The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 85

Two days after the warehouse incident, the academy returned to its usual calm.

The only noticeable change was in how the other Magic Department students looked at Seymour.

Even Adela, who had previously harbored a strong dislike for him, now engaged in curt conversations, indicating that something had indeed changed.

This was exactly why Han Siha had sent Seymour to the warehouse in the first place.

Satisfied, Han Siha sipped from his teacup with a contented smile.

“Hmmm.”

He was waiting for Han Si-hyuk to arrive, though he wasn’t sure why.

He hadn’t been the one to summon him. However, considering that Han Si-hyuk had come all the way here after getting beaten up, he must have had something important to say.

‘Was Han Si-hyuk supposed to appear in this episode?’

Han Siha tilted his head in thought, reflecting on the unexpected appearance.

The reason he hadn’t immediately recognized Han Si-hyuk was because his arrival hadn’t been part of the original story.

It seemed likely that Han Si-hyuk wasn’t a significant enough character to have been included originally. But why had he come here, a place he wouldn’t normally visit just to judge a competition?

“I can’t figure it out.”

He murmured to himself as he set down the teacup.

Creak.

The wooden door opened with a grating sound, revealing Han Si-hyuk, clad in his usual black robe from head to toe.

“Hm.”

Han Siha set the teacup down and casually adjusted his posture, adopting a slouch.

Since Han Si-hyuk might still be suspicious from the astrology competition, it was better to act like the arrogant Han Siha he knew.

Han Siha spoke irritably.

“What do you want?”

“I have some advice for you.”

Their gazes locked in the air. Although they both smiled, there was an undercurrent of tension in their eyes.

‘That insufferable little brother.’

‘Look at this guy, trying to act all high and mighty at his age.’

As they silently judged each other, Han Si-hyuk cautiously spoke again.

“Spend the upcoming vacation at the family estate.”

“…And why should I?”

For once, this wasn’t a provocation; it was genuine confusion.

Han Siha’s face twisted in annoyance.

Han Si-hyuk was probably the person who would be happiest if something bad happened to him.

Why was he suddenly suggesting he return to the family?

And who would benefit from that?

Han Siha rubbed his chin and spoke bluntly.

“You’re not plotting something, are you?”

“When I say go, you should go.”

Han Si-hyuk laced his fingers together and spoke in a low voice.

“I despise being disobeyed.”

“….”

“Such arrogance.”

– And he says this with his eyes all swollen and bruised. It just makes him look pathetic.

His face seemed even more swollen than before.

Han Siha couldn’t help but let out a short laugh.

“Ha.”

Did he really think a threat without any real menace behind it would work?

“Well, I’ll consider it.”

As Han Siha stretched his arms and prepared to yawn—

Flinch.

Han Si-hyuk noticeably flinched and glanced at him nervously.

No way.

‘Is he seriously scared I’m going to hit him?’

So much for the dignity of the continent’s genius prophet.

Han Si-hyuk cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure as he added sternly.

“…I’m telling you, go.”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.”

“I said go!”

“Here, take this. Use it for your swollen eyes.”

Han Siha clicked his tongue and tossed a hot towel at Han Si-hyuk.

Han Si-hyuk caught it with a confused expression.

“…?”

He still looked pretty pathetic.

* * *

A week later, Ardel Academy’s library was bustling with students packing up their things.

The final exams were over, and the students were preparing to head home for the break.

I was among them, sorting through the books in my spatial storage bag.

“Practical Magic Studies…”

Toss it.

I had already earned three credits from the astrology competition, so I planned to drop Professor Grint’s class for the second semester.

Let’s not see each other again, Professor.

“And Taming Studies…”

I’ll need to keep that one for the next semester.

I still felt there was a lot I needed to improve on when it came to taming, so I needed to keep studying the theory.

Even though I was naturally talented at taming, the strategies for using it in battle were a different matter.

