A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

Chapter 196

As the long yet short vacation came to an end, the start of school approached.

Looking back, it felt like the vacation was really short. Was it because I had spent unexpectedly busy days?

Anyway, even with the start of school approaching, there was still a mountain of tasks left to do. Especially with the end of the year coming as a critical point.

I planned to prepare thoroughly until then. Since there was only one colorless magic circle left, I just needed to finish the buildup.

'I also need to start pressuring the medical practitioner who poisoned Rod.'

Rod, the Academy's greatest strength, was currently regaining his original power.

To avoid suspicion, he was regularly receiving poisonous herbs from the medical practitioner, but he had offloaded all responsibility onto someone else.

And that someone else happened to be Ellie. Even though they were poisonous herbs, they could be used as antidotes if utilized properly.

Originally, medicine and poison are only a piece of paper apart. Thanks to that, Ellie's skills were improving day by day.

'Since I also invested in her, I don't need to worry.'

Right before the start of school, I visited Ellie and handed over a large sum of money. With it, she would be able to buy good herbs.

Of course, at first, Ellie adamantly refused. No matter what, she thought it was too much.

Convincing her was slightly challenging, but I managed to do it somehow. When I said it was for everyone, not just me, she accepted it willingly.

'The attack date is the end of the year.'

And it's not an ordinary day but one of global significance.

If it were Earth, it would be Christmas, but in this world, it's the day the God of Life was born.

Even the Academy makes thorough preparations, but because of that, a massive tragedy occurs.

'I just need to kill the demons who come for reconnaissance in the meantime.'

Demons aren't fools, so they would send scouts. They would likely check the state of the magic circle first.

If they learned that the plan had been disrupted, the difficulty level would rise sharply. By a lot.

Therefore, as long as the reconnaissance team is handled well, there's no way they would find out. The demons wouldn't send any more scouts either.

They would simply assume it was bad luck that they were discovered, and sending more could arouse unnecessary suspicion, so they would just proceed.

'But the real problem is that damned Crown Prince.'

Even with so many individuals to manage, the addition of the Crown Prince was giving me a headache.

Karas, with a mindset so eccentric that even extreme oddballs couldn't hold a candle to him.

His entering the Academy is unprecedented, even in the Soul World, so no one knows what might happen.

'Come to think of it, I've never seen Karas use his strength.'

Karas' physical strength could be summarized this way: He can at least protect himself.

Rather than relying on physical strength, he is someone who competes politically, like Dan Yerin, making him difficult to grasp.

Moreover, the Academy prioritizes physical strength over politics, making it hard for him to shine.

'What was he thinking when he decided to enroll?'

I looked at my reflection in the mirror and adjusted my outfit.

Since it was the sweltering summer, I wore a short-sleeved dress shirt. The fabric was also well-ventilated.

Although the Academy's summer boasted brutal heat, its air conditioning system was well-equipped, making it relatively comfortable.

'It's an ideal environment for the life forms in the forest to thrive.'

Even to this day, the Forest of Chaos remains off-limits. However, it's expected to open soon.

Alongside Porori, I had consistently marked the territory, and even the monsters emerging from the inner areas had decreased.

This suggests there's a high possibility a new predator has appeared within.

I was slightly curious about what that predator might be, but I had no intention of going there. Killing it would only lead to major trouble.

'The environment should yield plenty of good herbs.'

It was expected to be an exceptionally busy summer. After finishing all preparations, I headed outside.

As soon as I stepped out, the warm sunlight greeted me. Once again, warm sunlight.

It wasn't yet hot enough to be overwhelming. It would take about a month for it to become scorching to the point of searing flesh.

'At least it's not humid, which is a relief.'

If it had been humid as well, it would have been pure hell. Even Kara wouldn't have been able to endure it.

With various thoughts in my mind, I headed to the lecture room. The classroom remained the same, even with the semester change.

Just as I passed through the Main Building's door and was about to enter the building—

"Mr. Sivar?"

"Huh?"

"It's been a while."

I encountered a truly unexpected individual. A woman with striking pink hair.

Her unforgettable appearance made a lasting impression, but something felt off. The pink hair I remembered belonged to someone with a slender figure.

"Have you been well?"

"Uh... uh..."

I couldn't immediately respond to her greeting. My gaze was fixed on one place.

That place was none other than her chest. Unlike what I remembered, it could now be described as a voluptuous figure.

It wasn't excessively large, but its size highlighted her feminine charm. At the very least, it was definitely larger than Luna's.

"...Erica?"

"You remember me."

The pink-haired vegan, Erica, smiled gently at my greeting.

