Chapter 182
Unreality (6)
Looking at the scene where a white pillar of light fell on the top of the Empire State Building in New York.
…The fragmented soul shard of Abeline Stabererk closed its eyes.
‘It’s a failure.’
In truth, he had always known this would happen. His ability absorbed all magic, but it couldn’t defeat the ‘Natural Heavenly Constitution.’
Even when that boy began to be drawn into the world he had created, he couldn’t put up any proper resistance.
‘To think I would witness a destiny spoken only in legends…’
During the 50 years he lay dormant as a fragmented soul, the world had changed dramatically.
A boy born with a special destiny.
A child of the stars.
Even girls blessed by the heavens.
The fragmented soul shard of Abeline Stabererk captured the last scene of Flame and Baek Yu-seol embracing, being swept away by the pillar of light, before disappearing.
They would now return to reality and live their lives just as they did yesterday. They would cry, laugh, sometimes get angry, and fight, but they would spend happy days together nonetheless.
‘It’s so beautiful, but so unfortunate.’
Why did the heavens intertwine their destinies so?
If there is a god, what exactly is he thinking?
Sadly, he could no longer witness the future they would paint.
‘I… will now disappear.’
He could feel his presence gradually fading away.
Considering he attempted to absorb the child of the stars, perhaps this was a light sentence.
From the moment he dared to absorb her, this might have been his destiny.
Still, he was satisfied. He had witnessed ‘her world’ with his own eyes.
It was a grand, amazing, and beautiful world. A mysterious world called Earth, built on a civilization surpassing the Aether World with nothing but the energy of electricity, devoid of mana.
‘This is the homeland of the child of the stars.’
Thinking that the last sight he beheld was that beautiful world, he thought this kind of death wasn’t so bad after all, and with that thought, the fragmented soul shard of Abeline Stabererk closed its eyes.
* * *
Heavy eyelids.
No matter how much she forced herself, they wouldn’t budge.
Think about it.
If your eyelids don’t want to move, isn’t there no reason to force them open?
Why go against your body?
‘I’m so sleepy I could die…’
Flame gave up trying to open her eyes and let herself drift into unconsciousness.
“Shh, be quiet. If we’re caught eating in the hospital room, it’ll be a disaster.”
“You’ve eaten more than me.”
“I was just worried you might not get to eat at all if you didn’t hurry.”
“Not worried at all.”
“Oh, but that was supposed to be my piece…”
T h i s wa s c o p ie d f rom k i ng m t l . o rg
She tried to stay unconscious, but she couldn’t.
The incessant whispers near her ear and the smell of pizza wafting through the air woke her up.
Thunk!
Unable to hold back anymore, she abruptly sat up and glared.
Her whole body shuddered with the movement, but not even that pain could quell her anger.
“What are you guys doing?”
Startled.
In the middle of the hospital room, Aiselle and Anella were eating pizza with wide eyes, frozen in mid-action.
Awkward silence.
Aiselle, embarrassed by being caught eating food that emitted a smell in the hospital, blushed and lowered her head, while Anella awkwardly smiled and tried to explain.
“Well, I didn’t know… that eating pizza in the hospital room was against the rules.”
Anella had lived a life completely removed from that of ordinary humans. Since becoming a Dark Mage at a young age, she had survived day by day in the ruins, knowing nothing about hospitals.
So, when she brought pizza to Flame’s hospital room as a visit, she had been sternly scolded by Aiselle.
Ironically, pizza was a food Aiselle loved and adored. In the end, she couldn’t resist the temptation of the pizza Anella had brought, and this was the result.
“Good grief…”
Flame sighed deeply.
“Just eat. Don’t worry about it. We survived, and pizza isn’t a big deal.”
“Okay…”
Anella hesitantly brought the pizza to her mouth, but Aiselle, too embarrassed to continue, put some distance between herself and the food.
She didn’t want to continue embarrassing herself.
“Haa…”
Flame flopped back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling.
“How’s your body feeling?”
Aiselle asked as she pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed. Flame shook her head.
“Not good. Feels like my whole body is aching. Maybe I’m getting old.”
“You’re only seventeen.”
“Mentally old.”
She wasn’t wrong.
Combining her past and present lives, her age was quite substantial.
“Nom.”
While the oblivious Anella continued eating pizza, Aiselle and Flame sat in silence for a while.
“So, how long have I been out?”
“About three days.”
“That long, huh.”
During that relatively short time, they had formed a team and investigated the rumors about the 7th Main Tower on their own, going through many events and incidents.
They discovered that there was indeed a hidden world within Stella Academy, witnessed numerous ghosts and rumors residing there, and finally confronted and defeated the Dark Mages.
“What happened while I was asleep?”
The aftermath of the incident.
Aiselle slowly began to explain.
“Right after you and Baek Yu-seol returned, the professors stormed in. The mirror shattered into pieces, making it impossible to investigate further, and Professor Checyrin disappeared, so we couldn’t capture him.”
