The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 193

It was two days before Han Si-hyuk left.

Yoon Haul had suddenly shown up, looking like she had something urgent to say.

“Han Siha, don’t get angry and just listen to me.”

She, who usually only cared about sweet red bean buns, looked unusually pale and shaken.

I listened, thinking she must have seen something in the future.

Yoon Haul’s lips trembled as if she couldn’t bring herself to speak, unlike her usual self.

She swallowed hard, struggling to get the words out.

“I saw the future… So, what happened was….”

She even started rambling incoherently.

Her face was frozen in fear—it was pitiful.

What kind of future had she seen?

“Whatever it is, just take your time and tell me calmly.”

“Haa… ha…”

Seeing how terrified she was, it seemed I needed to calm her down first.

Yoon Haul’s trembling hands grabbed my shoulders, and she looked up at me, breathing heavily.

“It’s okay.”

I nodded reassuringly, trying to keep my composure.

“I’m ready to listen, so you can tell me.”

But what she said next was enough to leave me completely stunned.

“Professor Han Si-hyuk is going to try to kill you.”

* * *

The first day of vacation.

I was sitting in Natalie’s workshop, resting my chin on my hand.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Huh? Oh, nothing.”

Yoon Haul leaned in close, her eyes wide.

She had arrived earlier than expected and was already there waiting for me.

She probably thought I was worried about Han Si-hyuk.

Her slumped shoulders and the way she kept glancing at me said as much. Yoon Haul spoke hesitantly, her face filled with concern.

“Is it because of Professor Han Si-hyuk?”

I couldn’t deny it.

In many ways, it felt like the prophecy from that seer who had met Han Taesu was coming true.

The survivor of Katablam would kill me.

It could have been Adela or Han Si-hyuk.

Given my knowledge of the original storyline, I had assumed it would be Adela, and I had thought that my presence had altered that future.

But Yoon Haul’s prophecy suggested another possibility.

That the one who might try to kill me could be Han Si-hyuk.

I answered honestly.

“…I’m not sure.”

Why would Han Si-hyuk want to kill me?

Not that he lacked reasons.

But still…

We weren’t on such bad terms that he would want to kill me.

Breaking my train of thought, Yoon Haul spoke up.

“What do you think about going to find him?”

“Han Si-hyuk?”

I had been relieved that he had gone somewhere far away, but if we were bound to meet again someday, then ignoring the situation now wasn’t the best decision.

“I don’t know if we can find him, but it’s better to try than to do nothing.”

I agreed with Yoon Haul’s suggestion, but right now, there is no time.

My life wasn’t immediately at risk, and there were already plenty of people who wanted me dead.

It would be foolish to waste time chasing after Han Si-hyuk over an uncertain future.

I felt sorry for Yoon Haul, but I released my hand from my chin and spoke calmly.

“No, going to the Odryse Mountains comes first.”

“Right.”

“After that, we can look for him. Ah, they’re here.”

“Oh!”

Right on cue, Lee Han and Seymour came down the stairs into the basement.

Seymour slouched down as he made his way over and tilted his head.

“What were you guys talking about?”

“Nothing much. Sit down.”

Seymour plopped into a chair and shrugged.

Lee Han turned to me and asked,

“Are we ready?”

Over the past semester, we had done our best to prepare to head for the Odryse Mountains.

The development of the artifact to decode the map was complete, and Basilus had become proficient in intermediate polymorph magic.

“You guys got here early?”

Adela, who had just picked up Basilus from the training grounds, waved and sat down.

Solia also smiled at me.

I wanted to return her smile, but Basilus’ enthusiastic hug got in the way.

Thump-thump-thump—

“Grrr!”

Basilus had grown so large that it was getting hard to hug him with both arms, and he charged toward me.

Wham!

“Ow!”

“Han Siha!”

I had asked him to show me his polymorph magic, not to come charging at me headfirst.

“Damn it…”

I staggered as I grabbed the table to stand up.

Smack!

Kloshti, now about the size Basilus had been three months ago, smacked the back of Basilus’ head.

While Basilus had been learning polymorph magic, Kloshti had been learning to talk.

“Bad!”

“…Grr?”

Basilus, who had just been hit, scratched his head as if nothing had happened.

Didn’t even hurt, huh?

As fast as Kloshti was growing, Basilus was growing just as rapidly.

“Are you guys fighting again? Hey, come here!”

Seymour watched the scene with a laugh, reaching out toward Basilus.

But Basilus wasn’t interested in Seymour. He shook his head and headbutted Adela instead.

“Tch.”

I heard Seymour click his tongue, but it didn’t matter. We were all gathered here today for one reason.

A final check of our preparations before heading to the Odryse Mountains.

And Basilus’ help was a significant part of that.

He understood most things I said, so I gestured toward Basilus.

“Alright, let’s try what we practiced.”

Flash—

At my command, Basilus quickly cast intermediate polymorph magic.

His speed and mana control had improved significantly compared to before.

He had finally shed the appearance of a mere hatchling; Basilus’ magical prowess was impressive.

…Or was it?

“Grr?”

No, not the three eyes thing.

Flash!

No, not the jaw surgery thing either.

“Your chin’s the only thing that’s changed!”

Looking dejected at my scolding, Basilus tried one more time.

Flash!

As white billowing clouds rose up, Basilus stuck his face out from within the smoke.

This time, the result was even more shocking.

