The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 174

Noble banquets are refined yet pretentious affairs.

A lot of people who didn’t even know my face showed up, trying to make an impression.

They were all nobodies whose names I had never heard before.

But even in such an elegant engagement ceremony, there are always people who stand out with their unique personalities.

“Whoa, dude. You’re looking extra sharp today.”

Won scanned me up and down before giving a thumbs-up.

I felt as uncomfortable as I did on graduation day, having been forced into a suit that didn’t suit me, but apparently, I looked decent enough.

Of course, that was the extent of the compliments.

Won, who had stuffed an entire pancake into his mouth, hummed in appreciation.

“The food here is amazing. That’s rich people for you, huh?”

“…Hey, do you think you’re the only one with a mouth?”

Seymour grumbled, snatching the plate in front of Won.

The way they bickered was no different from how they acted at the academy.

“Koo-koo….”

“Pwee!”

Basilus and Kloshti, like siblings, were nudging each other to get a bit more food.

Basilus seemed uncomfortable in his clumsily tailored suit and squirmed restlessly.

“Just bear with it for a little while.”

“Koooo!”

“Yep, I’m never taking it off.”

He looked even cuter like that, so I left it on him on purpose.

Basilus puffed his cheeks in frustration.

Wait a minute.

That suit was expensive, so it’d be a problem if he burned it again.

“Hey, don’t burn that….”

Before I could finish.

Whoosh—

The high-priced dragon suit I had bought at the market went up in flames and disintegrated into ash.

Thud.

I sighed as I watched the ashes fall from Basilus’ body.

“Sigh….”

This wasn’t the first or second time he’d burned through my belongings.

Ah, what a life.

“At least dogs bite things, but they don’t set them on fire….”

This confirmed that raising a dragon was definitely more challenging.

I rubbed my forehead and sat on a chair.

I was already tired from nonstop introductions with the nobles the moment I arrived.

But there was no time to rest.

“We will now begin the engagement ceremony.”

“Hey, aren’t you supposed to go up there?”

I didn’t need Seymour to remind me.

Han taesu nodded in my direction, and I straightened my sleeves as I stepped forward.

At this moment, all eyes turned to us.

Solia, too, hesitantly emerged, glancing at me nervously.

Clap, clap, clap—

The applause erupted the moment we stood side by side.

The Count of Arkenent smiled warmly and gave a nod of approval.

I nodded back and took the microphone.

“Thank you all for being here.”

Though it was my first engagement ceremony, I knew how to conduct myself. I expressed my gratitude and recited some courteous words.

I smiled and slowly looked around the engagement hall.

Since this was the engagement of two well-known families, many nobles had attended. Among them were some I recognized from previous banquets.

“Let’s begin the ceremony.”

There was nothing grand planned; it was supposed to end with a simple announcement of the engagement followed by the banquet.

At least, that was the plan.

However—

Han taesu raised his hand in my direction.

“Ah, before we start, there’s something prepared for you all.”

“What?”

“Please, come in.”

At Han taesu’s words, the people behind the stage began to move in unison.

A group of musicians carrying string instruments as big as their bodies began to assemble. This wasn’t part of the plan, and my eyes widened in surprise.

“What… what is this?”

I glanced at Han taesu, silently asking what was going on, but he simply shook his head, gesturing for me to stay put.

The string orchestra sat down in front of the stage where the engagement was to be declared.

As I stood there, the ensemble began playing the cello.

The symphony began, the enormous instrument nestled against the musician’s chest. My jaw dropped involuntarily.

You said this would be modest!

“…Who arranged this?”

Solia, looking just as flustered, sidled up to me and whispered.

I gave a wry smile and replied.

“Looks like they decided to go all out for the engagement.”

Originally, the plan was to grab her hand and run at this point, but since we weren’t going to do that anymore, it didn’t matter how grand it was.

It was just embarrassing, though.

I stood stiffly and watched the orchestra.

It was a scene straight out of a noble’s banquet.

“It’s not exactly pleasant….”

