Chapter 51

As Luna went through a series of arduous events, a sudden thought struck her.

Was academy life really this difficult? She already knew the competition was fierce, but this was way over the top.

She had to clean up after Sivar’s mess, finish her personal training, and also hunt down the demon pulling tricks.

There was simply too much to do. By the time she finished her day’s duties, she was completely drained, falling asleep in her lodging as if she had fainted.

‘I want to go home.’

It was the thought that crossed her mind just before drifting off to sleep. If she were home, she wouldn’t have to endure any of this.

She would have lived like an ordinary person, grown into a normal adult, and continued relationships with regular people.

But everything changed after meeting her master. Her abilities blossomed through that encounter, leading her to enroll in the academy.

And now she was suffering into the suburbs. It felt like she was genuinely experiencing the tribulations and hardships her master had mentioned.

“Good morning, Ms. Luna.”

“Good morning…”

“Hmm… Did you not sleep well last night? You look quite tired.”

The sharp-featured beauty, Grace, greeted Luna, who replied in a voice soaked with fatigue.

Even Grace, who usually radiated an oppressive aura, seemed to be genuinely concerned.

While washing her face dry in response to the question, Luna flicked her eyes sideways.

“Is this something I shouldn’t tell anyone? If the principal finds out, I’ll get scolded too.”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. Open wide. Say ‘Ah’.”

“Ah…”

Click—

Kara was handing candy to Sivar, flicking her fingers and popping it straight into his mouth.

Was he having withdrawal symptoms or something? Sivar kept begging for more candy like a spoiled child.

Eventually, a fed-up Kara secretly bought him one. It was just an ordinary orange-flavored candy.

‘I really hope he doesn’t cause any trouble.’

Just when Luna was having that thought…

“By the way, I heard Sivar did something amusing two days ago… am I wrong?”

Grace asked softly as she sat next to Luna, her curiosity evident. It felt like a natural action.

Luna’s gaze met hers. Up close, Grace’s sharp eyes appeared even more intense.

“…What are you after? Doesn’t Grace already know what happened yesterday?”

Luna wasn’t lacking in knowledge; she just lacked intuitiveness. Given the incident from yesterday, Grace likely knew everything.

However, since it was her first time stepping into a big society like the academy, she found herself lacking in many respects. So, there was no choice but to ask directly.

“You know everything. It’s probably hard to find someone who doesn’t.”

“Then why are you asking?”

“Because I’m curious. I want to know exactly what happened. By the way, it seems like Sivar really did it, huh?”

“…”

Ah, here we go again. Luna’s beautiful brows slightly knit together.

Of course, the rumor had spread far and wide, so anyone could guess who was involved.

Hence, it was likely that Grace asked for confirmation. She wanted to get a handle on Sivar’s strength, after all.

“…Are you asking while already knowing?”

“Yes. Didn’t I mention before? I also want to get closer to Sivar.”

“It’s going to be quite a challenge for you.”

Putting aside her displeasure, that was a genuinely sincere remark. Luna hoped as few people as possible would have to struggle.

…No, she secretly wanted the number of people who struggled like herself to increase. Especially Grace.

She had shown interest in Sivar until now. However, she hadn’t had a chance to approach him.

So, if she subtly bridged the gap, Grace would probably feel motivated and come forward!

“They say after hardship comes happiness. If someone as capable as Sivar becomes your ally, how reassuring would that be?”

“Of course. ‘Aside from other things,’ he’s perfect for physical tasks.”

“Physical tasks… There’s nothing more reassuring in the academy than that.”

“Yes, exactly.”

Without Grace realizing it, Luna emphasized ‘aside from other things.’ Sivar was, by nature, almost like a beast with immense strength.

In fact, Hector almost succumbed to Sivar when he berserked. Hence, once Sivar caused trouble, it also became challenging to handle.

Fortunately, Sivar was being watched over by Rod, the Sword Saint, who was most likely much stronger than Sivar, so there was still a way to manage the situation.

