I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy

[Qualified for the National Magic Academy Tournament]

A Team Flame  

A Team Maorun White  

A Team Emperor Goldens  

All the intra-academy qualifiers for the national tournament were now over.

The teams from Stella Academy that would compete in the tournament had been decided. 

For a academy to send even one team to the national tournament was an honor, but Stella was unique to send as many as three teams.

After the qualifiers, each team had interview time. 

Baek Yu-Seol and Ma Yu-Seong tried to escape, claiming they were tired, while Eisel tried to insist she needed to get back to studying now that the excitement was over. 

However, she was barely convinced to stay—after all, attending an interview alone would have been quite awkward.

Q. Flame, you defeated the Emerald Stella team, which is known as the strongest within Stella. What do you think was the secret to your victory?

“Secret to victory? It was just a academy qualifier match—do we really need questions like this? We didn’t even win the championship…”  

[Flame Player’s Shocking Statement: “Winning a academy qualifier doesn’t really count as anything.”]

Q. Hae Won-Ryang, you’re known more for your focus on academics. I didn’t realize you had such an interest in sports. When did you start playing LOS?

“It’s been two weeks.”  

[Breaking News! Flame Team Member’s Gaming Experience Totals Only Two Weeks...]

Q. Ma Yu-Seong, you defeated a team that had been training seriously to go pro. What are your thoughts on LOS?

Ma Yu-Seong stroked his chin, pondered briefly, then answered frankly. 

“It’s just the right fit for a hobby.”  

[Despite qualifying for the national tournament, for Ma Yu-Seong, it’s just a hobby?]

As their words instantly made headlines, Baek Yu-Seol, who had been nervously waiting, suddenly grabbed the microphone.  

Q. Baek…

“I’m happy we won. I studied by the book. I love kimchi. I adore Ji Seong-pak!” 

Then, abruptly ending the interview, he dashed off before any real questions could be asked.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Q. Um… I guess that concludes the interview…

“Wait. What about me?”

As Eisel chimed in, the interviewer was clearly taken aback and hesitated. 

Being a member of the Morph family made them cautious as a journalist. 

But just look at those sparkling eyes.

‘Is she really a descendant of that Morph family?’

Eisel’s beauty was well-known, and her picture had even been in the newspaper a few times. 

But seeing those bright, pure eyes which resembled the sky up close left the journalist somewhat stunned. 

Trying to maintain professional composure, the interviewer calmed their flushed face with a hand-fan, cleared their throat, and posed a question.

Q. E-Eisel…

“Yes!”  

Q. Um…

As the journalist gazed at her shining eyes, fair skin, and radiant, dancing hair, they threw out the question they truly wanted to ask.

Q. What’s your beauty secret?

“… Excuse me?”

Looking bewildered by the unexpected question, Eisel replied with slight embarrassment.  

“I… I don’t really do anything…”  

[Student Eisel: Beauty Secret—Just Being Born Pretty]

——-

The Crimson Hawk Club.

At one time, the upperclassman Edmon Atalek ruled this group, but after an incident in the first semester, Hong Bi-Yeon now had it completely under her control.

This club required all the prestigious families of Adolevit to join compulsorily, so it was only natural that Hong Bi-Yeon’s influence within it gradually grew. 

Recently, she even began networking with noble families, steadily expanding her connections. 

Ironically, although she was a princess and almost an outcast in the Adolevit royal palace, it was Stella Academy, located outside her home country, that provided her with a fast and convenient social circle to expand her network.

“Your Highness, we apologize.”

“For what?”

“… We failed to qualify for the main rounds of LOS.”

A few members of the Crimson Hawk Club approached Hong Bi-Yeon, who was reading, and bowed in apology. 

However, she simply waved them off as if it didn’t matter.

“It’s fine. I don’t really care about LOS. I barely have any time left for hobbies anymore.”

In the ‘original’ storyline, Hong Bi-Yeon should have participated in LOS and been chosen as part of one of the three teams advancing to the main rounds. 

