The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 162

Nigromancy Zone, abbreviated as the NGC Zone.

It’s the headquarters of the dark magicians within the Smart Academy setting.

Its location?

Of course, no one knows.

It’d be nice if it were as simple as stating a specific latitude and longitude for the NGC Zone.

But where would you find a novel that does that?

It’s all vague descriptions like, “On the outskirts of the Ardel Empire,” or “In an area untouched by human hands.”

That’s all you get.

Following the journey as described in the original story is the best and most certain method.

As such, the entire team gathered in Natalie’s workshop for the first time in a while.

This was after Adela had briefed them on the situation.

“We’re going to raid their base?”

Seymour spoke with an expression that said he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Natalie, the owner of the workshop, had also turned pale.

“Is that… something we can just walk into like that?”

“Storming in just like that….”

Even Yoon Haul trailed off with wide eyes.

“That’s so cool.”

Huh?

“You’re so bold.”

“You be quiet.”

“Ugh… Aah… Why…!”

Adela quickly covered Yoon Haul’s mouth.

I spread the map of the Ardel Empire across the desk.

NGC Zone isn’t even an official name within the Ardel Empire. So searching for it on this map is pointless….

“But Natalie’s question was good.”

“Huh?”

“It’s not a place you can enter that easily.”

Just as Natalie said, it’s not somewhere just anyone can enter.

It’s a place that regular people can’t even set foot in.

You can only find it and enter if you possess the unique dark magic energy known as ‘magi.’

With that in mind, our first task is to figure out how to use this magi.

Lee Han, listening to my explanation, asked a question.

“Magi? How are we supposed to use that?”

Before Lee Han even finished speaking, Seymour casually raised his hand.

“What if we just learn dark magic? I think I’d be pretty good at it.”

“…?”

“You’re good at stuff like this too, aren’t you?”

Whack-.

Seymour was spouting nonsense until Lee Han smacked him.

Is he insane?

I clicked my tongue and pointed to a corner of the map. Naturally, there is a way to use that magi.

Right here.

“Alright-.”

The northern region of the Castica Territory, the old Arkenent Territory.

Solia looked up at me with her eyes wide.

“Is this…?”

“Yeah. The old Arkenent Territory. I heard there’s black obsidian here that’s full of magi.”

Thud.

I pulled out a book I had previously taken from the Ardel Library.

It contained detailed maps and descriptions of the entire Ardel Empire.

“A mine of black obsidian. It’s considered cursed land because of the ominous energy that flows there. It was supposedly demolished a long time ago, but have you heard of it?”

Solia tilted her head, seemingly unsure.

“I’m not really familiar with it, but if it was in the Arkenent Territory… my father would know.”

We can use the black obsidian’s magi for camouflage.

Since it’s a place that was demolished long ago, finding traces of it will require thoroughly searching the Arkenent Territory, but that’s manageable.

At least we won’t have to do anything as crazy as learning dark magic directly.

Solia cautiously offered.

“Should I ask my father?”

“Let’s go see him ourselves.”

It doesn’t seem necessary for the whole group to go. Just two of us should be enough.

The problem is the academy’s schedule, packed with classes and training, leaving no time to rest.

I glanced at Solia with a grin.

Let’s see.

A time that would work….

It would have to be during class time, right?

I unfolded the schedule and poked Solia, who was standing there absentmindedly.

“Huh?”

“Hey, when should we skip?”

* * *

Professor Wigor’s Magic Generation class.

Professor Wigor continued the lecture in his slow, deliberate voice.

“Alriiiight- today we will learn about the origins of magic.”

“Sooo- the origins of magic, hmmm-, students in the back? Don’t fall asleep.”

If not for Solia, we could have just skipped class altogether.

“I… need to maintain my scholarship.”

Given the Arkenent family’s situation, affording the expensive tuition of Ardel Academy was a significant burden.

If her grades dropped, she could lose the support of her noble sponsors, so blatantly skipping a class was risky.

I need to consider her position a little.

So, we changed the plan.

Sneak out after attendance.

Professor Wigor stroked his chin and spoke in his laid-back manner.

“Ohhh- seems like we’re missing a few for attendance.”

“Yes, sir-.”

“Alright, are all students present? Let’s do a quick roll call.”

Professor Wigor, squinting his eyes, lifted his magnifying glasses slightly and held the attendance sheet.

“Natalie Willow.”

“Yes, Professor!”

“Alriiiight… Han Siha.”

“Yes, I’m here.”

With each name called, Solia kept glancing at me.

“We won’t get caught, right?”

It was obvious she was a model student, just from her actions.

Have you really never snuck out of class before?

“Is this your first time?”

“How can a student just leave during class….”

Sigh.

That remark stings a bit.

“I once skipped an entire semester of electives.”

Oh, right.

They’re only sixteen.

“Well, I guess it’s not right to start slacking off at your age.”

“…?”

“I was a model student at that age too. This is all a perk of being an adult.”

“Hmm?”

While responding, I alternated my gaze between Professor Wigor, who was calling attendance, and the back of the lecture hall.

To make our sneaky exit smoother, we had deliberately taken seats at the very back, right next to the door.

Solia looked increasingly nervous, so I tried to reassure her.

