Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Academy’s Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Chapter 46
The academy at midnight was bright.
No school was exempt from that, but the rooms of studying students, researching professors, and TAs never had their lights turned off.
However, things changed once you stepped out to the outskirts of the grounds.
"This is totally rural. No paved roads, no streetlights. There's not even a trace of human presence."
"This area's used for hands-on hunting lectures. Judging by your reaction, your class hasn't done it yet."
Lee Ji looked around.
A field with no signs of civilization anywhere.
To think there was a place like this within Chilseong's grounds.
It was her first time seeing it.
She'd heard Chilseong had various environments set up for its structured curriculum.
But most of those places were hard for a student to enter alone.
Somewhere with so few human traces, and you could easily get lost.
"Alright, kids. No more chatter. Everyone bring the stuff we agreed on beforehand?"
The students' side chatter died down as I clapped my hands and spoke.
They pulled out the items they'd prepared: bottled water, flashlights, and self-defense weapons just in case.
From their bags came training weapons issued by Chilseonghand axes, long spears, and short swords made of special composite resin. In other words, plastic weapons. Lee Ji, Seo Ye-rin, and Seong Yeon-hwa each had one.
No Yu-ra had a pistol loaded with rubber bullets, while Isabelle stood there, arms crossed and empty-handed.
And Aisis
"Are you heading off to war or something?"
"Well, ghosts could attack anytime, anywhere. Better to be armed to the teeth."
"Even so, isn't that a bit much...?"
Aisis was armed way beyond necessity.
She held a wooden staff that amplified magic.
It could double as a blunt weapon in emergencies, but it apparently wasn't enough to soothe her safety obsession.
Two pistols in thigh holsters for quick draws.
Military-grade shortswords sheathed in pockets all over her uniform.
Even smoke grenades and flashbangs dangling from her belt. And as a finishing touch, camouflage cream peeking from her pocket.
Where the hell did she even get that stuff?
"Why are you staring like that? Did I do something wrong?"
"...I just think you might be overprepared."
"I didn't think it was that much..."
"Yeah, you could head straight into a dungeon like that and no one would bat an eye."
Aisis glanced over her own body at my response.
She looked puzzled at all the weapons strapped to her.
"Everyone in Russia does this. What's the problem?"
"Ah."
Mystery solved at last.
Makes sense if her homeland's Bear Country.
Turning your whole body into a weapon? In a nation where people regulate body temp with whiskey and raise bears like pets, that was girly behavior.
But one thing bugged me.
She was kitted out like that, so you'd think she'd have a gas mask too.
Why bring camo cream but no gas mask?
"By the way, no gas mask?"
"Gas mask? Why would I need that? Does it help me?"
"Of course it does. One enchanted with purification magic resists chemical weapons or poison gas entering through your airways."
Supporters could handle gas or chems with purification, sure.
But with that level of detailcamo cream includedI figured she'd have a gas mask too.
Aisis answered my question.
"Just freeze the gas."
Whoosh. White frost formed over her hand.
A stabbing chill spread everywhere at the same time.
The startled students backed away from her.
Even I, who'd been closely watching her hand and mana flow, involuntarily stepped back from the extreme cold.
An insane chill, way beyond the mana she put in.
It was so cold the weeds in the field froze solid.
Efficiency beyond expectations.
Even an unnamed extra shines at Chilseong.
'She's got real talent.'
Not quite main-character level, but top-tier in her niche.
Hone it, and she'll bloom brilliantly.
That thought made my roleand tonight's courage trainingfeel heavier.
I'm not just here to teach as their instructor.
I have to help them resist the scripted scenario.
If they grow well, these pups could stand against the villains in the protagonist's place.
This is their first step toward that.
Nothing grandiose like taking the first stride or buttoning the first button.
But a prime chance to see how they act in crisis or fear, and how they unite.
Time to give it my all.
"Fair enough. No need for a gas mask then."
"Yeah, freezing's my specialty. No spray weapons or gas can touch me."