The violin’s gentle melody intertwined with the deep sound of the cello, filling the engagement hall.

The flute added its bird-like trill, blending seamlessly into the atmosphere.

The chatter and laughter of the attendees blended harmoniously with the symphony.

The conductor’s arms moved dramatically.

The melody blossomed like a flower following his gestures.

The upbeat sound of the trumpet lightened the mood, and the viola laid a grand foundation with its deep tones.

It was a cheerful symphony that Han taesu had prepared for the engagement.

The lively melodies weaved among the guests.

Some nobles hummed along, clinking their wine glasses.

At the center of it all, Solia and I stood awkwardly, simply waiting for the performance to end.

Being someone without much appreciation for classical music, I found it boring.

I glanced around the room.

I hadn’t noticed earlier, but unlike me, everyone else had smiles on their faces.

Yoon Haul clenched her fists and trembled but hadn’t caused a true disturbance yet, and Solia, who seemed to enjoy the grandeur of the engagement, nodded her head slightly in time with the music.

Seymour and Won were focused on their meals, grinning.

“….”

And I couldn’t help but think of the one person who wasn’t here—Adela.

Solia’s engagement.

Of course, asking for Solia’s consent was necessary, but there was an undeniable and less-than-honorable motive behind it.

This engagement was for my own needs.

It was to cut Adela off for good, in hopes that my indecision wouldn’t cause her further pain.

The grand symphony reverberated through the hall.

The flute’s delicate, bird-like whispers tickled the corners of my mind.

A peaceful yet not-so-peaceful sight.

I couldn’t shake the feeling of an approaching storm.

At an engagement ceremony meant to be joyful, I stood frozen and alone.

I lifted my head slowly, burdened by guilt.

That’s when it happened.

“Kyaaahhh!”

A sharp scream, enough to make my skin crawl, pierced the air.

* * *

The scream was enough to freeze everyone who had been laughing and chatting just moments before.

The orchestra stopped playing.

The sound of the violin screeched eerily through the silence.

Some attendees craned their necks, trying to see where the scream had come from.

But it didn’t take long for everyone to realize what was happening.

Han taesu shot up from his seat, looking bewildered.

“What is going on?”

“It’s an attack.”

“What?”

The Count of Arkenent clenched his teeth, his face turning pale.

From a distance, a dark aura began to spread.

Strangers emerged from within the dense fog.

Standing in the middle of the engagement ceremony, Han Siha instinctively pulled out his staff.

Loyal Basilus immediately moved to guard Han Siha.

The figures cloaked in black robes were undoubtedly dark mages. Han Siha had encountered dark mages before, but never in such numbers.

At a glance, the number of individuals surrounding the engagement venue appeared to be at least a dozen, possibly more.

These were not just low-level grunts.

Han taesu’s instincts screamed that something was wrong.

‘This is dangerous.’

Han taesu, the Blood Count, and the Count of Arkenent, who had fought alongside him on the battlefield, had both slain countless dark mages with their own hands. They feared nothing.

There were enough knights present to protect them and several nobles who were also combat-capable magicians.

Even if the enemy’s numbers were greater than usual, there was no reason they couldn’t win.

But…

‘There are too many civilians.’

If the attackers decided to strike, there would inevitably be casualties.

‘Who are they targeting?’

Han taesu assumed that the most likely target was himself, but he couldn’t be certain.

The black-robed figures surrounded the area.

What he had initially estimated as a dozen had grown—there were now at least twenty of them.

There was no large-scale spell capable of wiping them out all at once.

Even if there were, the enemy would likely have ways to counter it. Some of these dark mages were of a significantly high level.

Even if they could win, it would not be without losses.

Han taesu quickly began calculating how to minimize or eliminate those losses.

Step, step.

Despite the growing tension, the black-robed figures advanced without fear, closing in on them.

A noble, his voice raised, lifted his staff.

“Who… Who are you?”

“….”

“How dare you surround this place….”

Boom!

A loud explosion rang out.

“Kyahhhh!”

As someone’s scream pierced the air, the outdoor engagement ceremony descended into chaos.

