Chapter 50
Chapter 50
Academy’s Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Chapter 50
A knight in armor?
Doesnt it look more like a military uniform than armor?
Its all pitch blackhow do you even tell armor from a uniform?
......Anyway, they dont seem hostile.
The silhouette of the figure, glimpsed under the moonlight filtering through the clouds.
It was something black that resembled a human.
The thingno, thingswere patrolling between the canyon and the valley.
Once one came into view, the others started appearing too.
Anyone could see they were moving in sequence, on patrol.
Maybe a new type of monster? They couldve nested here after the last attack and started breeding.
No, those arent monsters.
......Teacher?
Those werent monsters. Definitely not human, either.
But their presence was unmistakably human.
Uniform clothing, weapons slung over shoulders, steady strides.
That was textbook...
Shadow sentries.
Shadow sentriesdidnt know who made them, but they were clearly guarding this place. Judging by their bodies made of mana, they were created by magic or a skill.
The guards hadnt reacted to them at all, despite how visible they were, so they had to be the work of one of the professors.
Not Nam Hwa-yeon, Tiger, or Professor Emilia. Then the chairman? Nah, doesnt feel like it either...
Dozens of professors flashed through my mind, but none fit.
No vampire here specialized in shadows. Maybe Chilseongs internal security system?
Nope.
If so, they wouldve moved during the last attack.
Too hard to call it a security system.
The shadows were guarding the valley perimeter, keeping watch in all four directions.
Yet they hadnt attacked us as we approached, so at least they didnt see us as enemies.
Even the one Id hit with fire had blocked it and continued patrolling.
So thats the mystery? But what the hell are those things?
Extra guards posted after the last attack?
Probably. So what now? It ended up being a total letdown.
Whatever the case, the guts training ended on a lame note.
No real ghosts, and these obvious security shadows everywherewhat more could we do?
We headed back to the dorms empty-handed.
I let out a sigh of feigned regret and slipped a hand into my pocket.
Somehow, it felt too light.
Like something that should be there was gone.
......Ah, my wallet.
I rummaged through my pockets.
All that came out of my pants and shirt were a handkerchief.
Mustve dropped it somewhere.
T-Teacher, what about your wallet?!
What about it? Gotta go find it.
C-Can I... come with?
Ugh, losing your wallet like a total klutz.
Iji and Seo Ye-rin fussed over me now that Id lost my wallet.
Maybe because they called me teacher.
They worried about me more than the other students.
So much affectionI was touched, bawling my eyes out on the inside.
Of course, I didnt actually cry.
Id never lost a wallet to begin with.
I just needed an excuse to head back to the canyon.
I waved them off, insisting I was fine, and set out alone for the valley and canyon. All while ignoring the feel of the wallet in my back pocket.
* * *
After escorting the students near the dorms, I arrived at the canyon to search for my wallet. Being alone this time made the spring breeze feel especially chilly.
......Lets see.
As I walked, I reached a section that required a TA ID to open.
Normally, no ID meant no entry.
*Beep.* The door swung open.
In my hand was the leather walletand ID.
I casually tucked the ID back into the wallet and pocketed it.
I strolled on like I had no idea what was up.
Huh, whered my wallet go?
I kept my eyes glued to the ground, walking slowly.
Couldve dropped it anywhere.
Maybe a squirrel snatched itwho knows? I even checked the trees thoroughly. Where the heck was it?
The shadows definitely emerged from this direction.
I scanned the moonlight and shadows stretching from objects.
That alone told me where the shadow sentries came from.
Their bodies were made of moonlight shadows.
Shadows need light and objects to form.
The canyon and valley had plenty of terrain, so factoring in the rabbit-moons position revealed their origin.
What Id seen with my own eyesthe shadow sentries were crawling up from the ground.
What, they moles or something?
Every clue pointed underground.
Not actual moles, so probably some burrow.
Once that clicked, no need to keep up the wallet pretense. Time to strike first.
Rise.
As I spoke, mana poured from my throat.
The massive mana followed my words, manifesting the phenomenon.
The mana itself ignited, just as I commanded.
Whoosh!
A thin gash sliced the air like a dagger cut.
Red mana, like flowing blood, poured through the gap.
Falling from above, defying gravity nofollowing itthe red mana blazed fiercely, forming a circular magic circle.
Pyrokinesis
Fox Fire
The circles contents were simple.
A blend of my magic and skills, properly mixed.
But the efficiency and power were insane.
As the runes and formulas completed in the circle...
Whooshmassive flames erupted across the area from the circle.