“Hey, you won’t get caught in a big lecture like this.”

“I’m so nervous….”

“It’s fine, I promise. If you keep scrunching up like that, it’ll be more obvious. Just walk out confidently.”

“Ugh… this is so scary….”

Solia lowered her voice, mumbling in discomfort.

Just then, Professor Wigor called on Solia.

“Solia Arkenent-student?”

“Yes!”

“Alright, you’re good to go.”

I nodded at Solia and lowered myself in my seat.

Click.

I carefully grasped the door handle with one hand, keeping an eye on Professor Wigor.

It opened.

“You go first. If you get caught, just say you’re going to the restroom.”

Solia got up with a face that looked on the verge of tears.

Screech.

Using a silence spell to make sure the chair hardly made any noise, Solia then cast [Shadowform].

Swoosh.

Solia’s figure slowly blurred and transformed into a shadow.

I was left speechless at the astonishing sight.

Wow.

She’s really going out like that.

Is she a genius?

I nearly forgot to make my own exit, too absorbed in watching her.

But this was no time to be gawking.

“Nowww- turning to the next page… let’s look at the first question.”

As someone with experience in skipping classes, this kind of large lecture is a breeze.

I slowly inserted my hand through the slightly open door handle. Timing my move while glancing at the professor, I found the perfect moment.

Then.

Swoosh.

As Professor Wigor turned his back to write on the board—

Swoosh.

I slipped out quickly.

* * *

Once we safely exited Ardel Academy, we headed straight for the old Arkenent Territory.

It was quite a distance from the academy, but we arrived relatively comfortably by carriage.

I handed a gold coin to the carriage driver and stepped out.

Despite the slightly chilly early spring weather, there was a warmth that seemed to linger in the territory.

The old Arkenent Territory welcomed us, feeling distinctly different from the Castica Territory.

Solia took her time, soaking in the sights of this place she hadn’t visited in a while.

“This is where I lived when I was little.”

Even though the family had fallen to the point of losing their land, there was a time when they governed this vast territory.

In Solia’s memories, those times were warm and comforting.

Sparkling.

Being here really seems to lift her spirits.

“Where’s your father?”

“Over there—up the mountain.”

Solia pointed to a mountain behind a market.

It seemed like there was a village up there, but still, no matter how much the family had declined….

It felt strange to think they were living tucked away in a corner of what used to be their own territory.

Though I didn’t say it out loud, Solia’s expression was equally somber.

“I haven’t been back since I started at the Academy. Father doesn’t usually stay here either. He says it brings up bad memories.”

“I see.”

For the Count of Arkenent, losing his territory must have been humiliating.

So, he had lived elsewhere for a while, only temporarily residing here again after cooperating with Castica.

To lift Solia’s sagging spirits, I chatted idly, trying to lighten the mood.

As we walked, we eventually arrived at the market at the foot of the mountain.

Not much time had passed, so everything looked familiar.

Solia quickly brightened up, shedding her earlier gloomy expression, and started introducing her hometown to me.

“If you go down this way, there’s a stream. Kids usually play there.”

“You too?”

“Actually, I used to sneak out and play there.”

Playing in secret with the commoner kids.

It’s hard to imagine Solia, who’s usually so particular about manners, doing something like that.

I wondered what Solia was like as a child.

Trying to fit in with the kids, wanting to join in the water games but too self-conscious to really participate. Glancing over at the kids playing, wanting to join but worried about appearances.

She was probably the perfect example of a noble daughter raised with grace.

She must have been incredibly cute, but I wouldn’t know since I never saw her back then.

I was smiling at the thought when Solia spoke up beside me.

“The Arkenent Territory isn’t particularly fertile, so commerce is what’s developed here.”

“Ah, so that’s why your family focused on business.”

“Yeah, and manufacturing is also big. The Willow family’s artifact factory is located here too.”

“Willow family too?”

“Yeah, I think it’s still around….”

Speaking confidently, Solia suddenly looked puzzled and tilted her head.

“Huh, it was supposed to be over there?”

Solia, now visibly confused, quickened her pace.

“Wait, what?”

She moved so fast I almost couldn’t keep up.

I managed to catch up to Solia, who was practically running.

“Hey, hey. What’s going on?”

“It’s just….”

The deeper we went into the market, the darker Solia’s expression became.

“There used to be a street of potion shops here….”

“Maybe it’s been too long since you last visited, and you’re just confused?”

“That’s impossible.”

I had asked offhandedly, but even I could tell something was off.

If someone feels this much disconnect in their own hometown, something must have changed.

“All the shops are gone too. That’s impossible. This was the biggest market in the Arkenent Territory.”

“What? Seriously?”

“Wait a second.”

Solia grabbed a passing older woman in the empty market and urgently asked.

“Excuse me, I have something to ask you!”

“Huh?”

The woman, who didn’t recognize Solia, turned with a frown, wondering why she was being stopped.

Solia swallowed hard and asked again.

“The potion shops, where did they all go?”

“Potion shops?”

“Yes.”

Solia, disoriented by the changes to the market, wanted to understand why it was different from her memories.

I was just as baffled.

However,

The woman’s response was shockingly blunt.

“Here? They all ran away.”

What?