I had to admit that I was still lacking compared to the other students who had learned properly during their first year.

“Han Siha!”

Adela waved at me as she approached, with Natalie by her side.

The two seemed to have grown closer since the incident.

“How did you do on the exams?”

“Pretty well. What about you, Natalie?”

“I don’t think I failed! I’m sure of it!”

“You weren’t even close to failing in the first place. It must be hard to live as someone who actually struggles.”

“Won, are you done with your exams?”

“Yeah.”

Won joined us, and the entire astrology competition group was now together.

Despite the trauma that could have resulted from the warehouse incident, everyone seemed to have gotten through the exams unscathed.

I turned to Won and asked.

“What about your dorm stuff?”

“All packed. Are you heading home today too?”

It seemed like everyone was preparing to head back to their family homes for the break.

‘Spend the upcoming vacation at the family estate.’

I quietly pondered Han Si-hyuk’s words and nodded to myself.

He insisted so strongly—maybe I should listen this time, just this once.

There didn’t seem to be anything particularly suspicious about his intentions.

“I’m going to head home.”

“…Really?”

Adela seemed genuinely surprised.

Rumors about Han Siha’s estrangement from his family were widespread at Ardel Academy.

In his first year, he had nearly failed due to his involvement in dark magic research, leading to rumors that his family had disowned him.

Although those rumors had died down a bit with the recent support from his family, everyone still knew that he wasn’t on the best terms with them.

That was probably why Adela looked so shocked.

She gave me a thumbs up, sincerely congratulating me.

“That’s great news.”

“What about you, Adela?”

Won asked, turning to her.

Adela shrugged and shook her head.

“I’m not going this time.”

“Oh.”

“They don’t really like me coming home. I keep getting nagged about it.”

“You’re staying at the dorms?”

“That’s the plan!”

Even though she said that, I had my doubts about how true it was.

Did Adela even have a family home to go back to?

In the original story, I only ever saw her alone.

She didn’t show it, so I couldn’t exactly bring it up either.

“Let’s meet up after the break.”

“Yeah, have a good one, everyone!”

“See you in a month!”

With a heavy bag in one hand and waving with the other, Won made his way back to the dormitory alongside Adela. Last of all, Natalie skipped away with light, carefree steps.

I stood there, watching their retreating figures until they were out of sight, unable to move my feet.

“Ha.”

The thought of returning to a family that was anything but welcoming weighed heavily on me.

It wasn’t like they were really family, just people I barely knew, and the idea of spending a whole month with them was far from appealing.

I’d much rather have spent that time surviving the intensity of another semester with my friends at the academy.

As I stood there, lost in thought, a familiar face caught my eye—someone who might be feeling the same way I did.

“Hmm?”

It was Seymour Parker, nervously pacing back and forth in the hallway with a suitcase in hand.

What’s up with him?

I called out to him, raising my voice.

“Seymour!”

“…Han Siha?”

Seymour froze, his face stiff. He hadn’t fully integrated into the Magic Department yet, but he seemed to be getting along better these days.

He had managed to overcome his recent challenges, but I could tell he was still feeling lost. Even though he had been bailed out by his family, his relationship with them was likely still strained, and he probably didn’t have the money to stay in the dorms.

His expression made his situation clear.

“No place to go?”

“….”

Seymour shook his head firmly.

“I, I have plenty of places to go.”

“Man, I’ve said it before, but you’re a terrible liar. It’s so obvious.”

I could see right through him just by looking at his face.

Seymour didn’t even try to argue, just clamped his mouth shut.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. The train was leaving soon.

I looked at him, contemplating for a moment. Maybe bringing him along would make the suffocating atmosphere at home a little more bearable.

I threw out the suggestion casually.

“If you don’t, you could come with me.”

“Okay.”

His answer came more readily than I expected.

* * *

After a nonstop two- to three-hour train ride, we arrived.

The estate was so enormous it stood out even from a distance.

