A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 108

Time continued to pass, even after receiving a promise—not quite a promise—from Luna.

Weekends are already notorious for flying by, but locking myself in my room made them disappear in an instant.

During that time, I chatted with Rize or read books, never forgetting to broaden my knowledge bit by bit.

News came in the middle that my disciplinary action had ended, but since it was around evening, it didn’t mean much.

‘Will this just pass by without a fuss?’

As soon as morning came, I finished preparing for all my classes and headed to the lecture room.

As always, the familiar scenery and the usual circumstances greeted me. It was so peaceful that I doubted such an incident had even occurred.

Will Grace attend class? Even if nothing happened, the mental shock must have been immense.

Skipping class would be a perfectly understandable reason. Moreover, the ripple effects can’t be ignored.

Whether she likes it or not, Grace is the child of a high-ranking noble family. She would undoubtedly become the subject of rumors.

‘This is stressful in its own way.’

Becoming the subject of rumors in a negative sense is bound to be nerve-wracking in many ways.

Even in the Soul World, Grace’s mental fortitude isn’t particularly strong. It’s just at the level of an average person.

You might wonder why the Duke’s Young Lady has such average mental strength, but that’s only in the realm of “politics”; as an individual, she’s ordinary.

She can endure her name being tossed around in political issues, but personal matters are difficult for her.

‘I just hope she regains her strength.’

At least, once she regains her strength, she tends to see things through to the end. Her recovery is relatively quick, given her weak mental state.

Until then, I’ll just stay by her side as her bodyguard. She’ll probably explain the details of the bodyguard arrangement after today’s classes.

Grace is too valuable a character to leave the stage like this. She even plays a significant role in related events in the future.

In any case, her recovery depends entirely on her. Though scars may remain, she will endure steadfastly.

-Creak-

Lost in thoughts about Grace, I found myself in front of the lecture room before I knew it.

As soon as I opened the door, the slightly noisy atmosphere of the class instantly fell silent. The added bonus was all eyes on me.

I ignored all of it since I had anticipated this reaction. My focus was solely on one person.

‘What is Kara going to say?’

It was Kara. The moment she saw me, she waved enthusiastically.

She had been resting her chin on her hand with a sulky expression, but it seemed she was genuinely glad to see me.

Honestly, apart from Luna and me, there aren’t many students she talks to. So, she must be happy about my arrival.

I waved back at her and walked toward her. Even as I moved, countless gazes followed me.

“What? I heard you were under disciplinary action, but it’s already over?”

“Yeah, it ended today.”

“I guess Duke Berche’s Household pulled some strings. There were even rumors about you being suspended or something.”

“I don’t know.”

I really didn’t know. It was probably just one of those baseless rumors floating around.

Even the disciplinary action was so short, with the weekend included, that it barely felt like one. I’m not even sure if it’ll leave a record.

I didn’t care about losing points either. Raising them back up is ridiculously easy by my standards anyway.

“And I heard that Delphoi guy got castrated. Is that true? They said his teeth and jaw were so messed up that he’ll have to live on porridge forever.”

“Hmm… Good for him?”

“Pfft.”

Kara let out a soft laugh at my response. She seemed pleased.

She lightly patted my shoulder and praised me.

“Good job. Guys like him deserve it. But remember, violence isn’t the answer to everything, so try to hold back. Got it?”

I looked at Kara after hearing those words. I hadn’t expected something like that to come out of her mouth.

Normally, she’d say something like, “Rude people should be beaten to death.” That would be more in character.

What she said now only comes from someone who’s achieved a certain level of mental growth.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”

Kara seemed oblivious to my thoughts. Her green eyes blinked as she expressed her confusion.

Her mental growth was genuinely a good thing. This could even open up possibilities for improving her relationship with Hector.

I should at least respond. I stared at Kara’s face for a moment before finally opening my mouth.

“No.”

“Really? Then why were you staring at me like that?”

