A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

When Ellie rejected the offer, all eyes shifted to her. She hugged me so tightly it seemed absolute, refusing to let go.

As I inwardly worried if I might suffocate from her embrace, Lize asked with a puzzled voice. Despite being a simple question, it was amplified by her impressive appearance, exuding an immense pressure.

"Wait to befriend before inviting? What do you mean by that?"

"I mean exactly what I said. You've heard from The Principal, right? Sivar is still naive about the world. What if he takes a wrong impression from being taken away so abruptly?"

"Hmm."

Lize crossed her arms as she contemplated the sound reasoning. Clearly, I’m no ordinary person.

Any regular person would have definitely rejected or, after some thought, reluctantly accepted Lize’s proposal.

But my situation was different— not just anyone but someone who had lived wildly before crossing into civilization.

Without the wild, one’s own convictions may inevitably weaken. Lize was probably considering the same thing.

As expected, Lize nodded, conveying an impression of understanding.

"That makes sense. What is the student's name?"

"It's Ellie."

"Ellie, that’s a lovely name. Your words carry considerable persuasive power. While I could force him to come along, that might only provoke stronger defiance."

As Lize nodded with her arms still crossed, her thick forearm muscles noticeably stood out.

"However, we can't just leave things be. Ellie, you do realize how strong Sivar is, don't you?"

"Yes. I might not know the details, but I am aware he’s incredibly strong."

She must've heard about the incidents. About Hector who had brazenly initiated an attack and was brutally defeated.

Ellie wasn’t necessarily familiar with combat, but she was undoubtedly aware of my considerable strength.

It would be odd if she wasn’t, considering I had effortlessly blocked the gigantic hand of Manki and then overcame and killed him.

"As long as Sivar doesn’t master his true nature, that strength could be directed toward you as well, Ellie. I'm here to help."

"How would you propose to help? Does it involve violence?"

"I cannot say that it won't."

Lize answered frankly, as if asking what kind of question that was, unabashedly admitting that she might resort to violence if necessary.

At that, Ellie hugged me even tighter. I had already been barely able to breathe by turning my head, and now even that was impossible.

Thump, thump.

Just short of suffocating, I tapped desperately on Ellie's shoulder. Luckily, she recognized my intent and loosened her grip a bit.

I now understood how someone could suffocate from a pillow—especially considering the pillow-like softness compared to this.

"*Pant*… *pant*…"

"Did you just nearly drown or something?"

Kara asked with a half-suppressed laugh at my ragged breaths. Despite her, I just leaned back onto Ellie's chest.

Normally, I'd be conscious of the audiences’ eyes on me, but that feeling had vanished entirely. Ellie was the only one I trusted.

She was the one who boldly refused Lize's persuasion and the one defending me.

All set aside, her chest was just too comfortable to lean against. How could anyone resist this?

"I’ve learned something over decades of pilgrimage. As long as there is life—not just humans—violence is an inevitability."

"That hardly seems like a statement a Saint should be making."

"I am quite aware. Violence is a clear evil. But if that evil is necessary, I am more than willing to use it to eradicate the source of harm."

That’s what set Lize apart from typical saintly characters. Standard saints are nearly absolute in their goodness, but Lize was pure chaos.

She had a fundamentally good heart and was genuinely benevolent enough to act on it. But being realistic, she did not shy away from resorting to violence.

It was a faith truly befitting chaos. With such an appearance and her breezy personality, it was impossible for her not to be popular.

"Just to clarify, I won’t be pummeling Sivar. It's to prepare for the unlikely event he enters a berserk state. As I've learned, once fury hits, nothing short of knocking him out seems to work," said Rod.

"…"

I examined Lize while resting my cheek on Ellie's chest. Even a single punch from her would probably knock me out instantly.

Not to mention, in a proper grapple, there would be no escape. Lize’s physical capabilities surpassed mine.

In any case, Lize was my superior. In body, technique, traits—there was nothing she wasn’t better at than me.

