Academy's Gumiho is a Magic Genius

Last night, I tossed and turned again.

My mind was too cluttered to focus on reading magical texts, and when I tried to sleep, I dreamt of Seo Yerin chasing me with a spear. Unable to do either, I spent the night aimlessly.

Though exhausted, thanks to "Bluffing," I didn't outwardly show my fatigue. This allowed me to carry on with my work as if nothing was wrong, even though I was drained inside.

'...Wow, so this is how people die from overwork.'

I thought this as I wrote the lecture script with sleepy eyes.

At this rate, I might actually die from overwork.

Every night, I feel like sleeping is a waste of time, so I cut back on sleep to study and master magical texts. My body has reached its limit.

Until now, I've been holding on with sheer willpower, but I'm starting to feel the limits.

It's getting a bit dangerous.

'After two more days, I'll rest properly.'

Tonight, most professors are leaving for the academic conference.

The remaining professors will also leave within two days, citing external schedules or preparation for evaluations. The perfect conditions for an attack on the academy are falling into place.

-"Did you see the news about the casualties in the guild yesterday?"

-"Yeah, I heard there was an accident in an A-rank dungeon. They said there were no survivors."

-"I heard from someone involved that it was actually done by humans."

-"What, really? I thought the accident happened in a dungeon owned by the guild. Was it internal strife? Or some political move?"

-"I'm not sure about that, but from the traces, it seems they were hunted by a 'mage hunter.'"

I looked up to gauge the atmosphere in the lab.

Unlike usual, the assistants seemed brighter. The fact that they were even engaging in small talk suggested they were all looking forward to attending the magical conference.

How would they react if they knew the academy would be attacked the day after tomorrow?

'Would they give up the conference they've been looking forward to and stay to defend the academy? Or would they leave for the conference, not believing the warning?'

The thought crossed my mind, but it wasn't worth dwelling on.

They would follow Nam Hwa-yeon to the conference anyway. With all the professors and most assistants gone, the first-year students would be left exposed to danger.

Thinking about it, it's truly irresponsible.

Even if the professors have external commitments, taking most of the assistants with them?

No one seems to consider that the academy might be attacked while they're away.

Is this the well-founded confidence of an academy ranked among the top five in the world? Or is it recklessness born from a sense of invincibility?

Either way, they're better off than me.

'At least they don't know the future, but I have some idea.'

The image of the laughing and chatting students still lingers in my mind.

The thought of that scene being stained with blood gives me a headache. I opened a drawer to look for painkillers.

──Rustle.

The drawer was filled with all kinds of medication.

From vitamins to digestive aids, it looked like a mini pharmacy. My health hasn't been great, so the drawer was packed with various pills.

Let's see. The painkillers were definitely red.

There are so many pills that even though I bought them, I often forget where I put them.

As I fumbled through the rustling packaging, I quickly found the painkillers.

─Rustle, rustle.

I tore open the packaging and took out two red pills.

I was about to swallow them with water when...

"...?"

The pills on my hand disappeared.

Did I drop them? I looked around.

They didn't seem to be on the floor. Maybe they're on the desk?

The headache was narrowing my vision and clouding my judgment.

But the pills weren't on the desk either. As I turned my head, I saw an assistant with a startled expression.

What? Are they freaking out just because I looked at them?

"Headache pills? It's only been two hours since you started work, and you already have a headache?"

"...Professor."

A clear voice came from behind.

I turned my head and saw Nam Hwa-yeon staring intently at the red pills.

She wasn't holding them in her hand but was observing them floating in mid-air.

The pills hung in the air as if fixed in place.

I'd seen a similar technique in the first research lab before, but after studying telekinesis, it looked different. The level of control was on a whole other level compared to the「Pyrokinesis」I'd learned.

Is this what makes a professor different?

As I marveled at Nam Hwa-yeon's telekinesis, she seemed to finish analyzing the pills.

The pills gently landed back on my hand.

I swallowed them with water, and Nam Hwa-yeon's gaze turned to me.

Why is she looking at me like that? Is she going to give me more work?

'I hope not....'

Initially, the tasks she assigned me weren't too demanding.

I followed her requirements, wrote the script, and added some parts of my own.

But for some reason, the demands have been getting more complex over time.

Some tasks even required me to read specialized research papers.

Reading and writing scripts based on them helped organize my thoughts, but it was exhausting.

"Did you finish the script I asked for?"

"...The basic script is done. It'll take about two more hours to polish it."

"Good, you've worked hard."

Nam Hwa-yeon praised me, which was unexpected.

Just as I was taken aback, she took a step toward me. The sweet floral scent that filled my nose was momentarily startling, but then she placed her hand on my forehead.

It was cold. Does she have poor circulation?

How can someone's hand be this cold?

"Oh my, you have a high fever."

