Chapter 252
Ardel Academy’s Investigation Room.
Han Si-hyuk entered, dressed in a neatly pressed suit. It was his first visit in years.
The room had been left untouched for quite some time; dust balls rolled on the floor, and there was a musty smell in the air. Han Si-hyuk clicked his tongue lightly and muttered to himself.
“There’s a truckload of cleaning to be done.”
As someone with a compulsive need for cleanliness, working in this dust-filled room was out of the question. Today, he would have to start with a major cleanup.
Next, he would tackle the mountain of paperwork that had piled up.
His position as an investigator had remained vacant since he left Ardel Academy, after all.
And as a professor of Ardel Academy, he would also need to prepare for his lectures.
“It’s going to be a busy day.”
He smiled lightly as he spoke.
The war had ended with Abaddon’s death.
The Ardel Empire was rapidly finding its way back to normalcy.
Though many had died and the treasury was nearly drained, the Empire was recovering swiftly.
Thanks to Emperor Marcel’s capable leadership.
It would take a long time to regain the wealth and glory of the past, but the Empire was steadily rebuilding, one step at a time.
As for Han Si-hyuk, he was finally free from the dreadful powers that had haunted him.
Though he never became the powerful mage befitting the Castica family, people still sought him out for his wisdom as a seer.
Ardel Academy reopened its doors to students half a year after the war had ended.
Returning as a professor in the School of Divinity was no simple task for Han Si-hyuk, involving many hurdles along the way.
Standing by the window, Han Si-hyuk smiled to himself.
“It’s nothing short of a miracle.”
A miracle made possible by—
Knock, knock.
“…Come in.”
Han Si-hyuk turned toward the sound of a knock.
A man with a cold demeanor stepped in.
Recognizing the man’s face, Han Si-hyuk quickly rose from his seat to greet him, albeit awkwardly.
“Ah, you’ve arrived.”
It was Han Taesu, his adoptive father and head of the Castica family, a man with whom he shared not a drop of blood.
Though Han Si-hyuk still feared him, their relationship wasn’t as strained as it once had been.
Han Taesu received his greeting with a curt response.
“I stopped by on my way.”
“Yes….”
Due to sudden absences and rumors of collusion with dark sorcerers, Han Taesu had spent a lifetime in hiding.
The only reason Han Si-hyuk could return to Ardel Academy as he had before was due to Han Taesu’s support.
Han Si-hyuk fidgeted with his hands, swallowing nervously.
“….”
They had never really shared a proper conversation.
Unsure of what to say, Han Si-hyuk kept glancing at Han Taesu, seeking his approval.
An awkward silence stretched on.
“Um….”
“Uh….”
“N-No, you go first.”
They spoke at the same time, fumbling over their words.
Han Si-hyuk quickly waved his hands, flustered.
Han Taesu, who had been watching him quietly, finally spoke.
“My son became a hero of the Empire.”
It was an undeniable truth.
His younger brother had tampered with the Sun and Moon Cube, enduring centuries as the price, becoming a hero of the Empire.
Han Siha, always exceptional, had transcended even the level of genius, emerging as the greatest mage of the continent after those long years.
He changed the future entirely, vanquished Abaddon, and, thanks to this altered future, Han Si-hyuk himself had been able to survive.
It was only natural for Han Taesu to feel proud.
For the first time, the stern man’s face softened into a smile.
“Han Siha. That child… in swordsmanship, magic, knowledge—he excelled in every field, perfect in every way as my son.”
Han Taesu, uncharacteristically, added with a hint of humor.
“Even good-looking. Must have taken after me.”
“Congratulations.”
Han Si-hyuk smiled faintly, mirroring his father.
It was public knowledge in the Empire, and there was no room for jealousy.
With such an incredible son, Han Taesu had every right to brag until his voice ran dry.
But then, Han Taesu continued, surprising Han Si-hyuk.
“And I have another exceptional child—a seer.”
“…!”
Han Si-hyuk’s eyes widened at the unexpected remark.
A seer child…
Caught off guard, his body tensed, but Han Taesu looked at him and continued.
“I’m talking about you.”
“…What?”
