The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 163

‘What happened?’

‘What do you mean? It’s all because of the new Count. He’s been making our lives miserable.’

The elderly woman clicked her tongue in disapproval before walking away.

After that, we questioned every villager we could find to gather information.

The information we compiled was nothing short of shocking for Solia.

“Want a drink?”

Han Siha managed to find a water shop and handed Solia a bottle.

The market, once bustling with commerce, now had only a few remaining shops, making it look more like a quiet village market rather than the commercial center of the Arkenent Territory.

Solia took the water bottle with a dazed expression.

The biggest reason the Arkenent family lost its influence in the territory was undoubtedly due to the war.

The empire’s prolonged war against the dark magicians, which had lasted for years.

While large families like Castica also suffered considerable damage, Arkenent’s situation worsened further due to a famine.

That was when Dwayne, the Baron and second son of Count Brad, extended his hand.

Under the guise of investment, Baron Dwayne gradually seized control of Arkenent’s territory.

The Arkenent Territory, weakened by war and famine, fell more easily than expected.

With the support of Count Brad, Baron Dwayne slowly extended his reach across the territory.

When he finally gained control over the finances and military, he betrayed the Count of Arkenent who had relied on him.

“I didn’t know all the details.”

Having heard the entire story from Arkenent’s former administrator, Solia hung her head low.

She had been too young, believing that the family went bankrupt due to poor business decisions.

She thought they had sold the land because they couldn’t cover the debts.

She never imagined that the territory had been gradually devoured by someone else’s schemes until it became entirely his.

Now realizing that the person controlling the land was no better than a beast, Solia trembled with anger.

“He took control of the military and betrayed my father…?”

From the Count’s perspective, he had no choice but to relinquish the land to save his life.

He must have been driven out without receiving a single coin.

Han Siha pondered seriously, his expression grim.

“I always thought it was strange. For a territory of this size, you would’ve received a substantial sum of money. But… your father doesn’t remember receiving anything.”

“That’s right, my father wouldn’t have sold the territory.”

Solia murmured sadly.

Though her memories from childhood were faint, she remembered her father’s love for the land and how he cherished it as if it were his own life.

“Our circumstances were dire… the war dragged on too long… I thought he had no other choice.”

“A lot can happen during war.”

“Yeah… but I never thought it was like this.”

Solia clenched her fists tightly.

When forced to hand over the land he had cultivated all his life to someone with no ties to the family.

How must her father have felt?

Could she even comprehend that humiliation?

“So… that’s why he wanted it back so badly… all his life.”

She now understood actions she had once thought were driven by mere nostalgia.

Despite their dire financial situation, Count Arkenent had scrimped and saved, hoping to one day reclaim the territory.

But reclaiming such a vast expanse of land couldn’t be done with just a modest amount of money.

Even while thinking that, Solia couldn’t deny her father’s resolute determination.

“What should I do….”

Solia looked up at Han Siha, her hands trembling.

Her clenched fists were turning white from the lack of blood flow.

“I’m so angry….”

“Solia.”

“I want revenge.”

She wanted to reclaim the land.

Seeing the people who shared her childhood suffering so much.

The once beautiful shops of Arkenent had all collapsed, leaving only barren land behind.

The fact that she could do nothing weighed heavily on Solia.

She was just a third-year student at the Academy.

Maybe she could do something after becoming a renowned mage in the Empire, but right now, she lacked the status and power to take any action.

“But… I should endure it, right?”

Solia slowly lowered her head, coming to terms with reality.

At that moment.

Han Siha asked calmly.

“Want my help?”

“Huh…?”

Solia looked up at Han Siha with wide eyes.

* * *

Count Dwayne’s office.

Having swallowed up Arkenent’s territory and taken the title of Count, he sipped his tea with a deep frown.

He had received unpleasant news.

“Solia Arkenent? That child came here?”

The old Arkenent Territory had become a place that outsiders rarely visited.

When someone started snooping around and asking questions about Arkenent, it naturally reached Count Dwayne’s ears.

“Yes, she’s been asking around about the events from seven years ago.”

That was a matter long past.

The past where Count Arkenent lost his influence over the territory, was driven out, and was threatened with his daughter’s life.

Although the territory was taken by force, there was a contract, wasn’t there?

Yet, to bring up that matter now…

Was it that the Count’s offspring couldn’t let go of her attachment to the land?

Count Dwayne clenched his fist and spat out his words coldly.

“Why have those vermin come all the way here….”

A guard standing nearby cautiously asked him.

“Should we take care of it?”

“You fool! What good would come from messing with Academy students!”

“S-Sorry, sir!”

Count Dwayne wasn’t so foolish as to risk a dangerous gamble out of personal feelings.

Moreover, he had heard about Solia’s name circulating to some extent.

“Considering the number of sponsors lining up, she seems to be making quite a name for herself in the Empire.”

Directly attacking her was too risky.

“Just scare them enough to send them away.”

“Yes, understood!”

Thus, he made what he believed was the most rational decision….

—Or so he thought.

One hour later.

“Co-Count… Count….”

“Count! Aaaah!”

Before the guards he had sent out came staggering back.

“What the….”

Count Dwayne scowled and stood up abruptly.

From the guard with a swollen eye, to another trembling and covered in blood.

His soldiers, mindlessly following orders to return to the estate.

Amidst them all, a student who seemed far too unscathed to have taken down so many of his men stepped forward.

“Hello?”

“Ugh!”

Thud.

Han Siha pushed aside the guard clinging to his arm and flashed a bright smile.

“I’m here to meet with the Count.”

* * *

Sending guards armed with spears and swords—who weren’t even magicians—against Academy students was a foolish move.

Count Dwayne didn’t understand this because he had never encountered Academy students.

