Soft Green Spring Moon was one of the Twelve Divine Moon with no physical form.


    While most of them took the form of bipedal creatures like humans, elves, and dwarves with hands and feet, she chose to have no form at all.


    “It must be so boring?”


    Scarlet climbed the mountain, sweating profusely on purpose. She was dressed in brown hiking pants, hiking boots, a jungle hat, and a dark brown backpack.


    A retro song from fifty years ago yed from the radio at her waist, and in her right hand, she held an adjustable hiking pole that middle-aged men usually liked.


    Despite looking like a professional mountaineer, her young appearance,bined with her stark white hair, singled her out.


    She looked more like a yful girl who had snuck into her dad’s clothes, making her appear quite cute.


    “Huff, I’m tired~ When are you going to answer me? Huh? Don’t be like that?”


    Boom...!!


    As Scarlet kept talking to the empty air while struggling up the mountain, the ground suddenly shook, and arge rock started to tremble.


    "Oh my! That’s dangerous!"


    She pped herself dramatically against the side of the cliff, and the rock narrowly missed her, tumbling down below.


    “Sis, I almost died. Can’t we stop ying these pranks? Huh?”


    Rumble!!


    This time, dozens of rocks came crashing down like a shower.


    Scarlet made a slightly shocked expression andughed awkwardly.


    “Oh, sorry.”@@novelbin@@


    Crash!!


    A tremendous roar echoed as if the entire ground would copse, and after a while...


    “Cough...!”


    Scarlet poked her head out from a pile of rocks, dusted off her dirt-covered clothes and screamed.


    “Ahhh! I lost my jungle hat!”


    Miraculously, her jungle hat dropped down in front of her.


    “Oh.”


    As she picked it up and put it on, a shadow fell over Scarlet. Looking up, she saw a man with green hair smiling down at her.


    “Witch King. My master does not wish to meet you.”


    “Huh? Why?”


    “Didn’t you try to steal the Root of Life? Although she would love to overturn this entire mountain right now, she’s holding back since many creatures have made it their home.”


    “Gasp. So, I’m holding everyone hostage?”


    “Yes. But if she gets truly angry, she might bury you underground along with the hostages.”


    “Oh,e on~ I know that won’t happen. Soft Green Spring Moon values life so much? she probably hasn’t even killed a single ant.”


    The man simply smiled quietly in response without saying anything.


    “Hey, kiddo. Can you please deliver my message?”


    “Go ahead. She’s listening.”


    “No~ I didn’t steal the Root of Life. I just borrowed it for a moment, but treating me this harshly is a bit too much…”


    Rumble!!


    As the tremor echoed again, Scarlet quickly covered her mouth with both hands.


    “… Ahem. I said I’d return it, okay? Really. I was going to use it for something really, really important.”


    “If your reason is unsatisfactory, she’ll turn you into a flower right away.”


    “I’m already a flower… Ah, fine! Fine, okay!”


    As the man turned to leave, Scarlet grabbed him and said, “It was to put Dusk Soil Moon to sleep. Isn’t that enough? Hmm?”


    “… Dusk Soil Moon?”


    The man stopped in his tracks, turned his head, and met her gaze.


    “My master says to exin properly.”


    “Ugh?”


    Scarlet squeezed out from between the rocks, dusted the sand off her clothes, and spoke.


    “It’s just as I said~ Dusk Soil Moon was thrashing around again. I don’t understand why they’ve been like this for hundreds of years. There’s zeromunication. Don’t you guys know why?”


    “No, we don’t. And what does that have to do with the Root of Life?”


    “No idea?”


    She tilted her head cutely, but suddenly, an immense earthquake began to shake the ground.


    “W-wait! I really don’t know! I was just following what was written in the Revtion.”


    “The Revtion…?”


    “Yes, that. It’s part of the records left by the Twelve Disciples of the Progenitor Mage when they essed the ‘Constetion Project’.”


    “But those records were said to be mostly lost. You’re not lying, are you?”


    “Hey, hey? who am I? I’m the King of Witches!”


    “There are barely even ten witches left. That makes you less of a king and more of a vige chief.”


    “Oh, really!”


    Scarlet raised her fist but then paused.


    “Hm? That… Actually sounds right? Should I start calling myself the Witch Chief from today?”


