Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Academy’s Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Chapter 48
Right before courage training.
No Yu-ra grabbed some simple weapons and a flashlight, then gave herself a quick spruce-up.
She'd ironed her uniform neatly and prepared her carefully selected perfume right after a shower. Since it was the dead of night, she kept her makeup minimal.
'I prepared so hard, but...'
Why wasn't a perfect event happening?!
Her preparations had been flawless.
She'd done everything she could, but the TA hadn't even spared her a proper glance. Could it be because she'd laid hands on him before?
Worried, she skimmed the surface of his emotions, but there was no sign of that.
He simply had zero interest in her.
He was probably more obsessed with uncovering the secrets of the supernatural.
'What do I do? Should I stick even closer?'
No matter how heartless the guy was or how the TA-student divide worked...
A pretty girl clinging to him would grab any man's attention. In that sense, No Yu-ra was confident.
She was beautifulnot just subjectively, but objectively too.
The problem was that she wasn't the only pretty one in this squad.
The quiet but endearing Seo Ye-rin.
The bright and bubbly charm of Seong Yeon-hwa.
The icy-faced Isis.
The flashy, haughty vibe of Isabel.
They were all pretty as a baseline, each with their own unique color and appeal.
That was why rumors swirled among most students that the TA had ditched his duty as an educator and picked based on looks. Pure nonsense, of course.
'I need an excuse to cling to the TA. An excuse.'
Clinging without reason would just get shot down.
But what if there was a solid excuse?
Yeah, like something ghost-like popping up, startling her so bad she dove into the TA's arms.
And right on cue, the bushes rustled.
She was a ranger.
Detecting approaching threats early and scouting terrain with her wide field of vision were No Yu-ra's specialties.
As the bushes shook, her mind raced.
'Too small a rustle. Wild animal or low-rank monster, probably.'
Not a dungeon, so no monsters on academy grounds, but still.
Nothing to worry about, at least.
She'd ruled out ghosts from the start.
She didn't believe in them. And even if they existed, she could just beat them like any monsterno fear there.
'Distance to TA: four meters. Close in a bit more, then leap.'
No Yu-ra advanced slowly, inching toward Baek Seung-woo.
A distance where she could be in his arms in a heartbeat if she wanted.
With her systematic plan set, she figured she'd charge the moment something burst from the bushes.
Rustle rustle.
'Now!'
The sound of something bursting from the bushes hit just as her feet moved.
Destination: TA's arms.
As she closed in, she faked a terrified expression. For someone who could read others' emotions, faking them was child's play.
Situation perfect. Atmosphere perfect.
Or so she thought.
Until something zipped by and bounced her away.
"...Huh?"
Stumbling back, No Yu-ra wondered.
Why'd I get bounced?
What the hell moved that fast?
Did the creature in the bushes zip-attack the TA? Her thoughts reached that point, and her eyes swept the bushes.
But what was there wasn't some speedy monster.
"A squirrel...?"
A tiny wild squirrel.
No mana, no demonic aurajust a plain wild animal.
Still not grasping the situation, her eyes flicked to Baek Seung-woo's chest.
There clung Yi-ji, shivering in terror.
The little guy had latched onto the TA's torso.
"...That jerk."
Clack clack. Teeth chattered.
Now she got it.
* * *
I'd been on high alert, half-wondering if real ghosts might exist.
Thinking it over, this was the novel world Eve created.
Impossible or not, if the author set it, anything went.
"...A squirrel?"
So the squirrel's appearance was a total curveball.
What? Where'd the ghost go, and why a squirrel?
Maybe a squirrel-shaped monster? I activated [Demon Eye] and checked, but no.
Just a wild squirrel.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Weird. I'd definitely sensed something ominous.
Not the kind of vibe a mere squirrel could give off.
Bait maybe? I spread my mana wide, but detected zilch.
Meanwhile, the squirrel eyed our stiff group, scratched its hind leg, and vanished into the bushes.
The students just gawked blankly.
Then their stares turned to me.
Not blaming or doubting my skills. They were looking at me, surebut more precisely, at my chest.
"Ughhh... K-knew I shouldn't have come...!"
"...Get down, kid."
Yi-ji, koala-hugging my chest.
I told him to get off.
His weight wasn't an issue.
Yi-ji's small frame was light enough for my strength to handle easily.
Probably the lightest in the group.
The problem wasn't weight.
A guy draped over me, trembling? Beyond uncomfortable. The others felt it too.
Look at Yu-ra over there.
She looked outright disgusted, her gun trained on Yi-ji.
Wish he'd scram quick. At this rate, I'd catch a bullet too.
If you're dying, die solo.
No desire for company.
"T-Teacher, the ghost...?"
"None. Get down."
"...For real?"
"Yeah. None. Down now."
Yi-ji lifted his head at my firm tone.
Still scared, body quaking.
"B-but what if there is...?"
"Down before I chuck you past those bushes."
"Y-yes, sir."
I grabbed his collar like I meant it, and he hopped down fast.
Yi-ji scratched his head sheepishly.
He knew he looked pathetic.
Only then did No Yu-ra lower her gun.
And that instant.
Click. Something pressed.
