Chapter 21

“Attention everyone! We shall have a special guest from today. Classes will proceed as normal, so keep that in mind.”

Just as the class was about to kick off, Professor Malboro walked in.

Naturally, my conversation with Kara was interrupted, and Elvin, who had arrived with Malboro, moved to sit behind Luna.

With only Kara having space beside her, there were no completely empty seats anywhere in the room.

“··· ···”

As Elvin moved, he shifted his gaze from me to Luna, and finally to Kara.

Next, he made an indescribable expression that looked like a mental knot. It must be quite complicated, considering he was stuck between a wildling, the top student, and a barbarian.

“Did you inform the professor?”

Luna, who was squeezed between Kara and me, turned back to ask Elvin.

Elvin looked a bit flustered, then nodded and replied, “Uh… I mentioned it. The principal would have circulated the documents, so all professors should be aware.”

“I see. Thank you for your hard work.”

“You’re the one who’s struggling more… uh, never mind.”

Caught between a barbarian and a wildling, Luna was clearly getting the picture as Elvin stopped talking any further.

Realizing it would just turn into teasing, he seemed to take the hint.

“Let’s convey the news. For those who don’t know, there’s a duel scheduled next week. It’ll be held at a special dueling arena, not just any ordinary one.”

Malboro started discussing the upcoming event. Next week’s duel.

While it may seem like an ordinary duel, considering the academy’s special nature, it feels different.

‘Point System.’

At the United Academy, there’s a point system similar to credits.

Good performances in various tests and events—including this duel—will increase your points.

Conversely, engaging in misdeeds or crimes will send your points plummeting, including your honor.

Through this, rewards can be earned, big or small, based on performance. Though when you say “rewards,” they tend to be mostly materialistic.

For commoners who aren’t nobility, those rewards can be quite substantial.

For nobles, it’s more like trading honor, which is more precious than life itself.

‘It’s said that the effort shows in point increments, right?’

If you just lay it all out plain, it would create disparities, so there’s also a method for fair evaluation.

That method is growth increments. Many students start out as mediocre but find a path for progress.

When that happens, naturally, their grades improve, and the professors take notice.

‘Even if they misuse it, they’ll get caught rather quickly.’

The so-called “power creeps” are practically impossible. Starting with the principal, who’s a monster-level sword saint, it’s just not feasible.

Despite many veterans trying to find loopholes during multiple rounds, every attempt gets snagged at the principal’s level.

Naturally, their points tumble, and they end up tasting despair.

Well, on the upside, being caught like this would allow me to learn swordsmanship from the principal, so it’s not all bad.

“There’s no obligation to attend the duel. But know that there will be many spectators, and rewards will be given based on gained points.”

“Professor, does the more duels I do increase the points I earn for each?”

“Each person can participate in up to three duels. The closer your rank is to your opponent’s, the more points you’ll earn.”

The rest of the explanation stuck with me.

If a top-ranking student battles a low-ranking one, the lower-ranked student will earn more points regardless of the win-lose outcome.

Additionally, if a high-ranking student targets someone way below them, they’ll earn practically no points.

“Lastly, let’s talk about nominations. Any participant can nominate anyone. The nominated student can refuse, and there’s no penalty to points.”

But then, they’d be branded a coward.

In-game, it would result in a drop in ‘honor’ points instead.

If honor drops, various disadvantages follow, and if it dips below a certain level, it turns into ‘infamy.’

With infamy, the character’s dialogue changes, and it becomes significantly harder to gain cooperation from NPCs.

“If more than three students nominate one student simultaneously, that student will be given a choice. If they nominate another student and that student accepts, priority will be granted.”

“Why’s it so complicated?”

Kara grumbled at the surprisingly intricate rules.

Although she thought it was a quiet complaint, I heard her loud and clear.

There were, of course, several other rules for fairness, but I wasn’t particularly interested.

‘After all, I might not even get to participate.’

I’m still in the adjustment phase. Naturally, being not a proper student, I’m not even in the rankings.

I won’t nominate anyone, nor will anyone nominate me.