“You’re a Red Dragon, remember? Why are you losing your identity?”

He had somehow turned into a Blue Dragon.

“Haha.”

Solia, watching from behind, couldn’t suppress her laughter and let out a small cough. Yoon Haul poked Seymour and asked,

“Is that how it’s supposed to look?”

“That’s not what he practiced with Lee Han.”

Seymour sighed and rubbed his forehead.

At this rate, it seemed like we might have to start training from scratch.

Just as I was contemplating this, Basilus shouted with determination.

“I can do it!”

At that moment, another billow of white clouds swirled around Basilus.

As I was about to turn my head away without much expectation, Yoon Haul’s excited exclamation caught my attention.

“Oh my gosh!”

As soon as the white smoke cleared, Basilus had returned to his Red Dragon form and leapt into the air.

His eyes were back to normal—two of them this time.

The color was correct.

The weird jaw surgery had also disappeared.

However, his appearance had changed so drastically that he was barely recognizable.

I found myself gaping in astonishment.

He had done it.

But, hey… you…

You look kind of…

“Unfamiliar?”

The once-round features were now sharp and defined.

His usually chubby cheeks were noticeably slimmer, and his eyes gleamed with a fierce yellow hue that perfectly embodied the ferocity of a Red Dragon.

Adela leaned close and whispered in my ear.

“He looks kind of scary now.”

“It’s like he’s a completely different dragon.”

“So… he can do that with people too?”

With his intimidating appearance, I hesitated to approach, even as his tamer. Basilus, who now looked nothing like himself, tilted his head and stared up at me.

“Phew…”

I realized far too late that Basilus’ previous appearance had been his “hatchling” form.

I had thought his speech was the only cute thing about him, but even his looks had been adorable compared to now.

Currently… this form…

Is terrifying!

I mean, I’m his master, but I’m afraid of him!

He looks like he’s about to rip my throat out!

Meanwhile, Basilus was admiring his reflection, clearly pleased with himself.

“Grr… I’m handsome.”

“Have some shame!”

Kloshti, who had been picking a fight, flinched and ran away when Basilus turned to look at her.

Tap-tap-tap!

Even Kloshti found his new appearance unnerving.

Basilus’ transformation was still within the range of intermediate-level polymorph magic, not advanced.

This meant Basilus couldn’t completely turn into another species; he could only alter his appearance to some extent.

If Basilus could transform into a human, he could travel with us openly, but looking like this fearsome dragon, he’d draw too much attention.

So, Basilus would accompany us while invisible, thanks to Solia’s magic, and his primary role would be casting polymorph spells on us.

That alone was invaluable.

At the very least, we wouldn’t be easily recognized by the dark mages who might know our faces.

“Perfect. I think we’re good to go according to plan.”

“I agree.”

Maintaining polymorph magic consumed a lot of mana.

Therefore, half of us would disguise ourselves under robes and scout the villages near the Odryse Mountains, while the other half would infiltrate directly in their polymorphed forms.

All of this sounded great.

But there was one thing that kept bothering me.

“Alright. Let’s get started.”

I sat on a wooden chair, staring at Basilus intently.

I swallowed hard, trying to conceal my anxious gaze.

Sensing my unease, Basilus tilted his head and shouted cheerfully.

“Grr? Trust me!”

“Sorry, but my trust is a bit shaky.”

“I’ll make you handsome!”

No, thanks.

This feels like entrusting surgery to an unlicensed plastic surgeon!

You don’t even have a license!

Even though he’s not cutting me up, I couldn’t shake my apprehension.

“It’s fine if you don’t make me handsome. Just make sure I look human.”

“Grr!”

I glanced at the sketch of my face we’d drawn as a reference and sighed deeply.

I wasn’t sure if this would work…

What I had requested from Basilus was the appearance of Han Siha at age twenty-eight.

It was my original appearance before I was transmigrated into this world.

By changing my appearance to look at least ten years older, I hoped to avoid most suspicious glances.

Uh…

That was the plan, anyway.

What if I end up with three eyes?

Would that just attract more attention?

Is this really okay?

Help me.

Save me!

“Here I go!”

The unlicensed “surgeon” chirped happily.

And before I could even try to stop Basilus—

A thick, swirling cloud enveloped me, blocking my sight.

It only lasted a moment.

“Whoa… whoa.”

I felt the blue mana wrap around my body and then vanish. I slowly opened my eyes.

“Phew… damn.”

It was a strange sensation.

Not painful, but it felt like I had just experienced an out-of-body moment.

I lifted my heavy eyelids and looked straight ahead.

Adela, Yoon Haul, and Solia’s faces all stared back at me in shock.

Seeing no distortion in my vision, it seemed I still had only two eyes, thank goodness.

“What? Does it look weird?”

Why were they all looking at me like that?

They whispered among themselves, making me even more uneasy.

What? What is it?

What’s going on?

Basilus, oblivious to my nervousness, shouted happily.

“Grr! Handsome!”

“Is it okay? Hey, bring me a mirror!”

“Oh, oh!”

Seymour quickly ran over, holding a mirror.

I snatched the large mirror from Seymour, desperate to see the result of the polymorph spell.

Preparing myself for the worst—like having two noses—I finally looked at my reflection.

And then.

“What the…?”

Instead of the bizarre figure I had imagined, staring back at me—

“…It’s really me?”

It was Han Siha at age twenty-eight.

The face I used to have before I was brought into this world.