A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 40

The moment I came to my senses, two things immediately caught my eye.

[You have escaped a life-threatening situation! Strength has slightly increased!]

The notification window that always appeared after going Berserk.

[Faith has increased!]

For some reason, a notification about my Faith increasing. These two were the first things I noticed.

On top of that, there was also a massive mound. While I could understand the notification windows, I had no idea why I was seeing a mound.

It was so large that it cast a huge shadow over my face as I lay beneath it. What on earth could this be?

‘It’s strange that it’s so soft too…’

Seeing the notification windows alongside the massive mound made it hard for my brain to function properly.

The last time I passed out after going Berserk, the first thing I saw was Ellie’s face.

Judging by the softness, it felt like I was lying on a bed, but I couldn’t figure out what the mound right in front of me was.

My vision wasn’t impaired. Thanks to Regeneration, I could recover from anything, and if I were blind, I wouldn’t be able to see anything at all.

As I slowly emerged from my dazed mind, I carefully raised my arm. Then, I reached out and grabbed the mound that was blocking my view.

Squish-

It was so big that I thought it would be firm, but it was the opposite. This kind of softness was a first for me.

The moment I grabbed it, my fingertips sank deeply into it. If I buried my face in it, I felt like I’d never be able to escape.

‘I can’t even hold it all with one hand.’

That was the thought running through my mind at the time.

“Eek!”

A startled scream from a woman pierced my ears. The sound came from above the mound.

I blinked slowly and turned my head. Even then, I didn’t let go of the mound I was holding.

Eventually, I came face-to-face with a very familiar figure beyond the mound. A beauty with brown hair and striking golden eyes.

“S-Sivar? Y-You’re awake?”

It was Ellie. For some reason, her face was slightly flushed, and her expression seemed strange.

It was as if she was trying hard to suppress her embarrassment. I couldn’t understand why she was making such a face.

Squish- Squish-

By the way, this thing was really soft. Even as I met Ellie’s gaze, I kept kneading the mound.

At first, I used one hand, but now I was using both hands to explore the mound.

Its size, which couldn’t be grasped with my hands, and the way its shape changed as I moved it around. The moment I let go, it would immediately return to its original form.

“Hngh… Ah…”

For some reason, Ellie was letting out strange, suggestive sounds. When I looked at her, she had turned her head away and closed her eyes.

Her face was as red as a tomato, and her lips were tightly pressed together, as if she were desperately holding something back.

Thud-

“Ellie. What was that noi— W-W-What are you doing?!”

Just then, someone opened the door and shouted in shock. Judging by the calm tone, it was definitely Luna.

I turned my head in the direction of Luna’s voice. For some reason, she was striding toward me.

Thump!

She grabbed both of my arms and forcibly pulled me away from the mound. The softness disappeared from my hands.

I tried to hold on a bit longer because I wanted to touch it more, but Luna put all her strength into stopping me. What on earth was going on?

“You can’t just touch a woman’s chest like that! That’s sexual harassment, sexual harassment!”

“?”

Luna’s outburst momentarily froze my thoughts. Before even considering the term “sexual harassment,” she said I had touched a woman’s chest.

After hearing her words, I blinked and turned my gaze back to the mound.

Come to think of it, there was no reason for Ellie’s face to be above my head.

Unless she was looking down at me, that is.

“I-I’m fine, Luna. It could happen.”

“What do you mean, it could happen… Haa. Just help Sivar up first.”

“Got it. Sivar? Let’s get up now.”

Ellie gently stroked my head and kindly urged me.

It was only then that I realized. Ellie had been giving me a lap pillow.

The mound I had thought was just soft turned out to be her chest. Her chest was so large that it had momentarily clouded my judgment.

“Why didn’t you do anything? Sivar listens to everything you say.”

As soon as I got up from Ellie’s soft lap, Luna scolded her. The reprimand wasn’t directed at me but at Ellie.

I might not have known anything, but it must have seemed strange for Ellie to remain still.

