The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 3: The Genius Tamer of the Academy

A jagged edge, as if it had been bitten off by teeth.

For some reason, the creature seemed pleased, holding the lock it had chewed off in its mouth.

Munch, munch.

…Of course, I snatched it away from him.

“Yip….”

“No, you can’t eat that.”

Dragons aren’t much different from dogs, after all.

In short, they’re stubborn and don’t listen.

Clomp, clomp.

With a short sigh, I turned to the path on my left.

Seeing the light growing brighter, it seemed I had found the right way out.

Man, it was really tough just to escape from this maze.

I realized anew how reckless it had been to attempt an escape without any thought.

“Phew….”

Taking a short breath, I examined what might be the last door.

If I just break through here….

“It seems like we couldn’t have gotten out… huh?”

“Come here. The lock’s been broken.”

“What?”

Voices could be heard.

“Damn.”

Gasp.

I quickly covered the creature’s mouth and took a step back.

A dead end, except for the door behind me.

The voices were so clear, they must be nearby. It wouldn’t be as easy to sneak past them as before.

Clomp, clomp.

Chilling footsteps gradually approached.

A deep voice commanded,

“Search everywhere.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Wait.”

I felt the blood drain from my face.

I tried not to make any noise, but their next words made me bite my lip.

“…Looks like we found something.”

Damn it.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I turned around.

I ran as fast as I could, but I already knew it was too late.

A sharp voice rang out from right behind me.

“There! Get him!”

The maze-like structure that had seemed hopeless a moment ago was now a small blessing.

“Where did he run off to?”

I quickly hid to the right and kept running without stopping.

There was no time to relax.

They would surely use detection magic to find my location.

I had to escape before then.

Biting my lower lip, I turned left again.

“The exit….”

There was one in the direction we were trying to go.

And another where they had entered.

The former was already blocked, so there was no way to break through.

That left only one option.

“Hey, reptile. Follow me!”

“…!”

The creature’s steps quickened as well.

Thanks to the quick scan of the structure I had done earlier, I had no problem heading toward the exit.

“There he is!”

The problem was that there were black magicians on this side too.

“Damn.”

They were two flunkies floundering in confusion behind me.

Even if they looked incompetent, there was no way Han Siha, who couldn’t even properly use a first-class spell, could take them on.

Still, I had to try.

I couldn’t just die here.

“Get him!”

With my life on the line, my mind started working faster.

First, I needed a spell to escape, at least….

Scenes from the Academy flashed through my mind like a scan.

And then, I remembered something that might work.

“Phew….”

*Smog.*

The basic self-defense spell taught as the first lesson at Ardel Academy.

It was a spell that conjured white smoke to obscure the enemy’s vision and allow for a quick escape. Even Han Siha, who had no talent for magic, had managed to learn it.

“I’ve never actually tried it, though….”

Focusing power in my fingertips, I took a deep breath.

I tried to fill the narrow cave with thick white smoke.

Since I had already learned the spell, I could cast it without any incantations.

My body knew what to do.

It knew.

“Please… please….”

Just once, Han Siha, follow through for me.

I’ve been cleaning up all the messes you made.

So, please.

With all my concentration focused to the point where my fingertips trembled.

Poof.

“Ha.”

It worked.

Though it was a bit clumsy.

Thick, grayish smoke quickly filled the area, obscuring my view.

“Huh?”

“Damn it. That slippery bastard!”

The two flunkies, seemingly caught off guard by the sudden smoke, started cursing in panic.

“Where did he go?”

“Don’t just stand there! Do something!”

“Call for backup over here!”

It was a relief those idiots were so inept.

If they were real black magicians, I’d already be on a sacrificial altar, with money stuffed in the pig’s mouth.

I suppose I should be grateful that this wasn’t their main base.

Due to a lack of manpower, it seemed there were a few incompetent ones mixed in with them here.

Relieved, I quickly began breaking through the door.

Whether they had locked it in a rush or what, the door, which was already slightly open, swung wide as I pushed it.

That’s when it happened.

“You slippery little…!”

*Gasp.*

The feeling of a hand closing around my throat sent me stumbling forward.

This isn’t… a physical choke.

“Ugh….”

A type of curse magic.

It wasn’t strong enough to kill someone, but it could bind me temporarily. They must have used it to hold me while they called for backup.

A cold voice rang out from beyond the smog.

“If you surrender now, I’ll at least make sure your death isn’t painful.”

So, you’re going to kill me anyway?

“You’d better decide quickly if you don’t want to slowly die as your life force is drained away.”

Gasp. Cough.

“Don’t worry. I’m not dying that easily.”

If it were a physical attack, I might have had a chance to counter it.

But I couldn’t even see my opponent, and my arms were losing strength.

I wish I had learned a spell to break curses.

No matter how hard I racked my brain, there was no such spell in Han Siha’s memories.

That meant the only variable left was….

I slowly turned my head to look at the creature.

With almost no affinity built up between us.

I didn’t know if I could control it with my current taming skills.

“Please….”

“Screeeeech!”

At that moment.

The dragon spread its wings wide and burst out like a miracle.

“What’s that sound?”

Before the caster of the curse magic could step back in surprise, the creature spewed fire.

Flames surged through the gaps in the white smoke.

“Ah, it’s… it’s hot! Hot!”

“What the—? What’s happening?”

“Aaaah!”

In the confusion, the curse magic was lifted.

I hastily ran my hand over my throat, taking deep breaths.

It was likely a spell that drained his own life force, so he wouldn’t be able to use it again for a while.

“Aaaah!”

“Over here, this way!”

I needed to get out quickly while everything was in chaos.

“Let’s go.”

