A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

Unexpected as it may be, or maybe it was as expected, the result unfolded before everyone's eyes.

The sparring ended as Kara's fist connected squarely with Luna's face.

Luna's body lifted off the ground only to fall helplessly onto the hard floor of the sparring arena.

"…"

"…"

"…"

Silence, as still as death, enveloped the arena at that moment.

The highly reputed freshman, known for her top entrance exam score, had been defeated by the barbarian.

And it was with an overwhelming display of skill difference. The event would surely cause quite the ripple.

[The sparring match has concluded. Medical team, please respond promptly.]

The announcement broke the silence and reverberated throughout the sparring arena, followed by changes within the space.

The plains were no more, and the hardened dirt floor of the arena returned. Soon after, the medical team rushed in through the entrance.

While Kara was only a little depleted of stamina and physically fine, Luna must be in quite a mess.

Especially her face – it would be swollen from the multiple punches. That’s going to hurt a lot.

‘Still, she held her own, didn't she?'

Due to the skill gap, others will see Luna as incredibly weak. But the reality is that this is normal.

Unlike other freshmen, Kara is what one could call a ‘warrior.' A warrior who has gone through various real battles and knows when to use her skills appropriately.

Luna, who did not learn martial arts, was inevitably limited in her patterns. Kara was well aware of this and exploited it.

Yet, Luna fought well. She keenly understood her own weakness and tried to fend off the close-quarter combat altogether.

‘The entrance exams are meant to gauge fundamental skills after all.'

Basics, such as footwork or strategic thinking, among other things.

Luna must have excelled in these areas to be admitted as top of her class. That alone would have scored her well.

But she lacks variety in techniques, making her reaction capacity painfully slow. Surely, she must have felt something crucial from this duel.

"Hmm. As expected, not quite up to it, but the fundamentals are well in place."

Rod, who had experienced various battles himself, seemed to have noticed as well. That Luna would not achieve victory over Kara.

Even being top of her entrance class, most prospects have hardly experienced real combat.

Their idea of real battles is limited to monster hunting or sparring. It's hardly fitting to even call it real combat.

[There will be a ten-minute break before the next sparring session.]

Following Luna being carried away on a stretcher, the event drew to a close. What was anticipated to be a major event ended rather anticlimactically.

But again, it isn’t that Luna is weak but rather that Kara is incredibly strong.

Slightly exaggerating, it's as if a high-level player has entered a hunting ground where newbies play.

‘The lack of real combat experience will be acquired at the academy.'

During her academy days, she'll face various real combat situations. Among them, a significant event would be the bandit suppression.

While there are episodes related to bandit suppression, it is not yet time to consider such matters. After all, they are dimensions reserved for second-years.

First-year students would learn various skills under instructors or listen to related lectures, and some might get scouted.

Whether one gets scouted or not doesn't really matter. They can take their time to consider.

‘She may have lost, but she certainly left a solid impression.'

I glanced around the VIP seats where dignitaries from various nations sat, all immersed in discussions.

Despite her defeat, they must have seen promise in the swordsmanship and fundamentals displayed by Luna.

If looking at predisposition, the Marta Empire might show more interest than the Granada Empire.

"Hey, old man. What do you think? She looks decent, right?"

While lost in thought, a gruff voice spoke from behind. Turning around, I saw Hector, Kara's father, standing there with a stern face.

"Would you use the term ‘decent' to describe your own daughter?"

"If I don't, she won't survive. It can't be helped."

Hector responded with a complex tone to Rod's sarcasm, scratching his head as if acknowledging his own fault.

"So, your answer?"

"She is exceptional. Considering she is still growing, she'll become an outstanding warrior."

"Do you think so? Then…"

Hector's speech trailed off as he looked at me. Those green eyes, just like Kara's, held a dense curiosity.

He then pointed at me and questioned Rod.

"How do you think it would go if this one fought?"

"You'd know if you saw."

Rod gave a non-committal response. But even that non-commitment was enough to pique Hector’s interest.

Not knowing means that Kara could potentially lose. That’s likely how Hector interpreted it.

"Your words leave me in a bit of an odd mood, old man."

"You don't know Sivar's true abilities, that's why."

"You mean you haven’t fought with him? Then how did you manage to bring him here?"

"The student that your daughter just thrashed brought him here."

It seems the full details hadn't been relayed to him. After all, only those directly involved would know the intimate circumstances.

