Academy's Gumiho is a Magic Genius

The man who invaded the academy scratched his head after smashing the security room.

He had no further plans in mind.

"The original plan was supposed to be improvised on the spot..."

He is a mercenary who takes on any request without discrimination.

Over decades of mercenary work, he has learned one truth: no matter how well you plan, it's ultimately meaningless.

Life doesn't go as planned.

So, preparing in advance is as futile as it gets.

You just have to adapt to the reality that comes your way.

"...But this place is way too big."

If it were just vast, it wouldn't be a problem.

He's carried out requests in even larger territories.

However, the academy wasn't just vast in size—its "environment" was expansive too.

While surveying the area around the security room, he discovered a massive waterfall and a hill.

As he continued walking, he was greeted by an endless grassland.

Then, a dry desert and a damp swamp came into view, making him tense up naturally.

So this is what makes one of the world's top five academies different.

He had no idea what variables this land might hold.

There could be massive landmines buried underground, or carpet bombings might rain down from the sky.

He might even encounter unexpectedly strong opponents.

"Haha, this is interesting."

The man felt a thrilling excitement as his tension rose.

Yes, for the Seven Stars Academy, this level of challenge is expected.

It felt too easy otherwise.

This level of tension is what makes it worthwhile.

With high expectations, he pulled out a horn flute he had tucked away.

A flute adorned with protruding horns, its black exterior making it clear this was no ordinary factory-made item.

It was an artifact crafted from the vocal cords of a special magical beast.

The horn flute was borrowed from the client of this request, a demon named Main.

The power contained within this flute controls magical beasts. Rumor has it that it's a precious item created using the power of nobility, but he didn't care much about that—it was just a useful tool.

───Buuuuuuuuu!

As he blew the horn flute, magical beasts scattered throughout the area began to advance.

The command given through the flute was slaughter. Now, the beasts would kill every living creature in sight.

"Now, let's find where the students are hiding."

The request from Main was to massacre the students.

The magical beasts would take care of the students roaming the streets, so he only needed to kill those in hiding.

He felt a pang of guilt at the thought of killing children, but it was necessary for the reward.

Please, die for my sake.

The man dashed between buildings, searching for shelters.

Perhaps in preparation for emergencies, the locations of the shelters within the academy weren't even listed on the Internet. So, he had no choice but to run around himself.

His eyes darted around as he moved, and he suddenly arrived at a place thick with condensed magical energy.

Hmm, what's this?

"...It doesn't seem like a shelter or a hiding spot."

His curiosity piqued, his pupils dilated.

His gaze was fixed on the ground.

Because of this, his reaction to the flames targeting his back was delayed.

A massive explosion of flames would have blown off his head and incinerated his body.

Thus, the man would die.

He saw such a future.

"...A stealthy and powerful attack."

The man immediately created distance.

He ran about 1 km with all his might. When he looked back, he saw the place he had been standing turned into a fiery hell.

Hmm, with that level of firepower, it's understandable that his sturdy head would be blown off, and not even his corpse would remain.

Once again, he expressed gratitude to his "eyes" for saving him, and felt a thrill at the fact that he had almost died.

It was a contradictory feeling.

But the man was broken enough to feel such contradictory emotions simultaneously.

"Now, shall I take the initiative this time?"

Having confirmed the opponent's location, he charged forward.

Dozens of flaming arrows flew toward him as he drew his sword from his waist.

***

Attacks using arrows are monotonous.

No matter how much you curve their trajectory, their limits are clear.

All you need is a shield or armour to protect yourself.

But what if those arrows were magic, with unpredictable trajectories?

Moreover, what if they were made of flames instead of metal?

The man threw himself into action to find the answer to that question.

"Hahaha, quite clever arrows. You must have an excellent sense for handling magical energy!"

The dozens of arrows didn't fly at him simultaneously.

They came in sequence, forcing the man to move.

Then, like a fish caught in a net, they aimed to cut off his escape and suffocate him.

The skill in handling magical energy was extraordinary.

If he didn't have his "eyes," he might have lost an arm to such a cunning move.

"But tricks like these won't work on me...!"

The man swung his sword.

A massive gust of wind from the sword twisted the arrows' trajectories. Of course, since the arrows were made of magic, they immediately homed in on him like guided missiles.

But the fish had already escaped the net.

Just as he broke free from the net of arrows.

Whoosh, a flame the size of a human head flew toward him. Its firepower and speed were impressive, but this level of attack wasn't hard to handle.

The man tried to deflect the flame with his sword. For a moment, his eyes went blank.

As he deflected the flame with his sword, a massive explosion occurred.

Even if he dodged, the result would have been the same. It was reasonable to think of that flame as a timed bomb.

The world he glimpsed with his "eyes" warned him.

Following the flaming arrows, it was an excellent move. An ordinary opponent would have fallen for it.

But the man wasn't ordinary.

His eyes and experience were beyond human. Thinking you could take him down with such tricks was a mistake.

Whoosh, as he assumed a thrusting stance with his sword, the blade emitted a sharp energy.

The energy, materialized by magical power, ruthlessly shredded the flames. It extinguished the flames without even allowing them to explode.

Now, it's my turn.