    “… Please stop with the nonsense. Are you saying there’s some connection between the awakened Dusk Soil Moon and the Root of Life?”


    “But that’s strange. The Progenitor Mage made sure that the Twelve Divine Moons wouldn’t interfere with each other.”


    “I don’t know!”


    Deciding that further conversation was pointless, the man ignored her and walked off to somewhere.


    “Hey, wait!”


    Scarlet called out hastily, but the man didn’t respond. He stopped at a spot near the cliff.


    Creak! Crack!


    His skin suddenly transformed into a rough brown texture… Turning him into a tree.


    “Oh… He left.”


    As Scarlet patted the man, now a tree, she sighed. It was Soft Green Spring Moon’s way of cutting off the conversation. She was clearly unwilling to continue.


    With no other choice, Scarlet began descending the mountain, muttering to herself in disappointment.


    “I wasn’t lying.”


    It was truly not a lie, but since her words carried no weight, no one believed her. It was a sad thing.


    ———-


    There were as many as 200 applicants for the exchange program at Ste Academy, but unfortunately, not all of them could go.


    The chance to learn elven magic was so rare that more students applied than expected.


    Typically, the exchange program epted a total of 100 students: 40 first-years, 40 second-years, and 20 third-years.


    Since third-years were usually preparing for graduation, fewer applied.


    When hundred Ste cadets arrived at Astral Flower Magic Academy via an airship, a grand weing ceremony was held.


    As the Ste cadets walked, dazzling flowers fluttered on either side of them, thanks to the elves’ unique magic.


    In the distance, members of Astral Flower’s dance and vocal clubs performed, showcasing elven culture in one breathtaking disy.


    Finally, the principal of Astral Flower, Elhain, took the microphone to give a brief wee speech to the Ste cadets, which was intended to conclude the ceremony... But there was more.


    - This year, the king of all fairies and elves hase personally to wee Ste. Those who have a wish, please join your hands in prayer.


    To everyone’s surprise, Florin herself conducted the ceremony, causing a stir at Astral Flower.


    Human kings would oftenmand respect from foreignnds through formalities, but the elf king was quite different. She did not demand anyone to bow but simply invited people to make a wish to her.


    For elves, making a wish was only possible with the highest World Tree, and so, for them, this was the most respectful way of honoring a guest.


    ‘What’s going on here?’


    Among the 100 students watching Florin’s brief prayer, Baek Yu-Seol felt puzzled. She had no reason to appear here.


    Sensing something strange, he looked around to find all the other students kneeling with dreamy expressions, entranced in prayer.


    Although the World Tree wouldn’t grant a human’s wish, the delicate smile that shone through her veil was so beautiful that they all fellpletely under her spell.


    ‘Unbelievable.’


    Only a short while ago, these students had been infatuated with Scarlet, and now they were smitten with Florin, hearts practically in their eyes. To Baek Yu-Seol, it looked rather pathetic.


    “Hey. Aren’t you going to make a wish?”


    Kneeling on the ground, pretending to make a wish, me nudged Baek Yu-Seol’s thigh.


    Then, from the other side, Eisel tugged at his pant and said, “Everyone else is kneeling, so why don’t you join them too, Baek Yu-Seol?”


    "Do I really have to…?"


    "Humans are social creatures."


    "How annoying."


    Reluctantly, Baek Yu-Seol didn’t kneel but instead plopped down cross-legged on the ground, gazing quietly at Florin as he yawned.


    Watching her finish her prayer, wave her hand, and smile, he couldn’t help but notice how different she appeared from those days when she’d been isted and depressed, shut away in her room.


    Seeing her now, walking around with such a pleasant smile, made him happy, but…


    [Happiness, worry, concern]


    Even while feeling happiness in this moment, a stronger sense of worry loomed in her heart. For her to be so deeply worried during an important event suggested something far from ordinary.


    ‘Is it because of the Awakening?’


    But perhaps it wasn’t.


    In ‘Aether World Online’, [The Awakening of Dusk Soil Moon] was merely a side episode. It wouldn’t escte into a major event unless the yer directly intervened.


    That was thanks to Elthman Elwin, who had disappeared about a month ago. His sealing technique was nearly perfect. It fully subdued Dusk Soil Moon and prevented him from ever reawakening until the storyline was entirely over.


