A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 43

An organization caught in a hostile relationship. Yet, a love story that transcends it.

Just hearing about it would make women swoon—a setup that’s both a long-standing cliché and a captivating one.

They clash and conflict for specific reasons, but at some point, they develop feelings for each other. A story that could be tiresome if done poorly.

However, it’s a setup that’s always fresh and thrilling, making it impossible to grow tired of. There’s a reason it consistently enjoys steady popularity.

“This is uncomfortable. Can we just move on?”

“You’re truly shameless. Who broke the rules first?”

“I came here first because I hate situations like this.”

“If that were true, you should have yielded to me first. Isn’t that right?”

Gloria, reminiscent of an elegant swan, and Chronos, reminiscent of a ferocious bear.

The two sat side by side, exuding a tense atmosphere as they conversed.

Luna, standing across from them, was overwhelmed by the tension and visibly nervous, while Kara looked intrigued.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t yield on this matter. Not even for the Empire.”

“Oh my, for once, we seem to agree on something.”

A battle with no room for compromise. They were waging a war of nerves to claim Luna for their respective nations.

Representatives from two nations widely known as rivals, clashing openly.

They usually avoided direct confrontation, so seeing them fight so blatantly was a rare spectacle.

‘They’re building up the tension quite well.’

But I know the whole truth. In reality, those two have already made an agreement.

Which means all of this is just an act. Outwardly, they seem like water and oil, but in truth, it’s the opposite.

That said, their personalities, ideologies, and combat styles do make them like water and oil. It’s just that the two liquids have been violently mixed together.

They’ve probably done everything a couple could do in secret, enjoying their thrilling secret romance.

‘Wasn’t it said that they admire in each other what they themselves lack?’

Chronos admires the elegance he doesn’t possess, while Gloria admires the steadfastness she lacks.

Chronos, born a commoner, carved his own path forward. Gloria, born a noble, walked a pre-paved road.

Their ideologies, personalities, and life stories were polar opposites, yet ironically, they were each other’s ideal type.

Of course, conflicts, including physical clashes, arose during the process. But even those didn’t last long.

“This could go on forever. We should decide on a definitive method.”

“A definitive method, you say?”

“A sparring match. It’s the only way we can settle this, isn’t it?”

At Chronos’s mention of sparring, Gloria gave a deep smile.

As if she’d been waiting for that answer, her expression was one of satisfaction.

“There you go again.”

“Don’t you ever get tired of this?”

“I don’t understand why she keeps engaging with that bear of a man.”

But unlike Gloria, the reactions of those around her were not so positive. Starting with Gloria’s retainers.

Though they stood at a slight distance to avoid direct confrontation, I could hear everything.

“Shouldn’t we stop them?”

“Leave them be. Every time we come to the Academy, she always ends up fighting that woman. Trying to stop them will only be a hassle for us.”

“What can we do? They’re sworn enemies. It’ll only end when one of them dies.”

Next were Chronos’s retainers. They seemed accustomed to such situations, merely brushing it off.

Whether it was the Matra Empire’s side or the Granada Empire’s side, no one tried to intervene. It was as if they thought it pointless to even try.

To them, this must feel like an annual event. By now, they’re so fed up with it that they just let it pass without much concern.

“Sounds good. There’s no method more definitive than that, is there? Student Luna?”

“Y-Yes, yes?”

At Gloria’s call, Luna stammered in response, seemingly unable to keep up with the rapidly unfolding situation.

Gloria, finding her endearing, gave her a gentle smile before speaking in her signature clear voice.

“The order of consultations will change depending on the result of our sparring. That’s all you need to know.”

“…Do you really have to spar?”

“There’s no choice. It’s something we must do, even for the sake of the student.”

Chronos answered Luna’s question on her behalf. At first glance, it sounded like a reasonable argument.

In truth, Luna was in a position where she would inevitably attract attention from any organization. It was better to settle the order cleanly, as they were doing now.

‘But that’s just an excuse.’

Naturally, their true intentions were different. In the end, Luna was merely a means to their own ends.

That said, deciding the consultation order wasn’t a lie. It just wasn’t their top priority.

“Well then, shall we get going without delay? It’s been a while since I stretched my muscles.”

“I feel the same way.”

As if there was no need to delay any further, the two rose from their seats.

The pace was so fast it was almost like lightning, leaving Luna to ask in a flustered tone.

“W-Where are you going? Since you mentioned sparring, surely not the training ground…”

“No, not there. This is a matter we need to settle between ourselves, so we’ll do it elsewhere. For example, the forest near the Academy.”

Gloria answered with a soft smile. Her smile was so stunning that even Luna momentarily froze in awe.

