I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy-Chapter 409

The Alchemist's Castle, commonly referred to as the Alchemy Castle.

These days, asking about the "Althericia School" here would earn you puzzled looks. The castle was practically covered in Althericia's signature pink signs, her influence unmistakable.

The Althericia School had taken over much of the Alchemy Castle, a testament to how her item technology was becoming increasingly globalized and commonplace.

While Althericia dreamed of a world where her convenient and beautiful technology could be used by everyone, reality often stood in her way.

“This is too dangerous.”

Take, for example, the “electric stun device” she had developed as a simple self-defense tool. Inspired by an idea she’d gotten from Baek Yuseol, the device was designed to incapacitate an attacker temporarily. However, her technicians expressed concerns about its misuse.

“A portable item that allows even non-certified individuals to incapacitate someone with the press of a button? This should never have been created, Dean.”

“I’ve limited its power. It’s non-lethal, and there’s no better tool for protecting the vulnerable.”

“Absolutely not! Laypeople lack the responsibility to handle magic. This device is on par with a 1st-class Lightning Shock spell!”

“But it only works when brought into direct contact with the target. It’s strictly for self-defense.”

“Dean, we must oppose this. If such items are released into the world, the value of magic itself will plummet!”

“The value of magic? Is that what this is about?”

Althericia’s mind went blank for a moment at the words of the elder beastman mage.

As an enchanter and a high-ranking magician, he upheld the old-fashioned belief that advanced magic was synonymous with nobility.

“Yes, Dean. What do you think magic represents?”

“Magic... is a wondrous and mysterious technology that benefits all humanity. It is not some symbol of authority.”

“That may be your belief, but most magicians won’t agree.”

Several magicians nodded in agreement with the elder’s words, leaving Althericia feeling stifled.

They resented the idea of ordinary people using magic without the years of effort they had poured into mastering it.

The meeting stalled, and faced with fierce opposition from high-ranking alchemists, Althericia failed once again to distribute what she believed to be a highly practical item.

Back in her lab, she sank into her chair, clutching her forehead in frustration. Nearby, the Golden Alchemist, Talc Cordon, watched the meeting unfold while nibbling on jerky. He chuckled softly.

“Heh, amusing. Things were no different in my youth. No matter how advanced technology gets, it’s useless against those stubborn old fogeys.”

“Ugh... Can’t you do something, Sir Cordon? Even if they won’t listen to me, they respect you.”

“How long do you plan to rely on me? Sure, they might listen to me for now, but I’ll be retiring soon. Will you keep asking for my help even after that?”

“No, but...”

“There are other ways, you know. Develop something so innovative that it shuts them up or publish a groundbreaking paper that leaves them speechless.”

As he cracked open a can of beer, Althericia sighed.

Her technical skills were undoubtedly among the best in the world, but managing relationships with people was an entirely different challenge. As a leader, dealing with subordinates much older than her was a constant struggle due to her timid personality.

“Why not do what you did over a year ago? Remember how you shouted down that arrogant alchemy professor at Stella Academy? That was entertaining.”

“Th-that was...”

Althericia blushed.

For someone as shy and reserved as her, even thinking about that moment was embarrassing.

“No need to be embarrassed.”

“Pardon?”

“Out of everything I’ve seen from you in the past year, that was the most impressive. You showed real confidence back then.”

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He wasn’t just praising her for yelling. He was acknowledging how she had pulled herself together, overcome her fear, and asserted herself with confidence in front of someone who had once intimidated her.

“Confidence...”

Althericia began to reflect on his words, but her thoughts were interrupted by a loud, blaring siren.

BZZZ! BZZZ! BZZZ!

The entire lab was bathed in flashing red lights, signaling an emergency. Startled, Althericia dashed out of the room.

Researchers in white lab coats were running around in panic, while combat mages in armor swiftly appeared to surround and protect Althericia and Talc Cordon.

“W-what’s going on?”

“A high-risk Persona Gate has appeared in the city,” a mage reported.

“What?”

Persona Gates occasionally appeared within cities, but for most people, encountering one was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Even Althericia had rarely experienced such a situation.

“A Persona Gate, here of all places...”

“We need to evacuate you immediately.”

Following protocol, the combat mages began evacuating key researchers. However, their tense expressions suggested the situation was more complicated than it seemed.

“You’re hiding something, aren’t you?” Althericia asked sharply.

One of the mages hesitated before nodding.

“We intended to report this after the situation was resolved... Several Dark Mages attempted to infiltrate the Alchemist’s Castle but were subdued.”

“Dark Mages?”

“It happens occasionally. However, ever since we strengthened the defenses 50 years ago and placed this area under the protection of 8th-class mages, such incidents have been almost nonexistent.”

Althericia pondered the recent string of similar incidents reported worldwide.

Why was she being targeted?

Every victim of these attacks had one thing in common—they were all item technicians.

In other words, the Dark Mages were willing to risk their lives to acquire item technology.

“We need to enhance the security of our technology further. Divide it into smaller, untraceable components if necessary.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Imagine creating a robot as an item.

Some technicians might only be able to craft the robot’s shoulders, while others could construct only its legs.

