Chapter 2

The Genius Tamer of the Academy - Chapter 2 (2/252)

The Genius Tamer of the Academy Chapter 2

Crawling into this place on my own. The guy in the novel who did this was clearly insane.

“Huff… Huff.”

I climbed several floors, barely breathing to avoid making a sound.

Even so, I still couldn't escape this damp cave.

Because.

“How does this path go?”

It had only been two hours since I was possessed by the protagonist of 'A Wise Academy Life.'

To summarize the situation:

So far, things have unfolded as I remember them. Han Shiha foolishly joined a black magic organization on his own and grew by serving them.

It's the exact backstory of a third-rate extra villain.

However, there's one regret.

I only remember the story from the perspective of the protagonist, Lee Han, and I don't really know much about Han Shiha.

In my memory, this guy….

“Just a kid who dies.”

Of course, he died inside the academy, not in some unknown cave.

I thought I had escaped, but it just felt like I was shortening my lifespan.

Gripping my fist, I muttered to myself.

“I need to think.”

I need to clear my head to survive. My mind is racing, almost to the point of overload.

I'm confident in my ability to think, but my physical skills are lacking.

The direction where light was coming from.

I stretched out my hand and touched the cave wall. Judging by the increasing light, this direction seemed correct.

As I hurriedly checked the end of the corridor, a voice reached my ears, filling me with fear.

“What's going on? Why are they so busy?”

“They say a kid escaped from the third basement floor.”

Crazy.

This is about me.

Clamping my mouth shut, I pressed myself against the wall.

“Kid?”

“A student from Ardel Academy, they say.”

The setting of 'A Wise Academy Life' is the Ardel Magic Academy.

The moment the name was mentioned, the man's eyes changed.

“Name? Family?”

“I don't know yet. He suddenly came here to learn black magic and then ran away. We let him in, but he didn't even show gratitude.”

“Hmm… A spy?”

“If he's just a useless kid, it doesn't matter, but if he's from Ardel Academy, we should look into it. He doesn't seem to have escaped properly.”

You're surprisingly sharp.

“If he's caught, it won't be pretty.”

“How long will it take?”

“I bet he'll be dead within an hour.”

“Haha.”

Watching the black mages negotiate my life like a game item made my heart feel heavy.

Wiping the cold sweat from my sleeve, I bit my lower lip.

I mustn't be caught, no matter what.

“...”

Thud, thud.

If they had been a bit closer, they might have detected my presence, but fortunately, the two black mages walked away without looking back.

“Phew….”

I thought I was going to die.

I took a cautious step forward, checking the surroundings.

They mentioned the third basement floor.

I think I've climbed about three floors.

And the iron door where light has been seeping through.

If they came from that direction, then…

“Is that the exit?”

I have no choice but to believe it.

Swallowing hard, I gently pushed the iron door with my fingertips. Despite my carefulness,

“...It won't budge.”

Creak.

It only made an unsettling sound, refusing to move.

There's no other way out besides here. The thought of being trapped and dying of thirst made me laugh in a detached way.

“Ah, this is bad.”

Gripping my cold, sweaty fist, I started to think again.

In this situation, the only things I can rely on are my memory and Han Shiha's abilities.

Han Shiha lacked talent in white magic but was born with magical power.

He couldn't control his surging magic, affecting both allies and enemies.

Black magic was the medium to control his magic.

A magic that enhances abilities by harming other life forms.

Thanks to this, Han Shiha grew incredibly fast.

In other words….

“Just control it.”

If I can control and use my magic properly, I can break through that sturdy iron door. Although I've only been in this strange place for three hours,

“...”

I slowly opened my hand and started to focus my strength at my fingertips.

When the protagonist, Lee Han, first started to learn magic, did he do it like this?

Magic. A concept I've only seen in games and novels.

But now, that thin knowledge is all I have to rely on.

The method to use magic. Its source.

I carefully followed the steps, repeating each sentence in my mind.

If I can concentrate and gather my strength,

Thinking of it as magic.

“Is this how it's done?”

Rustle.

A blue mist swirled around my fingertips and then quickly disappeared.

It seems to be the right way,

But my skills are still too weak.

“Once more….”

My breath is getting short.

Even when I first held a scalpel in the operating room, my hands didn't shake this much. Biting my lower lip until it bled, the blue light started to become more vivid.

The iron door, which seemed impossible to break even with a sword,

I directed the blue magic at the locked lock.

The unrefined power of a beginner.

Clank.

“Haa… Haa.”

As expected, it's not easy.

If I had used a seal-breaking spell, it would have been much easier, but I can't do that without properly controlling my magic.

While lamenting my lack of skills and gathering more magic,

Clank.

“...!”

A sudden presence.

Did I get caught?

I barely managed to steady my heart, which had dropped.

Damn. Is this the end already? I haven't even done anything since being possessed.

Hiding my trembling hands behind my back, I turned my head.

