A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 53

The early United Academy, with its long history, has seen many things disappear while others have remained intact.

In its early days, there was no general hospital like the one it has now, nor was there a special sparring arena.

The same goes for establishments like restaurants. While some have vanished, surprisingly, others have maintained a consistent history.

One such place is the restaurant Grace had reserved. Once an ordinary eatery, it transformed into a restaurant over time.

It has stayed in the same spot for years, stubbornly sticking to the same menu, which has preserved both its uniqueness and flavor.

Chomp- Chomp- Chomp-

“······Please eat slowly, Mr. Sivar.”

“Okay.”

But to Sivar, it was just another meat-serving restaurant. History or not, meat is always delicious.

Grace awkwardly smiled as she watched him devour four steaks already. She wasn’t even sure if “eating” was the right word for it.

The restaurant they were in was as generous in portion size as it was expensive. It was a place that could satisfy both nobles and commoners, as long as they could afford it.

But Sivar was too busy stuffing food into his mouth. What was even more surprising was how skillfully he used both the fork and knife.

‘Well, it’s much better than eating with his hands.’

If he had grabbed the food with his hands and stuffed it into his mouth, even Grace would have frowned. This much was tolerable.

Moreover, he was wiping the corners of his mouth with a napkin from time to time. At least he seemed to have a good grasp of hygiene.

While it was far from the elegance and nobility Grace pursued as someone who grew up among aristocrats, it wasn’t exactly impolite.

Crunch! Crack!

“Wow······ he’s even eating the bones······”

“··· ···”

That part was a bit hard to endure, though. Just like Lee Yeonju’s astonished reaction, Sivar was gnawing through the bones with ease.

The restaurant they had reserved specialized in meat itself, offering a wide variety.

Some of the steaks, like the T-Bone Steak, even came with bones—just like the one Sivar was eating now.

‘Is he an actual beast? What if he ends up hurting his teeth······’

Grace felt a mix of absurdity and concern, but then a certain memory came to mind. It was when Elvin and Sivar had sparred.

Sivar had chewed through iron, which was much harder than bone, without any trouble. So chewing through bones was probably nothing to him.

At least it was a relief that such a powerful bite force wasn’t directed at people. Grace let out a hollow laugh and focused on her meal.

“··· ···”

As they continued eating, Sivar, who had just finished gnawing on a bone, stared intently at Grace.

Feeling his gaze, Grace slowly lifted her head. Sivar, expressionless, was staring straight at her.

At first, she had no idea what that look meant. But now, she understood it to some extent.

“······Would you like more?”

“Can I?”

“Of course. This is nothing.”

“Okay!”

His simplicity was endearing in its own way. Grace chuckled inwardly as she watched Sivar respond cheerfully.

Perhaps it was because he hadn’t been part of civilization for long. His basic instincts, especially his appetite, seemed particularly strong.

‘It’s probably because civilization offers a whole new world of food, unlike the wilderness.’

His appetite was naturally strong to begin with, but civilization had an endless variety of foods to offer.

For Sivar, every meal must feel like a feast.

‘Thinking about it that way, it’s a bit······ pitiful.’

At the same time, she felt sorry for Sivar. In the forest, he probably couldn’t even cook properly.

She wasn’t even sure if he had mastered fire, the very foundation of civilization. His steel-like teeth might have developed because of that.

He must have had to chew through raw meat—and even bones—for survival, like a literal beast.

‘That’s probably why he likes candy so much.’

Thinking of it that way made her feel more understanding. After all, people tend to develop biases when they measure others by their own standards.

As Grace reached a new “enlightenment,” the meal continued in a somewhat warm atmosphere.

Unlike the slightly chaotic Sivar, Grace maintained her composure and dined with elegance.

Lastly, there was Lee Yeonju. She wasn’t eating steak but rather meat prepared in an Eastern style.

As such, she was using chopsticks instead of a fork and knife. To Grace, that sight was a bit fascinating.

“Ms. Yeonju.”

“Y-Yes?”

Startled by Grace’s call, Lee Yeonju flinched as she answered. Her reaction, like that of a small animal, was striking.

Grace had called her because it seemed like she had finished eating, but there was no need to be so surprised. Grace, puzzled, voiced her question.

“Do all Easterners use chopsticks? I was just a bit curious.”

“Ah······ Yes. Most people use chopsticks. In the region where I live, we also use spoons.”

