A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 16

I was just eating my meal when, out of nowhere, a sparring match was arranged.

It was their side that first expressed dissatisfaction, so we responded, but something feels off.

It’s like the roles have been reversed. Given the situation, the Chancellor himself can’t step in directly.

Either way, whether I like it or not, I have to follow the storyline, so I should think of this as a chance to make a strong impression.

At the same time, I need to assess just how strong my physical strength is. This is my first time facing a person instead of a monster or beast.

“I’ve told you repeatedly, absolutely no killing. Understood?”

“Damn (I understand).”

“Ellie said you consider him one of your own kind, but I’m still worried.”

While preparing for the sparring match at the training arena, Rod repeatedly emphasized this to me.

He seems deeply concerned that I might end up killing Elvin. I understand his worry.

Still, the way he keeps emphasizing it with gestures and all makes me feel like I’m being treated as an idiot. Even when I nod, he keeps repeating himself.

‘But why are so many people gathering here?’

The United Academy has a separate building for the training arena. It’s more like a stadium than an arena.

Originally, it was meant for events like the entrance exam or other activities afterward. Since the entrance exam is over, it’s probably being used for sparring now.

Even if it’s not for an event, it’s a place that gets used often. There’s no better training to improve skills than sparring.

However, unless it’s a sparring match involving a well-known student, there usually aren’t many spectators.

‘What’s there to watch? Is it because of that guy?’

I looked at the spectators crowding the seats. For some reason, people kept gathering while we were preparing.

It’s unlikely that rumors spread across the entire academy in such a short time, so it’s probably because of that man, Elvin.

‘Doesn’t matter.’

All I have to do is face the opponent. That’s it.

To do that, I need to prepare in my own way. I followed Rod’s guidance and listened to various explanations.

If the opponent faints, it’s over. Killing is absolutely forbidden. If there’s even a hint of killing, he’ll personally intervene, and so on.

Come to think of it, this person seems to treat me quite well in his own way. Maybe he feels like he got lucky during a boring time.

“Pick a weapon that catches your eye.”

“Oh…”

I admired the iron weapons hanging on the weapon rack.

Having only used stone axes and stone spears until now, seeing iron weapons felt refreshing.

I wonder if these weapons can withstand my mana. Stone axes and stone spears were always destroyed after a single use, like disposable items.

“If you’re unsure, why not try using a sword?”

Rod subtly suggested a sword, probably because he himself is a Sword Saint.

But I can only swing or stab with it. Therefore, blunt weapons or spears are much more comfortable for me.

Ignoring Rod’s subtle suggestion, I casually picked up a one-handed axe and a spear of appropriate size.

“What a shame. Don’t you understand the charm of swords?”

Rod looked slightly dejected. Why is someone his age acting like this?

‘Can’t I take a few more?’

Just in case, I wanted to take a variety of weapons. It was to utilize one of my techniques, throwing.

As I was about to grab more weapons, Rod stopped me with a stern voice.

“No. You can only carry two weapons.”

“Damn (Why)?”

“It’s the rules… Explaining it would be pointless. Anyway, it’s not allowed.”

Instead of explaining, he shook his head to emphasize that it wasn’t permitted.

I don’t know what kind of rule this is, but it can’t be helped. This much should be enough.

“Maybe you have a habit of hoarding things.”

No, I don’t. I’m just fascinated by iron weapons, that’s all.

“I’ll remind you again, absolutely no killing. That man is not prey. Understood?”

“Damn (I said I understand).”

“I accepted this to test your skills, but I feel like I made a mistake…”

If you’re going to regret it, you should’ve done so earlier. Don’t make me suffer for no reason.

Grumbling internally, I followed Rod, who was walking ahead. It was decided that he would act as the referee for this sparring match.

In the game, he was the type to sit in the spectator seats and munch on popcorn, so this is unexpected. I can’t figure out what he’s thinking.

-Is that the guy?

-I think so? Isn’t he just from the Hwan Empire?

-When I first saw him, he looked completely wild. It seems like he got a haircut.

As I walked to the center of the arena after all the preparations were complete, I could hear all sorts of voices around me.

It’s so different from the forest, where the songs of birds and the chirping of insects blended harmoniously.

