The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 68

In the second-floor hallway of Ardel Academy, Adela’s excited voice echoed.

“Did you see the monster anatomy assignment?”

“Why?”

“They gave us a ton of homework again.”

“Ugh…”

Han Siha grimaced, imagining Professor Ernst’s face.

After the incident with the Frankenstein project in the lab, access to the lab had been restricted, and he hadn’t gone back since.

“Good thing I didn’t go to graduate school…”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Just that Professor Ernst isn’t easy to deal with.”

Adela nodded vigorously in agreement with Han Siha’s comment.

It wasn’t just any monster they had to study; they were expected to analyze the complex anatomical structure of a dragon and write a report on it.

Adela’s gaze drifted toward Basilus.

“koo?”

“Basilus, come here.”

Toddododo.

Sensing something was off, Basilus deftly dodged away from Adela’s reach.

Han Siha chuckled.

“Meet me at the central library later. I remember a book that might help.”

“Already?”

“It’s not that hard.”

After getting Basilus, he had looked into related books before. Although he hadn’t expected to become a reptile specialist, it wasn’t too difficult.

“You’re always so prepared.”

“Of course.”

Adela gave him a thumbs-up in appreciation.

The classroom was at the end of the hallway, and Adela skipped ahead with light steps.

That’s when it happened.

“Huh?”

An awkward smile appeared on Adela’s face, and Han Siha froze in his tracks as well.

Solia, with her silver hair gleaming in the sunlight, stood by the window holding a textbook, gazing outside.

Though some time had passed since the grades were announced, this was their first encounter since then.

“…”

He had taken the third place that should have belonged to her.

Even if it was earned fairly, it was still awkward.

Han Siha hesitated to speak, but fortunately, Solia spoke first.

“On your way to class?”

The sunlight made her silver hair shine even more brilliantly, and her expression was as calm as ever.

As usual, her face was unreadable, which was so typical of Solia.

But what she said next was anything but typical.

“Congratulations on your win.”

Solia’s shocking words left Adela wide-eyed.

Han Siha nearly dropped the textbook he was holding.

‘What did she just say?’

Blushing, Solia added,

“I-I really mean it.”

“…Thanks.”

For a week after the competition, Solia had been tormented by self-doubt.

She had never lost her spot in the top three before.

Each time her inferiority complex surfaced, she had vowed to herself to offer her congratulations.

Even though she was furious and hurt by the whispers that Solia was past her prime or that she had been overhyped, she finally accepted it.

Han Siha had done well, and she had fallen short.

She knew she had to accept this in order to grow.

Solia clenched her fists and, in an uncharacteristically loud voice, declared,

“Of course, next time, I’ll take the top spot! But for now, congratulations are in order!”

Then, with a short breath, Solia turned and quickly fled.

It all happened in a flash.

“Uh… what?”

Adela, still reeling from the shock, looked as if she had been hit over the head with a hammer.

That a noble from such a prestigious family, known for always maintaining her composure, would say something like that?

Adela muttered with a serious expression,

“Is she… sick?”

“I’m starting to get worried too.”

Han Siha tilted his head in confusion.

There were only a few minutes left until Professor Ernst’s monster anatomy class.

They needed to hurry—

“Kyaaa!”

A sharp scream froze Han Siha in his tracks.

The students in the hallway erupted into murmurs.

The terrifying scream was enough to send chills down everyone’s spine.

“Gasp… gasp.”

“Liril!”

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

A few students ran to support the girl who had screamed.

But she didn’t seem to calm down easily.

“A monster! A monster appeared!”

The pale girl pointed in one direction, shouting frantically.

* * *

“They said a monster appeared in the specimen room.”

“A monster? Here at Ardel?”

“Maybe she saw a kobold at the construction site and freaked out.”

“No, it wasn’t that kind of monster. She said she almost died.”

The rumor about the monster in the specimen room was enough to shake the entire school.

The specimen room in the basement was an area so untouched by people that it wouldn’t be surprising if a monster appeared there.

Given that the setting was a specimen room, wild stories spread about Ardel’s Frankenstein coming back to life.

Of course, few students actually believed it.

Given the structure of Ardel Academy, it was unlikely such a large monster could exist without anyone knowing.

Some students even scoffed at the idea, mocking Liril for finally losing her mind.

Professor Grint tapped his podium as he walked to the front of the classroom.

“Lately, there have been some unsettling rumors circulating in the school.”

“….”

“They’re not true, so focus on your studies.”

“Yes, sir!”

His tone was firm.

I doodled on my textbook, drawing hair on the printed face of a person and adding a staff in one hand.

Wow, this looks really good.

Maybe I should have gone to art school.

While I was happily daydreaming, the other students’ eyes were fixed on Liril, who was sitting in the very back of the classroom.

“Do you really think it’s true?”

“She seriously needs help.”

“A monster at Ardel Academy? What nonsense.”

Liril, overwhelmed by the whispers around her, buried her flushed face in her desk.

I stopped drawing my staff and paused.

While I didn’t feel the need to defend her, I also had no intention of condemning her like the others.

As far-fetched as it sounded, Liril was telling the truth.

Drake’s main skill, Invisibility.

If it decided to hide, not even the professors searching the specimen room would be able to find it.

Inside Ardel Academy, no one would expect a monster to be lurking, so the professors likely wouldn’t conduct a thorough search.

As is often the case with those in charge, they probably took a quick look around and made a hasty conclusion.

“Hmm.”

I propped my chin up, wearing a serious expression.

I’d been doodling aimlessly because my mind was so cluttered.

