Magic Academy's Genius Blinker Chapter 528: Stella (1)

Baek Yu-Seol no longer felt troubled by the truth that every priest in the Church turned out to be a dark mage.

These dark mage priests, who had merely dedicated their lives to clerical duties, stood apart from dark mages guilty of crimes.

Dark mage priests?

It wasn't an odd idea at all.

In this world, religions varied wildly, sharing almost no common ground in their teachings or faiths.

Certain faiths even allowed killing, setting them poles apart from those on Earth.

The Divine Moon Church stood out with its peculiar rituals. Devotees revered the Twelve Divine Moons and pursued arcane abilities via devotion. Thus, it lured countless seekers of strength and glory.

In the original game too, dark mage priests frequently showed up among Divine Moon Church followers. Professor Raiden, Stella's prime dark mage infiltrator, had even focused on Divine Moon Studies.

"You’re a mage from Stella, yet you show no bias."

"Unlike your fame as the ’Dark Mage Slayer,’ you remain remarkably composed."

"I only slay dark mages who've done wrong. No cause exists to harm the innocent."

"Hmm... We appreciate your trust, but don't think all Gray Divine Moon Church priests are reliable."

"...Does the Gray Divine Moon Church have branches beyond this one?"

"Naturally. Heard of that Dark Mage Cult Leader stirring trouble recently? He's essentially the Church's supreme leader."

Baek Yu-Seol was completely clueless.

That tracked, since the original game never fully decoded the enigmas around the Dark Mage Cult Leader.

"Anyway, we've severed all those links and settled here, but stay on guard."

While chatting with the dark mage priests about the Gray Divine Moon Church, Baek Yu-Seol quietly scanned the temple.

The inside layout barely evoked a church. No human devotees appeared anywhere; nearly all present were dark mages.

He couldn't gauge their true piety, yet puzzled over why they upheld a church facade while acting like the local mafia.

Maintaining a church disguise seemed pointless when no outsider could even reach this temple.

This feels off.

Baek Yu-Seol squinted his eyes.

This place went beyond a mere shrine for the Twelve Divine Moons. Lacking solid proof, he still sensed it with odd conviction.

"We've reached it."

At that cue, Baek Yu-Seol gazed forward. A huge door towered ahead, etched with sinister, twisted designs.

"So the priest who once chased the Witch Queen waits inside?"

"Correct. We haven't visited here in ages ourselves."

"A while...?"

"We must pray first, so move back a bit."

As the two priests aligned before the door, Baek Yu-Seol retreated a step. Uneasy, Panallet ducked behind Syclen.

Creak... Creak... Creak...

A weird noise, akin to grating wood, emanated from the priests' lips. Baek Yu-Seol didn't fully grasp it, but it sounded like a prayer chant.

Vroooom!!!

With their incantation persisting, the door's enchanted runes lit up in gray radiance, soon making the whole barrier flicker.

"Time to enter."

"Huh? The door's still shut."

Yet Baek Yu-Seol strode boldly toward the sealed door. Syclen followed suit, and a hesitant Panallet tagged along reluctantly.

Squelch!

Upon Baek Yu-Seol's touch, he vanished like he'd slipped through a phantom wall.

"Wow..."

Panallet gasped in amazement and hurried after Syclen.

Syclen's form glided through the door effortlessly, but when Panallet attempted to follow—

Thud!

"Ouch!"

Her forehead smacked painfully into the solid barrier, sending her tumbling down while cradling her head.

The two priests glanced down at her and declared.

"...Failing to pass this door marks you as a witch, doesn't it?"

"We won't strike at you, given Baek Yu-Seol's friendly stance toward us. But once this ends, depart at once."

The priests issued a cold, resolute caution before slipping through the door. In frenzy, Panallet seized their robe hems.

Swoosh!

Shockingly, she crossed the threshold with the priests.

The priests appeared stunned, but Panallet grinned slyly, flipped them off, and latched onto Syclen.

Baek Yu-Seol, having gone in ahead, scowled at the creepy vibe surrounding him.

What’s this place?

The chamber lay shrouded in gloom and desolation.

Rather than gray, the magic circles pulsed with a profound crimson glow.

Flickering shadows danced wildly from dozens of candles positioned over the magic circles.

"This appears to be... some sort of witch ritual."

"No, it's more than a mere ritual. This is unmistakably a witch's curse circle."

"A curse circle...?"

"You've heard those ancient tales of driving nails into dolls to hex people, haven't you? This represents a far more refined form of that. Modern witches are cunning and advanced, employing methods that guarantee curses hit their mark with deadly precision."

The chilling words prompted Baek Yu-Seol to shift his attention to a person seated at the magic circle's perimeter.

A navy-blue robe shrouded the figure completely, head bowed deeply in silence. They paid no heed to Baek Yu-Seol or Syclen, looking eerily like a corpse devoid of life.

"The world teems with folks burdened by tangled tales. Those tangled with witches especially battle relentlessly against their doomed paths."

"Witches?" Syclen scowled while the priest affirmed with a nod and continued explaining.

"You lot are quite the odd bunch yourselves, right? A witch hunter smitten with a witch. A witch who took a liking to a witch hunter. And a mere human who fell for a witch, deciding to turn witch hunter."

From those words, it became obvious. Every soul caught in this web was extraordinarily far from normal.

