The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 169

Han Si-hyuk slowly lifted his head.

An investigation request out of nowhere.

And from his assistant, no less.

Naturally, Han Si-hyuk’s curiosity was piqued.

The determined look on her face was almost audacious.

Han Si-hyuk smirked slightly as he asked Adela, “What is it?”

But his smile quickly vanished at her next words.

“There’s a village where I was born… and I want to find out who destroyed it.”

“…What?”

“I want to know who the mage was that buried my village’s people alive… Who ordered it, who carried it out—anything you can find.”

Han Si-hyuk’s hand, which was holding his pen, froze.

If he heard her correctly, this girl was talking about the Katablam incident.

Damn it, why now…

Han Si-hyuk frowned and looked at Adela.

A girl fueled by vengeance, knowing nothing.

Adela, clenching her fists tightly, spoke to him with determination.

“Someone’s been saying some crazy things… and I need to find out how ridiculous it is, what really happened… I have to know for myself. Please, help me.”

When Han Si-hyuk didn’t respond, Adela hurriedly continued.

“It’s Katablam. My hometown. It happened about ten years ago… and also….”

“…I see.”

Han Si-hyuk cut her off.

He already knew.

But hearing it now, it felt different from when he had heard about the event as a third party.

To Han Si-hyuk now, the name of that village had a different significance.

It wasn’t just the village where Adela was born and raised—it was his own birthplace too.

He would have had a family, cherished his hometown…

And he would have had to endure losing his loved ones.

The pain, the sorrow.

Han Si-hyuk didn’t remember, but he could faintly sense it.

And because of that, Han Si-hyuk coldly replied.

“Let it be buried.”

“What?”

“You said it was something that happened over ten years ago.”

Adela’s eyes wavered.

Although she knew Han Si-hyuk was often cold, she hadn’t expected him to outright reject her request so harshly.

Adela was visibly shaken.

“Is it because I can’t pay? You’ve taken on every other random request without concern. I can gather the money, so please….”

“I’m not some back-alley informant.”

“….”

“I don’t just take any request because I’m offered money. And I probably have more money than you do.”

Adela fell silent, realizing his words were not without truth.

Han Si-hyuk, feeling a twinge of guilt, tried to hide it as he waved her off dismissively.

“We’re done here. You should go.”

Those who remember and those who do not.

They may share similar emotions, but their nature is fundamentally different.

You can’t hold onto regrets about things you don’t remember.

Han Si-hyuk’s focus was on those who did remember.

A boy who was his brother, even without blood ties.

A capable but cheeky assistant.

A father who, despite being resented, had still raised him.

For all of them, this incident had to remain buried.

“And besides, I’m busy with classes, so I won’t be taking any requests for the time being.”

Han Si-hyuk was making the best choice he could, even if it might prove to be the worst in the future.

He was willing to gamble on the present best.

“….”

Adela, clearly disappointed, bowed her head.

“Understood. I’m sorry. Goodbye.”

With those words, she left the investigation room.

Watching her retreating figure, Han Si-hyuk was acutely aware that he couldn’t keep hiding the truth forever.

* * *

Creating artifacts requires meticulous attention to detail.

And that meticulousness demands tremendous time and focus.

So after the midterms, I was practically holed up in Natalie’s workshop.

The simultaneous development of the smart-phone and the weakening of the cube. Two projects running side by side.

On top of that, I was putting considerable effort into one of my personal projects.

A detoxification artifact.

The one I had used before was a temporary version that only lasted a few minutes; now, I was working on a permanent version.

As I was working, a thought crossed my mind.

“Maybe I should have gone into engineering.”

Something… something about my field of study didn’t seem quite right.

Clicking my tongue, I grabbed my knife again.

Because modern tools couldn’t be used fully, artifact production was rather primitive.

I was currently carving the surface of the artifact piece by piece.

“Basilus, hand me another knife.”

“koo!”

Basilus would fetch whatever I needed when asked.

Flap-flap—

Kloshti would fly over and bring what was needed.

With the perfect help of my two assistants, the detoxification artifact was nearing completion.

Next, I would solder the magic circuits onto it and check if the magic flowed correctly.

“Looks good.”

“koo…?”

Smack!

Basilus, seemingly displeased, smacked the table with his tail.

“What’s wrong? What’s the issue?”

“koo, koo….”

“Huh?”

And that’s when I realized.

Basilus was a genius.

Whenever he whined or looked displeased, there was invariably a problem with the circuit.

“Damn.”

It seemed he could eerily detect the slightest magical interference.

“Well done, Basilus.”

I tossed him a piece of cheese in praise, and he darted over eagerly.

Seymour, who was working nearby, poked his head out and commented.

“…You’ve raised him well.”

“Basilus is pretty smart, isn’t he?”

He’s not even my child, but I felt inexplicably proud.

Grinning, I shrugged my shoulders in contentment.

“Ha… I wonder who he takes after.”

“He probably takes after the dragon, not you.”

