A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

Chapter 198

Usually, community service involves tasks such as working at welfare facilities, in rural villages, disaster recovery, or cleaning.

The academy is more like a city focused on educational institutions. Therefore, there are many places in need of service.

When a community service order is issued in the Soul World, you can choose the time slot. As I mentioned before, it's either early in the morning or right after class.

Since I don't need sleep, I chose early morning. But early morning only means going an hour earlier.

The assigned location was the warehouse responsible for the academy's supplies. All I had to do was manage the logistics there.

"So, you're the student who came this time. I'll teach you how to sort things. First, everything is divided into combat and non-combat categories..."

The guide, an older man, was very kind. He must have seen countless students like me, so he was relaxed.

And I was only doing 10 hours. He probably thought it was just for some petty fight and let it slide.

"Should I place it here?"

"Yes, you're doing well."

There were quite a few students doing community service besides me. Since it was early morning, everyone looked tired.

Some had expressions of resentment, but not everyone could be without a story.

'Kara did this for 100 hours?'

It must have been really boring. She probably did it not only in the early morning but also after classes.

It was amazing that she managed to complete it all. Besides, it must have been during her admission deferral period.

Perhaps even being admitted to the academy was a miracle. 100 hours of community service is on par with suspension.

"Good work, everyone. Now, head to your classes."

After roughly finishing up, I headed straight to the lecture room.

Before going to the lecture room, I checked the faces of those I had worked with.

'None of them are familiar faces.'

Judging by the fact that I can't even vaguely remember them, they aren't that important.

They're just extras, close to insignificant. I moved straight to the lecture room.

"Is that him? The guy who cut off someone's tongue."

"Yeah. He's completely insane, so don't engage with him."

Murmurs were heard from behind. As I got farther away, they started chatting among themselves.

It seemed that the rumors had spread widely in that short amount of time. It was certainly an impactful incident.

Simple assault can be overlooked, but cutting off someone's tongue is a whole different story.

Across time and culture, cutting off a tongue is usually regarded as a terrifying punishment or injury.

Losing all means of communication, the foundation of human civilization, instinctively makes people fearful.

'So, why speak recklessly?'

Among forms of violence, verbal violence is unique to humans.

It not only deeply wounds the other person but can also lead to one's own ruin.

It's truly a double-edged sword. This holds even greater significance in the Soul World.

After all, even magic is activated through language; how much more significant could verbal violence be? It's a very meaningful relationship.

'Looking at this, Luna is truly remarkable.'

She possesses an astonishingly peculiar eloquence.

It seems like she pokes at people's nerves, yet her words carry no malice.

The listeners know there's no malice, so they don't feel offended. It's absurd enough to make one chuckle.

A single misstep, and she could lose her tongue, yet she manages to survive. Maybe it's because she's pretty.

'In the Soul World, her eloquence seemed more ordinary.'

Luna is the protagonist. So, one can roughly guess how she speaks in the Soul World.

Even if she didn't say things directly, choices existed. Even if I can't remember, perhaps it was among the choices.

'Still, she's kind.'

If Luna had an evil nature, I wouldn't have stayed close to her. Now, she's just a friend I like to tease.

Moreover, she's been through all sorts of hardships, in a different way than me, so it's impossible to hate her.

Her slightly odd way of speaking can be overlooked as part of her personality. As long as there's no malice, that is.

*Click–*

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the lecture room. As soon as I entered, the lively noise quieted down instantly.

Countless gazes fixed on me at once. After what happened yesterday, it was a natural reaction.

Oh, one more thing. Normally, there would have been whispers, but now there weren't any.

Everyone had realized that I understood other countries' languages. So, they were being cautious with their words.

'Just don't say anything weird.'

I don't care if they demean or curse me. It's easy to ignore that.

But insulting my friends or Rod was something I couldn't forgive. I wish they'd get that, but that's probably asking too much.

Looking around the quiet lecture room, I walked to my usual seat. Sitting next to it was Kara, with a smile on her face.

She rested her chin on one hand, looking pleased for some reason.

"You're here?"

"Yeah."

"How was the community service? If it's early morning, it's mostly sorting supplies, right?"

"It was easy."

As expected of someone experienced. She knew exactly what was done at each time.

After classes, it's sorting items that students mess up during sparring or various training sessions.

Since I prefer early mornings over after-school, I'll probably stick to organizing supplies. Besides, there isn't much time left.

"By the way, has anyone been badmouthing you? I used to get cursed at every chance they got."

"No one."

"Really? That's a relief. Maybe it's because you cut off that tongue? I should've done that too."

If you had, Kara, it wouldn't be community service; it would've been suspension.

No, back then it was an admission deferral, so your admission might have been canceled outright.

Honestly, the fact that you were admitted is a miracle in itself. Or maybe the violent incidents were exaggerated.

'Rumors tend to get distorted.'

Even for me, the rumor now is that I pulled out the tongue, not just cut it off.

The difference between pulling out and cutting off a tongue is huge. Pulling it out can outright kill a person.

Still, the number of people badmouthing me has significantly decreased, so it's been mentally peaceful. For now, I think I can live calmly.

"Hello, sister. And hello, Sivar."

"Hello."