"That prophet there proves no different. She... started out as a witch."

"A witch?!"

Panallet's outburst drew stern glares from the priests.

"So a witch moonlights as a witch hunter?"

"More or less. It had to be a grueling decision. Likely the reason she's tucked away in a spot like this."

"Grueling decision...?"

Baek Yu-Seol knit his brows in skepticism, having witnessed far too many like cases nearby. The priest shut his eyes and wagged his head.

"Resisting fate isn't simple as it seems. It demands a will of ironclad strength."

"Or... the meddling of a vastly superior will."

Syclen had plainly overcome his destiny via sheer personal resolve.

Yet Baek Yu-Seol and Panallet?

"What of you two?"

"Uh... um..."

Baek Yu-Seol and Panallet struggled to reply. Had they really carved their own fates?

"I'm... uncertain."

"That suggests another's potent will reshaped you. Good or bad, who's to judge?"

"I..."

"I strive to mold my destiny... yet success eludes me."

"In that case, your own firm will exists, but a mightier one sways you too."

"A mightier will..."

Baek Yu-Seol sensed he grasped what that 'mightier will' might entail.

Suddenly, the direction he must pursue—and his necessary actions—emerged faintly into view for the first time.

"Heh... what a laugh."

Shock jolted Baek Yu-Seol into a crouch as the voice echoed from up front.

"Looks like you're still kicking after all."

Baek Yu-Seol responded to Syclen's light taunt with a grave nod.

The navy-blue robed figure gradually raised their head, locking eyes with Baek Yu-Seol.

"What... is that?"

Those crystalline eyes obscured whether boy or girl. A veil hid nose and lips, but youth shone evident.

Yet those eyes—

The stare screamed lifetimes spanning centuries.

Having met myriad entities ancient beyond their looks, Baek Yu-Seol spotted it instantly.

"A star-favored child ventures here... The world overflows with wonders, doesn't it?"

"...You claim the stars favor me?"

"Indeed. Unaware? Every star overhead tracks your every move... Don't you feel their intense scrutiny bearing down?"

Instinct drew Baek Yu-Seol's gaze skyward.

"What...?"

Despite the dim, sealed vibe, amazement struck—the ceiling gaped fully open.

Countless stars crammed the night sky.

Its brilliance baffled why starlight failed to flood in here.

"Stars' eyes can't pierce this sanctuary. Prophets endure by fleeing the crime of ' divulging celestial mysteries.'"

"Divulging celestial mysteries...?"

"Correct."

Baek Yu-Seol swallowed hard as the self-proclaimed prophet's eyes crinkled playfully in speech.

"Welcome to the Star Archive."

The Star Archive—put simply...

...the Constellation Project.

"From there, we prophets discern past, future, present. Yours included... no different."

"Do you know... anything about my past?"

Intense curiosity burned within him about the previous Baek Yu-Seol, the one from before he entered the Aether World... that other Baek Yu-Seol.

Yet the prophet shook their head.

"Heh, if I had read everything about you, I would have died long ago."

"Then... what is it that you know?"

"I know that there is a woman you are desperately searching for. And... I know her location. Everything."

Baek Yu-Seol’s eyes widened in shock.

Gleefully chuckling, the prophet jabbed a finger toward the magic circle’s center with an extended arm.

"So, why are you hesitating? I prepared this magic circle in anticipation of your arrival... how much longer do you intend to keep me waiting?"

Remaining stunned, Baek Yu-Seol nodded and stepped toward the magic circle. The moment he did, the prophet snapped:

"Take off your shoes!"

"...Yes."

What a picky and irritating prophet.

Without their assistance, locating Scarlet would prove impossible, so he followed orders without complaint.

"Scarlet! Oh, Scarlet! The woman you happened to fall in love with is none other than the blood-soaked Witch Queen! How fascinating, tragic, and repulsive all at once!"

With both arms raised high by the prophet, the candles flared fiercely, while a sinister red light started oozing from the magic circle.

"You! You know this already, seeking her comes with a price!"

He didn’t.

"You’ve prepared for it, haven’t you?"

He hadn’t.

"What exactly was I supposed to prepare...?"

"Alright, let’s get started immediately!"

"Wait, what? Hold on a second—!"

Completely dismissing Baek Yu-Seol’s protest, the prophet launched into the ritual right away, clapping hands to activate the magic circle.

"Ugh?!"

A sickening wave crashed over him, feeling like his whole body was under crushing pressure. Baek Yu-Seol clamped his eyes shut and gripped his forehead.

"Focus! Think of her, the one you love, and the one who loved you in return!"

Though the burning agony had him inwardly cursing the prophet, Baek Yu-Seol summoned tremendous willpower to picture Scarlet’s face.

Eyes squeezed tight and mind locked onto Scarlet with full intensity, Baek Yu-Seol suddenly sensed his body growing light.

His eyes snapped open.

"Gasp!"

He jerked upright on instinct, his face contorting into a weird look of bewilderment.

"...Huh?"

Chirping birdsong drifted into his ears.

Chirp, chirp!

A cool breeze swept gently across him.

A brilliant blue sky overhead.

Endless green fields rolling out to the horizon.

"What is this? Is this... where Scarlet is supposed to be imprisoned?"

It looked like the prophet’s spell had gone horribly awry.