A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 70

I often think about this, but it seems like I end up fighting every time I meet someone new.

First, it was Elvin, then Kara and Hector, and finally, even Rize. Every time I meet someone new, I fight.

At least I can take some comfort in the fact that I’ve never fought with Luna or Rod. As for Ellie, that goes without saying.

“Headmaster, may I ask how strong Lady Rize is?”

Finally, the weekend had arrived. We were in the middle of moving to a different location for what could only be described as a sparring session.

Luna quietly asked Rod, who was walking ahead. Meanwhile, she kept glancing back at me and Rize.

She probably thought she was whispering so we wouldn’t hear, but I heard everything. Maybe Rize didn’t, but with my heightened senses, whispering is meaningless.

“Strength, huh… Well, she’s definitely stronger than me, but it’s hard to put into words just how strong. You saw her distort space with a single punch last time, didn’t you?”

“That’s exactly why I don’t understand. For me, controlling space feels like an impossible feat… Not to mention, I don’t even grasp the principles of the heavens before that.”

“Hmm.”

Rod glanced back at Luna after her explanation.

At the moment, I was walking between Rize and Kara, listening to their various conversations.

Most of the talk revolved around matters related to Tatar. It’s probably because Kara is a believer of Gulak.

For the record, Ellie didn’t come along. Since her combat ability is practically zero, she could get seriously hurt if she got caught up in anything.

The others, at least, can protect themselves to some extent, which is why they came along. However, they plan to leave once the sparring begins.

“You could say she possesses a strength that feels more distant the stronger you become. So, keep working hard to improve.”

“Hmm… But when will you teach me techniques? Elvin has practically stopped helping me, aside from buying me books.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to thoroughly learn the basics before moving on to techniques?”

“… …”

Luna seemed at a loss for words, perhaps because Rod’s fact bomb hit the mark. As he pointed out, it’s better to solidify the basics first before learning advanced techniques.

Even so, Luna’s fundamentals are improving at an astonishing pace with each passing day. I finally understand the saying about soaking things up like a sponge.

While my wild instincts allow me to adjust automatically, she’s climbing purely through her talent.

So much so that Kara, who had been watching from the sidelines, let out a baffled chuckle.

“Saint, have you ever met my father before?”

“I met him when I was very young. While crossing the Tatar Desert, I was indebted to Hector’s tribe. He was definitely in his mid-teens, but he was already over 180 cm tall.”

“So it was true? When I was young, I grew so tall that my father told me not to worry too much. He said he’d grown a lot when he was young too.”

“How tall are you, Kara?”

“Just shy of 180 cm.”

Being stuck between two chatterboxes makes me feel like my ears are going to bleed.

Kara, being from the naturally talkative Tatar Tribe, and Rize, who answers every question with sincerity, are quite the pair.

I’d love to quietly step back or move to the side, but every time I try, Kara grabs me, asking where I’m going.

“But Mr. Sivar, you’re always so fascinating to me. Despite growing up in such a harsh environment, you don’t resort to violence so easily.”

Somehow, the topic naturally shifted to me. This was one conversation I couldn’t help but listen to.

Kara stared at me after hearing Rize’s words, then let out a small laugh. She then casually pinched my cheek as she spoke.

“I find it fascinating too. The Headmaster and Ellie must have taught you really well.”

“That’s part of it, but according to Rod, you didn’t use your strength recklessly from the start, right? That’s what’s so interesting. Kara, you’re quite familiar with violence and killing, aren’t you? Oh, I apologize if that offended you.”

“No need to apologize. It’s true, after all. That’s just how Tatar is. Anyway, I understand what you mean.”

Rize’s point was essentially this: Kara, who grew up in an environment as wild as mine, can at least restrain herself as a “civilized person.”

On the other hand, I’m different. Even with training, I’m probably seen as a wildling with no sensitivity to violence.

No matter how much humanity builds civilization, it’s hard to shake off its beastly nature. Rize seems to think the same.

“Ellie said it’s because you see them as your own kind… But I don’t really know. As long as you get along, that’s all that matters.”

“I see. That’s a relief to hear, Brother Sivar, that you don’t misuse violence.”

“Saint, do you dislike violence as well?”

Kara’s question carried weight. After all, Tatar is, in essence, a nation built on violence.

Perhaps because of this, it retains its belligerent tendencies even as time passes, earning it the label of barbaric.

While things are gradually improving now, it must still linger in Kara’s heart.

“Like or dislike, I don’t really care. Violence is a tool, as essential to humanity as hands and feet.”

“A tool? That’s a perspective I’ve never heard before.”

“Violence is undoubtedly evil. That’s an undeniable fact. But without violence, humanity wouldn’t have built civilization. This applies not just to Tatar but to every nation.”

Kara’s expression turned peculiar at those words. Coming from Rize, a woman hailed as a saint, it was unexpected.

Her words weren’t sugar-coated but rooted in stark realism. In many ways, it was a refreshing perspective.

“There’s a saying that more than half of human history is filled with war. And it’s largely true. Furthermore, for life to survive, it must fundamentally take from other lives. Violence naturally accompanies this.”

“… …”

“I’ve seen it countless times. Those who have too much failing to understand those who have nothing. And those with nothing resorting to violence against the haves to fill their empty stomachs. In such a situation, what would you do, Kara?”

“That’s… …”

Faced with Rize’s profoundly complex question, Kara couldn’t answer easily. She clearly recognizes that violence is wrong.

So she must’ve thought, “There’s no other choice in such situations.” Still, it left her feeling uneasy.

“You don’t have to answer. This is just an extreme example. I see violence as a tool to enforce my will.”