‘Maybe it’s because his instincts are strong that Rod is aware of his own superiority over him.’

Interestingly, Sivar was obedient only towards Rod. Eli was the same, but in a different way.

It felt as if he submitted to the immense strength that made any challenge seem impossible.

“Candy.”

“What? Want more? No way. I need to save some for myself.”

“One. Pleeease…”

“Ugh, fine. Here you go. Don’t complain when your teeth rot later.”

Kara saw Sivar as a ‘friend,’ and thus they were quite close. Maybe he was the first ‘civilized person’ he ever gained as a friend.

Eli felt more like a guardian than a friend, and Rod was the same in a way.

‘Then what am I?’

Suddenly curious, Luna wondered how Sivar perceived her.

Up until now, she had been too busy cleaning up after him, so pondering this made her a bit curious.

Maybe she should casually ask him the next time they talk alone. There would be plenty of opportunities left.

“Grace.”

“Yes?”

“It seems you have quite an interest in Sivar. Are the others not to your liking?”

“Well… I guess there’s a bit of that. But he just looks exceptionally strong. That’s all.”

Of course, Luna wanted to prevent Grace from using Sivar in any way. It was more like a balancing act.

She wanted to make sure that while hardship was inevitable, Sivar wouldn’t be easily manipulated.

If that happened, Grace would retreat in horror and leave him be. She would bail out after only dealing with the trouble.

‘Please let that happen.’

Luna knew she shouldn’t feel this way. Yet, so much had happened in such a short time.

The trigger for her mindset was the Death Beam incident two days ago. She nearly lost the opportunity she had fought so hard to achieve.

All she wanted was to ask about the mural, but the aftermath was terrifying. There were already suspicions about his identity.

“Just to let you know, please refrain from using Sivar as a tool. You won’t be able to handle him, Grace.”

“Oh my. It sounds like you believe you can handle him, Luna.”

“If that’s how you interpreted it, I apologize. But I’m serious.”

Luna spoke to Grace with a bright smile. It was pure sincerity.

In response, Grace gave a mysterious smile, looking intrigued, as if saying it was out of the question.

Usually, people with strong pride show their colors even from a small nudge.

‘Do you think I can’t do it?’

Grace, in fact, held such a sentiment. Luna’s confident affirmation must have scratched her ego, sounding condescending.

Though born into a prestigious family and gaining many advantages, her own family wasn’t easy to navigate.

Don’t expect to gain anything without putting in the effort. A saying of her family—something that had harshly driven her since childhood.

And even now, she was still striving for acknowledgment from her family. The power struggles among noble families were well-known.

‘Make as many allies as I can.’

Instead of defeating enemies, she aimed to build a larger network of allies. This was Grace’s plan since entering the academy.

Her target was commoners like Luna or lower-ranking nobles. Those were easier individuals to rope in.

‘But what I want isn’t just talent.’

The United Academy was a place where all sorts of talents enrolled. Outside of the top tier, dividing ability levels held no meaning.

Moreover, the top-tier talents received attention on a national level. Even nobility ultimately belonged to the state.

Though the Verche Duke’s family had considerable influence, they wouldn’t extend much support until they recognized someone.

‘Those who can pledge loyalty.’

Therefore, what she desired was simple: talents willing to pledge loyalty to her.

“Serve me loyally, and I’ll gladly grant you what you want. The basic rules between a monarch and their vassal.”

Grace sought that very sort of loyalty, and Sivar was the most fitting candidate.

As he gradually adapted to civilization, he would come to realize his needs, leading him to naturally shift his gaze. And at that time, she could reach out.

Above all, he had no connections. No parents whatsoever, and his background remained a mystery. That sense of belonging would carry great significance for him.

‘Until then, I can just gradually get closer.’

Sivar was a person, not a beast. Therefore, it was ridiculous to seek the loyalty that one would expect from a beast.

