Academy’S Gumiho Is A Magical Genius [EN]: Chapter 44

Academy Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Episode 44

Academy Gumiho is a Magic Genius Episode 44

There’s No Such Thing as a Good Team (4)

The Seven Unsolved Mysteries of Chilseong.

Like any other school ghost story, it was a tale passed down by word of mouth from the seniors.

Every night, the sound of a woman crying can be heard in the most secluded bathroom on the grounds. Or that a monster lives in a deep cave.

It was made up of rumors commonly heard on the streets.

But don’t forget.

This is Chilseong Academy.

A crazy institution that has canyons, valleys, and deserts on its grounds in the name of education. They even buy and remodel uninhabited islands for midterms.

Is it possible that there isn’t a single monster hiding in the vast academy building?

Maybe they didn’t kill them all during the last attack.

Such suspicions and doubts come together to form the Seven Unsolved Mysteries of Chilseong.

Naturally, like most people their age, Leeji and his group were full of curiosity. The most excited of them was Seong Yeon-hwa, with a sword at her waist.

“Are there really g-ghosts? I’m so excited!”

Seong Yeon-hwa’s speech was awkward.

The meaning was conveyed, but there were still many shortcomings.

Leeji scratched his head and said.

“Well, maybe not. Where are ghosts in the world?”

“But! There are so many monsters we don’t know about in the world!”

“That’s a monster, not a ghost.”

There are all kinds of monsters in the world.

There are still many monsters that people don’t know about.

To classify such monsters, several categories exist, including a type called ‘ghost-type monsters.’

The most representative examples are Wraiths and Specters.

Wraiths are spirits, translucent human-shaped monsters that we commonly think of. Specters are shadows, monsters that emit a chilling sensation that appears in horror movies or similar atmospheres.

Both have elements that people commonly think of as ghost characteristics.

It is clear that they confused such ghost-type monsters with ghosts.

Leeji was thinking that.

‘More than anything, there’s someone scarier than a ghost here. It can’t help but be relatively less scary.’

Leeji glanced to the side.

Isabel, who still wasn’t in a good mood, was exuding an uncomfortable atmosphere.

Even though the teacher had left a long time ago for work, her emotions showed no sign of easing.

I guess there’s no choice, let’s change the atmosphere here.

Leeji, who felt that the current atmosphere was uncomfortable, got up from his seat. The sound of him dragging his chair as he stood up drew everyone’s attention to him.

“Are you going to the bathroom? It’s on the right outside the library.”

“No, not because of the bathroom. I was wondering if we don’t know each other well enough.”

“Huh? The assistant also left, why are you suddenly introducing ourselves now?”

Noh Yoora questioned Leeji’s words.

We already knew each other’s names, so why would we need to introduce ourselves any further?

Leeji shook his head at Noh Yoora’s question.

“We know each other’s names, but we don’t know what each other likes. We’re supposed to have a courage training session in two days, but I thought it would be nice if we could do a simple self-introduction beforehand.”

“That’s not bad. My name is Noh Yoora, and my position is Ranger. The main weapon I use is firearms, especially sniper rifles.”

As Noh Yoora started the self-introduction, everyone began to speak in turn.

“Hi, my name is Leeji. My last name is Lee, and my first name is ‘Ji.’ I mainly use an axe, and my hobby is collecting things that make money in dungeons, like magic stones or plants.”

“……My name is Seo Yerin. My special skills are…… swordsmanship and Haeju.”

“Ah, I’m Seong Yeon-hwa! I’m very good at wielding a sword.”

“Isis Walker. I haven’t been initiated into magic for very long, but I’m confident in magic related to ice and freezing.”

After saying this, Isabel, who had been in a bad mood, reluctantly opened her mouth.

Her bad mood was entirely due to Baek Seung-woo, not them.

“Nice to meet you all. My name is Isabel Sirius. My specialties are magic using light and using my head.”

“Okay, now that everyone has introduced themselves. Shall we ask each other what we’re curious about?”

“Curious about what?”

“Ah, you don’t know what that means. Do you want to know something about each other?”

“Yes! A lot…… Um, there are many things I want to know about each other.”

Leeji scratched his head at Seong Yeon-hwa’s words.

I knew she was a foreigner because of her clumsy Korean, but she speaks too slowly.

Her speech is slow, and it becomes even slower when she tries to use unfamiliar words. As a Korean who emphasizes speed, it’s an unbearable pace.

But the conversation must continue.

Leeji first asked Seong Yeon-hwa a question.

