Chapter 53

The early United Academy boasts a long history, with many things lost to time and others that remain unchanged.

In the founding days, there wasn’t an all-encompassing hospital like today, nor was there a Special Dueling Arena.

Like institutions, restaurants also share a similar fate. While some have vanished, surprisingly, some have managed to maintain a steady existence.

One such place is the restaurant reserved by Grace. Once just an ordinary dining spot, it has been transformed into a restaurant over time.

It has stubbornly kept the same menu for ages while constantly staying in one place, which has helped nurture both its character and flavors.

Nom nom—nom nom—nom nom—

“…Please eat slowly, Sivar.”

“Yeah.”

To Sivar, it was just another meat-selling restaurant. History or not, meat is just delicious.

Watching Sivar down four steaks already, Grace smiled awkwardly. I wonder if it’s even accurate to say he’s eating.

The restaurant they’re at is a high-end place with generous portions. Nobility and commoners alike can be satisfied here as long as they can pay the price.

But Sivar was too busy shoving food into his mouth. The more amazing thing was how skillfully he was using both the fork and knife.

‘Hmm, way better than eating with hands.’

If he had been shoveling food in with his hands, even Grace would’ve frowned at the sight. This is still acceptable.

Moreover, he’s occasionally dabbing his mouth with a napkin. At least he seems to know a thing or two about hygiene.

It might not align with the elegance and nobility Grace strives for, but it doesn’t cross the line of manners.

Crisp! Crunch!

“Wow… he’s even eating the bones…”

“…”

That’s a little hard to take, though. Just like Lee Yeon-joo’s amazed reaction, Sivar was nibbling on the bones like they were nothing.

The restaurant they reserved specializes in meat itself, offering a variety of options.

There are even bone-in steaks, like T-bone steaks. Just like what Sivar is munching on now.

‘Is he a real beast? What if he damages his teeth…’

A mix of disbelief and concern crossed my mind, but then I recalled a certain occasion. When Elvin and Sivar dueled.

Sivar had crunched down on iron with far more toughness than bone. So chewing on bones must be nothing for him.

Thankfully, his chewing prowess isn’t directed at people. Grace let out a hollow laugh and focused back on her meal.

“…”

When they were finishing their meal, Sivar, having gnawed on the bones thoroughly, gazed at Grace.

Feeling his stare, Grace slowly lifted her head. Sivar was looking at her impassively.

At first, I had no idea what that gaze meant. But now, I understand it to some extent.

“…Would you like more?”

“Can I?”

“Of course. This is nothing.”

“Okay!”

It’s nice to be simple-minded. Grace internally chuckled as she watched the cheerful response from Sivar.

Maybe it’s because he hasn’t been in civilization long. His most basic desires, especially his appetite, seem quite pronounced.

‘Perhaps it’s because he’s surrounded by food that’s on a completely different level from the Wilderness.’

He naturally couldn’t help but have a strong appetite, with an abundance of food in civilization that can’t even be counted.

For Sivar, every single meal must feel like a grand feast.

‘Thinking about it like that… it’s a bit… sad.’

At the same time, Sivar’s past sounds quite pitiful. Out in the forest, he likely couldn’t even prepare proper meals.

He might not have even been able to start a fire, which marked the beginnings of civilization. Maybe that’s why he has such tough teeth.

To survive, he would have had to chew through flesh and even bones. Quite literally, like a beast.

‘Maybe his love for sweets is part of that too.’

Seeing it that way, I felt a sense of openness. After all, when people judge others, they tend to measure them against themselves, leading to biases.

Thus, as Grace gained a new realization, their meal continued in a rather warm atmosphere.

Unlike the somewhat chaotic Sivar, Grace maintained her gracefulness while eating.

Finally, there was Lee Yeon-joo. She wasn’t eating steak but rather meat prepared in the Eastern style.

Thus, she was using chopsticks instead of a fork and knife. To Grace, that was a bit fascinating.

“Yeon-joo.”

“Yes, yes?”

Lee Yeon-joo jumped slightly at Grace’s call, much like a small animal. Such a response was quite impressive.

Grace wondered if it was really necessary to be that startled just because she thought Yeon-joo had finished her meal.

“Do all Easterners use chopsticks? I was just curious.”

