I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy-Chapter 323

...Approximately 30 minutes earlier.

While Damgaltwoil was still advancing.

A massive shadow loomed over the entire World Tree, causing all the fairies to fall to their knees in fear and despair. The creature was so enormous that no elf had been left without seeing it.

How could such a colossal being even walk, bearing that weight?

As it advanced, they all wondered—could they possibly resist such a monstrous lifeform?

Dread filled the air as the shadow of despair and the fear of imminent death covered the World Tree. The only thing they could do was brace themselves and accept the destruction it would unleash.

*Rumble...!*

As the giant reached the vicinity of the World Tree, soil crumbled and fell from its massive form as it stretched out its hand. None knew what would happen next, save for the Elf King, Blossoming Star, who watched from the highest vantage and foresaw the horror about to unfold.

‘It’s trying to drain the life force...!’

The giant’s essence radiated a hatred even darker than the deathly aura spread by the wraiths. A powerful hunger that yearned to consume all life.

Ordinarily, Blossoming Star, who could manipulate the World Tree’s magic at will, would have taken action. However, against Damgaltwoil, that was impossible.

The World Tree, with its boundless life force, would be completely drained if it came into contact with him.

‘I have to stop it myself.’

Yet, she had no magic training. To use magic without the aid of the World Tree meant she would need to sacrifice her own life force—her very lifespan.

‘Even if I use every bit of my life... will it be enough?’

There was no need to calculate; the answer was clear—no, it wouldn’t.

“But... I cannot simply give up.”

With all fairies, sacred beasts, elves, and spirits in peril, it wouldn’t be fitting for an Elf King to sit down and await death. Even if she could only delay him a little, dying trying would be more honorable.

Blossoming Star clasped her hands together and soared into the sky.

She spread her wings—normally green and butterfly-like, now they expanded to twice, no, ten times, no... twenty times their usual size.

“What... what is that?”

“It’s the Elf King! She’s risen to save us!”

The great wings, engraved against the sky, looked minuscule and fragile compared to Damgaltwoil’s towering form.

‘Just a little while.’

If she could slow the giant’s steps, even for a moment, she was willing to give everything.

Even if this would be her last magic, she was fine with that. If there was the slightest chance her people could be saved through her sacrifice...

Yes, I’ll do it.’

With determination, Blossoming Star braced herself, and the green wings slowly turned scarlet. All of the World Tree’s mana had been channeled into her life force.

‘Let my final spell...’

...reach them.

As she was about to release all of her life, a strange sense of unease suddenly struck her.

‘What...?’

Turning her head abruptly, she noticed that the wraiths around the World Tree were vanishing one by one.

But that wasn’t all.

Looking forward again, she saw Damgaltwoil, frozen with his hand outstretched, having suddenly halted in his advance.

“How... how is this possible...?”

Stunned by this inexplicable event, Blossoming Star found herself unable to cast or cancel her spell.

Then, she sensed it—a faint, nearly imperceptible pulse of life. It was so subtle that even an ordinary fairy couldn’t detect it, but with her senses fully attuned, she could perceive it clearly.

Atop Damgaltwoil’s head.

In a place unreachable to ordinary beings, a small green sprout was growing.

“How could...?”

Once, Damgaltwoil’s land was called the “graveyard of the living.”

Every living thing that touched him had its life force drained, meeting a swift end. Damgaltwoil had always been closer to death than life, thus feared by all...

But now...

*Whoosh!*

A breeze swept over Damgaltwoil’s body, making the green leaves on his form sway. Within moments, plants began to sprout from all over his body. Like moss covering stone, the vibrant green life spread rapidly, enveloping his brown form. And, at the very end, a single, small pink blossom emerged.

It was a cherry blossom.

The very kind that bloomed in the warm spring after withstanding the cold earth of winter.

“...Ha...”

Withdrawing her outstretched hand, Blossoming Star descended slowly to the ground. Retracting her scarlet wings, she walked to the World Tree’s base and reached out toward Damgaltwoil’s hand.

Touching his cursed flesh would ordinarily mean the end of her life force, the end of her existence.

*Tap.*

Yet, despite placing her hand on the giant’s hand, nothing happened. In fact, she felt a warm pulse of life from him, a feeling of calmness and stability.

This feeling was like...

‘A mother.’

The Elf King, born from the World Tree’s petals, saw the World Tree itself as her mother.

And the World Tree grows from the earth.

The earth, the mother of all things.

Why had they thought of Damgaltwoil as only death? Though this earth continuously created life, no one ever truly looked at it.