No Yu-ra pulling trigger? Logical guess.
But nopethe source was Yi-ji's foot as he stepped forward awkwardly.
Something lay beneath.
Too dull a sound for a twig.
As unease flickered through everyone's minds.
Rustling sounded, and the dark night sky flushed red.
Flame-wreathed arrows and daggers flew at us.
...Why traps on academy grounds?
Question flashed, but incoming traps cut thought short.
Luckily, not lethal power.
Only upside: tons of launchers.
"Trap's too basic. Total letdown."
Archaic fire arrows.
Might fool civilians, but not Chilseong Academy students.
World's elites, rising stars here.
"Weapons up! Ah, should've grabbed a shield, not an axe!"
"...Not enough space to swing my spear."
"I'll make do with my sword! Ah, move aside there."
"I'll put up an ice umbrella. Everyone behind me."
"Ack, freezing! Let me snipe the launchersdon't block!"
"Space out! Too jammed, no one can attack!"
I scratched my head.
...Did I expect too much?
Didn't think they'd flop this hard.
Arrows mixed with decoy magic to mess mage senses, projectiles sneakily targeting gapsthreatening, sure.
"...Good we did courage training first."
Stances all wrong.
Not individual skills.
They had zero clue how to fight as a unit.
Attack paths overlapped, creating unintended gaps galore. And six of them cycling it.
Not even a formationembarrassing to call it a squad.
Figured Chilseong elites had basics down. Expectation crushed.
"Actually perfect."
Might as well start with a brutal wipe.
Then they'll listen, ditch bad habits.
Planned to spectate from back.
But arrow barrage showed no sign of slowing.
Growing fiercer, even.
Now arrows laced with assorted magics.
Low-grade spells estimated, spreading everywhere via arrows.
"This is getting dicey."
"Dodge quick! TA too!"
"My ice can't hold!"
Spells on arrows weak.
But so varied, countermeasures tricky.
Students blocked desperately, but hampered each otherproper defense impossible.
From back, pure ragtag mob.
"Borrowing."
Couldn't watch anymore. Made flame umbrella to block arrows, snatched spear from Seong Yeon-hwa's hand.
"Ah... That's my spear."
"One use, then back. Watch close."
Pyrokinesis could've handled arrows fine.
But with stage set, time for proper technique.
Chance to show them soldier Baek Seung-woo, not the novel version.
Yi-ji built trust training in Efnel Gardens, but others? Nah. Prime trust-building moment.
Body might not hold, but it'd work out.
Whirl!
Spear curved.
Composite shaft bent resiliently, smoothly deflecting arrows and daggers.
Deflected right back to origin points.
Crackle crackle crash!
Flying projectiles smashed their launchers.
I swung the spear, honing my senses.
All launchers wrecked.
'Been ages since I pulled this off.'
I'd deployed Yi-hwa-Jeop-mok (), doable without inner energy.
Flow's pinnacledeep mastery birthed strike-flow-transmission, profound derivations.
'Not quite up to snuff.'
Such advanced arts aren't easy.
Only for those steeped in martial knowledge and combat experience.
Normally beyond my frail body, but years of know-how let me manage.
Power weaker than expected, thanks to physique.
Still apt demo for growing sprouts.
Wonder if they got anything from it?
I turned.
"Wasn't that Yi-hwa-Jeop-mok? Saw Dad use it once."
"...Yeah. Grandpa did too..."
A mage wielding such subtlety.
Seong Yeon-hwa and Seo Ye-rin looked stunned at the unbelievable sight.
Daughters of noble martial houses, raised on elite arts since childhood. They knew.
Something off with my skills.
To resolve doubts, Seo Ye-rin asked me.
"...TA, how'd you pull that off with such a frail body?"
"Just did. Could, so I did."
"...?!"
Her pupils shook wildly at my answer.
Perplexed, she asked.
"...So, that means... I could learn it too?"
Teaching Yi-hwa-Jeop-mok's principles isn't tough.
Issue's her aptitude, but Seo Ye-rin's talent suffices. Just not yettoo soon.
Basics first for solid foundation.
"I'll teach, but no advanced stuff planned. Don't sweat it."
"No, if you're teaching... teach it all, please."
"All?"
Her unexpected reply drew an involuntary echo.
Everything I could teach?
Rude for a martial artistagainst etiquette without formal master-disciple or sect ties.
I don't mind much.
Intriguing, even.
Most martial folk crave reaching realms on their own power. They learn theory, then bail.
But she's asking for full spoon-feeding.
"Ah, w-was that... too rude of a request...?"
"Nah."
That's not the issue.
I'm TA-ing only this semester.
Can she absorb it all by then?
Great mindset for martial study, but under a year? Doubt it.
Some techniques I teach demand pure grind, no talent shortcut.
By summer break, mastering two or three? Lucky. One perfected? Jackpot.
Big urge to call it impossible, but bad for imagejust nodded.
She'll figure it during training.
"...Hold up."
"...?"
No, wait.
On second thought, why not teach it all?
Standard curriculum limits to a few techniques. But past this semester, committing to transmit everything before graduation?
'This could work.'
Good idea dawned.