I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy-Chapter 484

The Adolevit Great Airship Fleet was a sight to behold, especially the colossal battle airships that served as the nation’s pride. Unlike other countries, Adolevit's airships eschewed traditional carrier roles and focused entirely on devastating offensive capabilities.

This unorthodox design philosophy stemmed from the overwhelming firepower of Adolevit’s war magic, which rendered auxiliary aircraft unnecessary. While other nations relied on aerial skirmishes, Adolevit’s airships were designed to obliterate opponents outright.

However, the current situation revealed the vulnerabilities of such an approach.

A Crisis Unfolds

“Your Majesty,” the lead navigator reported with a tense expression, “approaching the storm is nearly impossible. Medium-class combat vessels have been forced to retreat, and most small crafts have crashed due to the red electromagnetic interference damaging their mana cores.”

“Any casualties?”

“Fortunately, all personnel successfully evacuated,” he confirmed, though his tone remained grim.

Hong Seryu, Queen of Adolevit, stood at the prow of the lead airship, staring intently at the roiling crimson storm cloud that towered larger than entire mountain ranges. The storm’s ominous size and unrelenting lightning strikes reflected the dire circumstances they faced.

“The airships can’t endure even ten minutes near that storm?” she asked.

“Even with all mana redirected to shields, the airships’ propulsion systems will fail within minutes,” the navigator admitted.

“How much closer must we approach to analyze the phenomenon?”

“At least 50 kilometers closer, Your Majesty. However, estimating the time required for analysis is... uncertain.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Hong Seryu replied coldly. “Once the analysis is complete, will we be able to dispel that accursed storm?”

The room fell silent. Finally, one of the magic researchers, renowned for their intellect and magical expertise, stepped forward.

A Dangerous Plan

“Your Majesty,” the researcher began, “based on preliminary observations, the storm is an artificial construct. The mana patterns indicate deliberate manipulation. If we can decode the spell matrix, we may be able to reverse-engineer and dispel the storm.”

“It’s artificial? You’re saying someone created this storm?”

“Yes. Most likely a 9-class black magician, judging by the dense concentration of black mana.”

Hong Seryu’s expression hardened. “So there’s a chance we can mitigate the storm’s impact on Tehallan?”

“It is possible,” the researcher confirmed, “but it will require all three of our great airships.”

One ship for analysis.

One ship for reverse-engineering.

One ship to cast the dispelling spell.

But the plan was fraught with risks. If the first ship failed to complete its analysis, or if the reverse-engineering encountered unexpected complexities, the entire effort would collapse.

Hong Seryu weighed her options. Though the fleet represented only a fraction of Adolevit’s power, losing three airships was no trivial matter.

Yet retreating wasn’t an option. Tehallan, the heart of Adolevit, lay directly in the storm’s path.

“I will personally lead the first airship,” she declared suddenly.

The room erupted in shocked murmurs. Even Hong Biyeon, standing nearby, turned to her with wide eyes.

“Your Majesty, you cannot!”

“This is not an act of sacrifice,” Hong Seryu stated firmly. “I will stabilize the shields myself and guide the airship closer. Dispelling the storm is the only path forward.”

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freёnovelkiss.com.

A Greater Threat Emerges

As preparations for the sortie began, a sudden alarm blared.

“Your Majesty!” one of the researchers shouted, pale-faced. “We’ve detected additional entities within the storm!”

“What entities?”

The radar revealed massive white shapes moving amidst the storm clouds. Soon, they became visible—winged figures of bone and malice.

“Death-Eaters...” one officer whispered in horror.

“No,” the researcher corrected grimly. “That’s no ordinary Death-Eater. That’s a Bone Dragon, surrounded /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ by nearly a hundred Death-Eaters.”

Death-Eaters were infamous constructs of dark magic. The size of the current swarm was unprecedented. Most were smaller creatures, but one loomed as large as the airships themselves, gliding ominously at the storm’s heart.

