Chapter 124
Despite it being midday, the weather was quite cold.
Professor Ernst walked slowly through the snow-covered streets.
Walking beside him was his student, Betty, who was matching his pace.
Betty looked up at the accumulating snow on her head with fascination, but she turned to face the professor when he spoke.
“Did you attend the Maze of the Cavern academic conference last year?”
“The Maze of the Cavern… academic conference?”
It was just before the holiday break, but Professor Ernst’s mind was entirely focused on that conference.
It was an event almost as renowned as the ones organized by the Magic Department.
It was also one of the conferences that provided bonus points when applying to the Magic Tower in the future, and the application period was almost over.
“Oh, yes, I did,” Betty nodded.
She had attended with Professor Ernst’s recommendation, allowing her to secure a spot despite the fierce competition.
The curriculum had been rigorous and challenging, especially during the two-week period she had attended, but she had learned a lot, and it remained a fond memory.
“What was it like?”
“I… really enjoyed it. It was difficult to get into, but if I could, I’d definitely want to attend again. It was that kind of conference.”
Professor Ernst was generally very supportive of students who caught his eye.
Therefore, Betty quickly surmised that his probing questions had an ulterior motive.
Wasn’t it a second-year student named Han Siha that Professor Ernst had been taking a special interest in lately? Betty guessed he was probably thinking of sending Han Siha to that conference.
And she was right.
“Hmm… I wonder if it would be beneficial for a student aspiring to be a Tamer?”
Betty, who aimed for a research position in the Magic Tower, had different interests than Han Siha.
The conference would likely benefit them in different ways, but Betty was confident in her response.
“I think it would be helpful. It was more focused on practical experience rather than theoretical knowledge.”
The Maze of the Cavern.
As the name suggested, the conference began with navigating a maze. It was more akin to a dungeon than a typical conference venue. There was no better-designed event for gaining practical experience.
Professor Ernst fell into thought at Betty’s words. Bonus points for future employment at the Magic Tower might matter to students, but they were irrelevant to professors.
What Ernst cared about was Han Siha’s growth potential. If this conference offered valuable experiences, sending him would be the right choice. He had one concern, but that could be discussed with Han Siha later.
“I’ll have to think about it.”
Professor Ernst nodded at Betty’s response and took another step forward. That’s when it happened.
“Ahhhh! It’s melting!”
A familiar voice reached his ears.
“Basilus! Nooo!”
It was Han Siha, the promising student from the Magic Department who had recently piqued Professor Ernst’s curiosity.
And there he was, sitting on the ground.
“Hmm?”
Holding onto what appeared to be a collapsing snowman.
—
“Professor Ernst’s Laboratory”.
“Han Siha?”
Professor Ernst called out to me.
Honestly, I had no idea why I was summoned here.
Being called to a professor’s lab… it didn’t seem like a good thing.
I had a bad feeling that I was about to be burdened with more work.
I glanced around, trying to gauge the situation, and Professor Ernst spoke.
“That… snowman.”
“Do you have any research ideas involving snowmen?”
“No, not quite.”
What?
“You really seem to be into snowmen….”
Professor Ernst scratched his head, trailing off. It seemed he had caught me in the act of doing all sorts of things with the snowman out in the street.
I could feel my ears turning red with embarrassment.
“A Tamer trying to re-freeze a snowman with a dragon… that’s a first for me.”
I had desperately tried to salvage the melting snowman by having Kloshti refreeze it with her ice breath.
…It was truly embarrassing.
How difficult it was to refreeze the snowman with Kloshti’s precise ice breath… Professor Ernst had no idea.
I had heightened my senses to the max!
To freeze… a snowman!
Honestly, while doing it, I couldn’t help but wonder why I was going to such lengths… for a snowman….
As I was lost in these embarrassing thoughts, Professor Ernst cleared his throat and changed the subject.
“Ahem. Anyway, that’s not why I called you here.”
He continued, “Would you be interested in attending an academic conference?”
“An academic conference?”
“The Maze of the Cavern conference. Have you heard of it? It’s quite well-known.”
I straightened my posture, clasping my hands together.
The name alone was enough to clear my mind. Of course, I’d heard of it.
In the game *Smart Academy*, it was a significant location, serving as the backdrop for a major episode.
It was where the Dark Sorcerer Archant made his first appearance.
The Cube Thief. It was probably also the moment when surveillance started on Lee Han and Adela.
Given the importance of this event, a main episode notification was bound to pop up.
And it did.
[Main Episode 7: The Maze of the Cavern]
[Protect the Cube from the Dark Sorcerer (Archant).]
[Reward: Difficulty Reduction]
[Failure: ??]
I instinctively responded.
“Oh, I’ve heard of it before. I’d love to attend.”
I smiled awkwardly at Professor Ernst.
I really did need to go. With a conference of this scale, Lee Han and Adela would surely attend, and if I remembered correctly, Yoon Haul would also be eligible.
I needed to gather the Crusaders and hold a meeting.
If we could capture Archant at the conference, instead of letting him steal the Cube…
We should make every effort to do so.
Professor Ernst seemed to notice the fire in my eyes, though he likely interpreted it differently, as he chuckled and said, “Haha, as long as your grades are good enough, I’d be happy to write a recommendation letter for you.”
“…!”
“But, Han Siha…”
Professor Ernst suddenly hesitated.
“I looked at your first-year grades….”
Ah.
“They were much worse than I expected….”
Aside from the Magic Department’s conferences, it was standard for all grades to be considered.