“First, I’ll ask you a question. You said your name was Seong Yeon-hwa, right? So, is the ‘Seong’ in ‘Seong Yeon-hwa’ your last name?”

“Ah, the Seong is the name of my family!”

“Family name?”

“Yes!”

Something grand came out.

It seems that Seong Yeon-hwa’s family is also unusual.

Why are there so many aristocrats in this party?

From the teacher, who is the head of the Cheonho Baekga family with the greatest power in Korea.

The Sirius family, like the Cheonho Baekga, is a famous family, so there is no need to say more.

What does aristocracy matter in a democratic era?

They are different from ordinary citizens.

For example, the Cheonho Baekga is a family that has grown with this country since the Goryeo Dynasty [Korean kingdom from 918 to 1392] and is like a living history.

Their wealth, power, and reputation are bound to be high.

Of course, it’s a fading star now.

“So, what exactly is your family? There are many types of families.”

“Types? Were there such things?”

“Of course. Not all families are nobles.”

Those who are called ‘nobles’ are only the Royal Blood who inherited the blood of non-humans such as vampires or werewolves, and the families belonging to the Gucheon Se-ga [Nine Heavens Great Families, powerful martial arts clans].

Other families do not deserve to be called nobles.

Because nobles are no longer needed in the human world.

“I’m from the Jecheon Seongga!”

“……What?”

“Where is that? Is it a place you know?”

“……I’m the one who wants to say that. How can you not know the Jecheon Seongga?”

The first person to react to Seong Yeon-hwa’s answer was Isabel.

She hadn’t paid much attention to their conversation, but she jumped up at the mention of Jecheon Seongga.

Leeji tilted his head at her appearance.

Jecheon Seongga, it’s the first time I’ve heard that name.

I feel like I’ve heard it before, but it doesn’t come to mind clearly.

On the other hand, Isabel seemed to know it well.

I guess nobles know a lot.

“It’s a family in China.”

“Aren’t there many families in China? I’ve heard of at least 72.”

“It’s on a different level from those mediocre families. Have you ever heard of the Gupailbang [Nine Schools and One Sect] or the Odae Sega [Five Great Families]?”

Of course, I’ve heard of them.

The families that are the origin of the Murim [martial arts world] in the Central Plains [historical region of China].

Many have fallen now, but aren’t there still families that are prospering, like the Namgoong Sega, so they are historically deep families?

“The Gupailbang and Odae Sega have been ruined for a long time. Instead, the Gucheon Sega has spread all over the world. Of course, the Murim in the Central Plains did not take any action in the meantime.”

[Murim Alliance], now taking the form of a guild, is based on a union of families centered on bloodlines and a large-scale armed group.

“Murim was ruined once. But now it has been reborn as a guild-type [Murim Alliance]. At the center of it, one family is leading and eight families are supporting it.”

One of those corners is the Jecheon Seongga (齊天星家) [Jecheon Seong Family, translated as “All-Heaven Star Family”].

Leeji was finally able to recall her origin.

Why couldn’t I think of it right away?

It’s a family that is not easy to deal with.

‘I thought there was something……!’

It’s a family in China, and it doesn’t belong to the Gucheon Sega.

But it’s not a family to be taken lightly.

If Seong Yeon-hwa is the daughter of the Jecheon Seongga, famous for its quick sword and fierce sword using lightning power (雷力) [Lei Li, literally “Thunder Power”] among the eight families that support China’s largest guild [Murim Alliance], she is of similar status to Isabel.

No, maybe even above that.

As far as Leeji knows, the current head of the Jecheon Seongga has only one child.

Then Seong Yeon-hwa is the rightful successor to the Jecheon Seongga.

She is one step ahead of Isabel, who has to fight with her younger brother for the succession.

‘Why are there so many young ladies in the same group?!’

Isabel of Sirius, Seong Yeon-hwa of Jecheon Seongga.

Both are young ladies with considerable backing.

From Leeji’s point of view, who was born and raised in an ordinary family, they are like the stars above the sky.

In fact, Baek Seung-woo is not less of an existence, but if anything, he is worse.

In Leeji’s mind, the image of him as a teacher is so strong that he feels relieved. Ah, I miss the teacher.

“If you’re done asking questions, can I ask a question now?”

“Ah, um, okay. So, you are…….”

“Isis Walker. You can call me Isis.”

A female student with pure white hair hanging down.

Isis looked at Leeji.

“You’ve been calling that teacher ‘teacher’ since earlier. Is there a reason?”

“Ah, that?”

Her question made Leeji’s eyes light up.