Occasionally, I could hear insults mixed in, which made me feel unpleasant. Thanks to my exceptional physical ability, I could hear everything, even if I didn’t want to.

While silently following Rod, I noticed Elvin approaching from the opposite side.

His outfit was different from before, now more suited for movement. With his handsome face, he looked good in anything.

‘As I remember, he uses a sword.’

The sword itself looks ordinary. But more important than the sword is what techniques he uses.

While I’m strong in hardware, my foundation is terribly weak. It means I can’t let my guard down.

“As you know, killing is forbidden. If there’s even a hint of it, I’ll take immediate action.”

“Understood.”

“Sivar, you too…”

I know, I know.

He kept repeating the same thing to the point of nagging, so I let it go in one ear and out the other.

Right now, understanding the opponent comes first. If Elvin is skilled, he could be quite useful.

Even if he seems mediocre now, I can’t afford to be careless.

Whoosh!

While I was standing there absentmindedly, Rod, who had taken a few steps back, blew a sharp whistle.

He probably has a whistle, so why does he insist on whistling himself? He’s truly an unpredictable person.

“I already dislike barbarians, and now even wildlings are crawling in… I can’t understand what the Chancellor is thinking.”

“?”

Is he saying that for me to hear? I tilted my head at Elvin’s muttering.

Judging by his expression full of dissatisfaction, it’s clear he doesn’t have a favorable opinion.

“Is the United Academy reaching its end? When even those without foundation, not to mention proper humanity, are being let in.”

“…”

“Not a monster, yet why are his eyes so red… Is he even human?”

Hey, mister. Even if you’re muttering, I can hear everything.

If you’re going to talk, at least lower your voice. Is he saying it for me to hear?

By the way, considering how he kept talking about dignity earlier, he must have quite the pride.

While I was debating whether there was any hope for rehabilitation, Elvin put on a serious expression and got into position.

At the same time, a fierce aura began to seep out. Even without wild instincts, I could tell that aura was directed at me.

Since they were the ones to pick a fight first, I should respond in kind. I frowned and took action.

Bang!

I threw the spear in my right hand straight at him. I deliberately threw it lightly.

Elvin, startled by the sudden spear throw without any warning, quickly twisted his body to dodge it.

Thud!

The spear flew far and embedded itself in the wall. Since I didn’t imbue it with mana and only used pure strength, it didn’t explode.

Now, all I have left is the axe in my left hand. I plan to use it as a weapon.

Honestly, I’d like to throw the axe too and fight barehanded, which I’m most confident in, but it’s too soon to reveal my trump card.

Swish!

Meanwhile, Elvin rushed at me and slashed diagonally with his sword. Judging by the sound of the wind being cut, his skill is exceptional.

Ending this quickly wouldn’t be bad, but I plan to gauge Elvin’s skills.

So, I dodged each of Elvin’s varied attacks while retreating.

Slash!

I avoided his horizontal slash by stepping back a single step.

Whoosh!

I dodged his diagonal slash by twisting my body.

I evaded all other attacks in the same way, using only the minimum necessary movements.

‘Too slow.’

Elvin’s attacks were clean. However, they were straightforward and slow—at least by my standards.

His movements weren’t overly large, nor did they leave any openings. They were simply slow enough for me to dodge by sight alone.

Even the snakes inhabiting the Forest of Chaos would react with their wild instincts, moving far more swiftly.

‘His technique is excellent, though.’

While it feels slow to me, his technique itself is undeniably impressive. As I mentioned earlier, his attacks are clean.

This means his sword doesn’t waver. Whether slashing diagonally, horizontally, or thrusting, there is almost no shake in his blade.

But as for me?

If not for my overwhelming specs covering for me, I would be utterly lacking compared to Elvin.

Right now, I’m solely focused on evasion, so my weaknesses aren’t exposed. But the moment I go on the offensive, they’ll become apparent.

“Hoo…”

Elvin’s relentless barrage of attacks came to a halt. Judging by his stiffened expression, he seemed to have realized something was off.

Since he stopped attacking, it was now my turn to act.

I stepped forward before he could fully catch his breath.

Step—step—step—

As I slowly approached, Elvin tensed up while trying to steady his breathing.

Judging by how tightly he gripped his sword with both hands, he seemed ready to counterattack at any moment.

