The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 18

Knock, knock, knock.

Count Han Taesu, who had been scribbling with a fountain pen, lifted his head at the sound of the knock on the door. His expressionless face, as always, remained unreadable. A servant, bowing deeply, stood before him.

It was news from Ardel Academy.

As a regular sponsor who invested a substantial amount of money each year, Count Han Taesu had his eyes and ears scattered throughout the academy.

This news was likely about Han Siha.

“How is he doing?” Han Taesu asked.

“It seems the situation is not very favorable. They say he’s starving.”

Just covering his tuition and dormitory fees was already more generosity than the boy could ever imagine.

If he fails the upcoming advancement exam, even that support would be cut off.

Count Han Taesu had an inkling that Han Siha wouldn’t have a proper place to secure his meals until he was confirmed to advance to the second year and was assigned a dormitory.

“He won’t die from it,” Han Taesu remarked coldly.

“But…” The servant hesitated, hoping the count might show some mercy, but the response he received was frigid.

“That will teach him a lesson. You might as well tell him that if he ever dares to utter any more blasphemous talk about black magic in my presence again, he’ll be thrown out into the streets.”

Han Taesu glanced down, calmly turning over the documents on his desk. He hadn’t dismissed the idea of disowning him in the worst case. With a cold gaze, Han Taesu muttered quietly to himself.

“…It wouldn’t be too difficult a second time.”

He had cast out Han Siha’s older brother without a moment’s hesitation, and the fact that he was granting this one any sort of reprieve was proof that he was wavering.

Rustle—

As Han Taesu emotionlessly turned a page, he suddenly paused at the servant’s next words.

“However, it seems that he’s truly changing this time. He achieved an unprecedentedly good score on the advancement exam….”

“Barely scraping past the bottom, I suppose.”

“No, sir. He placed 11th.”

Thud.

The fountain pen slipped from Han Taesu’s hand, dropping ink onto the crisp new document, where the black ink spread across the writing.

Normally, he would have compulsively torn the document apart. Instead, he lifted his head, eyes widening.

“What?”

11th from the bottom?

That… that’s an incredible score, isn’t it?

“There were ten students below him?”

“Huh?”

Has he finally pulled himself together?

No, how could there be a double-digit number of students behind him?

Han Taesu’s previously indifferent expression turned to shock.

Meanwhile, the servant, realizing the misunderstanding in the count’s words, quickly corrected him.

“No, sir, not from the bottom. He placed 11th from the top.”

“11th… from the top?”

For a moment, Han Taesu’s mind went blank.

He stared at the servant in disbelief.

The servant’s expression was serious. There was no way he would dare joke about such a thing unless he wished to die.

Noticing the subtle change in Han Taesu’s expression, the servant added more information.

“And his reputation has changed as well.”

He began to share the rumors circulating around Ardel Academy.

“They say the young master is compassionate.”

Hm?

“Even though he’s my son, that doesn’t sound right.”

“And as steadfast as a pine tree…”

“Definitely not.”

“And there’s even a rumor that he’s handsome…”

“Well, that’s true. He does take after me.”

Silence followed.

The servant blinked, unsure of how to respond. After a beat, he replied awkwardly.

“Of course, sir. He certainly resembles you.”

“Ahem.”

Han Taesu cleared his throat belatedly, frowning.

“He didn’t threaten some commoner to spread strange rumors, did he?”

“That’s unlikely, sir. The exam results alone are proof that he’s truly changing.”

Changing.

The servant’s words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake.

Han Taesu furrowed his brow, deep in thought.

After all, the only person left to inherit the Castica estate was Han Siha.

The child had been brilliant when he was young, and perhaps because the expectations were so high, his talent quickly reached its limits.

Even so, the reason he couldn’t be discarded was that he was the only ‘proper’ son left.

He was a pitiful child. Perhaps his rebelliousness was due to a lack of love, and in that sense, Han Taesu felt somewhat responsible.

The mention of change made Han Taesu want to hope, just a little.

“He needs to change.”

Even if he was his own son, he couldn’t allow a child who dabbled in black magic to remain.

During the last war, it was Han Taesu who played a crucial role in establishing the Ardel Empire.