People were so enamored by the life that grew above the ground, they never thought to see what lay beneath.

*Sigh...*

As a cool breeze filled with the scent of fresh grass blew through her hair, Blossoming Star clutched her hair with one hand.

“Damgaltwoil... you longed for life all this time, didn’t you?”

Understanding the truth of Damgaltwoil’s emotions, Blossoming Star pressed her lips together, smiling softly.

And above all, there was one undeniable fact. The one who had given Damgaltwoil the life he had yearned for over a thousand years was none other than...

Calming her heart, Blossoming Star stepped onto Damgaltwoil’s hand.

It was time to meet him.

---

Meanwhile...

In stories, there’s always that puzzling scene where a hero, in a dire crisis, loses consciousness and encounters their own self.

In that dark, mysterious space, the protagonist inevitably faces a version of themselves.

Usually, that other self is slightly unhinged, a stark contrast to the protagonist’s virtuous nature, perhaps as a way to highlight their inner struggles.

“...So, you’re my other self?”

—Well, something like that, I suppose.

Baek Yuseol stared at his “other self,” who was lounging beside him, casually clicking away on a computer mouse.

He was intently focused on a game, stabbing at a forkful of cheese-covered fries with an aroma that made Baek Yuseol’s stomach growl.

—Want some? There’s cola, too.

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“No, thanks.”

—Why not? It’s your favorite. Don’t you remember? Every time we came to this PC room, you always ordered this.

Did I? It had been over ten years since he’d frequented PC rooms, back when he didn’t own a personal computer.

“Meeting my inner self in a PC room... I can hardly believe it.”

—It’s just how your mind works, I guess.

“So, what’s the reason I’m here?”

—Hmm... shouldn’t you already know? Normally, I’d say something like, ‘You’re about to die,’ and then you’d freak out.

—But you’re not surprised?

“Not really.”

—Impressive. In fact, this whole space is a sort of protection created by the “Blessing of the Scarlet Spring.” Otherwise, you’d have died on the spot.

“I know.”

—But because you’re special, you get a chance to reflect even when death is near. Like a final flash before the end.

—Consider yourself lucky. You were granted the closest blessing to the constellations first.

“How... do you know that?”

The closest blessing to the constellations? Such a thing had never been mentioned, even in the game.

—Oops, did I spill that too soon?

“Don’t mess with me.”

—Just kidding. I meant to tell you.

His “self” ate the last of his fries and put his hands on the keyboard.

—So, what game shall we play next? How about a shooter? FPS games are a classic. Or maybe an AOS? I mean, I’m not really into team games. Ah, you’re not either, are you?

“I don’t want to play a game.”

—Are you sure? This computer’s fully functional. No regrets?

“Just tell me why I’m here already.”

—Huh? Didn’t I explain? What, are you that slow?

“What did you just...”

Baek Yuseol’s other self clicked the mouse as he launched into a shooting game, headset on, immersed in gameplay.

—You’re special, after all. You’re on the brink of death because of the intense mana surge from Yeondurim Siohl.

—A regular person with your condition would’ve been dead within ten seconds. But it’s only been one second for you. You still have nine seconds left... Oh, make that eight seconds since I was playing.

“So... time flows slowly here?”

—Usually, yeah. Oh, I died. The other player’s pretty good.

Baek Yuseol clenched his fists, frowning.

He knew it was true. His other self hadn’t lied.

Exposed to Yeondurim Siohl’s overwhelming aura, he’d lost consciousness.

The Twelve Moons

’ blessing had tried to protect him in those final moments, but it wasn’t yet strong enough to fully shield him.

‘Am I really going to die... like this?’

He’d always been ready for death, fighting with the thought that any battle could be his last.

But now, with mere seconds left, his mind went blank, and he felt a numbing fear. He couldn’t think of anything.

—What are you doing? Aren’t you going to play? PC rooms aren’t cheap, you know. Only seven seconds left. Enjoy yourself while you can.

His other self’s casual remarks angered him momentarily, but then something struck him.

‘Wait, PC room...?’

Baek Yuseol quickly checked the monitor.

If this really was the same kind of computer he used in the past, then that game would definitely be here.

The game released exactly ten years ago, before he was transported to Aether World.

**[Aether World Online]**

“It’s here...”

That nostalgic icon greeted him.

He hesitated no longer.

*Click!*

He quickly created an ID and clicked on it.

[Welcome to Aether World!]

Once again, he entered that familiar world, more familiar than even his own home.