Ellie, still as red as a tomato, glanced at me shyly before smiling bashfully and responding.

“S-Sivar doesn’t know anything. I was worried he might get hurt if I scolded him…”

“That may be true, but sometimes you need to be firm. What if he does that to someone else instead of you?”

Who does she think I am, a real pervert? I pouted my lips.

Sure, Ellie’s chest was so soft and squishy that I wanted to keep touching it, but I’d never do that to anyone else.

While I might use my wildling nature to some extent, I despise doing anything despicable. That’s something only a beast worse than an animal would do.

“You need to teach him not to do that to others. Instead…”

“Instead?”

“… …”

Ellie didn’t answer immediately. Her face turned even redder as she glanced at me shyly.

As Luna gave her a puzzled look, Ellie stammered and finally spoke.

“I-If he wants to touch my chest, I’d be okay with it.”

“…What? What? No, what?”

At Ellie’s bombshell statement, Luna reacted as if she couldn’t believe her ears. That was only natural.

I was genuinely curious about the train of thought that led her to such a conclusion.

While I was happy to be able to touch her chest legally(?), it would undoubtedly seem inappropriate to others.

“Sivar doesn’t know much about society yet. So he probably doesn’t understand the law either, like how you shouldn’t touch a woman’s body without permission.”

“…That’s true.”

“Before Sivar causes trouble, I’ll make sure he only touches my body. That way, I can prevent any accidents to some extent.”

“… …”

Luna responded to Ellie’s miraculous logic by gaping in disbelief. Her expression showed she was at a loss for words.

I wasn’t any different. While I maintained a neutral expression outwardly, I couldn’t understand why she was going to such lengths.

“…Do you really have to go that far?”

“I was the one who brought Sivar here. If Sivar causes trouble, it’s my responsibility.”

The responsibility theory she had mentioned to Kara. Ellie was genuinely trying to take responsibility for me.

Luna, seemingly at a loss for words, closed her mouth. Then, after glancing at me briefly, she quietly spoke.

“What if Sivar asks for more? Not just touching your chest, but asking to see it?”

“I’d show him.”

Oh. Really? I almost said that out loud. Of course, it was still absurd.

Luna pressed her fingers to her temples, looking troubled. She seemed to be contemplating whether she truly understood the situation.

“…What if he asks for even more? Would you agree to that too?”

“Probably.”

“Do you really have to go that far? While it’s to prevent accidents, this is just too…”

“He saved my life. This much is the least I can do.”

Just as Luna was about to express her frustration, Ellie interrupted her.

The time I saved her from Manki. That alone seemed to justify everything for Ellie.

“Sivar is my lifesaver, and I just want to repay him. If I take responsibility for Sivar, won’t he eventually understand how important responsibility is? That’s what I think.”

“You…”

“I know I’m being overly optimistic. But I’m certain of this. Sivar doesn’t hurt people without reason. Whether it’s their body or their feelings.”

Ellie’s characteristic optimism was evident in her words. Luna’s expression grew complicated as Ellie’s stream of words flowed like a river.

There was nothing wrong with Ellie’s words. So far, I had stayed still unless someone attacked me first.

While I had caused some accidents here and there, I had never directly harmed anyone.

“…Fine. If you say so.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“But make sure to stop him from touching your chest. People will think it’s strange if they see that.”

That’s the one thing I couldn’t accept. I shouted that in my heart.

Fortunately, whether my feelings got through or not, Ellie answered with a shy expression.

“Alright. Then I’ll only allow it where no one can see.”

“…That’s not what I meant.”

“Or do you want to do it instead, Luna?”

“No.”

That wasn’t Luna’s answer. It was mine.

The two of them, who had been merely observing, widened their eyes and stared at me as I spoke up.

Honestly, I was quite flustered since I answered without thinking. Should I say instinct took over reason?

“…Sivar. What did you just say?”

“I clearly said no.”