“Spoons? Aren’t those usually for eating soup or porridge?”

“That’s generally true, but······ in my country, I mean, no, no, no.”

Lee Yeonju hastily corrected herself after almost saying “country.” Grace gave her a curious look.

Lee Yeonju then looked around, as if checking to see if anyone was listening.

“······It’s just that the culture of my region is unique. Hehe.”

“Hmm. I see.”

If it was just a unique regional culture, Grace could let it slide. After all, culture is inherently diverse.

But what bothered her more was Lee Yeonju’s earlier reaction. Overreacting to such a small slip of the tongue seemed excessive.

‘Come to think of it, they say the Hwan Empire is more like a federation despite its name, right?’

Unlike the West, which was constantly embroiled in conflict, the East had recently unified into a single state.

Rather than true unification, it took the form of a federation, though in reality, the Hwan Empire was the dominant force.

The Hwan Empire had skillfully used international relations to absorb its vassal states.

‘I heard they treat them fairly in return, but there are clearly parts I don’t know about.’

Lee Yeonju was from the Hwan Empire, but strictly speaking, she was likely from an allied state. That would explain her sensitivity.

Moreover, one of the Hwan Empire’s current goals was “hegemony,” a philosophy as strong as that of the Granada Empire.

Just the fact that they had swallowed up the entire East showed the ambitious nature of the Hwan Empire’s leadership.

‘The original name of the Hwan Empire, if translated into our language, was “Federation of the East.” It was later shortened to “The East.”‘

Even the name “The East” had been designated by the federated states. But at some point, it had changed to the Hwan Empire.

Furthermore, “The East” had turned into something akin to a regional designation. If you asked a passerby, they would mention the Hwan Empire before “The East.”

Though she didn’t know the internal details, the vassal states must harbor significant dissatisfaction.

The hegemonistic tendencies applied not only globally but also to their vassal states.

‘It wouldn’t hurt to investigate further.’

Grace wasn’t particularly interested in Lee Yeonju herself. She simply wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the Hwan Empire’s inner workings.

Information has always been valuable in and of itself. Understanding even the smallest details could turn it into a weapon.

Grace suppressed her excitement about having something new to investigate. For now, the upcoming trial was more important.

“Ms. Yeonju, do you like sweet things? I’ve heard Easterners prefer lighter flavors.”

“I-I don’t dislike them.”

“Got it. Mr. Sivar.”

“Yes.”

Grace called Sivar and glanced downward briefly. The pile of empty plates caught her eye.

Even the bones had been crunched up, leaving no need for cleanup. As a result, there was less food waste.

“Mr. Sivar, you like sweet things, don’t you? You mentioned earlier that you enjoy candy.”

“Yes.”

“Then you must like cake too. Do you know what cake is?”

“Cake?”

Sivar tilted his head, as if to ask, “What’s that?”

Even though the restaurant combined Eastern and Western cuisines, it was a bit surprising that they had cake. It wasn’t exactly a cafe.

Unaware of Sivar’s thoughts, Grace smiled and answered.

“Yes. It’s a sweet and soft dessert. I’m sure you’ll like it, Mr. Sivar.”

“Okay.”

“Good. What about you, Ms. Yeonju?”

“I don’t mind either.”

Grace decided to order cake for everyone. She called the server and placed the order with practiced ease.

Once the server left the room, she brought up the main topic.

“Alright. Shall we plan for the upcoming practical training? Even though we have Mr. Sivar, the most important thing is survival. There’s no need to recklessly attack others.”

“Then, should we just hide from start to finish? It’s obvious other teams will be wary of us anyway······”

Lee Yeonju timidly voiced her opinion. She was suggesting they not step forward at all from the beginning.

It was a very Lee Yeonju-like suggestion, fitting for someone who disliked taking initiative and lacked enthusiasm. Naturally, Grace didn’t like it.

However, she couldn’t express that outwardly. Maintaining her smile, she tried to persuade Lee Yeonju.

“That’s not a bad choice either. As the professor emphasized, survival is the most important thing.”

“Right?”

“But Yeonju, if we do that, the professors might······”

Grace trailed off mid-sentence. Surprisingly, Lee Yeonju’s suggestion didn’t seem all that bad.

As mentioned before, Sivar wasn’t just an Ecosystem Disruptor but an Ecosystem Destroyer. No student could rival him when it came to survival.

