The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 95

To be honest, I should’ve lost.

The idea that someone who had barely ever flown on a broom could win a duel by just overwhelming the opponent with magic sounded absurd.

Rosetta’s flying was smooth and experienced, flowing as naturally as water. Watching her flutter about like a moth in the air, I had almost resigned myself to defeat. But somehow, I pulled it off.

Not only Adela, but everyone else in the flight class was momentarily stunned.

“Phew, that’s the end, right?”

I grinned as I dismounted from the broom.

“What the…? Did he really win?”

“He didn’t even get hit once and won like that.”

“This is crazy. What did I just witness?”

Ignoring the murmurs of the students, I shrugged nonchalantly.

‘I thought I was going to die from nerves.’

If I had been hit even once, I probably would’ve crashed immediately. But I managed to get through the duel without letting a single attack land.

Now I understand why Rosetta didn’t play a significant role in the main story.

She’s weak.

She might be able to fly well, but she has no talent for combat.

Though she was skilled enough to survive in the Magic Department until her second year, it was clear from this duel that she lacked real battle experience.

‘She won’t last long like this.’

Up until now, the story had been relatively optimistic—just a few kidnappings and a dorm explosion here and there.

‘…Optimistic, right?’

But considering how bleak the original story was, Rosetta’s current skills wouldn’t be enough to survive.

On the day the dark mages attack Ardel Academy, she might end up dying before the real battle even begins.

Maybe that’s why she never made a name for herself in the story.

Despite being a flight prodigy, she doesn’t seem like a bad person.

I guess this was my way of repaying her for the duel.

As I grabbed my broom, I decided to offer some advice.

“You’re too weak.”

“…What?”

“You should learn something else besides flying.”

“Me? Not good at anything else?”

“Yeah, and it’s pretty serious.”

What… What does he know?

Rosetta’s pride, already shattered from her humiliating defeat, flared up again.

Her face turned bright red, and she shouted, “You’re the one who just floated around during the flight test! You barely moved at all!”

“And yet you still lost to someone who barely moved. What does that make you?”

Rosetta was left speechless by my blunt retort.

She had never been so blatantly disregarded before.

‘I’m in the top 20 of the entire school.’

Top 20 in the whole school. That’s impressive, but the problem is that the guy in front of her is ranked third.

Rosetta found herself unable to come up with a comeback, ultimately failing to respond to my words.

“…”

Every student in the Magic Department was now watching her.

Even though they probably didn’t hear our conversation, they could easily guess what had happened.

The rising star of the Magic Department, Han Siha, had put the arrogant witch in her place.

Rosetta bit her lower lip in frustration.

Just like her, Han Siha had been looked down upon by others. But while she struggled to prove herself through grades and performance, Han Siha had already become a well-known figure.

Of course, his straightforward personality and lack of hesitation to call out others had also played a part.

She had thought that they were in similar positions, both misunderstood and underestimated.

But it turned out she was wrong.

Han Siha was from a noble family, and Rosetta was forced to admit the painful truth.

Even though they attended the same academy and were standing in the same arena, there was a gap between them that she couldn’t bridge.

It would become even more apparent after graduation.

Unable to argue, she eventually muttered, “…I’ll try harder.”

Rosetta lowered her head, covering her red ears with her hands. Though she was trembling with anger, she tried to hold it in. Losing control of her emotions here would be the height of foolishness.

And then, Han Siha, still standing in front of her, spoke again, this time more cautiously.

“But you really are fast. I almost missed you a few times.”

Is he trying to soften the blow with a compliment now that I look so dejected?

Rosetta slowly raised her head, her expression wary.

But then.

“You looked like a moth.”

“A… moth?”

“Yeah, a firefly.”

A… firefly?

“Yeah, your outfit is red too. It suits you pretty well.”

“Are you… making fun of me?”

“No way. That’s my honest opinion.”

The fact that he was being honest made it even more infuriating.

You… you bastard!

“Aaaagh!”

Crash Bang.

Rosetta immediately failed to keep her emotions in check.

* * *

Honestly, I hadn’t intended to mock her until I pointed out her weaknesses.

But I didn’t expect her to react so strongly to what I thought was just a playful jab because she seemed so down.

…It seems she’s still mad.

“You centipede of a person.”

Why a centipede, of all things?

That’s a bit harsh. Moths are cuter than centipedes, don’t you think?

“Jellyfish! Sea anemone!”

She’s picking all the slimiest creatures, it seems.

Did I look that wobbly when I was on the broom?

Of course, her words had no real impact on me.

I still didn’t regret my comment about her looking like a moth.

Honestly, the way she charged at me was exactly like a firefly diving headlong into a flame.

Professor Grint, who had been observing the duel, finally stepped in to block Rosetta’s fierce glare.

The last duel had just finished.

“Thank you all for your hard work on the first test.”

Then don’t make us do something like an opening exam in the first place.

