Chapter 20

It was somewhat expected, really. There aren’t many suitable candidates for this kind of thing.

At the Academy’s entrance ceremony, Luna, the top student, stole a glance at Sivar who was trailing behind her like a puppy.

Since this was just a field experience and not a formal admission, his outfit was simple: a white shirt paired with comfy brown pants.

Once he put on his shoes, he looked like an utterly ordinary person. And to top it off, he was a remarkably handsome guy.

Overall, his facial features resembled someone from the Eastern Empire, but he had particularly fair skin that stood out.

Especially his red eyes, which gave off a mystical vibe that made him all the more intriguing.

However, knowing what those red eyes meant, one could hardly call it mysterious.

‘There’s too much to figure out.’

It was unexpected for Elvin to be in charge of Sivar, but it didn’t matter.

After all, her goal was to uncover who Sivar really was, along with the identity of the cave paintings she’d seen.

His origins were shrouded in mystery, and those cave drawings made things even more puzzling.

Moreover, according to Eli, he had learned to write short sentences in less than a week.

Although he couldn’t speak yet, the fact that he could communicate in such a short time showed just how exceptional he was.

‘But why did he choose Professor Godin?’

As that thought crossed her mind, Luna discreetly glanced back at Sivar. He was curiously looking around, as if everything was fascinating.

Currently, Luna was headed to Godin’s Personal Research Room with Sivar. Elvin was supposed to talk to another professor for permission first.

Since it was right before class began, they occasionally bumped into other professors.

Each time, she greeted them politely and they responded warmly.

However, Sivar mostly just glanced and moved on.

‘With those kinds of situations, rumors must spread like wildfire.’

And it wasn’t just the dueling. She had heard that he had climbed the Monument with his bare hands.

What on earth was the reason behind that, and what was he thinking? She had no idea.

Instead, she could tell that Sivar’s physical abilities were much more impressive than she had anticipated.

The Monument was designed with special materials and magic, making it difficult to control magic power the moment one touched it.

Essentially, one had to climb it unassisted, and Sivar had done that effortlessly.

Luna was curious just how far his limits went as she continued walking.

Knock, knock, knock—

[Yes~ Come in~]

After knocking on the research room door, Godin’s voice came through. Luna waited a moment before opening it.

As soon as she opened the door, a musty smell of books greeted her. Luna quickly scanned the inside of the research room.

She couldn’t truthfully say it was clean. Papers, books, and pens were scattered all over the place.

Godin’s desk was no different. It was piled high with various books, showcasing his passion for research.

“Luna, student? And behind you…”

Godin’s voice trailed off as he recognized Sivar. While it was expected for Luna, Sivar’s appearance was entirely unexpected.

Moreover, she had no particularly good memories of Sivar. Wasn’t there a time when Godin had played a prank and Sivar reacted quite strongly?

For these reasons, Godin wore a slightly uncomfortable expression as Luna bowed politely.

“Hello, Professor Godin. I came to talk for a moment.”

“Hmm… Is that Sivar? I have a feeling he’s tied to this somehow.”

“Yes. The truth is…”

Luna began to explain to Godin everything that had been happening.

The more she explained, the more peculiar Godin’s expression became, eventually leading to a state of confusion.

“…Sivar chose me? Why?”

“Honestly, I don’t know.”

“Hmm…”

As the conversation progressed, Godin turned to glance at Sivar. Sivar met his gaze impassively.

Godin couldn’t fathom why Sivar had chosen him.

It made sense, considering their first impression hadn’t been positive. There was no way to paint it nicely.

Normally, one should be wary of Godin in his mind.

As that thought crossed his mind, Godin asked Luna with a sense of disbelief.

“You’re not perceiving me as prey, are you?”

“…Not at all.”

Luna frowned slightly at his comment, glancing at Sivar.

Of course, Sivar had no intention of hunting Godin. If anything, if they were to become friends, it would be a slow process.

But as there was no immediate opportunity to grow closer, he decided to stay quiet. Gaining cordiality took time.

“Shouldn’t we introduce ourselves first? Your name was Sivar, right?”

Sivar nodded at the question. Godin expressed mild surprise.

It made sense since it had only been less than a week. In such a short time, Sivar could understand the language properly.

Godin gazed at Sivar’s strikingly red eyes, and then shrugged it off as if to say, “So what?”

