The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 90

There was someone still at Ardel Academy.

It was a face I hadn’t seen in a while.

Adela, with her brown bob and a more intense aura than before, smiled brightly as she raised her hand.

“What’s going on?”

She already seemed certain that I had a reason for showing up so abruptly at this early hour, before dawn had even broken.

I liked that Adela was so perceptive. It made things easier. I smirked and spoke casually.

“I heard the Necromancy Department students moved out in a group. It made me uneasy, so I came to check it out.”

“What? Is that some kind of astrology prediction?”

She really treats me like some kind of fortune-teller.

“Haven’t you heard anything?”

“Well, the dorms were pretty empty when I got back.”

Adela shrugged, her tone indifferent.

Since she hadn’t been there when it happened, her reaction was understandable.

Even if I ended up looking like a superstitious fool, I needed to trust my instincts this time.

Without saying another word, I pulled out two metal rods from my dimensional bag. They were the magic detectors I had borrowed from Won.

I brought them along just in case they might be useful in a situation like this, but they looked rather unimpressive.

“…Are you dowsing for water?”

It was the natural question to ask.

“Are you okay, Han Siha?”

Ignoring Adela’s concerned look as she checked my forehead for a fever, I dragged the rods along and approached the entrance of Ardel Academy.

Something was wrong. Something was definitely wrong.

“Adela.”

“Yeah?”

“I was here just yesterday, only yesterday.”

“For course registration?”

I nodded in response instead of answering.

While I was now copying the seemingly useless actions Won had taken, I still clearly remembered the route he had taken.

The hills behind Ardel had been full of magic, just as Won had said.

But in just one day, the magic in this area had completely drained.

Adela listened to my explanation quietly and quickly caught on to the core issue.

“So, you think someone might be drawing the magic away?”

“Not someone, usually.”

There are certain types of monsters that draw on underground magic to attack.

Humans generally don’t have the capacity to manipulate magic on this scale, so they can be ruled out.

Considering that magic-drawing spells typically fall under dark magic, the first monster that comes to mind is…

A skeleton.

“A necromancer?”

Adela’s expression hardened.

“That’s not something I like to hear.”

“It’s a strong possibility.”

To gather this much magic?

It felt as if the entire magical energy surrounding Ardel Academy was being siphoned into something unknown.

Adela looked up at the sky.

Dark clouds, similar to those that had gathered during the dormitory kidnapping incident, loomed ominously over Ardel Academy.

And then it happened.

What?

“Adela!”

Boom!

A deafening explosion shook the ground beneath us. I instinctively hit the ground, shielding myself.

A cloud of dust engulfed Ardel Academy.

When I looked up, the worst-case scenario I had feared was coming true.

“Damn it.”

A massive explosion had occurred in the central dormitory of Ardel Academy.

‘Ah…!’

The memory came flooding back. This episode.

It was supposed to happen two years later—one of the main episodes.

An episode where countless students of Ardel Academy were swept away and killed—a nightmare scenario.

And now, that episode, far too large to handle at this point, was unfolding right before us.

Why the hell did this happen two years early?

* * *

Ding!

[Main Episode 4: The Necromancer in the Dormitory]

[Time Limit: Until defeat]

[Reward: The Staff of Ardel]

[Failure: Death]

The Han Siha of the past would have quietly run away.

This wasn’t an episode I could solve on my own. Even with Adela’s help, the outcome would be the same.

The smart decision would be to get out of there unless we wanted to end up buried in a sunny spot in Ardel.

But Han Siha had no choice but to enter the dormitory.

It was because of the holographic window floating in the air.

Run and die, or stay and die.

“Damn this life.”

After making me go through all that, it’s still trying to kill me.

Gritting my teeth, I covered my mouth with a cloth.

The dormitory of Ardel Academy was already in ruins.

Adela, driven by her heroic instincts, followed me without hesitation, but her expression grew grimmer by the second.

“Ahhhhh!”

“Help! Help!”

“Get out this way!”

“Keep in line!”

Crash, bang.

Some students were trapped under the rubble from the explosion, while those who weren’t injured were in a state of panic, losing their minds.

The puppeteer we encountered in the construction site dungeon had been dangerous enough, but a necromancer was on a whole different level.

If a puppeteer is someone who manipulates a few cursed dolls, a necromancer summons skeletons that are tens of times stronger.

And this one had drawn in an enormous amount of magic.

It was impossible to predict how many skeletons they could summon.

‘They’re in danger too.’

If the necromancer had drawn in this much magic, even their body would struggle to withstand it.

On the other hand, it meant they were powerful enough to take that risk.

“Can you see anything?”

“Not really.”

The thick smoke made it hard to see anything.

If a second explosion happened, we would be dead for sure.

I was contemplating whether to push further in when a strong hand suddenly grabbed me and pulled me back.

“Uh… What! What are you doing here?”

When I turned around, I saw a face I hadn’t expected, crouched down and taking cover.

It was Lee Han.

I immediately frowned.

“I thought you went back to your family.”

“Shh.”

Lee Han pressed his finger to his lips, panting as he spoke in a low voice.

“It looks like they’re here to find me.”

The necromancer responsible for the chaos in the dormitory was after him.

Adela and I exchanged grim looks at Lee Han’s words.

“We’ve been lured into a trap.”

“What?”

Lee Han had been given information about the cube’s location.

It was an offer he couldn’t refuse—a bait.

He had been told that a clue to the cube was hidden in Ardel Academy, so he had boldly headed for the dormitory.

Even if it had been a trap, he was prepared for it.

But he hadn’t expected them to blow up the entire Academy. He had barely escaped the first explosion with his life.

‘I think I get it now.’

