I Became a Terminally Ill Magic Genius at the Academy

After finishing her conversation with Yohan, Violet immediately took Haverto to the principal’s office.

And there, she had to hear some shocking news.

“Hmm.”

As soon as she entered the principal’s office with Haverto, Serhen approached them, humming as if she found it very interesting.

“Hello, Principal.”

“Violet, you’re here because of what happened just now at the dormitory battle, right?”

“Yes. After the duel was over…”

“I was watching, so no need to explain.”

Serhen waved her hand as she spoke, and Violet, who was accustomed to this, immediately closed her mouth.

However, she soon had to open it again at Serhen’s next words.

“Violet?”

“Yes, Principal.”

“How many times have you actually encountered Crow?”

“Twice.”

Although there are students who never met Crow before graduation, Violet had already met Crow twice.

One of those times was even before she enrolled in Arcana Academy, when she was a child.

“Once before you enrolled, and once during your third-year practical training. Correct?”

“Yes.”

Violet nodded lightly in affirmation.

But she couldn’t hide her puzzlement about why the topic of Crow was suddenly coming up.

Serhen continued speaking casually.

“Then is this the first time you’ve seen someone who has been used by Crow?”

“Excuse me?”

At Serhen’s question, Violet widened her eyes in surprise.

She wondered what was going on with this sudden mention of Crow. Was Haverto used by Crow?

Had Crow’s influence reached inside the academy?

“This boy has the scent of dark magic… But he’s not a dark mage; it seems he used some kind of drug.”

“Did he use a potion made by Crow?”

“I don’t think he used it knowingly; it seems he used it without realizing… We’ll need to thoroughly investigate the source.”

At Violet’s question, Serhen looked at Haverto with an intrigued expression.

Hearing the words Crow and dark magic, Haverto also looked shocked and bewildered.

“What do you mean… I would never…”

Seeing him so startled that he couldn’t even speak properly and stammer, Violet wore a serious expression.

“Such…”

“I will personally handle matters related to Haverto. By the way, about that favor I asked…”

“Oh, here it is.”

At Serhen’s words, Violet immediately took out a crystal ball from her pocket and handed it to her.

Before the dormitory battle started, Violet had been specially asked by Serhen to record the proceedings on video.

She didn’t know why Serhen wanted her to record the dormitory battle, but Serhen occasionally made requests that Violet didn’t understand.

Even though it was the first time she had been asked to record the students’ dueling scenes on video like this, there must be a reason.

“Thank you.”

Seeing the smile on her lips, Violet gulped hard.

She felt a slight anger, and conversely, an anticipation for something at the same time.

‘It’s natural for her to be angry since Crow’s drug was used within the academy, but what’s this expectation about?’

Violet wondered but didn’t voice it.

She just looked at the smile on Serhen’s lips for a moment and then slightly bowed her head.

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

“Good work, Violet, Student Council President.”

——-

After Violet left, Serhen alternately looked at Haverto and the crystal ball in her hand with an intrigued gaze.

“Principal, I’m truly innocent. I’ve never used Crow’s drugs; I just took a stimulant…” 

Haverto was earnestly trying to explain, but—

Tap.

With a light movement of her magic pen, Serhen made Haberto disappear.

To be precise, she teleported him.

“Stimulant or whatever, I’ll find out the details later. First, I need to check this.”

Muttering to herself, she infused mana into the crystal ball.

The crystal ball had recorded the dormitory battle from the beginning.

Serhen naturally skipped over the other students’ duels and checked only the last part. The duel between Yohan and Haverto.

She had also been watching the dormitory battle from the principal’s office, so she knew the entire situation.

However, there was something she needed to confirm once more.

“Blood Missile.”

In the crystal ball, Yohan cast a 1-star offensive spell.

And it was a spell not unfamiliar to Serhen.

‘This is definitely Bryan’s magic.’

After reviewing the video recording, Serhen was certain.

Bryan Hart, the first head of the Hart family.

Of course, Serhen knew him.

They were close, and he was one of the few people she could entrust her back to.

Because of that, she couldn’t fail to recognize it.

“How did this happen?”

A member of the Hart family using the magic used by the first head of the Hart family?

It was possible.

Magic was passed down, and each family could have their own secret spells.

But—

‘Up until now, the members of the Hart family have never used it.

The Hart family members up to now have never used Bryan Hart’s secret magic.

Since Brian died, for a thousand years.

Not all members of the Hart family enrolled in the academy, but most did.

However, she had never seen them use Bryan’s magic.

‘Not only is it unusual for them to use Bryan’s magic, but this is also the first time a Hart family member has used Bryan’s magic pen.’

Serhen closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them. 

The final battle against the Lord from days past flashed before her eyes. 