Even students brimming with random knowledge would take a long time to put it into practice. Without a mage, even starting a fire would be difficult.

Others might envy Sivar’s presence, but upon closer inspection, there wasn’t much to envy.

‘In a situation with Mr. Sivar, being in the top ranks is the bare minimum to break even.’

Sivar was a double-edged sword. If an absurd situation led to his elimination, their chances of winning would plummet drastically.

Moreover, as Lee Yeonju pointed out, other teams would undoubtedly be on guard against their team because of Sivar.

In the forest, where anything could happen, hiding wasn’t the worst option.

“······It’s not entirely bad. If safety is the priority, Yeonju’s plan is fine too.”

“Th-Thank you.”

“Mr. Sivar······”

Grace turned her gaze toward Sivar. At the same time, their eyes met.

Should she ask for his opinion too? Considering he could barely respond properly, she hesitated momentarily.

But as the team leader, she had to fulfill her responsibilities. Without prejudice, Grace posed the question to Sivar.

“Mr. Sivar, what do you think? Should we focus on survival as Yeonju suggested?”

Sivar’s response was exceedingly simple.

“Don’t know.”

“··· ···”

So simple it almost dealt a minor blow to Grace. Here stood a fool with nothing but strength.

And the one who asked such a fool for his opinion was likely a fool as well. Grace nodded, letting it slide magnanimously.

Still, to build rapport, they needed to maintain consistent “conversation.” Few things created distance like a sense of isolation.

“You can’t just say you don’t know. You heard what we were discussing, right?”

“Plan?”

“Yes, the plan. I thought you might have a good idea too, Mr. Sivar.”

Hearing that, Sivar blinked and then lowered his head, seemingly deep in thought.

“Here you go. Enjoy.”

“Thank you.”

In the meantime, the desserts they had ordered earlier arrived. Grace smiled at the server and handed one of the cakes to Sivar.

“······?”

Was it the sweet aroma of the cake that stimulated his senses? Sivar, who had been focused, raised his head and stared at the cake.

Its appearance exuded a mix of warmth and sweetness. The strawberry atop the whipped cream was particularly appetizing.

“They say eating something sweet helps you think faster. Take your time and think while you eat.”

“Nom.”

While Grace was explaining, Lee Yeonju used her fork to pick up a strawberry and popped it into her mouth. She looked as adorable as a small animal nibbling on food.

Sivar watched her intently for a moment before picking up his fork. Then, as if mimicking her, he grabbed a strawberry.

“······Mmm!”

The moment he put the strawberry in his mouth, Sivar’s eyes widened, and he let out an exclamation. His reaction clearly showed he was enjoying it.

Next, Sivar began eating the cake bit by bit. With every bite, his expressions of happiness became more evident.

Grace, feeling an inexplicable sense of satisfaction, didn’t forget to emphasize something to Sivar.

“It’s good, isn’t it? I’m the one treating you.”

“Thanks.”

“So, have you come up with a plan?”

She asked Sivar again, who had quickly finished his cake. Having eaten something sweet, his brain should be working a bit better now.

Sivar glanced wistfully at the empty plate before looking at Grace.

“Survive. Win. Right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Win. Done.”

A plan so simple it bordered on simplistic. Grace’s expression showed she wasn’t surprised.

Still, the fact that Sivar had shown some motivation was enough for her. She hadn’t expected a detailed plan in the first place.

“But.”

“But?”

However, the word “but” that followed forced her to refocus. Could he have more to say?

“Cake. Give.”

“Cake? You mean the cake?”

“Yes.”

Sivar confirmed Grace’s question and continued speaking.

“I. Help. Win.”

“So······”

Grace paused, trying to interpret his words. Kara understood immediately, but Grace didn’t.

Fortunately, thanks to his use of only key words, it didn’t take her long.

“You’re saying you’ll help us win if we give you cake later?”

“Yes.”

“If that’s the case, I’d be more than happy to. If you want, I can give you more now.”

For Grace, this was an ideal situation. Unlike the unmotivated Lee Yeonju, Sivar was unpredictable.

One of the worst-case scenarios was Sivar going rogue. His unpredictability meant no one could foresee what he might do.

In the midst of such concerns, his promise to help was incredibly reassuring. It resonated even more, given the survival theme of this practical training.

“Yeonju, isn’t there an expression used in the East for moments like this? Something about gaining a Heavenly Army and Horses?”