“Just because.”

“You’re so bland.”

Kara chuckled softly and pinched my cheek lightly. It seemed like her way of showing affection.

Not long after, the door opened again, and a familiar face appeared. A girl with radiant blonde hair—Luna.

She looked the same as always, but something was off.

Nothing seemed different, yet her posture was awkward. She walked with a stiff, almost limping gait, as if suffering from severe muscle pain.

“Ugh…”

As soon as she sat next to me, Luna collapsed onto the desk as if she were about to faint. It was similar to last week, yet somehow different.

Kara seemed to notice as well and asked in a curious tone.

“Are you okay? You seem worse off than last time.”

“… …”

Luna slowly lifted her head in response to Kara’s question and gave me a resentful look.

That gaze made me feel a pang of guilt. Well, I did mess around under the guise of improving her flexibility.

Not only did I force her into doing the splits, but I also pushed her back while she was in that position.

It seemed the aftereffects were still lingering today. I should apologize to her later.

“…It’s because of Sivar.”

“Sivar? What about him?”

“It’s just… He’s such a prankster.”

“What exactly did he do?”

Still looking puzzled, Kara turned to me for an explanation.

There was no reason to beat around the bush, so I answered bluntly.

“Exercise.”

“Exercise?”

“Yeah. I worked on her flexibility. Splits.”

“Oh, flexibility? That’s not a bad thing to—”

Kara paused mid-sentence after hearing my reply. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

Then, in a slightly lowered voice, she asked another question.

“But how were you two alone? Weren’t you under disciplinary action?”

“The Saint allowed it. I agreed to undergo personal training.”

“I see, but was that really okay?”

“It seemed fine to me.”

Luna answered succinctly, as if wondering what the problem was.

Kara, however, seemed slightly dissatisfied with her tone and muttered quietly.

“So that’s how it’s going to be…”

Whatever she was thinking, it seemed best to let it slide. Complicated matters are a hassle.

Prying further would be rude. I pulled a piece of candy from my pocket and popped it into my mouth.

The candy I ate this time was grape-flavored. For the record, Kara had bought it for me.

-Creak-

While savoring the candy’s flavor, the sound of the door opening reached my ears.

Normally, I would have ignored it and stayed lost in thought, but something felt off. The atmosphere had shifted.

My gaze naturally turned toward the door, and I realized why the mood had changed.

“Hey, look over there.”

“Oh? She came?”

“Of course, who else would it be?”

“Is she really okay…?”

With her long purple hair and her signature confident expression, accentuated by her sharp eyes—

The central figure of the recent incident and the subject of everyone’s attention, Grace, had appeared.

I honestly thought she would skip class today, at least. Her presence was unexpected.

“… …”

Grace walked confidently, undeterred by the now quiet atmosphere.

Despite nearly becoming a victim of a dangerous incident, her confidence showed no signs of wavering.

Eventually, she naturally took a seat next to Luna and greeted her with a soft smile.

“Hello, Ms. Luna. Did you have a good weekend?”

“Uh… Yes. And you, Ms. Grace…?”

Luna instinctively started to respond but quickly clammed up, her expression akin to someone who had just stepped on a landmine.

However, Grace, seemingly unbothered, maintained her smile as she spoke.

“I had a good one. I was surrounded by people who were very supportive in many ways.”

“Th-that’s a relief.”

“By the way…”

Grace then turned her gaze to me after looking at Luna. I met her eyes as well.

In the Soul World, it usually takes time to regain one’s composure. But right now, this was undoubtedly the Grace I knew.

Confident yet subtly exuding an air of authority. What could have possibly revitalized her spirit?

While I was pondering that question, Grace’s smile deepened, and she addressed me.

“My knight… No, my bodyguard, how did you spend your weekend?”

“…What?”

“…Bodyguard?”

Kara and Luna each reacted to Grace’s statement. And it wasn’t just them—others began murmuring as well.