“Your Majesty, we must cancel the sortie!” the navigator pleaded. “Death-Eaters attack any living being within their range!”

Hong Seryu clenched her jaw. Without shields or offensive mana, they couldn’t handle the Death-Eaters while also focusing on dispelling the storm.

“Your Majesty,” Hong Biyeon interrupted, stepping forward resolutely. “Allow me to go.”

“You cannot,” Hong Seryu snapped.

“Why not? Adolevit cannot afford to lose its queen,” Hong Biyeon argued, her voice unwavering.

Hong Seryu looked at her intently, her expression unreadable.

“Adolevit doesn’t need me,” she murmured.

Hong Biyeon flinched.

“This kingdom doesn’t need a relic of the past,” Hong Seryu continued, her voice tinged with weariness. “My role is to safeguard the throne until the next generation takes over. You are the one this kingdom needs.”

The younger princess’s resolve faltered, replaced by a flicker of hesitation.

“You are destined to be queen,” Hong Seryu stated firmly. “Everything in this world bends toward you. You must live, no matter the cost.”

A Standoff of Wills

Hong Biyeon’s fingers tightened around the pendant she had drawn from her robes.

“This artifact will protect me,” she said quietly. “I may only survive once, but that’s all I need.”

Hong Seryu’s eyes narrowed. “It’s a foolish gamble.”

“It’s the only way,” Hong Biyeon replied. “Your Majesty, you cannot—”

“That’s enough!”

Hong Seryu’s voice cut through the tension like a blade.

“This is my command,” she declared, her voice regaining its royal authority. “No one moves unless I permit it.”

Her words hung in the air, leaving Hong Biyeon standing frozen with frustration and desperation in her eyes.

The storm loomed closer, and the crimson lightning intensified. Hong Seryu turned her gaze outward once more, preparing herself for the storm.

Even amidst the chaos, a single thought lingered in her mind:

“If not me, then who?”

Perhaps she wasn't yet ready to fully confront Hong Si-hwa in a political power struggle.

She wasn't ready to become queen.

'Yes, that must be it.'

She wasn't someone whose resolve would weaken over such a trivial matter. If Hong Seryu disappeared, she would have to wage an all-out war against Hong Si-hwa.

And that thought terrified her.

That’s why she felt so uneasy.

It had to be stopped.

That was the only thought filling her mind.

Although Hong Seryu had called it an order, Hong Biyeon couldn’t resist and took a step closer to her.

"Your Majesty—"

Just as she was about to say something—

Flash!

A golden light swelled between Hong Biyeon and Hong Seryu, and suddenly, three figures spilled out of that light.

"Ugh...! Can’t you drive this thing any better?"

"Curse it, the dignity of the Sakwol Tower Lord is in shambles. With a Grade 0 mana core distorting all the space in this area, you should be grateful we arrived in one piece."

"Such lack of grace."

Hong Biyeon and Hong Seryu instinctively stepped back, their gazes fixed on the men and women who had abruptly appeared out of thin air.

Two young men and a boy were sprawled awkwardly on the ground, while a girl in a white dress landed gracefully on her heels, brushing the hem of her skirt with a flick.

Hong Biyeon, recognizing her face first, widened her eyes in shock.

"Scarlett..."

"Oh my, isn’t this Senior? Look at you, the so-called Space Magic Genius, actually managed to find the right place for once."

"...I already told you. Navigating through this kind of distortion is no easy task," grumbled the young man who stood up next, his golden hair glinting under the sunlight.

"Ugh, damn it. It feels like my insides are being twisted," muttered the last figure, a boy who had been pinned beneath the young man. As he shoved him off and stood up, Hong Biyeon almost let out a scream.

'Why are you here?!'

But she swallowed the cry with superhuman self-control.

This was the deck of an airship, watched by hundreds of Adolevit citizens.

She had to maintain her dignity.