I blinked, surprised.
I can’t afford for that to be included, can I?
My first-year grades, which had been the talk of the school for their abysmal results, were a blot on my otherwise stellar second-year record.
I didn’t know the exact details, but I had a rough idea.
Sure, I knew they were bad.
But just how bad were they?
Professor Ernst hesitantly pulled out a report card.
“Could you… confirm if this is really your report card?”
Everyone knew that first-year Han Siha was notoriously untalented, even Professor Ernst. But seeing him hesitate like that…
It made me uneasy.
I cautiously took the report card that Professor Ernst handed to me.
“Let’s see just how badly I messed up”.
“Is this really my report card?”
I hesitated as I looked at the results.
[Basic Astrology: 297/300]
Hmm.
[Understanding of Magic: 298/300]
Uhm…
[Magical Operations: 299/300]
[History and Critical Thinking of Dark Magic: 300/300]
[Principles of Circuits: 300/300]
…
This is worse than Creek and Fabian’s grades.
“Unbelievable.”
What a moron I was!
I had all 9th grades, a level that’s more difficult to achieve than getting a perfect score.
No, this isn’t just any ordinary 9th-grade result. This is almost a complete bottom score.
I was speechless, stunned by the atrocious report card.
How did I have the nerve to even talk to the main characters, let alone mess with them?
Maybe that’s why I ended up dead so quickly right at the start?
I couldn’t believe it.
What in the world was I thinking?
Why did I have such an inferiority complex towards my brother?
And why did I pick fights with the protagonist at every turn?
None of it made sense from a rational standpoint.
A trembling voice escaped my lips.
“Is… is this really my… grade?”
Without realizing it, my hands crumpled the report card.
It was a mistake.
“…Student?”
“Uh… Uh… What am I looking at?”
No wonder my overall GPA was so low, no matter how well I did in my second year!
My head was spinning.
“Han Siha!”
Professor Ernst looked at me, clearly confused by my reaction.
He probably wondered why I was so upset when I had brought it upon myself.
But… this isn’t the exam I took.
I felt dizzy.
So dizzy.
“So… with these grades, you won’t be able to attend the conference….”
“I think you’re right, Professor.”
It would be a sight to see, an ex-bottom-of-the-class student attending that prestigious conference.
I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, overwhelmed by the absurdity of it all.
Then, suddenly, Professor Ernst’s eyes took on a serious glint.
“There is one way, though.”
“What?”
Was there really a way to attend the conference with a report card like this?
“Retake the class.”
Ah.
Looks like I’ll be spending my break in winter school.
—
After a year that felt like walking on thin ice, winter break had finally arrived.
How students chose to spend their time varied greatly.
Adela found herself stepping into Han Si-hyuk’s office.
As a clerical assistant, no less.
“Hello! I’m Adela from the 2nd year of the Magic Department at Ardel Academy!”
Her introduction was bright and cheerful.
Han Si-hyuk raised an eyebrow at the familiar face.
“I heard someone was coming in.”
“Yes!”
“But I didn’t expect it to be a student.”
Adela, one of the promising second-year students at Ardel Academy, was a surprising choice to have volunteered for this role when she could have chosen many other opportunities.
Han Si-hyuk, in a calm voice, asked her, “Did they tell you this counts for extra credit or something?”
These days, the Magic Tower was looking for well-rounded individuals.
Not just grades, but experience—*experience*—had become increasingly important.
Adela nodded honestly.
“Work experience as an investigator adds a lot to your resume.”
Adela’s main goal was still revenge, but even revenge had to wait until she secured her future. To do that, she needed a good job, and the most prestigious place was undoubtedly the Magic Tower.
To become a mage powerful enough to shake the entire empire, rake in money, and secure her old age, and then… then, she could focus on revenge.
Han Si-hyuk smiled at her ambitious response.
“Well, it’s better to have a familiar face around.”
He had only seen her occasionally beside Han Siha, but her personality was easy to gauge.
She was remarkably persistent and diligent, quite unlike his own younger brother, who spent most of his time slacking off and getting distracted.
But let’s not dwell on that.
At least Adela would be reliable in whatever task she was given.
Han Si-hyuk, in a firm voice, instructed her on what to do.
“Organize the investigation materials on the bookshelf, preferably by title. And of course, don’t touch any classified documents. I don’t like things being out of place, so please don’t rearrange anything that’s already been sorted.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And, I can’t stand dust on the windowsill. I’ll usually handle it myself, but when I’m away on business, make sure to keep an eye on it.”
Aside from that…
Han Si-hyuk trailed off.
“Han Siha… is he behaving himself?”
To be honest, they weren’t exactly a close pair of siblings.
That’s why he was more used to hearing about Han Siha through others.
In the past, he would have completely distanced himself.
But now that he was back in the Ardel Empire, he found himself oddly curious.
Adela chuckled at Han Si-hyuk’s question.
“I think so?”
“….”
“He’s been busy attending classes recently. Trying to make up for the grades he… didn’t do so well in his first year.”
He was probably sitting in on a class during the winter session, with next year’s first-year students, since the course hadn’t officially started yet.
Adela knew Han Siha’s personality better than anyone.
In the early part of the school year, he had been too busy biting back at those who challenged him, but he never picked on the weak.
“It’s honestly a little worrying.”
Han Si-hyuk sighed.
Adela smiled, adding one more comment.
“Well, it’s just a class with younger students.”
No matter how mischievous Han Siha was…
“I’m sure he won’t cause any trouble.”