“If you’d like, you can watch. However…”

“…However?”

“I can’t take responsibility if you get hurt, you know?”

“…”

Luna was left speechless, her expression blank. It was as if they were telling her to wait while they resolved things on their own.

If Gloria and Chronos were to spar, the surrounding terrain would likely take a significant hit.

It wouldn’t be complete devastation like when Hector and I fought, but a few trees would definitely be broken.

“Just wait a little. We’ll be done in no time.”

“Indeed. By tomorrow, you’ll have your answer.”

“Hm? Surely you don’t think you’re going to win, do you?”

“Of course I do. Last time, you won, but today will be different.”

Their competitive spirits and rivalry burned fiercely. No one could stop them.

Their relationship was already famous even publicly. It’s been ongoing for over ten years, so not knowing about it would be strange.

And they’ve fought countless times. Every time they came to the Academy, they clashed, leaving their retainers to suffer.

‘Seeing it in person, it does feel a bit rushed.’

To someone unaware, the seamless flow of events would be baffling, leaving them speechless.

But to me, who knows the whole truth, it seemed slightly rushed. Even with solid buildup, the pace was too fast.

It was enough to feel a sense of incongruity. Yet, the retainers treated it like an annual event, so they dared not question it.

“If you’re ready, let’s head out right away.”

“I’m always ready.”

As if there was no need to delay, they rose from their seats.

Their expressions seemed to anticipate the upcoming sparring—or perhaps the time they’d spend alone together.

To an outsider, they might look like people excited about an imminent battle.

“Are you fighting that man again?”

“What can I do? I need to test my skills, so it’s a good opportunity.”

“Sigh…”

The retainer handing Gloria her rapier let out a deep sigh.

“Make sure to win, General. If you lose, I’ll spread the word everywhere.”

“If you spread rumors, I’ll pawn your gold tooth, so keep that in mind.”

“Haha! You’re too much. Anyway, here’s your weapon.”

The retainer handing Chronos his battle axe let out a hearty laugh.

Now, a quick question: doesn’t anyone suspect their relationship? After all, even hatred can turn into affection.

But the chances of that are practically zero. The reputations they’ve built crush even the faintest “what if” doubts.

“Shall we go?”

“Mm.”

Gloria and Chronos naturally stepped out of the buffet restaurant. It felt like a storm had just passed through.

Luna, seemingly feeling the same, was left stunned for a moment before leaning weakly against her chair.

Her expression looked as if her soul had been slightly drained, as though she’d been completely overwhelmed.

“This is interesting. I want to watch them fight—should I follow them?”

“…Forget it, unni. I don’t want to get involved for no reason.”

“Alright. If you’re done eating, I’ll head to the training ground first. I need to change clothes.”

“Go ahead.”

Kara, who had been watching the situation unfold like a bystander across the river, left first.

As a result, only Luna and I were left in the buffet. She still had a dazed expression, as if her soul had left her body.

“Luna.”

“… …”

“Luna.”

“Huh? What? Why?”

She was so out of it that I had to call her name twice just to get a response.

Luna flinched at my call, then opened her mouth. Her wide eyes clearly showed her confusion.

I stared at her for a moment before pointing to the direction where the two had just left.

“Follow.”

“…Follow? What?”

“Let’s go.”

Luna looked even more puzzled at my suggestion to follow them. She then turned to look in the direction I had pointed.

Chronos and Gloria had already left. She looked back at me and asked,

“You mean follow Kara unni? No way. She’s gone to change clothes.”

No, not Kara.

I shook my head firmly. Luna, seeing my denial, looked even more confused.

It was understandable for her to mistake it for Kara since Kara had just left. But Kara wasn’t who I was after.

“Then who?”

“The man. The woman.”

“…Don’t tell me you mean Chronos and Gloria?”

Finally, she caught on. It’s hard to explain things when I have to keep my words short.

Regardless, Luna looked at me with an expression of disbelief when I nodded.

“Why all of a sudden? Do you want to watch their sparring?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

It’s for you, woman. And for me to get some lessons while we’re at it.

I suppressed those thoughts and spoke calmly. Helping her grow is really exhausting.

“Something’s off.”

“Off? You mean those two are?”

“Yes.”

“What’s off about them?”

Ugh, this is frustrating. If Kara were here, she would’ve agreed without hesitation.

I held back my frustration as much as I could and began to explain.

“Just.”

Honestly, I couldn’t explain it. I mean, I know the secret, but Luna doesn’t.

Luna blinked in confusion at my short and blunt response, then glanced toward the door the secret couple had exited.

