I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy-Chapter 493

Baek Yu-Seol sat at a circular table, glancing between the two women before him.

First, Althericia of the Alchemist Guild, a monumental figure whose influence had surpassed even the most ambitious expectations. Over the past two years, she had advanced human technology by an estimated twenty years. Naturally, her schedule was packed.

Second, Jelliel of the Starcloud Trading Company, now nineteen and already running the company alongside her father. With her sharp "golden eyes" for commerce, she effectively controlled the global financial market. Like Althericia, her time was incredibly valuable.

Baek Yu-Seol had anticipated at least a week to arrange a meeting with these two powerhouses. Yet, to his mild irritation, they had both shown up mere hours after he made °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° the call.

As Baek Yu-Seol’s skeptical gaze darted between them, Althericia was the first to speak.

“Yu-Seol, is what you said over the phone true? That there’s a forest with gemstones that surpass the mana conductivity of Radatinium alloys?”

“...Honestly, I find it hard to believe. Radatinium was developed by the Alchemist Guild and currently boasts the best conductivity available. You’re saying something from nature surpasses that?”

Baek Yu-Seol smirked slightly.

Radatinium was indeed a key material in Aether World Online, introduced mid-game as part of the storyline where Althericia solidifies her place as a legendary alchemist. While it initially posed challenges to obtain, its efficiency and cost-effectiveness made it a staple for most mid-tier players.

However, late-game introduced a game-changer. During the “Sleeping Elf in the Forest” quest, a player discovered a gemstone called Vanarium, which significantly outperformed Radatinium.

Baek Yu-Seol recalled the quirky story behind its name—apparently derived from the player’s ID, BananaBanana. While amusing, the name wasn’t what mattered.

What mattered was that giving Vanarium to Althericia in the game led to groundbreaking technological advancements. By experimenting with Vanarium, she eventually developed Altherinium, the strongest metal humanity could craft. It became a core component of endgame gear for top players.

Baek Yu-Seol himself had relied heavily on Altherinium equipment, though even he couldn’t afford to fully outfit himself in the rare Moonlight Stones it was often paired with.

“This material could be revolutionary again.”

Of course, he had no intention of explaining all this to the two women. He simply wanted to present Vanarium as a superior gemstone to pique their interest and secure their cooperation. The rest was up to them.

Pulling a small chunk of Vanarium from his pocket, Baek Yu-Seol placed it on the table.

“This isn’t from the main deposit, but it should suffice as a sample.”

Vanarium, which looked like an ordinary clump of dirt, was so dense that it was often repurposed by nearby subspecies as crude axes. This, in fact, was the key to its discovery—finding tools made from an inexplicably durable material.

While Baek Yu-Seol hadn’t managed to acquire a significant amount, he had enough to demonstrate its potential.

“This is Vanarium...”

Althericia’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she picked up a piece, while Jelliel, less convinced, examined hers with a skeptical expression.

“I don’t really get it,” Jelliel admitted, tilting her head.

But Althericia’s reaction was markedly different.

“Kyaaaaaah!”

Her sudden scream startled Baek Yu-Seol, making him flinch.

“What’s wrong?”

Ignoring him, Althericia frantically channeled mana into the gemstone, oblivious to the startled gazes of everyone around her.

“This is incredible...!”

Even Jelliel, initially indifferent, gasped at the stone’s astonishing mana conductivity.

The most remarkable feature of Vanarium, however, was something entirely different.

“It’s changing shape...”

As Althericia infused it with mana, the gemstone began to morph.

Vanarium could instantly alter its form based on the mana input, a property that would later lead to the development of Adaptive Shapeshifting Equipment—gear that could transform from armor to a full suit, or from a short sword to a long blade, with a simple thought.

“I’ve never seen a raw material respond to alchemy like this before,” Jelliel remarked.

“Neither have I.”

“Unbelievable.”

Now fully convinced of its value, Jelliel examined the stone with renewed interest.

“Where did you find this?”

“Near the Twelfth World Tree. The local subspecies had a few pieces, and I traded some food for them.”

“Food? This is worth far more than that.”

Jelliel shot him a disapproving look, but Baek Yu-Seol merely shrugged.

“Doesn’t matter.”

What did matter was what this material represented:

“This will advance technology.”

