I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy-Chapter 431

Flowerserein walked towards the reception room, her face showing evident tension as she approached the place where those who called themselves "Dark Elves" awaited her.

Her mind was overwhelmed with thoughts.

What if they really were Dark Elves?

What if they claimed their rights? How was she supposed to respond?

Feeling apologetic for keeping them waiting, Flowerserein had reviewed the "Protocol for Receiving Dark Elves" that the former kings had prepared just in case. However, it offered little practical guidance.

The kings of the generation before Flowerserein had almost no concept of governance. They merely communicated with the World Tree and would readily relinquish the throne to the Dark Elves should they demand it, such was their lack of responsibility.

But Flowerserein was different.

Unlike her predecessors, she carried the responsibilities and duties of her position as queen with utmost diligence.

It was an era of rapid change.

Humans, dwarves, and countless other races were developing at an extraordinary pace. If the elves continued to isolate themselves within the forest, it was clear they would eventually become obsolete.

...If the Dark Elves dream of a future better than mine, I would willingly yield the throne.

But what if they didn’t?

What if they had returned solely to claim the throne for themselves...?

Lost in these complicated thoughts, Flowerserein found herself standing before the reception room.

She reached for the doorknob, only to freeze, her shoulders trembling.

What is this...?

As someone deeply attuned to the energies of nature, she could sense a faintly corrupted aura.

Of course, if it were a Black Mage who had perfectly concealed their aura, like Baek Yuseol, it would be nearly impossible to discern. But within the World Tree, her senses were as sharp as those of a 9th-class mage.

She could clearly feel it.

Cold, sharp, and chilling, the oppressive energy seeped out from beyond the reception room's door.

Black Mages.

There was no other explanation for this aura.

Calming her expression, Flowerserein tightened her grip and pushed open the door.

Clack!

“Oh! You’ve arrived,”

The moment Flowerserein entered, three men and women sitting on the sofa waved at her with broad smiles. Their casual and irreverent greetings were far from respectful, especially towards a queen, but this was not the time to care about formalities.

Pointed ears, silvery-gray hair adorned with ornaments made from woven tree vines, green eyes, and tattoos resembling tree patterns etched onto their shoulders, waists, and cheeks.

They were unmistakably elves.

Had it not been for their dark, shadowy skin and the aura of corruption surrounding them, they could easily have been mistaken for high elves.

Without a word, Flowerserein walked to the chair opposite them and sat down. The Dark Elves, still smiling, spoke first.

“Ah, so nice to finally meet you. We had heard that the throne had passed to a new queen, but we never expected her to be this beautiful.”

“...You’ve heard?”

“Haha, of course. We had the honor of meeting the previous king.”

“...I see.”

She hadn’t heard of such a thing before.

It wasn’t as though she could learn everything about her predecessor. The previous Elven King had died suddenly, leaving no time to hand over responsibilities before Flowerserein, still young, ascended to the throne.

Even now, she felt as though she had been drawn into a web of information warfare.

The Dark Elves, their smiles full of hidden meaning, continued speaking.

“Hmm, judging by your expression, it seems you weren’t told.”

A male Dark Elf clasped his hands together as he spoke.

“My name is Dalion. Long ago, whether it was due to some curse from the heavens or not, we Dark Elves faced immense difficulty in reproducing. Now, only a very small number of us remain. Forced into hiding by powerful resentment, we have endured countless hardships. And yet, despite everything... I am the prince of the Dark Elves.”

The prince of the Dark Elves.

Hearing those words, Flowerserein could already predict what he would demand. Anyone could.

“It has been far too long.”

Dalion’s clasped hands trembled slightly.

“We have lived in the shadows for what feels like an eternity... enduring humiliation and shame. But no longer. The time of promise has come, Queen of the High Elves.”

Dalion addressed Flowerserein not as the “Queen of the Fairies,” but specifically as the “Queen of the High Elves.”

“Now is the time for everything to return to its rightful place, Your Majesty. We, the Dark Elves, have guarded the World Tree longer than any other race, longer even than the High Elves. So...”

Flowerserein closed her eyes.

This was expected. She would not be shaken.

They are Dark Elves.

And they are also Black Mages.

Why the Dark Elves had been forced into hiding all this time was something Flowerserein did not know.