Trying desperately to adopt a refined tone, she addressed Baek Yuseol, "Baek Yuseol, a... commoner. What in the world is going on here?"

Hong Seryu also recognized Baek Yuseol and her expression shifted. Based on the information she’d already gathered, she knew he was no ordinary person.

'Spatial transference in this place? How...?'

In this environment, where even casting a simple spell was painful due to the mana distortions, he had managed to traverse through space. It was beyond belief.

"Well, I came because I need your help."

"Help?"

That was not something she could spare. If anything, she needed help herself.

Shaking her head regretfully, Hong Biyeon replied, "It’s impossible right now. I owe you a great deal, but right now... I must protect my nation and my people."

"Owe me? Was there ever such a thing between us?"

Baek Yuseol raised an eyebrow before following her gaze to what she was concerned about. Realizing the situation, he nodded with a complex expression.

"You don’t need to worry. As it happens, the reason I need your help is related to that."

"You want me to stop that? Right now, there’s no way. We haven’t even begun analyzing it..."

"We’ll handle the analysis. All you have to do is trust me."

That familiar line.

‘Trust me.’

She’d heard it so many times over the past two years that she’d lost count.

One might think she'd grow tired of hearing it, but instead, it had become something almost magical to her.

"Trust you...? What exactly are you planning?"

"I’m going in there. With you and me."

"What?"

The one who reacted most strongly wasn’t Hong Biyeon but Hong Seryu.

"Absolutely not!"

Her face twisted as she stormed up to Baek Yuseol.

Even Baek Yuseol, for a moment, flinched under the force of her presence—it felt as though a giant stood before him despite her small frame.

"Hong Biyeon cannot go."

"May I ask why?"

"She carries royal blood. I cannot allow her to risk her life so recklessly."

"But—"

Baek Yuseol began to argue, but Hong Biyeon interrupted him.

"...Your Majesty, weren’t you planning to recklessly throw yourself into the midst of that chaos without any strategy or certainty?"

Hong Seryu fell silent, realizing the contradiction in her own words.

"It’s different. As the queen, I must protect my people without fear..."

"Now I understand. Please, just tell me honestly."

Hong Biyeon spoke with a knowing expression.

"You’re sparing my life because you expect me to ascend as the next queen, aren’t you?"

It struck the mark.

But knowing this truth brought no joy to Hong Biyeon.

It only made her feel sorrowful.

"That’s why I must go. What good is a throne in a ruined kingdom? Trust me, Your Majesty. ...I will succeed."

Hong Biyeon’s belief in Baek Yuseol surpassed her belief in herself, and that conviction allowed her to speak so boldly.

"I..."

Hong Seryu’s resolve began to waver. Baek Yuseol waited for her final answer, but Hong Biyeon didn’t.

"So, I’ll be going now."

"W-wait! Stop!"

Hong Biyeon sprinted toward the bow of the ship and leapt off.

Naturally, Hong Seryu was aghast.

"Ah."

In the end, she couldn’t stop her.

Though she had sensed Hong Biyeon’s determination growing stronger, she hadn’t anticipated it being this resolute.

"Ba-Baek Yuseol! Go catch her! Quickly!"

"I’m already on it!"

Baek Yuseol and Ruudrik hurriedly jumped after her.

"But do we have a plan for landing?!"

"Uh, no! I assumed you had one!"

"Damn it! Looks like I’ll need to use spatial transference again..."

As they panicked over Hong Biyeon’s sudden actions, Scarlett sighed, casually flicking her fingers.

With minimal mana, she levitated all three of them gently into the air.

"Even with limited mana, my control is impeccable."

After confirming their safe descent, Scarlett turned to Hong Seryu one last time before mounting her broomstick.

"Don’t fret so much, young queen. It’s time for you to let go."

With those parting words, Scarlett disappeared.

Hong Seryu leaned against the ship’s mast, her eyes closed.

‘Let go...’

A bitter laugh escaped her lips.

Perhaps, truly, the time had come.