A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 64

In Soul World, there are various professions, and you can switch to a different one midway.

As mentioned before, a knight can advance to become a Holy Knight, or they can completely change to a different profession category.

The most fascinating part is the fusion of magic and science. If certain conditions are met, you could even become the ‘Iron Man’ you see in movies.

Magic manifests through language. And if you transition to Iron Man, magic can be used automatically depending on probabilities.

The AI is decent, making it subtly appealing, but its low peak performance is a drawback. It has a style with high minimums but low maximums.

As such, Soul World offers countless professions, and what you choose is entirely up to the player.

And the upcoming Job Change Event is deeply tied to ‘Clerics.’

‘Sometimes, random events pop up too.’

The Cleric Job Change Event, which appears even in the early stages, isn’t anything special.

It’s akin to choosing religion just to get a Choco Pie at the training ground, at least from the player’s perspective.

In this world, religion holds immense authority, and even demons exist. It’s structured in a way that their status is naturally elevated.

The moment you insult a god, you’ll be judged with phrases like ‘You, heretic’ or ‘You, demon.’ It’s a situation that occurs quite often.

Fortunately, if no one is listening, you can curse even the gods in a secluded place without consequence.

The gods, too, are well aware of how harsh and unfair this world is, so they turn a blind eye.

‘But Chaos doesn’t care about such things.’

Even a slight insult makes your faith crawl on the ground. That’s why I can’t even curse in my mind.

Anyway, the Cleric Event happens once every quarter. So, cleric-related professions are always obtainable.

For returning students, it feels like an annual tradition, so they just go with it, but for newcomers, it’s different.

“Does this mean I could become a cleric if I do well?”

“Probably? But becoming a cleric isn’t exactly easy.”

“Still, the treatment changes once you become one, right? It’s not bad to hold onto hope.”

Clerics, or more precisely, faith-based professions, are rare in themselves. Clerics have always been valuable.

Take Gulak, who uses the Menace Ability ‘Lightning’—he’s exceptional, and Gaia, a classic supporter, is even more so.

Chaos is… let’s skip that for now. Most of its followers are strong, but they’re all eccentrics, making them a headache to deal with.

As such, clerics are extremely rare assets, so their treatment is exceptional. Even becoming a priest makes you an immediate force to be reckoned with.

High-ranking officials in every nation understand the Power of Clerics and try their best to recruit them.

However, clerics are individuals who dedicate themselves to religion rather than the state. They’re not easily swayed by money or honor.

‘Unless they’re patriots, most of them end up affiliated with Byzantium.’

No matter how good the treatment is, it can’t compare to Byzantium. Besides, the ‘Temple’ exists only in Byzantium.

Above all, it’s hard to become a cleric with ordinary faith. Even in terms of stats, a minimum of 70 is required.

I’ve heard that even a knight with excellent Balance started with a faith stat of around 20 at character creation. That should give you an idea of how tough it is.

Chaos choosing its followers purely for fun and interest is what’s strange. Just look at Kara—her faith must be exceptionally high.

“Ms. Luna. Where will you visit first?”

Grace, a beauty with piercing eyes, asked Luna in an elegant tone.

At some point, she had taken a seat next to Luna. Surprisingly, Lee Yeonju was seated beside Grace.

“Hmm, I think I’ll start with the Gaia Order… but I’m not sure yet. What about you, Grace?”

“I plan to visit all of them. Opportunities like this are rare, don’t you think? What about you, Yeonju?”

“Y-Yes!”

Lee Yeonju stammered as she answered Grace’s question, subtly showing signs of discomfort.

It’s no wonder—sitting next to Grace had drawn quite a bit of attention.

For someone who tries to avoid drawing attention, this must be more than just uncomfortable—it must feel suffocating.

“What about you, Mr. Sivar? Are you going to follow Ms. Luna?”

After Luna, it was my turn. Since Grace, Luna, and I were seated in that order, I had no choice but to lean forward.