If this keeps up, we’ll lose them. I hope she makes a decision quickly.

Even if it’s not today, there will be plenty of opportunities. But now is the perfect moment.

“…Alright. But if they start sparring, we leave immediately, okay? We’ll just get in the way.”

“Okay.”

At least she wasn’t completely oblivious. For now, it seemed she trusted me.

Luna got up, hastily gathered her dishes, and headed outside. I followed closely behind her.

Fortunately, finding Gloria and Chronos wasn’t difficult. Both of them had such distinctive styles that they stood out immediately.

“Ah, there they are. Let’s hurry and—”

But this girl, clueless as ever, tried to step forward. We couldn’t get any closer than this.

In the Soul World, if you get within a certain distance, you’ll inevitably be noticed. If that happens, it’ll really just be sparring.

Since they’re in a position where they have to keep their romance a secret, they’re cautious about everything. Even the slightest suspicion could ruin it.

Thump—

“Huh? Huh? Damn it?”

So, just as she was about to take the lead, I grabbed her arm. Not stopping there, I dragged her into an alleyway between buildings.

Luna had no choice but to be pulled along by my strength. The difference in physical ability was too great, so she moved as I wanted.

“What the hell are you doing?! What if people misunderstand?!”

Once we reached the alley and I let go of her arm, Luna yelled at me in frustration. I let her words go in one ear and out the other.

The priority now was to quietly follow the two. If it were just me, it wouldn’t matter, but Luna was tagging along.

So, the only option was to use a straightforward method. In the Soul World, there’s only one straightforward method commonly used.

Thump—

“What now… Eek!”

It was to climb onto the rooftops and follow from above.

As I grabbed her arm and jumped high into the air, Luna let out a shrill scream.

The rooftop was quite high, but one jump was enough. Luna must’ve been a little scared, though.

After landing on the rooftop, I quickly located the two. There wasn’t much distance left to the event location.

“Ugh… My heart…”

Meanwhile, Luna sat down, clutching her chest with both hands. It seemed her heart had nearly dropped from my sudden action.

Watching her, I blinked a few times, then felt a bit guilty and spoke softly.

“Sorry.”

I hope that’s enough. Luna glared at me with sharp eyes before muttering under her breath.

“…I’ll get you back for this later.”

That’s a genuinely scary thing to say.

*****

Luna had witnessed Sivar’s eccentric acts quite a few times before. Just yesterday, he’d nearly bumped his head into Ragnarok.

But today’s eccentricity was the most incomprehensible yet. The situation was changing too quickly for her to keep up.

Secretly tailing people they’d just met today because they seemed “off.” She wasn’t sure if this was the right thing to do.

Regardless, she couldn’t help but be curious. Why was Sivar following those two?

She also didn’t know why he insisted on bringing her along, making the whole situation a mystery.

‘Come to think of it, didn’t Grace warn me to be cautious of Professor Delphoi?’

As Luna leapt across rooftops, she glanced at Sivar. His pure yet strikingly handsome side profile caught her eye.

Sometimes his actions were as wild as the wilderness itself, but his face created a strange sense of dissonance.

If he had a stern look like Hector or Chronos, she might’ve gotten used to it by now.

But with that face, committing all sorts of eccentric acts, it was hard to get used to him in any way.

‘Is this really what they call wild instinct?’

The way he warned Grace about Professor Delphoi, the way he was certain he’d lose to Kara—

Was it that he really knew the future, or was it just pure instinct? She couldn’t tell.

Looking at the cave murals would suggest he might know the future, but even that wasn’t certain.

The more time passed, the more he felt like an enigma.

‘Over there…’

How long had they been tailing them? Luna spotted the two entering a forest.

A forest far from the Academy, surrounded by a tall wall designed to keep monsters at bay.

Gloria and Chronos opened a gate in the wall and went inside. Entry to the forest was unrestricted for herb gathering or hunting.

It seemed they were planning to spar in the forest. It made sense, as a fierce battle in the training ground could be troublesome.

Flash—

“S-Sivar? What are you…”

As soon as the two entered the forest, Sivar suddenly scooped Luna up in his arms. A classic princess carry.

While Luna was still flustered, Sivar jumped off the building with her in his arms.

“Eek!”

The drop was quite high, so it took a while to reach the ground. Instinctively, Luna clung tightly to Sivar.

She could’ve easily landed on her own from that height, but Sivar was in too much of a hurry.

Thud!

Before long, Sivar’s feet touched the ground. As soon as Luna landed, she loosened her grip on his arms slightly.

But what was this? Sivar didn’t let go of Luna even after landing.

Even when she squirmed and asked to be put down, he remained unmoved. Naturally, Luna couldn’t help but feel flustered.

