A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

After the Breeder event, the next exercise in line is survival, a practice that's almost akin to a battle royale, as explained by Marlboro.

Yet, there's no pressing need to outright eliminate opponents. The crucial element is simply to survive.

Perhaps due to this, as the end draws near, options surface.

To agree with another for a joint victory or choose to go it alone in survival.

Regardless of the choice, there are no penalties. If you opt for survival, a slight increase in honor is the only outcome.

‘The duration is set at 12 hours, but in truth, it’s much lengthier.'

While Marlboro mentioned the exercise would run from 7 AM to 7 PM, the real span is far extensive.

Does it even make sense to pre-disclose information when the theme is about survival? Certainly not.

Hence, the expanded time will be revealed just before the exercise commences.

Inevitably, students will be mentally rattled commencing with this frame of mind. The professors count on it.

‘The pitiful part, though, is the teammates.'

The torment is truly with the teammates. Randomly assigned team placements vacillate from heaven to hell, depending on rank.

Fortune may allow for a smooth passage to the end, but the absence of it means savoring a ‘group project from hell.'

It's dreadful to the level that even seasoned players have no choice but to embrace the prayer meta during such times.

With even ‘Luck' offering improved teammate capabilities still being random, its significance is dubious.

‘At least Luna's team has Antonio, which should offer some advantage.'

As a strategist, Antonio's nature should align well with Luna. His slightly sly demeanor shouldn't pose any substantial issue.

Kara, while not familiar to me, likely falls on the side of being agreeable. Her name not lingering in my memory signifies as much.

Above all, more critical at this instant are my teammates. There's Grace, myself, and lastly Yeonhwa Yi.

Grace aside, I've heard that the character Yeonhwa Yi is intriguing.

"Understand, Sivar? You must talk properly and do well, even if we’re absent. You can manage that?"

Ellie clasped my hand while emphasizing her concerns. Her golden eyes brimmed with worry.

It mirrored a mother's ambiance, fretting about her solitary child's adaptability to kindergarten.

While I viewed it as somewhat absurd, from Ellie's standpoint, it was the only possible reaction. After all, I had to venture out without any guardian.

"Is it the right choice, I wonder. Is it really okay to send Sivar alone?"

Kara sighed with an air of perplexity, seeking answers from, of course, Rod.

Rod absorbed her queries and nodded, then in his typical serene tone, he responded.

"All's fine. I've discussed it with Miss Grace, so there's no cause for concern. If Sivar engages in any misdeeds, she’s been instructed to make an immediate report."

"Hmm……"

"Sivar seeking friends beyond you isn't a bad thing."

Rod's carefree comments left Kara puzzling over their correctness. Although logical, the lingering concerns were unavoidable.

The trust he held in me, despite recent catastrophes, inevitably caused even me to become puzzled.

Likely, he had someone assigned to keep a watch or asked Porori for a favor. No mishaps are expected, after all.

"Having said that, you do look quite stylish, don't you? Who chose your outfit?"

"I did! Nice, isn't it?"

Despite the complaint of discomfort with the attire, Ellie energetically replied to Kara’s admiring question.

A simple yet neat combination of a summer black shirt with white trousers. However, as always, the face completes the fashion.

Both physique and face flattering, anything worn would seem befitting, irrespective of my personal comfort.

‘If only the shoes were slippers, though.'

Sneakers are ever-uncomfortable. Slippers were my go-to even for classes, but not today.

The period of adjustment will soon end with my formal enrollment, which will naturally transition to wearing the uniform.

Ellie has convinced me not to cling to slippers forever, suggesting it's a process of growing accustomed.

Knock-knock-knock-

[Principal. It's Grace. May I enter?]

The appointed time was nigh. Grace arrived at the dwelling in sync with the scheduled time.

Upon her knock, Luna stepped aside, and Ellie glanced in my direction, her face etched with more worry.

The apprehension, considering my history, is more than justified.

The priority now is to calmly hear Grace out and forge a bond with Yeonhwa Yi, my upcoming teammate.

Creak-

The door swung open, revealing Grace smiling.

Dressed in a well-fitted white blouse and skirt accentuating her slim waist, even her casual attire emanated an intellectual ambiance.

Lastly, the confident smile on her lips and her piercing gaze exuded an air of authority.

"Miss Luna, I'm pleased to see you here."

"……Yes."

While Grace greeted warmly, Luna responded cautiously, probably mindful of her recent slip where profanities unexpectedly flew.

Still, Grace appeared unperturbed, offering just a smile before shifting her gaze to me.

"……One wouldn't guess you lived in the forest looking at you now."

Post her appraisal of my groomed appearance, Grace wore an expression of surprise, followed by a satisfied smile.

Perhaps my tidy look today, in contrast to yesterday's slightly rugged appearance, pleased her. I would have preferred casual attire, but Ellie persuaded me otherwise.