I simply shrugged at her curious, sparkling gaze. It was a response that said I didn’t mind either way.

‘I just need to find the Magic Circle there.’

It had been tough since opportunities rarely presented themselves, but not this time. Since this is a quarterly chance, I need to seize it.

In exchange, I’ll probably face some criticism. On top of that, there’s a high chance Rod will grab his neck in frustration.

I silently apologized in advance as I began planning my next steps.

“Grace, Mr. Sivar is a follower of Lord Chaos, so it doesn’t matter where he goes.”

Luna answered on my behalf, mentioning that I was chosen by none other than Chaos.

Grace widened her eyes in surprise and looked at me.

“Lord Chaos… chose Mr. Sivar?”

“Yes, it’s not certain, but Sivar said he was chosen by Chaos.”

“Hmm…”

Grace looked at me with a curious expression. Her reaction was perfectly normal.

Clerics are already rare, but followers of Chaos are even rarer. They don’t choose; they are chosen.

Moreover, each follower excels in a specific field and has an abundance of personality. They’re what you’d call eccentrics.

“I see… That makes sense. Aren’t all followers of Lord Chaos… eccentric?”

“From what I’ve heard, yes. But I plan to bring the newcomers along since they’re taught various histories to broaden their perspectives.”

“I see. Since you’re a follower of Lord Chaos, perhaps even the Saint might take an interest in you.”

Flinch—

I flinched when Grace mentioned the ‘Saint.’ She’s currently the most troublesome individual for me.

Players call her by the nickname ‘Martial Saintess Rize,’ a character with a distinct personality in the world’s lore.

She’s even stronger than Rod, likely because she’s showered with the Love of Chaos. The proof lies in her youthful appearance.

Despite being around the same age as Rod, she’s undergone Rejuvenation, making her stronger in stages.

‘I just hope that person doesn’t show up.’

Just like clerics appear every quarter, she also shows up as a Random Event with a certain probability.

After the Academy Collapse, her appearance rate skyrockets, but that’s understandable, so it’s fine.

However, the probability of her appearing in the first Job Change Event is close to 0%. Still, I can’t let my guard down.

Close to 0% doesn’t mean it’s completely 0%, especially since I’m a follower of Chaos.

Being showered with the Love of Chaos means no one knows when or where she might pop up.

“Grace, do you know anything about the Martial Saintess or whatever she’s called?”

“I’ve only heard about her, so I don’t know much. All I know is that she has a unique ideology.”

A typical saintess mostly provides rear support. Their personalities are usually gentle and kind.

But Martial Saintess Rize is different. She’s like that bald supporter from somewhere who takes matters into her own hands.

She believes that eliminating the source of harm in advance is the true virtue of a supporter or something like that.

She has the ability to directly implement that ideology, making her impossible to ignore.

She’s bold like a martial saint and magnanimous like a saintess. Her personality is fitting for a follower of Chaos.

“Kara, do you know anything about the Saint?”

“I do, but I’ve never had any direct connection with her, so I don’t know her face. Besides, some say she’s beautiful, while others say she looks intimidating. I can’t picture her at all. The combination of a martial saint and a saintess is strange to begin with.”

As Kara said, it’s natural to wonder how a martial saint and a saintess could be combined.

Martial saints typically bring to mind muscle-bound tanks, while saintesses evoke images of delicate women.

But Martial Saintess Rize possesses abilities beyond imagination. Unless you see her for yourself, it’s hard to believe.

Would you believe it if someone could freely switch between a muscle tank and an ordinary woman? Rize can.

“Isn’t it not that strange? You’re incredibly strong yourself, Kara. Maybe Rize is similar to you.”

“I fight with lightning, not fists. Besides, there’s a rumor she can cause earthquakes with her punches. At the very least, her strength must be on par with Sivar’s.”

