A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

Chapter 194

There were only two times in my life when I was this flustered.

The first was when I suddenly fell into a forest. Just thinking about that time still baffles me.

And the second is the transfer of the Crown Prince, Karas. Even putting Dan Yerin aside, his transfer was completely unexpected.

My first meeting with Karas was at the Freshman Banquet, but his real activities began after the Academy's collapse.

Until then, I only heard of him through rumors and rarely met him in person like this.

This is why I am so confused. Why did Karas transfer to the Academy?

Logically speaking, he has no reason to attend the Academy. Rather, he should be carrying out political duties at the Imperial Palace.

"Why are you here?"

So, I asked him outright. Why did he decide to transfer to the Academy?

Karas was sitting not across from me but to my side. Across from me were Dan Yerin and Yeohye, leaving no other option.

Yeohye tried to give up her seat in the middle, but Karas stopped her, saying he found his current position more comfortable.

"Why, you ask? I came because I had something to do. Plus, I won't be staying long."

Karas replied slyly. His sharp eyes made it difficult to read his mind.

Seeing him like that made me instinctively uneasy. By all accounts, this should be the time for him to remain at the Imperial Palace, solidifying his foundation.

Without even going far, aren't his twin siblings causing all sorts of trouble? That was the case during the last Freshman Banquet, too.

Fortunately, thanks to me smashing a liquor bottle on their heads, the situation managed to blow over, but even they aren't to be trusted.

'At least Karas is rated much higher than them, so that's a relief.'

Among the ministers, Karas's reputation is known to be far higher than that of the twin siblings.

A Prince preoccupied with debauchery and a promiscuous Princess. Looking at them, one can glimpse the traits of a tyrant.

However, Karas doesn't treat people recklessly; he's just crazy. Simply put, he's a madman.

"Additionally, I wanted to check out what Academy life is like. It's a great opportunity to observe the cultures of various nations."

"Really?"

"Ah. Although culture may not have much meaning to you. This isn't an insult, just a statement of fact."

Even though he kept stating facts one after another, it didn't make me feel bad. Because it really was true.

Anyway, he claims to have come to observe the cultures of each country. At a glance, it sounds like a good intention.

Since the Academy gathers talents from all over the world, it's a good place to observe various cultures.

Moreover, seeing something directly leaves a deeper impression than just hearing about it. That's how culture works.

"It sounds like an unbelievable truth. Could you share your real purpose?"

"No."

To Dan Yerin's question, Karas replied firmly. His swirling, smiling face was just a bonus.

Perhaps Dan Yerin also felt something was off, as she furrowed her brows. Karas's true intentions were difficult to discern.

It's as though he had a mix of slyness and madness. In a different sense than me, he has an unpredictable personality.

"Anyway, it's not bad that you're in the same class as Sivar. It should be quite entertaining in various ways."

"... ..."

Look at him. He's already grinning, thinking about causing trouble.

Even Rod, sensing something, wore an awkward smile that wasn't really a smile.

One troublemaker is already a handful, and now there are two. Rod is bound to receive all kinds of elaborate reports.

"Well... Do as you please. This seems to be a matter beyond my hands now."

"You needn't worry about that. Do you really think anything could happen?"

"... ..."

Rod looked at the confident Karas with an uneasy gaze.

Then, glancing at me with an expression like a sage who's seen the future, he seemed to have realized something.

"... I wonder who will influence whom."

Excuse me, old man. I can hear everything you're saying.

He probably muttered deliberately loud enough for me to hear.

Will I be influenced by Karas's madness, or will Karas be influenced by my temperament?

Or perhaps both of us will merge into something else entirely. Considering Chaos's intervention in this, an incident is bound to happen.

"Well then, I'll leave you youngsters to chat. I'll step outside for a moment."

"Me too."

"You stay here."

"?"

Why am I the only one left behind? Puzzled, I looked at Rod with a questioning expression.

But Rod was firm. Whatever his intentions, he made me sit back down when I tried to stand up.

Although I found it a bit odd, I obediently complied since it was Rod's request.

"Princess, I'll also step out for a moment."

Alright.

Bodyguard Knight Yeohye also tactfully withdrew. Soon after, the two left, leaving just the three of us.

At first, there was a deathly silence in the air. I wasn't sure how to react in this situation.

If it were just Dan Yerin, we might have talked about this and that. But Karas was here now too.

It made bringing up a specific topic somewhat difficult. All I could do was gauge the mood.

"Sivar seems to listen to the Headmaster well."

The first to speak was Dan Yerin. I looked at her.

Her eyes and even her lips curved slightly. She was faintly smiling.

Given the environment she grew up in, Dan Yerin often maintained a poker face. Even a small smile was rare for her.

"Does he have a reason? Judging by the trouble he caused, I wouldn't think he listens at all."

"Hmm... Manners?"

"Manners?"

"Yes. Manners training."

After undergoing manners training, he never acted out again.