Her greeting left me confused. What on earth had happened in such a short time?

I could understand her wearing a nun's habit instead of a school uniform because she was a cleric. But the material was different from before.

It looked significantly stretchy, similar to what Rize wore. Thanks to that, her voluptuous figure was fully showcased.

"...Is it really Erica?"

"Yes, it's me."

"You seem... a lot different."

I couldn't continue my sentence. Both her appearance and atmosphere had changed a lot.

Originally, she was clueless about the ways of the world and had an almost infuriating personality, but not anymore.

She now had an expression that understood the truths of the world. Her face exuded boundless compassion yet a firm resolve.

"Is that so? It might be because I've learned a lot from my teacher."

"...What did you learn?"

"I learned about the essence of life. Without their teachings, I would have walked a misguided path."

I had sent her away out of pity, but what the hell had happened? Her chest growth only made it more unsettling.

After chatting about various trivial matters, Erica eventually walked away. Since we were in different classes, we naturally separated.

Watching Erica's back as she walked away, I tilted my head. If I had time, I thought I'd listen to the rumors about the other class.

'If I hear anything about muscles, it's 100%.'

What kind of hybrid have I created? No, before that, how did Rize manage to transform Erica?

My head was filled with chaos, but I hurriedly collected my thoughts. I already had too many things to worry about; adding more would only make it harder.

Rattle—

I opened the familiar lecture room door. As soon as I opened it, various gazes turned toward me.

I was used to being the center of attention, so I paid no mind and moved to my seat.

"Hey, doesn't his face look a bit different?"

"Yeah, he used to look like a complete kid before."

"Is he actually younger than we thought?"

Some whispered about my noticeably changed face.

It was understandable because the changes were too significant. I now looked mature, as if I'd entered puberty.

Moreover, thanks to not becoming worse-looking but actually improving, my appearance remained intact. That was a huge relief.

"By the way, didn't he jump from the dormitory? Why did he do that?"

"Who knows? The rumors say he was sick. They even mentioned a severe fever."

"Oh, I've read something similar in a book. Someone immune to a particular disease going somewhere else and spreading an epidemic. Is it something like that?"

Some whispered about my leap from the dormitory.

It made sense for rumors to spread after falling from the dormitory.

Especially since I was hospitalized for several days and even coughed up blood, the rumors would have spread like wildfire.

"Him and the Entrance Top Student? Is that true?"

"It is. I saw it clearly."

"Wow. I thought they seemed close. Could it be that barbarian too?"

But there were some whispers that caught my attention. Hearing them, I frowned slightly.

Honestly, I didn't want to hear such remarks. But my exceptionally good hearing forcibly opened my ears.

To make matters worse, my hearing instinctively translated everything, which was incredibly annoying. It wasn't even the common language but a foreign one.

'Should I consider it better than outright slander?'

I suppressed my irritation and sat down. It's the seat I had been sitting in all semester.

"Hi. How does it feel now that the break is over?"

"Annoying."

"Same for me."

And as expected, Kara sat down next to me as if it were natural.

Usually, female students wear skirts, but Kara uniquely wears pants.

It suited her casual yet bold image, so it didn't feel awkward at all.

'The feminine side...'

It's all contained in her dancer's outfit, so let's move on. That suffices.

Familiar faces started gathering one by one, creating an atmosphere no different from before.

"Ah, hello. It's been a while..."

"Oh. Grace's friend is here. How was your break?"

"Fine."

"What did you do?"

"I helped with some household chores back home."

Among them, Lee Yeonju was also present. She answered Kara's successive questions with her characteristic timid expression.

That so-called "household chores" probably referred to rebel activities. Even now, she's likely continuing to build her strength.

Clatter-

It was during a warm exchange with familiar members. The door opening was the same as usual.

But the silent stillness that followed was different. The moment I read the atmosphere, I turned my head.

As expected, a familiar figure was walking in slowly from the door.

"...Who is that?"

"Well, I don't know? It's my first time seeing them too."

Some were clearly taken aback.

"Was the rumor true? That the Hwan Empire's princess was transferring?"

"Why our class, of all places?"

Others, who seemed to have heard the rumor, reacted in surprise.

Sure enough, just as everyone had anticipated, Dan Yerin confidently walked in through the door.

Her distinctive updo and thick eyelashes. She possessed beauty as radiant as any Westerner.

Dan Yerin casually glanced around at the students, then locked eyes with me. She smiled faintly and nodded.

'Another strange rumor is going to spread.'

I gave a bitter smile inwardly but nodded slightly in return. Since she greeted me, it was only polite to respond.

