation?'

Baek Yu-Seol blankly gazed at the small, round mirror attached to the wall of his dormitory.

It only reflected his face and a bit of his upper body.

'When did this mirror even get here? Was it here since I first enrolled?'

Rarely did he bother to check his reflection, leaving him unable to recall.

'I look so young...'

There was a time when he had to shave daily and his features gradually matured with age.

But now, he barely grew any facial hair, so he didn't even look in the mirror while washing his face. The image staring back at him felt unfamiliar.

'Is Constellation... The remnants of countless Aether Worlds?'

He wasn't sure.

The idea of the world itself having a will and expressing it was beyond his imagination.

'Constellation isn't a single entity.'

Instead, it seemed to be a collective... A chorus of consciousnesses converging to shape the Constellation Project.

Baek Yu-Seol had glimpsed it once... When it spoke of 'discussions' surrounding his actions. It confirmed its plural existence.

'And then... There are other versions of me.'

He recalled encountering 'other Baek Yu-Seols' in the depths of his consciousness.

They had whispered truths about the stars, claiming each one represented a different world.

And then there was Flame.

In the game, she was frequently described as a 'girl chosen by the stars.'

At the time, the reason why she was chosen by the stars had never been revealed. But after recent events, Baek Yu-Seol was certain.

The stars had disguised themselves as angels to communicate with Flame.

More than that, they had been her silent benefactors, granting her strength time and time again.

"As I thought... Flame is the key."

He recalled the hidden quest that emerged just before the climactic battle against the Thirteenth Onyx Moon... The quest ominously titled 'Flame's Disappearance.'

Baek Yu-Seol had ultimately failed to find Flame, and the story had concluded with the hunt for the Thirteenth Onyx Moon.

But where had Flame vanished to during that time?

Why did the mysterious quest 'Find Flame' appear at such a critical moment?

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The main quests had always shepherded him along predetermined paths, both in the game and in reality.

"Why?"

Even if he confronted the current Flame, she wouldn't be able to give him a proper answer.

No... There was something far more infuriating.

The oppressive force known as [Narrative Power] still shackled the flow of truth and didn't allow the revelation of vital secrets.

Though the constraints had loosened, allowing him to share fragments of information, the core truths remained veiled.

Suddenly, Baek Yu-Seol noticed something flickering behind him in the mirror.

It wasn't a sudden change.

The phenomenon had been there for a while. He had just been ignoring it.

The lights flickering in red, silver, blue, brown, and light green weren't random.

They were the residual echoes of the Twelve Divine Moons, guardians who protected Baek Yu-Seol.

In just a year, Baek Yu-Seol had claimed nearly half of the Twelve Divine Moons' blessings and had even crossed paths with two of them.

What had it been like back when he played the game?

Given its blend of romance fantasy and dating simulation, the story had continued well beyond academy life.

The academy arc had merely been the prologue. The true saga had unfolded after graduation.

Back then, he had progressed through the Twelve Divine Moons storyline slowly, long after completing the academy phase.

But now—

'Right now, the story is progressing a lot faster compared to the time when I hadn't meddled with it.'

Even the Illa Jeridon Mountain Incident with Eisel, which should have taken place far in the future, had happened earlier than it should have.

If events that should have occurred years later were already unfolding, then—

Could he truly be certain that the 'Destruction' prophesied to occur nine years later wouldn't also be drawn closer?

"Haa... I don't know anymore..."

Baek Yu-Seol let out a weary sigh, attempting to clear his cluttered thoughts. He reached into the fridge for a can of cola, hoping its coolness would calm his head, but just as his fingers brushed against it, the dormitory's chime bell rang.

It was the familiar tone that signaled a call from the lobby downstairs.

[Caller: Anella]

"Anella? What's going on?"

Since remote communication wasn't possible, Baek Yu-Seol couldn't hide his curiosity. He quickly put on his jacket and headed down to the first-floor lobby.

The first floor was already bustling with students, but as if some massive barrier was in place, they could only watch from a distance without approaching.

"Wow... It's an elf."

"This is your first time seeing an elf? I saw one during the exchange program."

"Lucky bastard."

Whispers rippled through the crowd like waves.

By this point, Baek Yu-Seol had a pretty good idea of what was going on.

As he walked through the crowd, the students parted to reveal a short girl - no, a '40-year-old girl' - Anella, standing next to a High Elf, Jeliel.

Still somewhat bewildered, Baek Yu-Seol approached them.

"Jeliel... Anella? What brings you here?"

Even as he asked, he found it difficult to meet Jeliel's gaze.

Thanks to the Pink Spring Moon's Blessing, it was easy for him to maintain a calm façade. Yet, faint memories of subtle emotional exchanges with her kept flickering through his mind, making it difficult to maintain his calm.

Surprisingly, Jeliel remained far more composed than Baek Yu-Seol.

"It's nothing urgent. Anella has to take Stella's entrance exam, but since she's never boarded an airship before, I decided to escort her. And while I was at it... I figured I'd check in on you."

"Is that so?"

"N-no! It's not like I'm some little kid who needs—"

"Lower your voice in public."

"Yes, ma'am..."

Jeliel's firm tone instantly silenced Anella, whose cheeks puffed up as though she might burst into tears.

Baek Yu-Seol tilted his head in confusion.

'Didn't Anella, back when she was a dark mage, travel the world alone to complete missions?'

An airship journey should have been nothing more than a trivial matter for her... Or so he had believed. Unless... She'd relied on someone else back then too? He had always assumed she operated alone...

But such trivial doubts quickly faded away.

"Here, a gift."

"Huh?"

Without much explanation, Jeliel casually handed him a box and then turned around gracefully, walking out of the dormitory lobby.

"Wear it the next time we meet."

"Uh..."

