The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 210

The academy was in complete upheaval.

I figured that Adela, who was probably hiding in the A Dormitory like the rest of us students who knew what was going on, might have come to see me.

Or it could have been Lee Han or Solia.

However, the face that cautiously peeked through the gap in the door was entirely unexpected.

“Creek?”

Is this a gathering of all the group project villains or something?

Not long ago, Fabian had come by, causing all sorts of trouble, and now it was this guy.

“What, you too? Want me to hide you for a week?”

Fabian was currently staying temporarily in A Dorm, though not in our room.

I had pointed him to an abandoned storage room, and despite grumbling about his royal status, he still crawled right in.

But unlike Fabian, who had escaped from the Necromancy Department, Creek had just suddenly shown up when everyone thought he was missing….

He hesitated, as if he was about to say something but couldn’t get the words out.

He’s always been a guy who’s true to his emotions.

Well, one thing’s clear.

Something definitely happened.

“What’s going on?”

“Well… it’s….”

Creek hesitated, something uncharacteristic of him, and forced himself to speak nonchalantly.

But the tremor in his voice was impossible to hide.

“The prince is looking for you.”

Since when were they close enough for Creek to deliver such an intimate message? But I decided to hear him out anyway.

Of course, his next excuse was even more absurd.

“He said he has something important to discuss and wants to meet you on the first floor.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah… it seems really important.”

It wasn’t strange for the Imperial Family to approach the Castica family, but this excuse still reeked of something fishy.

“Do you think it’s okay to go right now?”

Creek’s guilty expression said it all. He looked like he was begging for forgiveness, though for what, I wasn’t sure.

Aside from being a pain during group projects, he didn’t have any real reason to feel guilty toward me.

Putting that aside for now.

“The prince wants me to come personally?”

It was weird that he was asking to meet on the first floor instead of just sending for me in his room…

“Hey, don’t you know me?”

“Huh?”

“Prince, royal family, whatever—they’re all the same. Do they not have legs or brains? If he wants to see me, he can come himself.”

“He insisted… it’s something that must be said in a secluded place….”

Desperate to lure me out of the barriers, it was a transparent ploy from the start. I was just humoring him.

I smirked and asked.

“Is that the best excuse you could come up with?”

Creek flinched noticeably. His face, drained of color, betrayed his failed attempt to maintain composure.

It seemed he was trying his best to act the part, but he should’ve hidden those trembling eyes first.

Honestly, even an aspen tree wouldn’t shake as much as he does.

As soon as Creek met my gaze, he staggered back, clearly rattled, while I watched him with a mixture of pity and disdain.

What a fool.

Honestly, the fact that I managed to finish a group project with this idiot makes me a saint.

But that’s not what’s important right now.

“So, where is it?”

I frowned and questioned Creek.

Creek, seemingly surprised by my response, straightened his previously hunched shoulders. He looked up at me, clearly shocked.

“…What? You’re going?”

“You said he’s calling for me.”

“Well, that’s….”

Creek seemed puzzled that I was asking for the location when he thought I had fallen for his initial bait.

It’s true that the place might be dangerous, with Necromancy Department students and possibly dark mages lurking around. His imagination wasn’t far off.

“Are you planning to drag everyone else in too?”

He must’ve assumed I would take all my friends along to storm the place for safety.

“No?”

I shook my head.

If it was about fighting, I’d leave it to the professors.

Though it might take a bit of time, the rebellion of the Necromancy Department would eventually end in their crushing defeat.

But to prevent more casualties…

I felt it couldn’t wait any longer.

It would’ve been perfect if I had gone when Fabian first mentioned it.

Now, the students were becoming more and more consumed by dark magic, making them far more aggressive than before.

Still, there was no doubt that this was the last chance.

The dark mages had taught them the most powerful dark magic available.

That’s why mere students, with only a fraction of magical power, managed to seize control of the entire Building C.

However, because the magic consumes life force, it wouldn’t last long, and once the hosts are fully overtaken by the dark magic, they will reach a point where they can’t even control themselves.

Even Han Si-hyuk couldn’t control himself, resulting in an incident and his subsequent disappearance. So it’s even more impossible for these inexperienced students.

More power, more severe rampages. The fate of Building C is clear even without seeing it firsthand.

To prevent this, the Empire will inevitably decide to wipe out all the students.

But if I intervene before that, we might avoid the worst outcome.

The method is tricky, but it’s not entirely impossible.

I planned to use the strategy mentioned in the original story.

“They’re still somewhat communicative, right?”

“Those guys…? They were completely unreasonable.”

“You’re unreasonable too, idiot. I asked if they could still talk.”

“They can still speak, I guess… Necromancy students are still people…!”

“You, on the other hand, are definitely not. Or you wouldn’t be this stupid.”

“What?”

“What?”

The guy who was just trying to drag me into danger now has the nerve to talk back?

Creek lowered his gaze, seemingly aware of his wrongdoing.

“Once this is over… I’ll really make you pay.”

Creek’s trembling head came into view.

It’d be perfect to smack him upside the head and continue this conversation.

