I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy-Chapter 490

Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol felt her resolve waver, albeit ever so slightly, at Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol’s words.

There wasn’t a single flaw in her argument.

Among the secret operations carried out by Hoe-Gong Si-Wol, the most crucial ones had been thwarted by Baek Yu-Seol. In this most recent instance, despite Hoe-Gong Si-Wol’s direct involvement, not only had he failed to achieve his goals, but he also returned empty-handed after losing the Fragment of the Otherworld to Baek Yu-Seol.

“...How does that woman know all of this?”

Hoe-Gong Si-Wol had never trusted Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol, keeping most of his actions secret from her. In fact, his mistrust extended beyond her; his meticulous and skeptical nature ensured that the other Divine Moons lacked critical knowledge about each other’s operations. This way, even if a traitor like Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol emerged, the damage would be contained.

From the very beginning, Hoe-Gong Si-Wol had operated with the assumption that no one among the Divine Moons was trustworthy. He withheld almost all information and never revealed the ultimate objectives of his missions, even to his closest allies.

In stark contrast, Baek Yu-Seol seemed different.

“It hasn’t been long since she switched sides, yet she already seems to possess a significant amount of information...”

It was clear that Baek Yu-Seol trusted Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol enough to share considerable intelligence with her. Trust of that level was not commonplace. Misplaced trust could lead to devastating leaks. Yet, Baek Yu-Seol was far from an incompetent leader.

He had drawn many Divine Moons to his side and successfully executed the majority of his operations. A competent leader who also entrusted his people with responsibility—such qualities were rare. It was suddenly clear why so many Divine Moons gravitated toward Baek Yu-Seol.

“Maybe he simply has too much information. It might not be trust after all.”

Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol wanted to believe this. She needed to. Even if Baek Yu-Seol was that kind of leader...

“...I can’t become like that.”

Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol clenched her fists tightly.

Unlike them, she had things to lose. Betraying Hoe-Gong Si-Wol could lead to consequences far worse than death.

“I have things I need to protect.”

She bit her lip and extended her right hand. A violet lightning bolt crackled forth, forming a beautiful crescent blade in her grasp.

Although it resembled a crescent blade, it was actually Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol’s divine artifact—a weapon whose existence had never been revealed to the world, not even in Aither World Online. Baek Yu-Seol had no information about it either.

Unlike the other Divine Moons, Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol was fiercely possessive of her belongings and had never once revealed her artifact to anyone.

“So, this is the move you’re making?”

Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol’s voice was steady, though she visibly suppressed her fear.

The crescent blade was, in truth, closer to a staff, serving as a conduit for a single, devastating spell. It wasn’t an ordinary weapon—it was designed solely for destruction.

“If you use that... the entire city will collapse.”

“Why does that matter? Are you suddenly pretending to care about humans now?”

All the Divine Moons possessed immensely destructive techniques, but Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol’s scale was unparalleled. Her skill, Eclipse of Destructive Thunder, unleashed thousands of lightning strikes across vast areas simultaneously. It was unstoppable.

But why here? Why now?

Using such a massive skill required a significant cost, even for Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol. If her intent was to kill Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol, there were far simpler methods.

“So, she knows I love this city...”

Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol narrowed her eyes.

The tip of Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol’s violet crescent blade began gathering energy, but there was still time.

She wouldn’t dare destroy the city she loves just to hurt me. There’s another reason for this. She wants to intimidate me, to coerce me.

Though she couldn’t discern Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol’s exact plans, she had enough information to turn the tables.

“Eclipse of Destructive Thunder” is devastating, but it has its flaws. Every time she’s used it, the aftermath was catastrophic—mountains disappeared, seas evaporated—but one peculiar trait always emerged.

No matter how strong Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol was, she couldn’t escape the damage of her own attack. And yet, she never moved from her position during its cast.

It wasn’t for show.

“She can’t move while casting and deploying it.”

Having witnessed this ability thrice, Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol’s deductions were almost certain.

“Hah... as expected, I can’t win against you.”

“Heh, finally realized it, huh? You’ll never defeat me.”

“I know. So go ahead. Do whatever you want. I’m leaving.”

“...What?”

As Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol turned away, Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol panicked.

“Wait, this isn’t how it’s supposed to go!”

If she canceled the casting now, there would be a month-long cooldown before she could use Eclipse of Destructive Thunder again. It wasn’t something she had prepared to do lightly.

“You—this city might vanish! You’re okay with that?”

Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol shouted desperately.

Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol responded bitterly, as though resigned.

“What choice do I have? I can’t beat you, and I’d rather not die here. I’ll just settle in another city.”

“...What?”

This wasn’t what Hoe-Gong Si-Wol had described.

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Hoe-Gong Si-Wol had assured her that Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol deeply loved this city and could be coerced through that sentiment. He had emphasized her importance to the plan and her ability to disrupt the Dark Magic King.

“...No, that’s wrong!”

Once again, Hoe-Gong Si-Wol had been mistaken. Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol didn’t love this city enough to risk everything for it.