But their sudden reappearance, at this moment of rapid change—just as Flowerserein had stabilized her reign, establishing the Elven Kingdom as a unified governing state—was telling.

The reason was obvious.

Now that Flowerserein had laid a strong foundation, they sought to take control of the kingdom and shape it according to their desires.

Her sharp mind quickly simulated the future.

Having seen the Dark Elves with her own eyes, predicting what would come next was simple.

The Dark Elves will establish a noble hierarchy, creating a caste system.

There already existed some semblance of hierarchy between elves and high elves, but there were no nobles.

High elves were simply more attuned to nature’s energy and could access places off-limits to ordinary elves. They held no special rights or privileges.

Even the Council of Elders, composed of wise high elves who had lived for centuries, had been dismantled during the Twilight of the Crumbling Dawn incident.

The current elven society, aside from the monarchy, was an entirely egalitarian one.

But that was not what the Dark Elves wanted.

The Dark Elf prince before her wished to restore their race’s dominance, to once again stand above all other beings—including the elves themselves.

“The day we departed, it was promised. When we returned, the throne would be restored to us. After all, isn’t the title of Fairy King merely a position to safeguard the World Tree?”

He said this as if he didn’t already know the truth, his words brazen and shameless.

“So, it is time to return the throne to us.”

If.

Read 𝓁at𝙚st chapters at ƒrēenovelkiss.com Only.

If the Dark Elves had truly come as the ancestors of fairies, with pure intentions to protect and nurture the World Tree...

Flowerserein would have handed over the throne without hesitation.

As queen, she held no personal privileges. She lived a far more exhausting and busy life than any other elf.

If someone else were willing to take her place, Flowerserein would have welcomed it with open arms.

But the man before her was not that person.

He wished only for the advancement of the Dark Elves as a singular race.

And so...

Flowerserein made a momentous decision—one she might never make again in her life.

Slowly, she raised her hands to her face, brushing against the veil she wore.

For the first time since Baek Yuseol, she would use the blessing of The Spring of Crimson Blossoms.

To reveal her face, suffused with the radiant pink aura...

Gently, she lifted the veil.

Dalion, who had been watching her with mild curiosity, widened his eyes in shock.

Flowerserein’s gaze glimmered with a vivid pink hue, her aura radiating with an undeniable allure.

Everything had changed.

No longer did this power steal life through sickness and obsession.

Instead, it would captivate and compel—forcing submission from her opponents.

A terrifying power, one she had vowed never to use. But now...

“There may come a time when you must use it. Do not hesitate, and do not fear. You are a queen, after all.”

Baek Yuseol’s words echoed in her mind.

Now was that time.

Dalion attempted to speak, but the words wouldn’t come out. His pupils dilated slightly, his arms went limp, and he could only stare blankly at Flowerserein.

The other two Dark Elves were no different.

As expected.

“...It seems even Black Mages are not immune to the allure of my eyes. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Ah...”

“Answer me.”

“Y-yes... That’s correct...”

Dalion nodded, his expression vacant and his mouth slightly agape. Watching him, Flowerserein felt far from comfortable, but she pressed on with her questioning.

“Elves hold no concept of honor. However, our pride in guarding the World Tree has always been unparalleled. How, then, have you Dark Elves fallen to such corruption?”

“We... we are not... corrupted...”

“If you wish to receive my love, do not lie.”

Now a slave to the emotion of love, Dalion was in a state where he could have willingly offered up his very heart to Flowerserein. And yet, even in such a state...

“It... it is not a lie...”

With a look that suggested he would surrender his soul to her, Dalion replied.

“We were born... with black mana from the very beginning...”

“...What did you just say?”

To Flowerserein, his words were utterly shocking.

***

When Baek Yuseol arrived at the Hawol Plains, the first thing he did was seek out the forces of the Starcloud Trading Company. It would certainly be more convenient to work in conjunction with the Stella Knights.

After all, they would treat him favorably.

But convenience and enjoyment were not the same thing. If he was going to be active on the field, wouldn’t it be better to partner with one of the world’s most beautiful individuals rather than a group of sweaty men?

“Oh, Jellyelle!”

“...You’ve come.”

The place Baek Yuseol arrived at was the center of a meadow where four Persona Gates had simultaneously erupted.

