The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 86

“You… still…”

Han Taesu’s expression grew colder as he looked at his son, Han Siha.

Although Han Siha had intentionally kept quiet, it seemed his father had quickly figured things out.

“Seymour Parker, right?”

“Yes…”

“Why are you here? Did you come here to overturn my household?”

Of course not.

I shook my head with a forced smile.

“I had nowhere else to go!”

I could hear Han Taesu sigh in frustration at my bright reply.

“That’s your excuse. But what about you?”

Han Taesu turned his gaze back to Seymour.

In terms of family status, Seymour also came from a long-standing family, but his family didn’t have the best reputation among other households.

On top of that, since he was in the Necromancy Department, which involved dark magic—something Han Taesu abhorred—he was not pleased.

Seymour Parker hurriedly added, “I recently entered the Magic Department. That’s how we became friends…”

“…Is that so?”

Han Taesu frowned.

He had heard that Seymour had enrolled in the Necromancy Department.

Although he didn’t frequent Ardel Academy as often as other parents, he had heard the news of Seymour Parker causing a major incident and being imprisoned in the underground jail of Ardel.

Now, seeing him out and about was puzzling enough, but claiming he had joined the Magic Department?

As I observed Han Taesu’s skeptical gaze, I turned my attention back to Seymour.

Come to think of it, Seymour truly possessed all the qualities a parent would dislike.

But then again, I’m not exactly the kind of person parents would love either, am I?

“Sigh…”

“…”

It seemed like receiving a warm welcome was out of the question.

Han Taesu sat down at the table, his gaze still cold.

His knife cut through the cooling steak with such intensity that I couldn’t utter a word.

I had the feeling that if I said something unnecessary, that knife might end up in me.

Breaking the silence, Han Taesu spoke in a stern voice.

“I heard you caused trouble in the Magic Department and even went to trial. Report the truth.”

I could understand why he seemed so upset.

He probably thought I had changed my ways since my grades had improved, only to hear that I had caused some bizarre incident and received a punishment.

Chomp.

Han Taesu bit into his steak with irritation as he continued to scold me.

It’s funny how he hears bad news so quickly, but other news, not so much.

Judging by his expression, he hadn’t heard the full story yet.

Undoubtedly, the servants who disliked Han Siha must have been quick to deliver only the bad news.

It was obvious without even asking.

With my hands clasped together, I calmly spoke up.

“Wouldn’t a normal father be curious about why I went to the Magic Department in the first place?”

“…What?”

Thud.

Han Taesu put down the knife he was using and turned to face me.

Terrifying. Seriously. He’s not actually going to stab me with that knife, is he?

When I first met Han Si-hyuk, I felt a similar intensity, but this was even worse.

Those fierce eyes seemed like they could pierce through someone. And that downward glare…

It made me wonder how someone like Han Siha, with his soft demeanor, could have been born from these genes.

When you think about it, maybe I do have the best features after all?

“I went to attend an event organized by the Magic Department.”

“…”

Judging by his frown, he still hadn’t grasped the context of my words.

“Why did you go there?”

Instead of answering, I pulled out a fluttering sheet of paper from my bag.

It was my midterm report card. I had done just as well on the finals, but those results hadn’t come out yet.

Of course, this would be enough to answer his question.

Swoosh.

As Han Taesu took the report card, his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

“This… What on earth…?”

“…”

“Wha-wha-what?”

Top of the Taming Department, top of Practical Magic. Combined with my other subjects, I was ranked third overall.

This midterm result, which had allowed me to confidently participate in the Magic Department event, was now in his hands.

Riding on that momentum, I cheerfully added, “I did even better on the finals.”

“Wha-wha-wha…”

Han Taesu’s hands trembled as if he were experiencing some kind of buffering.

Is this really that shocking?

Han Taesu’s eyes turned red, as if overwhelmed with emotion.

And then, something completely unexpected came out of his mouth.

“Where did you cheat this from?”

What?

“…Whose work did you copy?”

I solved this myself, though.

This is unfair. Incredibly unfair.

Seeing my bewildered expression, Seymour stepped in to defend me.

“It was likely all practical exams. It’s impossible to cheat…”

“There’s no way.”

But there is a way!

If someone were to be reborn, they might pull it off.

Just as I was about to protest once again…

Sniffle.

…Are you crying?

“Sniff…”

Han Taesu suddenly began covering his mouth.

Seymour Parker widened his eyes and observed him nervously.

I didn’t expect him to be this openly moved.

Through his quavering voice, I heard him say, “Have you… finally come to your senses?”

Grab.

In the end, he grabbed my arm and burst into tears.

“Not satisfied with being 11th… 3rd… You… got 3rd…”

What kind of life has Han Siha led, exactly?

I was genuinely curious at that moment.

“Siha, sniff…”

“Yes?”

I tried to pull away, but he grabbed me again.

“Sniff… Siha.”

“Y-Yes.”

“I’m so proud of you… that you’ve finally grown up… Sniff.”

All of this is great, but…

Sir, you’re not my father.

* * *

After that, Han Taesu’s attitude did a complete 180.

Even the servants who had openly disrespected me now couldn’t say a word and just watched my every move.

I was no longer the abandoned child of the family, but rather the only legitimate heir who had returned in glory.

Han Si-hyuk was right.

This time, I absolutely had to return to the family estate during the vacation.

That man truly thinks a few steps ahead.

A servant’s soft voice called from outside the door.

“Young Master, your meal is ready.”

Wow.

The table was filled with a feast that seemed like it could break under the weight of the dishes.

“Sit.”

“Yes.”

Meanwhile, Seymour Parker was still nervously watching Han Taesu, but at least, when it came to me, no one was making me feel uneasy.

