The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 183

There were many things one could criticize.

Han Siha’s unbothered expression, blinking as if wondering what all the fuss was about, even with a prince standing right before him.

And then, casually spinning a pen that was a gift from the Emperor himself.

Yet, it was Han Siha who looked at Marcel as if the prince were the strange one, leaving Marcel speechless and unable to say much.

The other two, who recognized Marcel a bit later, hastily offered their formal greetings, but the damage was done.

There was no doubt about it: Han Siha was a peculiar individual.

Marcel concluded this as he returned to his dorm.

Eckart, his classmate who shared the room, was hanging up laundry when Marcel walked in.

Glancing at Eckart, Marcel suddenly found himself curious about how his roommate viewed that strange boy.

“Do you know Han Siha?”

Marcel Sylvester Edwin, the prince, had asked the question out of the blue, causing Eckart to respond politely.

“I’ve heard of him. You mean Han Siha from the Castica family, right?”

Despite the academy’s egalitarian atmosphere where titles were unnecessary, Eckart was the kind who insisted on formalities.

Marcel had grown used to this and nodded as he looked at Eckart.

“What do you think of him?”

“I haven’t met him in person, but… from what I’ve heard, he seems to be quite capable.”

The son of the Blood Count.

From a failing student to ranking third in his year, a fiercely determined boy who climbed the ranks.

Most fifth-year students who hadn’t met Han Siha in person had similar impressions.

Eckart was no exception.

“As someone from Castica, he’s a bit intimidating for me to approach… so I’ve only heard stories and never met him. Have you, Your Highness?”

“I met him just now. He was with his dragon.”

As expected of Ardel Academy’s most prominent tamer, Han Siha was with his dragon.

Eckart thought this was only natural and nodded in agreement with Marcel’s statement.

“Of course. Was he training?”

“No.”

Marcel blinked as he recalled what he had witnessed earlier.

Training… Well, it was far from a training scene….

‘You heard that? He says he’s not a rabbit. More like a pig.’

‘Not a pig!’

‘You don’t think you’re heavier than a pig? You vicious reptile.’

‘Kuuu!’

Hmm.

Marcel still couldn’t quite make sense of it.

“They were arguing.”

“Pardon?”

“The dragon was being picky about its food….”

“…?”

“And he was teasing it about it….”

“Wait, Han Siha was doing that?”

As Eckart listened, he found himself slowly losing his composure.

Marcel, who was recounting the events, wore a similar expression.

“That’s not all; he kept kicking around a fountain pen….”

“What?”

“A priceless item bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor… rolling it on the floor….”

“What?”

Eckart, who had refused to drop formal speech even when Marcel had asked him to, now turned deathly pale.

For someone who placed so much importance on status, the story Marcel told was nothing short of incomprehensible.

After hearing everything Marcel had witnessed, Eckart spoke up in shock.

“Isn’t that… treason?”

Eckart’s hands trembled.

He looked nervous, as though merely talking about it was dangerous.

It was a scene that would undoubtedly make the Emperor grab his neck in outrage if he had seen it.

But Marcel slowly shook his head.

“No.”

“Sorry?”

“He seemed… unaware of the meaning.”

That ignorant innocence.

Marcel finally sorted out his thoughts.

“He seems like a bit of an oddball.”

Marcel concluded that Han Siha was just another genius with a few screws loose.

* * *

“Oh, did you hear about the competition?”

Having barely recovered from the shock, Eckart asked, trying to change the subject.

“Competition?”

The annual competition is held during final exams week.

Students from the third year onward are eligible to participate, and it’s an event that allows all grades to freely join.

Unlike the Magic-Necromancy Duel, where the Magic and Necromancy Departments were often at odds, the competition was more of an inter-year showdown.

The winning year would receive a special gift from Dean Ernest, making it a fun event akin to a school sports day.

First place traditionally alternated between the fifth and sixth years.

But last year saw an unexpected twist.

Marcel Sylvester Edwin, then a fourth-year, had taken first place.

A victory on his first try.

Some had sighed at the thought that Ardel Academy’s future might not be all that bright.

“I suppose I’ll have to participate again.”

“You’ll definitely claim first place, Your Highness.”

Eckart’s eyes shone with loyalty, like those of a devoted servant.

Marcel nodded confidently.

He was talented in many fields and skilled in combat.

His top exam scores were the result of his own efforts, leaving no doubt about his abilities.

However, the ease of the duels stemmed from something Marcel himself was unaware of.

‘No one’s going to beat the prince and take first place.’

Unlike standard exams, which were based on individual scores, duels often saw opponents subtly holding back.

With none of his opponents ever using their full strength, the battles felt easy to Marcel.

His skills had improved significantly over the past year, but as a fourth-year, he was not someone strong enough to make fifth and sixth-year seniors fall like autumn leaves.

Marcel, oblivious to this, simply basked in his perceived prowess.

“This year as well, we’ll make sure first place goes to our grade.”

* * *

It wasn’t long before news of the competition reached the third year.

During the [Advanced Analysis of Magic Artifacts] class, Han Si-hyuk, looking more haggard than ever, stood at the front.

“I’m sure you’ve all heard.”

This year, third year students would be eligible to participate in the competition.

Typically, each grade level could have ten participants, and since it was a dueling tournament, students from the Magic and Necromancy Departments usually took part, rather than those from the Natural Sciences or Theology Departments, who weren’t as skilled in physical combat.