"Miss Grace, as I mentioned yesterday, please report anything unusual immediately."

"Yes, I’ve got it, Principal."

"Sivar, prepare to leave soon."

"Sivar… You can manage, right?"

At Rod’s suggestion, Ellie gripped my hand more firmly, her worry seeming to intensify.

Anyone would think we wouldn't see each other again. To allay her fears, I began to speak.

"Trust me."

"Okay…! Make sure to have a good talk with Miss Grace!"

"If someone saw us, they might believe we're parting forever."

Kara spoke as if she were taken aback by our behavior. Despite her dismissive tone, her face too conveyed concern.

With a parting grip, I turned and began walking away. As I neared Grace, her smile incrementally broadened.

It looked like she planned to gently coax me with this opportunity. At least for now, I was inclined to listen.

"Well then, we'll take our leave, Principal."

"Hopefully, there'll be no troubles."

"That’s the expectation. And Miss Luna?"

"Yes?"

Grace called out to Luna before leaving. Luna, who was walking away, stopped in her tracks with a start at the summon.

Grace then gave Luna a reassuring smile, before expressing the thought she had been holding back.

"Just like you said, Miss Luna, I'll make sure to have a bloody hard time."

"Ahaha… Yes…"

Come to think of it, I did know that Grace had a somewhat vengeful streak.

******

Grace's plan was quite straightforward. Since swaying Sivar immediately would be difficult, the aim was to gradually build intimacy.

Sivar was oblivious to not only world affairs but even the basics of civilization. Thus, it was best to start with the most elementary matters.

‘For example, a meal.'

With the intention to befriend Sivar, and also to discuss plans, she had secured a reservation at a rather pricey restaurant.

It was a place that even some nobility balked at due to the steep cost, yet it boasted exceptional tastes for its prices.

‘Sivar is known to eat a lot, but it won’t be an issue.'

Grace had gleaned bits of information about Sivar, from his tremendous strength to an insatiable appetite.

He would generally satisfy his meals at buffets, known to easily devour portions fit for five.

Without a buffet, it would be impossible to fulfill his voracious cravings. Grace had the finances to shoulder it.

‘The funds are provided by the family, after all.'

While battling strong inclinations of individualism, the Berche Duke House still generously supports its children financially.

But Grace was focused more on aspects other than material desires or ostentatious displays, meaning her spending was essentially limited to clothing.

‘There's no rush. We can get closer little by little.'

As Grace glanced back, Sivar trailed after her, like a chick following a mother hen.

Having observed countless handsome men throughout her life as a duchess's daughter, his beauty was on an entirely different level.

Even if sculptors painstakingly created such masterpieces, they would be believable. Yet, this made him feel so unreal it was hard to connect.

‘He is truly an enigma of a man.'

With no known parents, no bonds, and seeming to have dropped out of the sky, he possessed remarkable power, and even his eyes evoked a sense of enigma with their red color.

And that piqued more curiosity about his true worth.

Would he offer loyalty akin to that of humans, or that of beasts like dogs or wolves?

This was something to observe over time. For the moment, getting closer was what mattered most.

"Sivar, Sir."

"?"

First, it’s about establishing distance. Grace took a step back, letting Sivar walk at her side. He seemed indifferent, showing no particular thoughts.

The beginning of intimacy is about sizing up the distance. Regardless of status disparities, proximity can be felt based on position.

"What kind of food do you like, Sivar?"

"Food?"

"Yes, food."

Exchanging simple questions isn’t a bad thing. Topics that resonate with mutual understanding are perfect for breaking down barriers.

"Meat."

"Meat, you say? So you favor meat. Anything else?"

"Candy."

"Candy?"

Grace tilted her head at the answer; meat followed by candy. Strictly speaking, candy does qualify as food.

She had never expected such a mention from Sivar. He indeed occasionally chewed on something; now she knew it was candy.

"I see. Anything else besides meat?"

"Meat."

"…Anything other than meat?"

"Candy."

"……"

Perhaps it’s best to let this go. That’s what Grace figured.

Presumably, since his introduction to civilization, his experiences with varied foods had been limited.

Although Sivar must have tried a wide array of buffet items, in his perspective, they might've all fallen under the category of meat.

This line of reasoning seemed rather credible. Such matters might resolve naturally as he adapts more to civilized society.

"What's been the most enjoyable thing since coming to the academy?"

"Enjoyment?"

"Yes."

"Hmm……"

Sivar exhibited a thoughtful look to Grace's question. She quietly awaited his answer.

It wasn’t that he didn’t grasp the meaning of the inquiry. If that were the case, he might've tilted his head or asked back.

Sivar pondered for a while, and Grace was considering moving on to another question when suddenly,

"Ah! Beam!"

"Beam?"