[Main Episode 3: The Drake in the Specimen Room]

[Time Limit: Until it is defeated]

[Reward: Cipher Clue, Random Box (D~A)]

The Drake in the specimen room…

The next episode had started a bit sooner than expected.

* * *

Two days had passed.

It was the day of our janitorial duty in the first-floor bathrooms of the Magic Department.

Adela’s scream marked the start of another delightful community service session.

“Aaaah!”

A gifted genius mage, stuck cleaning bathrooms of all things.

The place was damp, with a foul, musty odor.

Thirty hours. I was already dreading what other outrageous tasks they’d make us do.

Adela threw her rag at the window in frustration.

“Do they think they’ve never stolen anything in their lives?!”

“Adela, most people don’t steal, you know.”

“…Shut up! Whose fault do you think this is?!”

Lee Han, who had added his two cents, quickly realized his mistake.

“Ah, right. I’m the one who called you. My bad.”

While Adela was fuming, one person remained peaceful.

Han Siha quietly picked up the rag Adela had thrown and began carefully cleaning the Ptera’s egg.

With daily care, providing just the right amount of water and keeping it clean, the egg had developed a glossy sheen.

The small, purple egg was more of a piece of art than an egg.

Han Siha murmured in admiration.

“Grow well!”

He even clasped his hands together in a prayer-like gesture.

Adela sighed and massaged her temples.

“Why did you have to bring that here?!”

“I need to feed it… And I heard it grows better in humid environments.”

Han Siha chuckled, taking the mop from Adela’s hand.

“Keep an eye on this for me, will you?”

“…Fine.”

It was getting hotter by the day, and Adela had every right to be irritated.

Han Siha, sweating profusely, finished cleaning the floor.

After filling a large bucket with water, he struggled to catch his breath.

That’s when it happened.

Suddenly, a familiar face appeared behind the glass door.

It was Won, who had come along with them to explore the Seinen market.

He had been waiting outside for a while.

“Wow, look at you all, working hard?”

Adela’s piercing gaze turned toward Won.

With Lee Han joining in, Won gave a sheepish smile. But of course, his mischievous nature hadn’t disappeared.

“This is the first time I’ve seen mages cleaning the Magic Department’s bathroom. Can’t you just use magic? Oh, right, none of you have water magic.”

Even though Lee Han had versatile elemental abilities, the first floor of the Magic Department was a no-magic zone.

It was a high-traffic area with many non-mages passing through.

Adela forced a smile, gritting her teeth.

“If we could use magic, I would’ve drowned you first.”

“Ha, I guess I should be grateful.”

That guy was having way too much fun.

Especially since he had found a way to tease Adela. It was the happiest he had looked in a while.

Han Siha looked between the two, then sighed softly.

Fortunately, Won knew when to stop.

He was quick-witted enough to know when to back off.

Won cleared his throat and changed the subject.

“There was another uproar at the academy today. Because of the specimen room monster.”

“Specimen room monster? Did it show up again, or are people just saying it did?”

“I’m not sure. But Liril went to the professor’s office about it. Unfortunately, it was Professor Grint who handled it. Of course, she got shut down immediately.”

“That’s too bad. She’s been looking really stressed lately.”

Adela stroked her chin, deep in thought.

“If she’s making that much of a fuss, maybe there really was something there?”

Her gaze shifted to Han Siha, as if asking for his opinion.

Han Siha pondered for a moment.

Even if he was going to get involved eventually, it wouldn’t look right to speak with too much certainty now.

So, he scratched his head and answered calmly.

“I think it’s possible.”

“Do you?”

“I’m absolutely certain there’s nothing, but people are already jumping to conclusions.”

“What kind of conclusions?”

As the group’s unofficial information broker, Won sighed and began to explain.

“Word is spreading that the monster is a Drake.”

“A Drake?”

“Maybe? It’s a ridiculous idea, but they’re acting like they’re going to form a hunting party to catch it and make a fortune.”

A hunting party?

Han Siha frowned without realizing it.

* * *

The next day, just as Won had said, the classroom was buzzing.

Derrick, who had always been indifferent to grades, was now gathering students.

“What do you think? We could hit it big with this. With enough people, we could take down a Drake. We’re the great second-years of Ardel, after all.”

“Pfft.”

“Could probably do it with one hand tied behind my back.”

Adela frowned and muttered under her breath.

“…How stupid.”

I couldn’t agree more.

A group of over five students had already gathered around Derrick, apparently buying into his nonsense.

“Think about it. If we catch the Drake, we’ll get extra credit and be able to advance to third-year right away. It’s worth a shot, don’t you think?”

Among Derrick’s followers were students at risk of failing, but there were also decent mages who seemed motivated by money.

“Don’t take more than ten people. Splitting the rewards will get complicated.”

“Of course. Oh…! Solia! Want to join us?”

Derrick suddenly grabbed Solia, who was just entering the classroom.

‘Does he really think she’ll join?’

She wasn’t short on money, nor on grades.

No one expected Solia to get involved.

“Do you have no shame, Derrick?”

“Man, you’ve really lost your conscience.”

Solia’s gaze briefly flickered towards Han Siha and Adela.

Derrick chuckled, not expecting much, and withdrew his hand.

“Just kidding. A girl like you has no place in a hunting party.”

“…I’ll do it.”

“What?”

What?

The once noisy classroom fell silent.

Han Siha dropped the pen he was holding.

“….”

In the original story, there was a Drake hunting party.

It was made up of those losers aiming for a quick win, and Derrick’s unfortunate friends who got dragged into it.

Solia was never part of it.

But now…

“This is insane.”

Han Siha muttered a curse under his breath, clenching his fists.

He remembered the plot clearly.

What was the outcome of this episode?

The Drake hunting party never returned.

Not a single one of them.

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