It seemed my role as Grace’s bodyguard hadn’t been made public yet.

Considering it was a private agreement with Arthur, it made sense.

“Oh my, haven’t you heard? Mr. Sivar will be my bodyguard for about a month. We’ve already reached a personal agreement.”

“Sivar, is that true?”

“Yes.”

I answered Kara’s question without hesitation. Honestly, there was no harm in admitting it.

This led to a mix of puzzled expressions from those around us. It seemed they couldn’t quite grasp the situation.

“…If it’s a bodyguard, shouldn’t your household assign one? Why is it Sivar?”

Kara, who seemed to have pieced things together faster than the others, asked. Her tone and expression clearly showed her confusion.

Her point was valid—normally, in such cases, the household would dispatch a knight directly.

But neither Grace nor the Berche Household followed that norm. Instead, they specifically designated me as her bodyguard.

It was far from common sense. While I had agreed without much thought, it would undoubtedly appear strange to others.

“There are circumstances. Let’s just say it was coordinated with the Duke Berche’s Household.”

“What kind of coordination? You didn’t threaten him into this, did you?”

Did she think I had been coerced? Kara frowned, her demeanor turning hostile.

She even seemed ready to step in herself if necessary. Honestly, it was a bit touching.

But contrary to her assumption, I hadn’t been threatened. Arthur had acted with nothing but propriety.

“That’s an amusing thought. Let me ask you instead—what kind of threat do you think would work on Mr. Sivar?”

“… …”

“The Duke Berche and I made a proposal to Mr. Sivar, and he accepted it. He will also undergo training as my bodyguard.”

Training? That was news to me. For some reason, it felt like I’d been roped into a shady deal.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Kara voiced her disbelief as she confronted Grace.

“Isn’t this too much? Sivar doesn’t know anything about this. He probably agreed because you asked him to, right?”

“There’s also the matter of psychological stability. Ms. Kara, you know what happened to me, don’t you?”

“That… well…”

“And Mr. Sivar saved me from a crisis. While he’s my bodyguard, I plan to ensure he receives compensation and gains peace of mind as well.”

“… …”

Her explanation was flawless. Kara, hearing the term “psychological stability,” couldn’t argue further.

As a fellow woman, she could empathize with the trauma Grace had nearly endured. Pressing further would prick her conscience.

Moreover, Kara likely understood the profound aftereffects such psychological damage could bring.

“…Alright. If it’s just for a month, fine. But don’t take up his personal time.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. It will be well-managed.”

Grace likely knew as well—turning me into a genuine bodyguard would be a challenge.

It was more akin to having a shield for psychological stability. Besides, there wouldn’t be any major events until the final exam.

While I might occasionally search for traces of the demon, I could ask for understanding when the time came. Alternatively, Luna could handle it herself.

“Um…”

Just as the conversation about my role as a bodyguard continued, Luna, who had been sitting quietly, timidly spoke up.

Having kept her mouth shut until now, she had naturally been sidelined. The moment she spoke, all eyes turned to her.

“Does… does Sivar really have to stay by your side?”

Luna asked an oddly out-of-place question. It was something no one had anticipated.

Hearing it, Grace raised an eyebrow in confusion before kindly explaining.

“Ms. Luna, Mr. Sivar is my bodyguard. That means he has to stay by my side for the time being.”

“B-but I also made a promise with Sivar…”

“What kind of promise?”

At Grace’s question, Luna turned to look at me, her expression asking what was going on.

But no matter how much she looked at me like that, nothing would change. I had no idea what she was thinking.

In the end, unlike Grace, Luna revealed the truth with a slightly anxious expression.

“A promise to get to know each other better?”

“… …”

“Anyway, that’s the kind of promise we made.”

Not just a simple bombshell—this was like dropping a napalm. How could she say something like that so casually?

Of course, Luna wasn’t lying. On the contrary, she was being overly honest and straightforward.