Baek Yu-Seol wanted to open it right away, but with the lobby crowded with students, it seemed better to wait. The box was securely wrapped, making it unsuitable to open on the spot.

For now, he turned his attention to Anella, who was still standing there awkwardly. She glanced around the dormitory with uneasy eyes and then tugged on Baek Yu-Seol's sleeve.

"Um... Can we go somewhere quieter?"

"Sure."

After leaving the box at the lobby's parcel collection area, Baek Yu-Seol led Anella to a nearby café.

With a cup of coffee in hand, he leaned back in his chair and waited while Anella's eyes sparkled as she curiously observed the Stella Academy grounds.

"So, it's already time for your entrance exam, huh? Are you confident? I said I'd help, but I haven't done much for you."

"No, no! You've already done so much for me!"

[Sincerity, Passion, Happiness]

Anella's emotions radiated through her expression, making her feelings almost tangible. Even without trying to read her, Baek Yu-Seol could sense her gratitude and excitement.

"I've experienced so many things I've always dreamed of. Traveling with Jeliel allowed me to see amazing sights without fear, and I've studied... Yeah, I studied like crazy."

"Really?"

Come to think of it, her dream had always been to become a dedicated magic scholar.

With that in mind, maybe enrolling Anella in Stella, a magic warrior academy, wasn't the best fit for her. Perhaps a more traditional magic academy would have been a better choice.

Had he made the right choice in bringing her here, even if it was to protect her?

"Do you think... I can become a magic warrior too?"

"Anyone can become one. Even someone like me ended up as a cadet at Stella Academy."

"Uh... 'someone like you'? Watch your words. From my perspective, there's no greater magic warrior than you, Baek Yu-Seol."

"Is that so?"

Baek Yu-Seol replied with a faint, bitter smile. No matter how Anella saw him, he couldn't quite see himself as the extraordinary figure she believed him to be.

"I'm confident I'll get into Stella. Honestly... It's practically guaranteed."

"Really? That much?"

[Confidence]

Anella's eyes gleamed with determination. Knowing her naturally timid disposition, Baek Yu-Seol doubted she was exaggerating.

'How did Jeliel manage to turn this clueless girl into someone confident enough to pass Stella's entrance exam?'

It didn't seem like something that could be explained by talent alone.

Baek Yu-Seol suddenly grew curious about Jeliel's teaching methods. If she ever started a school, it might even surpass Stella.

"Well, I attended a bunch of private tutoring sessions and academies... And while I was there, I met some kids."

"Kids?"

[Sympathy, Sadness, Hesitation]

Her emotions shifted so quickly with every word that it almost felt fascinating.

"Yeah. They're turning 17 this year, and like me, they're desperate to get into Stella. But... They feel like they're still not good enough."

"And?"

"Well, by chance... And I mean really by chance, okay? I didn't plan this, but I happened to mention that I knew you..."

"And then?"

"Uh, they kind of said... They'd really love to meet you and learn from you."

Seeing Anella fidget awkwardly while making the request, Baek Yu-Seol couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"You were that nervous just to ask something like this?"

"Well, you're busy, so..."

"It's fine. I'm not that busy."

"Really?!?"

"Yeah. Let's meet them."

Since it wasn't a big deal, Baek Yu-Seol agreed without hesitation. Anella's eyes sparkled like stars at his response.

Her expression was so cute that he almost reached out to pat her head. But then he remembered—deep down, she was technically in her 40s. That realization made him quickly drop the idea.

Baek Yu-Seol left the café and followed Anella toward the accommodations for the exam candidates.

Stella Academy had provided housing for the students, but the stark differences between their living conditions spoke volumes.

The dormitories for commoners were visibly old and in need of repair, while those for nobles gleamed with luxury.

Of course, this disparity wasn't Stella's fault. These weren't official dorms but privately owned hotels managed by outside businesses.

'This is fancier than the actual Stella dorms...'

Naturally, Baek Yu-Seol assumed they'd be heading to the regular dorms meant for commoners.

But to his surprise, Anella led him to one of the luxurious hotels reserved for nobles.

"... Are you sure this is the right place?"

"Huh? Y-Yeah."

Even Anella seemed uneasy as she stepped inside the lavish building. She shifted nervously, clearly out of her element.

The lobby was bustling with young candidates dressed in elegant attire. Their outfits which were adorned with sparkling jewels appeared too grand for their age.

"Whoa! Is that Baek Yu-Seol?"

"It really is!"

"No way! That's insane."

Whispers erupted as soon as the students spotted him and their excited voices echoed through the lobby.

'So this is what it feels like to be popular.'

Baek Yu-Seol kept his face calm and composed as he walked through the crowd without slowing his pace. His steady demeanor left the students in awe. They were too intimidated to approach him.

Even so, he couldn't shake his curiosity.

'What kind of kids caught Anella's sympathy?'

He had expected to meet struggling orphans or underprivileged students.

But judging by their extravagant surroundings, these kids clearly weren't lacking anything.

With those thoughts lingering in his mind, Baek Yu-Seol followed Anella up to one of the upper floors.

And then—

"Oh my goodness!"

On the outdoor terrace, a group of girls sat closely together, sipping fine tea under elegantly decorated parasols.

Their soft laughter traveled through the air, and when they noticed Baek Yu-Seol's arrival, they greeted him with warm, playful smiles that felt almost rehearsed.

Without a doubt, they were noble ladies, refined and elegant.

Among them, one girl stepped forward, her every motion radiating confidence and grace. She was breathtakingly beautiful, her presence commanding attention as though she were born to be admired.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir Baek Yu-Seol."

At that moment, a single word surfaced in Baek Yu-Seol's mind as he gazed at her.

[Desire]

"I'm Young Lady Mirinae."

There was no mistaking it. This girl was anything but ordinary.