Purple fire rained down on the ground.
*Boom.* The explosion flipped the earths surface. Plants burned, rocks crumbled. Amid the devastation, a massive tunnel came into view.
More precisely, a burrow connecting multiple tunnels.
......Bigger than I thought.
A grand burrow, like a giant worm had devoured the earth.
Something this size shouldve weakened the ground and been spotted by guards and professors. Howd it stay hidden until I flipped it open?
Staring at the burrow, a thought struck me.
Maybe this was the truth behind one of Chilseongs seven mysteries.
Not ghostsnight winds whistling through the burrow like wailing, or sounds of someone moving inside.
Thinking back, the ghost mysteries felt off.
Ghost stories usually had creepy details.
But the canyon had none circulating.
Students whispered scary tales mouth-to-mouth, but they were all rumors.
Stories changing with every tellerwhat value was there?
Nothing in the canyon ghost tales was worth noting.
Well, maybe one was close...
Monsters that survived the last attack, hiding somewhere on the academy grounds, plotting revenge.
The canyon ghost story: vengeful spirits of the dead monsters lamenting to survivors. A recent rumor, but not entirely false.
No spirits, but revenge-plotting monsters? Id found them.
Not one, but several.
Screeech, too bright. We at the exit already?
No. Look over there!
H-Humans...!
Goblins, orcs, lizardmenmonsters scurrying through the burrow. As the earth collapsed, exposing the tunnels, I had to narrow my eyes.
They were exactly the same individuals from the last attack.
I was certain.
These were the remnants of that assault.
Hiding underground, clinging to their wretched lives.
An unexpected haul.
You were guarding this?
I raised my hand toward the shadow sentries.
A speak or die gesture, but shadows wouldnt understand. Still, a threat to their creator.
Dont know who you are or what you want.
Burn first, think later.
If they wanted to stop my arson, they could use the shadows or show up. But my flames would spread faster.
Rise.
A massive blaze rose, laden with malice.
The fire melted monster flesh and bone, scorching souls and spreading further.
Eerie wails rode the purple flames, echoing wider.
But it hadnt fully engulfed the burrow yet.
Monsters desperately fleeing through it.
Pathetic death throes. Did they think Id let them escape?
Blaze fiercely.
A simple modifier: fiercely.
A trivial incantation, but my throat choked with indescribable strain, unleashing more mana and carving a massive magic circle in the air.
Still unfinished, but its power was terrifying.
*Rumble.* The ground didnt just flipit caved in, collapsing the burrow.
Like watching a mine shaft implode from above.
Dirt, rocks, gravel filled the tunnels, sealing them tight. Anything inside would be buried alive.
Even if not buried, the overturned earth starved them of oxygentheyd suffocate fast in the flames.
The burrow was handled.
Now for these guys.
I glared at the dispersing shadow sentries.
Burned by fire, yet as non-living things, they scattered into ambient mana even when limbs were severed.
They were guarding the area, sure.
But if protecting academy monsters, their creator was an enemy. No one sane would shelter beasts on the grounds otherwise.
......Traitor or inside agent.
Deep down, it was laughable that one of the worlds top five academies fell to Yuren.
Even without most professors and guards, Chilseong is Chilseong.
It doesnt fall easily.
Especially not to thousands of monsters and an S-rank villain.
Mages with titles, maybe.
But Yurenwhom I killedsucceeding? Unnatural.
Yet professors and association officials closed it as his solo act. Shady as hell.
I was convinced a traitor lurked behind it all.
Wish I could interrogate the shadows, but what can you do to torture-proof shades?
These had already started dissipating from my attacks.
Come back now, and no sentries in sight.
Frustrated, I gazed at distant mountains.
*Rustle.* Something zipped by fast.
......What?
Definitely caught by Demon Eye.
Focused theregone.
Not a fast monster.
No mana trace at all.
Like a mirage. Or ghostfits better.
Nah, no way.
Even if my eyes were some spirit sight, they wouldnt catch real ghosts.
If so, Id have seen aggrieved students souls or Yurens first.
Still, something felt off.
......No sleep tonight either.
Lots to do till dawn, and sleep felt extra elusive today.
I scratched my head, mentally listing dorm tasks: read grimoires, plan lessons systematically.
Nothing more here.
I smoothed the torn earth with low-tier elemental magic and headed to the dorms.
No reason to look back, eyes forwardso I didnt notice.
......
Two large eyes stared intently at my back.
My neck itched, so I scratched, but whatever. Ignored it.