Hector looked at me with a peculiar expression after hearing Rod’s answer – a combination of ‘What in the world are you?' and intrigue.

"Shibal."

That's why I answered that I didn't really know myself. Hector's face grew even more peculiar.

He, a normally chatty person, was left without words.

"Shibal? What does that mean?"

"Just consider it a habit of speech. He lost his language living in the wild. But he can still say one word or so."

"You mentioned his name was Sivar earlier, right? Don't tell me you named him Sivar because he keeps saying ‘shibal'? That's downright lacking in effort."

I agree with you, sir. If I was grunting ‘uga uga,' I would’ve been named Ugar.

As I inwardly agreed, Rod chuckled as well. It seems he also felt the lack of effort in naming.

"I wasn’t the one who named him. The student who came with him did."

"He is certainly unique. Anyway, I'll know when we see him in a fight."

With that, Hector spat out his words and turned away. He was likely on his way to see Kara.

I watched his formidable back recede, then quietly rose from my seat. I too had a place to be.

"Where are you off to? There's still sparring to be done."

Rod questioned me as I got up.

I pondered for a moment before speaking deliberately and clearly.

"Friend."

"Friend?"

"Hospital."

Having lost consciousness, Luna would probably be in the hospital by now. Even in the Soul World, she had woken up in a hospital.

I planned to go check on her condition. I’m curious to see how swollen her face might be.

Of course, I'm somewhat concerned. About 1% concerned.

"You’re going to the hospital to see a friend? Are you talking about seeing Luna?"

"Yeah."

"Are you worried?"

"Yeah."

But I’m less worried and more curious to see her face. I wonder how swollen it is.

Above all, I have no intention of watching any more sparring matches. It's better to be with someone I know than to stay bored.

"Thinking of such a commendable deed is good. Go on, then."

Of course, Rod is unaware of my actual thoughts. He is simply moved by emotion.

Look at that satisfied smile. He’s definitely thinking that I’m beginning to develop social skills.

In actuality, as conversation has become a bit more possible and I'm catching on to things, he's under the wrong impression. It has nothing to do with social skills.

"That divine beast has been a great help. Now that we can communicate, interactions have been smoother."

"…"

Suddenly, I'm annoyed.

I protested to Rod after hearing that Porori had been helpful.

"Ah! No!"

"Hmm? What do you mean ‘no'?"

"Don't! Help!"

"Don’t need help? Sorry, but that's non-negotiable. Please understand."

"Shibal!"

"Don't complain, just go."

The frustration remains the same.

******

After receiving a proper punch from Kara, Luna had lost consciousness.

Quickly transported to the hospital, she soon regained her senses.

Kara had controlled her strength, but Luna had nearly lost consciousness mainly from a drop in physical stamina.

Throb!

"Ugh…"

As soon as she regained consciousness, Luna groaned in a muffled voice due to the oncoming sharp pain.

Naturally, her abdomen hurt, but her face, which took several hits from Kara's iron fists, was in the most pain.

Her mouth had split during the fight, and after being hit a few more times, it was bound to be quite swollen.

At least emergency treatment seemed to have been given, as she felt only pain without the taste of blood, which was typical for such injuries.

"Ah, you're awake?"

Ellie, who had been caring for her at her side, spoke up when she saw Luna in pain. Entry of animals was prohibited except for specific wards, so Latatosk was not by her side.

Luna met Ellie’s always bright eyes and quietly opened her mouth.

"Where am I…"

"You’re in the hospital. You passed out."

Her swollen mouth garbled her speech slightly. Speaking itself added to the pain.

Luna winced from the pain and turned her gaze away. Then she locked eyes with an unexpectedly familiar face.

"…Sivar?"

"Yeah. Me."

Surprisingly, it was Sivar. His pure and innocent face was looking right at her.

As Luna wondered why Sivar was there, Ellie explained.

"The Principal said that Sivar asked first. He wanted to go to where you were."

"Sivar asked first?"

"Yeah. Surprising, isn’t it? You must have been a big concern for him to come racing here."

Upon hearing that, Sivar looked at Ellie. It seemed he had something to say.

But soon giving up, he turned his head back toward Luna. Luna faced him with mixed feelings.

‘He was worried about me?'

He was probably just curious to see her face. However, there was no way for her to know the truth.

Unaware of the truth, Luna looked at Sivar with a faintly moved expression.

It was touching, and quite remarkable really. She felt that Sivar had grown.