Anyway, seeing how Creek is still thinking, it means that the Necromancy students are still capable of conversation and aren’t fully overtaken by dark magic.

Seems like it’s worth going.

“Lead the way.”

“…!”

I nudged Creek forward as I spoke.

“O-okay!”

Though hesitating, Creek started to move, and I calmly followed behind him.

“Are you sure it’s really okay to go?” Creek mumbled anxiously as he led the way.

When he was calling me out, he seemed so confident. Now he’s spewing nonsense.

I ignored Creek’s grumbling and thought of someone.

Sure, I had humanitarian reasons for not wanting to see a bunch of Necromancy students get slaughtered, but…

“Yoon Haul…”

I have to hurry.

I just have a bad feeling she’s going to get herself into trouble.

This isn’t some theological foresight; it’s just a regular person’s gut feeling.

“Ah, this is making me anxious.”

Unfortunately, my instincts were usually spot on.

* * *

At the same time, Yoon Haul cautiously cracked open her dormitory door.

The Theology Department’s girls’ dormitory was separated from the Faculty of Magic, and unfortunately, it was the very building the Necromancy students had taken over. The hallway was constantly patrolled by those students.

They were saying something about offering the Theology students as sacrifices.

There had been threats made toward the Theology professors, but it didn’t seem likely to happen.

For the past two days, Yoon Haul had been desperately trying to read the stars to catch a glimpse of the future.

She couldn’t see everything, but one thing was clear.

The entire C Dormitory she was in was already shrouded in an uncontrollable, ominous energy, and a catastrophe far worse than the current chaos was imminent.

However, the ominous energy wasn’t specifically targeting the Theology students.

Instead, it seemed that the Necromancy Department, the instigators of this whole mess, would face severe consequences.

The future was a tangled mess of uncertainty, difficult to interpret.

Even though it wasn’t directly her problem, it didn’t mean she could completely relax.

Being swept up in this turmoil could lead to unforeseen consequences, and no matter how skilled a seer is, they can never know every detail of their own future.

However, Yoon Haul had a more immediate, practical concern.

“I’m hungry…”

She hadn’t been able to visit the convenience store.

Nor had she eaten a proper meal.

While Buildings A and B at least had supplies coming in, anything that made it to her area was quickly snatched up by the Necromancy students before it even reached the third floor.

Basically, aside from the food left in her dorm room, she had hardly eaten anything.

Yoon Haul swallowed dryly, memories of a sweet red bean bun lingering on her mind.

“I feel like I’m going to starve to death.”

It seemed more likely she’d die of hunger than be caught and killed by those angry Necromancy students.

At least people can say when they’re hungry…

“Mew…”

In Yoon Haul’s arms was a gray cat, unable to voice its hunger but quietly whining.

The cat, Joy, had grown considerably since she first brought it in and was no longer a kitten.

Yoon Haul held Joy close and mumbled.

“You’re hungry too, huh?”

“Mew…”

Being stuck in this cramped dorm room, both of them were growing restless.

That morning, Yoon Haul had already done a reading.

“I want to go out too… but it says I’ll get caught if I do…”

The day’s fortune hadn’t been favorable, telling her to stay put. That was why she had been playing it safe all day.

She grumbled, peering out the window.

Adela, Solia, and Han Siha—they were all probably over in the other building with the rest of the Magic students, while she alone was trapped here. It felt unfair.

Yoon Haul tapped her fingers against the windowpane, muttering to herself.

“Maybe… I should just get caught?”

There hadn’t been any signs of her dying in her readings.

“Let’s try interpreting it again.”

With a flurry, Yoon Haul pulled out the cards she had used earlier in the day and spread them out on her desk.

“With both the moon and the sun in the northern direction, it means that while light is obscured, it’s still a pattern that allows for some form of complement….”

That’s how prophecy works.

It’s all in how you interpret it.

The same cards can have different meanings depending on how you read them.

“If I think about it carefully, right now might be the best time for action.”

Oh…

Yoon Haul quickly began justifying her thoughts.

“This doesn’t look too bad, actually.”

Looking at it again, there was room for a positive interpretation.

Sure, I might get caught, but even then, the situation doesn’t seem all that terrible!

“I don’t think I’ll die, at least.”

A classic line uttered before walking into danger.

Completely unfazed by her own morbid words, Yoon Haul muttered lightly.

“Yeah, this is enough. I won’t die.”

Absolutely, definitely not.

Yoon Haul nodded confidently as she picked up the cards one by one.

“Good. Good. Good…”

She would get some food for Joy, snag a red bean bun for herself, and if things get dicey, she could escape to the other building where Han Siha was.

It was a perfect plan.

Had Han Siha known, he would’ve stopped her immediately, but Yoon Haul didn’t think twice as she got up from her seat.

“Joy, let’s go!”

“Meow—”

Yoon Haul threw open the window and quickly scanned the path below.

Without a second thought, she squeezed herself through the gap in the window.

“Joy, this way!”

Her plan was to land safely on the second-floor balcony.

Yoon Haul had already leapt from the window.

“You never listen when someone tells you not to do something!”

It was as if she could hear Han Siha’s voice scolding her from a distance.