“Ah… yes. Most of us do. In my region, we also often use spoons.”

“Spoons? Aren’t they usually for soup or porridge?”

“Generally, yes, but… um, I almost said country, but…”

Just as she was about to say ‘country,’ Yeon-joo swiftly corrected herself. Grace raised an eyebrow at that.

Yeon-joo then glanced around as if checking whether anyone else was listening.

“…Our regional culture is a bit unique. Hehe.”

“Hmm. I see.”

If it’s truly a unique regional culture, then it’s something I can let slide. Cultures generally tend to be that way.

However, what bothered me more was her previous reaction. It was just a verbal slip, yet she reacted excessively sensitive.

‘Come to think of it, the Hwan Empire is technically a federation by name, right?’

Unlike the constantly bickering Westerners, the East has recently unified into one nation.

More so than unification, it bears the form of a federation, although it’s just called a federation since the core remains ‘Hwan.’

The Hwan Empire cleverly utilized international relations to integrate its territories.

‘But I heard they treat other nations accordingly… there seems to be something I don’t know.’

While Yeon-joo hails from the Hwan Empire, she’s technically part of an allied nation. Hence, she’s sensitive to such matters.

Furthermore, one of the current goals of the Hwan Empire is ‘hegemony,’ a belief system as strong as the Granada Empire.

Seeing the East swallowed whole gives a glimpse into the depth of ambition the Hwan Empire’s leadership holds.

‘The original name of the Hwan Empire, when translated into our language, means ‘Eastern Federation.’ That’s how ‘East’ was coined.’

Moreover, the term ‘East’ was designated by the Eastern federated states. But at some point, it changed to the Hwan Empire.

Additionally, ‘East’ has morphed into a kind of regional name. If you were to ask a passerby, they would mention the Hwan Empire before the East.

I don’t know the internal affairs well, but the subordinate states likely harbor considerable discontent.

Hegemonic tendencies apply not just to the world outside but also to the vassal states.

‘It wouldn’t hurt to investigate a bit more thoroughly.’

I’m not particularly interested in Yeon-joo herself. I just want to grasp the inner workings of the Hwan Empire a bit more.

Since ancient times, information has held great value simply by its existence. Grasping details could offer a weapon down the line.

Grace suppressed the joy of having discovered something to investigate. For now, the more pressing issue is the upcoming exams.

“Yeon-joo, do you like sweets? I heard Easterners prefer things more subtle.”

“I… don’t dislike them.”

“I see. And what about you, Sivar?”

“Yeah.”

Grace called out Sivar and took a quick glance below. The stack of empty plates caught her eye.

Having munched on even the bones, there was no need to clean up afterward. Thanks to that, the food waste was minimal.

“You like sweets, right, Sivar? You mentioned you like candy earlier.”

“Yeah.”

“Then you must like cake too. Do you know what cake is?”

“Cake?”

Sivar tilted his head, seemingly questioning if such a thing existed.

Though it’s a restaurant catering to both East and West, it’s a bit surprising to find cake there. It’s not like it’s a café.

Unbeknownst to Grace, Sivar’s thoughts remained completely untainted as she smiled and replied.

“Yes. It’s a sweet and soft dessert. I’m sure you’ll love it.”

“Yeah.”

“Great! How about you, Yeon-joo?”

“I don’t mind either.”

They settled on cake for everything. Grace skillfully called the waiter to place their order.

Once the waiter left the room, Grace got ready to bring up the main topic.

“Alright. Shall we start planning for the upcoming practice? I’m not worried since Sivar is here, but the most important thing is survival. There’s no need to attack others recklessly.”

“Can’t we just hide from start to finish? Other teams will definitely be on guard against us…”

Yeon-joo timidly voiced her opinion. She meant to suggest not stepping out at all.

Typical of Yeon-joo, who doesn’t want to take the lead or display enthusiasm; it’s the kind of opinion she would have.

Of course, Grace didn’t like it.

But she couldn’t express that outwardly. She kept her smile while persuading Yeon-joo.

“That’s not a bad option either. As the professor emphasized, survival is paramount.”

“Isn’t it?”

“However, Yeon-joo. If we do that, the professors…”

Grace paused her words for a moment. Unexpectedly, Yeon-joo’s suggestion didn’t sound too bad.