In mid-air, four massive, dark-red spheres pulsed ominously with magical energy.

All around were temporary tents and rows of advanced magical tools analyzing the Persona Gates. Magic warriors stood on high alert, ready to respond to emergencies at any moment.

Most of them bore the insignia of Starcloud, a detail that made Baek Yuseol wonder why an enterprise was allowed to command such a large force without national intervention.

‘Is it because Starcloud belongs to the Elf Kingdom?’

That kingdom’s concept of monarchy was so vague that it barely seemed concerned about elves amassing military power.

‘Eventually, even that will need to be checked...’

Right now, it was fortunate that Jellyelle was on good terms with the throne. But what if she suddenly decided to stage a coup, claiming she wanted to be queen and overthrow Flowerserein? It could lead to a catastrophic internal rift.

“You look well. Seems like you’ve been doing fine lately.”

“I pulled an all-nighter.”

“...Sorry.”

Jellyelle said this while staring intently at the documents in her hands.

“Ahem.”

Feeling unexpectedly guilty about his earlier comment, Baek Yuseol glanced at her face.

Despite her claim of having stayed up all night, her complexion was flawless. If anything, her skin looked even more radiant and refreshed than usual.

Noticing his blatant gaze, Jellyelle thought to herself, ...I had a heads-up that he was coming.

Before leaving, Baek Yuseol had called Starcloud headquarters looking for Jellyelle, but she had already left and couldn’t be reached.

Still, news of his impending visit was quickly relayed to her by another employee. Exhausted from working all night to organize the situation, Jellyelle had immediately turned to makeup to hide her disheveled appearance.

Of course, the best coordinators in the field had also contributed their craftsmanship.

Jellyelle had only asked for something simple, saying, “Just make it look like I’m not tired.” But to the coordinators, the opportunity to enhance such a beautiful face was rare.

They considered it a waste to use the word “simple” and instead poured their skills into perfecting her look, ensuring her skin appeared naturally radiant, as though she were wearing no makeup at all.

Though the process had taken longer than she liked, their dedication ultimately benefited her.

She wanted to conceal her exhaustion without giving off the impression that she had frantically prepared just because Baek Yuseol was coming.

In this situation, discreet makeup was indeed a blessing.

In an indifferent tone, she addressed him.

“Are you planning to enter the Persona Gates too?”

“Of course. I’m not exactly the type to stand outside tinkering with machines like an analyst.”

Instinctively, Jellyelle felt like saying she would go with him, but she pressed her lips together.

If it were someone like Eisel or Flame, she wouldn’t have held back. But Jellyelle had plenty of responsibilities to handle here.

“Why? Do you want to come along too?”

When Baek Yuseol asked this, it became harder for her to restrain herself.

“...I doubt I’d be much help. Besides, I’m really tired right now.”

“I figured. You look busy, too. I was just asking out of formality.”

He accepted her refusal so easily that it was almost frustrating. Jellyelle clenched her fists and forced herself to speak again.

“But still, I’ve been trained as a magic warrior. Staying here doing nothing makes me restless.”

She set the documents aside as she spoke. In truth, there was no urgent need for her to stay so busy.

Most pressing matters had already been dealt with. Mercenaries and mages from various towers had been hired and deployed to their respective positions. Each Persona Gate had been assigned a supervisor, and even reserve forces had been prepared in case more gates appeared.

She had also appointed a lead coordinator to oversee everything, completing the handover during her all-nighter. Technically, she could start taking it easy now.

But she couldn’t.

It was her habit.

She couldn’t relax unless she personally handled everything herself. This trait kept her rooted here, though if a compelling reason arose, she would drop everything and move on without hesitation.

Jellyelle clasped her hands and stretched, her ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) posture unguarded since no one was watching. To Baek Yuseol, this casual display was unfamiliar, even strange.

Noticing his persistent gaze, Jellyelle stopped mid-stretch and glanced at him.

“...What?”

“Nothing. Just...”

Jellyelle lowered her head slightly. While stretching, her midriff had been briefly exposed.

Hurriedly lowering her arms, she spoke as if nothing had happened.

“I’ll go prepare my gear. Wait here.”

“Uh, sure...”

Though it was obvious to anyone that she was embarrassed and had fled the situation, Jellyelle’s impeccable poker face betrayed none of it.