The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 33

“Why don’t you just go back?”

Creek spat out the words, his expression twisted in irritation. The atmosphere in the magic department was already somber, so what was necromancy doing here?

“And who the hell are you? Get lost, punk. I’m here to see Han Siha.”

Seymour Parker blatantly ignored Creek.

If it had been a one-on-one situation, Seymour might have backed down, but retreating here would be a blow to the pride of the magic department. Creek blocked the door with his body, raising his voice.

“You really think Han Siha would want to see you? Why don’t you go ask Fabian from your own department if Han would bother with a jerk like you? If it were someone with your attitude, he’d have already thrown a punch.”

So now rumors were getting twisted. Since when did I throw punches?

I clicked my tongue in disbelief as Creek went even further.

“Sure, he’s got a nasty temper, but he’s too righteous to fall for any of your schemes. So don’t even think about it!”

Is this an insult or a compliment?

Can you please make up your mind?

This is so embarrassing I could die.

“And what’s up with this guy?”

Seymour Parker scowled and shoved Creek hard.

Due to the size difference, Creek stumbled and fell clumsily to the ground.

Thud.

Seymour’s gaze shifted to me.

There was no way he could miss me from this angle.

“Hey, Han Siha.”

“…”

“I don’t know what this guy is rambling about, but I’m here to see you, so come on out.”

The tone made it clear why Creek had been so intent on blocking him.

Coming into someone else’s classroom and acting like a thug—his words were nothing less than that. But what he said next almost made me dizzy.

“Is it this hard to visit a friend, damn it?”

Ah, right.

Friend.

Crazy Han Siha.

So, in this beautiful school life, Han Siha was close friends with the main villain of Ardel Academy, Seymour Parker.

What a wonderful school life indeed.

“Friend?”

“Were they close?”

Had that fact been known earlier, maybe Han Siha wouldn’t have been bullied in his first year.

In reality, the two became close during the first-year break. Han Siha spent those days buried in grimoires, trying to learn dark magic.

Everyone’s attention was now focused on me.

I could practically hear the sound of the carefully built image I’d constructed shattering.

I can’t let this continue.

Creak.

I pushed my chair back and stood up.

Then, as I walked past him and out the door, I gestured for him to follow.

“Hey, let’s go.”

It’s best to nip the problem in the bud.

***

“Hey, friend. How far are we going? Let’s talk already.”

This should be far enough.

I looked around and saw that no one was in sight.

“Aren’t you going to answer? It’s rude to ignore someone when they’re talking.”

I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall.

From his tone, I could tell exactly what kind of relationship Han Siha had with this guy.

Even though they were “friends,” it was clear that Seymour saw Han as being beneath him.

That’s why Seymour Parker spoke with a hint of menace. He still didn’t seem to understand why I had been placed in the magic department.

“Be honest. You knew about Professor Ernst’s lab before you applied, didn’t you?”

I guess it makes sense that Seymour would think this way, given his perspective.

When I didn’t respond, Seymour Parker grinned and lowered his voice.

“See, you really do belong with us. The sorting must have been way off.”

Seymour continued, hands shoved in his pockets.

“I didn’t expect Professor Divert to take such bold action… but the ending was a mess.”

He still didn’t know that it was me who had taken down that professor.

It was a closely guarded secret, so he wouldn’t find out for a while.

I continued to watch him cautiously, keeping my silence.

“How’s life in the magic department?”

Seymour Parker was just as wary of me, gauging my reaction.

“Bet it doesn’t suit you, huh? Doesn’t it get boring?”

He was beating around the bush, as if he had something important to say.

Around this time, what kind of proposal would Seymour Parker be making to me?

The guy who had never cared about Han Siha’s feelings was suddenly watching my expression. Why?

The answer didn’t take long to come to me.

The dark mage society incident.

The next subplot came to mind.

“Why don’t you get to the point?”

I said in a cold voice.

“Sharp as always.”

Seymour smirked unpleasantly, shrugging his shoulders.

“You even seem a bit different… Your eyes, they look like you’re ready to kill someone.”

Thud, thud.

The feeling of his hand patting my shoulder was deeply unsettling.

“I like it, though. You definitely have a talent for this.”

Seymour Parker was spot-on.

He was remembering Han Siha before I took over his body, so it was natural for him to think this way.

Seymour Parker was the one who recognized Han Siha’s talent early on and helped him awaken as a dark mage.

The relationship between Seymour Parker and Han Siha had once produced an excellent synergy.

Of course, in a bad way.

Seymour Parker was a hands-on type, while Han Siha had a knack for researching dark magic.

If possible, Seymour would want to recruit someone with such talent to his side.

“I’m thinking of starting a research club.”

Eventually, Seymour voiced his plan.

“A club?”

“Interested?”

Just as I expected.

The infamous dark magic research club that got caught, almost costing everyone involved their heads.

