The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 157

[Tamer’s Touch: Temporarily tame a monster in battle. Rapidly increases affinity.]

[Maximum of one monster lasts for three hours.]

[Only applicable to monsters with a level difference of up to 10.]

Han Siha recalled the skill he obtained during the Drake Subjugation.

A power that allowed him to temporarily tame a monster during battle.

Would it work on Dongle?

Dongle’s current affinity level was 11 percent.

Right now, he couldn’t tame it even if his life depended on it.

Han Siha decided to take a gamble.

[Unable to measure level.]

[Already a favorable target.]

[Level measurement is not possible. Modifying the conditions for ‘Tamer’s Touch’.]

[Maximum of one monster lasts for 10 minutes.]

He found a loophole in the skill.

…It worked.

Han Siha grabbed Dongle and smirked.

With this, he could draw an immense amount of magic power.

More importantly, he could use the main ability of the Void Cube: spatial distortion.

It folds, flips, and twists flat space, allowing for teleportation-like movement.

The cube’s unique ability reminded him of Archant’s own powers.

Just as Aaron urgently reached out to snatch the cube again—

Swoosh.

Han Siha appeared behind Aaron and struck the sword from his hand.

“W-What?!”

Aaron was shocked as Han Siha suddenly disappeared. He only realized his sword was gone from his hand a moment later.

“Where did you go! Where are you?!”

Without hesitation, Han Siha, who had snatched Aaron’s sword, slashed at him.

Aaron sensed Han Siha’s presence and tried to dodge, but the sharp blade relentlessly pursued him.

Aaron let out a scream, stumbling heavily.

The cursed sword that had engraved curses onto so many now turned on its own master.

Even a seasoned mage is powerless in the face of pain. Aaron clenched his teeth so hard that blood seeped from his gums.

“Aaagh!”

A dark aura erupted from Aaron’s staff and struck Han Siha.

But Han Siha’s shield was faster.

He folded space to create a barrier. The phone booth, which had been lying uselessly on the ground, stood upright like a support beam, taking the brunt of Aaron’s attack.

Boom—.

With a deafening explosion, Han Siha’s barrier turned into a heap of scrap metal, and Han Siha disappeared from Aaron’s sight.

“Damn rat.”

Battling an opponent who can teleport is a tricky task.

Aaron was thrown off by the combat style that replicated Archant’s unique ability.

‘How is he doing that?’

Aaron didn’t know about the cube’s inherent abilities.

‘I’ve never heard of him using such a power.’

‘How on earth… how did he get such an ability….’

Aaron gripped his staff so tightly his hand trembled, trying to alleviate the pain.

Han Siha’s ability meant he could strike Aaron’s blind spots at any moment.

Aaron swung his staff backwards, aiming to strike.

Swoosh—.

Han Siha evaded gracefully, chuckling.

“I told you, our compatibility is really bad.”

Han Siha didn’t get close to Aaron.

The curses weren’t limited to just that sword—anything Aaron wielded could pass on a curse with a mere touch.

Aaron’s staff was a weapon in itself. It wasn’t just a simple staff; it was an artifact imbued with Aaron’s power, burning flesh on contact.

Han Siha swiftly dodged, keeping an eye on the trajectory of the staff.

He wasn’t entirely optimistic about the situation.

The cube’s powers were unfamiliar to him.

Unlike Archant, who had freely used spatial distortions, this was Han Siha’s first time using these abilities in battle.

Moreover, the power consumed magic at an insane rate.

The Void Cube’s greatest flaw.

Even the magic he drew from the cube drained rapidly.

At this rate, he wouldn’t be able to last the full 10-minute limit, and the cube would become unusable due to depleted magic.

He had… about three minutes left to use it.

He needed to end everything within those three minutes.

Although anxiety and urgency bubbled up in his throat, he didn’t show it.

Han Siha continued to taunt Aaron with the same nonchalance as before.

“You thought you’d just get the cube back? Bet you didn’t think I’d use it.”

“You… you bastard!”

“Did you think I’d just hand it over if you asked nicely?”

Thwack.

The sword pierced sharply through Aaron’s abdomen.

“Gah!”

Aaron coughed up blood, reaching out with his staff.

Boom.

A black orb grazed Han Siha’s shoulder.

There was no time to be overtaken by pain.

Only three minutes.

Han Siha relentlessly pressed his assault on Aaron.

He swung his sword like a madman, battering Aaron from all sides.

Aaron flailed his arms, desperately trying to fend off the monstrous onslaught from Han Siha.

But he didn’t only have one opponent to contend with.

“Ugh… ugh…!”

Staring down at his frozen staff, Aaron let out a shout.

Basilus’ breath attack crashed down on the staggering Aaron.

[Fire Spike]

Fwoosh.

Basilus’ concentrated magical power burned the frozen staff.

“No… no!”

Whoosh—.

Aaron hurled a dark orb towards the approaching Basilus.

“Kiieek!”

Basilus recoiled in pain, faltering.

Seizing the moment Aaron was distracted by Basilus, Han Siha lunged.

Slash.

Aaron’s sword once again slashed across his abdomen.

With trembling hands, Han Siha rammed into Aaron.

“Ugh… gah….”

Now, one minute left.

It was a miracle he wasn’t collapsing, given he was pouring all his remaining magic power into this fight.

Han Siha, despite staggering, didn’t let go of Aaron.

The sword that had drained Adela’s strength now sapped Aaron’s magic.