Because of Lee Han, the quest to find the cube had been pushed forward, and so had the actions of the dark mages.

I clenched my teeth in frustration.

Han Siha and Lee Han were not so different, both drawn to Ardel Academy—one by his own unease, the other knowing it was a trap. Now was not the time to lament falling into the trap; they needed to work together to solve the situation.

Adela spoke in a low, calm voice, “They’re here. Get ready.”

Step, step…

A shadowy figure draped in a robe appeared beyond the window.

Han Siha swallowed hard and gripped his staff tightly. Basilus, sensing the tension, whined softly and assumed a defensive posture.

The hallway was ablaze, with windows threatening to melt from the heat. The eerie creaking of skeletons added to the chilling atmosphere.

Ardel’s dormitory was now a haunting place, with students who hadn’t managed to escape and restless spirits who could no longer leave.

A cold voice echoed clearly in the oppressive silence.

“Found you.”

“….”

“You’re Han Siha, aren’t you?”

* * *

The figure recognized him.

Han Siha staggered as he rose to his feet.

“You’re younger than I expected.”

The figure’s face was obscured by a dark blue robe, making it impossible to see clearly.

Lee Han, standing nearby, clenched his teeth and gripped his staff tightly.

Even though the figure was hooded, it was obvious—this was the man who had lured him here.

A chilling laugh reverberated through the corridors of Ardel.

“I came here expecting one, but to find three gathered so conveniently.”

“You’ll regret finding the three of us together.”

“…Such bravado. I wonder if you’ll be able to say the same thing in the grave.”

The conversation ended there.

Whip.

A skeleton creaked as it lunged at Han Siha.

“Ugh!”

The skeleton swung its left arm with terrifying force.

The dark blue-robed figure watched calmly, not even lifting a finger.

It was as if they were signaling that they didn’t need to go all out to win this fight.

Han Siha raised his staff, bracing for the attack.

Crash.

Even with a shield in place, the impact was tremendous.

Han Siha barely managed to stay on his feet, his body trembling from the force.

“Grr…”

A second attack followed.

Han Siha lowered his stance and slid to the side.

Lee Han fired a magic orb at an opening, but it had no effect.

There were three skeletons. This likely wasn’t the full extent of their enemy’s power.

Moreover…

‘Why are they so strong?’

Han Siha quickly realized, even with just a few exchanges, that these skeletons were far stronger than expected.

The fleeting hope that the three of them—Han Siha, Lee Han, and Adela—might stand a chance was quickly dashed.

Lee Han took a deep breath and hurled another magic orb.

Boom.

Once again, it was deflected.

Han Siha called out desperately, “Basilus!”

Basilus leaped into the air, striking one of the skeletons from an unexpected angle.

However, the skeleton reacted with unnerving speed.

It staggered momentarily before extending an arm and striking Basilus.

The blow landed squarely on Basilus’ chest, and a sharp cry filled the air.

Basilus retaliated with a fiery breath aimed at the skeleton.

A vortex of flames.

Basilus’ magic was devastating to humans, but it wasn’t as effective against the skeleton.

Creaaak, creak…

Even as the skeleton began to disintegrate, it quickly reassembled its bones.

The sight was so chilling that Han Siha couldn’t help but shudder.

Crash, crash.

The skeleton lunged at Basilus again.

Han Siha desperately threw himself in between them.

“Ahhh…!”

He tried to block the skeleton with both hands, but his strength was nowhere near enough.

The dark blue-robed figure watched, a sinister smile playing on their lips.

It was clear this was a hopeless battle. Han Siha’s hands trembled as he instinctively realized that no amount of struggle would change the outcome.

Clang.

Han Siha deflected the skeleton’s attack with a dagger he pulled from his waist.

“Argh!”

His wrist throbbed with pain.

Even though he had deflected the attack just as he had been taught in combat training, the force was overwhelming.

“Aaahhh!”

Lee Han’s magic orb struck down another skeleton, but as if on cue, another emerged from the air.

“Damn it.”

And that wasn’t the end.

Three became five, and then ten.

The number of enemies multiplied at a terrifying rate, draining what little energy they had left.

Eventually, they were surrounded.

Han Siha couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

‘I didn’t think it would come to this.’

“How much magic are you draining, you crazy bastard?!”

Finally, he showed a sign of weakness.

His stamina was already depleted, and his magic was rapidly reaching its limits.

They had managed to take down three skeletons, but three quickly became five, and now ten.

It was a fight they couldn’t win.

Lee Han, wielding his spear, was visibly slowing down as he struggled through the hallway.

Adela was also fighting with everything she had. She boldly used debris from the wreckage to stab at the skeletons’ heads.

Some of her attacks even targeted the dark blue-robed figure, but they were blocked before they could land.

Trembling.

Han Siha’s hands shook uncontrollably.

“Urgh!”

A skeleton grabbed Han Siha by the collar and slammed him to the ground.

Flash.

He tried to summon the last of his magic, but his body wouldn’t respond.

Han Siha bit his lower lip so hard that it bled.

‘If I use this, I won’t be able to escape either.’

“Squawk!”

Basilus cried out in pain as he lunged at the skeleton again, only to be thrown aside.

Han Siha looked down at the fallen Basilus and muttered under his breath.

“If only Solia were here…”

They couldn’t win with their current strength.

This was supposed to be an episode that happened two years later—if it had, Lee Han might have been strong enough to handle it with his advanced combat skills, but for now, they were outmatched.

However, if Solia, the light magic user, were here, things might be different.

Light was the most effective attribute against a necromancer.

“It might have been possible…”

Just as he was muttering to himself, he suddenly noticed something.

“What?”

Han Siha looked up in surprise.

Someone was walking down the hallway toward them.

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