"Death! Beam!"

Grace was the one left tilting her head this time, puzzled by words she had never heard before.

Death beam? Even with her comprehensive education from her family, this was a term she did not recognize.

"Death beam? What's that? It doesn’t sound like something you eat. Can you show me?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Rod. Scold."

Piecing together his brief reply, it sounded like he gets scolded by Rod. Grace's expression grew even more baffling.

What is this death beam that could lead to reprimand from Rod himself? It’s definitely out of the ordinary.

"Understood. But promise to show me sometime in the future, okay?"

"Okay."

"You've made a promise, you know? You realize breaking promises is not allowed, right?"

"Okay."

Someone did a good job teaching him. Grace was marked by a deep smile.

If Sivar found that the most fun, there must be something worth seeing.

Perhaps it will even be revealed in the upcoming survival exercise. Her curiosity about him was escalating.

"We're almost there. Yeonhwa… Ah, there she is."

Upon reaching the prearranged meeting venue, Grace pointed out a spot. Sivar's gaze followed.

Dark hair and eyes – a feature most Easterners had – along with a deep apricot complexion.

The person Grace was searching for sat on a bench near the plaza’s fountain, fiddling with something.

"Yeonhwa?"

"Yes, yes, yes?!"

Startled by Grace approaching, the woman reacted excessively even though Grace had not sneaked up silently.

Apparently lost in thoughts, she had been distracted, as evidenced by her hiding the object she had been toying with.

Yeonhwa, an Easterner female student, gazed up with wide eyes before hurriedly speaking.

"Ah, ah! Lady Berche…"

"As I told you yesterday, please just call me Grace. We'll be working as a team, right?"

"Ah. Yes, that's right. And this person next to you is…"

Yeonhwa's gaze shifted to the side where Sivar, who was much taller than Grace, stood gazing down at her.

His eyes glowed a fierce red, and with the sun behind him, he gave off an intimidating aura.

"EEEK!"

Yeonhwa let out a startled yelp, contrasting with Sivar's rather inexpressive manner.

He looked at her frightened face calmly. Objectively, she is a quintessential beauty of Eastern descent.

Delicate features, including a teardrop mole under the left eye, mixing a sense of cuteness with maturity.

Her overall slender physique and short stature emphasized a soft, domesticated, small dog-like presence.

"There's no need to be so frightened, Yeonhwa. Sivar is part of our team, right?"

"Yes, yes… Sorry…"

Grace gazed at the immediately apologetic Yeonhwa. She had previously gathered some intel on her.

‘Yeonhwa Yi. From the Hwan Empire. Profession: Rogue. No remarkable feats; ranking in the lower tier. Related by blood to Professor Yeonhwa. Descendant of a reputable family.'

Noted as extremely timid and lackluster, this encapsulated Grace's mental profile of Yeonhwa.

Lacking passion and focus, just going with the flow of life, that’s the kind of student Yeonhwa was.

To be honest, it's a mystery why she even entered the academy.

Not a particularly hard worker, not passionate, and without outstanding talent.

Normally, she would not be worth attention, except they were now assigned as teammates, prompting the information gathering.

‘At least she arrived earlier than the arranged time, showing she's got the basics.'

That's a pass. Many don’t even keep to the appointed times, but Yeonhwa arrived a bit early.

‘Even with an insufficient team, the ability to lead effectively is also a skill.'

She surely isn’t utterly incompetent since she's made it into the academy. Grace was brimming with confidence.

With Sivar present, that's all the more assured. In the theme of survival, no one could be more reliable.

His prowess alone could cover any deficit from Yeonhwa, even shouldering the entire task on his own.

‘But whatever happens, being carried is absolutely out of the question. I must avoid any detriment to my evaluation.'

However, the issue lies in his being too strong. Sivar might inadvertently hog all the commendations.

It’s quite a challenge. With plans slowly formulating in her mind, Grace spoke up.

"Now that we're all here, shall we head to the restaurant? It should suit Yeonhwa's tastes too."

"I find it a bit strenuous to go to such an expensive place…"

"Don't worry, my treat. That's the least a team leader should do. You'll come along too, right, Sivar?"

"Okay."

"Alright then."

Grace's face lit up with contentment. Both Sivar and Yeonhwa were the passive type.

This meant she could lead things as she saw fit – a very welcomed development.

As the Eastern saying goes, too many cooks spoil the broth.

No conflict of opinions, the teammates are solid, the exam seems manageable.

There was nothing obstructive in sight. The only concern might be the attention drawn solely to Sivar.

"Shall we get going then? It’ll be a good opportunity to set our plans."

"Yes…"

"Okay."

It seems that smooth sailing is all that lies ahead. That’s what Grace assumed.

‘Hehe. This exercise is going to be a breeze.'

Little did she know her teammates were the notorious group project villains.