Just like Rod, my wild instincts screamed that I'd be certain to lose in a battle against her.

"So have you already decided on a training method? Just to let you know, Sivar’s opinion here is most important."

After hearing Lize's words, Ellie cautiously asked a question, ensuring my viewpoint was considered.

Lize grinned broadly, revealing shiny white teeth, her cheerful demeanor catching the eye.

"To control the fury at will, we need to be able to intentionally induce it. That would be the first step."

"But fury is only triggered in life-threatening situations. Is that even possible?"

It was Luna with the question. Her point was valid; fury isn't supposed to be induced intentionally.

If that were the case, it wouldn't be a trait but an ability. It would mean breaking common sense.

"By standard logic, yes. But if we declare something impossible without trying, we’re simply spouting nonsense. It hasn’t been proved unfeasible, has it?"

"But still…"

Lize summarily invalidated the objection. It's best to avoid verbal confrontations with her.

While she might look brutish and simple on the outside, she’s a world-weary traveler of decades.

She has encountered a vast range of humanity and her thinking is quite flexible based on those varied experiences.

Moreover, being a beloved disciple of Chaos, she takes bizarre incidents in stride.

"But in my present state, deliberately bringing forth the fury will be difficult, as there have been few moments it’s been triggered."

This was also true. Fury had been set off during my recent confrontation with Hector, but it's generally difficult to trigger.

Starting with the condition of ‘mortal peril,' is it even possible to bring such a state on intentionally? And with resilience in the mix?

If we liken it to a game, fury only erupts when health had dwindled to about 5%. Unless that state's reached, fury won’t trigger.

However, Lize’s perspective differed, perhaps even shattered conventional wisdom.

While sporting her uniquely refreshing smile, she lifted her fist and said,

"Instead, I will help you. I’ll aid in learning to sense when the fury triggers. By mastering that feeling, you can intentionally set off the fury and even control it further."

Shibal. That's terrifying. Her face coupled with such a vibrant smile was utterly chilling.

Her tone even suggested magnanimity, creating an overwhelming sense of dissonance.

"In the end, that means resorting to violence, doesn't it?"

Ellie, seemingly sensing my apprehension, reassured me with a pat on the back. It felt as if my nerves were being soothed.

"It’s different. Awakening sensations and striking directly are quite distinct. Are you familiar with the term placebo effect, Miss Ellie?"

"Yes. I learned it's when the patient actually improves after taking a substance with no effect on their condition while believing it's genuine medicine."

As a student of herbology, Ellie would have learned the basics of medicine; more accurately, treatment methods based on symptoms.

"The method I intend to utilize is akin to that. You can think of it as a form of hypnotic effect. I will help you to experience sensations akin to death without putting you in actual peril."

"Is it really possible?"

"Yes, it is."

Lize confidently claimed its feasibility. Given that she is a revered Martial Saintess, her words carried a great deal of weight.

Though the principles behind it are unclear to me, perhaps it's worth my trust. Terrifying, nonetheless.

Now that Lize had proposed a method, what remained was granting permission. Ellie stroked my head, seeking my opinion.

"Sivar, what do you think? Ideally, I would help you, but I lack combat expertise."

"… …"

"I’m sorry I can't assist. Instead, I'll fulfill any wish you have later."

Let me touch your chest, and all would be forgiven.

The words rose to my throat, but I suppressed them since I was already enjoying the moment.

I continued to lean against Ellie's chest while stealing glances at Lize, who seemed to have ceased her persuasion and respect my choice.

‘I have no choice but to refuse for the time being.'

It will be difficult now with upcoming events. Perhaps in about a week, I’ll have the leeway.

If, with Lize's help, I could really control the fury at will, it would be a tremendous merit.

Fury by its very nature already makes one several times stronger than usual, and if this could be turned into a controllable skill… it would be the icing on the cake.

Moreover, Lize is stronger than Rod. With the Sword Saint and Martial Saintess present, the likelihood of anything going awry is low.