No. Her strength is unparalleled in this world’s lore. That’s what I wanted to say.

If my Physical Ability is Semi-End Spec, then Martial Saintess Rize surpasses End Spec.

Her strength stat alone is in the high 150s. She might even hit 160.

At that point, her appearance is truly… a spectacle. No, not a spectacle—a bizarre sight.

“By the way, is that martial saint or saintess person coming this time? I’m a follower of Lord Gulak, so it doesn’t concern me, but I’m curious.”

“She’s a busy person, so it’s unlikely she’ll come, don’t you think? What do you think, Grace?”

“I think the same. She’s the Representative of Byzantium, but she’s not interested in events like this.”

For now, she’s probably not interested. At least, not until the Academy Collapse.

Unless it’s due to a demon or Chaos’s orders, she rarely shows interest in worldly affairs.

A person of her stature as a saintess can’t be free from political constraints, but Rize is an exception.

In this world, physical strength equals power. Thus, like Rod, she can move freely.

‘And that’s the biggest problem.’

Her freedom means she could engage in any eccentric act. Especially since she’s a follower of Chaos.

The reason I’m so worried is simple. If a player were chosen by Chaos…

The moment you catch Rize’s attention, you’ll be kidnapped. Not as a joke, but truly kidnapped.

‘And then the forced level-up begins.’

The advantage of Chaos is that low faith is acceptable, but the disadvantage is also that low faith is acceptable.

This means that regardless of the player’s faith level, Rize will forcibly level them up.

Naturally, the player cannot enjoy any events and will suffer all kinds of pain.

If the results were bad, everyone would avoid it outright, but the results aren’t bad at all.

The explosive stat increase in a short period makes it an unavoidable temptation for players.

‘But not for me.’

I already have stats close to Semi-End Spec, so I don’t need Rize’s teachings. For me, skills are more important than stats.

The same goes for events. Through this Job Change Event, I also need to find the Demon’s Magic Circle, so I’ll be busy.

“Alright, everyone, listen up. As you all know, archbishops from Byzantium will soon visit. Which religion you visit is entirely up to you, and those who aren’t interested don’t need to attend.”

Before long, Marlboro informed us about the schedule. The Cleric Event will last for a total of one week.

This includes the weekend, to accommodate those who are busy during weekdays.

To change to a cleric-related job, you must visit one religion for three days.

For me, I’ll just follow Luna here and there, and Gulak can be entrusted to Kara.

“For those who attend, various snacks will be provided. And also······”

Knock, knock, knock—

While Marlboro was continuing his explanation, someone knocked on the lecture room door. Both Marlboro and the students turned their attention to it.

If someone even bothers to knock, it must be someone completely unrelated to the class. Marlboro, too, walked over with a puzzled expression.

Creak—

“······Huh?”

Without asking who it was, Marlboro immediately opened the door. At the same time, he reacted with visible surprise.

Due to the structure of the lecture room, it was impossible to see who was behind the door. However, judging by his reaction, it must be someone extraordinary.

“Am I interrupting a class? If so, I can come back later.”

A melodious voice of a woman flowed in from beyond the door, as if it could enchant people with just the sound.

“Ah, no······ That’s not it, but······ Why are you······ No, I did hear a hint, but······”

This is the first time I’ve seen Marlboro stammer like this. He didn’t even act like this when he first met me.

Meanwhile, Marlboro alternated his gaze between the students and the person behind the door before politely stepping aside.

Soon, the person behind the door expressed their gratitude and slowly entered the lecture room.

“Wow······”

“She’s beautiful······”

“Who······ is she······?”

With the students’ exclamations, the atmosphere in the room shifted. Even Kara was impressed.

The woman who entered was beyond what the word “beautiful” could describe. If all the beauty in the world were condensed, it might feel like this.

Silky silver hair. Eyes with a cat-like sharpness, though not as much as Grace’s. And finally, sapphire-colored pupils.

