A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

I often find myself wondering why it seems that each time I meet someone new, we end up fighting. First, there was Elvin, then Kara and Hector, and finally Lize. Every new encounter somehow culminates into a fight. The fact that I haven’t fought with Luna and Rod is a small, albeit ironic, comfort. As for Ellie, there's absolutely no need to even mention.

"The Principal. May I ask how strong Ms. Lize is?"

Finally, the weekend has arrived. We were in transit to a location designated for a sparring match that wasn't exactly a sparring match.

Quietly Luna asked Rod, who was walking ahead, glancing back at me and Lize.

She seemed to whisper as if to prevent us from hearing, yet everything was heard. Lize might be unaware, but to someone like me, with heightened senses, whispering is futile.

"Strength… well, she's certainly stronger than me, but it’s hard to quantify her exact level. Remember, she once crushed space with a single punch."

"That's why I can’t comprehend it. Controlling space is far too abstract for me… I don't even understand the principle of the sky."

"Hmm."

After Luna's comment, Rod glanced back.

At that moment, I was sandwiched between Lize and Kara, listening to their conversation.

Mostly, they talked about matters related to Tatars. Given that Kara is a follower of Gulak, that made sense.

By the way, Ellie didn't come along. Since her combat abilities are nearly nonexistent, there was a high risk of her getting seriously injured if she got caught up in the fray.

Others might be able to fend for themselves, hence they joined us. But once the sparring started, they planned to step away.

"From your perspective, the stronger you get, the more unattainable such strength seems. So keep striving."

"Well… but when will you teach me the techniques? Aside from buying me books, Elvin has practically abandoned me."

"Wouldn't it be better for you to learn the basics properly before skills?"

"…"

Luna was at a loss for words, struck by the brute fact of Rod’s statement. As he pointed out, it was indeed better to solidify the basics first.

Still, Luna’s foundational skills improved by the day, absorbing knowledge like a sponge, they say.

While my instincts from the wild naturally adjust me, she rises solely on talent.

Even Kara, watching from the side, couldn’t help but chuckle incredulously.

"Ms. Lize, have you ever met my father?"

"I met him when I was very young. It was during my pilgrimage across the Tatars desert that I came under the care of Hector's tribe. He was in his mid-teens but already over 180 cm tall."

"So it's true? I also heard similarly growing up. My father said not to be disheartened about my height, as he too was quite tall in his youth."

"How tall are you, Kara?"

"Just shy of 180 cm."

To be caught between two chatterboxes, my ears could almost bleed.

Kara is naturally talkative like the Tatars people, and Lize earnestly responds to questions.

If it were up to me, I'd slip away or shift to a quieter spot, but every time I tried, Kara would hold me back, asking where I was going.

"Sivar, it’s fascinating how you handle tough situations without resorting to violence."

The conversation naturally shifted towards me, forcing me to lend an ear.

Kara, hearing Lize's words, stared at me and then smirked, playfully pinching my cheek.

"I found it amazing too. The Principal and Ellie must have taught you well."

"That may be true, but Rod said you were averse to using strength from the beginning? That’s kind of curious because, Kara, you’re quite familiar with violence and killing, right? My apologies if that offends you."

"No need to apologize. That’s the truth. It's just how Tatars is, right? Anyway, I see your point."

From Lize’s conversation, it seemed Kara, though raised in an environment as harsh as the wilderness, had the restraint of a ‘civilized' person.

Whereas I didn't. Educated or not, you’d think I’d have no concept of violence as someone from the wild.

No matter how much humankind builds civilization, shedding our beastly nature is difficult. Lize seems to think so.

"Ellie said it's because you see them as kin… I don’t really know. As long as we're getting along, it’s fine."

"That's fortunate. It's good that Sivar doesn't readily resort to violence."

"Do you also not favor violence, Ms. Lize?"

Kara's question carried weight. Tatars, after all, is a nation built on violence.

Even as time passes, its aggressive tendencies remain, earning them the moniker of barbarians.

Things may be improving, but such thoughts likely prevail in Kara's mind.

"I don't particularly care for or favor violence. To humanity, violence is a tool as necessary as hands and feet."

"A tool? That’s a different perspective."

"Violence is undoubtedly evil. There’s no denying that. But without it, humanity might have never established civilization. Not just Tatars but all nations."

Kara seemed taken aback at Lize's words. This wasn't just some sugar-coated talk; it was a brutally realistic train of thought, surprising on many levels.

"Historically, over half of human history is filled with warfare. In reality, that's quite accurate. Moreover, for life to sustain itself, it often must take from other life. It's only natural that violence is involved in that process."

"…"

"I've witnessed too much. Those with plenty unable to comprehend those with nothing. Those in desperate hunger resorting to violence against those who have. In such situations, what would you do, Kara?"

"That’s…"

Kara couldn't easily answer the complex question posed by Lize. Clearly, she recognizes that violence is inherently wrong.

But in such a situation, the need might be unavoidable, although it's somewhat uncomfortable to admit.

"You don’t have to answer. This is an extreme hypothetical after all. I will use violence as a tool to enforce my will."