Sitting next to Rod, watching the fights seems just fine.

Since the final reward isn’t particularly useful to me, and it wouldn’t boost my stats anyway.

“Any questions?”

Swish—

Unexpectedly, someone raised their hand. It was Kara.

Still resting her chin on her hand, she looked oddly grumpy.

“Yeah? What’s your question?”

“I get the feeling that high-ranking folks have it rougher. Am I wrong?”

Kara, having habitually used informal language, hurriedly switched to polite speech.

She’s not someone who would carelessly speak out of turn without reason.

She would at least show minimal respect to her elders.

However, the moment someone calls her a barbarian, she’d revert to casual speech.

Malboro’s presence ensures that won’t happen, so she’ll likely maintain polite language moving forward.

“That’s not true. Points will differ based on wins or losses when high-ranking students duel.”

“So you’re saying they must win for sure, huh?”

“That’s part of it, but there are also ways to impress the spectators.”

Dueling is one vital turning point in ‘player development.’

Depending on how you play and the guest points gained, your mentors and sponsors can change.

Especially with Luna holding the ‘top student’ title, she’ll be under a lot of scrutiny.

Naturally, though, there’s no absolute need to follow recommended paths. It’s perfectly fine to be independent and pick a development style that suits you.

The choice is entirely yours, and how will Luna be chosen?

‘Being a knight means there are many options.’

Even though she’s a knight now, she’s closer to an apprentice.

To truly become a knight, she must undergo much more training.

‘Honestly, I’d like to learn skill sets too, but…’

Right now, I’m just a hollow metal can—physically strong but empty inside.

I won that duel against Elvin purely due to overwhelming physical specs.

In that light, I wanted to have an impactful role during the duels, but for now, I’m still adapting.

It’s uncertain whether I’m even eligible to join with no points or anything at stake.

“Professor, can I ask one more question?”

“Questions are always welcome. So what’s your query?”

As I was pondering, Kara raised her hand to ask respectfully.

She then threw me a glance, before asking a loaded question.

“Can someone going through the adjustment phase still sign up for a duel?”

“······What?”

At Kara’s question, Malboro stiffened, and Luna looked wide-eyed at her.

It wasn’t just them; other students were equally surprised.

“Wait, are you seriously trying to challenge that wildling?”

“What on earth are you thinking? It wouldn’t help at all.”

“That combativeness isn’t going away, huh?”

Kara’s curiosity had only been heightened by the drama surrounding me.

A barbarian challenging a wildling—a strangely fitting yet odd combination.

‘This is quite the shock.’

Honestly, I was just as shocked.

Currently, she should be focused on Luna, but suddenly I find myself in the crossfire.

Maybe seeing my duel with Elvin sparked her curiosity.

“Quiet!”

As the classroom got noisy, Malboro raised his voice, infused with magical power.

In the silenced atmosphere, he glanced back and forth at Kara and me.

His expression was complex, as if deep in thought.

“I have a hunch about why you’re asking that, but I’ll answer first: Yes, it is possible.”

“I knew it.”

With the positive response, Kara grinned ear to ear.

She looked excited right off the bat.

“But as I mentioned earlier, the one nominated must also consent. For me, that’s the key point.”

“I got that part.”

“··· ···”

Kara looked at me with a smirk. I only stared back in silence.

Any excuse I might come up with about not knowing what a duel is would be useless since I’d already experienced one against Elvin.

Fortunately, it seemed Kara had made an assumption and shrugged it off as unimportant.

“From your expression, it seems you don’t quite understand. Can you explain to him?”

“··· ···”

At Kara’s request, Luna looked at me, her expression complex beyond measure.

She pondered for a moment, then expressed a clear refusal to Kara.

“I’m sorry, but that seems difficult.”

“Why?”

“There’s a risk of Sivar thinking violence is easy if this goes wrong.”

A pretty reasonable concern. Everyone, including Luna and others, sees me as a blank slate.

A piece of white paper easily stained with any color. It suggests I could easily go down the wrong path.

