Academy’S Gumiho Is A Magical Genius [EN]: Chapter 173

Academy Gumiho is a Magical Genius – Episode 173

Academy Gumiho is a Magical Genius 173

Preparation (3)

The fiercely burning flames.

Watching the fire paint the sky crimson, as if trying to devour the world, I found it beautiful.

The fire cremates both enemy and ally alike.

Giving the enemy a burning terror.

And giving the allies a warm light to soothe their passage.

There was nothing unbeautiful in that sequence of events.

Or perhaps everything seemed beautiful because the source of that flame was beautiful.

“So, you want to wield flames too? You’re already proficient with a sword.”

A memory that surfaces naturally when I think of her.

I could never forget the sight of the world around her ablaze, like a dramatic backdrop.

“To commemorate your late teacher? The intention is admirable, but do you think you can handle the magic I’ve created? You might just be wasting your time.”

Time?

Yes, we were always short on it.

We possessed ample power.

But we were always too slow to save everyone.

Too slow to protect those we loved.

Every minute, every second, was an opportunity to save more lives, and before we knew it, both of us were battling insomnia.

Eventually, we created bodies that didn’t require sleep, attempting to use our time more efficiently while pushing our minds to their limits.

Even so, we couldn’t prevent countless deaths.

“Then, how about this? I’ll incorporate you into my novel.”

What is she planning to include?

I know she writes novels as a hobby.

Every day, she seeks my advice on her novels’ settings and plot developments, and I’m also her go-to proofreader.

“I’ll specialize your ability in flames. How much firepower do you want? Oh, you want to be able to produce as much firepower as Unni [older sister/term of endearment for a female friend or mentor]? That would completely break the balance… Okay, I’ll add it. But there has to be a penalty, right?”

A price.

Anything is fine.

Even if it means being a character in her novel.

If I can wield the same flame as her, who is now gone.

If I can honor my teacher in that way, I’ll accept any price. I may not have the time to master flames or magic right now, but if the character based on me in that world of words is like her…

I could endure any cost.

Because patience always yields sweet rewards.

“Okay, I understand. Then, what should we call your penalty… How about Solar Meridian Blockage? That was the disease Unni suffered from.”

Solar Meridian Blockage.

That is the disease my teacher suffered from.

The disease I suffer from now.

I remembered this fact after a long time.

Only then did I realize.

This is a memory I had forgotten.

To be precise, it was a memory someone had stolen from me.

Even so, it would have been impossible to erase my memories completely. My mental defenses are not that easily breached.

I’m confident I’ll recover the rest of my memories in due course.

This is a dream.

Dreams are fleeting and fade upon waking, but my mind will not forget this memory. This moment of recalling the bond I share with the woman I have always loved and continue to love.

How could I ever forget?

Perhaps it was such an intense feeling that served as the trigger.

Without seeing the end of this dream.

I surfaced from the deep sleep like emerging from the sea.

* * *

The academy entered a major break.

The official reason was to encourage the freshmen after their midterm exams, but everyone knew the real reason.

“Has anyone seen the professors in the last 5 days?”

“No, I haven’t even seen the teaching assistants. They said they were all taking a break, so I assumed they left the grounds.”

“Hey, do you really believe that? Of course, they’re all still here. They must be busy dealing with the situation.”

Students with sharp minds could easily deduce the cause.

Mains [beings corrupted by demonic energy].

It must be due to the invasion of those heinous individuals who severed their connection to the system and embraced the power of the devil.

“Still, no one died because of the Mains this time. I heard the security guard who was attacked is already recovering.”

“That’s not the point.”

“Yeah, Min-soo is right. The important thing isn’t that no one died, but that they allowed another invasion to happen.”

“After the mess last time, I wonder what kind of complaints the parents will make this time.”

“How are your parents reacting?”

“Huh? I don’t have a mom and dad.”

“……Ah.”

It wasn’t intentional, but the student who inadvertently insulted someone else’s parents was kicked by his friends while lying on the floor. The person involved watched his friend being kicked with an indifferent expression.

The academy’s daily life continued as usual.

However, some students still struggled to adjust to this normalcy.

“Ugh, why can’t I get used to it?”

“Do you feel like you have to stand guard at any moment?!

“No, it’s not like that. You know that feeling of having to hold an ax and shield, ready to defend yourself from all sides? That feeling of alertness that makes your skin crawl.”

“Ah! I think I know what you mean.”

“I think I know what you mean too.”

“Right? It’s not just me, right?”

Students wrapped in bandages all over their bodies.

The children who journeyed to the other side of the world with Baek Seung-woo had traded their school uniforms, worn for the past week, for casual clothes over their bandages.

This was because their school uniforms had been partially destroyed in the fierce battle.

Even though the uniforms had automatic repair magic, the students opted for casual clothes because the damage was too extensive.

Fortunately, the academy was on a week-long break, so they didn’t attract much attention even in casual attire.

“By the way, your casual clothes are pretty. Where did you buy them?”

“Hehe, even Easy recognizes them. This is an outfit made directly by our family!”

“Family? Ah, come to think of it, your family was a well-known martial arts family in China. I often forget because Ssaem [teacher] is always around.”

“That can’t be helped. No matter how renowned our Jecheon Seongga [family name] is, we can’t surpass the castle of Cheonho Baekga [family name]. And I don’t even know about Isabel’s Sirius or our country’s Juseongga [family name].”