"Not now. It can't be done."

"What do you mean by that?"

"He means not right now."

Kara explained for me, now politely using honorifics.

As I've mentioned before, it's going to be tough for the next week due to the clergy event. If missed, I'd have to wait until the next quarter.

But it's not like I’m completely out of time. The weekend is almost upon us, and I could spare some time then.

And… I think it would be best to see with my own eyes the method Lize will be using.

"Method. Experience."

"She’s asking for a demonstration of the method."

"It's quite amazing. How do you two understand everything Sivar says?"

This time, Ellie took on the role of interpreter. Both Ellie and Kara could understand me perfectly regardless of how unclear my speech might be.

They probably don't realize it themselves. How would they know if even I don't?

Anyway, I need to see the method. For a moment intrigued by the ty, Lize was about to explain her ‘method.'

"Showing it here will be difficult. Shall we step out back for a moment?"

What kind of method could she possibly be intending to use? Lost in thought, Lize turned to Rod with a question.

"Is that okay?"

"As long as it's not on the ground, but in the sky, there’s no problem."

"It might start to rain, though."

"Do whatever you like."

Rod seemed to have a rough idea of the method she was about to demonstrate. Is this a dialogue only understood among the mighty?

Then we followed Lize to the backyard. With woods behind, the space was quite extensive.

Even as we moved outside, I cautiously held on to Ellie from behind. Approaching Lize was intimidating.

Ellie seemed amused by this, playfully messing with my hands. It wasn't uncomfortable by any means, given the way she intertwined our fingers.

"Sivar, I’m okay with this, but don’t do this with other people, especially women. The waist is quite sensitive."

"Ok."

She made a point to offer that advice in the middle of it all. Kara gave us a sidelong glance but I just ignored it.

Eventually, we reached a wide-open space. Now, all that was left was to wait for Lize’s demonstration.

"I'll show you the method I plan to use on Sivar. But I must warn you, it's not about direct hitting, and in reality, it will be far gentler than this."

As she spoke, Lize slowly took her stance. She spread her legs a bit and looked up at the sky.

Then, she slightly bent her knees and started to draw her right arm backward. I had a rough idea of the pose she was assuming.

"Inhale!"

After getting into position, she abruptly punched towards the sky. On the surface, it appeared to be a regular punch.

Crack!

That was until cracks began to spread through the air like shattered glass.

"…"

"What's this?"

"Cracks in… the sky?"

The seemingly effortless punch had an impact beyond imagination.

Rod, unlike the rest of us who doubted what we were seeing, wasn't surprised.

Crack, crunch!

In the meantime, the cracks that had formed in the air began to intensify, causing concern it might shatter completely.

Fortunately, they subsided after a short while, but the effects of ‘breaking' space subtly started to manifest.

"That, that, that…"

"Uh? What's th… Argh?!"

Reacting to Luna’s urgent voice, Kara looked up at the sky and equally gaped.

The reactions from both who were normally not easily startled made me even more curious. Slowly, I lifted my head.

"…"

It was about 4 p.m., a time when the summer sun should still be brightly shining.

But now the sky was a bizarre patchwork — parts were as dark as night, others glowed with the hues of sunset, and some were weirdly clouded.

The sky was not only twisted; it was wrecked. The magnitude of the impact surpassed even Rod's cutting through space with his sword.

If Rod’s swordplay was precise and swift, Lize had literally shattered space.

And that was with a single, simple punch.

Drip, drop.

I felt droplets falling on my face because, as mentioned earlier, there was even a patch of raincloud-laden sky.

"This is the technique I will use on Sivar. Just for illustration, it will be less intense than this."

"…"

Lize's voice was clear in my ear. I lowered my head slowly and looked at her.

"The placebo effect is a kind of hypnosis. And…"

With a refreshing smile, Lize shared that her method was akin to,

"… also a form of hypnosis."

It was almost terrifying.