The man took his stance. Having received such impressive attacks, he planned to deliver a decisive blow.

But Seung-woo didn't give him that opening.

The flames flickered and rose from the ground.

Sharp, thorn-like flames. The spikes rose about 2 meters, making it impossible to step on the ground.

The man, floating in the air, dodged again, but he missed one variable.

He relied on what he saw and twisted his body.

Clang!

A metallic sound that was hard to believe came from the clash of flames and sword. Seung-woo had wrapped himself in flames and charged.

The man retreated, wary of the unique flames that had both form and physical force.

It was a bizarre situation.

The man was too busy defending. There was no opportunity or opening to attack his opponent.

No matter how flawless the opponent was, even with his eyes, he couldn't land a single attack.

It was his first time facing such an opponent.

He was tense but inwardly enjoying himself. He couldn't imagine himself losing.

In the industry, he was known as the Mage Hunter.

Not because he could reverse-engineer magic or defend against all spells. Simply because his nature was inherently opposed to mages.

Unless you're a martial artist who can split even a moment into fragments.

A mage who relies on calculations and distance could never defeat him.

Confident he wouldn't lose, the man spoke in a playful tone.

"Oh, you're quite handsome."

The stars and moonlight were obscured by clouds. Barely able to secure his vision, he encountered a pyromancer capable of turning the surroundings into a sea of fire.

As the battle continued, the flames spread widely, revealing the opponent's skills.

Overall, he had the kind of appearance that would be popular with women.

His head was small, and his limbs were thin and long. His face was so clean that not a single blemish could be seen.

Would my daughter like it if I stuffed him and gave him to her?

He seriously considered it, thinking it might be better than gifting an ordinary doll. Then, suddenly, a familiar scent tickled his nose.

A scent he recognized.

Amidst the thick smoke, a distinct smell stood out—one he definitely remembered.

The man fell deep into thought.

Seung-woo didn't miss the opportunity and showered him with a barrage of flames.

Splat! Splat!

Instead of fleeing, the man pulled something out from his pocket. A green talisman fluttered in his hand, and a green barrier enveloped him.

"...Tsk!"

Seung-woo clicked his tongue at the sight.

All magic was blocked by that barrier.

It seemed to be a barrier of considerable strength. Even a decent attack wouldn't pierce it, let alone deal damage.

While Seung-woo caught his breath and regrouped.

The man, hidden within the barrier, pondered. The scent from his memory.

A strong, unforgettable scent that stimulated his nerves.

"...Ah! That's it!"

It came to him.

The pleasure district he often visited for requests.

The perfume the courtesans there wore was similar.

No, to be precise, it was more than that.

It was a scent that stirred something instinctual. What was it called again?

"...What was it? Ah, pheromones, right?"

Yes, it was pheromones.

This sweet, intoxicating scent was definitely pheromones.

But why does it smell like this?

He looks like a male courtesan.

Was he really a male courtesan?

Then, an old memory surfaced.

Not a fond one.

Rather, it was closer to a curse.

The day he lost his wife, and his daughter fell ill.

That day, there was a similar scent.

As the man fell into memory. Seung-woo regrouped the scattered flames.

Multiple flames swirled together like a whirlwind.

Kaboom!

Another attack aimed at the barrier.

Of course, there was no damage.

The man remained lost in thought within the barrier.

To do such a thing in the middle of battle.

It was truly the act of a madman.

The man took it a step further.

"I can never forgive a male courtesan like you!"

The man spat out incomprehensible words.

Perhaps he had some history with male courtesans.

Of course, that wasn't Seung-woo's concern.

In his mind, the Mage Hunter was beyond common sense.

It was easier to think of him as a madman.

He decided to treat him like a beast.

Just then.

Bang!

The green barrier shattered, and the man burst out.

He moved wildly and fiercely, like a ruined man who had lost everything.

Why is he acting like this?

"...Ugh!"

While his mind was filled with such questions, his body was busy responding to the wild movements.

Swift and raw, like a wild animal.

He aimed for every opening as he moved.

Each time, he countered with walls of flame or shields.

The man's face reddened as he realized his abilities weren't effective.

Then I'll force my way through, the man thought as he raised his sword. It might be a bit reckless, but it's fine.

With his eyes, he could minimize the damage.

Now, the man wanted to land a blow, even if it meant taking damage.

So, he abandoned all defence and went on the offensive. A glaring opening that would surely be attacked. But──

"──Huh?"

Something was off.

He had abandoned his defense, yet Seung-woo didn't take advantage of the obvious opening. Instead, he was busy defending and neglecting his attacks.

What, is this a show?

He's not attacking even when I'm wide open?

The man thought as he swung his sword.

As time passed, his confusion deepened, and his suspicion turned into certainty.

His way of thinking was that of a madman, but his ability to deduce situations was exceptional.

A judgment honed by years of mercenary work.

Haha, so that's how it is.

The man opened his mouth to solidify his conviction.

"You... know what ability I have, don't you?"

That's why you're holding back.

Even if he was certain, it was just his own thought.

But beyond the opponent's expressionless face. He clearly caught the subtle tremor in the pupils.

Bingo, it was the correct answer.

***

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