“My name is Godin Erebus. I teach magic. Nice to meet you.”

As Godin introduced himself, Sivar bent at the waist and bowed politely.

Luna knew that he had learned that from Eli, but Godin didn’t.

Godin couldn’t hide his surprise at Sivar’s behavior, which suggested he had shed his wild persona in just a week.

“W-was that a greeting for me?”

“I just followed what Eli taught. I’ve heard I must obey the Chancellor and Eli unconditionally.”

That wasn’t exactly true. What kind of misunderstanding was he under?

While Sivar grumbled inwardly, Godin looked at him with curiosity.

“I see. For Sivar to adapt more easily, basic greetings are essential, I suppose. Eli did a good job teaching.”

“While there are things you can teach and things you can’t, that’s unfortunate.”

“Well, you’ll learn as you adapt gradually.”

After that, Godin offered that if they ever needed anything, they could always come to him or he would assist them in any way he could.

Despite his suspicious external appearance, he showed goodwill toward Luna and Sivar.

“Ah! Speaking of which, isn’t class about to start? You must be tired; would you like some coffee?”

“No, thanks. We have to go quickly.”

“Understood. See you in a bit.”

Godin kindly waved them off with a cheerful smile.

Luna bowing her head, and Sivar mirroring her polite farewell.

Up to that point, Godin had enough reason to wear a satisfied grin, but what happened next from Sivar left him in shock.

Sway-sway—

Just as Luna stepped out the door, Sivar waved goodbye to Godin.

If their previous greeting was filled with politeness, this one carried an air of ‘familiarity.’

Godin’s eyes widened in surprise at this unexpected action before settling into a gentle smile.

“Take care.”

As he lightly waved, Sivar turned and exited without a word.

At that moment, Luna turned back but couldn’t ascertain what Sivar had done.

‘Now I need to get into class…’

Now that the discussion with Godin was over, all that was left was to attend class.

While Elvin would explain everything to the professor, she worried whether Sivar would stay quiet.

He had apparently behaved during training with Rod and Eli, but classes were a different matter. Professors couldn’t keep an eye on everything.

If Sivar drew attention, it would only be when he caused trouble.

Given he was already marked as a potential problem, if he caused any incidents, that could lead to unforeseen consequences.

“Hey, you two. What are you standing around for?”

“Huh?”

While briefly lost in thought, someone called out to Luna. They turned their heads to see who was speaking.

It was a fairly young man, similar to Godin, with brown hair and a smiling demeanor.

But his bob cut was oddly mismatched, creating a strange overview.

“I noticed class is about to start.”

“I planned to go to class soon anyway.”

“Really? And who’s that next to you—”

As the man shifted his gaze to Sivar, he narrowed his brow.

He seemed to know who Sivar was through rumors, but his expression was anything but welcoming.

He looked toward Godin’s research room with a frown and asked with frustration,

“Do you have business with Godin?”

“Yes. Chancellor asked for help with Sivar’s adaptation.”

“Yeah? I can understand helping an outsider, but why pick that nobody?”

Luna raised an eyebrow at his words, unsure of why he’d say that.

While she could vaguely understand the negative glances aimed at Sivar, she failed to understand Godin’s reputation being sullied. He didn’t seem like a villain, just misunderstood due to appearance.

Meanwhile, the professor scrutinized Luna with a subtle glare before putting on a phony smile as he spoke.

“Could you possibly mention to the Chancellor to ask for me instead of Godin?”

“Excuse me, but what’s your name, Professor?”

“…You don’t know me?”

“No.”

Luna’s blunt response left the professor looking rather dismayed.

Yet, she genuinely had no knowledge of who he was.

Having just enrolled and with different professors assigned to each class, it was only natural she wouldn’t recognize him.

Not to mention, she’d come from the countryside and only got in based on her abilities, delaying her acquisition of information compared to others.

“Well, this is surprising… Well, considering you came from a remote area, I suppose it’s understandable. What region did you say you were from? I only know you’re the top student.”

“…The Calis region of the Matra Empire.”

“I still don’t know it… Anyway, my name is Delphoi Trash. I’m also in charge of magic studies, like Godin. But don’t you dare treat me the same way.”

Luna nodded at his response. She still didn’t know who he was.

However, given his derogatory remarks toward Godin and the condescending tone he employed, it seemed he wasn’t a very pleasant person.