But she quit, saying she was too busy. It was mainly because after officially gaining her queen's recognition of her eligibility for the throne, she had started receiving education for it, leaving her with little free time.

She also began devoting her evenings and weekends to hosting tea times with noble families, to establish the Crimson Hawk Club members as her loyal followers. 

Even though the club members had rallied around her when she joined Stella, they were individuals who could easily switch allegiances at the first scheme from her rival, Hong Si-hwa. 

Therefore, Hong Bi-Yeon was working tirelessly to make the Crimson Hawk Club fully hers.

It would have been challenging if Edmon Atalek still held influence, but… He hardly even showed up to the club anymore. 

Though his power was still valuable, she no longer felt the need to cling to the Atalek family’s support, so this development was advantageous for her.

“More importantly, Your Highness, I heard that Baek Yu-Seol’s Flame team made it to the main rounds.”

“I heard.”

These days, she couldn’t shake the thought that anything Baek Yu-Seol did might be tied to something significant… So, Hong Bi-Yeon sought him out directly and asked him: if his involvement in LOS was connected to some important event, she would be willing to help. 

His answer?

‘Just doing it because I had nothing else to do.’

Yes. Baek Yu-Seol simply had some free time, and since Flame had asked for his help, he was enjoying it as a casual hobby. 

Doubting he might be lying, she secretly snuck into the spectator stands to observe him in action. 

But he truly looked carefree and genuinely enjoyed the game.

How often had Baek Yu-Seol shown such an unburdened smile? This was probably the first time.

For a moment, Hong Bi-Yeon envied Eisel and Flame. If she didn’t have official team obligations, maybe she could have squeezed out some time, however limited, to play alongside Baek Yu-Seol.

"Hmm..."

As Hong Bi-Yeon reviewed the teams advancing to the finals, she tilted her head, puzzled by an unfamiliar team name. 

Anticipating her curiosity, a girl, who was sitting nearby engrossed in her book, eagerly began explaining.

“Oh, the Maorun White team is new to the internal qualifiers this year. Originally, they were an incomplete team with poor results, but thanks to a player named Jo Yerin, who suddenly improved, they advanced to the main rounds without a single loss.”

“Jo Yerin? Never heard of her.”

“She’s not in the Stella Magic Warrior Department.”

Since Hong Bi-Yeon saw Stella Academy as primarily a training ground for magic warriors and viewed other departments as unimportant, she instantly dismissed Jo Yerin’s name from memory. She simply wasn’t interested.

“They gave an impressive interview! Apparently, Cadet Baek Yu-Seol showed up unexpectedly and gave them some advice, which helped them keep winning.”

“… The Commoner? He gave her advice?”

Someone from another department she didn’t even know, and a girl at that?

“What’s her name again?”

“Oh, uh, it’s Jo… Jo Yerin.”

As Hong Bi-Yeon’s expression turned harsh, the girl sharing the story retreated cautiously. She knew the princess’s mood could shift easily, but she’d never seen it change so sharply without reason before.

'Hey, hey, you clueless fool!’

‘Huh?’

Her friend nudged her and dragged her away, allowing her to stop talking just in time.

“… Princess, would you like us to look into this Jo Yerin?”

Hong Bi-Yeon’s expression softened, and she shook her head. 

Coming to her senses, she sighed and closed her book.

“No need. Why waste time investigating someone like that?”

“Exactly, Princess. She’s just a commoner with no connection to you.”

After dismissing the subject, she stood up and headed to a personal dressing room tucked in the corner of the Crimson Hawk Club’s room. 

Though it didn’t hold as many options as the wardrobe back at her dorm, it was convenient for quick touch-ups.

About an hour later, dressed neatly in casual clothes, Hong Bi-Yeon addressed the club members.

“I’ll be back after dinner.”

“Tonight is the club’s monthly meeting, Princess.”

“You handle it.”

“Yes, Princess.”

No one could say anything to Hong Bi-Yeon about her completely self-centered actions. However, the club members weren’t particularly bothered. Knowing her perfectionist nature, they assumed she had already taken care of everything she felt responsible for.

