A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 113

As I mentioned before, deep within the Forest of Chaos is a place meant for high-level individuals in the Soul World.

Due to the abundance of prey, a wide variety of flora and fauna are distributed here, and there are quite a number of creatures classified as predators.

Especially when you first enter, Porori gives you a very warm welcome—by kindly knocking you down with an Iron Mountain Strike, telling you not to come back.

Moreover, predators from the outer areas frequently venture inward. Back when I lived in the forest, there were always intruders invading my territory whenever they got the chance.

“Kuuuuuu!!!”

In that sense, the Usk I just launched a preemptive strike against is no different. I aimed for its head, but perhaps due to its exoskeleton, the strike didn’t land well.

The Usk, with an appearance reminiscent of something out of a famous space war game, has an exoskeleton that is incredibly tough to penetrate.

Especially for characters focused on ‘slashing’ rather than ‘striking,’ the Usk is a hard counter. Its slash resistance is an impressive S rank, which says it all.

To cut through an Usk’s exoskeleton, it would be impossible without a Rod. Even a professor couldn’t kill it unless they aimed for the head.

‘It’s come a long way from the Grassland Zone.’

I observed the Usk, which had started thrashing wildly with an axe embedded in its head. The Usk is a monster that inhabits the Grassland Zone.

Just as Earth’s elephant is called the true king of beasts, the Usk holds the elephant’s position in this world.

Although there are actual elephants in this world, this comparison emphasizes how threatening it is.

Just look at those blade fangs and its solid exoskeleton. You wouldn’t even dare to fight it.

‘Judging by the fact that there are only two of them, it must’ve been expelled from its herd.’

I extended my hand to retrieve Ragnarok and began to move. As the axe lodged in its head was pulled out, the frenzied Usk turned its gaze toward me.

Seeing a small youngling beside the Usk, it appears to be female. Also, the fact that only the two of them are wandering around confirms they’ve been separated from the herd.

Normally, Usks live in groups, much like real elephants. Males, unless it’s mating season, spend their lives wandering alone.

There’s only one reason an Usk would be expelled from its herd—losing a hierarchy fight. It’s similar to human political struggles.

“Kuuuuuu!!”

As I recalled the lifestyle of the Usks, the mother began charging toward me.

She must’ve realized I was the culprit after seeing the axe in my hand. I threw the axe to divert her attention.

‘I’ve heard it tastes amazing.’

As the Usk charged toward me, I calmly observed it while letting my mind wander. In the Soul World, Usks are particularly praised for their flavor.

Unlike elephants or other animals, their meat isn’t tough, and they have almost no hide. This is the result of investing everything into their solid exoskeleton.

Even in the Soul World, just grilling it lightly provided buff effects, and the ones sold on the market were ridiculously expensive.

Above all, just look at those blade fangs that seem sharp enough to cut you at a glance. They’re among the top-tier materials.

‘There’s no harm in killing it in advance.’

Usks throw off the balance if they’re in the outer area. Even if separated from the herd, they would cause significant harm to students.

Just being crushed under those massive legs would turn smaller creatures into pulp. Most attacks wouldn’t even make a dent.

I feel sorry for the Usk, but it has to die here for the greater good. Living in the inner area is fine, but the outer area is a no-go.

‘It seems like it chose the relatively safer outer area because of its youngling, but······’

What’s unacceptable is unacceptable. As the Usk closed in on me, I braced myself, planting my feet firmly on the ground.

The axe had been carelessly tossed onto the ground long ago.

Thud!

At last, I collided with the massive Usk. Its head was roughly at eye level with mine, giving me plenty of places to grab and hold on.

Squelch!

Perhaps due to the force of its charge, I was pushed back quite a bit. Still, my legs didn’t buckle and stood firm.

Though I was merely on the defensive, it meant my strength wasn’t being overwhelmed by the Usk.

Moreover, the distance I was pushed back wasn’t that far. This was thanks to using mana as a precaution.

“Watch out!”

Serah’s warning reached my ears. The moment I heard it, I felt a chilling sensation on my right flank.

Turning my head, I saw the sharp blade fang slowly approaching, aiming to cut me.

The Usk’s blade fangs are famously sharp. I wondered if they could pierce my body as well.

Grab!

I caught the approaching blade fang with one hand before it could split me in two.

At the same time, a stinging pain, as if I’d been cut, spread from my palm. It had been a while since I felt such searing pain.

Just how sharp must it be to even cut my body? This added another reason why I couldn’t let the Usk go.

If I let it go now, others would likely attempt to subjugate it, leading to more victims.

Crack!

Holding onto the blade fang, I clenched my other hand into a fist. As I did so, red lightning began to flicker.

Normally, I’d only use mana, but just in case, I added lightning. These blade fangs were not only sharp but also incredibly durable.

My counterattack was ready. With the hand imbued with lightning, I struck the center of the blade fang I was holding.