She’d learned from her mentors that those who gossip like that usually lack integrity.

For that reason, she intended only to give a cursory greeting and head into class.

“Alright, I see. I apologize, but I need to head in first. There isn’t much time left until class starts.”

“Before that, I’d like to hear your response to my question. You know if you tell the Chancellor nicely, I could provide some level of help.”

“It’s alright. Professor Godin is certainly a capable person. I’ll take my leave now. Sivar, let’s go.”

Why was this person so clingy?

Luna fought the urge to scowl as she moved away.

That mismatched bob was strange, and most importantly, badmouthing Godin made him unlikable.

Stepping away, she felt a lingering suspicion that this man might not even be a proper professor. It might be worth investigating who he really was later.

For now, however, getting away was the priority.

“Don’t just walk away like that. I’m…”

As Luna turned to leave, Delphoi reached out, trying to stop her.

In a moment, just as an ominous hand was about to settle on her shoulder, an unexpected situation unfolded.

<Creak!>

“Argh!”

Sivar, who had silently been observing, grabbed Delphoi’s wrist and twisted it.

Though it seemed like a gentle hold, Delphoi’s scream revealed it was anything but.

If he twisted any further, his joint seemed dangerously close to being compromised.

“What the hell… Sivar?! What are you doing?!”

A startled Luna shouted after taking in the scene.

Despite her outcry, Sivar remained expressionless as he continued to twist Delphoi’s wrist.

“Y-you can’t let go of this?! You barbar… Aaaah!”

With a twisted expression, Delphoi tried to threaten them, but his efforts were futile, as Sivar only twisted his grip further.

Eventually, it was Luna who intervened, putting an end to the commotion. However, Delphoi’s wrist didn’t appear to be in good shape.

It was already swollen, a signal of possible ligament damage.

“What is all this commotion… Professor Delphoi?”

At that moment, Godin came through the door, having heard the disturbance.

He looked puzzled at Delphoi, who was clutching his wrist, before shifting his gaze to Luna and Sivar.

As Godin sought an explanation, Luna turned to Sivar. All Sivar did was stare at Delphoi, expressionless.

“Well, well… I see you all hang around with someone considered the top student.”

“…”

“Just try to handle a nobody like that barbarian well. Pathetic stunts.”

Delphoi spat more insults as he grasped his wrist, attempting to pass by them.

Or rather, he was trying to pass by.

<Thud!>

“Oof!”

He faceplanted spectacularly just before slipping past Sivar, who had subtly tripped him.

“What a clumsy fall…” Luna couldn’t help but chuckle.

It wasn’t quite a laugh, more like an amused scoff.

She’d been trying not to laugh, but the swell of mirth bubbling within only made her face appear more mischievous.

In the meantime, Delphoi managed to stand, glancing around before hurrying away, too embarrassed to look back.

They’d caused quite the scene, but Luna seemed unfazed as she greeted Godin, who had stepped outside.

“We should be off now. Professor Godin.”

“Uh, yes? Ah… Yes, take care.”

“Sivar, let’s go.”

Following Luna’s command, Sivar began to move.

Godin watched them head to their class quietly before shutting the door gently.

“Sivar.”

“?”

As Luna headed toward the classroom, she paused for a moment to glance back at Sivar. Sivar met her gaze, equally expressionless.

What had driven Sivar, who often stayed silent, to step in back there?

He usually kept to himself, even when Eli teased him. But this time, he had taken hold of Delphoi’s wrist and twisted it.

Had he sensed some ill intent from Delphoi? If so, how had he picked up on it?

“Hmm… No, let’s go.”

She looked at Sivar for a moment longer before brushing it off.

If it was guided by some wilderness instinct, that would make sense. Of course, that was purely speculation.

‘I’m glad I entrusted this matter to him.’

Her curiosity surrounding Sivar only deepened.

******

What a waste. Instead of merely twisting his wrist, I should have broken it.

Trailing after Luna, that thought crossed my mind. Delphoi was the type of professor whose actions were shrouded in deceit.

He was a classic elite-type villain, oozing privilege.

‘Though he certainly doesn’t act very elite…’

He stood in stark contrast to Godin, who had become a professor through sheer effort and passion for knowledge.

‘How he ever became a professor is beyond me.’

And given the filthy hand he had just attempted to lay on Luna, he was trash—a kind that wasn’t recyclable.