However, I made no move. Even though Elvin was right in front of me.

“… …”

“… …”

“…What are you doing?”

Clang!

Of course, that doesn’t mean I wasn’t going to attack. It was all to lure him into letting his guard down.

Before Elvin could even voice his confusion, I swung my axe upward with a fierce motion.

Though it was a wild swing without any preparatory movement, it was undoubtedly faster than Elvin’s attacks.

“Guh…!”

Startled, Elvin hastily raised his sword to block. Normally, the sword would have snapped, but it remained intact.

Perhaps he had reinforced its durability with mana. However, he couldn’t withstand the sheer impact, and he was pushed back with a long skid.

As Elvin was being pushed back, I bent my knees and lowered my stance. Then, just as he came to a stop, I kicked off the ground with force.

Bang!

The powerful recoil propelled my body forward at high speed. In an instant, the distance between us closed.

Gripping the axe in my left hand, I swung it down with great force. The target was precisely Elvin’s head.

This strike would be far more powerful than the previous one. If he tried to block it with his sword, his weapon would shatter into pieces.

Perhaps sensing the danger of taking my attack head-on, Elvin moved urgently.

Thinking that merely twisting his body wouldn’t be enough, he threw himself to the side entirely.

Whoosh!

The axe sliced through empty air. Though the attack missed, I wasn’t particularly disappointed.

After all, it was merely a feint. Targeting his head was more of a habit than anything else.

Tap-tap—

Planting my empty right hand on the ground, I spun around and landed both feet firmly.

Despite having thrown my body into the attack, my landing was as soft as a feather. I steadied myself and looked at Elvin.

He seemed utterly flustered, as if he hadn’t imagined being pushed back this much. His expression was one of disbelief.

Not only had I dodged all his attacks, but I had also avoided them so completely that I even evaded his counterattacks by throwing my body.

It wasn’t about technique or anything like that; the difference in specs was simply overwhelming.

“…You’re really like a beast.”

I know. But that’s just how it is when you live in the wilderness.

In a place where large monsters like Manki appear frequently, agility is a necessity.

One mistake could result in a severe injury, so my movements naturally improved.

“… …”

Elvin didn’t attack but instead glared at me, as if waiting for the right moment. He gripped his sword tightly with both hands.

It seemed he was preparing to counter when I launched an attack similar to before.

Does he really think of me as nothing more than a beast? I understand, but I should make it clear.

While I may have lived like a beast, it doesn’t mean I lack intelligence.

Bang!

Without hesitation, I threw myself forward and swung my axe again, just as I had earlier.

Even though the distance between us closed in an instant, Elvin remained calm.

Smirk—

At that moment, Elvin flashed a triumphant smile. His expression said it all—he thought he had me.

He subtly shifted his right foot. In that brief moment, Elvin disappeared from my field of vision.

Swish—

Instead, a sharp blade was now hurtling toward my face.

He had turned my beast-like charge against me. It was a tactic I often used myself.

If things continued like this, the blade would slash across my face. Even with the Iron King trait, I couldn’t be certain of the outcome.

So.

Crunch!

I bit down on it with sturdy teeth. As a bonus, I protected myself with mana to avoid injury.

“What…!”

Elvin was dragged along, his posture collapsing. The momentum of his charge remained unchecked.

Even after landing on the ground, I didn’t let go of the sword in my mouth. Elvin’s expression was priceless as he stared at me.

“You…you beast!”

Elvin struggled desperately to retrieve his sword. But my bite strength was far superior.

In the wilderness, you sometimes have to rely on your teeth. They came in handy when my hands and feet were injured.

Occasionally, my teeth would get pulled out or broken, but they always regenerated. Thanks to that, I could use them without worry.

Crunch!

“Uh…”

Did I bite too hard? A foreboding sound came from Elvin’s sword.

Elvin momentarily stopped exerting force and stared blankly at the scene.

Since it was going to break anyway, I bit down even harder.

Snap!

The training sword shattered spectacularly. Even though it was made of steel, it broke far too easily.

Still, considering it had blocked my earlier attack, its durability must have been significantly reduced.

“Ptoo.”

I spat out all the metal fragments in my mouth. Elvin alternated his gaze between the completely broken sword and me.