Receiving my greeting, Dan Yerin moved toward the front, near the blackboard.

Thanks to that, her neatly coiled updo caught my eye. That must be difficult to maintain—did Yeohye do it for her?

'Anyway...'

I shifted my gaze. My attention turned to Lee Yeonju.

At the moment, everyone's gaze was focused on Dan Yerin. No one had time to notice Lee Yeonju's expression.

And, as expected, Lee Yeonju's expression was quite menacing. With a bit of exaggeration, it looked like she could kill someone.

"... ..."

"... ..."

"......?"

When I stared at her silently, did she sense my gaze? She turned her head and met my eyes.

As soon as Lee Yeonju saw me, her eyes widened in surprise.

She even fumbled with her face. It was a sign that she had lost control of her expression.

Watching her actions, I tilted my head slightly. By now, she probably caught on.

Clatter-

"Hmm! Is this the lecture room? Quite spacious!"

"... ..."

What impeccable timing for an entrance. The whispers about Dan Yerin hadn't even settled yet.

Karas opened the door and entered with great energy, naturally drawing everyone's attention.

"Huh? Wait. No way, right?"

"I saw that face at the Freshman Banquet. Why is he here...?"

"What's happening all of a sudden?"

The students' reactions could be summed up in this confusion.

"......Why is that guy here?"

"Uh, I'm not sure either..."

Dan Yerin's transfer had been somewhat expected, so people accepted it. But Karas was different.

Truly, his transfer had been unplanned, throwing everyone into confusion.

Even Grace seemed unaware of Karas's transfer.

This meant it had been done very quietly, demonstrating Karas's incredible ability to block information.

'At least he's not paying attention to me.'

His focus seemed to be on the lecture room itself rather than me. He simply wandered aimlessly.

His eccentricity was on full display. I tried my best to avoid making eye contact.

Even a moment of eye contact would complicate things. For now, I decided to act as if I didn't know him.

"Nice to meet you. What's your name?"

"Y-Yes?!"

"I asked for your name."

I offer my condolences to the student who ended up sitting next to the Crown Prince.

He'll probably attract all kinds of unwanted attention. Karas draws stares in a different sense than I do.

'Will this at least disperse the attention?'

At first, I thought so. That was until Luna and Grace entered.

When Luna entered, there were whispers in the back, which grew even louder and clearer when Grace arrived.

"I heard she slept with the Entrance Top Student? The Committee is even revising rules because of her cohabitation issue?"

"She must be really good. What makes her go to such lengths?"

"Maybe she can't forget after trying it once?"

This wasn't in the common language. Judging by Grace and Luna's lack of reaction, it wasn't Matra Empire's language either.

It must have been a completely different language. I turned around, hearing comments bordering on sexual harassment.

At the back, a group of students with somewhat idle impressions had gathered.

They weren't exclusive by gender, but among them stood a familiar face as the center. For some reason, it felt familiar.

"Hey. That guy's looking at us?"

"So what? He can't understand us anyway."

"True. But still, I'm jealous. Sleeping around with girls already?"

"Wild Man or not, being the best is all that matters."

This was getting unpleasant to listen to. I deliberately turned my head away.

Listening to that nonsense would only build up stress. Isn't there a saying—holding your temper three times avoids murder?

"Who knows? Maybe the Entrance Top Student herself is the forward type?"

"Then what about that Young Lady?"

"She was almost raped, but he saved her. She probably gave herself to him in gratitude."

"I'm jealous. If I had been the one to save her, how great would that be?"

Twice I held back. There's still a third time left.

I closed my eyes and calmed myself. I tried to ignore it somehow.

"She'll probably sleep with that Barbarian soon too. Or maybe she already has, considering how they're always together."

"Considering how Wild Men are said to be like that, maybe I should ask her too?"

"There might be a chance?"

...Three times I endured it. Hearing their snickering made my insides boil.

The bigger issue was that no one else knew about their comments. It was a farce created by the language barrier.

Humans tend to bond with those they can communicate with. It's a natural phenomenon.

But this was just birds of a feather flocking together. It was simply one fool sticking with another.

'Let's just get through the beginning of the semester. Rod told me not to cause trouble.'

Causing a scene would lead to unpredictable consequences. It wasn't even about property damage.

You might end up going straight to the disciplinary committee. That would complicate things.

Honestly, I want to turn off my translation ability. Ignorance would have been better.

"I don't understand why the Chancellor is helping that Wild Man."

"Could it be that?"

"What?"

"The Chancellor has no children and no romantic ties. And that Wild Man has a pretty face. So maybe..."