That wouldn’t be so bad, but if it were, she might as well raise a dog. She didn’t want a beast.

‘…But achieving what I truly want will be difficult.’

Grace silently snorted at the thought. The feelings she had momentarily forgotten resurfaced as she compromised with reality.

Yet the world wasn’t as beautiful as a fairy tale. She decided to refocus her heart.

To be recognized by her family, to secure her future, she needed to strengthen her resolve right from now.

“Speaking of which, Grace, didn’t you say you were helping Professor Delphoi with research?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Has he done anything strange?”

“Hmm…”

At Luna’s question, Grace slightly leaned forward. Sivar was playing with Kara.

He had said before that Professor Delphoi was a beast and to keep away from him.

Back then, she had no idea what he meant, but now that she met him, something felt off.

Though his tone was kind, there was a hidden bitterness or an implicit sense of inferiority embedded within his words.

Even wearing a mask, one cannot hide their inherent nature, and Grace sensed an indescribable unease through her interaction with him.

“I’m not sure… it could be due to my prejudices, so I’m still keeping an eye on him.”

Instead of concluding anything, she decided to observe him for a while as Sivar’s advice could have biased her perception.

There were many excellent professors in magic who weren’t Delphoi, especially Godin. Though he was a disaster in practice, his theoretical knowledge was unparalleled.

“I see. Don’t read too much into it; Sivar could have seen things wrong.”

“I understand.”

“Is everyone here? I have something to communicate, so please be quiet.”

Just then, Malboro entered the classroom, perfectly timed. There was still a bit of time before class began.

Moreover, it was the Friday just before the weekend, suggesting that a different professor should have been teaching.

Luna looked puzzled, glancing forward, while Sivar, who was fooling around with Kara, also shifted his gaze.

Once all the students focused, Malboro cleared his throat and shared an important announcement.

“Next Monday, a special practice session will take place. It won’t occur in the academy’s main hall but outdoors.”

Practices in the academy usually took place indoors without exception. Thus, the idea of an outdoor session sounded exceptionally noteworthy.

While everyone was left curious about what this practice would entail, Malboro opened his mouth with his usual solemn tone.

“The practice will occur in a forest strictly monitored by the academy…”

He paused for a moment, glancing towards a specific direction. Precisely at Sivar, who was sitting next to Luna.

Next, he hinted at the upcoming situation surrounding the practice.

“The theme is ‘survival.'”

“…Survival?”

“Are we supposed to survive in the forest?”

“Wait a second. If that’s the case…”

As Malboro mentioned the theme, everyone’s gaze quickly converged in one direction. Unsurprisingly, it was aimed at Sivar.

Luna, Grace, and Kara were all no exceptions as they subconsciously turned their heads towards him.

Though Sivar merely sat there with a blank expression on his face.

“The duration will start from 7 AM until 7 PM, exactly 12 hours. During that time, you must fend for yourselves, and you will act in teams of three or four. I hope you’ve all understood this part.”

“…”

“However, as you can see, relating to the survival theme, there are ways to eliminate one another. Specifically, by removing or breaking the bracelet attached to your wrist.”

In the end, it’s a competition. It seemed the goal was either to eliminate each other or survive long enough to score points.

Upon hearing this, a few began to wonder if they couldn’t just hide from the beginning to the end.

But Malboro’s subsequent explanation shattered that thought completely.

“From this outlook alone, hiding until the very end might seem like a valid strategy. However, as time goes on, the area where you can act will gradually shrink. Your options will decrease in a confined space.”

“Then, does that mean we will eventually have to fight?”

A student raised their hand to ask. To which, Malboro shook his head firmly.

“Again, the choices are ultimately up to your team. Whether your team survives alone or if multiple teams can continue to survive—nobody knows. Even if several teams finish in a tie, the points awarded won’t differ much.”

Malboro continued by informing them about various rules. The key focus was survival, and as soon as a bracelet was damaged, disqualification would follow.

