The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 93

Damn it, this is exactly why I wanted to avoid Professor Grint’s class.

I figured it wouldn’t be easy to get caught up in this, but now I had no choice but to prepare for the upcoming flight exam.

“Is this how you’re supposed to use this?”

“Is this your first time?”

Seymour looked down at the broom, still wrapped in its original packaging, and scratched his head.

He was probably surprised that I didn’t even know how to use a broom, something he assumed every first-year at Ardel should be familiar with.

“Have you done this before?”

“I learned a bit when I was younger, at home.”

Seymour nodded calmly.

It was probably similar to how rich kids learned horseback riding.

He tilted his head and asked, “Not many people use these anymore, but it’s still a popular hobby, isn’t it?”

I hadn’t seen many people using brooms inside Ardel Academy, but I had heard there was a club dedicated to it.

“I don’t have hobbies like that.”

“Really? Well, give it a try.”

Seymour effortlessly mounted the broom.

He wobbled a few times, as balancing seemed tricky, but soon he was sitting comfortably as if he were on a merry-go-round.

Then he began explaining step by step.

“First, you need to balance yourself. Think of the handle as your control.”

“To steer?”

“For now, yes. You can also control the speed. Don’t try to push it too hard, or you might fall right off. Take it slow.”

It felt unfamiliar, but I wasn’t too worried.

Judging by how he was adjusting the direction, it didn’t seem too different from driving.

Even with my barely-used driver’s license, I should be able to manage this.

“Alright.”

I took a deep breath and gripped the broom.

With a look of determination, I positioned myself.

Basilus also watched with wide eyes, eagerly anticipating my first broom ride.

Let’s do this.

I carefully balanced myself as I climbed onto the broom.

And then—

Crash, crash.

“Argh!”

I lasted a whole three seconds. Before I could even blink, I fell off.

Did I just see stars flash before my eyes?

A sigh came from behind me.

Seymour clicked his tongue in disbelief.

“…Was it that bad?”

“I was just warming up.”

Yeah, right.

This time, I lasted five seconds. As soon as the broom wobbled, I lost my balance and fell.

I’d tried horseback riding in a club before, but this was completely different.

The horses I rode were at least living creatures. Unlike them, this cursed inanimate object completely blocked any connection with me.

Basilus fluttered up in front of me, looking serious.

I could tell just by his expression.

Are you seriously judging me right now?

“koo…”

Basilus nodded and blinked with a look of deep pity.

That look.

This guy, who’s been flying since birth, just doesn’t understand human struggles.

“Argh!”

“Ugh…!”

“Hold on a second!”

I practiced hundreds of more times after that, but I still couldn’t fly properly even once.

This was bad.

Professor Grint might give me a failing grade for flight if he sees this.

I didn’t care about getting a stellar grade, but I couldn’t afford to fail. I needed to advance to the second year without any issues.

“koo!”

Basilus finally started flapping angrily.

He must have been really frustrated.

“Croo! Croo!”

If I had to interpret that, it would probably be something like, “That’s not how you do it, you idiot.”

Seymour, likely understanding the same thing, chimed in.

“Basilus says that’s not the way to do it.”

“It’s not like I’m doing this on purpose…”

After falling hundreds of more times, I finally managed it.

“…I did it.”

At last, I succeeded.

Barely holding my posture, I balanced myself on the broom.

Seymour had mentioned that the key was maintaining balance using magical power, but the catch was he only told me this after I had rolled around hundreds of times.

Now, I held the broom with much more ease.

I even managed to complete a lap around the spacious room.

Ah, so this is how it feels.

I finally got the hang of it.

The sensation of my feet floating in mid-air.

I frowned at the strange sensation but smiled in satisfaction.

Ah, if I’m at this level on the first day, I should be able to avoid failing.

Or so I thought, until—

Seymour’s loud voice broke my concentration.

“Let’s have dinner!”

At that moment, the blue light surrounding the broom faded.

Thud.

“Damn it.”

I fell immediately.

* * *

The morning of the first day of classes arrived.

The chill I felt from early in the morning confirmed that it was indeed the first day of the semester.

It had been a while since I felt this shiver.

Rubbing my goosebump-covered arms, I walked down the quiet hallway.

A familiar face waved at me from the other end.

“Adela?”

“Did you prepare well for the flight class?”

Walking alongside Lee Han, Adela sighed as she asked.

Judging by her haggard appearance, it seemed like she had spent all of yesterday on her broom.

With only a vague announcement about a test and no explanation of what kind it would be, everyone was understandably on edge.

It would’ve been nice if the original story had mentioned something about the flight exam, but unfortunately, Lee Han hadn’t signed up for flight classes.

“Are you the only one skipping flight classes here?”

“I wondered why you weren’t joining everyone for the flight class.”

“It’s because of Professor Grint.”