Boom!

“Kuuuuuu!”

As soon as my fist landed, the blade fang snapped cleanly in half. The Usk let out a scream, clearly in pain.

I briefly checked my stinging palm. Seeing its condition, I couldn’t help but be slightly surprised.

It wasn’t just a simple cut—it was shredded to the point of nearly being severed in half.

‘No wonder it’s called an elephant.’

According to the lore, these blade fangs fetch exorbitant prices on the market. Not only do they look impressive, but their effects are extraordinary.

Of course, unlike Earth’s elephants, they’re not at risk of poaching. Hunting an Usk requires risking one’s life.

Skilled hunters who could easily take down an Usk usually opted to hunt other creatures instead.

Tear—

Thanks to my regeneration ability, my hand, which was on the verge of becoming a rag, quickly healed. As soon as it recovered, I moved on to my next action.

Before the Usk could regain its senses, I squeezed my body into the relatively intact side of its remaining blade fang.

Perhaps because its vision was obstructed, the mother couldn’t even respond. She was too busy trying to figure out where I’d gone.

Taking advantage of that moment, I climbed onto its back. As soon as I did, the Usk began thrashing wildly again.

‘You’ve got to use what you’ve learned.’

The mother Usk bucked like a raging bull. I focused on maintaining my balance while clenching my fist.

Even though it was combined with red mana, I knew how to use it. I applied the ‘condensation’ technique I’d learned from Chronos.

Crack!

Using the condensed power, I struck its head with a powerful blow.

Even a solid exoskeleton isn’t unbreakable. Especially since the Usk’s head has relatively thinner exoskeleton layers.

“Kuuuuuu!”

The creature flailed in agony from the blunt trauma. The spot I’d just struck was where the axe had been embedded.

I barely managed to hold on as I was nearly thrown off. I succeeded by gripping the Usk’s head with my bare hands and pulling myself back.

Crack!

Striking it again, the Usk writhed in pain. I made sure to steer it away from Luna as much as possible.

Crack! Crack! Crunch!

Without pause, I continued pounding my fist down. Each time, the Usk went berserk, destroying everything in its path within the forest.

From thick trees to solid rocks, it slashed with its blade fangs or rammed its massive body into everything, causing utter destruction.

Just the chaos caused by an Usk on the verge of being subdued was enough to wreak havoc on the ecosystem. I was glad I decided to deal with it.

Crunch!

“Kuuu······!”

It seemed like it was time to finish things. Judging by the diminishing intensity of its cries, it was clear.

I extended my hand to retrieve Ragnarok. Then, I imbued it with both lightning and mana before striking its head.

Crack!

“Kuuu······!”

Before it could even scream, the Usk collapsed beneath me. Using the axe lodged in its face, I pressed down with all my strength.

Thud!

The elephant-sized Usk fell lifelessly. Having taken repeated blows to the head, its brain must’ve turned to mush.

I pulled the axe from its head and, with all my might, struck its head one last time.

“Hup!”

Crack!

Tremble—

As soon as the axe struck its head, the Usk’s body trembled violently before going limp. It was truly dead.

One of its blade fangs was completely broken, and its head was utterly destroyed. It wasn’t as difficult as I’d thought.

Given its massive bulk, it was bound to lack speed—especially agility. Its turning ability was particularly poor.

‘Even disposing of it will be a hassle.’

I casually wiped the blood off my regenerated hand and stared at the Usk. Carrying it out wasn’t an option.

However, I don’t know where to process it. Although the Academy has a blacksmith, the Usk is one of the high-quality monsters.

Its value is so exceptional that it should be put up for auction rather than taken to a blacksmith. Just the blade fang alone would fetch an enormous price.

‘I only need the meat anyway.’

Whether it’s the blade fang or the exoskeleton, I don’t care. I just need to ask the butcher shop to handle it properly.

So, I should hurry and take it. Meat loses its freshness the longer it’s left unattended.

“Kuu…”

“?”

At that moment, a faint sound reached my ears. When I turned my head, a young Usk was crying beside its mother.

Could it know that its mother had died? It cried so sorrowfully.

Even a beast with such a ferocious appearance is truly adorable when it’s young.

“What should I do with the young one?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to leave it alone?”

“Even if it’s a monster like that, it’ll struggle on its own.”

The students watching nearby exchanged a few words. They seemed to pity the young Usk as well.

Listening to their conversation, I glanced at Luna. She was looking back and forth between me and the Usk’s corpse with an expression of amazement.

Serah wasn’t much different. She could have handled the Usk as well, but it would have taken her a long time and caused considerable damage.

‘I should take care of the young one first.’

With that thought, I began walking toward the young Usk.

******

As expected, it was incredible. That was Luna’s impression as she observed Sivar, who had single-handedly subjugated the Usk.

Sivar had previously defeated a Manki in less than five seconds. So, she thought he would quickly deal with the Usk as well.

