Chapter 3

### Chapter 3 of "The Genius Tamer of the Academy" (3/252)

### Chapter 3: The Genius Tamer of the Academy

A rough, jagged cross-section, as if it had been bitten off with teeth. The creature was holding the lock it had torn apart with its mouth, seemingly delighted by something.

*Gulp*...

...Of course, it was taken from me.

“*Squeak*...”

“No way. You can’t eat that.”

Dragons are not much different from dogs. They are stubborn and don’t listen to commands.

*Thud* *Thud*...

I sighed and took the left path. The light was getting brighter, indicating that I had found the way out.

Honestly, escaping this maze was exhausting. I realized that trying to escape without a plan was almost suicidal.

“*Sigh*...”

I took a deep breath and examined the last door. If I could just break through this...

“I didn’t think you’d make it this far...”

“Come here. The lock is torn off.”

“What?”

Voices could be heard.

“Damn.”

*Gulp*...

I covered the creature’s mouth and took a step back. It was a dead end except for the door behind me. If they were this close, I wouldn’t be able to slip past them easily.

*Thud* *Thud*...

The eerie footsteps were getting closer. A low, commanding voice spoke.

“Search thoroughly.”

“Yes!”

“Wait.”

I felt my blood drain. I tried to stay quiet, but the next words made me bite my lip.

“...I think we found him.”

Damn.

Without hesitation, I turned around and ran with all my might, but I knew it was too late.

A sharp voice rang out from behind.

“There he is, catch him!”

The maze-like internal structure. It was hopeless before, but now it was a blessing.

“Where did he go?”

I quickly hid to the right and kept running. There was no time to relax. They would use detection magic to find my location.

I had to get out before that.

I bit my lower lip and turned left again.

“The exit...”

There was one in the direction we were trying to leave, and another where they had entered. The former was likely guarded, so there was no way to break through.

Thus, there was only one option.

“Hey, reptile, follow me!”

*!*...

The creature’s steps quickened. Thanks to my quick scan of the structure, getting to the exit was not a problem.

“There it is!”

The issue was that there were black mages on this side too.

“Damn.”

The two behind me were bumbling around. They looked like 1st Class mages who couldn’t even cast proper spells. Han Sihah’s abilities were not enough to fight them.

But I had to try.

“Catch him!”

With my life on the line, my mind worked quickly. I needed a spell to protect myself...

The contents of the academy curriculum flashed through my mind, and I remembered a useful one.

“*Sigh*...”

Smog.

The first defensive spell taught at Ardel Academy. It creates a white smoke to hide from enemies. Even Han Sihah, who had no talent for magic, had learned it.

“I’ve never cast it before...”

I focused my energy at my fingertips and took a deep breath, imagining the narrow cave filled with white smoke.

Since I had already learned the spell, I could cast it without any complex incantations. My body knew how to do it.

“Please... please...”

Concentrating all my energy, I made my fingertips tremble.

*Puff*...

“Ha.”

It worked, though a bit clumsy.

A grayish smoke, like from burning coal, instantly obscured my vision.

“Huh?”

“Damn. That slippery brat!”

Confused by the obscured vision, the two bumbled around, cursing.

“Where did he go?”

“Don’t just stand there! Do something!”

“Request backup this way!”

Thankfully, they were incompetent. If they were proper black mages, I would have been captured and sacrificed by now.

Maybe I should be grateful that this wasn’t their main base. Due to the lack of personnel, there were a few incompetent ones here.

Relieved, I quickly started tearing the door. The lock was still in place, but the door was already open, so I quickly pushed it open.

At that moment.

“Where did that slippery brat go!”

*Choke*...

I fell forward, choked by a strange sensation. This wasn’t a physical grip.

*Gasp*...

A kind of curse spell. It couldn’t kill me directly, but it was effective in restraining me. They must have gone to request backup.

A cold voice echoed through the smog.

“If you surrender now, I’ll make your death less painful.”

So, you’re going to kill me anyway?

“If you don’t want to die slowly, drained of your life force, you should decide quickly.”

*Choke*... *Choke*. “Don’t worry. I won’t die that easily.”

If it were a physical attack, I might have a chance to defend myself. But I couldn’t see my opponent, and my arms were losing strength.

If only I had learned a spell to dispel curses.

After some thought, the only variable was...

I slowly turned my head to look at the creature. Our bond was almost non-existent, and I wasn’t sure if I could control it with my taming skills.

“Please...”

“*Squeak*!”

At that moment, the dragon, with its wings spread, miraculously burst out.

“What’s that sound?”

Before the curse caster could react, the dragon breathed fire.

Flames rose through the white smoke.

“Ah, it’s... it’s hot!”

“What? What’s happening?”

“Aaaah!”

As the caster lost focus, the curse spell was dispelled. I slowly rubbed my neck and gasped for air.

It must have been a spell that drained life force, so it wouldn’t be usable for a while.

“Aaaah!”

“This way, this way!”

I had to get out quickly while they were in chaos.