And her figure? It seemed as if tremendous strength was stored in her chest, like Ellie’s Potion Pouch.

Although she wore a perfectly fitting nun’s habit, it only added to her unexpected charm.

“Hello, students. Shall I introduce myself first? My name is Rize Martina. I am but a humble servant of Lord Chaos.”

The Fist Saintess, Rize, appeared out of nowhere. Truly, without any prior notice, leaving me utterly bewildered.

The other students were just as confused as I was. Rize, famous as both a Fist Saint and a Saintess, had shown up, leaving everyone in disarray.

Even Grace, who is known to have insider information, was surprised. This was sudden—far too sudden.

“Why is the Saintess here······?”

“Wait, did anyone know the Saintess was coming?”

“I had no idea······”

Naturally, the room became chaotic. Rize, perhaps anticipating such a reaction, simply smiled gently.

As the commotion gradually subsided, Rize scanned the faces of the students.

Her beauty caused both men and women to blush or awkwardly avert their gazes.

“No muscles and such a large chest—how can she be a Fist Saint? Does that even make sense?”

Only Kara scrutinized her with a curious voice. Indeed, she didn’t quite fit the image of a Fist Saint.

However, that’s because this is her “Saintess” appearance. When she becomes a “Fist Saint,” the story changes.

That massive pouch transforms entirely into solid pectoral muscles. The circumference size remains perfectly identical.

“I’ll be showing my face more often from now on, but today, I’ll just say what I need to and leave. Is there anyone here chosen by Lord Chaos?”

After surveying the students, Rize spoke with a smile. Her expression seemed to carry a hint of expectation.

I deliberately turned my head away and ignored her. Even when she looked around, I kept my head down, pretending not to notice.

If our eyes meet here, I’ll be kidnapped. If that happens, I won’t be able to complete the events properly.

“Um······”

“Ah, are you perhaps a follower of Chaos?”

“Oh, not me······”

But the world doesn’t always go the way I want it to.

“Sivar has been chosen by Chaos······”

“?!”

Luna spoke up on my behalf, revealing that I was chosen by Chaos.

This wasn’t Luna’s fault. She didn’t know anything about Rize.

Being chosen by Chaos isn’t inherently wrong. Luna must have thought it was fine to mention it.

“Sivar? Who is Sivar?”

True to her nature as someone only interested in Chaos worship and demon hunting, Rize didn’t seem to know who I was.

I pretended not to know anything, nudging Luna lightly with my foot under the table, signaling her to stop talking.

But our Luna lacks tact. She looked at me with a puzzled expression, as if asking what I was doing.

On the other hand, Rize is quick-witted. The moment she saw where Luna’s gaze was directed, her expression turned predatory.

“Ah, there you are.”

Then, she took a couple of steps forward. At least, it looked like just a couple of steps.

But in the blink of an eye, she was right in front of me. Just two steps, yet she closed the distance instantly.

“······Shukuchi Technique?”

I heard Lee Yeonju mutter softly. It was a movement akin to teleportation.

Regardless, the real problem was that Rize was now standing right in front of me. I tensed up and looked up at her.

Beyond her massive Divine Power Pouch, I could see her face, filled with intrigue.

“Your eyes······ are red. But they’re so pure. A combination of innocence and ferocity······ truly an interesting mix.”

“··· ···”

“Your name is Sivar, correct? Mr. Sivar.”

And then, Rize spoke her next words.

“Would you consider coming with me?”

For the first time in a long while, I felt genuine “fear.” Though it wasn’t cold, my entire body trembled like a leaf.

Rize wasn’t even exuding any particular aura. My body was simply reacting on its own.

Moreover, my Wild Instinct was screaming at me. It was telling me to get away from Rize immediately.

It warned me that if I got involved with her, I’d experience every hardship imaginable.

So, I shouted out as Kara had taught me last time.

“N-No!”

It was a clear expression of rejection.