The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 213

After three hours, the barrier was lifted.

I heard the news while waiting in Adela’s room. It should have been welcome news, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile.

Many students had been massacred, except for a few Kangryung students who hadn’t been involved in creating the magic circle.

Since they were the ones who started this, there wasn’t much room to blame anyone else, but too many students who shouldn’t have died were lost.

Of course, the ones who killed them were the black magicians.

But it was my father, Han Taesu, who had taken direct action.

It didn’t feel right.

In truth, it didn’t feel right at all.

Han Siha stood silently by the window, staring outside, his lips pressed into a thin line.

Adela, who wasn’t fully aware of the situation, cautiously asked him.

“Shouldn’t you go and see?”

Han Siha shook his head instead of answering.

Yoon Haul’s words were right.

If there’s nothing good to see, it’s better not to look. As she said, Han Taesu would be fine.

Instead, Han Siha turned to Yoon Haul and asked.

“What about you? Shouldn’t you go?”

Most of the students in Building C had no direct connection to Han Siha, but it was different for Yoon Haul, who was from the Theology Department. There were seniors, juniors, and friends among them.

Yoon Haul hesitated for a moment before answering weakly.

“They’ll probably… be okay.”

“Then just rest here for a bit. You can’t go back to the dormitory right now anyway.”

Han Siha said, looking back and forth between Adela and Yoon Haul.

“Okay.”

Yoon Haul nodded, holding Joey tightly to her chest, looking anxious.

It was always so strange. That cat never seemed to grow.

Han Siha gently petted the grey cat with its shiny fur before turning his gaze away.

“I’m planning to check on Lee Han once things calm down. Knowing him, he’s probably the busiest right now.”

This incident hadn’t spared the Magic Department from losses either.

As the third-year student council president, Lee Han was likely overwhelmed with tasks and responsibilities. If there was anything Han Siha could do to help, he would.

Adela looked at Han Siha with concern and said.

“No, you should rest too. You all haven’t slept for days, have you?”

It wasn’t just the professors; the students were also on high alert, unsure when Kangryung’s group might storm into Building A.

“That’s true.”

Han Siha agreed but knew he wouldn’t be able to rest easily.

A lot has changed since the Kangryung riot.

Kangryung had lost its standing entirely and was on the path to being disbanded, and Ardel Academy, having lost so many students, would carry an emptiness it hadn’t known before.

The Academy had turned into a wasteland from the moment of the riot.

Han Siha, more than anyone, knew that the upcoming episodes would only get tougher, not easier.

He needed to strengthen his forces before the war started, steal back the Cube, and ensure that nothing like this could happen again.

Abaddon had wreaked havoc on the academy by using the Kangryung students without lifting a finger.

Yoon Haul and Adela, both aware of who was behind it, sat in quiet anger, lost in their thoughts.

“I’m going to head out.”

Han Siha decided it was best to leave the room heavy with tension and got up.

It was then that Yoon Haul, who had been deep in thought, spoke up.

“But I still don’t understand.”

“What?”

“Kangryung’s group acted on their own, but… it was the black magicians who made them create the magic circle and drove them to self-destruction.”

“That’s true.”

They were the ones who had supported the riot and plunged Ardel Academy into chaos.

“I don’t get why they did it.”

Is there ever a reason for evil?

Han Siha, knowing Abaddon’s nature, assumed it was simply done for ‘fun.’

But Yoon Haul seemed to think otherwise.

“A lot more Kangryung students died. I know it’s strange to say, but… wasn’t this a loss for those black magicians?”

They hadn’t inflicted significant damage on the Magic Department or killed any of the academy professors.

Han Taesu had come and essentially cleaned up the entire situation, preventing major losses.

In the long run, hadn’t they just let Kangryung’s students, who could have become their pawns, self-destruct?

For fun?

Did they really engage in such a costly act?

Han Siha paused at Yoon Haul’s observation.

Abaddon might seek amusement, but he wasn’t a fool.

He wouldn’t have done something that resulted in a massive loss.

Han Siha finally realized the oddity of the situation.

“Yeah. Something’s not right.”

Han Siha closed his eyes, trying to recall the original storyline.

Though his memories were hazy, this situation might be more crucial than ever.

Yes, he remembered.

The original story didn’t delve deeply into the Kangryung riot.

But the next episode was of significant importance.

The Cube Retrieval Episode.

In simple terms, Lee Han gets the Cube stolen by the black magicians and desperately tries to get it back.

Han Siha stood still, pondering the connection.

The Kangryung riot and the Cube Retrieval.

Why did the riot happen, and why did the Cube disappear?

Han Siha frowned, his face hardening.

It was too unnatural to be a coincidence.

“Wait a minute.”

After a long moment of contemplation, Han Siha came to a realization.

“No way.”

He wanted to believe it wasn’t true.

That the riot wasn’t just a ploy to tie up their hands so they could steal the Cube.

That the entire Kangryung group hadn’t been used in such a way.

Han Siha wanted to believe that.

However, it was a plausible scenario.

The Cube could be in danger.