“What do you mean no? Are you saying you don’t like Luna’s chest?”

“W-What’s wrong with my chest! It’s not small, you know!”

I didn’t say anything, but Luna suddenly shouted sharply, as if someone had pressed her hidden berserk button.

I compared Luna’s chest with Ellie’s calm and composed one. No matter how you looked at it, Ellie was the clear winner.

Did she sense my gaze? Luna’s face turned bright red, and she clamped her mouth shut.

“They say all men are beasts…”

“Of course, all males are beasts.”

While Luna grumbled, sitting on the bed, a familiar voice reached my ears. It came from the direction of the window.

Turning my head toward the window, I saw Porori standing in front of it.

Tucked under his arm was an acorn he must have picked up somewhere.

“Don’t be so upset, Blonde Young Lady. I may not know human standards, but they say you’re beautiful enough. So you can definitely seduce that guy.”

“I don’t know what you overheard, but it’s not like that.”

“Really? I must’ve misheard. Oof.”

Porori lightly jumped onto the bed and placed the acorn in his mouth. He didn’t eat it right away but seemed to store it in his cheek pouch.

Then, with his puffed-up cheeks, he spoke fluently.

“The red-haired young lady will be here soon. That useless musclehead will arrive a day later.”

“How is Hector’s condition?”

That was Luna’s question. It wasn’t just her; I was curious too.

The last thing I remembered was Hector pressing an axe against my chest. That’s as far as my memory went.

After that, I probably went berserk. Judging by the fact that he’s in the hospital, it seems he didn’t die.

“Aside from some damage to his shoulder and face, he’s fine. That useless guy recovers quickly for a human. Though he’s still far behind this guy.”

“I see. So Hector almost died?”

“That’s true. If I hadn’t intervened, he would’ve definitely died.”

At Porori’s testimony, Luna looked at me with an expression of disbelief.

Ellie, on the other hand, was relatively calm, likely because she wasn’t familiar with combat and just accepted it as it was.

“…Is berserk Sivar really that strong?”

“He’s incredibly strong. Even stronger than the last time I fought him. Maybe it’s thanks to the techniques that red-haired young lady taught him?”

“So Hector’s concerns were valid.”

As Luna said, Hector’s concerns had hit the mark. The moment berserk mode activates, the surroundings are left in ruins.

But the problem was that it happened too suddenly. He nearly lost his life because of it.

“Still, I don’t understand why that human did something so pointless. If he was going to do it, he should’ve done it properly. Now he just looks pathetic. King of Destruction? More like King of Ambiguity.”

Porori’s observation was quite accurate. Hector was currently in a state of limbo.

It meant he was experiencing a major identity crisis. He had founded the Tatars, but barbarism still lingered within him.

His identity as a king, his past as the King of Destruction, and Kara, who kept him grounded.

If he could awaken, he could have both strength and charisma, but for now, he was just a nuisance.

‘Didn’t he say he lives with regret every day?’

As far as I could recall, that seemed to be the case. Hector was quite an interesting character.

For the safety of his people, he had to choose the life of a civilized person, but his barbarism remained a problem.

Yet erasing his barbarism entirely would strip away his identity as a people, leading to resistance.

Hector was stuck in a situation where he could do neither. Though he held on with his strength, the Tatars had many issues.

“According to the old human, they’ll drag him here tomorrow, but I’m not sure. For now, it seems the situation is resolved, so don’t worry too much.”

“Alright.”

“Okay.”

“And you.”

Porori called out to me. I met his gaze, his cheeks still puffed up.

“I’ve told you before, but do something about those damn red eyes. I’ll be busy from now on, and I don’t want to clean up after you.”

Is this person—no, this squirrel—serious? I’m a victim too.

If it weren’t for Hector, I would’ve just been attending the academy peacefully. He was the one who attacked first, so what’s with this nonsense?

“Busy?”

So I asked. What’s keeping him busy?

I used to speak in clipped syllables, but now I can string them together.