    After that, yers wouldn’t encounter Dusk Soil Moon unless they specifically sought him out.


    ‘Since the Dusk Soil Moon is sealed, it must be something else…’


    Baek Yu-Seol paused, lifting his head.


    ‘No…’


    He’d almost blindly trusted the original storyline again. Though he assumed the seal on Dusk Soil Moon didn’t concern him and his actions wouldn’t change the future, he wasn’t certain.


    There had to be a reason why Scarlet unexpectedly came to Ste and handed him the Root of Life.


    ‘... No way. It can’t really be that, right?’


    The exchange student episode was supposed to be a lighthearted, rxing part of the story. He’d even perfectly dealt with the primary antagonist of this episode, Jeliel…


    Rumble!!


    While he was lost in thought about the episode, a sudden earthquake sent students tumbling over with frightened screams.


    “W-what’s happening?!”


    “An earthquake? Isn’t this the World Tree?”


    As the students started to panic, the professors from Astral Flower quickly began guiding them back to the dormitories.


    Some mages and knights rushed to Florin, whispering something urgently, causing her face to grow pale.


    - Ah! Students. Please calm down. We’ve been informed that there was a minor incident nearby. The king herself will take care of it, so you don’t need to worry. Please continue to enjoy your time at Astral Flower.


    At the principal’s urgent words, the students finally rxed, and guided by the elven professors, began moving along.


    Astral Flower hadn’t experienced an earthquake in hundreds of years, so the students were understandably startled, but knowing that Florin would handle it appeared to ease their minds.


    Watching the Ste cadets follow the professors in a group, Baek Yu-Seol quietly slipped away from the crowd.


    Thud!


    He identally bumped into someone standing behind him. Turning awkwardly, he apologized.


    “Oh, I’m sorry…"


    “Baek Yu-Seol.”


    “J-Jeliel?”


    Baek Yu-Seol found himself face-to-face with a high elf girl with characteristic fair skin and pointed ears, and his eyes widened in surprise.


    Jeliel had always been meticulous about her image. While her real nature was rather cynical, she often wore amercial smile in public.


    Those who knew her well understood just how sharp the thorns hidden beneath that beautiful smile could be.


    But recently, people’s opinions of her had been changing bit by bit. More and more people were saying, ‘It seems like she’s genuinely smiling now.’


    The mask Jeliel had been so careful to wear was slowly merging with her true face.


    And right now, Jeliel didn’t seem to be wearing a fake smile. Baek Yu-Seol, who had a knack for sensing others'' emotions, could tell.


    [Happiness, excitement, joy]


    For some reason, Jeliel seemed to be in a particrly good mood.


    “It’s been a while. But where were you nning on going as soon as you got here?”


    “Oh… I suddenly really need to use the restroom.”


    “If you follow the professors, they’ll take you to the new dormitory.”


    Jeliel’s words were oddly enthusiastic, but whether the dormitory was newly built or not didn’t really matter to Baek Yu-Seol.


    “I wanted to experience nature’s restroom.”


    "...Please, spare me the dirty details."


    “Actually, that’s just an excuse. I’ve got other business to take care of.”


    At that, Jeliel’s emotions shifted suddenly.


    [Disappointment, sadness]


    ‘What? What’s going on?’


    He’d only said one thing, but her emotions had changed so drastically. It was especially surprising since Jeliel was known as a near-sociopathic character, typically devoid of emotion, so her sudden mood swings were almost rming.


    “Um… Actually, thinking about it, maybe I can goter. How about we tour the dormitory first?”


    “A good choice.”


    And just like that, her emotions shifted again.


    [Happiness]


    Baek Yu-Seol thought to himself that women’s emotions were truly a mystery.


    -------


    Goal: 20 Bonus Chapters to Celebrate 300 Chapters of shing Genius!


    I’m beyond excited to share that we’ve reached an incredible milestone: 300 chapters of shing Genius! When I first started tranting this novel, it was just me, myptop, and a passion for this story. Back then, I never imagined that this book would receive so much attention.To celebrate, I’m setting a Kofi goal for 20 bonus chapters of shing Genius. Once we reach our target, I’ll release these bonus chapters. Every tip, pledge, or share makes a /zenith677/goal?g=0