As mentioned before, Sivar is beyond just an ecological disruptor; he’s an ecological destroyer. No student can match him regarding survival.

Even if other students possess various bits of knowledge, actually putting it into action would take time. Without a mage, just starting a fire would be tough.

While others may envy Sivar’s existence, observing it closely reveals that there’s nothing to envy.

‘In a situation with Sivar, one must be at least in the top ranks to break even.’

Sivar is a double-edged sword. If he finds himself in a ridiculous situation and ends up getting eliminated, their win rate would plummet.

Furthermore, as Yeon-joo mentioned, other teams would be cautious of their team with Sivar.

No one knows what might occur in the forest, so hiding isn’t a bad choice either.

“…It doesn’t sound entirely bad, does it? If you’re aiming for safety, Yeon-joo’s plan isn’t too shabby.”

“Thank you.”

“What about you, Sivar?”

Grace turned her gaze toward Sivar, and at that moment, their faces met.

Shouldn’t asking for his opinion be the right thing? It felt a bit odd since he couldn’t even reply properly.

Yet, as a team leader, one must do what’s necessary. Grace asked Sivar without prejudice.

“What do you think, Sivar? Do you think it’s best to focus on survival as Yeon-joo suggested?”

His answer was extremely simple.

“Dunno.”

“…”

It was so simple that it struck Grace a little. Here stands a strong but foolish brute.

One who asks for the opinion of such a fool must be foolish as well. Grace nodded and let it slide, showing some understanding.

Instead, to build intimacy, ‘conversations’ need to be maintained. There’s no greater distance in emotions than feelings of exclusion.

“You can’t just say you don’t know. You’ve heard what we’ve been talking about, right?”

“Plan?”

“Yes. Plan. I thought you might have a good idea on it.”

Upon hearing those words, Sivar blinked and then tilted his head down, deep in thought.

“Here it is. Enjoy your meal.”

“Thank you.”

In the meantime, the dessert they had ordered earlier arrived. Grace smiled at the waiter and handed a cake to Sivar.

“…?”

Did the sweet scent of the cake stimulate his sense of smell? Sivar lifted his head to stare at the cake, breaking his concentration.

It was fluffy and sweet, looking enticing. The strawberries atop the whipped cream added to the temptation.

“They say eating sweets can help your brain work faster. So think about it slowly while you eat.”

“Nom.”

While Grace explained, Yeon-joo used her fork to pop a strawberry into her mouth. She looked as cute as a small animal eating.

Sivar quietly gazed at her before picking up his fork as well. Following her example, he grabbed a strawberry.

“…Yum!”

The moment he tasted the strawberry, his eyes widened in surprise, clearly enjoying it.

Next, he started taking bites of the cake. With each bite he took, noises of happiness escaped him.

Grace felt a flood of inexplicable warmth as she reminded Sivar.

“Delicious, right? I’m treating you to this.”

“Thanks.”

“So, have you thought of a plan?”

Grace asked once more to the now-empty plate Sivar was staring at with regret.

“Survival. Win. Right?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Win. Done.”

Such a straightforward, almost simplistic plan made Grace’s expression say ‘of course.’

Still, the fact that Sivar felt motivated is enough for her. She wasn’t expecting a detailed strategy.

“Instead.”

“Instead?”

However, Sivar’s continuation about that word pulled her back to attention. Was something about to come up?

“Cake. Give.”

“Cake? You mean cake, right?”

“Yeah.”

Sivar confirmed Grace’s question and followed it up with his words.

“I help. Win.”

“So you mean…”

Grace found herself sinking into thought to decipher what Sivar was saying. While Kara immediately understood, she took a bit longer.

Fortunately, his choice of key terms made it quick for Grace to grasp.

“You mean you’ll help us win, so later on you want cake?”

“Yeah.”

“That sounds great. If you want, I can get you more right now.”

This situation was the best for Grace. Unlike the unmotivated Yeon-joo, Sivar was unpredictable.

One of the worst things is Sivar going off the rails. It was impossible to predict where he’d stray and what he might do.

Given that concern, the fact that he was willing to help was incredibly reassuring. Especially since this practice’s theme is survival.

“Yeon-joo, isn’t there a saying from the East about this? Something like gaining a thousand troops and horses?”

