NOVPUBLet’s consider Baek Yuseol during his early days as a freshman.
Though he couldn’t even use magic, he was assigned to the S-Class, which immediately drew both disdain and curiosity from other students.
How could someone so lacking end up in the prestigious S-Class?
But as time went on, students and even professors came to acknowledge his abilities, realizing that he possessed talents truly fitting for S-Class.
It seemed that the same would hold true at Starflower Magic Academy.
“Cadet Baek Yuseol. What are you doing?” 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝒐𝒎
“Praying for the flower to grow.”
“Recite the spell.”
“I don’t know it.”
...So much for that.
Starflower’s teaching methods were slightly different from Stella’s, so even after a week, Baek Yuseol still held the image of a "clueless human student."
At Stella, which taught general magic, Baek Yuseol could excel with his unique style as a "Blink Mage." However, at Starflower, the curriculum for human exchange students was strictly focused on plant and spirit magic.
He hadn’t managed to grasp a single spell in plant magic and had even gained the unfortunate title of the first student in Starflower’s history to fail to make a seed bloom.
“He really can’t use magic?”
“How did someone like that even get into Stella...?”
“Is this the level of human magic schools?”
“They say he got in with Blink Magic.”
“Well, that’s still impressive. No one’s ever managed to control Blink before.”
“That’s true, but it seems he traded all other magical ability just to master the most basic spell.”
The elves’ reactions were mixed.
Some respected him for his young age, having already defeated several Dark Mages and being the only one who could wield Blink. However, his ineptitude with other magic left many unimpressed, and his reputation was steadily declining.
But there was one thing the elves didn’t know.
Baek Yuseol wasn’t entirely talentless with magic.
"How much do you Stella cadets know about divine beasts? You all met them at the beginning of the semester, and I hear some of you successfully formed contracts. Wonderful!"
Flame stared into the air with a blank expression. Her four-star divine beast, "Shining Petal," was floating nearby.
Hong Biyeon and Angel also had four-star divine beasts—quite an achievement at just seventeen years old. However, most of the other Stella cadets had barely managed to summon a six-star divine beast, and some students didn’t have one at all.
Forming a contract with a divine beast wasn’t mandatory, so there was no need to feel discouraged.
The problem, however, was that the elf cadets were standing opposite them.
Most of the elves had contracts with five-star or higher divine beasts, and there were plenty of four-star beasts among them as well.
The professor kept order, but the haughty expressions of the elf cadets were enough to ignite the anger of the Stella students. Finally, the elf professor, Hyren, began to speak in the class called "Divine Beasts, Our Friends."
“Divine beasts exist everywhere, but they’re very shy and usually hide. If you can summon them and ask for their help, you can use powerful elemental magic with minimal mana. They can protect you, and you may even gain a friend and companion.”
In short, the class was an introduction to a form of "spirit magic."
Though different from the actual summoning and contracting involved in spirit magic, the subject of divine beasts and spirits overlapped in that they both involved communicating with hidden beings in nature.
“This is a ‘Sacred Tree.’ It contains holy energy, and both spirits and divine beasts often make it their home. Spiritists have long sought these Sacred Trees in nature. Now, why don’t we try to connect with one ourselves?”
The professor glanced between the elf and human cadets.
“Cadet Tanyabel? Step forward.”
He called her name without hesitation, suggesting that she was one of the top students in divine beast studies.
Even among four-star contract holders, there were always those who stood out.
“And next...”
Among the Stella cadets, few had four-star contracts, so the professor looked hesitant before finally calling on someone.
“Cadet Baek Yuseol?”
He had heard of Baek Yuseol’s name but hadn’t realized that he hadn’t yet formed a contract with a divine beast.
The professor called him with a pleased expression. If he could teach Baek Yuseol to connect with a divine beast, it would certainly strengthen the relationship between Starflower and Stella!
“While you handle Blink Magic well, divine beast studies require more of an emotional connection. I’ll guide you.”
“...Alright.”
Reluctantly, Baek Yuseol walked forward, visibly displaying his lack of enthusiasm.
“It’s simple. Place your hand on the tree and whisper. If your heart is earnest, a divine beast hiding in nature might respond. If you’re lucky, it might even show itself. Cadet Tanyabel, would you demonstrate?”
With a confident nod, Tanyabel approached the tree, placed her hand on it, and whispered softly with her eyes closed.
While her words were too quiet for the others, Baek Yuseol, with his heightened senses, could hear her clearly.
"Please, come to me."
She seemed genuinely earnest, but the tree remained still. The elves patiently waited, as if this was expected. After about five minutes...
“Oh, wow!”
“Look, it appeared!”
Several small, colorful lights began to hover near Tanyabel, like playful will-o'-the-wisps.
“Very impressive!”
For a student, summoning even this many divine beasts was no small feat. Even the elf cadets looked awestruck.
“See? If you genuinely connect, divine beasts will open their hearts to you!”
