The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 16

The next day.

“…Was Odopteon really that powerful?”

I was shocked after hearing Adela’s explanation.

No, I thought it was just something you had to capture.

Why would they put a monster there that you’re not supposed to capture?

Lee Han defeated it with one hand….

This happened because I didn’t consider how much of a monster third-year Lee Han was.

This was entirely my mistake.

My goal is to be ranked 15th in the entire school.

In Ardel Academy, where there are about 100 students per grade, I thought that wasn’t too high or too low, just an average score. But since I got an S in Basic Taming, it wouldn’t do to perform too well in the remaining exams.

Although my plan to live quietly by sticking with Adela was half-ruined already.

If someone like me, who was at the bottom of the school, suddenly ranked in the top 5, it would draw too much attention.

I’m not afraid of the petty jealousies of people like Creek, but I don’t want to attract the attention of the main characters, Lee Han and Solia.

Even though Adela acts out of her own sense of revenge, the other two are excessively altruistic, and if I stand out, they’ll probably start following me around, saying, “Would you like to help us bring peace to the world?”

I don’t want that. If I get dragged into something like that, I’d end up dying for sure since I pass out for half a day just from using a bit of magic.

So, from now on, I’ll go with the diligent student meta, doing my best moderately.

Hmm, I can do it.

I got into a fight with about ten people last week, but whatever, I’m still a model student.

As long as I don’t cause any big trouble and study just enough, that’s what a model student is.

“Whew, as long as I do well from now on, that’s all that matters, right?”

While I was lost in thought, Adela changed the subject.

“How were today’s exams? I heard you had two.”

Mathematical Formulas and Analysis, Monster Anatomy.

I took two exams back-to-back from 9 a.m. for four hours.

I handled them just as planned, getting a few questions wrong on purpose.

One of those subjects was math, which I think overlaps with Adela’s.

The exam….

How do I put it? It was really easy.

Since most of the math problems were high school level solved with formulas, except for the problems with excessive magical principles, they didn’t deviate much from calculus.

And Monster Anatomy?

When I looked at the anatomy of a Hellhound, it wasn’t much different from a regular dog.

Since I’ve been dissecting creatures for years, quickly reviewing right before the exam was enough.

Honestly, I didn’t know how many to get right, so I just checked a few answers casually and left.

“Ugh, wasn’t this exam way too unforgiving?”

Oh, you’re weak in math.

That was a really easy test.

Adela must be weak in theory. I quickly thought and looked at her with pity.

But then.

“I couldn’t solve one of the problems. I think I bombed it.”

…What?

“Ugh… If I mess up this exam, I might lose my scholarship… I already have a headache, and there’s still one more exam left.”

She’s not trying to mess with me, is she? Is this… the other class of the main character?

I coughed awkwardly and scratched my head.

So, what was the problem Adela struggled with? I don’t recall any particularly tricky questions.

Naturally, my curiosity was piqued.

“What problem was it?”

“Problem 27. The magic circle question. I couldn’t even touch it and just left it.”

Oh, the Geometry and Vectors one.

“That one was really easy—.”

Thud.

I almost blurted out nonsense but smacked my mouth in time.

Adela turned to me with wide eyes.

“Ack.”

“Are you… okay?”

“Uh, yeah, that one was insanely difficult. I totally agree. I think the professors were trying to mess with us.”

“Right? I thought the same. It wasn’t a problem for a human to solve.”

“Yeah, ha ha ha.”

I awkwardly laughed and pulled out my schedule from my bag, starting to mumble.

“Let’s see, the next class is….”

Even as I shifted my gaze, my mind was tangled.

But seriously.

Was that problem really that hard?

What should I do?

I think I might have solved it….

* * *

In the assistant professor’s office, bright sunlight streamed in through the curtains, half-covering the window.

It was the perfect weather for a day out, and a tune naturally escaped my lips.

Selene finished grading the remaining papers and jumped up from her seat.

“I’ve got plans, so I need to finish calculating quickly and head out. The results… are they all out?”

Since Professor Grint was pushing so hard, I had to check the rankings by today and send them over. That way, they could quickly weed out the failing students.

It’s pretty cruel, but also necessary.