“Yes. That’s true, but…”

Yeon-joo turned her gaze from the grinning Grace to Sivar.

She tilted her head and then muttered in a somewhat reluctant voice.

“If the ability of the thousand troops and horses is held within one person, that would be a problem in itself…”

“What does that mean?”

Grace felt the need to query Yeon-joo about her statement, her curiosity piqued.

Yeon-joo nibbled at her cake before cautiously opening her mouth.

“If Sivar gets eliminated, that means we lose the thousand troops and horses.”

“Ah. So that’s what you meant? Don’t worry.”

Grace calmed Yeon-joo as if her worries were unfounded.

“Surely no crazy person would dare to challenge Sivar?”

******

While Grace was formulating plans from various angles, Luna was savoring the rare feeling of liberation.

Even though Sivar was far away, it didn’t worry her to the point of losing sleep.

When he was right next to her, she couldn’t help but feel anxious about what trouble he might cause next.

Of course, she wasn’t just idly passing the time. She had her responsibilities too.

“So, what you’re saying is…”

Luna trailed off, a hint of confusion in her tone. Currently, she wasn’t in the president’s office but in some café.

Just as Sivar had a meeting with his teammates, she was having one with hers as well. It was for the upcoming practice.

“So, instead of focusing on survival, we should aim to take out Sivar first? Collaborate with other teams?”

“That’s right. You understand quickly.”

The man sitting opposite Luna, Antonio, responded nonchalantly, waving a finger.

It felt like he was concocting some sort of scheme. To that, Luna replied with a tone suggesting it was absurd.

“Does that even make sense? As you’ve seen, Sivar is ridiculously strong. Defeating him…”

“Who said anything about defeating him? I’m not an idiot. No student can beat him head-on.”

“Then why…”

“I didn’t say we should beat him. I said we should make him drop out.”

Antonio pinpointed the crux of the matter. It was never about winning against Sivar but about getting him eliminated.

The most critical factor in this practice is survival. As long as the bracelet doesn’t get removed or damaged, one is considered to have survived.

“If we focus solely on snatching the bracelet, we could have a shot. No matter how strong Sivar is, that’ll be tough.”

“That may be true, but… isn’t that a bit cowardly?”

For Luna, it was undoubtedly a rather uncomfortable method. Collaborating with other teams to take out Sivar felt wrong.

Antonio, hailing from the Granada Empire, likely wouldn’t mind executing such a plan. Their mindsets stood in stark contrast.

“Cowardly? So you’d rather watch them come in first place with your own eyes? There’s a limit to how much one can just sit and accept wrongs.”

“…”

“Sivar’s very existence disturbs the balance. He should be eliminated first for fairness to return. Don’t you think so?”

“I think so too.”

Even one of the teammates seemed to agree with Antonio’s viewpoint. Luna fell deeper into thought upon witnessing this.

Antonio’s words weren’t entirely without merit. Sivar’s very existence was unfair, hence he had to be eliminated first.

The plan is roughly like this: during the practical, quickly locate other teams, form alliances, and then target Sivar.

It’s a plausible scheme given that it’s highly likely other teams would also think the practice unfair.

‘This doesn’t feel right, though…’

Luna pondered and pondered again, doubting if this was indeed the right thing to do.

Sivar’s exceptional strength had long been proven in his fight against Hector. Essentially, it’s akin to swatting away a mosquito.

Yet the core point Antonio made was about ‘elimination.’ Winning the fight isn’t important.

‘But it’s still worth a try. I have no idea how evaluations will play out, but…’

Antonio was aiming not just for the top ranks, but for first place. If he could secure that, he could overturn other evaluations.

After much deliberation, Luna let out a deep sigh. It felt cowardly, yet her curiosity was piqued.

Would Sivar really manage to hold onto his bracelet with so many people ganging up on him? Pure curiosity.

“Alright. Let’s give it a shot. Just make sure to convince the other teams, Antonio. I’m not very good at that.”

“Of course. Thanks for hearing me out, team leader.”

Antonio already had a mischievous grin on his face. With such a devious demeanor, he looked even more cunning than before.

Luna internally scoffed at that.

‘I wonder if Kara will be on board with this.’

It feels like she might just get a mouthful of complaints.

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