Professor Hyren clenched her fist encouragingly.
“Alright, give it a try!”
However, Baek Yuseol hesitated to place his hand on the Sacred Tree.
The reason? He was already contracted to one of the highest beings among divine beasts—a *sacred spirit.*
A four-star divine beast? Compared to a sacred spirit, it was nothing. Even a one-star divine beast would bow before a sacred spirit.
*Can I really go through with this...?*
Seeing him hesitate, Professor Hyren urged him.
“There’s no need to be afraid. If you run away now, you’ll never become friends with a divine beast. You’ll remain a coward!”
“...Alright.”
Resigned, Baek Yuseol casually placed his hand on the tree.
Without any ritual or preparation, the elves gasped in shock. Such a disrespectful approach could easily be seen as offensive to the sensitive divine beasts.
Professor Hyren was about to reach out and correct him but quickly drew back as the surroundings suddenly lit up.
“Huh...?”
It was as if multicolored snowflakes were falling. Dozens, even hundreds, of luminous orbs floated out from the tree and began swirling around them.
“What... is this...?”
Surrounded by the warm aura of divine beasts, the students gazed up in awe. Even Professor Hyren, who specialized in divine beast studies, had never witnessed such a sight.
Of course.
How many sacred spirit contractors existed in this world to witness such a spectacle?
Professor Hyren covered her mouth with her hands, overcome with emotion, while Tanyabel stumbled backward in disbelief before falling.
“Cadet Baek Yuseol...”
Barely managing to speak, Hyren looked at Baek Yuseol with dilated pupils and asked.
“Who... are you?”
“I wonder that myself.”
Since even he didn’t know, he couldn’t answer.
When the lesson ended, students burst out of the classroom, buzzing with excitement.
The elf cadets looked particularly displeased. This human had managed to do something they considered exclusive to their noble, pure race.
Divine beast studies were meant to be the elves’ domain, and they were hardly pleased to see a human intruding upon it.
As soon as the class ended, Flame rushed toward Baek Yuseol, intending to ask how he’d managed such a feat.
But before she could reach him, a group of elf cadets blocked her path, and Jellyel appeared out of nowhere, leading Baek Yuseol away.
“What? Again?”
The sight had students from both Stella and Starflower whispering among themselves. It was only natural to wonder what kind of relationship the two had.
*What’s going on? Did he actually charm Jellyel instead of just impressing her?*
It made sense.
As an avid romance fantasy fan, Flame couldn’t help but let her imagination run wild.
The trope of a cold-hearted villainess falling for the protagonist and gradually spreading positive influence was common, but wasn’t it popular for a reason?
Maybe her speculation wasn’t so far off.
Jellyel had suddenly started contributing her wealth to the world, a fact well-known to many. And it seemed clear she held a strong interest in Baek Yuseol, whether as affection or as a business connection.
*What on earth is going on?*
Feeling unsettled, Flame tried to slip past the elf cadets to follow Jellyel and Baek Yuseol. But then, a familiar elf boy blocked her way.
Serang, of the noble Winterdew Flower family, and leader of the annoyingly flashy "Blossom Trio."
“Oh, not you again!”
“...Sorry. Did I do something wrong?”
Flame scrunched her face in frustration but held back. Thinking about it, Serang hadn’t actually done anything wrong. He was simply following her around because he liked her.
Not wanting to lash out unfairly, she took a deep breath, suppressing her irritation, but a thought suddenly struck her, and she looked up.
The situation felt strangely deliberate.
Baek Yuse
ol had never been the one to approach Jellyel first.
Yet, somehow, at the end of every class or after school, they would spend time together, while other students were conveniently blocked from getting close.
*Wait... could it be...?*
Flame locked eyes with Serang. His overly smooth, melted-butter expression made her want to slap him, but she held back and asked.
“Hey. You’re not really interested in me, are you?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Just admit it. Jellyel put you up to this, didn’t she?”
Serang’s expression stiffened slightly, and Flame didn’t miss it.
“You don’t have to lie. I may not have proof, but I already...”
“You’re right.”
“...Huh?”
To her surprise, Serang admitted it without resistance.
“Lady Jellyel asked me to do it. She promised a suitable reward. The other members received the same offer.”
His use of past tense caught her attention.
“So?”
“But now, it’s different. Even without a reward, I’d still act the same. The first time I saw your starlit eyes... At first, it was an act, but now my heart is sincere. My beating heart is all for y—”
“You insane moron!”
BAM!
Unable to listen any longer, Flame smacked him over the head with her textbook.
*Oh, crap!*
Physical altercations between Stella and Starflower cadets were strictly forbidden, and she had just hit him without warning.
Realizing what she had done, Flame’s heart raced as she tried to calm herself, while Serang slowly looked up, adjusting his ruffled hair.
“No one’s ever hit me before...”
She felt dizzy from the sheer absurdity of it all.