"... ..."

I couldn't take it anymore. Just because they have mouths doesn't mean they should speak so freely. Language truly is scary.

I sighed and stood up from my seat. I could tolerate insults toward myself, but when they dragged others into it, I was furious.

As I stood up, the people around me called out to me with puzzled expressions. I ignored them all.

Step- Step- Step-

Naturally, my steps were directed toward the students gossiping.

Even as I approached, they were too busy chatting. They didn't notice me at all.

"Hey."

"Huh?"

They finally looked at me when I called out. Their faces were full of confusion.

At the same time, the atmosphere in the lecture room grew silent. The attention that had been on Dan Yerin and Karas shifted entirely to me.

It made sense, given that I was the one taking the initiative. It was an unusual situation for me to step forward.

"Sivar. What's going on? Did they do something?"

Kara, sensing something unusual, hurried over.

She put a hand on my shoulder, indicating she'd stop me if necessary.

Tap-

I lightly brushed her hand away. I could feel Kara's flustered reaction behind me.

Meanwhile, I spoke to the ruffians in front of me. My tone was calm, as if nothing had happened.

"I heard everything."

"W-What?"

"Everything. Not a single word missed."

The ruffians were clearly flustered when I said I had heard everything without exception.

Among them, the slacker, or rather, the ringleader, stammered as he spoke, trying to make excuses.

"W-What are you saying? You understand our language? You can't even speak the common tongue properly."

"Y-Yeah. This guy must've misunderstood something, right?"

"I see. You scared me for a moment. Just a fool saying foolish things."

Except for the ringleader, the others continued to chatter in their own language. They were convinced I wouldn't understand.

Honestly, I wanted to respond in their language. However, while I could understand their words, I couldn't speak their language fully.

"Y-Yeah. This guy must've misunderstood something, right?"

"...Huh?"

"I see. You scared me for a moment. Just a fool saying foolish things."

"...What?"

So instead, I interpreted their words. They froze, not expecting me to translate their conversation.

The atmosphere quickly turned icy. An eerie silence filled the lecture room, like the calm after a storm.

From now on, there will probably be talk about my language ability. But that's something to think about after I deal with these guys.

"Do you have anything to say?"

"Uh... Well..."

"Nothing, right?"

I sometimes thought about this. The difference between beasts and humans is the ability to speak.

But at least beasts don't spew nonsense from their mouths. Only humans are capable of such absurd behavior.

Bang!

I grabbed the ringleader's head and slammed it onto the desk. It happened so quickly that no one could react.

Kara, shocked, tried to stop me from behind, but it was futile. My mind was already made up.

"Aagh... Urgh?!"

It was when the guy screamed, opening his mouth. In that instant, I shoved my hand into his mouth.

I grabbed his tongue, which was disgusting to touch, with only my pinky and thumb.

"W-What are you doing? Calm down! This is dangerous!"

"Please calm down, Mr. Sivar! I don't know what he said, but please calm down!"

As the situation escalated, more people tried to stop me. But I didn't care.

This kind of guy won't stop spewing nonsense. Judging by how he speaks recklessly in a foreign language, I'm certain of it.

So I'll just stop him from spewing nonsense altogether. It's like blocking a sewer.

Of course, problems might arise from this. But a guy who spews filth everywhere isn't much of a person to begin with.

'Does it even matter if a beast can't speak?'

After all, what comes out of his mouth is worse than the sounds a beast makes. It's subhuman.

With that thought, I forcefully pulled out the ringleader's tongue. He struggled desperately, but it was useless.

Honestly, I wanted to rip it out completely.

"Aarg! Urrgh!"

"W-Wait! We're sorry! Please forgive us just this once!"

"Y-Yeah! It was a mistake! We'll stay quiet from now on...!"

Did they think they were next? The other ruffians began to beg and plead.

I looked at them indifferently before glancing around. Everyone's attention was focused on this scene.

No one, apart from my acquaintances, tried to stop me. It seemed these guys weren't well-liked.

Either that, or they considered it none of their business. Either way, it suited me.

"A mistake?"

"Y-Yeah. A mistake..."

Crack!

A very ominous sound came from the direction of the tongue I was holding. I turned my head to look at the source.

The tongue I held was half-severed. Its owner collapsed on the ground, clutching his mouth.

I stared at the blood-soaked piece of tongue in my hand, then casually replied.

"Ah."

"Aaaagh! Urrgh!!"

The ringleader, whose tongue was severed, screamed and bled profusely, but I didn't care.

"A mistake."

I acted shamelessly.