A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

While Sivar, limited in his right to attack, was proceeding through the exam with his extraordinary methods, the other students were sticking to conventional tactics—laying traps in houses that lacked collectibles and waiting, or following others stealthily to ambush, or even directly assaulting, to name a few.

Their actions largely fell within the professors' expectations, and there were not a few who got disqualified. Some, in their attempts to enter the mana field, made misjudgments and were friendly fired out of the competition.

"Phew. Is everyone unharmed?"

"I got a burn on my arm, but I'm fine."

"Good. And you?"

"I'm fine as well."

Kara nodded as she checked on her teammates' conditions. They had just finished a skirmish.

They had almost walked into a trap set in a seemingly uninhabited house, which could have been a close call.

It was only thanks to their sense of smell that they caught on in time; had they realized it any later, not only the team but she herself might have been in danger.

"Let's rest here for a moment. We're inside the mana field, so it should be safe."

"Okay."

"I'll check to see if anyone is coming from the outside."

During a brief respite, each team member began attending to their tasks. Kara observed her teammates.

Even though they were an ad-hoc team, there seemed to be a sense of formality, even a certain distance between them—something she had felt for some time.

Preconceptions born of origin and reputation. Finally, the demeanor of the elders and those with practical combat experience seemed to compound, creating an atmosphere not easily penetrated.

‘Well, it doesn't matter to me.'

Better to be alone than pestered by tiresome people. It's more comfortable to bond deeply with a few than to engage shallowly with many.

Tatars' culture played a role in this as well. The harsh land had seen too many deaths, so people refrained from giving their hearts away too freely.

Although now, thanks to monster hunting and tribal integration, the death rate has dropped, the cultural custom runs deep.

Once friends are made in Tatars, the bonds of loyalty last until the end. To traitors, however, the response is inexorably hostile.

‘It's like the academy tears apart any sense of loyalty.'

The inherently competitive system undoubtedly contributes, but it creates a perfect breeding ground for conflicts.

While she prefers to quickly get on with post-exam matters, she can’t speak for others. She had even heard that couples had split due to the strains of the academy.

It's an inescapable destiny of advanced civilizations. As societies grow more complex, so too do human relationships.

It's not without reason that she favors simplicity. The simpler things are, the deeper the bonds that can be forged with friends.

A comrade with whom one can back to back, fight together—perhaps even a bond transcending ordinary friendship.

‘Will I ever get to fight back to back with Sivar? That might be difficult, huh?'

Kara snickered to herself. Standing back to back implied being at least equal in prowess.

Sivar, while lacking in technical skills, possesses overwhelming physical strength. When he enters a rampage, even Hector might be subdued.

Of course, considering Hector's psychological issues, that's still quite impressive.

‘Maybe I should ask Saintess for help?'

The thought of physique brought Rize to mind, someone whose physical capabilities could match or even surpass Sivar's.

If the physical difference is overwhelming, then leveling up one’s own abilities seemed like a reasonable solution in Kara's mind.

Since Luna was also receiving training from Rize, it wouldn’t hurt to ask her once.

"Ka-Kara!"

"Hm?"

While lost in thought, one of her teammates urgently called out, prompting Kara to quickly refocus.

"What's happening? Someone coming?"

"Yes, yes!"

"Who?"

"Si-Sivar."

"Sivar?"

Kara's eyes widened in surprise. Why would Sivar come here?

But that curiosity was brief as she quickly armed herself. Sivar couldn't attack, so he must be with other team members.

"But he seems to be alone?"

"What? Alone?"

"Yes. And what's… Are those people on his shoulder?"

The teammate peering out the window murmured incredulously, wondering if they were actually seeing what they claimed.

Kara finished arming herself and stood beside the teammate, who gave her space to look out.

There, she saw why her teammate was bewildered.

"What's… that?"

"I don't know."

As the teammate said, there was Sivar, confidently approaching with two people slung across his shoulders like sacks.

Kara was puzzled, trying to make sense of it, when Sivar came into view and directly approached their location.

Kara suspected another fight was imminent, yet decided against it since Sivar couldn't attack.

"You guys stay put. He obviously knows we're here."

"How does he know we're here?"

"There's a way."

Just the fact that he was heading straight for them was proof enough. Kara thought as she cautiously made her way to the door.

She could initiate an attack, but Sivar was likely ready for anything. They needed to face him first.

Creak—

As Kara cautiously opened the door, she came face to face with Sivar, with two people still slung over his shoulders.

"Let, let go of me! Won't you let go?!"

"…"

Upon closer inspection, one struggled, and the other hung hopelessly limp.

They were neither Grace nor Yeonhwa, so apparently, they were from some other team brought here by Sivar.

Why? The question lodged itself firmly in Kara's mind when Sivar finally spoke.

"Hello."

"Oh… Hello?"

Unlike during the survival training, he was unquestionably a foe now. But, greeted so casually, she had inadvertently responded with a greeting herself.

Caught off-guard by her own reaction, Kara watched as Sivar set down the two he had carried to her like a delivery.

The mystery deepened as she realized their hands were tied behind their backs.

"Gift."

"Gift? This is?"

"Yes."

Sivar then turned and walked away after calling them a "gift." Kara looked baffled, alternating her gaze between Sivar and the two people now at her feet.