However, whether the Usk was tougher than expected or stronger, Sivar seemed to struggle at first.

Of course, it was only a struggle. As soon as an opening appeared, he mercilessly struck its head and subdued it.

He even finished it off with his signature axe strike. It was nothing short of remarkable.

‘I’m glad I wasn’t born an animal.’

That thought crossed my mind. If I had been born an animal and entered the Forest of Chaos, I would have been killed by Sivar.

Just as I was thinking how fortunate I was to be born human, Sivar approached the young Usk.

“Kuuu!”

The young Usk, which had been crying sorrowfully over its mother’s death, took a defensive stance as Sivar approached.

It seemed to instinctively know that Sivar had killed its mother. According to Serah, Usk are highly intelligent creatures.

‘Will he just let it go?’

I’d read about it in books before. Predators that unknowingly hunted a mother without realizing she had younglings, only to feel guilt afterward.

It meant even they had emotions and could feel guilt. It had left quite an impression on me.

“Professor, what will happen to that young one?”

“Even if it’s young, an Usk is still an Usk. If it’s in the outer area, it has a good chance of growing up safely.”

“Hmm…”

So, should it just be left alone? Luna pondered over it.

Meanwhile, Sivar, who had approached the Usk, slowly knelt on one knee. Then, he reached out his hand toward the Usk.

“Kuaa!”

As soon as Sivar extended his hand, the young Usk bit down on it. Its blade fang hadn’t fully developed yet, so it used its teeth instead.

While Sivar’s body was naturally sturdy, the Usk’s bite force was no joke. Bright red blood began to drip down as a result.

The sight startled Luna and the others, but Sivar remained expressionless. If anything, he looked completely calm.

“Shh, shh, shh—”

Sivar acted as if it was fine for his hand to be bitten. He even extended his hand further, as if to reassure the young Usk.

Did the Usk sense something from his reaction? It gradually loosened its jaw and slowly lowered its guard.

Swoosh—

Feeling the pressure on his hand ease, Sivar extended his other hand slowly. The Usk flinched but stayed still.

Eventually, Sivar gently patted the Usk’s head a few times. It seemed like he was apologizing for killing its mother.

‘…Could Sivar be feeling guilt as well?’

Luna watched the scene unfold in real-time and wondered. Even though it was just a simple interaction, it left a profound impression.

Sivar had lived in the wilderness for so long that such interactions with beasts were probably second nature to him.

After all, he had fought tooth and nail with Ratatoskr, and now they coexisted peacefully. Perhaps the young Usk would be no different.

“It seems the situation is under control, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. For now, let’s wrap things up quickly. The commotion might attract other monsters. Let’s call it a day and head back.”

In response to Luna’s question, Serah gave her instructions with a faint smile. Meanwhile, Sivar continued to pat the Usk’s head.

The young Usk would live in the wilderness and grow strong. That’s what the students watching them thought.

Swoosh—

“Kuu?”

Sivar, who had been patting the young Usk’s head, suddenly covered its eyes with his hand. The Usk seemed puzzled as its vision darkened.

But it didn’t end there. With his now-free hand, Sivar slowly began to wrap it around the Usk’s neck.

The process was so natural that even Serah and the students couldn’t immediately grasp what he was doing. But the result came quickly.

Crack!!

“Huh…?”

“Ah…?”

“…?”

It was pure shock and horror. There was no other way to describe it.

Sivar had wrapped his hand around the young Usk’s neck and snapped it without hesitation. Utterly merciless.

Even an Usk has joints in its neck. Snapping those joints would naturally result in instant death.

Thud—

The young Usk, like its mother, collapsed lifelessly to the ground. Sivar gently laid it down and stood up.

Despite its adorable appearance, there wasn’t a shred of mercy in his actions.

As everyone stared in disbelief at the scene, Sivar turned around, sensing their gazes.

His red eyes burned intensely, but his expression remained calm. As if he had merely done what needed to be done.

“…Why?”

Tilting his head in confusion, Sivar questioned the stares directed at him. His reaction seemed to ask if he had done something wrong.

Luna looked at both the young Usk and Sivar in response. The disconnect was so jarring that she struggled to find words.

Still, she forced herself to voice her curiosity. She couldn’t suppress it.

“S-Sivar? Why did you…?”

“Hm?”

“Why did you… kill the young one? Couldn’t you have let it go?”

It was a question everyone, including Luna, wanted to ask. Why had he killed a youngling that could have been spared?

Hearing her question, Sivar blinked. Blinking was one of Sivar’s peculiar habits.

He was probably racking his brain, trying to figure out what he had done. He seemed unaware of his actions.

“Mercy.”

“Mercy?”

“Yes.”

Finally, the words that came out of Sivar’s mouth were—

“I sent it along. With its mother.”

“… …”

It was a statement that demanded serious contemplation of his ethics.