As long as the bracelet remained intact, knocking out the opponent would still be counted as survival.

Up until this point, professors would be observing for any unexpected emergencies, assuring that there wouldn’t be any dangerous animals in the forest.

“There may only be wild boars and venomous snakes. So, I recommend bringing antidote potions to prepare for snake bites.”

“What if we don’t have an antidote?”

“I suggest removing the bracelet, then. The professors will take action to locate you. Don’t act foolishly and throw away your life.”

Additionally, he mentioned that they would be responsible for meals, and no support would be provided whatsoever.

This practice felt perfectly aligned with the theme of survival. Moreover, noteworthy variables could emerge given the terrain was a forest.

“Finally, the most crucial aspect: team formation…”

As Malboro paused, the students turned their focus back to Sivar.

He had not only survived in the forest, but he had lived there. Moreover, he was strong enough to win against Kara.

Naturally, they would want to recruit him immediately. Still, the world was not that accommodating.

“Team assignments will be randomized. I have already arranged them in advance through discussions with the professors.”

With a snap—

Malboro lightly flicked the paper he had brought with him. At that, students’ gazes turned towards the paper.

Luna squinted, desperately trying to get a good look at the paper, but it was too far to discern the details.

‘…Wait a second.’

A sudden flash of realization hit her. Maybe her mind could find a moment’s peace after this.

The fate would be determined based on the upcoming team assignments. Luna opened her ears wide, focusing on Malboro’s words.

“First team. Luna Estelle.”

Luna’s name was called out the very first. She felt anxious as she awaited the names of her future teammates.

“Antonio Bemose. Thalia Zerdi.”

She recognized Antonio, but Thalia was unfamiliar. She would surely become acquainted with her face soon enough.

It seemed they were assigned one from the upper tier, one from the middle tier, and one from the lower tier.

“Next is team two. Kara Meyer Hectorsdaughter. Janaya…”

Kara’s full name was revealed unintentionally. Her surname was quite unique and lengthy.

Hearing that, Luna casually glanced at Kara, who seemed displeased with her name and muttered something under her breath.

“Wow, everyone will know exactly who my daddy is now…”

It seemed that adding something after a name was a tradition in Tartar. She’d have to ask about that later.

“Elvin Martis Jerka. Banat Rex…”

Sivar’s name did not come up immediately. That only made Luna more curious.

Who would end up being Sivar’s teammates? Not only Luna, but Grace also perked up her ears, wishing to know.

“Team 10. Grace Aria del Verche. Lee Yeon-joo. And…”

Just as nearly everyone else had been called, Malboro hesitated for a moment, glancing up.

He briefly turned his gaze towards Sivar, folding the paper in half before finishing his sentence.

“And Sivar. That’s all.”

“…”

“Any questions?”

There were plenty. Too many to count.

But everyone sensed that asking would yield the same response, so no one spoke up.

“I emphasize again: survival takes precedence. It doesn’t mean you have to fight.”

Malboro, completely aware of the students’ sentiments, reiterated that point. He was indirectly telling them to avoid fighting with Sivar.

Sivar, who had already triumphed against Kara with overwhelming power, also had the home advantage of the forest as the practice venue.

There was no way anyone could win. It would be wiser to either target other teams or focus on purely surviving.

“May you all prepare thoroughly and achieve good results.”

With those words, Malboro exited the classroom. A peculiar silence loomed in the room.

The practice itself was rather normal, if one could call it that. Survive in the forest while eliminating or persuading rivals.

The problem was Sivar—a species invasive to ecosystems that could easily disrupt the very balance of nature.

In the midst of a confusing situation, one person was the only one smiling.

“What a coincidence! I can’t believe I’m on the same team as Sivar.”

“…Indeed.”

This felt too uncanny to be mere coincidence. Was this all a result of shuffling the assignment?

Regardless, Luna was pleased. Especially since Grace would be present—it was just icing on the cake.