He had earned the title of “Bloody Count” by purging the black magicians.

For that reason, he couldn’t allow such a child to continue down that path.

Whether Han Siha had truly changed would be clear at the advancement ceremony.

As if making a decision, Han Taesu spoke.

“The Department of Magic.”

The servant looked up in surprise.

“If he advances to the Department of Magic, all financial support will be… fully reinstated.”

* * *

At the same time, Creek was sitting alone, clutching his head in frustration, muttering to himself.

This is strange. No matter how I think about it, it’s really strange.

He had spread the rumors just as Han Siha had instructed, and now all of the second-year students at Ardel Academy were buzzing with talk about Han Siha.

The rumors said that Han Siha was compassionate, upright, and had a great character, which was why he had forgiven Creek—a story that painted Han Siha in a very positive light.

But that wasn’t the weirdest part.

“What’s with the rumor about him being handsome?”

That guy. He must have had his own personal motives.

Creek irritably slammed his book shut and leaned back in his chair.

It was already strange enough that Han Siha wanted those rumors spread, but what was even stranger was something else entirely.

Creek recalled the conversation he had with Han Siha.

-Why did you let me go?

If Han Siha had wanted, he could have done anything to him.

He could have forced him to kneel in the classroom in front of all the other students, or he could have simply mentioned him to Count Han Taesu, which would have surely led to his death.

Yet, Han Siha had replaced all those forms of punishment with that bizarre request.

Han Siha smiled slyly and said:

“Because you’re boring.”

“Huh?”

“It’s more fun to mess with people who have a bit of character. But you… not so much.”

Was that an insult or a compliment? Han Siha then dropped another bombshell.

“Fabian, what’s-his-name. The guy with the long name.”

“He’s a noble, a royal!”

“Yeah, that royal. I’d like to see him bark.”

As he said this, Han Siha grinned.

“It’s always more fun to bring down people like that.”

…He really was crazy.

Han Siha was a person on a level Creek couldn’t even comprehend.

For three days, Creek did his best to avoid Han Siha.

But, as expected, he couldn’t avoid him completely, so they ran into each other a few times.

Whenever they did, Han Siha would act all friendly, teasing Creek every time.

“I don’t want to see him. I really don’t!”

Even though things had ended relatively well, Creek still found Han Siha unnerving.

Creek shuddered and muttered under his breath. The only comfort was knowing that he wouldn’t have to deal with Han Siha much longer.

Someone as wicked as that would surely be assigned to the Necromancy Department.

He just had to endure one more day of Han Siha’s presence.

“Finally, finally!”

Creek cheered to himself, raising his arms in triumph.

Tomorrow was the Advancement Ceremony.

* * *

The morning of the Advancement Ceremony arrived.

The auditorium was already crowded with students, and it was interesting to quietly listen in on their conversations. Familiar names echoed from all directions.

“Of course, Lee Han will be first place, right?”

“What about Solia?”

“They’ll both end up in the Magic Department, won’t they?”

“I heard that a lot of second-year students are aiming for the Magic Department this year.”

“That’s always been the case. You can work directly in the field, and it’s the most powerful. It’s much more appealing than the Natural Sciences Department, where you’re stuck in a lab all day.”

“…What? You should end up in the Necromancy Department.”

“Hey, are you dissing Necromancy? Why don’t you go to hell instead?”

Lee Han and Solia.

Both of them were main characters in “Smart Academy”.

Lee Han, the protagonist who could wield all four elements of magic, and Solia, the Light Mage with the power of purification.

I hadn’t encountered them yet. Quietly, I muttered to myself from a corner.

Just don’t let it be Necromancy.

If Han Taesu found out I was assigned to Necromancy, he’d likely disown me.

Necromancers, who raise and control the dead, and Dark Mages, who drain the life force of the living to gain power—neither aligned with the values of the Han family.

Then it happened.

“Hey, it’s starting.”

“Oh… okay!”

As Principal Ernest stepped up to the podium, the students quickly fell silent.

The Advancement Ceremony was officially beginning.

His resolute and serious gaze said it all.

“Welcome, second-year students.”

“Waaaah!”

