Academy’S Gumiho Is A Magical Genius [EN]: Chapter 172

Maintenance (2)

Academy Gumiho is a Magical Genius – Episode 172

Maintenance (2)

The rooftop of a massive building.

In a room filled with wide sofas and expensive chairs, eight men and women relaxed in their own way.

Some sipped coffee while perusing the morning newspaper, while others lay on the floor like lifeless corpses, showing no movement at all.

These individuals were the top executives of , known as ‘Tails’.

They boasted unique personalities as remarkable as their reputations.

“So, how long are you going to stand there like that?”

Yukmi, also known as the ‘Sixth Tail,’ asked the middle-aged man standing like a guard by the door.

The enchanting laughter of the woman held a charm that even the middle-aged man couldn’t resist, reminiscent of a Gumiho [a mythical nine-tailed fox with seductive powers].

However, it was not enough to sway the stoic man.

“…Yukmi, this isn’t your playground. Be cautious with your use of authority.”

“Oh, my, it’s because you only say such rigid things that people call you a *kkondae*, you know? How about learning some flexibility?” [*Kkondae* is a Korean slang term for an older person who is condescending and insists on outdated ways.]

“This is the Guild Leader’s residence. What’s wrong with pursuing principles?”

“It’s not wrong, it’s just too stiff. You’ll never get married at this rate.”

A rather informal conversation for a woman in her twenties and a middle-aged man in his fifties.

This was possible because they held the same rank.

“I’ll take care of my own marriage. Loyalty is more important to me than a partner right now.”

“Hey, *ajeossi* [a Korean term for middle-aged man], at this rate, you really won’t even hold a woman’s hand once…!”

“Both of you, that’s enough.”

An elderly man intervened in their conversation.

He was Chilmi, in charge of the Seventh Tail, and the oldest among those gathered here.

“Let’s end the trivial talk, both of you. Hey, Yukmi, already. The reason busy people like us gathered here isn’t for talk about flexibility or marriage, but to exchange information about ‘variables.’ Let’s stick to the point.”

“That’s right.”

“Tch, the most *kkondae* person is giving advice. I’m the one with the best performance here.”

“If you’re so confident in your performance, you can bring up the topic instead of me, and it wouldn’t matter at all?”

Chilmi responded to Yukmi’s mutterings.

He leisurely stroked his pure white beard. Yukmi, clicking her tongue at his relaxed demeanor, didn’t reply.

It meant she would leave it to Chilmi.

In fact, there was only one topic to bring up in this meeting.

Baek Seung-woo, who had recently become a hot topic in the news.
A junior who had joined as the head of a separate team this time, and at the same time, the head of the Cheonho Baekga family, who founded and sponsors .

He was a man entangled in various complex relationships.

Since the current Guild Leader was an elder who opposed the head of the family, they also had antipathy towards Baek Seung-woo.

Those gathered here had various discussions, but since he had only started taking serious action in the last two months or so, there wasn’t much information.

In the end, the meeting, which ended without much gain, concluded with ignoring Seung-woo.

After all, they had obtained information that he had lost an arm and that his mana circuit, which was like a heart to a magician, had overheated and become tangled.

The chances of him becoming a variable in the guild were significantly lower.

Looking at his colleagues who were so sure, Omi murmured.

“…That was a monster.”

Omi recalled the scene he had witnessed that day.

He didn’t get a vivid feeling because he was watching it on video, but he felt like he was watching a monster in a movie.

Although it seemed like he had paid the price of one arm.

Well.

Would someone who had achieved that level of magic really weaken noticeably just by losing one arm?

‘He might try to become a monster even more desperately.’

Omi remembers.

Baek Seung-woo’s majestic figure, gripping his sword on one side of the massive screen.

He doesn’t know if he will be able to see the same figure now that he is missing his left arm, but if that is possible.

‘The entire landscape of the guild, and perhaps the entire landscape of the world, including the Cheonho Baekga, might be turned upside down.’

Whether that will be positive or negative for him.

It will definitely be fun to watch.

Omi, who had been silent about the sword, chuckled to himself.

Everyone knew he was a bit of an oddball who laughed for no apparent reason, so no one questioned his laughter or took offense.

So he simply continued to laugh.

Anticipating the changes that were about to unfold.

Watching his colleagues, so complacent and convinced their positions were secure.

Thinking of the guild leader, who was likely still ignoring the elders of the Cheonho Baekga [Cheonho Baekga is likely a powerful clan or family] and Baek Seung-woo.

The more he considered it, the more he couldn’t suppress his amusement.

* * *

A hospital room that everyone avoided.

This room was equipped with a system that automatically replaced IV fluids and other disposable items, eliminating the need for doctors or nurses to enter.

Currently, the elders of Cheonho University Hospital wielded the true power.

Not the figurehead head of the family, who lay in a deep sleep within.

In reality, it was practically their domain.

They maintained a low profile to avoid attracting unwanted attention.

What good was praise as a hero in the news or media?

Within this university hospital, the elders were kings and gods. No one dared to do anything that might displease them.

─Thanks to your solitary nature, Contractor, the work is progressing swiftly. Should I be pleased about this?

And thanks to that, a woman’s plan proceeded without a hitch.

─Still, I do appreciate the quiet. It reminds me of when I used to read books with you every night.

It won’t be easy in the future because of that damn snake.

Now, the sword intertwined with his soul was safely stored within Seung-woo’s ring space.

At least until his mind fully recovered, there would be no need to confront it.

‘Finish all the work before things get noisy.’

If possible, before he awakens.

To complete the task, Tamamo utilized her abilities to manipulate various objects.