I forced a smile as I reflexively responded to Professor Grint’s words.

“Starting next class, we’ll dive into the main content of Basic Flight, so make sure to have your textbooks ready.”

“…Yes, sir!”

“Alright, I’ll see you all next time.”

Clap, clap, clap.

My years of experience had ingrained this habit in me: pretending to be interested when I really wasn’t.

“Oh, and Han Siha.”

Did I get caught?

Professor Grint’s gaze suddenly shifted toward me.

“Please stay behind for a moment.”

“Yes, sir.”

There was no obvious reason for this, and yet here I was, being singled out.

Rosetta, looking quite pleased with herself, left the room with a smug grin.

“Jellyfish, as expected,” she quipped, trying to provoke me as she departed, but her words had no effect.

However, the real impact was standing right in front of me.

A one-on-one with the professor.

What did I do to deserve this trial so early on? And with Professor Grint, no less.

“Sigh…”

Adela cast a worried glance in my direction.

Once everyone else had left the arena, including Adela and the puzzled crowd who kept looking back at me, Professor Grint stood up straight.

I didn’t know what this was about, but I figured I’d find out soon enough.

“Let’s head to my office.”

I nodded and stood up to follow him when suddenly, the wooden door creaked open.

Standing there was a familiar face I hadn’t seen in a while—Betty, the timid senior from Professor Ernst’s lab, where I used to spend a lot of time.

“Han Siha! Professor Ernst has been looking for you! Oh?”

Betty had burst through the door and seemed surprised to find herself face-to-face with Professor Grint.

Her face went pale as she realized her mistake.

Of all people, it had to be Professor Grint still standing there.

Betty quickly bowed her head in apology.

“I-I’m sorry!”

Professor Grint’s expression turned icy, his gaze hard to read. Betty probably thought it was due to her abrupt entrance, but I had a different suspicion.

“…Professor Ernst?”

It seemed more likely that it was the mention of that name.

* * *

Inside the silent office, I sat on a plush sofa, but it felt more like I was on a bed of nails. The tension was suffocating.

I found myself in the worst possible situation.

On my left was Professor Grint, and on my right was Professor Ernst.

I never imagined I’d find myself in the same room with these two professors, who were famously at odds with each other, even in the original story.

I didn’t know why they called me here, but the way they were both staring at me made it hard to breathe.

“Go ahead.”

Professor Grint, his gaze cold, gestured for Professor Ernst to speak first.

“Heh.”

Wait a minute, they’re not planning to argue in front of me, are they?

Professor Ernst let out a small laugh and, clasping his hands together, turned his attention to me.

Please, someone say something—anything.

“…”

Power struggles among professors are more common than one might think, especially in departments with fewer students.

I remember how the surgery professor used to cheerfully rip into the internal medicine professor every chance he got.

He used to call them overly sensitive and petty, and watching them go at it from the sidelines was more entertaining than a bucket of popcorn.

Honestly, it was a blast.

Every time I had a meeting with him, he’d ask if I planned to specialize in internal medicine, as if the idea horrified him.

There was even a rumor that those two were brothers.

So, I’ve seen enough family feuds to last a lifetime.

“You’re not thinking of specializing in flight, are you?”

This… this is a bit too familiar.

Professor Ernst laughed heartily, telling me to speak my mind freely, though his expression didn’t match his words.

Professor Grint, biting his lower lip, corrected him.

“This is about Practical Magic, not just flight. I’m only teaching the flight course this semester.”

Professor Grint’s shoulders tensed slightly.

In truth, Practical Magic is what most Magic Department students aim for. It involves analyzing and applying the fundamental principles of magic.

If what we learned in the first semester was mostly theoretical, by the third year, the focus shifts to practical applications.

It’s a comprehensive field that dives deep into all areas of magic, which makes it highly versatile.

But comprehensive magic isn’t what I need right now.

Professor Ernst, who specialized in Summoning Magic, smiled slyly as he intertwined his fingers.

A strange tension hung in the air between the two professors.

“I’d like Han Siha to make his own decision.”

Oh, so they’re making me choose in front of them?

I swallowed hard.

Here I was, barely in my second year, being forced to choose my future academic path.

Okay, stay calm.

I needed to think carefully about the personalities of these two professors before making my decision.

“Can I answer now?”

“Feel free, take your time.”

“Comfortable, Han Siha?”

No, not at all. Thanks to both of you, this is incredibly uncomfortable.

“Which department will you choose?”

But postponing this decision wouldn’t solve anything.

Besides, I had already made up my mind.

Slowly, I parted my lips to speak.

Given the not-so-bright future that Ardel Academy seemed headed towards, I knew I needed to grow stronger to survive.

A determined voice emerged from my mouth.

“I want to become the continent’s greatest Tamer.”

I’ve made my choice.

“And I will make sure of it.”

Professor Ernst’s grin widened as he turned to look at me.

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