“Th-that… I-I didn’t expect this…”

Even Grace seemed visibly shaken. Her once confident expression had completely vanished.

Her violet eyes trembled as if struck by an earthquake, and her complexion turned pale. It was almost pitiful to watch.

“…Luna.”

“Y-yes?”

“That. Explain it. In detail. What do you mean by ‘getting to know each other better’? When?”

Kara wasn’t any less intense. Her face showed she was barely containing her emotions, as if she might explode at any moment.

She even gave off an air of readiness to strike if necessary. Luna’s eyes darted around in growing confusion.

‘Her mouth really is a problem.’

This was what people called a series of unfortunate events. From now on, she’d need to choose her words carefully.

Otherwise, not only Grace but also her relationship with Kara could spiral out of control. This wasn’t something I could help with.

Clearing up the misunderstanding would mean indirectly revealing secrets between the two. Ignoring it would be equally risky.

What kind of answer would Luna give? I silently watched, waiting for her to speak.

[Faith Increases!]

Let’s just ignore the god who’s gleefully munching on popcorn.

How much time had passed as the atmosphere grew increasingly awkward? Luna suddenly shouted in a panic.

“P-parents!”

“What?”

“Huh?”

“We decided to find Sivar’s parents!”

Out of nowhere, Luna brought up my parents. They were probably living peacefully on Earth.

Just as I was puzzled, the others seemed equally confused. Their reactions all asked the same question—what was she talking about?

“S-Sivar lived alone in the wilderness, but I thought he must have parents somewhere…! When we first met, there were no traces of parents…”

“So you decided to find his parents? And in the process, learn more about him?”

“Y-yes!”

“Hmm.”

Kara gave Luna a skeptical look, as if trying to determine whether she was telling the truth.

It wasn’t entirely true, but it wasn’t a lie either. As improvisations went, it was impressive.

“Alright. I’ll believe you for now.”

“Well, it’s a reasonable explanation. I’ve been curious about Mr. Sivar’s origins myself.”

“Phew…”

Luna let out a sigh of relief, sensing that the atmosphere was shifting toward letting things slide.

Of course, the skeptical glances hadn’t completely disappeared. They would probably keep an eye on her for a while.

‘Maybe I’m overreacting.’

I decided to take a step back and just observe. I had a feeling that getting involved would only lead to a series of troublesome situations.

“Mr. Sivar.”

“?”

It was then that Grace called out to me. I turned my head toward her, curiosity evident in my expression.

She extended her index finger and gave me a piece of advice.

“As you saw earlier, you must never engage in a double contract. It breaks trust and can lead to very troublesome situations. In the civilized world, promises—especially contracts—are extremely important.”

“She’s right. It’s a good time to let you know. Careless contracts can leave you trapped.”

Kara spoke up after Grace. With a sly grin, Kara placed her arm on my shoulder.

Then, subtly leaning closer, she spoke with a tone full of familiarity.

“Like I said before, if you ever get scammed, just tell me. I’ll make sure to teach them a lesson.”

“Scammed?”

“Yeah, scammed. I mean when someone deceives or tricks you.”

Just beat them up, right? That thought crossed my mind at that moment.

“Don’t even think about beating them up. Fraud isn’t something you can solve by fighting—it’ll only hurt you more.”

“How did you know?”

“I have my ways.”

Kara grinned at my surprised question and pinched my cheek as she answered. Her refreshing smile was as striking as ever.

“Kara, if it’s a case of fraud, we can step in first.”

“Are you planning to interfere even in personal matters? People need to learn to stand on their own.”

“He’s a bodyguard personally appointed by Duke Berche’s Household. If it comes to that…”

Here they go again. I quietly observed the two of them arguing from opposite ends.

Luna, meanwhile… well, she was slumped over the desk. She must have been exhausted, both physically and mentally.

“I want to go home…”

She looked so worn out that I gave her a comforting pat on the back.