Han Siha frowned as he looked at the grotesque, writhing sword now stained with its master’s blood.

It was truly a ghastly weapon.

Yet it was proving advantageous for him.

Once more, Basilus’ [Fire Spike] struck Aaron.

By now, Kloshti, who had grown quite adept in combat, cast [Magic Shield] to offer Han Siha some initial protection.

With barely any magic left to use the cube’s abilities, Han Siha conserved his power for the final moment.

“Hah… ha.”

Slowly, he circled around Aaron, stepping deliberately.

Aaron’s blood soaked the ground, mingled with Han Siha’s own.

Aaron gazed at Han Siha with eyes full of despair.

“D-Did that thing have such power…?”

Aaron pointed weakly at the cube in Han Siha’s hand.

He had chased after the cube for over a decade.

Yet, he hadn’t even known what the cube’s abilities were.

Han Siha looked at the desolate Aaron and asked.

“Where is the Heart of the Machine?”

“…How do you… How do you know about that?”

Aaron’s eyes widened in shock.

They were gathering the cubes to activate the heart.

Just like in the original story, they intended to extract limitless magic and overthrow the world.

Aaron seemed deeply shaken that Han Siha knew about this.

Han Siha frowned.

It seemed Aaron knew nothing.

There was no time to wait for Aaron to stand there dumbly.

“…No answer, huh?”

The cube’s powers were waning.

Han Siha poured every last bit of his magic into one final move.

Right before Aaron’s face.

Slash—.

Han Siha raised his sword and beheaded Aaron.

* * *

Adela slowly lifted her trembling eyelids.

She couldn’t even twitch a finger. This helplessness felt more despairing than the pain that ached in her limbs.

Each time the dark orbs struck Han Siha, Adela gritted her teeth.

Her lips, now ragged and torn, tasted of blood.

Han Siha was in a losing fight.

That’s why she hadn’t wanted him to come here.

Yet Han Siha, as if mocking her thoughts, spoke defiantly to Aaron.

‘Do you think I’d just hand over the cube if you asked nicely?’

Even in a battle he was destined to lose, that unwavering confidence didn’t break.

That baseless confidence was enough to shake his opponent.

He created variables, pierced through his opponent, and finally turned a hopeless battle into a victory.

Adela admitted it.

She liked that unyielding confidence of his.

Adela turned her head slowly, her gaze fixed on Han Siha.

Was this already the third time?

In the slime dungeon, against the cursed tree.

Han Siha had always been by her side.

Today, too, he had appeared before her like a miracle.

Slash.

Han Siha, having cut Aaron’s throat, staggered toward her.

It was clear from one look that he wasn’t in good shape.

His legs, trembling from exhaustion, seemed to struggle even to hold him up.

Despite that, Han Siha kneeled in front of her.

“I told you not to come alone….”

Adela gasped, her words coming out with difficulty.

“What if something… had gone wrong…?”

Covered in blood, Adela stared intently at Han Siha, who was in a similar state.

“You idiot… Are you really… an idiot…? I told you not to come… Why did you…?”

The truth was, she was grateful he came.

She had hoped he would come.

But those words wouldn’t easily leave her lips.

Instead, her mouth moved on its own, betraying her thoughts.

Even though she didn’t manage to say the most important words, Han Siha continued to look down at her in silence.

Adela gave him a faint, hazy smile.

As Han Siha gently brushed Adela’s hair, he smiled sadly.

“Sorry. I’m very late, aren’t I?”

* * *

I’m not at fault for the unsolved Katablam case.

I was merely dragged into this complicated mess, a stranger with no connection.

At least regarding that incident, I don’t feel any guilt.

However, everything that happened after was my choice.

It was my choice to maintain these relationships that could only continue with lies, and it was my choice to be unable to let go of Adela.

I felt so sorry.

So sorry that I wanted to avoid looking for you.

But

…It was impossible.

With you on my mind like this, how could I not?

I grasped Adela’s trembling hand.

I couldn’t lie and say I was in good shape, but Adela was in far worse condition.

That’s when I finally noticed the pool of blood on the ground. I asked urgently.

“Are you okay?”

“…I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine at all.”

I clenched my teeth, looking down at Adela, whose lips had turned pale blue.

The wounds were deeper than I thought.

She had been cut by Aaron’s cursed sword, so the pain must have been twice as severe.

How did she endure that?

Why was she saying she was fine?

I should have come sooner.

I should have answered her call without hesitation.

I set aside the self-reproach for now and focused on what I needed to do.

Rip—

I tore off the sleeve of my shirt with my hand.

“What… are you doing?”

Even in pain, she was curious about that?

I smiled as I wrapped the torn fabric around Adela’s shoulder.

I didn’t have any bandages, but this would help stop the bleeding.

“Ow! That hurts!”

Adela winced in pain.

Rip—

This time, I tore off the other sleeve and wrapped it around Adela’s still-bleeding abdomen.

Adela squirmed, twisting her body.

“Ah… ah….”

“Bear with it, even if it hurts.”

“Mmh.”

Adela blinked in confusion, sitting still as instructed.

She seemed surprised by my actions.

“What the… Why are you so good at this…?”

In an instant, I had managed to stop the bleeding.

Adela tilted her head, seemingly intrigued by the makeshift bandages.

Her condition wasn’t great, but she should be able to make it to Ardel Academy for proper care.

“…You’re alive, and that’s what matters.”

She wasn’t in any shape to walk back to the academy, so I extended my hand.

“Get on my back. Let’s get you treated.”