It must be because my faith has grown. Though my words are still short, Porori should understand me.

“What? You can talk a bit now?”

Porori widened his eyes in surprise at my question. It wasn’t just him; others reacted the same way.

They must not have noticed when I said “no” earlier. It happened so quickly.

“Anyway, that pathetic guy told me. Not every day, but on specific cycles or anniversaries, if I offer tributes, the sky grants me stronger power. That’s why.”

“Hector told you that?”

“Yeah. I don’t know about anything else, but that part was pretty good. I’ll have to offer more than just acorns from now on.”

“Sivar, can you try saying anything right now?”

While Luna and Porori were talking, Ellie made a request to me. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

I had no reason to refuse, so I gladly complied.

“Ellie. I.”

“Yes, yes. And then?”

What should I say? When I tried to speak, nothing came to mind.

Then, something caught my eye—it was Ellie’s large chest.

A part of her that boasted overwhelming presence compared to others. I wanted to touch it again.

“Chest.”

“…Chest?”

Was it because of that? Or was it because my instincts were too strong?

Without realizing it, I blurted out the word “chest.” Ellie looked flustered.

Thankfully, I didn’t go as far as to say “let me touch it.” If I had, it would’ve been a disaster…

“He’s asking to touch your chest?”

“… …”

“So you’ve also discovered the softest part of a lady? Well, it is quite addictive.”

That damn rat. I wanted to sew his mouth shut right then and there.

Meanwhile, Ellie blushed at Porori’s translation and silently covered her chest.

Luna, unsure of how to handle the situation, let out a hollow laugh, while Ellie glanced at me.

Then, she gave an answer that shocked everyone except Porori. Her voice carried a hint of expectation.

“…You’ll only touch it, right?”

“Ellie!!!”

“Eek!”

Unable to bear it any longer, Luna shouted. Ellie flinched at her outburst.

What followed was Luna’s lecture. Porori tilted his head as he watched the scene and asked me.

“Are humans not allowed to touch each other’s bodies? Why are they reacting like that?”

“… …”

“What’s the big deal about letting him touch a lump of fat? It’s not like it’ll wear out.”

For once, we were in rare agreement.

******

“Well then, I’ll be off. Come to my room tomorrow and be ready to bow your head.”

Clunk-

As the hospital room door closed, a profound silence descended. Inside the room were Hector, who was admitted as a patient, and Kara, standing vigil by his side.

The situation had completely reversed in just one day. However, Hector’s condition was far worse than that.

Not only were the muscles in his shoulder torn, but his face was particularly problematic.

His nasal bone and facial bones were sunken, and the corners of his mouth were sharply ripped.

It was fortunate that the Academy could fully heal him; anywhere else, he would have been left with lasting aftereffects.

“··· ···”

“··· ···”

“Feeling better now?”

In the heavy silence, Kara was the first to speak. She looked at Hector, whose face was wrapped in layers of bandages.

Her expression was a tangled mix of emotions—anger, sadness, and something even more complex.

Then, with a mocking tone, she opened her mouth again.

“You must be thrilled. You confirmed that Sivar has Berserk, and you’re even handing over that cursed axe. So, it’s all over now, right?”

“··· ···”

“If it’s all over, at least say something. You can still talk, can’t you? Or have you lost your voice like Sivar?”

Kara’s words came out in rapid succession, accusatory and sharp. Hector, however, only stared at the ceiling.

His lack of response only fueled Kara’s anger further. Though tinged with hurt, her anger was far more dominant.

At some point, Hector had changed. He had become so different from the man she remembered.

“I can understand you becoming a king. The neighboring nations are strong, so diplomacy is necessary.”

“··· ···”

“But this? This is neither here nor there. Sure, Sivar turned out to be stronger than expected, but did you really have to go that far?”

Kara’s logic was flawless. Hector had founded a nation to avoid unnecessary enemies, yet he had ended up creating enemies himself.