"Still, don't just blast cold aura around your teammates."
"Oh, really?"
Of course. What kind of question is that?
Aisis's chill was enough to make my skin crawl, even for mewho'd been drafted naked into midwinter wars.
If it hits me like that, imagine these students unused to such stimuli.
Crack. Like a stiff wooden doll turning its head, she looked back.
The students there rubbed their hands, warding off the cold.
Seeing them, panic flickered in Aisis's eyes.
She hadn't realized how her chill felt to others.
"N-No one in Russia ever said it was cold..."
Russia again.
No, it's not a nation of superhumans. What kind of environment did this girl grow up in?
I was dying to ask but kept my mouth shut.
The kids beat me to it.
"Heh, so Russians can handle that level of cold?"
"Hmm... At least everyone I've seen could."
"Fascinating. Must be the environment and culture."
"I don't think it's environment or culture..."
The kids bantered back and forth.
Definitely more relaxed than before.
Worth prepping this courage training already.
But it's courage training, so we go deep.
"Alright, let's head in."
I led the students deeper into the gorge.
Their fearless steps echoed clearlyseven sets of footprints on the dirt.
* * *
Crunch, crunch.
Footsteps echoed through the midnight valley.
An hour when even insects fell silent.
At the unexpected noise, huge eyes pierced the darkness.
"This is more intense than I thought. What if a real ghost jumps out?"
"T-Teacher! Don't say stuff like that!"
"Haha, Lee Ji. Scared of ghosts, you who calls herself one of the boys?"
"I-I'm not scared of stupid ghosts."
'It' blinked its huge eyes, peering through the dark.
Too far to make out faces, maybe.
It scanned all around, on high alert.
No way that monster came down from the cabin.
Human-shaped, yet tore apart a beast bigger than itself bare-handed. Just facing it was exhausting.
"... ."
But the footsteps seemed too light for that.
Tiger, was it? Only saw her once, but her build was no joke.
These valley intruders seemed small overall.
Good. Can't handle that monster, but scaring kids away? Easy.
'It' decided to scout from afar first before pranking them.
To eliminate any variables upfront.
"...?"
Something was off.
...F-Footsteps aren't matching.
Seven presences.
But footsteps from only six.
What? What's going on?
'It' blinked its huge eyes, doubting its ears and sight.
One sense had to be wrong.
But which was right?
No matter how it strained, six footsteps, seven presences.
"...!"
'It' pushed its eyesight to the limit.
Close inspection would reveal the issue.
The answer came quick.
Seven intruders.
Six in uniforms, one in a suit. The odd outfit furrowed its browsomething very wrong.
The suited man's back and head felt off.
Its maxed-out vision specialized in piercing mysteries.
Yet it couldn't spot the man's anomaly. Like it blended perfectly with the dark.
"... ."
No choice. Amp up the eye power more.
Strain building in its huge eyes, but intel was key to block variables.
Blood tears dripping, it fixed on the man's head and back.
"...!"
The veil lifted.
Fluffy things, extensions of his body.
Texture like beast fur.
Black fox fur.
"...Fox. Black fox."
Black and fox. Unusual combo.
Normally, it'd ignore it.
But seeing that fox sparked inexplicable unease.
Letting him in felt dangerous.
That faint anxiety was reason enough.
'It' sprang up.
Hadn't moved from this spot before. Even then, just scared and fled in place.
Today was different.
That fox needed dealing with now.
No evidence. Pure instinctunknown threat from the man.
If anything, the footsteps.
His were silent, like muted.
Like a master assassin's trained gait.
'It' had never seen one, but it evoked the image.
"In the valley proper? That's another 20 minutes or so."
"You know your stuff. Big interest in academy grounds geography?"
"Well, post pics of weird spots like this on SNS, and you get tons of likes."
Rowdy chatter.
Footsteps faint under the noise.
'It' crept in closer, moving bit by bit.
Crunch, crunch.
Small footprints joined the dirt steps.
Party footsteps went from six to seven.
With seven people, no one suspected.