I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy - Chapter 214: An Old Story (11)

One of the twelve disciples of the Progenitor Mage, the descendant of the great Morph, Isaac Morph, an Class 8 mage.

Wilhelm, his sworn aide, had a very businesslike and honest character. In fact, to put it nicely, he was honest; to put it bluntly, he was rigid and inflexible.

“….. This is it.”

Wilhelm guided Baek Yu-Seol to his private quarters with a disgruntled expression.

It was impossible for someone like him, a mere escort, to use the same mansion as Lady Eisel, so he was assigned to an external dormitory.

Apparently, this dormitory was of high enough standard that could only be used by someone with a status equivalent to a knight commander.

‘Your Highness! This is unbelievable! To entrust the responsibility of lady’s escort to an outsider and grant them this status……!’

Baek Yu-Seol still remembered when Duke Isaac introduced him to Wilhelm. His vehement opposition almost gave birth to foam in his mouth.

He was quite firm with his stance. It was admirable to see his conviction, but from Baek Yu-Seol’s perspective, it was rather awkward.

 

Even so, Wilhelm was considered normal.

Who would agree to have a foreigner as Lady Eisel’s personal escort?

Honestly, he was also very surprised when he first received this request.

However, since the Duke insisted, most people kept their mouths shut.

Wilhelm, the loyal aide, was the only one to oppose and get aggressive. Even though he didn’t show Baek Yu-Seol any kindness, his loyalty was undeniable, so he didn’t have a bad impression of him.

“Yes. It’s a nice place. I’ll use it well.”

“…….”

Wilhelm glared at Baek Yu-Seol for a long time before speaking.

“That mask.”

“Yes?”

“It makes you extremely suspicious.”

What was he expecting?

Even if he said that, he couldn’t take off the mask. Duke Isaac also permitted it, so Wilhelm couldn’t order Baek Yu-Seol to remove it.

Besides, the mask was a trademark which symbolized hidden power despite the fact that he didn’t actually have any hidden power….

“Fine.”

When Baek Yu-Seol didn’t budge, Wilhelm turned and spoke quietly.

“I warn you. Do not put the lady in danger. I will not forgive you.”

Then he walked away quietly.

He wasn’t a bad man, but…

He felt like someone who would be hard to get close to.

“Hoo…….”

Flop!

Baek Yu-Seol laid down on the bed, which was far superior in quality to the ones in Stella Academy’s Class S dormitory, and stared blankly at the ceiling, organizing his thoughts.

“The rules of a time traveler.”

One of the most powerful laws, a sort of dilemma.

Never change the ‘fixed events’ that occurred in the past.

For example, if it was a fixed fact that [Lady Eisel eats strawberry cake tonight], and he changed history so she couldn’t eat it, the future would change drastically.

There was a 0.00001% chance that Lady Eisel, who was unable to eat the cake, might suddenly run away, leading to an absurd outcome.

What happens then?

When Baek Yu-Seol returned to the present… It would be a completely different future, a different world.

Lady Eisel might not enter Stella; Edna might not exist, and the world might be entirely overrun by demons.

In short, a storyline that didn’t even appear in the original game could suddenly appear.

And that world… would not be the world that Baek Yu-Seol cherished and was familiar with.

They might not remember Baek Yu-Seol, or he might not even exist in that world.

Hence, he must not change any future events while living here.

Fortunately, there were very few fixed histories.

There was hardly any record of the ‘Duke Morph’s story’ from this time.

Maybe Lady Eisel wrote a diary, but as a time traveler, he hadn’t read it, so its contents weren’t fixed history.

All ‘fixed history’ was determined by the knowledge of the time traveler, the observer.

The only fixed history known by Baek Yu-Seol was one.

Duke Morph’s betrayal and death.

Only that one fact.

Of all things, the history he wanted to change the most was the one he couldn’t change.

Isn’t that what they call irony?

The word was so fitting for his situation that he let out a hollow laugh.

“Sigh, I don’t know.”

Living near Eisel made him uneasy, but if he lived as quietly as possible, nothing would change the future.

*‘So, let’s live quietly, like a mouse.’*

*‘Until it’s time to go back.’*

———

… Baek Yu-Seol’s resolve to live quietly was shattered in just one night.

Duke Morph’s estate.

The training ground of the Blue Mane Knights. “I heard you’re the new escort knight for Lady Eisel.”

“Yes.”

Even though they were called knights, in reality, they wielded swords as a symbol of some kind, and a staff was their main weapon.

Since they never properly used a sword, Baek Yu-Seol found it ridiculous for them to be carrying one around for show.