T h i s w as copi e d f r om k i n g m tl . o r g
“I see…”
T h i s w a s co p i e d f r om ki n g m t l.o r g
After the incident wrapped up, all the students who had been drawn into the 7th Main Tower were hospitalized.
The incident was too massive and shocking to be quietly overlooked, especially since it happened at Stella Academy.
[Another Dark Mage Attack?]
[The Shaking World of Magic]
[The Reputation of Eltemon Eltrine, the Dark Mage Slayer, Continues to Plummet]
[Is Stella Academy Truly the Premier Institution of Magic?]
The threat of Dark Mage attacks was certainly frightening, but even more terrifying was the media assault from fellow mages.
Recently, Stella Academy had been under continuous attack by Dark Mages, leading to relentless efforts to tarnish its reputation.
This was exactly in line with the original plot. Stella Academy’s vulnerabilities were exposed, but the protagonist resolved the issue, making Aiselle’s reputation soar.
And it seemed this time wasn’t any different. Just seeing Aiselle’s faint smile indicated she had been promised a substantial reward.
Anyway, the school administration was actively responding to the media even now.
Meanwhile, Eltemon Eltrine had gone into hiding and was dealing with his own matters, causing the administration many headaches.
‘Well, the principal was always like that.’
In the original story, no matter what incident occurred, Eltemon Eltrine never directly intervened.
There was always an excuse.
He couldn’t step in because he was resolving ‘something more important’ than the current incident. Since it wasn’t revealed what Eltemon was doing during this period in the original story, Flame didn’t know either.
However, the fact that Eltemon Eltrine chose to handle another matter instead of this crisis about the 7th Main Tower rumors meant it was truly significant. He would never idly stand by if an issue arose that his power could resolve.
“Still, no one died. Many students are experiencing aftereffects, but… it seems Princess Hong Bi-yeon is fine too.”
“That’s a relief.”
The fact that their original goal, Hong Bi-yeon’s safety, was ensured was a massive achievement. Though she was still unconscious, doctors said it was merely due to exhaustion and she would wake up soon.
“Won’t the Adolevit Royal Family make a big fuss? If the school closes, I have nowhere to go…”
“They might cause a ruckus, but the school won’t close. Stella isn’t that easy to bring down.”
In the end, Eltemon Eltrine would quell even this controversy. He would announce the newly developed magic circle systems and new technologies and declare that he would move to eliminate the Dark Mages himself.
Stella Academy would become even more fortified, meaning it would be the safest fortress in the world… but,
‘It won’t be that easy.’
The Dark Mage’s terror attacks would continue. This wasn’t just about Stella Academy. They were infiltrating the magical realm in multiple places, gradually turning the world black.
“Anyway, you did well. But you overdid it at the end. It’s a relief you’re safe, though…”
“Oh, that.”
At the last moment, Flame had rushed towards the full-body mirror, but it had been a trap.
“Professor Checyrin explained. That place was completely shattered. The moment you entered, your soul would be torn apart, leaving you unable to maintain your identity… a world like that.”
“I see.”
“But you survived even in that place.”
“It wasn’t by my own power.”
“Yes. It was thanks to his help.”
Aiselle still remembered that moment. The back of Baek Yu-seol, who had stepped into that dreadful space without hesitation.
Why could he make such a decisive decision?
“That gaze. I still remember it. Baek Yu-seol didn’t hesitate at all in his steps towards you.”
Baek Yu-seol was a regressor who had repeated countless times. Even if he died, he would revive, so he wasn’t afraid of death.
But this time was entirely different.
“The collapse of identity. If things went wrong, he might not have been able to regress and could have disappeared forever.”
The girls had witnessed how Baek Yu-seol reversed time in the ‘Library of Stars.’
‘Death.’
When he faced death, he reversed time. Repeating the same history, dying and reviving, enduring the blood-soaked path again and again.
However, the ‘collapse of identity’ was different. It was true death, not just a physical one.
If his body remained intact but his soul was torn apart, he might have wandered forever with Flame in the world within the mirror, unable to reverse time.
Baek Yu-seol must have been acutely aware of that risk.
“And still… he didn’t hesitate?”
To save me, he approached without any hesitation and reached out his hand.
Flame felt somewhat dazed and couldn’t focus her eyes properly. Aiselle, looking at her, suddenly asked.
“…What was that place like?”
“Hmm…”
What kind of place was it?
Just a crappy place.
But she corrected her answer.
“Still, it was quite a nice place.”
Most of the memories from that place were hazy.
Like a dream.
But… no matter how dreamlike, precious and important scenes remained clearly etched in memory, never to be forgotten.
‘You will be truly happy. I’ll make sure of it.’
At that time, what did Baek Yu-seol mean by saying that? To someone like me, who has no memories of ‘reality,’ such words wouldn’t have made any sense.
Well, was finding meaning in those words even important?
