I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy-Chapter 452

By the time Stella Academy students enter their second semester of their second year, they find themselves overwhelmed with preparations for graduation.

The reason for the early rush is that their third year is primarily spent gaining practical experience, completing internships, or leveraging their accumulated credits to secure positions at magic towers.

Of course, there are those who don’t need to worry about jobs at all.

For noble families, their children’s futures are often assured, whether by inheriting the family’s legacy or landing prestigious positions through their connections.

But not all nobles have it so easy.

Take Princess Hong Biyeon of Adolevit, for example.

Royalty faces unique restrictions even in securing employment.

This is partly to avoid tarnishing the family’s reputation but also to strip disfavored royals of power, ensuring they can’t interfere politically after being sidelined in the struggle for the throne.

In other words, Hong Biyeon has no guaranteed golden path laid out for her.

She has to carve out her own future.

In fact, her current schedule is even busier than that of the average commoner student.

And yet, despite her already hectic life...

"...Why am I wasting my time on this?"

Hong Biyeon glared at Baek Yoosul, who was sitting across from her, casually sipping coffee as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

She couldn’t even remember the last time they’d had a proper conversation.

“Ahem. Why did you call me here?”

Baek Yoosul, noticing her prolonged silence, glanced up at her cautiously and broke the ice.

The way she silently stared at him, her gaze intense and piercing, would have made anyone uneasy—and it was no mere illusion.

Hong Biyeon opened her mouth as if to speak but closed it again without saying anything.

Each time her lips moved hesitantly, Baek Yoosul found his eyes drawn to them, only to quickly lower his gaze when met with her sharp, cold stare.

"I have nothing to say..."

The truth was, Hong Biyeon had impulsively sought him out because of the rumors circulating about Scarlett, a first-year student, and her alleged relationship with Baek Yoosul. But now that she was here, she realized something.

She didn’t have any special relationship with him herself.

So who was she to criticize or question who he might actually be involved with?

“You’re here because that rumor’s been bothering you, right?”

Baek Yoosul, however, brought up the topic first.

Hong Biyeon remained silent, knowing that acknowledging it would only make things more awkward. But her widened eyes and slightly parted lips betrayed her surprise—a reaction Baek Yoosul easily picked up on.

[Surprise. Flustered.]

Observing her subtle shifts in emotion, Baek Yoosul ran a hand through his hair, his suspicions confirmed.

“You don’t need to worry about it.”

“...What?”

“This kind of thing has happened before. These rumors always start because of some reason or other, but they don’t mean anything.”

Even as he tried to explain, Baek Yoosul found himself questioning his own words.

"Anyone hearing this would think I’m playing some kind of field...”

But that wasn’t his intent.

Baek Yoosul swore to himself he had no such intentions.

It was just... he hadn’t sorted out his feelings yet.

With the unfolding plans of Hoi Gong Si Wol and the impending end of the world, he was in no position to casually give his heart to anyone.

And so, everything remained ambiguous.

“...You don’t need to worry about it either.”

“What?”

When Baek Yoosul hesitantly responded, Hong Biyeon closed her eyes tightly before speaking again.

“This is just... the petty whim of a childish girl. I’m well aware of that. But when I see you paying attention to even these trivial parts of me... it makes me feel...”

Hong Biyeon opened her eyes and fixed her crimson gaze on him.

The coldness from before had vanished, replaced by an expression full of apology and vulnerability.

“I know how important the work you’re doing is. I know it, yet... I was just too childish and foolish. So please, don’t let yourself be weighed down by something like this.”

“Uh, well... I was just...”

“I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore. But... strangely enough, just knowing you’ve thought about it so much has put my mind at ease. Since you said that, I feel like I can think more clearly now.”

“...I see.”

Hong Biyeon stood up from her seat and gave him a soft smile.

It was such a stark contrast to her usual stern demeanor that Baek Yoosul froze, his neck stiff.

Her expression wasn’t that of the typical villainess in a romance fantasy.

It was far closer to the serene, radiant smile of a protagonist.

The kind of smile that made Baek Yoosul feel as if someone had rung a bell directly inside his skull.

"Did she... always smile like that?"

To Baek Yoosul’s eyes, Hong Biyeon suddenly seemed like the lead on a grand stage. The background darkened, and she became the sole focus of a spotlight, standing out vividly against the world.

Shaking his head vigorously, Baek Yoosul pressed his palm against his forehead.

“I must be really tired lately.”

Still, it wasn’t a bad feeling.

Baek Yoosul found himself wishing for this peace, where such trivial worries could take center stage, to last just a little longer.

Elsewhere, beneath a crimson sky, a jagged, blood-red canyon stretched out.

It resembled a maliciously gnawed wound, sharp and uneven, as though carved by some vindictive force.

And slithering through the canyon was a massive beast, its fiery red eyes gleaming menacingly.

Thud! Thud!

Was “slithering” the right word?

The creature was so enormous that if a person stood before it, they would have to crane their neck until it snapped to see its full height. This was the Earth Dragon (Ji-Ryong).

Its lizard-like form bore two tails, its forehead bristling with irregular, razor-sharp horns, and long whiskers reminiscent of mythical dragons.

But having “dragon” (Ryong) in its name didn’t mean it was a true dragon.