Countless spells prepared by numerous mages were unleashed toward the Lord. 

At that moment, what Serhen saw was not the Lord’s annihilation.

“The Lord is alive.”

She hadn’t seen him die with her own eyes. 

He had certainly suffered a blow close to death, but he did not die. 

Anticipating that the entire continent would be thrown into chaos, she did not strongly assert that the Lord was alive.

And so, a thousand years passed. 

The time had truly come for the Lord to return. 

Serhen was already sensing it in her bones. 

The activities of Crow spreading across the continent were unusual. 

Even now, a student who had taken a stimulant made by them appeared inside Arcana Academy. 

Whether intentional or not, it was certain that Crow was acting much more aggressively than before.

In such circumstances, a descendant of the Hart family appeared, holding Bryan’s magic pen and using his magic?

‘Is all this just a coincidence?’

It couldn’t be.

With a serious expression, Serhen looked at the crystal ball before her.

“Blood Shield.”

At the last moment when Haverto launched a surprise attack on Yohan, Yohan once again used magic familiar to Serhen.

Although Blood Shield wasn’t the defensive spell Bryan Hart used to block the Lord’s magic, it was a red-glowing barrier like that, so it couldn’t be unfamiliar. 

Only Bryan had used such magic.

How did Yohan know and use Bryan’s secret magic?

As Serhen pondered, she furrowed her brows at some point.

“If the Lord is alive…”

Then, was there absolutely no possibility that Bryan was alive?

Of course, Serhen knew well that a human body couldn’t withstand a thousand years.

‘But if it’s just consciousness…’

She knew it was a delusion, but just in case—even if the chance was one in a million.

‘What if Bryan is alive?’

He might have left his consciousness in the magic pen. 

Or maybe…

Serhen shifted her gaze and stared intently at Yohan’s image reflected in the crystal ball. 

From the entrance exam, she couldn’t help but focus on Yohan. 

Because Yohan’s face resembled Bryan’s younger self to a chilling degree.

A strange emotion flickered in Serhen’s eyes.

———

In just one day, many things had changed in the White Wolf Dormitory. 

Most notably, the food coming out of the White Wolf Dormitory’s dining hall.

“How can it be this delicious?”

“This is real food!”

The students of the White Wolf Dormitory shed tears of emotion as they ate.

Yohan also let out a small exclamation as he looked at the food before him.

“Indeed, money is a wonderful thing.”

After winning the dormitory competition, the White Wolf Dormitory ultimately became the top dormitory.

Because they received a generous budget accordingly, they could lavishly spend money on food.

Since the White Wolf Dormitory had long harbored many grievances, they put a lot of effort into having a proper meal.

This was the result.

Scrambled eggs made from fresh eggs.

Soft bread toasted once more to make the outside crispy.

Fragrant smoked pork and well-grilled onions…

With a pleasant expression, Yohan picked up his fork and knife.

At that moment, Kyle took a seat in front of him.

“Good morning, Yohan.”

“Oh, hi.”

Yohan nodded as he put a piece of toast into his mouth.

Kyle also chewed after putting some pork together with toast into his mouth.

Then he casually glanced around and spoke.

“Don’t you think we’re the only ones eating separately?”

It wasn’t unreasonable for Kyle to think that way.

While most other students were eating in groups with hardly any empty seats, only Yohan and Kyle were sitting at their table.

Yohan spoke nonchalantly.

“I think it’s because of you.”

“Not because of your rumors?”

“Well, my rumors aren’t entirely without effect… But I don’t think they’re the main reason this time.”

As Yohan said this, he scanned the cafeteria.

Some students were whispering while looking at Kyle.

“Hey, did you see him sparring?”

“They say he toyed with his opponent?”

“It wasn’t just toying; he did some kind of biological experiments with potions. It was really creepy.”

“Good thing we’re on the same side; if I were from the Golden Lion Dormitory, I’d be really scared.”

“I heard rumors that their merchant group traffics organs.”

“They say they kidnap people to use as test subjects for potions.”

Because of the way Kyle had acted during the dormitory competition, huge rumors were already circulating within the school.

Kyle wore a baffled expression.

“What? I just did as you told me.”

Perhaps unaware that his actions were enough to be mistaken for a crazy psychopath, Kyle looked genuinely aggrieved.

“Well, it’ll get better as time goes by.”

They were about to resume their meal when—

Thud.

Someone set a tray down in front of Yohan.

“Huh?”

Yohan blinked and looked up.

A familiar face came into view.

The top freshman of the White Wolf Dormitory.

It was Leila.

“You are strong.”

“… Suddenly?”

What was she saying, coming up out of the blue?

Yohan let out a hollow laugh, and Leila continued speaking.

“Fight me.”

“……?”

Seriously, what is this?