She was simply happy that Baek Yu-seol had said them to her.
“Happy?”
“Huh?”
“Oh, no. You were smiling so happily all of a sudden…”
“Did I?”
Am I happy right now?
She pondered.
But the conclusion was soon reached.
“Yeah. I think I’m happy.”
Very much so.
Sunlight filtered through the fluttering curtains. Her silver hair shimmered more beautifully than usual today.
Why did the stars appear before the moon had risen?
“Hmm…”
Hong Bi-yeon slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes, resembling red rubies, began to take in the world.
“Princess!”
Someone jumped up in surprise. The mere sound and stress caused a massive headache, and she frowned.
Inform the doctor immediately.
Call the nurse.
The princess has awakened.
T h i s wa s co p i e d fr o m k i n g m t l. o rg
Even amidst the fuss and noise of the faction members, Hong Bi-yeon remained silent.
‘Ah…’
She realized she had been asleep for a long time.
Their reactions alone made that clear. Since her magic had been completely drained, it was no wonder she had been asleep for so long.
‘Still, I’m alive.’
Every morning, upon waking, she thought.
I’m alive today too.
Luxuriously,
If so, I must live hard.
For tomorrow, I might not be able to open my eyes.
When she raised her upper body, the faction girls hurriedly supported her.
The sensation of her silver hair cascading down her neck like a waterfall felt particularly irritating today. Though someone had diligently maintained it while she slept, her hair was still as soft as ever.
“Water.”
“Here it is!”
Receiving a bottle of mineral water, she drank quickly but gracefully, replenishing her hydration.
“Princess, are you alright…”
T h i s w as c o p ie d f r om ki n g m t l . o r g
“Does it hurt a lot?”
T h i s w as co pi e d fr o m ki n g mt l. or g
“It’s a headache…”
“Yes! We’ll be quiet!”
Could they not give such enthusiastic responses in the hospital room?
The faction members fussed quietly, calling for a nurse and searching for a doctor to take care of Hong Bi-yeon.
In the midst of this, the hospital room door opened.
T h is w a s co p i e d f r o m k i n g m t l . o r g
“…Hello, sister? It’s been a while.”
Hong Si-hwa entered, leading the Adolevit Magic Knights into the hospital room.
“What… what is this…”
“What are you doing!”
The faction members hastily moved to block Hong Si-hwa, but they were overwhelmed by the presence of the real magic warriors.
“Don’t be so wary. Today, I’ve come to protect my little sister.”
“…Protect? Nonsense.”
When Hong Bi-yeon frowned and spoke, Hong Si-hwa struck a dramatically hurt expression, clutching her chest with both arms.
“Sister has come all this way for you, and you show such coldness. It makes me so sad.”
“What’s your purpose?”
The headache hadn’t subsided, and now Hong Si-hwa was adding to the commotion, pushing her stress to its limit.
“Purpose? I told you. I’m here to protect you.”
“So, what does that mean…”
“It’s a royal command.”
T h is w a s c o p i ed f r o m k in g m tl . o rg
“…What?”
T his w a s c o p i e d f r o m k i ng m t l . org
A direct order from the king?
Th i s w a s co p i e d f ro m kin g m t l. o rg
Only then did she realize something was seriously wrong. Why had Hong Si-hwa brought the Magic Knights here? The reason was obvious.
“Stella Academy is deemed too dangerous right now. You were kidnapped again, weren’t you? The king wants you to return to the kingdom.”
“But…”
“I thought you might stubbornly try to stay here. But how can I leave my sister in a dangerous place? I directly requested the king. I suggested it would be better to protect you in the kingdom, at least for a while.”
Even as Hong Bi-yeon’s face paled, Hong Si-hwa continued to speak, her own face flushed.
“It won’t be for long. Until the principal takes some measures? Hmm, let’s say just for the summer vacation? Well, if that’s not enough, we might need to consider a semester, but it’s better than staying in danger, right?”
A lie.
Once she returned to the kingdom, they would never let her go back to Stella.
It wasn’t just about ruining Hong Bi-yeon’s career; it was about suppressing and binding her.
To Hong Bi-yeon, the royal palace was hell. No one wanted her there, and no one took her side.
Crucially, if she left Stella… she would never be able to see someone she could only see here.
‘Not yet…’
My place is Stella.
Her plan was to solidify her position at Stella, prove her abilities, and gradually increase her faction.
But Hong Si-hwa intended to take away even that opportunity.
“Don’t like it? Too bad. It’s a royal command.”
As if driving a spike into her chest, Hong Si-hwa simply declared.
An order that could not be defied.
Resistance was impossible.
But.
‘Do you think I’ll quietly let myself be imprisoned?’
She was no longer the old Hong Bi-yeon. Meeting many people and experiencing much at Stella had completely changed her.
There was no way she would quietly let herself be caged like a bluebird in a birdcage according to Hong Si-hwa’s wishes.
End of Chapter.