“Please, just give up!”

While Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol fumed in frustration, Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol, though feigning nonchalance, silently prayed.

She prayed for Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol to abandon her threat. To spare the city she had come to love as her true home.

And as she accelerated her flight, she hoped the distance would only agitate Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol further.

CRACK—

“Ugh!”

A thunderous sound erupted.

In an instant, a violent impact sent Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol flying, her vision spinning wildly.

She felt a sharp, tear-inducing pain as her body collided with a wall after being hurled hundreds of meters. Disoriented, she had no sense of her surroundings or even which direction she faced.

“Ugh...”

Forcing herself to rise, she propped up her upper body with trembling arms. A spear of lightning had pierced her abdomen, humming ominously.

Using divine power, she dispelled the weapon and cauterized the wound, allowing her damaged body to begin the slow process of regeneration.

As a shadow loomed over her, she raised her head. Descending toward her with a menacing expression was Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol.

“You dare... mock me...?”

The crescent blade was gone. True to Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol’s prediction, Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol had canceled the casting, prioritizing her capture over destroying the city outright.

“Hoe-Gong Si-Wol... Cheon-Cheong Hae-O-Wol... even that worthless corpse Jeok-Ha-Yu-Wol—all of them looked down on me. And now... even you, a pathetic half-wit Divine Moon, dare to do the same?”

Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol’s right hand summoned a spear of lightning, which she drove through Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol’s shoulder.

“Grr...!”

“Answer me! Do you think I’m some kind of joke? Am I laughable to you? Is it because I look like a child? Let me tell you something—you’re dead wrong! Among the Divine Moons, none possess destructive power greater than mine! Not Hoe-Gong Si-Wol, not even that so-called genius Baek Yu-Seol!”

With another strike, she pierced the opposite shoulder, pinning Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol in place. Immobilized, she could do little but listen.

“Tell me! Why even someone like you thinks you can look down on me! Why?”

Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol’s clenched fists trembled violently as she lowered her head, her body shaking with barely suppressed rage. Blood seeped from her lips, bitten in frustration.

Her violet, bloodshot eyes brimmed with unshed tears, her emotions of humiliation and fury radiating toward Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol.

But for Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol, those emotions meant little.

“...Then why is it,” she asked calmly, her tone indifferent even as she endured the pain, “that you feel entitled to look down on me?”

Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol faltered, stepping back in hesitation.

“Th-That’s because... obviously...”

“Because I’m a half-wit? If I truly am worthless, then you have no right to complain about being treated the same way.”

Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol’s jaw quivered.

“No... that’s not it. I’m a full Divine Moon, while you’re...”

“Sure. Let’s go with that.”

Crack!

The lightning spear embedded in Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol’s shoulder shattered and fell away. She hadn’t done anything; Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol’s concentration had simply wavered.

Rising to her feet, Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol brushed the dust from her skirt, her calm gaze fixed on Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol as she slowly advanced.

“You were born a perfect Divine Moon, and I... a half-wit. But tell me, who should feel more wronged? Someone like me, born with the name of a Divine Moon yet treated as less than human because of it? Do you think it’s right that someone like me should just accept being dismissed?”

Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol had lived for nearly a thousand years, yet her mentality remained childlike in many ways. However, if what she believed to be an unshakable truth was suddenly called into question...

If she realized it wasn’t true...

The impact on her mind would be profound.

“Snap out of it, Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol. I’ve never looked down on you. You’re the most destructive Divine Moon in existence. I don’t deny that. In fact, it’s precisely why I chose to run.”

“Then why...”

“Why?” Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol cut her off. “What is there to gain by enduring Hoe-Gong Si-Wol’s abuse? Why do you remain loyal to someone who tramples your pride? Tell me—what’s in it for you?”

Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol froze, her pupils dilating. Her trembling limbs stilled, and the storm of emotions in her eyes subsided into eerie calm.

Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol knew she had struck a nerve, a critical weakness. Though she wasn’t entirely sure what that weakness was, she pushed forward, knowing this was her chance.

“You’re not someone who would yield easily. If you’re working under someone as vile and idiotic as Hoe-Gong Si-Wol, there must be a reason. So tell me, what is it?”

Approaching Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol slowly, Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol wrapped her in an ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) embrace and whispered softly into her ear.

“Let me help you.”

Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol let out a childish wail, clinging to her tightly as she burst into tears.

Moments ago, such a sight would have been unimaginable. Yet it was clear now—Hoe-Gong Si-Wol held something over Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol, an exploit he used to control her.

“What a foolish child...”

Though Cheon-Hwang-Jeong Pal-Wol thought this, she sighed, realizing that she herself had been no different not long ago.

One thought crossed her mind.

“...Whatever it is, I have no idea how to fix it.”

If Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol couldn’t resolve it on her own, then Hoe-Gong Si-Wol must have something incredibly dangerous as leverage. It wasn’t something she could solve with her own limited intellect.

There was only one solution.

“I have to take Ja-Ryeok Il-Wol to Baek Yu-Seol...”

In her mind, there was no other option.