Having pressured countless students with grades up until now, he eventually reached into the territory of touching female students.

That was how Godin ended up on the receiving end of his false accusations. Truly irredeemable trash.

Fortunately, Godin’s reputation wouldn’t stay tarnished for long, but the harm done to the female student would leave scars that might never heal.

To make matters worse, the female student happened to be the daughter of a high-ranking noble, which turned into an international scandal.

‘Who was that female student, anyway?’

I seem to recall she had a significant role, but the details were escaping me. I just knew she belonged to the high nobility.

Some might wonder how someone with such a lineage fell victim to Delphoi.

The answer is simple. He would lure them in step by step, under the guise of offering assistance, eventually inviting them into his research room.

No need to explain what happened next. Out of all the trash, he was one who left a lasting impression in my memory.

‘I’d surely recognize him if I saw his face.’

With that thought in mind, I scurried after Luna.

As students passed down the corridor, they cast us curious glances, which I shrugged off.

<Rolling sound—>

Finally, we arrived at the classroom where the lesson was about to start.

As soon as Luna opened the classroom door, we were greeted by a very familiar sight.

A typical university lecture hall. Mornings consisted of theory classes, while afternoons were for training.

I knew this because Eli had filled me in on the details. With communication established, she shared multiple insights.

‘If I recall, she mentioned around a hundred new students divided into three classes?’

Top, mid, and bottom tiers would each contain ten students, shuffled together.

Honestly, the admission ranking mattered little beyond the top five. In truth, the entrance exam itself was difficult for mages.

What mattered was what happened afterwards. The shifts in ranks that followed would dictate the level of attention received.

For non-combat positions, professors would directly select students. Eli, for instance, collaborated with the herbology professor.

“Hey. Hey. Look over there.”

“Huh? What’s up with that person coming here?”

“Could they actually be enrolling for real?”

My unexpected entrance caused the classroom to fill with whispered murmurs.

Given the reactions, I imagined this was already anticipated by Luna.

She, too, appeared to be searching for an empty seat, tensing as she did.

I followed her gaze and noticed a particularly vacant spot amidst a sea of occupied ones. It was right on the edge of the middle row.

At the end of it sat a woman, confidently observing us.

‘That person is…’

With vividly fiery red hair and strikingly green eyes, she exuded an aura of sharpness, akin to a predator.

Lastly, she bore the hallmark sun-kissed skin typical of her ethnicity.

Kara, the princess of the Tartar Empire, propped her chin up as she regarded us with interest.

‘Oh, right. She’s in the same class as us.’

Most of the prominent characters appear alongside Luna, while the others didn’t warrant much of my focus.

In the meantime, Luna’s eyes met Kara’s, but no unoccupied seats seemed to exist within proximity.

That meant, inevitably, she had to sit next to Kara.

“Of all the places…”

Luna murmured in a voice of reluctance. She seemed uneasy about occupying the seat beside Kara.

In fact, in the original story, it was the protagonist who sat beside Kara. That laid the groundwork for their gradual friendship.

Moreover, her personality wasn’t inherently bad. Most of the violent encounters were against her.

‘There was also the whole ‘loner meme’ surrounding her.’

Naturally, no one dared to approach Kara, resulting in that meme taking root.

She probably felt somewhat bitter for it. Even if she now pretended it didn’t bother her.

Regardless, there was no denying that Luna had to sit next to her. It seemed Luna accepted this all too well as she commenced her slow trek.

Step, step, step—

As she moved, all eyes in the classroom turned toward them.

It couldn’t be helped, given the ridiculous pair they made.

The princess of a newly-formed nation labeled as a savage, and the top student. Plus, the added wildcard of a wild man.

Hmm, with just that, it formed quite the bizarre mix. If I were in their position, I’d definitely want to watch closely.

“Sivar. Sit here.”

At last, arriving next to Kara, Luna instructed me to take my seat. I complied without hesitation.

Kara appeared intrigued by my presence and greeted us with a cynical air.

“Hello, friend. You’re a bit late today?”

“See, I had to bring Sivar somewhere.”

“Oh, really? By the way, why are you bringing him around? Didn’t the Chancellor take him in?”

“…”

Luna didn’t have a reply ready, merely shooting a glance at Kara. Given her tone, it sounded like she was taunting.