Stretching, I picked up my fork.

“Well, let’s eat, shall we?”

Wow, this is amazing.

After eating the tasteless food at Ardel Academy for so long, tears welled up at the sight of a luxurious steak sprinkled with gold flakes.

The steak that melted in my mouth, the crispy fries, and the fruit-blended lemonade—everything was perfect.

It was a thoroughly satisfying meal. Han Taesu cleared his throat and asked,

“Is there anything else you’d like to learn?” The cold stare from yesterday was nowhere to be seen.

“Mmm… Horse riding?”

Han Siha responded while chewing on his steak, causing Han Taesu’s eyebrows to raise slightly.

“Prepare about ten horses.”

“Thank you.”

“Anything else you want?”

“Hmm.”

As Han Siha tilted his head in thought, a sudden idea flashed through his mind.

Han Siha’s mansion… Come to think of it, there was something useful there.

Hmm.

As he tried to recall, he pressed his temples.

“Jewels…”

But no way would he give those to me.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Han Siha shook his head with a grin.

He had something to do tonight.

—

In the early dawn, the moonlight illuminated the courtyard below.

Seymour Parker sighed as he gazed out the window.

He had followed along because he truly had nowhere else to go.

Although he was receiving some subtle jabs, he was living comfortably in a mansion that anyone would envy, eating meals that anyone would envy.

Yet, he couldn’t shake the emptiness in his heart.

Even the moonlight felt chilly.

The stark contrast between this mansion and his own home left him with a peculiar sense of inadequacy.

Sigh.

When rumors had circulated at Ardel Academy that Han Siha was the abandoned child of his family, Seymour had thought that they were in similar situations.

But after seeing the mansion in person, he realized it was different.

‘I must be the real abandoned child.’

Seymour was convinced.

If he hadn’t been rescued from the underground prison…

No, if it hadn’t been for the letter Han Siha delivered, Seymour would have been completely discarded by his family.

Though he was receiving some minimal support under the pretext of being a family member, he couldn’t help but consider the worst-case scenario.

If he became a blemish on the family, they wouldn’t hesitate to cast him aside.

His eldest sister had been a precedent. She had brought home a man who didn’t align with the family’s values, and as a result, she was abandoned.

The moment she set foot in the family, an order was issued to kill her. They even attempted to assassinate her several times.

To completely erase the stain on the family.

‘What is family even worth?’

That man was rumored to be on the run, under the watch of the Ardel Empire.

The type of person his family despised the most.

If he had walked the same path, wouldn’t he have met a similar fate?

Seymour smiled bitterly.

At that moment—

Thud, thud.

Huh?

“What the…?”

Seymour frowned as he flung open the curtains.

And then, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Ahhh… Help me.”

Dangling precariously, Han Siha was barely holding on to the window frame.

Before Seymour could say anything, he grabbed Han Siha’s arm with his right hand. If he had hung on any longer, he might have actually fallen.

“Ugh!”

*Thud.*

Han Siha tumbled through the open window Seymour had left ajar.

Seymour, bewildered, looked outside.

Where on earth did he come from?

More importantly—

“What are you doing at this hour?”

“I have something to steal. Since you’re here, why not join me?”

“What?”

This madman… What is he even talking about?

Seymour was at a loss for words. Who in their right mind would steal from their own house?

Seymour waved his hand vigorously.

“I’m not doing anything that will get me caught. They’re feeding and housing me here, why risk getting kicked out?”

“They’re feeding and housing me.”

“…”

“Do you want to get kicked out too?”

Damn it.

Seymour couldn’t come up with a retort against the shameless comment.

Han Siha grinned as he began setting up a rope by the window.

“Wanna come? I’ll give you 10%.”

“Hey, wait a minute!”

The family’s storage, specifically the secret vault that Han Siha knew about, contained not just various rare items but also the jewels he was after.

These weren’t just decorative jewels; they were summoning stones infused with magical power, used to enhance the abilities of recently hatched monsters.

These were items frequently used in the original story.

The problem was their rarity, and at this point in time, the stones were illegal.

Since they were made by grinding up monsters, the Monster Environmental Protection Association opposed them, making what was once a commonly traded item much harder to come by.

As much as he wanted to boldly ask for them, Han Siha knew it wouldn’t be wise. The very acquisition of those items was questionable, and if he openly demanded them, it would raise unnecessary suspicion.

Of course, getting caught doing this would cause even more suspicion.

“I won’t get caught.”

Han Siha smiled and crawled toward the fountain.

Seymour smacked his own head a couple of times before reluctantly following him.

Whack. Whack.

This is absolutely insane.

“Why don’t we just go back…?”

“They would never think I could open this.”

Seeing Han Siha’s cheerful smile, Seymour couldn’t help but recall the tearful face of Han Taesu from earlier.

That… father of his.

The son you were so proud of is about to rob the family’s vault.

‘I really want to tell him.’

Seymour looked at Han Siha, who was mumbling an incantation under his breath.

After a few unsuccessful attempts, Han Siha nudged Seymour’s side.

“Your turn.”

“Do you know how annoying you are?”

“And yet, you’re still here.”

Damn it.

Han Siha clearly knew that Seymour was proficient at dispelling barriers, which was why he had brought him along.

As he looked at Han Siha, who was practically playing on his nerves, Seymour raised his staff.

“Let’s do this in one go.”

Shing-.

A black light spread out and quickly dissipated.

Simultaneously—

Click.

The lower part of the fountain opened.

A small door, like the entrance to an anthill, appeared in its place.

“Ah, let’s loot this place properly.”

Han Siha stretched leisurely and muttered contentedly.

Bonus Chapter for Every Review on Novel Updates.