“But now you’re completely tied down.”

Lee Han, who had followed Adela, scratched his head and burst out laughing.

It was only then that I realized why the flight class registration had been so competitive.

“Well, it’s just basic flight, so it shouldn’t be too hard. Maybe they’ll just have us do a lap around the training field. I heard they rented the practice arena for the test.”

“Let’s hope so.”

We exchanged light conversation and were about to pass by each other when—

Suddenly, a piece of paper was thrust into my hand.

I couldn’t help but frown.

If it’s something like this, it usually means trouble.

“What’s this?”

“I found it. Last week.”

Last week—that was right after the dorm explosion incident when they were busy with the temporary dormitory repairs.

There was a secret route into Ardel Academy, and apparently, this paper was discovered while searching the area during the chaos.

It was likely that Grenouille had dropped it.

Nodding, I unfolded the paper.

Though I couldn’t decipher the symbols, it was clear that this was another one of their cryptic codes, filled with incomprehensible markings.

“Any guesses?”

“I thought it might be a clue about the cube….”

Adela was aware of the cube as well.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Adela silently stepped back, while Seymour looked around, puzzled.

It was then that I noticed Lee Han had cast a sound-blocking spell around us.

Seymour must have been wondering why we were murmuring without making any sound.

This hallway, after all, was full of prying eyes and ears.

I decided to save the detailed discussion for later and carefully tucked the note away.

I forced a smile to keep my expression neutral.

“Oh, that’s actually a good idea.”

“What is?”

“Professor Grint. I heard he’s quite fond of stunt flying.”

“…No way.”

“Flying is all about style, you know.”

With that vague response, I hurried my steps.

The cube was definitely on my mind, but for now, the pressing concern was the imminent flight test.

Shrugging nonchalantly, I was about to enter the flight classroom when I sensed a dark presence behind me.

“….”

Was it just my nerves?

“Something feels off.”

Ignoring the creepy sensation, I stepped into the classroom.

* * *

A heavy pendulum swung slowly from side to side.

“….”

Professor Ernst lightly nudged the pendulum with his finger.

It started to swing more vigorously, but Ernst’s troubled thoughts didn’t ease.

“I don’t like this.”

Ranked at the very bottom of faculty evaluations, Professor Grint had finally climbed up a notch.

His classes had produced outstanding results among the second-year students, including one student Ernst had his eye on.

Han Siha.

Why does he keep choosing Grint’s classes?

Grint, who was notorious for his rigid personality and strictness to the point of cruelty.

He lacked any sense of flexibility and was notoriously harsh on his students.

Just last year, how many students had failed in Grint’s classes alone?

As a fellow educator, Ernst couldn’t understand him.

“Damn bastard.”

Of course, Ernst’s feelings were more personal than professional.

Grint was not only a long-time rival but also his older brother—a ‘family’ member in name and reality.

“I won’t let him take this one.”

For the past ten years, every promising student Ernst had noticed was eventually drawn away by Grint.

Despite their disdain for Grint, students followed him because his classes virtually guaranteed good job placements.

Bang.

Ernst removed the pendulum and shoved it into a wooden box.

At that moment, one of his lab assistants, Betty, came running in, her face pale as a sheet.

“Did you… find it?”

Regaining his composure, Professor Ernst looked up.

“It’s nothing. How’s the research going?”

“Ah, yes!”

“The lab should be fully restored by next month, so there’s no need to worry.”

Oh, and—

Professor Ernst tried to smile as naturally as possible.

Not too obvious, just like everyday conversation.

Let’s bring it up casually, just a little.

“The student who worked with us for a bit back then.”

“Who?”

Betty stammered in surprise.

Professor Ernst was just as unpopular with students as Grint, so Betty was practically the only one who stuck around in his lab.

After a moment of thought, Betty’s eyes lit up as she asked, “Do you mean Han Siha?”

“Yeah, that student. What’s he been up to lately?”

Professor Ernst ran his hand over the heavy pendulum, turning his gaze away as if the question were insignificant.

Betty scratched her head, trying to recall.

She had seen Han Siha a few times since then.

They would greet each other when passing in the hallway, and she had seen him today as well.

“Ah, he seems to be busy preparing for the flight test.”

“Flight test?”

Professor Ernst used telekinesis to flip through the calendar.

“Who’s the flight instructor?”

Upon checking the schedule, Professor Ernst’s face quickly soured.

“Oh. Professor Grint.”

If Betty hadn’t been there, he might have let out a string of curses.

Betty smiled brightly, clasping her hands together, and continued to say things she probably didn’t need to.

“Yes, he’s been preparing really hard.”

“….”

“He’s always been diligent. I’m sure he’ll do well on the flight test, too! And also—”

“Leave.”

“What?”

“I want to be alone.”

“Huh…?”

Bang.

Betty was abruptly dismissed without understanding why.

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