Looking over his students, Han Si-hyuk explained the competition rules, expecting that some among them might want to participate.

“Matchups will be assigned randomly. Since it’s an all-grade competition, there will be no penalties based on grade level. For your information, no third-year student has ever won.”

As the youngest participants, the professors held little expectation for them.

The youngest champion to date was Marcel, who had taken first place as a fourth-year.

Han Si-hyuk thought that was mostly due to the prince’s status rather than his skills and picked up the matchup list without much interest.

“Those who signed up, come forward.”

Thud, thud.

As expected, there were participants from his classroom as well.

Actually, there were more than he anticipated.

The earth mage, Adela. The tamer of the Magic Department, Han Siha.

Adding to the roster was Yoon Haul from the Theology Department.

“…You’re joining too?”

“Yes!”

Han Si-hyuk looked at Yoon Haul in surprise.

He knew she was a genius when it came to intellectual pursuits, but he never expected the seer to participate in something so physical.

Though she was likely chosen based on her top grades, it was still surprising.

‘That’s her Theology rank; she’ll struggle against the Magic Department students.’

He had no expectations, but since she signed up, he handed over the match list anyway.

Yoon Haul excitedly glanced at her first opponent.

“Wow! I know this person!”

“Who is it?”

“The top student of the sixth year!”

“Is… is that really something to be happy about?”

“It’s fine! Even if I lose, I can say I fought the best. It’s all about the bragging rights!”

Han Siha, who was next, sighed as he grabbed his match list.

For a moment, his eyes met Han Si-hyuk’s.

Han Si-hyuk was intentionally avoiding him.

Han Siha, who had the uncanny ability to see through things in unexpected ways, might uncover the truth about the attack on the interrogation room.

But Han Siha only glanced briefly at his match list, not paying much attention to Han Si-hyuk.

He flattened the crumpled list and took a look.

“Oh.”

Seeing his first opponent, Han Siha couldn’t help but chuckle.

[Fabian den Edwin]

That idiot. Somehow he managed to do well enough in the Necromancy Department to make it here.

But to Han Siha, who knew him well, Fabian was nothing more than an amusing opponent.

“Ha… this royal brat.”

Han Siha clicked his tongue and added.

“He’s going to whine again.”

* * *

“Waaaah!”

The duel arena was filled with the excitement of the students.

The same location where last year’s Magic-Necromancy Duel had taken place.

Professors were seated in the spectator area, watching the students prepare for the competition, chatting amongst themselves.

Speculating which grade would produce the winner was a popular topic of conversation.

“They say the third years are famous this time.”

Usually, the third years weren’t even mentioned in past competitions, but this year was different.

With so many promising students gathered in the third year, some professors were quite hopeful.

“Who’s notable among the third years?”

“Lee Han. He’s said to be competing too.”

“He’s not the only one; most of the top students signed up.”

“Han Siha’s in there too.”

“I also think Solia’s going to make a big impact.”

The professors continued their heated discussions.

Amidst the chatter, a low voice drifted in like a gust of wind.

“What do you think, Professor Han Si-hyuk?”

Han Si-hyuk frowned and turned his head.

So that was why Professor Grint had chosen the seat beside him, to ask trivial questions like this.

Grint had been sticking close to Han Si-hyuk all day, creating an oddly pressuring atmosphere.

Han Si-hyuk calmly responded to Grint’s question.

“The third-year students… they’re certainly good.”

“Do you think a winner might come from their group?”

Grint’s question wasn’t driven by simple curiosity.

It was almost as if he were asking Han Si-hyuk to make a prediction.

Han Si-hyuk frowned at the implication.

He could see what the stars had to say, sure, but using that ability for something so trivial was draining.

So he replied with a dismissive tone.

“Well, we’ll see soon enough.”

However, Grint wasn’t one to back down easily.

His voice remained sharp.

“I’ve heard that Professor Han Si-hyuk is a remarkable seer.”

“….”

“I’d love to witness such an impressive skill.”

The Ministry of Magic’s investigator had already examined the incident at the interrogation room but had found nothing, and it seemed they were ready to let it slide.

Grint’s suspicions of Han Si-hyuk were only growing because, despite being investigated, Han Si-hyuk was still leading the inquiry.

There was bound to be something fishy.

Moreover, wasn’t Han Si-hyuk operating under the title of a seer despite not being one?

Grint’s suspicions had reached that level.

Even without conclusive evidence, it was better to be cautious.

Grint wanted clarity.

Han Si-hyuk sighed at Grint’s probing gaze.

“Fine.”

The last thing Han Si-hyuk needed was to fuel more suspicion.

He closed his eyes for a moment, then glanced up at the sky.

It was a remarkably simple gesture for something supposedly involving prophecy.

Grint, who had been watching with a skeptical expression, paused at Han Si-hyuk’s straightforward response.

“It will happen.”

“Are you saying a third-year will win?”

“Yes.”

There was certainty in Han Si-hyuk’s eyes, and an undeniable air of authority that Grint had seen before in other true seers.

Could it be real?

Or was this another lie?

Grint was still weighing his doubts when another voice suddenly broke in.

“A third-year winner, you say? Well, I’m quite curious about who it’ll be.”

Hahaha.

Laughing heartily, another professor joined the conversation.

“Haha.”

Grint’s expression turned cold as soon as he saw Professor Ernst approach.