“Let’s go.”

I nodded, and the dragon flapped its wings, gently landing on my shoulder.

It was better than expected.

“Good job.”

“*Squeak*!”

I quickly closed the door to prevent them from following. I had successfully evaded them.

Smirking, I quickly slipped through the open door and closed it behind me.

They wouldn’t catch up immediately.

“Let’s leave this wretched cave.”

* * *

Sand blew across my face on the desolate road. I had escaped, but the situation was far from safe.

“*Squeak*...”

I had been walking for an hour. I didn’t know if the humans had given up or were still chasing me, but it wasn’t a safe situation.

“*Squeak*!”

I had thrown away my Ardel Academy uniform to avoid being recognized and was moving cautiously.

“*Squeak*!”

The dragon was drawing too much attention. A person with a haggard appearance and a dragon in this desolate place would be easily recognized by black mages.

“No one around.”

Just when I thought I would be caught by black mages, a carriage rattled by.

A carriage pulled by two scrawny horses, heading somewhere in a hurry.

I tried to hide and observe the carriage. It didn’t seem to belong to the black mages.

“Hey!”

There was no time to hide.

“What?”

I stepped forward, and the carriage slowed down. A man with a straw hat and a rough appearance stuck his head out.

“Can I ride with you?”

“Do you have money?”

I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out a gold card. A card provided by Ardel Academy.

Given Ardel Academy’s prestigious status, recognized in many countries, this card could be useful.

“Here. Can I ride on credit?”

“*!*”

As expected, his eyes changed when he saw the card. Ardel Academy’s tuition fees were so high that only children from prominent families could afford it.

Judging that I could pay back the debt, the man cleared his throat and nodded.

“Get in.”

“Thank you!”

I hopped in, and the dragon, with a curious look, sat on my lap. The man, seeing that I was an Ardel Academy student, didn’t say anything.

He climbed onto the carriage and asked gruffly.

“Where to?”

That was...

I had escaped in a hurry, and if I was unlucky, they might find me. It was fortunate to have escaped before making a pact, but they might eventually catch up.

I had no choice. The place with the most people who wanted to kill me, but paradoxically the safest place now.

The setting of this novel.

Biting my lower lip, I spoke.

“To Ardel Academy.”

* * *

Is there any other prestigious academy like this in the entire Ardel Empire?

Originally, this place was not accessible without innate talent or wealth. Even Han Sihah, who was on the verge of failing, could only enter because of his innate magic and family support.

A place where the children of families that evoke the sound of billions, that was Ardel Academy.

“Always impressive.”

Ardel Academy’s second-year assistant professor, Selen, flicked her long hair back and smiled. Despite being a commoner and stuck as an assistant professor for years, the sight still inspired her.

The gleaming marble floors and the chandeliers that illuminated the ceiling. The students exuded a sense of refinement from their uniforms.

“No wonder it’s Ardel.”

The level of refinement was overwhelming.

Being a part of such a prestigious academy was gratifying.

Selen greeted the students with a smile and folded her arms.

“Come in.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Hello, Professor!”

The students, nodding cheerfully, were busy checking their schedules for the day.

Such an ideal school scene...

But.

What is that?

“Eh... eh!”

*Bang*...

A commotion and a cloud of dust rose at the school gate. Selen, who had just been praising the school’s refinement, frowned in confusion.

“What is that!”

“Ugh, sand. So dirty, really!”

*Buzz*...

The bizarre scene had captured the attention of the students entering the gate.

Selen rubbed her eyes and tried to make sense of the situation.

So, what she saw was...

“*Pant*... *Pant*.”

A shabby carriage that raised a cloud of sand, completely out of place in this refined setting.

*Neigh*...

Two scrawny horses that neighed even more rudely.

Finally...

“S-Sorry. Am I late?”

A student, covered in dust, panting for breath.

“What is this...”

Selen frowned and slowly examined the student. Light brown hair that slightly covered his eyes, deep brown eyes, and a pale face flushed with heat.

‘Han Sihah?’

The one who had disrupted the school’s refinement on the first day of the semester.

The famous Han Sihah, who couldn’t even control his magic and was on the verge of failing.

Selen, brushing off the dust on her shoulder, spoke with a displeased look.

“You’re not late. Try to be punctual from now on.”

“Phew... Thank goodness.”

Han Sihah smiled and muttered to himself.

“Of course... Even a 3-minute lecture can’t keep a student from running around.”

What does that mean?

Selen sighed and subtly avoided his gaze. She had no time to worry about a failing student who wouldn’t last the year.

Separately...

‘He’s creepy, that guy.’

A strange student who was rumored to embrace cursed dolls at night, showing an interest in black magic.

Nothing good could come from him.

But...

“Thank you! I’ll go in now!”

“Go in...”

Huh?

“...Why is he like that today?”

Selen watched Han Sihah run off and tilted her head in confusion.

‘Was he always this energetic?’

Something seemed different.

He seemed to have changed a bit over the past few months.