With a nod of my head, I called to the creature, who fluttered its wings and perched lightly on my shoulder.

It was more capable than I thought.

“Well done.”

“Coo!”

I locked the door behind me so they couldn’t follow right away.

I’d successfully made my escape.

With a smirk, I slipped out through the crack in the door and then quickly closed it behind me.

This should keep them from following me for a while.

“Let’s get out of this wretched cave.”

* * *

On the barren road, the wind blew sand against my cheeks.

I’d managed to escape, but now I was completely at a loss.

“Coo….”

I had been walking for an hour.

Whether those people had given up or were still chasing me, I wasn’t sure, but it certainly wasn’t a safe situation.

To avoid detection, I had ditched my Ardel Academy uniform and was moving cautiously.

“Coo!”

This little dragon really stood out.

A person with a haggard face wandering in this desolate place with a dragon?

If the black magicians saw me, they’d have dragged me back in no time.

“And there’s no one around.”

There was no one around to help, and just as I was beginning to think I might get caught by the black magicians, something appeared.

“Huh?”

A cart rattled towards me, pulled by two scraggly horses heading somewhere in a hurry.

I hid as best I could and observed the cart.

It didn’t seem to belong to the black magicians.

“Excuse me!”

Now wasn’t the time to be picky.

“What is it?”

The cart slowed to a stop as I stepped out in front of it.

A rough-looking man in a straw hat poked his head out, grumbling.

“Could I possibly get a ride?”

“Got money?”

I rummaged through my pockets and pulled out a gold card.

The card was one I had been issued by Ardel Academy.

Given the reputation of Ardel Academy, which was recognized not only in the Ardel Empire but in many other countries as well, this should work.

“Here. Could I pay on credit?”

“…!”

As soon as I showed the card, his eyes lit up, just as I had expected.

Only the children of prestigious families could afford the hefty tuition at Ardel Academy, so he must have decided that I could pay him back even on credit.

After a few awkward coughs, the man nodded.

“Get in.”

“Thank you!”

I hopped on.

The dragon, perched on my lap, looked around curiously, but the man seemed to think it wasn’t unusual for an Ardel Academy student and said nothing.

As he climbed back onto the rattling cart, the man asked gruffly,

“Where to?”

That was….

I had rushed out of there, so there was a chance they might come after me.

It was fortunate I escaped before they could form a contract, but if they dug around, they might eventually find me.

There was only one choice.

Although it was full of people who wanted to kill me, ironically, it was the safest place for me right now.

The stage of this novel.

Biting my lower lip hard, I answered,

“Please take me to Ardel Academy.”

* * *

Throughout the entire Ardel Empire, there wasn’t a more prestigious academy than this one.

From the beginning, this was a place you couldn’t enter without either innate talent or wealth.

Even Han Siha, who was on the verge of flunking out amidst scorn, had entered thanks to his natural magical ability and the backing of his moderately influential family.

This was Ardel Academy, where just the name of the families who sent their children there was enough to make you gasp in awe.

“It’s impressive every time I see it.”

Selene, a second-year associate professor at Ardel Academy, pushed her flowing hair back and smiled faintly.

As a commoner, she had spent years bouncing around various schools as an associate professor, but even she felt a renewed sense of awe whenever she saw this place.

The gleaming marble floors and the chandeliers illuminating the ornate ceiling.

The atmosphere exuded by the students, who carried themselves with such poise, even in their uniforms.

“It’s not called Ardel for nothing.”

The level of sophistication here was beyond extraordinary.

Just being a part of such a prestigious academy was something to be proud of.

Feeling good, Selene crossed her arms and greeted the students.

“Go on in.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Hello, Professor!”

The students nodded energetically, too absorbed in checking their schedules for today’s classes to notice much else.

What an ideal school scene….

But then.

What was that?

“Huh… huh!”

Crash.

With a commotion, a cloud of dust rose up at the front gate.

Selene, who had just been contemplating the word “sophistication” over and over, frowned in confusion.

“What in the world is that!”

“Ugh, sand. How filthy!”

The students, who had just entered the gate, were already abuzz with curiosity, captivated by the strange sight.

Selene rubbed her eyes and took another look to assess the situation.

So, what she saw was—

“Huff… huff.”

A shabby cart, far from anything sophisticated, kicking up dust as it arrived at the school.

Neighhhh!

Two even shabbier horses, neighing loudly without a hint of grace.

And finally—

“Am I… am I late?”

A student, covered in dust, gasping for breath.

“What the….”

Selene scowled as she slowly looked the student over.

Light brown hair that partially obscured his eyes, dark brown eyes that seemed to shimmer mysteriously, and a face pale as if feverish.

‘Han Siha?’

So, it was Han Siha, the infamous student who was on the brink of failing because he couldn’t even control his magic properly.

Selene dusted off her shoulders with a dissatisfied expression and spoke.

“You’re not late. Try to arrive on time.”

“Phew… what a relief.”

Han Siha gave a small smile and muttered under his breath.

“As expected… the experience of running around to classes in under three minutes pays off.”

What is he talking about?

Selene sighed softly and avoided Han Siha’s gaze.

With other students, she might have paid more attention, but she didn’t have the time or patience to bother with a failing student who wouldn’t last the year anyway.

Besides….

‘He’s creepy.’

There were even rumors that he was interested in black magic and slept with a cursed doll every night. Nothing good could come from getting involved with him.

But then.

“Thank you! I’ll head in right away!”

“Hurry up and get—”

Huh?

“…Why is he acting like that today?”

Selene watched Han Siha’s retreating figure as he hurried off, tilting her head in confusion.

‘Was he always this energetic?’

Something.

It seemed like he had changed a bit in the past few months.