I want to explain in detail the story of how I was going to call him ‘teacher’ for his gracious teachings, but I couldn’t call him ‘teacher’, so I had to call him ‘teacher’, but.

Then the atmosphere would be cold, so I roughly summarized it.

“I had a chance to receive teachings once, and he taught me very well.”

“Hmm, that’s a welcome word to hear.”

“Ha, that’s ridiculous.”

Isabel interjected in Leeji’s words.

She was kind and explained it just a moment ago, but she becomes so prickly when the teacher is mentioned.

Hey, even if the teacher’s personality is not good, his teaching skills are great.

……I have a mountain of thoughts I want to refute, but I’m afraid to talk back, so I just nodded.

Right then, there was a gaze watching that scene quietly.

“…….”

That gaze quietly scanned Isabel.

Up and down, very slowly.

* * *

The day of the ghost story exploration was approaching.

Since we were supposed to meet after dinner, we were each trying to finish our homework, assignments, or work in advance.

In my case, even though my work was over, I shamelessly asked Nam Hwa-yeon for guidance.

I even knelt in front of the front door.

It’s good to study alone, but it’s an undeniable fact that learning from her is a faster shortcut.

“For now, the activation phrase ‘Burn Up’ suits you best.”

“You learned it faster than I thought? With that level of skill, you can take the rank test right away.”

“……How much does the professor know about my personal affairs?”

“Secret.”

Nam Hwa-yeon’s teaching was fast, but it was just as mentally confusing.

When I talk to her, I feel like my energy is being drained without me knowing it.

‘How did you know I had to take the rank test?’

Active players need licenses and ranks certified by the association.

This is a kind of ID card used in the industry.

As the leader of [Ninetails], I can’t act without an ID card.

So, I was planning to take the test soon and was setting a date.

How did she already know that?

When I looked at Nam Hwa-yeon with curious eyes, she responded with an inscrutable smile.

The moment I met her deep navy blue, unfocused eyes, I felt like everything about me was being thoroughly exposed.

Ugh, I can never get used to those eyes.

“Ah, right. I heard you’re going on a courage training session the day after tomorrow.”

“How did you know that too?”

“Who knows? Secret?”

How many secrets do you have?

I have a mountain of things I want to ask, but I should keep my mouth shut here.

Experience and intuition honed on the battlefield for a long time pointed.

Never ask. Don’t try to dig up information.

The chilling sensation I felt on my neck the moment I tried to open my mouth was a clear sensation of death.

I’m someone who knows my life is important.

I had no intention of shortening my life with unnecessary words.

“Yes, that’s right. The relationship between the team members is so bad.”

“If it’s just to get closer, it would be better to enjoy simple recreation?”

“If we do courage training, we will not only get closer, but also roughly understand each other’s movements.”

If it was just to get closer, I wouldn’t have adopted such a troublesome method as courage training.

The place we are going to for courage training is the origin of the academy’s infamous mysteries.

If we train our courage in such a place, everyone will feel fear.

In a situation where people are tense with fear, they tend to react to other people’s movements one by one. If this experience is the basis, there is a high possibility that they will not interfere with each other’s movements during full-scale training.

‘Of course, there is a possibility that they won’t be afraid, so I have to encourage them.’

Float a 「Foxfire」 in the air.

I can grab the collar with telekinesis.

I was thinking it was a good idea, but somehow Nam Hwa-yeon was smiling.

She smiled as if she had seen something cute and said.

“I think you’re thinking too easily.”

“Yes? What do you mean.”

“Do you think the mysteries (不可思議) [Bukaseugi, a Japanese term for “mystery” or “wonder”] are called mysteries for nothing?”

“Then. Is there something hidden?”

“A mystery is a concept that cannot be understood by human thought alone.”

I am also familiar with the dictionary origin of mystery.

10,000 times of Nayuta, 1/10,000 of Immeasurable Great Numbers. It is a Buddhist term that refers to units that people cannot think of or understand.

But what about that?

Wasn’t it just a word added to inflate the rumors?

“At best, isn’t it just adding flesh to the bones of ghost stories?”

“That’s different from the fictions in SNS. Have you forgotten what kind of place this is?”

“Even if it’s Chilseong, there’s no way such ghost stories can exist……!”

Wouldn’t it?

Could it be that such ghost stories really don’t exist in Chilseong?

Suddenly, a question began to sprout.

With just that fleeting question, it was enough to prove the existence of ghost stories.

If you don’t know the truth, suspicion is more than enough with just questions.

For some reason, I felt uneasy.