She had no idea what had transpired. Why Sivar had gifted her these two people, what he had done, where he had found them.

It was hard to grasp the situation. First things first, she needed to deal with the floundering people on the ground.

"Kara."

"Hm?"

"Gift."

Whoosh—

Just then, Sivar, without even turning back, threw something at Kara.

Unlike the round shape of a grenade, it was a long, cylindrical device.

The moment she saw it, Kara instinctively attempted to close her eyes in shock.

Bang!

But the flashbang detonated too quickly, Sivar having prepared it in advance.

"AH!"

Kara screamed, temporarily blinded by Sivar's flash. Her shout prompted her teammates to burst out of the building.

Struggling to recover, Kara blinked her eyes. Luckily, she had only narrowly closed them, so recovery didn't take long.

"Are, are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine. But where's Sivar?"

"There, he's…"

Kara managed to open her eyes, looking in the direction pointed out by her teammate.

Sivar was running away as though his business here was finished.

If he was planning to run away, why throw a flashbang at her?

‘…Was it a prank?'

It had to be. Otherwise, Sivar would have thrown a bomb, not a flashbang.

Besides, hadn't he said "gift" just before tossing it? It didn't make sense otherwise, unless he was playing a joke.

"What should we do? Chase him?"

"Forget it. Just let him go."

There was nothing to gain from pursuit. Right now, rest was imperative.

With her vision restored, Kara looked at the two squirming on the ground. They were all that was left.

"Let's check these two first. Gotta know the full story."

"Okay."

Sivar's delivered goods—no, the other students. It was best to check what they had on them.

Kara led the two inside and began to search them thoroughly. By their looks, they seemed to be mages.

"So, Sivar only disqualified the warrior and brought you two here?"

"That’s it. What's the point of having no right to attack!"

She gained quite useful information. Direct hits may be prohibited, but using the environment or causing forced falls was allowed.

Among the most vicious tactics was the use of tools for attacks. Stuffing grenades into one's mouth and making a run for it was also reported.

The cruelty and adaptability they learned—who knows where—seemed to stem from their survival in the forest.

‘Did he grow tired of using his head later on and just relied on his body?'

It was very likely. If so, there was no reason not to give back the right to attack.

"So, now that we’ve told you everything, are you going to let us go?"

"Huh? No?"

Rivals must be eliminated. Keeping that in mind, Kara proceeded to disqualify the two.

In cases of restraint, removing the bracelet was necessary, but unlike survival training, the opponent's consent was required to remove it.

"Just once, please! Could you spare us just this once?"

"Do you want to get hit, or will you take it off willingly?"

"I'm sorry."

Just like that. And so they were disqualified without a fuss.

"Now, who knew such a method existed?"

"Right. Oh, wait."

With the situation temporarily under control, Kara looked around at her teammates. There were three of them in total now.

Originally, they had four, but one went out for reconnaissance and hadn't yet returned.

"Where did our reconnaissance person go?"

"Considering they haven't come back by now…"

"Yeah?"

In that case, there was nothing to be done. The purpose of a reconnaissance squad is to risk their life scouting.

‘And how did Sivar find out where we were? Is it because his senses are so sharp?'

Questions piled up, leading to mounting suspicions.

*****

Reconnaissance is typically the duty of quick-moving rogues, and they are also known for their fast escape tactics.

In many precarious situations that could cost a life, being fleet-footed is a given.

"Let, let go of me! What are you trying to do!"

But against Sivar, who excels in "hunting" beyond mere tracking, their agility means nothing.

Their attempts to flee all end in capture, and even surprise ambushes don't fare any better.

The current student caught by Sivar met the same fate—captured shortly after setting out on reconnaissance.

By none other than a wildling with blood-red eyes. Sivar, that is.

"Who's your team leader."

"What?"

"Team leader's name."

Sivar asked the subdued rogue. Currently, Sivar and the rogue were inside a house, with the rogue hanging upside down.

Sivar had effortlessly subdued the rogue. Following him stealthily and then binding him tight with a rope.

Sivar had long grasped the extent to which attacks were judged permissible. Hence, such forms of subjugation were possible.

"Why would I tell you who our team leader is? Why aren't you asking where to go instead of that?"

"Hmm."

Faced with the uncooperative (?) attitude of the student, Sivar looked around. It just so happened there was an appropriate ‘answer sheet' nearby.

Subsequently, he approached the upside-down rogue with that answer sheet in hand.

And the rogue managed to see what Sivar was holding.

"Why, why water? What are you going to…!"

It was a water bottle—one of the collectibles, important for quenching thirst and boosting energy.

The student felt an ominous sense when Sivar approached with the water. Instinct screamed that it was extremely dangerous.

"Don't know?"

Click—

With that, Sivar unscrewed the bottle cap nonchalantly. The student gulped down a swallow of fear.

Even now, they considered lying and escaping, but that would surely endanger their team.

"Yeah! I don't know! I got separated from the team!"

"You don't know. Got it."

Swoosh—

Then Sivar tilted the water bottle towards the hanging student.

The angle was directed right at the student's face, specifically the nostrils.

"Wait, what? Hold on, what are you trying to…!"

During the moment of panic, Sivar declared:

"Water understands."

Wherever he learned such a thing.

"Answers."

The method was indeed cunning.