“… The previous escort knight took care of Her Highness during her childhood and protected Lady Eisel until recently. Although he couldn’t overcome his illness and passed away, we all remember him.”

Baek Yu-Seol didn’t know there was such a story.

“But! An adventurer like you with an unknown identity is replacing him… Though His Highness may have accepted it, we cannot!”

Thud!

Carmen, the captain of the Blue Mane Knights’ third assault squad, pointed his wand at Baek Yu-Seol and shouted loudly enough for everyone to hear.

“I may not be able to take you down, but I will test your skills!”

Swish!

The glove thrown by Carmen flew toward Baek Yu-Seol.

*‘Is this the duel challenge I’ve only heard about in stories?’*

Thanks to his heightened sensory abilities, the flying glove appeared so slow that Baek Yu-Seol had plenty of time to make a decision.

Should he accept it or not?

Honestly, with the blessing of Nee Moon Silver, winning against Carmen wouldn’t be an issue. The important thing was perception.

Was it alright to wield a sword in front of Eisel?

As far as Baek Yu-Seol knew, the future Eisel first learned about swordsmanship and Flash when she met the future Baek Yu-Seol, ten years from now.

But if the past him suddenly demonstrated Flash… history will change.

*’That can’t happen.’*

Swish!

Baek Yu-Seol slightly dodged to the side, and Carmen’s glove flew past him and fell to the ground pathetically.

“…. What are you doing?”

“I’m not a knight, so I won’t accept a duel.”

“Ha, nonsense. You are an escort knight….”

“I am not a knight, but a personal escort. Would you like to see the contract? I was hired as a mercenary, and unlike knights, my role doesn’t discriminate in methods and means. Don’t think of me as the same as you.”

Baek Yu-Seol turned around coolly.

… And felt a bit nervous.

Looking around, the burly knights were glaring at him with terrifying eyes, and if one isn’t scared by that, are they even human?

But using the blessing of Yeonhong Chunsamweol, he spoke as calmly as possible.

“I have no intention of fitting into your knightly culture.”

“That bastard…!”

“How dare he insult knights!”

After saying that, Baek Yu-Seol turned around upon the sound of the knights cursing at him, but most of it was at a level he could ignore, so he did.

“Coward.”

Ignore it.

“He’s clearly trying to back out because he lacks skills. Well understood.”

Baek Yu-Seol tried to ignore it.

“That street-wandering adventurer probably has never even been in a magic battle.”

… But feeling his pride being pricked, Baek Yu-Seol turned around and spoke to.

“Duel! All I have to do is fight and defeat you, right?”

When Baek Yu-Seol fell for the cheap provocation, Carmen’s lips curled into a smile.

“Yes. If you’re confident in your skills, take out your staff and face me proudly!”

A staff.

Baek Yu-Seol’s main weapon was a sword, and the only magic he knew was Flash.

So, he just had to avoid showing his sword and Flash, right?

When he approached the staff rack, there was a reasonably long silver staff. It looked like it was used communally by the knight order. It had the right weight and decent strength.

“Hmm, I’ll use this.”

“You’re using a staff. Are you a priest?”

“Yes… Well, something like that.”

Technically, he was a knight, but since he was using a staff now, there was no reason to correct him.

“I will start the duel.”

One of the knights stood between them to oversee.

“Bow to each other.”

Bow.

The right way to bow in the Morph Dukedom was to raise the staff with the right hand so that it points to the left shoulder.

He almost instinctively did the Stella bow but awkwardly followed the Morph way, which was apparently lacking as it drew laughter.

“Start the duel!”

Soon, the duel began, and a red magic circle started glowing in front of Carmen.

Carmen was a knight.

Since he was the type who focused on close combat and assumed Baek Yu-Seol was a priest who focused on long-range combat, he probably…

“Hyaa!”

He charged at Baek Yu-Seol.

That wasn’t a wrong judgment, but unfortunately, while he held a staff, his body was completely ineffective for long-range combat. In fact… He was more confident about close-range combat.

Thwack!!

What Baek Yu-Seol did was simple. As Carmen charged and tried to swing his fists engulfed in flames, he struck his head with the staff.

“Ugh!”

With a short scream, the shield protecting his body shattered.

Although it wasn’t Argento sword, Baek Yu-Seol’s current strength was comparable to a Class 7 mage.

It was more than enough to break Carmen’s shield, which was at best around Class 5.

“Wh-what is this…!”

As Carmen, who had fallen disgracefully to the ground, quickly rolled back and rapidly cast a magic circle in front of him, Baek Yu-Seol dashed forward, shattered the circle with the staff, and squarely struck his head again.

Smack!!

This time, the impact was solid.

Proof that the shield was broken.

Smack! Crack! Smack! Crack! Smack!