Now all that was left was for the thoughts that had crossed her mind earlier to come to fruition.

“Then, Ms. Luna, if you don’t mind, I have a small favor to ask.”

“What kind of favor?”

“For the sake of strategizing and tactical planning, I’d like to borrow Sivar for a bit—just for this weekend.”

As expected. Luna maintained her poker face as best she could.

After all, strategies and tactics before Sivar were meaningless; he was the living strategy tool.

Though Grace didn’t yet recognize Sivar’s true potential, that didn’t matter. What was currently crucial was whether to hand Sivar over or not.

“That’s fine, but I want to go along too…”

“That’s not possible. What if our plans get exposed?”

Oh, please. Sivar himself was the plan.

Luna internally chuckled at Grace’s response, which felt a bit blatant.

This too was within her expectations. However, Grace was really in over her head when it came to Sivar.

‘Still, I’m worried…’

Ideally, she would have given a resounding “Go ahead!” and let Grace take Sivar. But facing the situation now made her hesitant.

Whether to sell her conscience for a bit of mental ease this weekend or hold onto it.

Under normal circumstances, she’d choose the latter, but far too many things had occurred, leaving her utterly exhausted.

Besides, maintaining her condition was essential for the upcoming practice next week.

‘I wonder if he can manage without causing any trouble?’

With a worried look, Luna stared at Sivar, who appeared to be playing carelessly with Kara.

While someone was deep in thought, he was having a grand old time. At that moment, she almost lost her cool but barely kept it under control.

‘He hasn’t let slip anything about us.’

Sivar hadn’t uttered a single word about the mural. He just lived life as it came.

While she couldn’t yet confirm whether he had truly become human, he had never treated anyone poorly.

Well, aside from Hector. Truth be told, Hector had made the first move, so there was considerable room for leniency.

Through this series of thoughts, Luna nodded and came to a decision.

“…I’ll inform the principal. After class today, let’s bring him along.”

“Thank you so much, Luna.”

She had sold about half her conscience. Given Rod’s character, he’d probably end up reluctantly agreeing after grappling with the thought.

More importantly, Grace was spot on as her reason for wanting him was entirely valid. They’d gather to discuss strategies as a team.

How could she possibly refute that? Especially in the highly competitive academy setting.

With a smile on her face, Luna spoke to the grinning Grace, who had no idea about the future that awaited her.

“You’re welcome.”

On the outside, she smiled, while within her thoughts, she reflected.

“Let’s see how you manage to struggle.”

Best of luck with Sivar.

She had never been so contradictory in her thoughts.

“Excuse me…? Just now… what did you say…?”

“…”

Grace appeared bewildered by Luna’s refreshingly crude remark. She clearly had a look that asked, “Did I hear that correctly?”

Luna belatedly realized her slip-up and thought, oh no—everything felt as if the blood had drained from her body.

Given the strenuous circumstances, her inner and outer thoughts had mixed up. Normally, she would never make such a mistake.

But once the words were spilled, they couldn’t be taken back. So, she rushed to rectify it.

Even if it was impossible to gather the spilled words, one had to make an effort to do so. Even if that effort seemed audacious.

“I meant to say, please take good care of Sivar. Did I misphrase that?”

“Ah… ahaha… right? I must have misheard, right?”

“Yes, you probably…”

“Struggling?”

It seemed Luna’s audacious words left Grace speechless, or perhaps she inadvertently did it on purpose.

“Struggle. Hardship?”

“…”

“…”

Sivar managed to repeat Luna’s words as he struggled to swallow them down.

Suddenly, a hush fell across the room. Grace’s purple eyes turned ice cold.

“Well, you really should mind your words in front of kids. And Sivar.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t say things like that. That’s a swear word, you know?”

Whether or not Kara’s scolding continued was beside the point.

“…Luna?”

“…”

“I never expected you to be capable of such vulgar language. How surprising.”

Luna would need to watch her step around Grace for a while.

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