As the biggest event at Ardel Academy, the auditorium was lavishly decorated.

Though Principal Ernest’s speech was as dull as ever, everyone’s attention was focused on the central object—a magic die.

The Magic Die.

It was my first time seeing it in person.

I swallowed, looking up at the mysterious object that seemed to be swirling with a strange energy.

The Magic Die, encased in a large glass sphere, would spin and assign each student to their department based on their innate abilities. But seeing it in person… it looked much more…

Ordinary.

I could hear disappointed murmurs from all around.

“That’s it?”

“Our entire future is decided by that tiny little die?”

“At least it’s reliable.”

“That’s true.”

The Magic Die, which detects one’s natural inclinations and assigns them to the appropriate department.

In the original story, Han Siha was assigned to the Necromancy Department, the one he desperately wanted.

Regardless of society’s views, he sought to use dark magic to trample those who had looked down on him.

Would the die give the same result this time?

I couldn’t be sure. Han Siha’s stats had been adjusted to match my own personality, but…

“I’m pretty sure I’ve gone dark.”

Thinking back on my actions over the past few days, it was clear that I wasn’t exactly a saint.

I had threatened a commoner, provoked a noble, and sparred with Adela under the guise of training.

What if I really did end up in Necromancy?

As I muttered to myself, a familiar name rang out.

“Top student, Lee Han, assigned to the Magic Department?”

“Yes!”

“Waaaah!”

“Kyahhh!”

Lee Han?

So this is the first time I’m seeing the protagonist of “Smart Academy”.

Our classes and schedules never lined up, so this was our first encounter. Naturally, my gaze was drawn to him.

The moment I saw his face, I couldn’t help but gasp.

…He’s impressive.

No matter how much of a protagonist buff he has, this is too much.

Black hair, a clean-cut face. He looks like he stepped right out of a comic.

“Ah, he did step out of a novel.”

Anyway, his appearance was so unreal that it was clear he had received the full protagonist treatment.

Life’s not fair.

If this was how it was going to be, I should have been reincarnated as the protagonist instead.

Why am I Han Siha, of all people? Why Han Siha?

“Lee Han has been assigned to the Magic Department.”

“Waaaah!”

“Just as we expected.”

As anticipated, the result matched the original story. I nodded to myself and waited for the next name to be called.

“Solia Arkenent, aspiring for the Magic Department, please step forward.”

Next up was Solia, ranked third. Cheers erupted from all around.

“…Wow.”

Lee Han was impressive, but Solia was on another level.

With silver hair flowing, Solia walked gracefully to the front of the auditorium, her faint smile directed straight ahead.

Her golden eyes sparkled like sunlight.

She had a kind face, but there was an intimidating aura about her that made it difficult to approach. She exuded an aristocratic air from every pore.

The epithet “Light Mage” was well-deserved.

She was a genius among geniuses, never dropping below third place in the entire Ardel Academy. Her talents ranged from offensive magic to a wide array of healing spells. She looked down at the die with a relaxed smile.

Spin, spin—

The result came quickly.

“Solia Arkenent, assigned to the Magic Department.”

The assignments continued in order of rank.

“Seymour Parker, assigned to the Necromancy Department.”

So far, the main characters were coming up one after the other.

Seymour Parker, the only top-five student assigned to the Necromancy Department, walked down with his large frame and sly grin.

He was destined to team up with Han Siha and turn to the dark side in the future, but…

“Heh.”

Our eyes met as he glanced in my direction with a smirk.

“I’ll be waiting, Han Siha.”

Go away.

If you’re going to hell, go by yourself.

“Yoon Haul, assigned to the Theology Department.”

From main characters to supporting characters, familiar names flashed by.

In the original story, Han Siha wasn’t even mentioned in this scene, but I was hoping for a miracle.

Not the predictable plot where I’d be assigned to the Necromancy Department, but a miracle that would shock everyone in the auditorium.

If I wasn’t assigned to Necromancy…

“No, I can’t be.”

Three years from now, the dark mages of the Necromancy Department would band together, stage a rebellion, and take over the school.

Even if I managed to survive until then, getting caught up in that would be a death sentence.

So please, just…

“Han Siha?”

Finally, my turn had come.