The polished marble floors, the palace-like mansion built of pristine white stone, the fountain beside it, and even the gemstone-adorned flower beds.

There was even a separate workshop, a little cottage where potions were likely brewed.

Damn, they’ve been living well.

“The one thing Han Siha did right was being born with a silver spoon.”

I had only seen places like this in novels; I never thought I’d actually come across such a sight in real life.

Awestruck, I stepped inside the mansion.

It felt like I had become a millionaire overnight, no, a billionaire—I was sure even the wealthiest people wouldn’t live in a place like this.

One jaw-dropping scene after another unfolded before me.

After passing through the grand entrance that felt as long as a red carpet, I reached a door that towered over me.

Why had Han Siha, living in a place like this, chosen to study dark magic?

If it were me, I would have quietly graduated, enjoying the luxury all the way.

I had heard the family was powerful, but this was beyond imagination.

Grinning, I approached the front door.

“Hello, I’m back!”

“….”

No response.

“Ta-da?”

I added a playful greeting, but the guards’ expressions hardened as soon as they saw my face.

‘This isn’t going as planned.’

Creak.

Seymour, noticing the tension in the air, dragged his suitcase along, eyeing me nervously.

Sensing the unease, I decided to push forward confidently and smiled.

“So, is it a trend now not to have anyone guide you when you come back home?”

“Please wait here for a moment.”

One of the servants standing at the door frowned and scurried inside.

“The young master has returned.”

His words said “young master,” but the tone felt more like “this little bastard has returned.”

Bang.

A sharp voice echoed from inside.

“Tell him not to come in yet.”

“That’s the message.”

They were seriously turning me away?

After a year and a half of being gone?

They even gave me money!

Do they still not want to see me?

Why is my father playing hard to get?

Ugh.

At that moment, the servant gave me a hard shove.

If I hadn’t caught my balance, I would have gone sprawling on the marble floor.

Damn, do they have a grudge against me?

Muttering curses under my breath, I clenched my fist.

Those cold, hostile stares bore into me.

Ah, I should correct myself.

It wasn’t just me—there were a lot of people here who clearly had a grudge against Han Siha.

It seems Han Siha hadn’t treated the servants or guards very well. I could now fully understand why he’d met such an early end.

Even if Lee Han hadn’t killed him, someone else surely would have.

Why do I have to clean up after this jerk’s mess?

“Haa…”

I plopped down on the cold floor, my face full of exasperation.

Seymour, clutching his suitcase tightly, looked more nervous than ever.

His face was full of uncertainty, as if asking, “What now?”

I shrugged nonchalantly.

“Ah, sorry. Looks like I don’t have a home to go back to either.”

“…Huh?”

“I’ve been kicked out. What should we do now?”

I slowly turned my head and glanced at the door.

I made sure my voice was loud enough to be heard.

“Hmph.”

I started grumbling deliberately.

No matter how much they disliked him, Han Siha was still the only legitimate son.

If they remembered how they turned Ardel Academy upside down after Han Siha’s death, they wouldn’t just kick him out like this.

“If I end up wandering around in the heat with heavy luggage and die of heatstroke, who’s going to take responsibility? Ah, how pitiful my life is…”

“….”

“Maybe I should just collapse and die out there. The mountains have been dangerous lately. If I get kidnapped and die somewhere no one knows, that would be even more unfair…”

“Right.”

“If I have to walk all the way back to the academy with no money, I’d rather just die in the mountains.”

Bang.

The door swung open, revealing a man with an imposing presence.

I instinctively knew who he was.

Han Siha’s father.

His wrinkled face bore the weight of many years, and his eyes were sharp, as if ready to cut me down with a single word.

“Come inside.”

Yes, thank you very much!

“But before that.”

His gaze shifted to Seymour Parker. Seymour swallowed nervously, clasping his hands together.

Despite his cautious gesture, the man’s voice was sharp.

“Who is this that you’ve brought along?”

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