“It doesn’t matter if you’re lacking in other things. One special talent is enough.”
“….”
“And that’s all that matters.”
It was a simple, yet profound statement.
Han Taesu’s gaze met Han Si-hyuk’s, unwavering.
“You don’t need to be stronger, nor do you need to beat anyone.”
“Even if you’re not the hero of the Empire, I already have one such son.”
“Sometimes, I like having a child who does nothing at all.”
The comforting words left Han Si-hyuk stammering.
“I… I….”
Han Si-hyuk bowed his head deeply.
Words he had never heard before.
Being called his son was a bit foreign, especially considering their lack of blood ties.
Born under the curse of prophecy, he had often resented his father’s disdain for him.
There were times he had envied his brother, who so perfectly embodied the Castica family’s values.
Though their relationship remained awkward, the word ‘son’ didn’t sound so bad.
“Oh….”
Unconsciously, his eyes welled up with tears.
Han Si-hyuk quickly wiped his eyes, smiling brightly.
He glanced at the clock; it was already 11 o’clock.
“We’re running out of time, Father.”
Han Si-hyuk stood up with a playful grin.
“You wouldn’t want to miss the graduation of your extraordinary son, would you?”
* * *
“We will now begin the graduation ceremony for Ardel Academy’s 9th class.”
“Wowwwww—!”
Clap, clap, clap.
Cheers and thunderous applause erupted.
The auditorium of Ardel Academy, reopened after three years.
During the war, it had served as a temporary shelter, making this the first time in ages that the students were all gathered in one place.
Students who had once completed their second-year closing ceremony in this place were now back to attend their graduation ceremony.
The ceremony was hastily arranged after only six months of preparation, and conditions weren’t quite ideal.
However, due to the remarkable contributions of many graduates, a royal decree was issued to hold the ceremony.
Headmaster Ernest stood at the podium and began his congratulatory speech.
“The students of Ardel Academy have never forgotten their duties as students, both within the academy and beyond. You have all fought bravely for the Empire, and I am immensely proud of you.”
“You are students of the Empire’s finest academy, and as you have done until now, I am confident that you will continue to excel wherever you go.”
During the war, many students and professors from Ardel Academy had lost their lives.
Countless sacrifices were made to protect the Empire, and standing before the peace that was hard-won through those sacrifices, a sense of reverence filled the room.
“There are many whom we must remember.”
“There are many to whom we owe our thanks.”
With a warm smile, Headmaster Ernest continued his speech.
His address was brief.
“Let us be grateful for the peace we have regained on this land, and congratulations to all of you on your graduation.”
“Woooooo!”
Without waiting for a signal, the students rose from their seats, clapping and cheering.
“Ardel! Ardel! Ardel!”
“Yeahhhhh!”
But the cheers didn’t subside even after Headmaster Ernest stepped down from the stage.
In fact, the students grew even more excited.
Because a student had stepped onto the stage.
“Oh… Oh my god! Isn’t that Han Siha?”
“Waaaaaahhh!”
“Kyaaaaaahhh!”
Some screamed loudly while others stood and clapped.
One person, however, looked annoyed as he tapped the microphone a couple of times.
“Wow, it’s noisy.”
It was Han Siha, the academy’s top graduate.
* * *
The honor of delivering the top graduate’s speech…
Han Siha had returned as the Empire’s hero, acclaimed as the best graduate in the academy’s history, in terms of grades, skills, and overall achievements.
The school invited him to give a speech, saying that whatever he said would surely serve as an example to his juniors.
But Han Siha was troubled.
“To be honest, I’ve run out of things to say at graduation ceremonies.”
“…?”
“Top entrance, top graduation. These titles, which some people might never achieve even once in their lives… They’ve been everyday affairs for me.”
“Huh?”
“Like, I’ve given way too many speeches at these ceremonies. I’ve received awards, plaques, and all that. I’ve got a pile of them at home.”
When someone is too aware of their own brilliance, it tends to come off as obnoxious.
The auditorium fell silent as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over it.
“Uh….”
The once-excited students blinked in confusion, closing their mouths.
Han Siha continued with an unflinching, confident tone.