"So is violence acceptable or not?"

"It depends on the situation. But feel free to use it without hesitation against demons and monsters. They aren’t life but entities seeking to usurp the very essence of life."

A line befitting a vampire-hunting priestess. It fits the theme of ‘chaos' very well.

Kara was visibly perplexed by Lize's complex reasoning.

In a way, it’s more barbaric than barbarians, yet imbued with firm conviction and philosophy.

The idea of violence not as a mere concept of good or bad but as a tool is innovative.

"So, Kara, you should continue to grow stronger. The nature of humans doesn't change, right? This is an era of peace, but who knows when war could break out again."

"At times like this, you’re terribly practical."

"To achieve ideals, the corresponding knowledge and power are necessary."

Lize remained elusive. It seemed like I could grasp what she meant, yet I couldn’t.

But that’s why she is the hard counter to demons—she can unleash violence following her strong convictions.

And as a saintess, she can usually smooth things over with gentle words.

The problem is, if it’s not saintess mode, and she’s in her Martial Saintess mode, respect often comes from a display of power.

"Looks like we’re here. Thanks to someone, we’ve got an open field that'll come in handy."

Our chatter leads us to our destination. The area was spacious enough to be considered a field.

"It almost seems artificially destroyed, doesn’t it?"

"This is where Hector and Sivar fought."

"That explains it."

The area was in ruins because of our fight. Naturally, noise and tremors spread far and wide, reaching the academy.

The academy had dispatched investigators, but Rod managed to dissuade them—something about chasing away a strong monster himself.

The fact that everyone believed it merely because Rod said so was amusing. The Sword King’s reputation truly held sway.

Boom!

Arriving at the venue, Lize shifted into Martial Saintess mode. Her rock-like muscles never ceased to baffle me.

In the game, it might be dismissed as comedic, but in reality, the unease was palpable.

"Shall we start getting ready?"

At last, the beginning. I stood side by side with Lize in the middle of the field.

The rest retreated to a safe distance to watch. Rod would personally handle any debris or storms.

To be honest, Lize could easily subdue me alone. But Rod was present to observe, in case the unexpected occurred.

‘Maybe even accidentally cause spatial destruction towards the academy.'

It’s the so-called splash damage. Powerful as Whitebeard, control is near impossible.

It's one reason Lize must keep her violence in check. She might tap, and others suffer grave injuries.

"As I've mentioned before, I will not use direct hits. My goal is to only invoke the conditions for fury to unleash, to provoke the feeling of danger close to death."

How exactly she planned to do that, I couldn't guess. Is she hitting me, or not?

Called some sort of hypnotism, but with ‘physical' added in, it only confounds further.

"However, reaching that point requires intense emotion. In other words, the exercise must be significant enough to stir the heart."

"…"

"Now, please, strike me as you wish. I will simply stand and receive."

What is she talking about? Her words left me utterly baffled.

There she stood with hands confidently perched on her hips, proudly thrusting her chest forward—her muscular pecs, not her rich bosom.

After verifying that I had indeed heard correctly, I cautiously spoke up.

"…truly?"

"Yes."

"Truly, strike?"

"Strike. It’s fine. I can take it."

Lize is definitely more robust than me. Even in the game, hardly any attack made an impact on her.

But that was when countering demons, creatures she's especially equipped to fight.

I’m not a demon, but I do have considerable attack power. Thus, I was confident.

"If it’s too difficult to punch, feel free to use a weapon. I heard that Hector gave you one, right?"

"…"

I wasn’t sure whether she was intentionally provoking me or genuinely offering advice. However, it was enough to touch a nerve.

I approached Lize slowly until I was close. Glancing back and forth, I stretched out my arm.

"Strike?"

"As many times as you ask, my answer remains the same. Strike me. Give it your all."

Well then. I swung my arm out with all my might the moment I heard her affirmation.

Just in case, I refrained from using any magic and struck with sheer physical force.

Clang!

My fist accurately hit Lize’s abdomen. But the sound—metallic and clear like steel against steel.

Throb!

"…"

And to my shock, my hand throbbed from the impact. If my body was any less resilient, the pain would have been unbearable.

"You may strike again if you wish."

Meanwhile, Lize was unscathed. From her expression, I could tell the blows really didn’t bother her.

Slightly encouraged, I swung my fist again. This time I hadn't held back, unlike before.

Clang!!

"Ugh!"

The clear and beautiful sound rang out again, and a shallow moan escaped my lips.

It hurt even more than before—akin to feeling as if I had punched a tree when I first fell into the wild.

I cradled my aching fist as I stepped back, then slowly lifted my head to look at Lize.

"Why…?"

It made no sense. Even Hector showed pain when I struck with genuine force.

Yet, not Lize. Her abs were so solid I wondered if she had bedded down a steel plate.

No. It was beyond solid. It was as if my attacks weren’t registering at all. Did any damage even penetrate?

"You’re alright."

In the meantime, Lize flashed me a truly refreshing smile.

"You can go on. I don’t mind more hits."

She was gradually making me realize the meaning of ‘wall.'