“Han Siha….”

Why is she so curious about his rank?

The ranking Selene had been specifically asked to check was Han Siha’s.

She’d been asked to report his ranking as quickly as possible.

“It must be because of the Taming Practical.”

Although she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she’d heard the news.

They said he caught an Odopteon as a hatchling. But still, it’s a Red Dragon, not just any monster. Selene thought it was a combination of luck and the monster itself.

“I don’t know why she’s suddenly interested….”

It was partly because she hadn’t seen it herself, but also because she’d watched Han Siha’s clumsy skills over the past year.

Even during the recent dungeon exam….

‘Professor, I’m feeling dizzy….’

He had done nothing but tremble while hiding in the vines.

And when they arrived to save him, he had immediately collapsed and been carried to the infirmary.

Anyone would’ve thought he’d been fighting slimes for two hours. The guy who had comfortably ridden Adela’s coattails was now talking about taming?

It was a relief he didn’t faint just from seeing Odopteon.

The rumors must have been exaggerated.

The ranking sheet right here would prove it.

“Hmm. Top 30 percent. Better than I expected… I guess.”

The result in front of Selene was just what she’d expected.

It was true he did well, but it wasn’t anything to make a fuss about.

Selene chuckled and clicked her tongue.

It was amusing that Professor Grint had placed such high expectations on a student of this caliber. It goes to show that even professors don’t always have great insight.

Well.

For someone like Han Siha, who had been scraping the bottom, making it into the top 30 percent was actually an achievement.

But to Selene, who had consistently been in the top 3 percent during her time at Ardel Academy, it seemed a little laughable.

Selene shoved the ranking sheet into a drawer and picked up the test papers.

[Mathematical Formulas and Analysis]

She found Han Siha’s test paper in the stack and casually picked it up.

“Let’s see what he got right.”

She was quite curious about how Professor Grint would react when she handed over this test paper.

“Huh?”

Selene blinked and picked up the test paper again.

Number 1, 2, 3….

Selene quickly scanned the numbers and then paused.

The result was the same even after checking it twice.

Selene clutched the test paper with trembling hands. A dry voice escaped from her lips.

“Problem 27?”

If it’s mathematics, it’s under Professor Divert Grunui.

Divert, known among students as the “angel professor” for the generally easy difficulty of his exams, always included one extremely challenging problem each year.

A problem so difficult that only one or two students in the entire class might solve it.

Moreover, this year, hadn’t he bet Professor Grint that no one would be able to solve it?

Selene stared blankly at the test paper.

If her memory served her right.

“He said to bring him the student who solved this problem….”

Shuffle.

She skimmed through it again to be sure.

Problem 27.

It seemed another assistant had graded Han Siha’s paper, so she hadn’t noticed earlier, but even after checking the remaining half of the test papers, the result was the same.

The only person who got it right was….

“Han Siha?”

Selene frowned and dashed out of the assistant professor’s office.

It seemed that leaving work early today was out of the question.

* * *

A face marked by a long white beard, wrinkled with age.

Professor Divert Grunui, the oldest among the faculty, furrowed his brows in disbelief.

However, no matter how many times he asked Selene, her answer remained the same.

“Problem 27?”

“Yes, Professor.”

“…Did he guess the answer?”

No, that couldn’t be.

It was a subjective problem, and it wasn’t the kind of answer one could guess.

Yet, Professor Divert leaned toward the idea that Han Siha had guessed correctly.

“This is not something a second-year should be able to solve.”

“I agree, Professor.”

The problem was of a difficulty that even fifth-year students who had taken his classes would struggle with. It was far too early for a second-year to solve.

It was a problem meant for students who had studied at least until the fifth year, and even then, only those who had attended his classes could barely manage to solve it. He didn’t expect anyone to get it right this year.

This year’s problem was more difficult than the previous ones.

Without an understanding of the dimensions of time and space, as well as subspace, one couldn’t even approach solving the magic circle.

It was unimaginable that a second-year student could grasp such a complex concept, especially considering how difficult it is to perceive objects from a different perspective.

Of course, the fact that some distant students in the Republic of Korea learn this kind of geometry and vector math in high school would have been incomprehensible to Professor Divert.