Students chatting about this and that.

During this week, the students had become close friends, like any other peers. When Easy and Seong Yeon-hwa spoke, Isis would chime in.

The conversation continued in that vein for about 10 minutes.

The three students who were talking began to study each other’s faces.

The three of them weren’t the only ones gathered here.

All six of them, who had formed a group and ventured through the unknown territory called the other side of the world together, were present.

“““…….”””

But what was the point of gathering?

Half of them were simply staring at their cell phones with serious expressions, saying nothing.

“Hey…… guys?”

“…….”

“Yu, Yu-ra……?”

“Why are you calling me.”

No, why am I calling you?

I’m calling you because I can’t get through to you at all.

I want to say that from the bottom of my heart, but my instincts warn me.

That life will not be easy if I say that.

So, I asked as gently as possible.

“Ah, it’s nothing special. What are you doing right now?”

“I’m watching the news.”

“Oh…… I see.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m watching an important story right now, so let’s talk a little later.”

For the next 20 minutes, her eyes never left her cell phone. ‘A little later’ my ass.

With no other choice, Easy shifted her attention to Seo Ye-rin next to her.

“Ye-rin.”

“…….”

“Ye-rin……?”

“…….”

“Is, is my voice too soft?”

“That can’t be. She’s just ignoring you.”

“…….”

This side was even worse.

Easy, dejected by the lack of response, turned to her last resort. However, she reacted before Easy could even open her mouth.

She seemed to know that she was next.

“So, are you going to ask me the same question?”

“……I haven’t even said anything yet.”

“If you can’t tell just by looking at me, you’re not qualified to be the next head of Sirius if you don’t understand your comrades who survived that hellish place together.”

“Oh, I think the news I saw earlier reported that your younger brother would inherit the title.”

“Don’t contradict me. How much do outsiders really know about our family?”

Ah, right.

Easy couldn’t respond to the sarcastic remark.

That sight suddenly made me want to play a prank.

If I ask her about Seung-woo Ssaem, who was ‘almost’ her family at one time, she will definitely─

‘─I’ll get slapped. Ssaem seems to have sorted things out, but she still seems to harbor affection and resentment.’

Let’s not say it.

That’s the way to live a long life.

To cool off her stuffy heart, Easy sipped her iced Americano.

Then she glanced at them.

Easy easily realized that all three of them, engrossed in their cell phones, were only reading and listening to the news, especially the news about Baek Seung-woo.

The three girls had different forms of worry, depending on their respective positions.

Seo Ye-rin held the belief that her teacher would recover soon, while simultaneously battling an anxiety that contradicted this.

Noh Yu-ra felt sadness that the object of her fresh first love was injured.

Isabel harbored complex feelings about her former fiancé’s injury.

Even though their relationships with him were different.

The feeling of worrying about Seung-woo was the same.

“Did you guys see this news?”

“……No, please send me the link.”

“Okay, I just sent it.”

“Oh, right, Isabel. Have you ever heard of the VIP room on the rooftop of Cheonho University Hospital?”

“How would I know that?”

However, if there is a difference in the feeling of concern.

There is no way to measure this, but everyone will be proud that they are more worried. That’s how it would normally be.

“……That’s not a place anyone can enter. Only the direct line of Cheonho Baekga or someone of equivalent status can be admitted. The only doctors and nurses allowed access are the best in the hospital. Even visiting is restricted to family members within 1 or 2 degrees of kinship, unless there are special circumstances in preparation for any possible situation.”

“Lies.”

Unfortunately, there is someone in this place who has the ability to grasp the surface psychology of others and, if desired, delve into deeper layers.

“……What do you mean, lies?”

“You can go in.”

“Did you hear what I just said? Visiting is only allowed for siblings and parents. How can I do something that even the elders of Cheonho Baekga can’t do?”

“Engagement.”

“…….”

“Although he is a ‘former’ fiancé… just because our bodies are far apart doesn’t mean our hearts are far apart. If you emphasize that point, it won’t be easy, but you can get in.”

In theory, it is possible……

Although they are former fiancés and the two families are wary of each other now, the two families had such close ties that they were wary of each other in the other Gucheon families until the parent generation.

If Isabel really wants to, she may be able to visit.

It’s just a matter of possibility.

But the lump buried in Isabel’s heart protested.

Don’t do that.

We’ve already broken up, and we hate each other, right?

Why would I even go to visit him?

Isabel and Noh Yu-ra looked at each other as the story became more and more complicated.

The conflict between the leader of one group and the ranger who identifies the scout and the safety of the road ahead. In response, the other female students looked at the two with eyes as if they were watching a drama.

Only Easy grabbed her head with her hands.

I feel like I’ve been grabbing my head a lot lately.

I’m worried that my hair will fall out if I keep doing this.

“……Ha, Ssaem. Why did you leave me alone?”

Easy, caught between the women, complained of pain.

It’s one thing to seduce these kids with that handsome face, but if you seduce them, you have to take care of the aftermath yourself.

Why do I have to be stuck in the middle and suffer?

I’m sure there are handprints left on my side from mediating between friends who are clashing with each other.

It’s strangely cold.

“……Aha.”

Isis touched my body with her unique cold hands while stopping the kids.

I know why it’s cold.