But she wasn’t trying to tease. Her curiosity had prompted her question.

If she were to inquire about the tone, one could simply say it varied regionally.

“You know, don’t ignore me. It’ll make me feel hurt.”

Kara meant it. She was genuinely feeling hurt by Luna’s non-response.

There were reasons behind the ‘loner meme.’ Even if she looked rough on the outside, she likely had a delicate heart within.

But Luna seemed oblivious as she replied sharply.

“There’s no obligation to inform you, is there?”

“Well… that’s fair.”

Kara nodded as if acknowledging Luna’s reply.

She clearly wasn’t the type high-strung individuals paint her to be. The rudeness of civilized society had shaped her persona.

While she usually spoke in honorifics, rudeness from civilized folk had led her to become jaded.

Judging by how smoothly their conversation was now flowing, it seemed they had bridged the gap slightly.

“Then let’s ask him instead. Your name was Sivar, right?”

Kara asked me directly, diverting her focus back to me beyond Luna.

I blinked, then pointed to myself with a finger.

“Yes, you. What’s your name?”

“Sivar is correct.”

“Not you, idiot. Surely you lived in the wild, right?”

While Luna ignored her inquiry, Kara tossed another question my way. Simultaneously, I glanced at Luna to signal her uncertainty.

I fell into thought, unsure of how to respond. Saying “I live in the wild” would seem strange.

Instead, I waved my hand as a request to borrow a pen. If I had some paper and a pen, I could easily form sentences.

When I gestured, Kara looked at me with a perplexed expression.

“What? You can’t talk?”

“Sivar.”

That wasn’t true. Kara frowned at my reply.

“What? I know you can say more than that! Are you messing with me?”

“Not a word.”

“That’s all you can say?”

“…”

Kara’s face wore an expression of growing perplexity.

Unwilling to let the matter rest, she transitioned to a different question.

“Hmm… Didn’t know that. But since you can understand, I assume he taught you some well?”

I shook my head. It was neither Luna nor Eli who taught me.

Kara’s expression brightened upon realizing a meaningful conversation could unfold.

“Really? So who taught you… Oh, right! You can’t speak, can you? Never mind. Can you write? I figured when you gestured for a pen earlier.”

I nodded affirmatively. Kara immediately extended her palm toward me.

Luna appeared slightly startled as she glanced between us.

She struggled to grasp the shifting dynamic.

“I don’t have a pen either, so write it on my palm. Like this, with your finger, got it?”

[Like this?]

I wrote on her palm using my finger as per her request. I’d never done anything like this before.

Regardless, every stroke on her palm felt oddly satisfying. There were thick calluses formed from enduring countless fights.

“Yup, that’s right. Just like that. Looks like you’ve learned the common language.”

[Indeed.]

As our conversation flowed seamlessly, Kara allowed a pleased smile to appear on her lips.

Her fierce demeanor contrasted sharply with her beauty.

“Who taught you how to write? Or did you already know?”

[Road. Eli.]

“I don’t know who Eli is, but saying Roth, the Chancellor, taught you seems a bit ridiculous, doesn’t it? Looks like the guy really has nothing better to do. So what’s your deal?”

[Familiar. Help.]

“Familiar? Ah—An adaptation journey? So you’re also going through adaptation? That was a tough time for me; you’re going to have it worse.”

“Excuse me…”

As we were smoothly exchanging words, Luna interjected with some confusion.

Both Kara and I turned to face her.

Luna stared at the pair of us, bewildered, then finally blurted out a rather silly question.

“…What are you two doing right now?”

“What?”

Kara responded as if it were the strangest thing she’d ever heard.

“We’re chatting, can’t you tell?”

“Chatting… you say?”

Despite Kara’s clear answer, Luna’s expression didn’t budge. She still seemed completely baffled.

But, undeterred, Kara continued to spread her palm out, asking more questions.

“I saw you duel before, and you fought quite well. Just how did you get so strong?”

[Living. Eating.]

“Living means surviving, and eating… hunting? Living and hunting… such a classic answer from you. By the way, do you know my name? I guess not?”

[Don’t know.]

“My name’s Kara. It’s longer than that, but let’s keep things casual… No wait, you can’t speak, huh? I’ll show you how to write it.”

Our ‘conversation’ continued for quite some time.

“…?”

The only one remaining in confusion was Luna, maintaining a blank stare.

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