"…Sivar."

"Yeah?"

"Did you come here because you were worried about me?"

Sivar nodded to Luna’s question, his face reading ‘what else would you expect?’.

At that, Luna smiled, feeling an indescribable fullness in her heart.

She didn’t think Sivar was lying. With such a pure(?) face, how could he tell a lie?

"…Thank you, Sivar. You really are kind."

"Yeah."

"Haha. Ouch…"

She must have touched her split lip while smiling. Luna grimaced.

"The doctor said I should be all better in about a day. Teeth are fine too."

"All healed in one day?"

"It is the academy, after all. We always have a supply of high-quality potions on standby. I happen to be making them, you know?"

Ellie proudly puffed out her chest. That presence can't be overstated.

The potion bag entranced not just Sivar but also Luna, another girl present.

Luna looked at the bag absently before quickly regaining her composure. Right now, the priority was analysis.

‘She was really strong.'

It was a moment that made Luna truly recognize what real combat-enhanced skills were.

The perfectly timed choice of techniques, responsive ability, and quick-wittedness – nothing lacked.

Had they seriously fought to kill, she would've lost her head in less than five minutes. Kara was that strong.

‘And if that person fights Sivar… no, wait, where is he looking?'

Sivar was still gazing at Ellie's potion bag… or rather, at her chest area.

One of Luna's concerns was whether Sivar was becoming aware of ‘the opposite sex.'

She already had enough problems without also having to educate him on sexual matters. So now, getting his attention elsewhere was crucial.

"Sivar?"

"?"

"What do you think about Kara?"

She wasn’t sure if he’d understood the question, but she asked anyway. Sivar blinked.

Then, after pondering like he was deep in thought, scratching his head, he quietly spoke up.

"Me."

"Who do you think is who?"

Before Sivar could finish, a familiar voice interrupted.

Turning in the direction of the voice, Kara was standing at the door.

Her refreshing smile complemented her relaxed attire. She wore long pants but topped off with a black tank top.

"Miss Kara."

"It seems you've been treated well."

Kara approached Luna briskly, saying so. She looked unscathed, unlike the battered Luna, as she hadn't landed a single effective hit.

Luna, initially shocked by Kara's appearance, quickly remembered something she had said to her before and opened her mouth in haste.

"Miss Kara, that…"

"No, no, it's okay. It wasn’t serious. I kept taunting you too. "

"But still…"

"Doesn't matter. Just apologizing is enough."

Kara responded in her straightforward manner. Luna looked on, unsure of what to make of it.

Calling someone a ‘barbarian' could be nothing short of an insult to Kara. Having spent time with her, Luna had realized this.

Being anything but a barbarian and getting ridiculed as one would be incredibly stressful by itself.

"I'm from Tatars, where we treat sparring like real combat. No matter what provocation comes, you have to maintain composure, and I didn't. That's my fault."

"Are you really okay with it?"

"Yeah. You apologized, and I accepted it. That’s all there is to it. The real problem is with jerks who don’t apologize."

With a smile still on her face, Kara then looked at Sivar.

"Next time, I’ll be fighting you, I suppose."

"Yeah."

"Can you answer the question Luna asked earlier? Who do you think would win if we fought?"

What Luna really wanted to ask was… well, it could be interpreted in several ways when you think about it.

It wasn’t just about strength; the question could also be about personal perspectives of the individual.

Anyone else may not need such clarity, but with Sivar, she had to make sure he understood the question correctly.

"Sivar. If you were to fight Miss Kara…"

"Sister."

"Huh?"

"Just call me sister. I'm older than you anyway."

"But…"

"If you call me sister, I’ll teach you some techniques."

That was rather tempting. Luna quickly made her decision.

Even as the top admit, getting overwhelmingly outplayed might have not left the best impression on her.

Plus, it seemed she would often be sparring with Kara in the future, so there were plenty of opportunities to learn.

Rapidly processing these thoughts, Luna promptly corrected herself.

Her pride was long discarded like trash.

"If you and Kara sister were to fight, who do you think would win?"

"You’re quick."

Kara snickered from the sidelines, incredulous. She then looked at Sivar as well.

All eyes focused on Sivar, a slightly overwhelming sight.

Sivar rolled his red eyes and then slowly raised his hand.

"You."

Pointing his index finger at Kara, he then continued.

"Same."

And then he pointed at himself, confidently providing his answer.