“…Focus. Your circuit’s misaligned.”

“What? Oh, crap!”

Seymour jumped up in panic at the sound of something burning.

Crash, bang.

Ignoring the commotion from the flustered Seymour, I returned my attention to the detoxification artifact.

Just then.

Ding—

The sound of a bell rang as Adela walked into the workshop.

“Oh, hey, Adela’s here?”

“Did your class run late?”

“Haven’t seen much of you lately.”

Adela chuckled softly, nodding in response to the familiar greetings from the members of the group.

“Yeah.”

She was someone who had been holed up in the dormitory for a week without much contact with anyone.

Although she claimed she was fine, I wasn’t entirely convinced.

Had something happened?

Compared to the last time I saw her, her expression seemed a bit brighter.

“Hi.”

Adela sat beside me and greeted me as she usually would, and I returned the greeting in kind.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Mhm.”

Adela set down her bag and gave a faint smile.

It wasn’t the forced smile from before, which was a relief.

…Whatever it was, it seemed to have been resolved.

“That’s good.”

I didn’t think much of it and was about to bury my nose back into my work when—

“Han Siha.”

“Huh?”

Adela’s determined voice rang softly, just loud enough for me to hear.

“I’ve made up my mind.”

Her eyes glimmered with a resolute light.

What had she suddenly decided?

I asked, puzzled by her abrupt statement.

“Huh? About what?”

“I went to the investigator and asked for help, but he refused. So I’ve decided to find out on my own.”

“What kind of request did you make?”

I tilted my head at her vague words, and Adela calmly continued.

“My birthplace.”

What?

“I’m going to find out what happened.”

Adela’s unreadable gaze locked onto mine.

“W-wait, what?”

I was momentarily stunned, caught off guard by her unexpected declaration.

“I have a reason to find out.”

“….”

“I promise, I’ll get to the bottom of it.”

What kind of reason would drive her to this?

The way she spoke, as if it were for my sake, was beyond my understanding.

What was I supposed to say to that?

“Uh… um….”

She was determined to uncover the truth, the truth that defined her entire being.

Should I stop her, or let her be?

I was completely lost and stood there, dazed, for a long time.

After much internal conflict, I finally managed a simple response.

“…That’s good.”

At my hesitant answer, Adela spoke again.

Her sad voice conveyed an emotion that words could not fully capture.

“I’m sorry.”

There was no reason for her to apologize to me.

If anything, I was the one who should be apologizing.

“….”

But I couldn’t bring myself to say the apology that was stuck in my throat.

* * *

I received a communication from Han taesu through a sound teleportation device.

He said there was an urgent matter and instructed me to return to Castica territory after my classes.

I didn’t know what it was about, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it might be related to Katablam.

When we regained control of Arkenent territory with Count Dwayne’s help, there had been a condition attached.

We agreed never to speak of the Katablam incident again.

The more this matter was dredged up, the more dangerous it would become for Adela, for me, and potentially even for the stability of the royal family. This was a top-secret matter.

I agreed that it was best to let it stay buried.

But still.

Why did Adela’s voice keep echoing in my ears?

‘I’m sorry.’

Had she heard something somewhere?

Her sudden apology had left me uneasy, and I couldn’t get it out of my mind.

I was standing there, holding my throbbing head, lost in thought.

Han taesu’s voice snapped me out of my reverie.

“It’s late, but I’m glad you’ve arrived safely.”

Han taesu greeted me not with the bright smile of the past, but neither was he as cold and dismissive as he once had been.

He merely observed me quietly, his eyes calm but carrying a hint of paternal affection.

I looked back at Han taesu and spoke plainly.

“I heard you summoned me.”

“Yes.”

“If it’s something urgent, what is it?”

Han taesu answered my question curtly.

“It’s still a bit early, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to set things in motion.”

I had expected him to bring up Katablam.

But his response was something I couldn’t quite understand.

I tilted my head and asked again.

“What are you referring to?”

“Look, she’s coming in now.”

“What?”

I turned my head at Han taesu’s words.

And I froze at the unexpected sight.

Count Arkenent, looking more radiant than ever since reclaiming his territory, strode in with a proud demeanor.

Despite it not being a long time since we last saw each other, he greeted me warmly, waving in my direction.

I could deal with that.

But then, Solia followed closely behind, looking uneasy.

Wait… why are you here?

Solia flinched.

Judging by her expression, she was just as surprised as I was.

Solia kept her mouth shut, her eyes wide open.

I silently mouthed to Solia from where I stood against the wall.

‘What’s going on?’

‘…?’

Solia, just as clueless, shrugged her shoulders.

She didn’t know.

And I had no idea what was happening either.

My head spun with questions.

Why were those two in Castica territory?

Why at this timing, in this situation?

If it was something important enough to be discussed here….

No way.

A single thought flashed through my mind.

Han taesu smiled with satisfaction as he introduced Solia.

“Say hello. She’s your fiancée.”