“Yes, that’s correct, but······”

Lee Yeonju averted her gaze from the beaming Grace and looked at Sivar.

Tilting her head slightly, she muttered in a somewhat reluctant voice.

“If the ability of a Heavenly Army and Horses is concentrated in one person, that’s a problem in its own way······”

“What do you mean by that?”

Grace, unable to simply brush off Lee Yeonju’s comment, asked with a hint of curiosity.

Lee Yeonju, poking at her cake, cautiously opened her mouth.

“If Mr. Sivar gets eliminated, then we lose our Heavenly Army and Horses.”

“Ah, is that what you meant? Don’t worry.”

Grace reassured Lee Yeonju as if her concerns were unnecessary.

“Who in their right mind would dare to mess with Mr. Sivar?”

******

While Grace was busy formulating plans on multiple fronts, Luna was savoring a rare sense of freedom.

Although she was somewhat concerned about Sivar, who was far away, it wasn’t enough to make her overly anxious.

After all, when he was nearby, she couldn’t help but be on edge, wondering when he might cause another incident.

Of course, that didn’t mean she was idly wasting time. She had her own tasks to attend to.

“So······”

Luna trailed off, sounding slightly flustered. She wasn’t in the principal’s office but rather at a cafe.

Just as Sivar had met with his team members, Luna was meeting with hers to prepare for the upcoming practical training.

“Instead of focusing on survival, you’re suggesting we target Sivar first? By cooperating with other teams?”

“Exactly. You catch on quickly.”

The man sitting across from Luna, Antonio, wiggled his fingers playfully as he responded.

His demeanor, combined with the situation, made it clear he was scheming something. Luna, however, replied in a tone that showed she found the idea absurd.

“Does that even make sense? Mr. Antonio, you saw it too—Sivar is ridiculously strong. Beating him is······”

“Who said anything about beating him? I’m not an idiot. There’s probably no student who could take him down in a head-on confrontation.”

“Then why······”

“Did I say we should beat him? I said we should eliminate him.”

Antonio got straight to the point. It wasn’t about defeating Sivar but eliminating him.

The most important aspect of this practical training is survival. As long as the bracelet isn’t removed or damaged, it’s considered survival.

“If we relentlessly target the bracelet, we have a fair chance. Even for Sivar, that would be tough.”

“That’s true, but······ isn’t it too cowardly?”

For Luna, it was an inherently uncomfortable method. Collaborating with other teams to eliminate Sivar.

Antonio, being from the Granada Empire, would likely have no qualms about carrying it out. A mindset that contrasts in many ways.

“Cowardly? So, are you just going to sit back and watch them take first place? There’s a limit to how much you can let yourself be taken advantage of.”

“··· ···”

“Sivar’s very existence is a Balance Breaker. He has to go first for things to be fair. Don’t you think so?”

“I think so too.”

Even their team member seemed to agree with Antonio’s opinion. Seeing that, Luna sank deeper into thought.

There was nothing inherently wrong with Antonio’s argument. Sivar’s very presence was unfair, so he had to be eliminated first.

The plan was roughly as follows: during the practical training, quickly locate other teams, form an alliance, and then target Sivar.

It was a plan that could be established because other teams were also likely to think the practical training was unfair.

‘This doesn’t feel right······’

Luna agonized over and over again. She couldn’t help but wonder if this was the right thing to do.

Sivar’s transcendent physical strength had long been proven in his fight with Hector. It would practically be like a mosquito trying to bite him.

But the key point Antonio mentioned was “elimination.” Winning the fight wasn’t important.

‘Still, it’s worth a try. I don’t know how the evaluation will turn out, but······’

Antonio wasn’t aiming for the upper ranks; he was aiming for first place. If he could achieve first place, he could overturn the other evaluations.

After much deliberation, Luna let out a deep sigh. It was cowardly, but she felt a spark of curiosity.

A pure curiosity about whether Sivar could steadfastly protect his bracelet against so many opponents.

“Alright. Let’s give it a try. But Antonio, you’ll have to persuade the other teams. I’m not confident in doing that.”

“Of course. Thanks for considering it, Team Leader.”

Antonio was already grinning slyly as if he found it amusing. His already villainous impression became even more so.

Seeing that, Luna chuckled inwardly.

‘I wonder if Kara Unnie will accept this.’

She had a feeling she’d get an earful of profanity.