But does she know? I’ve been steeped in violence for a long while.

In the wild, violence isn’t just a means—it’s a necessity. I’m not human, just someone well-versed in killing.

Kara might be aware of that, but she argued back with disbelief.

“You do realize how ridiculous that sounds, right? You think it’s violence when a person throws a punch at another?”

“Dueling is a different violence used for survival. You need to let Sivar know it’s a means, not a necessity.”

“Then that means he should duel even more. We can’t just say no without guidance; that would only strengthen his resistance.”

A relentless battle between spear and shield continued unfolding. I found myself listening in, utterly intrigued by the heated debate.

“Enough! We’ll end the dispute there! We’re in class right now!”

“Ugh…”

“··· ···”

Yet, Malboro’s intervention stifled the argument before it could stretch on.

Both Luna and Kara retreated with disgruntled faces.

From their expressions, it appeared neither had given up. A rematch would probably happen during break.

“The period for deciding duel opponents begins today. Furthermore, this afternoon’s class will be replaced with autonomous training. I hope you all train diligently until then.”

With those words, Malboro officially began his class. His subject was basic combat.

Though it might seem odd considering this academy attracts people of exceptional talent, basic combat is critical.

After all, practical experience is the greatest merit, something hard to buy with money.

“Regardless of the type of combat, always watch your feet. Especially if nothing else, it’s essential to make sure your shoes fit well. You don’t want to embarrass yourself by slipping and falling.”

That’s just one of the many tips. It’s a surprisingly useful nugget even in the real game.

While other gear is similar, shoes particularly enhance agility and evasion.

Plus, they elevate the fundamental skill known as ‘movement.’

‘Not that it bothers me since I walk barefoot all the time.’

I’ve grown used to being barefoot by now. It’s vastly better than clumsily wearing lousy shoes.

Even now, while wearing shoes, I must confess it’s rather uncomfortable. Stealthily, I tossed them away without Luna noticing.

Same with the socks. Fortunately, Luna appeared too focused on class to catch me.

“Keep this in mind. Whatever martial arts you’ve learned or skills you’ve honed, starting with movement training is crucial. And…”

Malboro’s basic combat class extended quite long.

As he went through the course content, the text I’d seen in the game began flooding back.

So perhaps it was because of that, or maybe it was just an ordinary theoretical class.

I silently sat through the theory, and before I knew it, class was over.

“This concludes today’s theory. Is there anyone with questions?”

“··· ···”

“If there are none, we’ll finish here.”

As he said so, Malboro left the room, resulting in a buzz of chatter among the students.

The next class would likely be Godin’s Magic Studies. He’s known for his exceptional explanations.

“Hey, hey. Top student.”

“Please call me Luna. And no, that’s a no-go.”

“How’d you know what I was gonna say?”

“You’re undoubtedly going to request a duel with Sivar, right?”

The unfinished debate between Luna and Kara also continued. Just how badly do they want to duel with me?

For me, whether the duel goes through or not makes little difference. At moments like these, it’s best to stay quiet.

“So what do I need to do for you to agree?”

“No matter what you suggest, I won’t agree.”

“You’ve got some stubbornness in you, huh?”

“Sometimes you must be stubborn.”

Like before, tempers flared and the tension rose. Neither party was backing down.

The two of them are quite the spectacle, drawing the stares of other students.

Though they might pretend not to be paying attention, I can see through it all. The biggest thrill, after all, comes from watching drama unfold from the sidelines.

‘This is boring.’

Elvin in the back row also appeared to be keeping an eye on the duo as their argument sparked up.

His attempts to feign ignorance were easily seen through, as he tried to avoid being roped into trouble.

It was then I considered stepping outside when a soft voice drifted to my ear.

“Excuse me.”

“?”

The elegant voice made me turn, including Luna and Kara who were embroiled in their argument.

I had sensed someone approaching, but I certainly didn’t expect them to speak.

“It seems if you keep squabbling, there won’t be any resolution.”

“You are…”

Luna recognized the interloper and greeted them, which made Kara shift her gaze toward her too.