“Hmm, this is certainly surprising.”

Meanwhile, Professor Grint, who had been silently listening to the conversation next to Professor Divert, muttered as he stroked his chin.

Even while doing so, his mind was working rapidly.

Having witnessed Han Siha’s performance in the Taming Practical, he had already confirmed his talent.

Was it really just a matter of a favorable match-up? Professor Grint was inclined to think similarly to Professor Divert.

At least at first. But after seeing this twice, it wasn’t a matter of luck. This wasn’t a result that could be achieved by mere chance.

In the moments when he had been wavering, this had solidified his conviction.

‘This is intentional.’

The Han Siha he had observed didn’t seem like someone obsessed with grades. If he had had the ability all along but had been deceiving them for the past year….

And then, at just the right moment.

If he deliberately solved an extremely difficult problem to showcase his ability.

Though it was a stretch, it wasn’t entirely implausible.

After all, Ardel Academy was full of all sorts of students.

One way or another, he was very good at satisfying the professors.

An intriguing talent.

Professor Grint parted his dry lips and asked Selene.

“Is next week the promotion ceremony?”

“Oh, yes!”

Selene nodded politely with her hands clasped together.

The promotion ceremony for the second-year students at Ardel Academy was just around the corner.

On the day of the promotion ceremony, each student would be assigned to one of four majors according to their aptitude.

So much so that no one knew until the day before which major they would be assigned to. Although students generally ended up in the major they had prepared for, based on their natural inclinations, Han Siha was still shrouded in mystery.

In a calm voice, Professor Grint asked Selene.

“Which department do you think Han Siha will be assigned to?”

Professor Divert, who heard the question, was taken aback. It seemed there was another motive behind the question.

Could he be thinking…?

Before Professor Divert could speak, Professor Grint asked again.

“Uh…”

“You’ve seen more students than I have, so you’d know better.”

Selene cautiously replied with a troubled expression.

“Probably the Necromancy Department? He seems to have a lot of interest in black magic….”

“Hmm. My thoughts are a bit different.”

“What?”

Selene asked back, confused.

Han Siha’s inclinations clearly suited the Necromancy Department. Based on his past behavior and personality, that was where he seemed to belong.

However,

Professor Grint shook his head firmly and spoke.

“He will definitely be assigned to the Magic Department.”

* * *

The next day, the rankings for the second-year opening exams were posted on the bulletin board.

In the middle of the hallway.

“Hey, hey. What’s that?”

“Huh?”

“No way, that can’t be right.”

“Hey, did you see the rankings?”

For some reason, the students were in a great commotion.

What was all the fuss about?

Creek frowned and quickly scanned the bulletin board.

He remembered the bet he had made with Han Siha. Contrary to his fears, Han Siha hadn’t done anything crazy like tearing up his test paper.

His victory was assured.

Just thinking about how Han Siha would bark like a dog was already filling him with endorphins.

Creek casually searched for his name starting from the top.

His name and rank quickly came into view.

“32nd place. Not bad.”

Creek’s rank was 32nd.

Considering his usual grades, it wasn’t too high or too low. Actually, since a few failing students had dropped out in the first year, his grades had improved.

But then.

“Hey, Creek. I think you’re screwed.”

“What are you talking about?”

His underlings were babbling nonsense.

“Look at Han Siha’s name. There.”

He wasn’t below.

Nor was he nearby.

“Could it be….”

Creek looked higher.

He froze.

Creek couldn’t believe his eyes.

Why was Han Siha’s name up there?

It couldn’t be.

11th place.

It was right there, clearly visible.

“There’s no way.”

That idiot.

He had thought Han Siha’s recent behavior was just foolish bravado.

He had believed there was no way Han Siha could beat him without cheating.

This couldn’t be, it just couldn’t be.

Creak.

Bang.

As the door opened with a bang, the back of his head began to sting.

Creek turned around with a pale face. The last person he wanted to see at this moment was standing there.

“You know what to do, right?”

Han Siha, smiling cheerfully, was looking at him.

“Ha-Han Siha.”

Thud.

Han Siha waved his hand at Creek, who had collapsed as if he had seen a ghost.

“Hey, let’s go out.”

___

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