Of course, he's still biding his time, looking for opportunities, but Rod always catches him like a ghost.

The pain he experienced back then still lingers vividly. I've never suffered that much pain in my life.

Even I, who endured all kinds of torment in the forest, couldn't withstand Rod's punishment.

"Manners training, huh. That's an interesting term. It might even suit the Hwan Empire. They put a lot of emphasis on etiquette."

Dan Yerin made a half-joking, half-serious remark. She was currently quietly amassing strength.

If I were to support her, she'd become an incredible ally. But it's not the right time yet.

First, I need to resolve things with Lee Yeonju to secure the future. Until then, no progress can be made.

"By the way, what does the Matra Empire value? Was it justice?"

Dan Yerin, not minding my silence, shifted her attention to Karas.

Karas responded to her question with his trademark sharp gaze.

"Meaningless justice."

"Hmm?"

Surprised by his answer, Dan Yerin raised an eyebrow. After all, the word that symbolizes the Matra Empire is 'justice.'

Yet, for the Crown Prince himself to describe justice as meaningless was shocking.

Such a statement could potentially shake the foundations of a nation, but Karas didn't seem to care much.

"Most people associate justice with good, but that's absolutely not the case. Nothing is as futile as justice."

"It seems you've been through quite a bit."

"Quite a lot. Starting with my older brother locking me in the granary to my troublesome twin siblings. There's a lot."

Karas casually revealed his circumstances with a sly grin. The way he spoke so nonchalantly was a bit unsettling.

I wonder if Dan Yerin felt the same way. Her smile disappeared from her face.

Maybe it's because she had a similar past, or perhaps she sensed something from Karas.

"Justice is meaningless. The right path, a value to pursue—they're all pointless. Especially in the face of human desire."

"Human desire?"

"A fitting example would be a great famine."

A great famine. It's one of the inevitable trials a nation faces on the path to destruction.

Though it's often considered a natural disaster, when combined with a nation's incompetence, it becomes irreversible.

Additionally, it's a disaster that starkly reveals human desire. People struggle desperately to survive.

"Parents eating their children or plundering others' resources. In the face of extreme hardship, justice becomes irrelevant. Ultimately, justice can never overcome human desire."

"That's why we establish nations and protect the people."

"That's also true. But as for me, I simply want to delve into human nature."

Karas said this while glancing at me. Suddenly, his words from the Freshman Banquet came to mind.

Human desire should never be ignored. No matter how fair the circumstances, as long as desire exists within humans, instability will follow.

Humans, being creatures of intelligence, can suppress their instincts. However, when the environment changes, instinct inevitably takes the lead.

Even within civilization, most people fail to suppress their instincts. The reason is very simple.

Because otherwise, they would die. If they don't get proper sleep, they will undoubtedly die.

"There are all sorts of human figures in the world. Each pursues different desires. I want to confirm that for myself."

"What do you mean?"

"If there's no meaning, let us give it meaning. So that everyone firmly believes it to be justice."

"... ..."

Words that exude a steel-like conviction. A heart that will never break was palpable.

The problem is that those two concepts combined and evolved in a bizarre direction. This is also why Dan Yerin kept her mouth shut.

"......Extremely dangerous. That's what you are."

"I hear that quite often."

"A great deal of blood will flow. Regardless of status."

"Blood is already flowing. It has in the past and will in the future too."

Despite Dan Yerin's warning, Karas brushed it off nonchalantly. Just from this attitude, he was no different from a tyrant.

However, if Karas ascends to the throne as history originally intended, he will have the qualities of a wise ruler rather than a tyrant.

Why not a 'benevolent ruler' but a 'wise ruler'? Because he was far from virtuous. A complex figure, humanly speaking.

"Does that mean you don't care if innocent people bleed for your ideals?"

"Innocent people... Who are you referring to? Those who stay silent or those who pretend not to notice?"

The debate between Dan Yerin and Karas continued steadily. Dan Yerin was sharp, while Karas remained composed.

I was stuck in between, blinking my eyes. I might understand the history of the Soul World, but Kingcraft is beyond me.

From the beginning, I had no interest in politics. I don't even know why I'm here.

"Then perhaps it would be better to ask Sivar. What do you think?"

I knew it would come to this. As their opinions refused to converge, Karas turned to me.

At that, Dan Yerin's gaze also fell on me. I fidgeted awkwardly and quietly asked back.

"......Why me?"

"Because you're the one who revealed human nature to me."

"I'm curious too. What exactly did you say to make this person act like this?"

No. Why is everyone like this with me?

Even Dan Yerin, with her hardened expression, looked quite serious.

But I can't offer any advice. Suddenly revealing knowledge of the future is out of the question.

I racked my brain, pondering how to overcome this situation. And the answer I came up with was......

"......How about we eat?"

A subject change.

I have no idea what they're talking about.

"Hmm. True to your instincts. Very satisfying."

Why are you satisfied?