His expression made it clear he couldn’t tell if this was a dream or reality. My job was to make him realize it was reality.

Grab!

“Guh!”

While he was distracted, I quickly dashed forward and grabbed him by the neck. Startled, he flailed to escape.

Judging by the energy I felt from his hands, he seemed to be trying to channel mana. Without delay, I slammed him forcefully into the ground.

A choke slam straight out of wrestling. Of course, I’d never formally learned it.

Thud!

“Gah!”

Landing on his back, he momentarily struggled to breathe. Judging by his wide-open eyes, it was effective.

Since I had thrown him before he could protect himself with mana, moving would be difficult for him now.

All that remained was to deliver the final blow.

Grip!

“Guh…!”

I gripped Elvin’s neck tightly to keep him from moving. Then, in that same position, I raised my axe.

If I brought it down, Elvin’s head would split in two. Of course, I wouldn’t actually strike him.

“That’s enough.”

Just before I brought the axe down, a familiar voice reached my ears. Feeling an inexplicable force, I instinctively hesitated.

When I lifted my head, Rod was standing there, though I hadn’t noticed when he had approached.

He wore a gentle smile, but an unexplainable pressure emanated from him.

“I said killing is forbidden. I hope you understand my words.”

“··· ···”

I know that too. I cautiously glanced around, gauging the situation.

I wanted to hit him at least once, but I couldn’t. It was frustrating. If someone insults you openly, they deserve to be hit.

Swoosh-

While I stood there holding the axe aloft, merely observing, Rod pulled something out of his pocket and held it out to me.

When I looked, there was a brown candy resting on his palm. It was the Nurungji-Flavored Candy, which I had found incredibly delicious before.

Perhaps because I had tasted it once before, my instincts screamed at me to eat it immediately and feel happiness.

Saliva pooled in my mouth, and the axe I had raised slowly began to lower.

The strength in the hand gripping Elvin’s neck also gradually weakened.

Whoosh-

Perhaps thinking I was now out of combat mode, Rod lightly tossed the candy.

The candy traced an arc through the air, flying straight toward my face.

I opened my mouth wide and caught the candy directly in my mouth.

The unique sweetness and roasted flavor of the Nurungji-Flavored Candy spread throughout my mouth.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, yes. I’m fine.”

As I savored the small happiness brought by the candy, Rod helped Elvin to his feet.

Elvin, with a dumbfounded expression, alternated his gaze between his broken steel sword and me. He still seemed unable to believe what had happened.

“As you probably know, you lost. I hope you’ll keep the words you said earlier.”

“··· ···”

At Rod’s words, Elvin looked at me. I stared back at him while chewing the candy.

His face looked complicated in many ways. It was only natural, having been overwhelmingly defeated by someone like a beast.

Not to mention, I had even performed the unbelievable eccentric act of breaking a steel sword with my teeth.

I wondered if he would apologize to me. With the Chancellor standing right beside him, the chances seemed high.

“······I’m sorry.”

As expected, Elvin bowed his head and apologized.

But suddenly, as if something had come to mind, he raised his head and asked Rod.

“But does it even understand what I’m saying?”

“It doesn’t. But it will probably remember later.”

“··· ···”

Elvin’s expression showed he was still uneasy. Nevertheless, he bowed his head again and apologized to me.

Even if I couldn’t understand him, there were many people watching. The crowd gathered just to spectate was already dense.

“Just in case, give it a candy. Then it might perceive you as a good person.”

“This is······”

“Nurungji-Flavored Candy.”

Rod handed Elvin a Nurungji-Flavored Candy. Naturally, Elvin looked bewildered.

Come to think of it, does Rod really think of me as an animal?

“Here······”

While I was lost in such thoughts, Elvin cautiously extended his hand.

His face showed uncertainty, as if he wasn’t sure if this was the right thing to do.

“Nom.”

Without hesitation, I took it into my mouth. I don’t refuse what is given.

Seeing this, Elvin’s expression grew even more complicated.

Even someone as prideful as him must be flustered by such an unprecedented situation.

‘Feels like I’m being subjected to an Affinity Build-Up.’

Oh well, it doesn’t matter.

Anyone who gives me something tasty is a good person.