Lee Han, at the request of Dean Ernest, would eventually expose the club’s true nature, revealing it to be as dangerous as the Frankenstein experiment. If left unchecked, it would become a ticking time bomb within the academy.

It should be destroyed if possible.

That much is true, but…

Unless the protagonist slacks off, there’s no reason for me to take on that role.

So why should I bother?

“Are you joining or not?”

Does he really think I’m going to join?

* * *

In the Dean’s office.

Dean Ernest was deep in thought as he looked over a document.

For the past several decades, Ardel Academy had been safely run under the leadership of the magic department.

Apart from regulated dark magic, illegal research that endangered the school was rare, and those responsible were immediately dealt with by the Magic Council.

However, recently, there has been a growing sense of unease both inside and outside the academy.

It felt as if a darkness that had been buried for so long was now struggling to resurface.

Professor Divert Grunui, whom they had known for many years but never truly understood, and the incident where outstanding students were collectively abducted by the Demon Tree—these were troubling signs.

And that wasn’t all.

Even the dungeons used by students were showing signs of instability, nearly leading to serious danger.

Yet, despite all these incidents, there was one student who survived: Han Siha.

Initially, it seemed like he had merely been lucky, surviving thanks to Adela’s help. But after seeing his actions yesterday, it was clear that luck had little to do with it.

He had single-handedly lured and dealt with Professor Divert’s greatest creation, sent Adela to the research lab, and then had the presence of mind to report to him afterward.

He wasn’t just any ordinary student.

Perhaps Han Siha was the very talent Dean Ernest had been searching for.

Of course, entrusting such a serious task to a mere student might not be the wisest decision.

Even after all his years of experience, there were still moments of uncertainty. This was one of those moments.

Dean Ernest could only hope that his decision was the right one.

He frowned as he looked over the report in his hands.

“The necromancy department is up to something unnecessary.”

The report detailed that students from the necromancy department were forming a club.

A baking club. On the surface, it appeared to be an innocent, harmless group. But the truth was far more sinister.

It was actually a cover for a club researching forbidden dark magic.

After the recent scandal involving Professor Divert Grunui, students had been left shaken. The emergence of such a club in this atmosphere was far from a good sign.

Moreover, the research they were conducting was more extreme and dangerous than anticipated.

While the Dean didn’t have the authority to meddle in student clubs at Ardel Academy, he couldn’t just stand by.

Dean Ernest put down his pen and called out to his assistant.

“Could you bring Han Siha to me?”

* * *

Dean Ernest summoned Han Siha.

Although a meeting was inevitable after the incident with Professor Divert Grunui, Han Siha had expected it to be a brief encounter, maybe just a few words of encouragement. Instead, he was caught off guard by what the Dean said next.

“There is something troubling happening within Ardel Academy.”

“Excuse me?”

“Students from the necromancy department are forming a secret society.”

This was one of the main episodes, comparable in secrecy to the Divert Grunui incident.

Dean Ernest wasn’t someone who would casually let such information slip.

This wasn’t just a simple greeting.

As Han Siha pondered why he was being told this, a realization dawned on him, causing him to freeze.

“No way.”

“I have a mission I would like to entrust to you.”

It might be dangerous, but only one student came to mind for this task.

A student who was mature beyond his years, cunning, and perhaps because of that, seemed perfect for this job.

Dean Ernest trusted his judgment.

He was confident that Han Siha could handle it.

“I will ensure you are well compensated. You will receive a full scholarship until graduation. It makes me feel like a shameful teacher, resorting to money as an incentive, but I see no other way to express my gratitude.”

“…”

“Professor Divert told me everything. Including the fact that they are targeting you.”

He knew that Han Siha had become a target for the dark magic society.

Along with money, he was offering a guarantee of safety.

“I would like you to go inside and be my eyes and ears.”

“Professor, that’s…”

Dean Ernest looked at Han Siha with a pleased smile.

Han Siha frowned, clenching his fists tightly.

He had felt a chill run down his spine ever since Seymour Parker brought up the idea to him.

If the job had been to destroy the club outright, then sure, Lee Han—who had earned the ire of the necromancy department—might not be the right fit. But for a spy, Han Siha was the perfect choice.

In the original story, Lee Han had chosen to tackle the issue head-on.

Whether it was head-on or not…

‘Unless Lee Han decides to slack off, there’s no way I’d be the one doing this.’

Han Siha recalled the carefree words he had muttered yesterday.

No way I’d be doing this.

Hah.

Surely, Dean Ernest wouldn’t ask me to do this.

He now regretted his arrogance, thinking back to how he had laughed off the idea.

Words have a way of coming true.

‘This is insane.’

The scholarship was nice, and aligning with Dean Ernest might not be a bad choice. It could be a more solid lifeline than even Professor Ernest or Professor Grint.

Graduation with guaranteed success! A strong connection indeed.

All of that was good.

But…

‘Where the hell is the protagonist?’

This was supposed to be his job.