His shield quickly regenerated every time it broke, indicating decent combat sense, but it was useless against Baek Yu-Seol, who possessed the blessing of New Moon Silver.

When he created a shield, he’d just break it again.

“Argh! Ouch! Aaaah!”

Baek Yu-Seol swung his staff without mercy.

Honestly… This was less of a magic battle and more like a beating.

Baek Yu-Seol was just mechanically swinging the staff without using any magic, and Carmen was curling up to avoid getting hit as much as possible.

“Crazy!”

“What kind of duel is this…!”

“That bastard… He’s deliberately hitting the same spots over and over…”

“No, if you look closely, he’s hitting everywhere evenly so there’s no spot left unscathed… And then hitting the previously hit spots again…”

“A devilish bastard!”

“Hahaha.”

Receiving the knights’ (dis)approving remarks, Baek Yu-Seol happily thrashed Carmen.

And it was evening by the time he finished.

——-

“… I heard you beat up one of my knights.”

A meeting with Duke Morph.

It wasn’t entirely unpleasant. After all, he was at fault, but they started it.

“There was a reason.”

“Tell me.”

“I was curious if you really get dust out when you beat someone like a dog on a rainy day.”

“Haha.”

Duke Isaac let out a dry laugh and nodded.

“So, did dust come out?”

“No, it didn’t. Maybe I was a bit lacking.”

“I see.”

He answered in that way. Then, he fell silent for a moment before quietly speaking again.

“Perhaps the knights who don’t like you picked a fight. They might have insulted you first, and you could have just told me… Instead, did you do that to protect our knights from me?”

That wasn’t really the case…

Baek Yu-Seol just liked to joke around.

“I see you in a new light. You are quite thoughtful and considerate. It would have been nice if you were truly one of my knights…”

“That’s not necessary.”

“Haha. Anyway, I didn’t call you to reprimand you. It’s common to get injured during a duel, isn’t it?”

“Then….”

“I called you because I want to take you along for tomorrow’s schedule.”

He handed him a document.

Honestly, even after reading it carefully, Baek Yu-Seol couldn’t understand what it meant, but there was something particularly noticeable.

‘Adolveit Royal Seal’

“This is…!”

“You recognize it. The royal seal of Adolveit isn’t something an ordinary person can see.”

“Is it a request for cooperation from the Adolveit Royal Family?”

“Yes. It’s not much; they requested access to Morfran Forest, where we first met. As you know, the Morfran territory borders Adolevit.”

“That’s right.”

“They claim that the magical beasts in Morfran Forest are about to awaken. Magically, it’s not an incorrect statement. I was convinced as well. But…”

Duke Isaac removed his spectacles and rubbed his temples as if he had a headache.

“I can’t see why they would need to forcibly invade our territory to hunt the beasts.”

Baek Yu-Seol read the document again.

It was written quite formally and boldly, but it was full of phrases that could be considered international threats.

Though it was unlikely that Morp Family would be shaken by this, he seemed to want to avoid unnecessary friction.

Or perhaps…

“If we don’t permit it, they seem ready to start a war.”

“… That’s crazy.”

“Indeed. The commander of the current operation is a seventeen-year-old girl named ‘Hong Si-hwa’. Her magical level isn’t very high yet, but I’ve heard she’s a genius in strategy and command.”

But still, it was strange.

“Why is Adolveit so obsessed with the magical beasts of Morfran Forest?”

……

Isaac Morph didn’t answer. He just smiled bitterly and continued his previous statement.

“Reluctantly, I agreed to it. Of course, since it’s my territory, I made it a condition that I and my knights would be present at the operation site. They didn’t refuse that.”

“I see.”

“So I want to ask you… Are you interested in this operation?”

That was the main point.

Taking Baek Yu-Seol, who had proven his abilities, on the operation.

While he didn’t doubt Duke Isaac’s character, a sudden thought occurred that maybe the duel with Carmen was also part of his plan.

“Well….”

*‘Is it really right for me to get involved in such an important event?’*

Moreover, this was an unknown incident which was not even properly recorded in history, let alone noted in Sentient Spec.

Then again, upon reconsidering, he thought maybe it could work to his advantage precisely because it was an unknown incident.

If it was an unknown event, then whatever happens there wouldn’t affect the future at all.

Actually, this could be a good thing. He also wanted to delve deeper into the mystery of Duke Isaac’s betrayal.

“Yes. I’ll go.”

“That’s the confident answer I wanted to hear.”

And so…

Baek Yu-Seol became deeply involved in the major incident between the Morph Dukedom and the Adolveit Royal Family.

Even now, Baek Yu-Seol wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do.”