“… Are you saying it’s okay to use violence, or not?”

“It depends on the situation. But when it comes to demons and monsters, feel free to use it without hesitation. They aren’t life; they’re entities that steal the light of life itself.”

It was the kind of line you’d expect from a priest hunting vampires. It also perfectly matched the theme of “chaos.”

Kara looked unsettled, finding it difficult to grasp Rize’s way of thinking.

In some ways, she’s more barbaric than a barbarian, yet her beliefs and philosophy are firmly rooted.

Her view of violence as merely a tool, rather than inherently good or bad, was strikingly novel.

“So, Kara, you should steadily build your strength too. They say human nature doesn’t change, right? We’re in an era of peace now, but who knows when war might break out again?”

“When you put it that way, you seem incredibly pragmatic.”

“To achieve ideals, you need the knowledge and strength to match.”

Rize remains an enigma. I feel like I understand her words, yet I don’t.

But that’s precisely why she’s the hard counter to demons. She wields violence decisively, guided by her convictions.

On top of that, her mindset as a saint is solid; she handles most situations with gentle persuasion.

The problem is that her persuasion in Martial Saint Mode isn’t exactly gentle. Respect, after all, stems from strength.

“This should do. Thanks to someone, it’s already a clearing, so it’ll be fine.”

After chatting about this and that, we finally arrived. The terrain was vast enough to be considered a clearing.

“It looks like it was deliberately destroyed.”

“That’s because Hector and Sivar fought here.”

“I figured as much.”

When I fought Hector, the surroundings were utterly devastated. Naturally, the noise and vibrations spread far and even reached the Academy.

The Academy sent people to investigate, but Rod barely managed to stop them. He claimed there was a slightly powerful monster, and he had driven it away himself.

It was amusing how everyone believed him, simply because it was Rod who said it. It was a moment when the Sword Saint’s reputation truly shone.

Bang!

As soon as we arrived, Rize switched into Martial Saint Mode. No matter how many times I see those rock-like muscles, I can’t get used to them.

In the game, they had a comedic vibe, so it was easier to overlook. But seeing them in real life, the sense of disharmony was overwhelming.

“Well then, shall we start preparing?”

“… …”

It’s finally starting. Rize and I stood side by side in the center of the clearing.

The others moved far away to watch. Rod would personally block any significant fragments or storms.

To be honest, Rize alone could easily overpower me. However, Rod was here in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

“If something goes wrong, we might end up unleashing space destruction on the Academy.”

This is what’s commonly referred to as splash damage. Like the legendary Whitebeard, her power is so immense that controlling it is nearly impossible.

This is one of the reasons Rize restrains her use of violence. What she thinks is a light tap could leave someone gravely injured.

“As I mentioned before, I won’t be delivering any direct hits. My goal is solely to trigger the conditions for Berserk, which is to experience a death crisis.”

I have no idea what method she plans to use. Is she going to hit me or not?

It’s supposed to be a type of hypnosis, but the fact that it includes “physical” elements makes it all the more confusing.

“However, to reach that point, a certain level of emotion is necessary. In other words, you need to engage in enough activity to make your heart race.”

“… …”

“So, go ahead and hit me as much as you want. I’ll just stand here and take it.”

What on earth is she saying? I stared at Rize, dumbfounded by her words.

She stood with her hands on her hips, proudly puffing out her chest—not a soft, feminine chest, but her massive pectoral muscles.

For a moment, I thought I misheard her. I rolled my eyes before quietly speaking.

“… Seriously?”

“Yes.”

“Really. Hit me?”

“Go ahead and hit me. I’m fine with it.”

Rize’s body is tougher than mine. Even in the game, most attacks barely fazed her.

But that was only when she was up against demons, who were her hard counter.

I’m not a demon, and my attack power is exceptionally strong. So, I was confident.

“If punching me is too difficult, you can use a weapon instead. I heard you received one from Hector?”

“··· ···”

I couldn’t tell if she was saying it on purpose or genuinely suggesting it. Either way, it was enough to irritate me.

I slowly walked toward Rize until I was standing right in front of her. Then, after gauging her reaction, I pulled my arm back.

“Hit you?”

“Even if you ask repeatedly, my answer remains the same. Hit me. As hard as you can.”

If that’s the case… The moment I heard those words, I swung my pulled-back arm with full force.

Just in case, I didn’t use any mana and relied solely on my physical ability to strike.

Clang!

My fist landed squarely on Rize’s abs. But the sound was strange.

It rang out clear and sharp, like metal against metal.

Throb!

“··· ···”

To make matters worse, my fist throbbed in pain. If my body were any less sturdy, it would have hurt even more.

“You can hit me harder if you’d like.”

Rize, on the other hand, was completely unfazed. Judging by her expression, she truly seemed unaffected.

Feeling a bit stubborn, I threw another punch. This time, I didn’t hold back.

Clang!!

“Ugh!”

Again, a clear and resonant sound echoed. At the same time, a faint groan escaped my lips.

It hurt even more than before. It felt like punching a tree for the first time in the wilderness.

I clutched my throbbing fist and stepped back. Slowly, I raised my head to look at Rize.

“Why······?”

I couldn’t understand. Even Hector winced when I hit him seriously.

But not Rize. Her abs were so solid, it made me wonder if she had steel plates under her skin.

No, it wasn’t just that they were solid—it felt like my attacks didn’t affect her at all. Did she even take any damage?

“I’m fine.”

Meanwhile, Rize flashed a genuinely bright smile.

“You can hit me more if you’d like.”

She was gradually making me feel the weight of the ‘wall’ between us.