“... This was supposed to be my task, but the princess handled it all.”

“And mine too…”

“Isn’t this our group project? I think the princess assumed it was her own and finished it…”

“When did she even…?”

They had only seen her scribbling something with her pen, yet she had managed to accomplish an unbelievable amount of work all by herself. 

The club members looked at the spot where their princess had disappeared, unable to believe what they’d just witnessed.

“If the princess becomes queen, this country will never falter…”

“Indeed…”

———

At the same time, in the 1st Main Tower, the vice principal’s office at Stella Academy.

Sunlight reflected off Vice Principal Archie Hayden’s smooth head, shining even more brightly than usual. 

Raiden, who faced the light that was brighter than the sun itself, didn’t even blink.

“So, this is the list of incoming transfer students?”

“Yes.”

“And who is this girl?”

Archie Hayden pointed at a girl named ‘Anella.’ 

Raiden glanced at Anella's ID photo, her cute but slightly dull expression somehow adding to her charm, and responded flatly.

“She’s a dark mage from the Black Kingdom.”

“The Black Kingdom…”

Both Archie Hayden and Raiden belonged to the Moon Shadow Church, which had a strained relationship with the Black Kingdom despite being fellow dark mages. 

Though they currently pretended to cooperate under the orders of the Dark Mage King, their alliance was akin to a ticking time bomb.

“And you’re planning to bring such a girl here? You’d use valuable transfer slot for her? We don’t even have enough spots for our own.”

“Yes. I understand your concerns, but please don’t worry. I have her fully under my control.”

It was the first lie Raiden had ever told. He had spent his life serving the Moon Shadow Church and had never dared to lie to Archie Hayden. 

Sensing this unusual shift, Archie Hayden hesitated for a moment before responding.

“Is that so…”

“She will be strategically beneficial. I plan to use her as a double agent to monitor the Black Kingdom’s movements.”

“If you say so, I trust it to be true.”

Raiden felt a wave of relief at that.

By helping the Maorun White team reach the main rounds, Baek Yu-Seol had flawlessly accomplished his role.

Now, it was Raiden’s turn to fulfill Baek Yu-Seol’s request.

"But.”

Raiden asked cautiously as Archie Hayden rubbed his forehead and shook his head, sensing something ominous.

“Is there a problem?”

“Yes, indeed. The principal has decided to personally inspect and select all the incoming transfer students this time. As a result, all the planned transfers have been canceled.”

“… Is that true?”

“I have no idea why Elthman, that lunatic, is acting like this all of a sudden. Wouldn’t he be more comfortable just following our directions? Now he’s meddling in every little thing.”

“Isn’t there any way around this?”

“No. Unfortunately, there isn’t. All the students who were supposed to transfer have been sent back. As for that girl, you’ll just have to keep her with you for now. She might come in handy someday.”

With that, Archie Hayden dismissed Raiden, seeming unbothered by the loss of a few transfer students. It didn’t seem like a significant issue to him.

But to Raiden, it was a major problem.

‘... This is troublesome.’

Baek Yu-Seol had honored Raiden’s request, but Raiden was unable to do the same in return. 

Since a formal agreement had already been made, backing out wasn’t an option. In effect, Raiden now owed Baek Yu-Seol a debt.

Clack!

Closing the door to the vice principal’s office, Raiden walked down the hallway, pondering how to resolve this predicament.

As he reached the end of the corridor on the 79th floor of the 1st Main Tower, near the elevator, he spotted a young boy leaning against the wall.

It was Baek Yu-Seol.

With his characteristic cheerful smile, Baek Yu-Seol greeted Raiden.

“Professor, you kept our promise, didn’t you?”

There was an unmistakable pressure in his tone today.

“… You knew this would happen from the start.”

“Pardon? I’m not sure what you mean.”

Only then did Raiden realize that he had fallen into some kind of trap, but by then, it was already too late.

-------

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/FlashGenius