With neatly cut bangs and long purple hair that flowed beside her, she featured striking purple eyes.

While she was quite the beauty objectively, her sharp gaze instilled a somewhat imposing impression.

“Name’s Grace Aria del Verche. Pleased to meet you, Princess of Tartar.”

“······Just call me Kara.”

Kara’s previously blunt tone softened a tad upon the introduction from the woman who had just introduced herself as Grace.

As Grace looked at me with a smile brimming with curiosity and anticipation, I faced her directly.

‘Ah, it’s her.’

The unfortunate soul who had suffered at the hands of Delphoi. The moment I recognized her face, the memory struck vividly.

If no intervention was made, this lady right in front of me is fated to face humiliation at the hands of Delphoi.

After that, she would drop out due to the ensuing mental trauma, thus vanishing from the story altogether.

Occasional mentions suggest she’d be effectively cast out by her family. It’s only natural when one faces disgrace as a noble.

Delphoi capitalized on this point by attempting to muzzle her, but ended up getting caught by Godin instead.

‘What a pity.’

No matter how this turns into an international dispute, she’s just a victim of a garbage man.

Did my emotions show on my face? Grace stumbled over her words with a slightly flustered expression.

“Wha-what’s with that pitying look?”

“Sivar? Mind taking a quick look over here?”

Uh-oh. At Luna’s call, I hurriedly wiped my expression clean.

Luna, tilting her head as she looked at my face, turned to Grace with a puzzled expression.

“Did Sivar do something wrong?”

“Yeah? Uh….”

Grace glanced back at me, scrutinizing my expression once more. I maintained a blank stare.

Her hesitation faded as she spoke haltingly, “I… must have misjudged. But let’s get back to the main topic. You two are in a dispute regarding a duel with this Sivar, am I correct?”

“Yeah, he’s not agreeing to it! Like he thinks he’s the boss or something.”

“Not the boss, but a guardian.”

Another hint of an argument was about to rear its head—noticing this, Grace smiled at the two of us.

It was a lovely smile, though somewhat mechanical in nature.

Then she clapped her hands as if she had a good idea.

“How about you both duel? It’s a simple and straightforward solution after all.”

“[…] Us?”

Luna asked in surprise. Kara lifted one eyebrow, equally taken aback.

“Yes. This is the United Academy. If conflict arises, resolving it through a duel is easiest and most comfortable, isn’t that right?”

“[…] …”

Luna didn’t respond, merely darting glances at me.

But silence often indicates consent. Grace then shifted her gaze to Kara.

Kara stared at Grace intently, then shrugged as she replied casually.

“I don’t mind. Whatever schemes you have, as long as I get the ‘yes.’ It’s just convenient to duel him on the side.”

“Oh my, do you think I’m scheming something? I’m simply curious about both of your skills!”

“Is that so? So, will we?”

With Kara on board, traces of concern deepened on Luna’s face.

I waited quietly for her choice. If this were a game, it would link to an ‘honor’ related event.

As mentioned earlier, honor holds immense importance in human relationships. There’s no wonder it causes conflict.

What choice will Luna ultimately make? Whatever she chooses, it will alter the future.

“…Alright. I’ll accept.”

After a pause, Luna finally opened her previously shut mouth.

Her tone hinted at reluctant acceptance.

“If I win this duel, it’ll be as if my duel with Sivar never happened.”

“Got it. Though I highly doubt I’ll lose.”

With that, Kara said casually, touched by pride as if she had already won. The remark prodded at Luna’s nerves.

Grace watched with interest, sensing the duel was shaping up to become more entertaining than expected.

“…You seem pretty confident.”

“Haven’t you had any practical experience?”

“I’ve hunted monsters and dueled under my master.”

“Then I’ll probably win.”

Kara was quick to assert victory upon hearing Luna had no practical experience.

Naturally, this was perceived as a taunt, causing Luna to scowl. Yet Kara has a knack for objectiveness.

‘Unless it’s a multi-round experience, Kara has the upper hand.’

