Chapter 144: Academy Battle (3)

Chapter 144: Academy Battle (3)

The Academy Battle was held at different locations every year.

Two years ago, it was at the Kaikaren Private Magic Academy, last year at the Astral Flower Magic Academy, and the year before at the Molondo Magic Academy.

This year's competition would take place at Stella Academy.

Thanks to this, the students were incredibly busy preparing for the Academy Battle.

Of course, it was not a voluntary service.

The students who helped with the preparations for the Academy Battle were given quite a bit of compensation and benefits, so among the students at Stella, there were many rumors about this great part-time job, and many commoners wanted to do it during their summer vacation.

Of course, there were also those who didn't pay much attention and just went about doing their own things.

**Thud!**

"I've brought it.

Stella Magic Library.

Edna had piled thick books on the bookshelf.

Though it was hard to believe that such strength resided in that petite body, the other two girls didn’t seem surprised as they each took a book and began reading.

'Twelve New Moons.’

Eisel, Hong Bi-Yeon, and Edna gathered together to investigate the Twelve New Moons, which were also referred to as legendary entities.

They had suddenly fallen into a deep slumber a thousand years ago, and now, they existed only in the form of belief, suspected to be the key to the world's destruction.

Twelve clusters of light shown in the Star Archive.

That... No matter how much one thought about it. They unmistakably seemed like traces left behind by the Twelve New Moons.

Additionally, the girls agreed to share information or events they each knew with each other.

Edna spoke first.

"... If, indeed, Baek Yu-Seol has returned due to Silver Moon’s power, we might not be able to tell others about that fact."

"Why is that?"

"If we try to speak about the knowledge we saw in the Star Archive, we might be restrained or blacklisted. Revealing future events might result in the ‘Celestial Revelation’ erasing our existence itself through a forbidden power."

No one questioned why Edna knew that fact; it was about mutual respect for each other.

"It seems impossible to talk directly with Baek Yu-Seol about this matter."

"Right. That man... won't answer anything. He might even avoid us if he found out we uncovered the secret. What if the knowledge of the future leaks to us..."

Eisel clearly experienced the consequences, so her face turned pale.

"Headmaster Eltman Eltwin, who used magic to pry into the secret in the Star Archive, coughed up blood and collapsed. It was absolutely not the right choice."

"That was the extent of it..."

Even Eltman Eltwin, who was hailed as the world's strongest, couldn't endure it. The fact cast a dark pall over the girls' faces.

Next was Hong Bi-Yeom.

"You remember the day of the Familiar Contract Ceremony, right?"

"Of course."

"I almost died then..."

"At that time, I saw quite an unusual sight. After Baek Yu-Seol knocked down Professor Maizen and I fainted... ‘Yeonhong Chunsamweol,' one of the Twelve Gods, was embracing that commoner."

"W-What?"

"The Twelfth God... revealed themselves?"

As this was quite a shocking story, Edna and Eisel widened their eyes in surprise.

"Yeah. It was unmistakably Yeonhong Chunsamweol. I didn't know much about that being, but strangely, I knew her when I saw her. They are one of the Twelve Gods, who possess great mental strength."

Why would such a being be embracing Baek Yu-Seol?

What kind of relationship did he have with Yeonhong Chunsamweol?

... In that case,

Is Baek Yu-Seol really traveling the world to gather the

Twelve Gods?

"No wonder... he was always going out every weekend."

"He must have been traveling the world while managing his schedule at the academy during the weekends."

It struck them anew how incredible his stamina was.

Or perhaps, did he manage such a packed schedule regularly?

Was that the reason he ended up nodding off during classes?

“That's true. If he has that kind of knowledge... there's no reason for him to attend the academy, right?”

“Exactly. If he's busy collecting the Twelve Gods while traveling the world, what reason does he have to maintain academy life?”

“

There must be. After experiencing it thousands of times, he must have found a reason to attend the academy.”

Baek Yu-Seol’s academy life was truly unique yet ordinary.

While standing out for not using magic, his academic ranking always remained average.

In other words, attending the academy wasn’t necessarily about grades.

“If that's the case, then the only thing left is...”

"......"

With the most sensitive words coming out, the temperature dropped slightly.

It dropped due to Florin's power.

However, Orenha didn’t stop and continued with confidence.

"It seems I've obtained solid evidence."

The Academy Battle was held at Stella Academy.

And... Baek Yu-Seol was currently enrolled there.

Orenha secretly used his power to initiate a solid investigation about him.

He even captured a dark mage to extract information about Baek Yu-Seol.

The result led to a decisive judgment.

*‘Baek Yu-Seol is not an ordinary student. There is some force behind him.'*

He attended the academy for a reason which was definitely not ordinary.

Although it was certainly strange for a human being who was not even Class 9 Grand Magus to maintain the appearance of a young boy, that was it.

*'Since he’s capable of hiding dark magic and a corrupted soul, it's not impossible to hide appearance as well.'*

Recently, he even met individuals with the ability to change appearances.

‘Manwol' Tower.’

They were active behind the scenes of the world, and possessed overwhelming magical technology, making it possible.

However, the crucial point was the fact that they could alter appearances.

Baek Yu-Seol undoubtedly had such advanced magical technology, allowing him to conceal his true identity while attending Stella.

This was not merely his own speculation.

He detected numerous dark mage groups showing considerable interest in Baek Yu-Seol. He took all the gathered information, and personally investigated all his activities.

The conclusion reached was, 'You can’t deceive me.'

Orenha was considered one of the highest-ranking high elves in history, and he still vividly remembered the distinct aura of a spirit he sensed from Baek Yu-Seol.

The 'Soul Orb’ put on his body had been there for a month now.

In other words, it was possible to uncover Baek Yu-Seol's true identity.

As the Academy Battle gathered the most exceptional elite students from around the world, it could be considered an exceptionally special event.

In such a setting, revealing the truth about Baek Yu-Seol could go beyond capturing Florin's heart, and attract public’s interest, bringing significant gains politically, diplomatically, and image-wise.

"Is that so...?"

While he didn’t yet reveal the culprit’s identity, he explained his plans to some extent.

Florin said with a trembling voice.

"I'll... I'll request your assistance."

After saying that, Florin’s voice faded away.

To calm her mind, she wanted to spend some time alone.

He felt a little sorry to leave her alone, but it was not the right time yet.

Sooner or later, she would let him into that room.

Thinking so, Orenha left the room.

Alone, Florin stared blankly out of the small window.

*'Divine Slayer....’*

The hatred for him had not yet subsided.

It was true that she wanted to catch the culprit.

However......... Recently, she discovered something even more important.

*‘Celestia is alive.’*

Thanks to someone's gracious act, Celestia was still alive and breathing.

She still couldn’t forget.

That night when the moonlight brilliantly illuminated the world.

A small, young boy standing in a uniform.

When she briefly met those black eyes, she felt that she was gazing at the universe itself. And as if it was trying to devour him.

*'I have to meet him.’*

She didn’t know his identity or name.

But somehow, she must meet him.

Beyond the gratitude for saving Celestia, he... had a perfect immunity against her 'curse.'

*'... Someday, if I can freely go out into the outside world.’*

She would search for him.

Florin closed her eyes as she made up her mind.

Today... she felt unusually tired.",