It wasn’t a complex spell.

Poltergeist.

Meaning “noisy ghost,” it’s a type of psychic phenomenon where an unseen force causes disturbances or physical actions.

Also known as a noisy spirit.

It’s similar to telekinesis, but with the key difference that it leaves no trace.

Unless you possessed an ability like Seung-woo’s “Yoma Eye” [Yoma Eye is likely a special ability to see spiritual traces], which could dissect traces of souls and magic power. Ordinary senses and intuition alone couldn’t comprehend the phenomena caused by poltergeists.

‘It would be a disaster if a nurse, unaware of what’s happening, witnessed this and summoned a high-ranking magician for an exorcism.’

If Seung-woo were awake, he would have handled it himself.

Now, she had to bear the full responsibility.

That’s why this period of uninterrupted work was so invaluable.

Before long, only the final step remained.

Tamamo combined several VIP-only medicinal ingredients stored in the hospital room to create a type of elixir. Compared to the pills of monks she had consumed when she was known as Empress Wu Zetian [Empress Wu Zetian was the only female emperor of China], its efficacy was insignificant.

The elixir in the flask was focused on ‘drawing out.’

─Drawing out the inherent class of the soul.

Not pulling it down.

It was to draw out even a fraction of the original power from the soul.

‘This is a small experiment.’

She didn’t ask him directly, but…

It was something she didn’t need to ask.

With this fight, his class and vessel had grown considerably.

Even if you emptied the vessel once and replaced it, it could be filled again. His body’s current state was preventing him from progressing, but if he forcibly met the conditions, he could become stronger.

This was a way for him to become stronger.

Of course, there would be some side effects, but that was something he would have to manage.

She was merely experimenting.

Thus, he transcends his limitations by one step.

Soon, he will leap over another.

When Tamamo injected the medicine she had created in place of the IV fluid, a reaction occurred.

Thump, thump—!

In a normal hospital room, such a seizure would have brought doctors and nurses rushing in, but the room remained eerily silent.

No, to be precise, no one’s footsteps could be heard except for Seungwoo’s convulsions.

His heart rate was spiking abnormally.

Blood flowed from every orifice, yet no one monitored Seungwoo.

Thus, on the border between consciousness and unconsciousness, he accepted all enlightenment without any interference or resistance.

The elixir was merely a device to detonate the blocked enlightenment.

Without any further obstruction, it began to widely transmit enlightenment throughout his body. A body reaching a higher realm.

[You have acquired enlightenment.]

[Evolving into a Four-Tailed Fox.]

[Grade is increasing.]

[Number of tails increasing.]

……

[Achieved complete purification.]

[A new power is awakening.]

[Breaking the limit.]

The eyelids that had been closed widened from the continuous shock.

Many sentences illuminated empty pupils that held not a speck of light.

The eyes, lacking clear consciousness, engraved the sentences into his mind without any understanding. It was merely a desperately instinctive reaction, believing that memorizing them might be helpful.

Thus, the situation flowed in an unknown direction, whether he wanted it or not.

[Remaining power toward evolution required.]

[External force confirmed necessary.]

[Achieving forced evolution.]

Crack.

The fragmented bones, barely pieced together, were soon released and reassembled.

The blocked blood vessels and mana circuits seemed intent on expelling all the accumulated pus.

Seungwoo’s bedsheets were stained crimson black.

It wasn’t just blood.

The dark red liquid, with a hint of viscosity, had a bizarre form close to tar. The air purifier screamed, emitting a red light, as if the smell was quite severe.

[A new tail is growing.]

[Still in the process of pupation.]

[Additional processes are being added to the evolution.]

The letters no longer shattered.

As if the content didn’t need to be hidden, but Seungwoo, out of his mind, couldn’t possibly know. And so, swoosh, a tail grew.

The process of evolving from a Three-Tailed Fox to a Four-Tailed Fox.

However, what was growing…

Swoosh.

Wasn’t just one.

The two tails growing through the patient gown grew to a similar size as the existing three tails. With this, the delicate balance of the “Trinity” formed by the three tails was broken.

However, the power felt from the five tails was by no means insignificant. It made the skin of the living crawl and vibrated inanimate objects like stones or concrete.

And so.

The five tails were completely grown.

The ominous jet-black fur contrasted with pure white.

From the sense of incongruity emanating from it, Tamamo realized.

“…I have been nurturing a monster until now.”

She spoke with trembling vocal cords, as if she were a living person.

As Seungwoo’s tails increased, his grade rose, and the grade of Tamamo, who was bound to him by a spiritual relationship, rose along with it.

Her sweet voice echoed through the silent hospital room, where nothing but painful groans could be heard.

“……!”

Something that everyone would despise.

Especially something the Cheonho Baekga [Thousand White Families, a powerful Korean clan] would desperately deny.

An ominous idol opened its eyes.

Academy’S Gumiho Is A Magical Genius [EN]

Academy’S Gumiho Is A Magical Genius [EN]

아카데미 구미호는 마법천재
Status: Completed Author: Native Language: Korean
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[English Translation] Baek Seung-woo, the swordsman who once saved a ruined world, finds himself inexplicably thrust into a novel penned by a former comrade. But this isn't the heroic tale he remembers. He's been cast as a tormentor, destined for a miserable end. But fate, it seems, has a twisted sense of humor. Why is he now an assistant? And what's with the tail? Trapped in a world where reality blurs with fiction, Seung-woo discovers his sword has been replaced by magic. With no clear goal and an unknown ending, survival becomes his only objective. Dive into a world of mystery, magic, and unexpected twists, where a hero must adapt or be consumed.

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