“Huh?”

What is it?

No robed men were in sight, and I couldn't sense any human presence.

It's a relief that it's not a person.

But what is this….

“Goo… Goo…”

Red tail, large eyes.

The creature looking up at me and making strange sounds is a dragon.

Huh?

“...A reptile.”

* * *

Ah, occupational habit.

The small creature, barely reaching my calf, spread its wings.

Whoosh.

It's brave, trying to puff itself up.

“Ah, not a reptile?”

“Gooom….”

No, it's not.

Scratching my head, I took a step back.

I see dogs and cats all the time, but reptiles are quite unfamiliar.

“Goo…”

I wondered how to handle the creature, which was eagerly approaching me.

“Taming?”

This is the most feasible option.

Even though I've lost a lot of my former strength, dragons are still the most powerful monsters in the academy.

If I can tame it, it would be a valuable asset that many tamers would eagerly seek.

However, taming a dragon is difficult, and encounters are rare.

That's the problem.

Han Shiha, the body I'm in, failed his first-year taming test by failing to tame even a slime.

If I can tame this creature, I might be able to break through the door, but otherwise, it's just a burden.

Still,

It looks like a newly hatched hatchling. Why is it here?

While examining the creature, a possibility came to mind.

“Could it be?”

A dragon and the black mages' facility.

A thought suddenly occurred to me.

Black mages drain life to recharge their power. If they could extract magic from dragons, which have near-immortal lifespans, it would be an unparalleled source of power.

It seems they brought a hatchling that had lost its family to use as an experiment.

“This is such a dangerous thing to do….”

Even if the dragon's power has weakened, it could still devastate this place if it gets loose.

In the novel, the black mages were mostly killed when the dragon was caught, creating a gap in their base that the protagonist, Lee Han, easily exploited. I remember this being mentioned in passing.

In other words,

Did it escape on its own?

I don't know how it got out,

“I can't take it with me.”

“...!”

Forget taming.

“Even if I escape and get caught, I'll die, but if I take you and get caught, I won't die easily… I'm sorry.”

If I can't tame it and can't take responsibility, it's best to leave it here.

After petting its head a couple of times and stepping back,

“Kee… Keeang.”

Rub, rub.

The creature approached and buried its face in my leg, then started to cling to it.

Does it understand me?

Is it asking me to take it?

Its large eyes, blinking and staring at me, seem to be pleading.

I said firmly.

“No.”

“Kee… Keeee!”

Crazy. Trying to get caught.

Hastily covering the creature's mouth, I pressed against the iron door.

It flaps its wings but doesn't resist my touch. Instead, it seems to be asking if I'll take it now.

No, I need to get out of here first. If the dragon can break the lock and get us out….

Break it and get out….

“Is it possible?”

Why didn't I think of this?

Why didn't I think of this….

It's worth a try.

As I urgently placed the creature down and prepared to try,

Ding.

A familiar notification sound rang in my ears.

My personality?

What is this?

Unknown windows quickly scrolled down.

The final message made me doubt my eyes.

Ding.

<??>

Suspicious Hatchling.

Very friendly towards you.

Level: 2

Magic: 50

Strength: 60

Agility: 35

Intelligence: 10

What?

I should have noticed when it started to like me.

If I were Han Shiha, I would have been terrified and run away at the sight of it.

The creature's friendly attitude means something has changed.

“Goo…!”

Could it be?

If the message is true, and my former personality has been carried over….

With trembling hands, I reached out to the creature.

How do I do this?

Shouldn't there be an explanation?

“Damn.”

I will tame you.

Do I need to say something cheesy like that?

Or do I need to command it with confidence?

Either way….

It's embarrassing.

“Hah.”

Embarrassing, but better than dying.

Especially with taming, I have some experience and talent.

I've seen countless dogs come to the hospital, baring their teeth and growling, trying to bite my hand.

I've tamed countless dogs.

With a few gestures and techniques.

I placed my hand on the creature's head.

First, give it a sense of security.

Next, build trust.

I whispered softly.

“...Trust me.”

And.

“Follow me.”

I don't know if this is right.

But I can't think of anything else.

Please.

With my eyes closed, I slowly and firmly resolved to tame it.

A strange notification sound rang in my ears.

“Eh… It worked?”

There was no special ritual. It was so simple.

I looked at the creature in disbelief.

Whoosh.

A message window appeared, and a white light surrounded the creature.

As it gently floated in the air and then landed, the light around it disappeared without a trace.

“Did it work?”

“Goo?”

Its eyes, staring at me intently, remained the same.

It doesn't seem to have changed much, but now isn't the time to test its abilities.

I just need to get out of here.

Without hesitation, I reached for the iron door.

And then, I whispered.

With all the resolve I could muster.

The first command.

“Bite.”

“Roar!”

The creature quickly ran towards the iron door….

Crack.

“...!”

It instantly tore the door apart.