"...Isn't it just that your hand is cold?"

"My body temperature is on the lower side, but it's within the normal range."

After hearing her words, I checked my own body temperature and realized I was indeed running a fever.

Did I catch something? I didn't feel chills, though.

I didn't think much of my condition.

But Nam Hwa-yeon seemed concerned, stroking my forehead and speaking in a worried tone.

"You must have been working too hard. Why don't you take half a day off and rest?"

She was worried about me.

It was the first time since coming to this world that someone showed concern for me.

Especially coming from someone like Nam Hwa-yeon, whose thoughts are hard to read, it felt strange.

"No, I'm fine."

"Still, it'd be good to rest for a day. You've been pushing yourself to meet my demanding requests..."

Did you know that all along?

I was shocked by her response but also sensed guilt in her words. Did she think my headache was her fault?

While it's true that her demands contributed to my stress, it wasn't entirely her fault. She didn't need to feel guilty.

'This is unexpected.'

I never knew Nam Hwa-yeon had this side to her.

To the students, she was a figure of respect, and to the assistants, she was an object of awe and fear. I always thought of her as difficult, but...

"Really, I'm fine. Headaches are a chronic issue for me, so you don't need to worry."

"Still... Ah, how about this?"

She clapped her hands as if she had a good idea.

Curious, I listened closely.

"Why don't you come with me to the conference? There won't be any lectures or work during the conference, so you can treat it like a vacation."

"...!!"

I didn't see that coming.

I never expected her to invite me to the conference.

She reached out her hand, and I hesitated.

If I take this hand, I won't be here when the attack happens.

My life would be spared. But would it really be that simple?

"The magical conference is always filled with new research and papers. Attending will surely inspire you."

"...I see."

"Plus, there's a rumor that groundbreaking research will be presented this year."

It's tempting.

If I just take her hand, nothing bad will happen to me.

But is it really okay to do that?

Doubt gnawed at my conscience.

"If you don't say anything, I'll add you to the list? We're leaving early in the morning two days from now, so prepare in advance..."

"No, it's fine."

I forced a smile through the throbbing headache.

"I have things to do here."

I've already made my choice.

To stand by and watch the students die.

I made that choice, and I must take responsibility for it.

And I must bear the consequences of that choice.

Witnessing the tragedy at the academy.

That's what I must do by staying here.

Besides, even if I told Nam Hwa-yeon, the chance of her believing me was practically zero. Who would believe that the academy would be attacked and ten students would die?

In the end, there was nothing I could do.

No intervention, just standing by.

That's the best choice I can make for this world.

Nam Hwa-yeon looked disappointed but returned to her seat.

The next day.

And the day after.

Just like that, two days passed.

Now, there's not much time left.

***

The nights at the academy are long.

Thanks to the students studying hard, the assistants being worked like slaves, and the guards patrolling all night for safety.

The fluorescent lights that never go out, even late at night, are a point of pride for Seven Stars Academy.

It shows how hard everyone is working.

A guard in the security room hummed as he made coffee.

"Hmm~ If it were like before, the seniors wouldn't let me drink coffee. This is why I love the conference."

At Seven Stars Academy, the presence of professors is immense.

Each one is a valuable asset and a symbol of the academy. That's why, whenever they have external engagements, guards are assigned as escorts.

Originally, it was supposed to be guards with moderate experience to gain practical experience.

But the seasoned guards all volunteered to escort the professors to gain favor. Thanks to that, for the past few days, I've been able to work without worrying about senior guards.

"Let's see what's on the news."

He wasn't supposed to take his eyes off the CCTV, but the guards at Seven Stars Academy are all skilled.

They may not be active in the field anymore, but they've stepped into the realm of superhumans. Watching the news and CCTV at the same time isn't difficult.

[This morning, at 8 AM USE time, the magical conference began. Held annually around the world, the magical conference attracts attention by inviting famous figures from various countries. Among them are top-ranked individuals like the Demon King, the Hero, and the Divine Archer.]

"Wow, what a lineup. The Demon King is a regular, but I didn't expect the Hero and the Divine Archer to attend. They must have spent a lot on this conference."

The Demon King is practically a regular, attending the magical conference every year. She's known for her thirst for knowledge, devouring every paper presented at the conference.

In contrast, the Hero and the Divine Archer have no connection to the magical conference. They are martial artists, not mages.

Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't be at the magical conference.

"The rumors about a groundbreaking announcement at the conference must be true. Otherwise, they wouldn't have invited those two."

A rumor that's been circulating in the hunter community for the past few days.

It's said that a discovery that could elevate magic and magical activities to a new level will be unveiled for the first time at the conference.

At first, everyone dismissed it as a baseless rumor.

But with the conference's aggressive marketing, people are starting to wonder.

Why else would all the academy professors have left for the conference?