“To attach the name ‘dragon’ to such a pathetic creature... humans are truly ignorant.”

The voice belonged to the Black Demon Cult Leader, Hoi Ryeon, who gazed at the Earth Dragon with cold, disdainful eyes.

According to legend, the Earth Dragon (Ji-Ryong) could sense the movement of all living beings within hundreds of kilometers through the vibrations of the earth. Yet, strangely, it seemed oblivious to Hoi Ryeon’s presence.

“T-Truly remarkable, Cult Leader!”

The dozens of followers trailing behind him bowed deeply, showering him with reverent praise.

To not only awaken the Earth Dragon, thought to be sealed in myth, but to control it directly—such a feat was worthy of the High Priest who served the god of the Black Demonic Tribe.

“But, Cult Leader... may we ask where you intend to send the Earth Dragon?”

Their curiosity was justified.

The Earth Dragon was a being so powerful that three 9th-class mages had been required to seal it in the distant past.

Though it seemed to have lost its intelligence and couldn’t unleash its full power, its sheer physical might was still a cause for dread.

Unleashing it in the Central Continent would undoubtedly wreak havoc.

"Fools."

Hoi Ryeon clicked his tongue in disdain.

Did they carry their heads just for decoration? How could they forget everything that had happened before?

"They’re simply in denial of their defeats."

Pride. It was both the strength and weakness of the Black Demonic Tribe.

They refused to accept defeat, even when faced with undeniable evidence.

“The humans used underhanded tricks!”

“They only won because they ganged up on us!”

“If we’d fought honorably, we ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ would’ve won!”

Excuses and justifications abounded.

Because they believed themselves superior to humans, the idea of losing was intolerable.

Rather than learn from their defeats, they buried the truth and patched up their egos by licking each other’s wounds.

At this rate, they weren’t demons—they were nothing more than wounded dogs.

"And to think I’m supposed to become their king..."

The thought didn’t sit well with Hoi Ryeon.

But it was his father’s command.

Starting as the King of the Black Demonic Tribe, Hoi Ryeon would ascend to the pinnacle of the world.

Though the title of King of the Black Demonic Tribe was distasteful and dishonorable, it would mean little once he had the world in his grasp.

“I will not send it to the Central Continent.”

“I-I see! Of course, Cult Leader, you must have a grand plan!”

He didn’t.

In truth, his reasoning would only wound their pride.

"The Central Continent is protected by Baek Yoosul. I cannot send it there."

Even a mighty creature like the Earth Dragon would crumble pathetically if faced with Baek Yoosul. This wasn’t just Hoi Ryeon’s assessment—it was also the judgment of Hoi Gong Si Wol.

“I’ll release the seal on the Earth Dragon, but do not send it to the Central Continent.”

Hoi Gong Si Wol’s words had been clear.

Hoi Ryeon, already understanding the reasoning, had still asked for confirmation.

Why?

Because he wanted to hear it directly from Hoi Gong Si Wol’s mouth.

"...Because of Baek Yoosul. He’s accelerating destiny far faster than I anticipated. If we’re not careful, he could become a threat."

In other words, even Hoi Gong Si Wol, who was practically Hoi Ryeon’s father, regarded Baek Yoosul as a danger.

It was hard to believe.

How could Hoi Gong Si Wol, arguably the strongest being in the world, fear a single human?

While Hoi Ryeon knew Baek Yoosul wasn’t an ordinary human, wasn’t his father just as extraordinary?

Reflecting on those past conversations, Hoi Ryeon addressed the Black Demonic Tribe members.

“The Earth Dragon is headed for the Black Demon King.”

Finally, understanding dawned on the faces of his followers.

“You mean...!”

“Yes. Prepare to sever the Black Demon King’s head.”

“As expected!”

“Even the Black Demon King cannot stand against the might of the Earth Dragon!”

“Ah, our Cult Leader is truly...”

While his followers seemed to believe this, Hoi Ryeon knew differently.

"No, the Earth Dragon won’t kill the Black Demon King."

It had been over fifty years since the Black Demon King had shown his true power.

Hoi Ryeon had learned about the king’s abilities from his father and was confident the Earth Dragon wouldn’t be enough to kill him.

"He absorbs all demonic magic and makes it his own....”

With such an overwhelming ability, the Black Demon King wouldn’t fall to the likes of the Earth Dragon.

Still, it didn’t matter.

As long as the Black Demon King was injured, even slightly, the Earth Dragon would serve its purpose.

"The real opportunity comes after the damage is done."

The Black Demon King wouldn’t die, but he would undoubtedly sustain a severe wound. Hoi Ryeon could be sure of this because his father had implanted a special mechanism in the Earth Dragon.

"A wounded Black Demon King will be forced to choose a successor..."

Someone to inherit his boundless authority and continue his eternal reign in the throne of darkness.

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"Ma Yoosung. He will be summoned."

Hoi Ryeon’s eyes gleamed.

The moment Ma Yoosung inherited the Black Demon King’s powers would be the perfect opportunity.

To seize that ability, the power to absorb all demonic magic and defy the very laws of the world, was Hoi Ryeon’s ultimate goal.

"Only with that power...

...can I become the true king and destroy this world."