Enemies he couldn’t even handle. While Sivar’s thoughts were unknown, he would undoubtedly see Hector as a foe.

For Kara, it was infuriating. He had taught her one thing, yet he went around causing every kind of trouble himself.

“Say something, anything. What are you trying to do? Why did you send me to the Academy?”

“··· ···”

“Please, just say something······!”

“Kara.”

Just before Kara could explode, Hector called her name in a flat voice.

As Kara fell silent, Hector weakly continued.

“I’m sorry.”

“··· ···”

“All I can say is that I’m sorry.”

“Why do something you’d end up apologizing for?”

Though she had drawn an apology from him, Kara didn’t stop. She had no intention of leaving until she vented her frustration.

Hector let out a deep sigh filled with complexity and turned his head. His green eyes, so much like hers, met her gaze.

He stared at Kara for a while before speaking in a voice tinged with resignation.

“Do you remember what I once told you? About how to accept death?”

“Of course. You told me never to regret it when the time comes.”

The Tatar Tribe fought daily battles to survive in the harsh desert.

Though trade business had improved their circumstances now, the past had been nothing short of brutal.

Wars between tribes were frequent, and foreign powers often organized extermination squads.

While Hector had ended inter-tribal wars by founding a nation, many problems still remained.

“You said there’s nothing more foolish than regretting at the moment of death. That regret means you’re dissatisfied with your life. I remember that well.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“······Did you regret it?”

At her hesitant question, Hector did not answer. He simply looked at her.

And silence often speaks volumes. Kara let out a hollow breath and bit her lip tightly.

“······Father.”

“··· ···”

“Why have you become so weak?”

Hector had grown weak—too weak. Not physically, but mentally.

In the past, he had roamed the desert with grand ambitions of uniting the tribes and resisting foreign powers.

He had not only united the tribes but also exterminated scattered monsters, earning the honor of being called the “King of Destruction” with the power of thunder.

Kara had stood by his side, sharing his vision. As a teenager, her boiling blood had been channeled into their cause.

“What exactly is the problem? The kingship? Civilization? Or is it our tribe? What is it?”

Back then, Hector had faced death without regret.

Quite the opposite, in fact. Even in the face of death, he had smiled brightly, wielding his axe and ultimately claiming victory.

But not anymore. Now, he feared death and even harbored regret.

It signified the gradual erosion of his identity as a member of the Tatar Tribe.

“You’re not a good king, you can’t protect the Tatar identity, and you’re not even a role model as a father. What are you trying to do?”

“··· ···”

“You’re not the father I knew anymore. If you want to be a king, then be a king. If not, give it all up. Dissolve the tribes you worked so hard to unite and return to the old days.”

Though her tone was critical of his incompetence as a king,

“If that’s the case, then just······ give it all up and make a decision.”

Beneath it all, she was worried about how weak her father had become compared to the past.

A vulnerability she would never have seen if Sivar hadn’t pushed Hector to the brink.

The reason he had been floundering without direction all this time. It was a pitiful reason.

“······Kara.”

“Speak.”

“Is there really a reason I must choose just one?”

“What?”

What kind of nonsensical statement was that? Kara looked at Hector with a bewildered expression.

But Hector was serious. He spoke as if he had come to a realization.

“A great king. The identity of our tribe. A good father.”

“··· ···”

“If I were told to give up one of these, I would answer this: I cannot give up any of them.”

Kara felt words rising to her throat but suppressed them with difficulty. She sensed something in Hector’s gaze.

It seemed that nearly being killed by Sivar had served as a wake-up call for him. If nothing else, that was a relief.

“······Do as you wish. But leave Sivar alone. Hand over that cursed axe and get out of here.”

“I plan to apologize tomorrow. Just as the old man said, I’ll bow my head to the ground.”

“What if Sivar picks another fight?”

Hector chuckled at Kara’s question and replied.

“Who knows.”

Then, looking up at the ceiling, he spoke words laden with meaning.

“I don’t know.”