"Well, thanks to that, even lowly guards like me can catch a break."

As he sipped his coffee, the guard suddenly craved something sweet.

He had nothing in his pockets, and since it was work hours, he couldn't go to the convenience store. If he were on outdoor patrol, he could've sneaked out, but with CCTV monitoring, that wasn't an option.

"No choice... Ugh...!"

He dragged his stiff back to the tea cabinet.

This was usually the seniors' domain.

A forbidden area that lowly guards like him weren't even allowed to look at.

But at this moment, the guard reached out to that forbidden area.

Clunk!

The sound of the cabinet opening revealed an array of colorful snacks.

All premium snacks, not available at convenience stores or regular markets.

Naturally, their prices were astronomical.

But with so many, surely one wouldn't be missed.

The guard took out a luxurious cookie. A butter cookie that would pair well with his hot coffee.

As he unwrapped it, he suddenly remembered he hadn't been watching the CCTV.

"Eh, it's just one minute. Nothing's going to happen."

Who would be bold enough to break into Seven Stars Academy?

Occasionally, students get caught trying to sneak out by climbing the walls, but there's never been a case of someone breaking in.

Just as the guard was about to take a bite of the cookie.

He dropped it on the floor.

"Ah, ahhh!!"

Not just the cookie, but his right hand holding it also fell.

The burning sensation of his severed wrist.

The clean cut left him momentarily stunned. The guard, who had been screaming, soon collapsed to the floor.

He tried to grab his right arm with his still intact left hand.

──Squelch!

With a sound like cutting meat at a butcher's, his left hand was also severed.

The indescribable pain. It was so intense that no sound came from his mouth.

Just then.

A man who had cut through the security room door with a sword entered.

As soon as he entered, he scanned the academy through the CCTV.

After checking a few feeds, a crescent moon-shaped smile appeared on his face.

"Wow, there really isn't a single professor in the academy?"

Just as that horned guy said.

Not a single professor was present. Not even that magic-obsessed woman or the old monster.

The perfect conditions for an attack were in place.

The man laughed heartily and kicked the guard's body.

He had seen the guard trying to press the emergency button with his leg. The man grabbed the guard's hair and lifted his head.

A face filled with pain and despair.

What an amazing expression.

"By the way, Seven Stars is indeed Seven Stars. Even when a high-ranking demon self-destructs, the barrier doesn't break. It's not easy."

The guard couldn't understand the man's mutterings.

All he could see were the images on the CCTV. Giant demons were using their bodies as bombs to destroy the academy's outer barriers.

The sturdy barrier held against the massive explosions.

It was a barrier worthy of Seven Stars Academy, but cracks began to form as the explosions continued.

Moreover, they were targeting the weaker parts of the barrier.

Rumble───!!

Finally, the barrier collapsed, and a horde of demons appeared from beyond. The absolute fortress that had never allowed foreign invasion in decades had fallen.

They spread out in all directions as soon as they arrived at the academy.

The guard, who had been watching helplessly, was kicked away by the man.

The impact shook his insides. The kick had broken his ribs and punctured his organs.

"T-This is no time to be lying around...."

But the shock helped him regain his senses.

This was no time to be lying around. The guard crawled to a corner with his broken legs.

Emergency communication devices were placed throughout the security room for such situations.

Using his teeth instead of his severed hands, the guard pressed the button. The connected communication network linked to the entire academy grounds.

Suppressing the blood flowing from his torn lungs, he spoke.

─"D-Danger! Demons have invaded the academy! A-All combat-capable personnel, prepare for battle... Ahhh!!"

He struggled to continue.

But his words ended in a scream like a pig being slaughtered.

The mysterious man had stabbed the guard's back with a sword.

The man kicked the dead guard and marveled.

Most people would have died from the shock.

Is this what professional dedication looks like?

"What a bothersome guy."

He had already known the guard would make the emergency broadcast.

But he couldn't stop it.

No matter how much he peered into the future, that guy always found a way to broadcast.

Even if he tore off his limbs or cut off his head, the guard would use magic to move his body and send Morse code. What kind of person is he?

"Thanks to him, a sneak attack is impossible."

To ensure the guard was dead, he targeted his back the moment he started broadcasting. He broke his spine and aimed for his organs to make sure he couldn't move.

Because of that, a covert attack was impossible.

"But it's fine."

Without the professors, there's no one in the academy who can stop him.

The man, already confident in his success, began thinking about how to spend his reward.

The dying students were not his concern.

After all, he came here to kill them all.

***

Just then, a status window appeared in the vision of Seung-woo.

[Sub Quest: Awakening]

[Description: The foreseen event has arrived. The protagonist will awaken, and the freshmen will be faced with a life-threatening situation, naturally separating the weak from the strong. Survive until dawn breaks and prove your worth.]

[Reward: Survival, 3 points]

***

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