Kara plays a role in reminding players of the importance of ‘skill.’

Barring outrageous gaps in specifications, it’s nearly impossible to win.

Since time immemorial, her battle prowess has shone brightly until the final chapters of the plot.

‘If we ‘assume’ she’s not the enemy.’

Regardless, a significant event had unfolded. The top student versus the barbarian princess.

This duel between the two will surely capture the attention of many. To be honest, I’m curious too.

I might have a gist of Kara’s skills, but Luna still remains an enigma. Given her top student title, I’m eager to learn more about her capabilities.

“So, you both better give it your all.”

“Why aren’t you joining?”

“I’m a mage, so dueling isn’t really my thing.”

Though it sounds evasive, Grace isn’t suitable for dueling in reality.

She needs strong backup to shine. Her power lies in firepower and precision; casting takes time.

“Please, both of you have an excellent match.”

Before leaving, Grace caught my gaze, giving me a final glance.

With a more pronounced sharpness than Kara, her beauty projected a mocking aura.

Yet it wasn’t mocking; instead, it was merely filled with intrigue.

Grace smiled brightly, then turned around, heading back to her spot.

‘She gets a lot of misunderstandings because of that.’

I stared at her retreating figure, with her long purple hair flowing behind her.

That very impression was likely why Delphoi targeted her. His arrogant character must have wanted to suppress anything that made him look bad.

However, despite Grace having some scheming tendencies, she’s mostly just an ordinary student.

Having endured a demanding upbringing, she embodies those behaviors.

Plus, she has a bit of a ‘childlike’ quality, adding an endearing aspect to her persona.

“I kind of anticipated this but it all panned out like this.”

“… …”

After Grace stepped back, Kara openly expressed her relief.

While Kara achieved her intent, Luna wore an uncomfortable expression.

Her uncertainty was already present, and with Grace stirring the pot, she must be feeling cornered.

I found it amusing how utterly divorced I was from the situation around me. If Luna manages to win, I’d be free of all this hassle.

“…Kara.”

“Just call me Kara casually! So what is it?”

“Regardless of the win or loss, it’s okay for me to duel with Sivar.”

For reasons unknown, Luna abruptly changed her stance. Kara blinked in surprise.

I mirrored her expression, watching Luna with curiosity. She certainly looked determined.

“If I win the duel, it’s likely I’ll take the chance to duel Sivar as well, right?”

“You’ve got it.”

“To prepare for that, I’ll say this: Don’t provoke Sivar’s temper.”

“Huh?”

Kara gazed at me with a perplexed look as I made that peculiar request.

She likely has an inkling of what I meant. After all, she must have observed my scuffle with Porori from a distance.

But Kara is entirely oblivious to the nuances. Instead, her interest in Luna’s request only deepened.

“Now you’ve got me curious. What happens if you provoke his temper?”

“Your life might be at risk.”

“… …”

Was that an attack on her pride? The bright smile that had once adorned Kara faded away.

She likely sensed that I was being dead serious.

‘Not that I’d kill, though.’

There was a sense of awkwardness hanging in the air. While I’ve certainly been a killer numerous times, I’ve never committed murder.

Yet, under circumstances that called for it, I’m perfectly capable. Take Delphoi, for instance.

After all, most life forms are just that—life forms, and among them, some aren’t even half as valuable as other creatures.

When surviving in the wild, I hunted as needed, never for sheer sport.

“…Is that so?”

Kara spoke softly, having put on a serious expression as she contemplated my comments.

Nowhere near the bright smile she wore before, it was just a slight lift at the corners of her mouth.

She stared intently at me, then voiced her thoughts with a hint of amusement.

“Looking at your face, you don’t seem that menacing.”

“… …”

“Well, I’ll know more come duel day.”

It seems she’s intending to pick at my depths. I’m unsure how, but she’s clearly plotting.

Luna darted a glance toward Kara, then spoke in a mild tone.

“I’ve already warned you. And Sivar.”

“?”

“Put your socks and shoes on.”

“Geez.”

Busted.

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