“S-Sivar? You can put me down now…”

“Quiet.”

Before Luna could even finish her sentence, Sivar responded curtly.

“We’ll be discovered.”

“…Discovered?”

“Quiet.”

“… …”

It seemed like he was telling her to just stay quiet and let him hold her. Though dumbfounded, Luna decided to follow his words.

Raising her voice here would only increase the chances of being caught. She figured it would be better to stay quiet now and scold him later.

‘Ah, I wonder if I’m too heavy for him?’

But no matter what, she couldn’t help feeling embarrassed. Luna, still in Sivar’s arms, tilted her head upward.

When she looked up, she caught sight of his face, focused straight ahead. His striking features complemented his pale skin.

For some reason, her face felt hot. She had seen plenty of handsome men at the Academy, but none were as exceptional as Sivar.

‘What if someone asks him out just because of his looks?’

She suddenly wondered what would happen once Sivar adapted to civilization and started taking an interest in the opposite sex.

Ellie would teach him well, but she couldn’t help worrying.

‘No, what am I even thinking?’

Right now, the priority was avoiding detection. Luna quickly shook off her thoughts and turned her head.

Even while carrying Luna, Sivar moved silently through the forest. Not even the sound of stepping on fallen leaves could be heard.

What was even more fascinating was that, despite his presence being undeniable, it felt as though he wasn’t there at all. It was as if even her senses were being deceived.

‘So that’s why he’s carrying me.’

Unlike Sivar, she couldn’t erase her presence. Only those in the Thief Class could likely do such a thing.

As everything gradually made sense, Sivar suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He then stared intently at a certain spot. Luna followed his gaze and turned her head.

“Here, no one will find us, right?”

“They won’t. No one was following us.”

That voice… it was Gloria and Chronos. But their tone sounded a bit strange.

In the dining hall, their speech had been stiff and formal, but now… it was oddly friendly.

“Do you know how anxious I was? I even bought a giant teddy bear because I missed you so much.”

“Ahem. I’m not a bear, though.”

“But you act like an adorable teddy bear.”

No, this wasn’t just friendly—it was downright sweet, dripping with affection.

Luna couldn’t believe her ears as she listened to their conversation. The voices were undoubtedly theirs, but their tone seemed worlds apart.

Could these really be the same two people who had been arguing as if they wanted to kill each other earlier? The Matra Empire and the Granada Empire, always at each other’s throats?

As doubt clouded her mind, Luna craned her neck further. Though she was hiding behind a tree, she barely managed to catch a glimpse of them.

What came into view was—

Smooch—smack—

Gloria and Chronos, lovingly kissing like a pair of lovers.

In other words, Gloria and Chronos were engaged in an intense display of affection.

“…Huh?”

They say people are rendered speechless when utterly shocked. Luna was the perfect example of that.

Why were those two kissing? Kissing was something lovers did.

But weren’t they supposed to be enemies? Their hostility earlier had been downright terrifying.

As countless thoughts swirled chaotically in Luna’s mind, she belatedly realized something.

Not only was she witnessing this scene, but so was Sivar.

The moment that thought struck her, she hurriedly looked up at him.

“… …”

Sivar seemed intrigued, as if he were witnessing a kiss between a man and a woman for the first time in his life.

Though his expression remained characteristically blank, his slightly parted lips made it clear he was surprised.

At this rate, who knew what kind of effect this might have on his innocent(?) heart? It was all happening too quickly.

Panicking, Luna covered Sivar’s eyes and shouted, trying to defuse the situation.

“D-Don’t look! Close your eyes!”

“…W-Who’s there?!”

Startled by Luna’s outburst, the two lovers abruptly broke their kiss and shouted in alarm. At the same time, a menacing aura filled the air.

Faced with this awkward and dangerous situation, Luna squirmed in Sivar’s arms.

Sivar, seemingly understanding her intent, carefully set her down.

“Who dares… S-Student Luna?”

“Ah.”

By then, Gloria had approached them. The moment she saw Luna and Sivar, her expression turned to one of shock.

Chronos, who followed closely behind, was no different. His face clearly showed his disbelief, as if asking why they were here.

‘W-What should I do in a situation like this…?!’

She felt as though she had stumbled upon a secret she was never meant to know. If things went wrong, it could lead to the worst possible outcome.

Desperately trying to think of a way out, Luna looked at Gloria and shouted with as much innocence as she could muster.

“I-I didn’t see anything!”

But her plea fell on deaf ears. It only made things worse.

“You saw.”

And then Sivar—

“Kiss.”

Delivered the final blow with perfect bluntness.