“And make money.”

Althericia was already contemplating every possible experiment and application for Vanarium, while Jelliel calculated the immense profits her trading company could reap from monopolizing its distribution.

However, both women were soon confronted with a problem.

To develop the technology or claim financial dominance, they would need a massive supply of Vanarium.

“How much more of this do they have?”

“None. What I showed you was everything scavenged by warriors who accidentally stumbled into the forest. The rest seems lost.”

“That’s... disappointing.”

Althericia and Jelliel, who had momentarily looked disheartened upon hearing there was no more Vanarium available outside the forest, suddenly widened their eyes as they processed Baek Yu-Seol’s words.

“Wait, so if we enter the forest...”

“...we might be able to get more of this?”

When they both stood abruptly, questioning him with newfound energy, Baek Yu-Seol gave a sly grin and nodded.

“However, as you know, the Abandoned World Tree’s forest is a treacherous place. It’s so dangerous even dark mages avoid it. The forest itself possesses consciousness and attacks all living beings.”

Certainly, it was possible to clear out the forest, but there was little to gain from doing so. Destroying the forest would only incur the enmity of the World Tree, leaving nothing to salvage.

Unlike Earth, where clear-cutting forests to expand territories might have seemed reasonable to some, such an act here was tantamount to madness. Any misstep would provoke hostility from the elves, and instead of expanding territories, those responsible would meet a swift and gruesome demise.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already secured permission from Lady Kkot-Seorin. She agreed that we can purify the tainted parts of the forest, provided we leave the World Tree itself unharmed.”

“Purify...?”

It was clear that neither Althericia nor Jelliel had any idea how they were supposed to purify a corrupted forest. But Baek Yu-Seol had not meant purification in the traditional sense.

“Purify, as in removing impurities and cleaning things up.”

“...”

“In other words, if we completely clear out the forest, that’s purification too, isn’t it?”

It was a bold yet clear interpretation.

Jelliel and Althericia, pleased with his practical reasoning, immediately produced contracts from their belongings.

“Let’s go right now!”

As Stella Academy approached the end of its winter break, the academy’s students were busily preparing for the new term. The school’s mantra—**“Don’t waste time, even during the holidays”—**encouraged every student to focus on self-improvement.

Even the infamous Scarlett, who once dismissed such advice, had undergone a significant change. Fueled by the events of the winter break, she was now dedicating herself to self-development with an intensity unmatched by any student.

The cavern Scarlett occupied was a masterpiece of magical engineering. Encased entirely in luminous blue crystals, its veins pulsed with mana that thrummed in harmony with her every breath.

While other magicians sought natural sites steeped in chi to cultivate their powers, Scarlett had no need for such trivialities. The cavern, enhanced by her alchemy, was a mana-rich fortress designed solely for her use.

This legendary site, the Blood Palace of the Grand Dragon Vein, had once been created by a mage aspiring to surpass the limits of the 9th Class. Abandoned after its creator realized the pursuit was futile, it had been forgotten—until Scarlett found a use for it.

Inside the cavern, the intense mana had left Scarlett’s body battered and broken. Blood dripped from her nose and mouth, and the remnants of tears streaked her cheeks. She struggled for each breath, her body pushed to its limits.

Yet despite the agony, Scarlett remained resolute.

“Almost there... seven-class strength restored.”

She had clawed her way back to this level. Soon, she would regain her full power, rendering the cavern unnecessary.

“With this, I won’t be a burden to that child anymore.”

Clenching her fists, Scarlett silently vowed to make amends for her past indolence.

“Good. From now on, anything in my way... I’ll crush it.”

Raising her fist triumphantly, Scarlett immediately collapsed to the ground, her legs buckling under the strain. Her head slammed against the crystal floor, and embarrassment flooded through her.

Yet her mortification was short-lived as a sharp sensation pricked at her instincts.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

Something powerful lingered near the Blood Palace. Though the intruder had yet to pinpoint the palace’s location, their presence was undeniable.

Scarlett smirked.

“They must be following my trail.”

It didn’t matter if the visitor was an assassin, an intruder, or a fool seeking her weakened state.

With her strength steadily returning, Scarlett relished the opportunity to fight. Whoever it was, she’d uncover the truth the same way she always did—by pummeling them until the answers fell out.