By dividing technology in this way, even Dark Mages would find it difficult to steal. However, this was merely a temporary measure. Eventually, they would overcome this obstacle.

Althericia estimated that this breach would occur within six months at the latest.

She set this timeline because she was considering taking more drastic measures—such as deliberately fragmenting and distributing the technology herself to minimize the harm caused by the ongoing kidnappings of item technicians.

“This is bad. If those people get their hands on item technology, it’ll be a disaster.”

“No, it’s fine,” Althericia said firmly.

In fact, this might even work in her favor.

The relentless warnings from her technicians about the dangers of item technology had given her an idea for a new development.

And so, Althericia resolved to create a technology that would choke her own innovation—a drastic countermeasure to ensure safety.

“An item to kill items... I’ll create it.”

If someone attempted to use items as weapons, this new technology would nullify their effects. While this would mean anyone could block her offensive capabilities, Althericia didn’t care.

“I don’t need weapons.”

She thought of her strongest allies, those who would protect her no matter what. With that in mind, she doubled down on her decision.

“I won’t allow Dark Mages to harm the world with my items. Never.”

Her technology existed solely for the happiness of humanity. That was its only purpose.

***

Meeting Jelliel after such a long time was far from ordinary.

In the northern region of Hahwol Plains, by the lake near the Four-Step Waterfall at the Cloud Garden, the scene was anything but peaceful.

Walking amidst the piled bodies of Dark Mages strewn across the ground, Baek Yuseol awkwardly raised a hand in greeting.

“...Hey.”

Jelliel, who had just crushed a Dark Mage’s skull with her blood-soaked hands, turned to him with a bright, albeit unsettling, smile.

“Oh, hey.”

Nearby, the Starcloud Association’s magical warriors paused, recognizing her uncharacteristic reaction.

"The lady is flustered.”

"She didn’t see this coming at all.”

"Is that a civilian? Should we escort him away?”

"Get a clue, will you!”

While they whispered among themselves as they secured the captured Dark Mages, Jelliel turned her back and hurriedly wiped the blood from her face.

“Are you okay?” Baek Yuseol asked.

She was at least thirty paces away, a reasonable distance for a quick cleanup, but with his sharp eyesight, no distance mattered.

“...I’m fine. I just didn’t expect to see you here. What a surprise,” she replied, tying her blood-matted hair back as she composed herself.

Baek Yuseol glanced at the corpses around her. “I had a feeling something big was happening, so I stopped by on my way back to Stella. Though, it looks like there wasn’t any need.”

Jelliel’s response had been swifter and more decisive than he expected. Not only had she wiped out all the Dark Mages hiding in Hahwol Plains, but she had also rescued the kidnapped item technicians.

Though the technicians had leaked their knowledge to the Dark Mages, their lives had been spared.

“W-we’re so sorry, Miss Jelliel!”

“Please, forgive us!”

“We beg for mercy!”

Rather than feeling gratitude for their rescue, the technicians groveled before Jelliel, fearing her far more than the Dark Mages. They didn’t see her as a savior but as someone who valued their skills more than their lives.

Jelliel crouched to meet their eyes, her expression unreadable.

She didn’t force a smile. It wasn’t worth the effort, and she knew it would only terrify them further.

“Leaking the technology doesn’t matter. You’re my assets, and as long as I haven’t lost my assets, I’m satisfied.”

“P-pardon?”

A response so uniquely Jelliel.

“Y-yes, but the Dark Mages took Starcloud’s critical business technology...”

That wasn’t an easy loss to recover, but Jelliel spoke with a calm indifference.

“Isn’t it obvious? As long as you’re here, you can redevelop it. What’s important isn’t the technology—it’s the technicians who create it.”

The technicians stared at her in shock. Rising to her feet, she added:

“In the future... if something like this happens again—and it won’t, because it shouldn’t—abandon the technology and focus on surviving. Your lives are far more valuable than the technology you create.”

After finishing her words, Jelliel ripped off her bloodstained robe and handed it to her assistant.

“This is ruined. Dispose of it and get me a new one. Something green this time.”

“Understood, Miss. I’ll find one with a design that pleases you.”

Turning back to Baek Yuseol, Jelliel finally managed the smile she hadn’t shown earlier.

“Looks like the incident is already resolved. Must be disappointing for you. This is a first, isn’t it?”

“Well... yeah, I guess it is.”

Baek Yuseol had rushed into dozens of crises before, always arriving in time to fix things. This was the first time everything had been settled before his arrival, leaving him a bit disoriented.

Jelliel seemed genuinely pleased, relishing the rare sight of him being caught off guard. There was even a faint thrill in seeing the man who carried the weight of the world falter for once.

“Well then, why don’t you stick around for a while? There’s still a week of summer break left, after all.”

“...How do you, a Starcloud student, know about Stella’s summer schedule?”

“Shouldn’t I?”

“Well, it’s not like you can’t...”

“Then it doesn’t matter, does it?”

Before Baek Yuseol could respond, Jelliel grabbed his hand with her blood-streaked one, pulling him along.

Being led by a woman a year older than him, especially one as striking as Jelliel, left Baek Yuseol unsure of how to feel about the situation.