The attack had come without warning.

The noble staggered and collapsed on the spot. Dark blood seeped from his chest.

He had taken a magical blast head-on.

“Urgh….”

“Are… are you okay?”

“Kyahhh!”

Soon after, blood spewed from his mouth.

“Do you think you’ll get away with this?”

“Reveal yourselves!”

Several nobles behind them shouted, watching nervously.

Seeing this, Han taesu frowned.

Now that they had been attacked, there was no avoiding the fight.

Without hesitation, Han taesu charged forward.

“Everyone, clear out!”

Boom!

A dark magical sphere struck the ground.

Han taesu sidestepped the incoming blast with practiced ease, dashing forward.

Swoosh—

As soon as his sword rose into the air, the man who had launched the magical attack crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

The sharp slicing sound of the blade cutting through the air filled the space.

Swoosh—

Han taesu moved forward calmly.

He effortlessly cut down the enemies who charged at him.

“I’m coming with you.”

The Count of Arkenent surged forward to support Han taesu.

Behind them were Solia and Han Siha. Those who couldn’t use magic trembled, hiding under tables, while those who could stepped forward to protect them.

“Just when we were enjoying a good meal, now this?”

Won and Seymour instinctively grabbed their staffs and began fending off the attackers.

Boom!

Boom!

The air was filled with screams and the sound of magical blasts erupting in all directions.

What had been a peaceful engagement ceremony had turned into a storm in an instant.

No one present could escape the storm. Han taesu raised his sword high and cut down his enemies with one hand.

The Count of Arkenent unleashed magical blasts while setting up barriers.

The dark magical spheres the enemy wielded were highly dangerous.

These were dark mages.

Given the unpredictability of their magic, the Count of Arkenent was forced to exercise caution.

Han taesu tore through the battlefield like a storm.

‘I said I was too old to return to the battlefield.’

Even though he had said that, his agile movements weren’t all that different from before.

True to his reputation as the Blood Count, he didn’t hesitate before the sight of blood.

He simply cut down,

blocked,

and countered.

“Argh!”

“Attack!”

“Waaahhhh!”

The twenty dark mages rapidly dwindled in number.

It wouldn’t have been an exaggeration to say that Han taesu was handling most of them alone.

His attacks were bold yet precise. The sword he swung without even looking struck down his enemies with perfect accuracy, deflecting all incoming assaults.

There was no hesitation in his movements.

He had fought for decades under the emperor’s orders, and now, he fought to protect those present.

Han taesu’s coat billowed as he slowly surveyed the enemies surrounding him.

“Clone magic, huh.”

Han taesu chuckled darkly as he observed the multiplying black-robed figures.

There was a dark mage here using clone magic.

Though the original group consisted of twenty, their numbers had been growing at an alarming rate.

But this wouldn’t change the outcome of the battle.

Han taesu had faced countless bothersome dark mages before.

Swoosh—

To find the sly one using clone magic, Han taesu began slaughtering the swarming enemies without mercy.

“Just a bunch of scarecrows.”

The only difference from actual scarecrows was that each one was incredibly resilient and didn’t go down easily. They were also strong enough to defeat most magicians.

There were dozens of dolls, all with the same abilities as the original.

Han taesu focused his mind and gripped his sword tightly.

“It doesn’t matter how many scarecrows you bring. You think you can stop me?”

The resolute look in his eyes, intent on cutting down everything in his path, was enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine.

Han taesu’s words were no exaggeration.

However, it was true that he had aged.

Though still skilled, he was no longer what he once was.

Clang—

As Han taesu cut down the enemies before him, he realized that he had missed something.

A force had quietly retreated to the back.

The eyes of a man in a black robe glinted with a strange light.

Annoyed by the look in his eyes, Han taesu decapitated him.

Swoosh—

Blood spattered as the man’s head fell to the ground.

Even as his headless body collapsed, his gaze remained fixed behind him.

Han taesu slowly turned his head.

Only then did Han taesu realize who the real target was.

It was his son.