Luna entered soon after and naturally took her seat. As usual, her face was nearly expressionless.

After sitting down, Luna glanced at me briefly before quietly speaking.

"How was the community service? Was it alright?"

"Yeah."

"No strange people?"

"None."

I was the strangest person there, so of course, there wouldn't be any. Even if there were, it wouldn't have mattered.

"Well, you were probably the strangest one there. Didn't bother you much, huh?"

"... ..."

Should I smack her? How can she talk like this?

The funniest thing was that it was so absurd it only made me laugh. If this is a talent, it's certainly a unique one.

Luna wasn't mocking me at all; she was just calmly stating facts. That's why it stung even more.

"Good morning, everyone! It's a lovely morning today!"

"You seem to be in a good mood?"

"Hehe."

Shortly after, Grace entered the lecture room. For some reason, she seemed to be in a very good mood.

When Kara asked why, she laughed eerily. Her appearance only made it scarier.

"Mr. Sivar."

"Yeah."

"Did you perhaps already prepare your luggage?"

"Luggage?"

I tilted my head at the mention of luggage. In my dormitory, the only luggage I had were clothes.

There's also Ragnarok and the Bloodstained Greatsword. There are ingredients as well, but they're easy to move.

"No, but there isn't much anyway."

"Alright. Then as soon as class ends, pack your things. I'll come by later."

"What? Could it be that it passed?"

Kara asked in a doubtful voice. I also had similar thoughts to her.

Grace didn't have many reasons to be this happy. Didn't she even tell me to pack my luggage?

"Yes. As of yesterday, it was officially approved. From now on, Mr. Sivar must always stay by my side as my bodyguard."

"Hey. Can you say things like that so casually? Everyone else can hear you."

Kara looked around and spoke as if worried. Understandably so, as Grace's voice was rather loud.

Maybe because of that, the other students were either glancing around cautiously or whispering so quietly that they couldn't be heard at all.

Fortunately, the atmosphere wasn't one of openly bad-mouthing like yesterday. If it were, I would've glared at them.

"It doesn't matter. Not only is Mr. Sivar my bodyguard, but he also has to monitor me."

"Monitor?"

"Yes. Yesterday, the Committee imposed a condition on me. They allowed us to live together, but only if I kept a close watch on Mr. Sivar."

Is it because of the major incident I caused yesterday? It seemed that the Committee had started keeping a closer eye on me.

But it wouldn't matter in front of Rod. Allowing Grace to live with me was probably their way of slightly reducing the odds of something happening.

Of course, it's practically meaningless. Ever since I revealed my purpose, the whole idea of monitoring has lost its meaning.

Grace was already satisfied just by living with me. That's why she said it so openly.

"Mr. Sivar, please take good care of me from now on. I'll make you an even more spectacular person than you are now."

"You said you'd teach me etiquette, right?"

"Yes. And it also includes various forms of refinement. Who knows? Mr. Sivar might have a hidden talent."

"Now that you mention it, I hear I have a knack for sculpting."

I have confidence in crafting things with my hands. That's because I have a high Dexterity rank.

Considering I manage all the cooking by myself, how good would I be with other things? It probably depends on how well Grace teaches me.

Honestly, she doesn't even need to teach me properly. Just having conversations with her would make time fly.

"I wish the class would end soon. The ideal I've been dreaming of is slowly becoming a reality."

"What's your dream, then?"

"That's something I can never tell. Can Kara share her dream so easily?"

"I can, though."

In the middle of the conversation, a familiar man's voice interrupted. It came from right behind us.

Not only Grace but even Kara blinked in surprise and turned around upon hearing the voice. I did the same.

"If you'd like, I could say it. Would that be alright?"

It was Crown Prince Karas. When on earth did he get behind us?

Just as everyone was overwhelmed with shock, Grace quickly regained her composure as much as possible.

"Ah... Lord Karas? Everyone already knows about your dream. I don't think there's any need for you to mention it."

That's what she said, but her inner thoughts must have been different. "If you reveal your dream, everything will turn chaotic, so be quiet."

Karas wasn't so oblivious that he couldn't pick up on that, so he simply shrugged his shoulders. However, his curiosity didn't stop there.

"Then what's your dream, Mr. Sivar?"

"...I don't have one."

Forget dreams or whatever; the story ahead is more important. Honestly, I'm not even sure if I can dream properly anymore.

"I see. Well, dreams are something you can think about slowly. Lady Berche's case is quite an exception, after all."

Karas moved on without making a big deal of it. Surprisingly, he showed a reasonable side.

Or maybe, even now, he's secretly plotting something strange. He's an opponent I just can't afford to let my guard down against.

"Ah, that's right. Mr. Sivar."

"?"

"I looked into the rumors about you... and found something really interesting."

Something interesting? There were so many that it's hard to pinpoint just one.

When I tilted my head in confusion, Karas asked me.

"I heard you've been sweeping the stock market... Could you perhaps give me some recommendations?"

"...Why?"

"Why else?"

Karas revealed his intentions with great confidence.

"I'm planning to increase the national treasury."

"... ..."

That's insane.

"Oh, Crown Prince. I know some stocks, but..."

"Wait. I'll tell you."

Antonio, stay out of this. Are you trying to make someone go bankrupt?