“Sure, I failed to enter Ardel Academy as the top student, but as you can see, I proved myself. I might not have been first when I got in, but I made sure I was first when I left.”
“Wooo, yeah!”
There was cheering, but it was noticeably quieter than before.
Sure, it was true, but…
He had unintentionally taken a jab at someone else.
“…You okay?”
Won nudged Lee Han with his elbow, concerned.
Lee Han, who had always been the top student until he lost that spot at graduation, should have been upset, but his attention was on Adela.
“You should be comforting her. Adela looks like she’s dying of embarrassment.”
“Oh, right.”
Adela’s ears were bright red, and she was trembling in humiliation.
Won chuckled softly and muttered under his breath.
“He’s always been like this.”
“But he wasn’t the type to act like this in front of others.”
“Considering he’s lived for four hundred years… it’s understandable if he’s a bit off.”
It wasn’t just four hundred years that drove him crazy. Adding in his past lives, it was a wonder he hadn’t lost his mind sooner.
Han Siha stared into the void, lost in memories of his past lives, and let out a long sigh.
“But, you know, being first place… it’s important, sure. Well, I guess it’s important.”
“But after living for about four hundred years, it turns out it’s not that meaningful.”
The students’ expressions turned serious, seemingly expecting some profound wisdom from the Empire’s hero.
But Han Siha had no grand speech prepared.
Still, there was one thing he could say.
“Students of Ardel Academy, the most important thing is time.”
Gripping the podium, Han Siha continued.
“Time to learn something.”
“Time to spend with others.”
“Time that, once it’s gone, never comes back.”
Han Siha smirked as he added,
“There are things you can only learn during that time.”
There were moments when he wished he could turn back time.
Moments when he wished time would stand still.
And there were times when he was crushed under the weight of time.
“Our dear students don’t have a Sun and Moon Cube, do you? If you can’t turn back, at least do your best while you can. Oh, is that me telling you to be the top student?”
“…?”
“Well then, I hope you all graduate as valedictorians.”
Though not everyone seemed to understand, they cheered politely.
This is why you should get famous first; then you can say whatever you want.
“Wooooooo!”
“Han Siha! Han Siha! Han Siha!”
A speech that was almost nonsense.
But reflecting on what he had just said, Han Siha felt a chill down his spine.
Wait a minute.
Six years in elementary school.
Three years in middle school.
Three years in high school.
Six years in college.
Two years in graduate school.
Six years at the academy…
“How many years did I waste…?”
A total of 26 years.
“Damn it.”
Han Siha cursed under his breath, quietly enough that the students couldn’t hear.
There was plenty of time to learn, but it turns out too much time isn’t always a good thing.
In front of the professors, he couldn’t exactly tell the students not to go to graduate school, so Han Siha left his thoughts unsaid.
In any case, he wouldn’t be taking that path himself.
He was finally ready to graduate.
“Whew, am I really graduating now…?”
After 26 years, this graduation felt particularly moving, tugging at his heart.
He had learned all there was to learn during that long time.
And now, it was enough.
Han Siha stepped back from the microphone, taking a deep breath.
“Alright, that’s the end of my speech…”
He waved his diploma in the air, flashing a bright smile.
“I’m off, juniors.”
Finally, it was time for his real graduation.
<The Genius Tamer of the Academy> THE END
[Author’s Note]
Hello, I’m Kang Seoul. “The Genius Tamer of the Academy” has officially ended with episode 252.
This was a project where I put a lot of effort into each and every episode, from the first chapter to the finale. Maybe that’s why the completion of this work feels even more poignant.
Balancing real life and writing led to burnout midway through, and I had to take breaks and adjust my upload schedule, which might have disappointed some of you, and for that, I’m sorry.
Still, thanks to the constant support of my readers, I was able to see this work through to the end.
This was my first attempt at a fantasy story, and though there were many things I could have improved on, I thoroughly enjoyed writing it. I might try my hand at it again in the future…
The ending turned out quite similar to what I had initially envisioned. I wrote with all my heart, so I hope the ending resonated well with all of you.
I’ll be back in late July with an epilogue.
Please look forward to it, and thank you for accompanying me until the end!
I’ll come back with an even better story next time!