Han Siha hurriedly grabbed his coat and spoke.

“I need to go check it out right now.”

“What?”

“Where are you suddenly going?”

Yoon Haul shot up from her seat, eyes wide, as she watched Han Siha. Adela’s face also showed clear signs of confusion.

But there was no time to explain.

“I’m coming too!”

“Hey, Han Siha!”

Adela and Yoon Haul instinctively took off running after him.

* * *

To prevent the Cube from being stolen all at once, Lee Han had devised a plan to keep it in a location separate from its original place.

They weren’t going to let the Cube be stolen twice by the same method.

They had taken some precautions…

“It’s gone.”

Neither here nor there.

Both locations had been raided, and the Cubes were stolen.

Han Siha pulled out the storage box hidden among the rocks and sighed deeply. It was clear they had traced the faint magical energy the Cube emitted and stolen it from there.

“Haah…”

The Cube of Emotion and the Cube of Perception were stolen.

While their feet were tied by the riot and all their attention was diverted.

The enemy had exploited the gap they couldn’t defend.

Damn it.

At the most critical moment, they lost the most important things.

Han Siha stared at the empty storage box, cursing repeatedly under his breath.

Yoon Haul stood in place, pale as a ghost. Even though a seer couldn’t foresee every future, guilt was already etched on her face.

Regret and self-blame for failing to prevent a future that should have been stopped.

“When… when did they… how did they…?”

“We need to call Lee Han. We need to inform him of the situation. Contact Seymour and Natalie too.”

“Got it.”

Han Siha bit his lip.

Finding the Cube immediately was impossible.

The Cube would be stored where the Machine’s Heart was located, a place whose exact location remained unknown.

Going after the final boss, Abaddon, with their current strength would be akin to suicide.

But…

But

There was still a way to get the Cube back.

Han Siha spoke in a cold voice.

“What a fucking idiot.”

“Han Siha…?”

“What a moron.”

“You don’t have to blame yourself… I mean, I feel the same way, but…”

“No, I’m talking about that guy.”

“Huh… huh?”

“Doesn’t it suck to have something taken away right after you get it?”

Han Siha grinned as he slowly lifted his head.

‘Is he finally losing it?’

Yoon Haul blinked and tried to make sense of Han Siha’s words. If Han Siha wasn’t crazy, his words made no sense.

However, Yoon Haul soon understood.

“If it’s something that’s bound, it can be summoned back, right?”

Han Siha the Tamer.

Even if he couldn’t get the Cube of Emotion back, he could still retrieve Sakkakin.

“After all, taming is my specialty.”

Han Siha reached out into the empty air.

* * *

Thud.

Something fell from the sky,

And moments later, a Cube, covered in a shimmering white light, slowly appeared.

Responding to Han Siha’s call, the Cube of Perception had been resummoned.

Han Siha smiled and held it up.

The Cube had fallen from the sky and returned in less than a minute.

Yoon Haul stared in disbelief, unable to close her mouth.

“W-what? H-how…?”

“We call this taking back what was given. See?”

“Was that even possible? How… how did you do that?”

Does that even make sense?

Adela furrowed her brow and snatched the Cube from Han Siha’s hand.

“This is real?”

“It’s real, isn’t it? For real?”

No matter how she examined it, the Cube exuded a distinct magical energy, confirming it was genuine.

It had probably been snatched directly from Abaddon’s office.

“They probably went through hell to steal this, and now it’s back in my hands? Man, he’s going to be pissed. No one could’ve predicted that someone could tame a Cube.”

Han Siha muttered mockingly, though his taunt would never reach Abaddon.

“You idiot.”

Though he tried to appear nonchalant, Han Siha’s eyes were filled with seething anger.

How many students had been sacrificed just for the sake of taking this Cube?

Having witnessed the disastrous outcomes born of ruthless efficiency and selfishness, Han Siha could not forgive Abaddon.

“I had tested it once. Bound Cubes can be summoned back. It’s like taming. This Cube was the first one I ever tamed. No matter what tricks they pull, unless I die, they’ll never truly steal it.”

Abaddon’s goal was to collect all the Cubes to complete the Machine’s Heart.

So when he realized one had been snatched back, he would be furious.

His plans had gone awry.

“Haaah…”

But losing one Cube was still a loss on their side too.

There was no way to retrieve the unbound Cube.

Han Siha spoke with a hardened expression.

“I’m not planning to retrieve the other one right now.”

Abaddon would inevitably come for the remaining Cube.

There was no need to rush into a confrontation when a future battle was guaranteed.

Adela nodded, agreeing with Han Siha’s rationale.

“We need to find out where it is first. I agree; jumping in blindly is too dangerous.”

“Yeah, let’s return to the academy.”

They had at least recovered one Cube, so now they needed to plan their next move.

Both seemed to think that way, but Han Siha felt differently.

He understood all that, but…

Right now, he was furious.

Absolutely livid.

“I might not be able to retrieve the Cube, but I have an idea that could work.”

He needed to do something, anything, just to calm his anger.

Han Siha smiled coldly and said.

“Let’s go screw that bastard over.”