He didn’t know just how exceptional they were.

Of course, Count Dwayne’s office was equipped with sufficient magical defenses to keep out intruders, and the two students who had subdued the guards didn’t seem to intend on resorting to violence.

Maintaining his composure, Count Dwayne spoke in a cold tone.

“What kind of behavior is this, acting so disrespectfully on someone else’s land?”

Flinch.

At those words, Solia almost lost her composure.

Someone else’s land? Since when did this place become someone else’s land?

Han Siha calmly reassured Solia, then slowly looked up at Count Dwayne.

“….”

His expression was calm, but his eyes were fierce.

Count Dwayne thought to himself while staring at Han Siha.

This is no ordinary student.

Solia, seated beside him, kept her mouth shut and suppressed her anger.

‘Was she too scared to come alone, so she brought along some boy?’

He looked like nothing more than a kid her age.

Count Dwayne asked Han Siha again, directing his question towards him.

“What’s the reason for causing all this commotion just to see me?”

Han Siha answered shamelessly.

“After touring the territory, I noticed some things lacking, so I came to offer Count Dwayne some advice.”

“What?”

A kid barging in here to offer advice?

Even though he knew it was just an excuse to cause trouble, it was still infuriating.

“Why did you demolish all the shops in the market?”

At the direct question, Count Dwayne’s face twisted into a scowl.

“Too many useless merchants cluttering the streets.”

Count Dwayne was skilled in schemes but lacked understanding of administration.

Therefore, he had a narrow perspective, making decisions without any understanding of the old Arkenent Territory.

“Territories are meant for farming.”

“Why don’t you try planting rice in a desert while you’re at it?”

“Huh.”

Han Siha’s sarcasm started to chip away at Count Dwayne’s patience.

“You Academy students are really full of yourselves, aren’t you? You cause a ruckus on someone else’s land and still act so arrogantly. You must be from some big-shot family, but this is no place for kids to play around.”

He couldn’t openly confront the student due to potential repercussions, but if things went south, he wouldn’t hesitate.

Count Dwayne issued a veiled threat.

“If you’re not from some powerful family, you should be worried about keeping your head attached to your shoulders.”

Han Siha smirked, putting his hands in his pockets.

“You’ll find out soon enough, so there’s no need to rush.”

“Just get to the point. You didn’t come here just to criticize my territory, did you?”

“No, of course not.”

Han Siha finally nodded and stated his request.

“I’d like to see the contract.”

“What… what did you say?”

“The contract that transferred the old Arkenent Territory to you, Count. I’m here to confirm if it was a legitimate agreement.”

“You are insolent…!”

This was an insult to Count Dwayne.

One of the guards who had been beaten by Han Siha raised his spear.

Count Dwayne waved it off with a sigh.

“Enough, bring it.”

* * *

Count Dwayne was far more cunning than anticipated.

On the surface, the contract seemed perfectly legitimate.

The seal to transfer the territory, along with the contract’s wording, was all in the handwriting of Count Arkenent.

Count Dwayne glanced down at the two students scrutinizing the contract, a sly smile spreading across his face.

They wouldn’t be able to find any fault in it.

Then, Han Siha set the contract down and casually remarked.

“However, under Imperial law, contracts made under coercion are not recognized, as far as I know.”

No sooner had Han Siha finished speaking than Solia whispered softly enough for only the two of them to hear.

“…Is that an actual law?”

“No idea. If I knew, I’d have gone to law school.”

Unaware of their muttering, Count Dwayne focused on the word ‘coercion.’

The relaxed atmosphere vanished, replaced by a cold expression on Count Dwayne’s face.

“A contract under coercion, you say? Who told you that?”

“….”

“Did the former Count say that? Are you trying to incite something by dragging his child into this?”

“Watch your mouth.”

Solia’s expression hardened.

But Count Dwayne, unfazed, continued speaking.

“Whatever I do on this land is my business. If you’ve come here just to nitpick, then get out. My patience has limits, even for kids.”

Now, he had a reason to throw them out, regardless of which family the student she brought came from.

They had dared to criticize his territory and insult him.

Count Dwayne’s mustache twitched with rage.

“I wouldn’t bat an eye at having your heads lopped off and tossed to the ground. Shall I do that?”

“….”

“Or are you just begging for death?”

By now, they should’ve been scared and ready to leave.

But instead of being intimidated, the brat remained infuriatingly calm.

“Hmm, if we look closely at this clause, there seems to be an issue….”

“This part here is also questionable….”

“There’s another aspect that could be seen as coercive….”

Scratch, scratch.

They continued jotting notes with a fountain pen on top of the contract.

Count Dwayne’s patience finally snapped at their nonchalant behavior.

No more.

“You arrogant little… Osten, throw this brat into the underground dungeon immediat—”

Huh?

At that moment, Count Dwayne’s gaze fell on the fountain pen in Han Siha’s hand.

A shiny, luxurious fountain pen.

Engraved in gold on the pen was a distinctive emblem that caught the light.

It was clearly an expensive pen.

But that wasn’t the important part.

As he slowly examined the pen, Count Dwayne froze.

“Wait a second.”

That emblem looked awfully familiar.

Even someone like Count Dwayne, who wasn’t particularly well-versed, couldn’t fail to recognize it.

‘The… The Imperial crest?’

He had definitely seen it when he visited the Imperial capital.

‘Why is the Imperial crest on a fountain pen…?’

Count Dwayne felt his blood run cold.

It was well known that Emperor Linia was notoriously particular.

He had heard that the Emperor never gave out items bearing the Imperial crest to anyone outside his own family….

If a young student was carrying around a fountain pen engraved with the Imperial crest.

There was only one possibility.

No way….

No way.

“Your Highness… Prince?”