A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 128

You could criticize a grown adult for crying so disgracefully. I was thinking the same thing myself.

However, after spending so much time in the forest, I began to miss human warmth, and the broken axe was also a problem.

The Usk Axe only felt like a minor loss, not something catastrophic like Ragnarok.

Ragnarok is not only Hector’s symbolic weapon but also a crucial relic for the Tatars.

To the extent that with just Ragnarok, they gained “legitimacy” and were able to found the Tatar nation.

Since ancient times, religion has held a significant position in civilization, and Hector was chosen by none other than Lord Gulak.

The proof of that is this very Ragnarok. It’s more than just a weapon; it’s a sacred relic akin to a king’s symbol.

When progressing through the Tatar storyline, it plays a very important role, but now that it’s broken, the future looks bleak.

“Unnie, is this thing supposed to break so easily?”

“No. It’s a weapon personally blessed by Lord Gulak, so it breaking is strange. It’s just that the Saintess is absurdly strong.”

Kara answered while looking at the remnants of the weapon she had somehow managed to gather.

She said she was fine, but her expression clearly showed how much of a headache this was.

And rightly so—destroying a royal symbol is a significant blow from Kara’s perspective.

“Do you think it can be repaired?”

“That’s one issue, but the real problem is after the repair. We don’t know if Lord Gulak’s blessing will remain.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said. Usually, when equipment imbued with blessings is destroyed, it reverts to being ordinary.”

This is precisely why Kara is so troubled. When a weapon imbued with blessings is destroyed, its effects vanish.

Looking at it this way, you might think it’s unfair, but such equipment is incredibly hard to destroy in the first place.

Only someone with equipment of the same grade and top-tier skills can manage to break it.

“Of all things, it had to be the Saintess’s full-force punch…”

“My body is also blessed by Lord Chaos. All the conditions were met.”

The issue lies with Rize’s fist. Her body, blessed by Chaos, is practically a weapon in itself.

Combined with a full-force straight punch, it resulted in Ragnarok being utterly shattered.

If I had reacted a little faster, things might have turned out differently.

Ultimately, this is mostly my fault. If we hadn’t sparred in the first place, none of this would have happened.

“I’m sorry…”

“I told you there’s no need to apologize. You’re just making me feel guiltier.”

Kara comforted me by patting my head as I apologized. But it didn’t change the fact that my greed was the root cause.

I want to help somehow, but this isn’t a problem that money can solve. It’s a weapon directly blessed by Lord Gulak, after all.

In other words, to fully restore it, Lord Gulak would have to bless it again.

“How long did it take for Lord Gulak to bestow his blessing?”

“I think it took over a year… And now that my father is gone, it might take even longer.”

But time is desperately short. Even offering daily tributes and performing rituals might not be enough.

Moreover, when Hector obtained Ragnarok, it was during the tribal unification war.

Back then, every day was a crisis, so they must have prayed fervently. Whether a blessing will be granted again is uncertain.

“So, what do you plan to do now?”

“For now, I’ll gather the remnants and visit the altar. If I show enough sincerity, Lord Gulak might show favor.”

Kara answered Luna’s question as she began to gather the remnants one by one.

I didn’t just stand by and watch; I helped collect them too. At the very least, it was better for me to handle the Usk Axe.

If Kara were to accidentally cut her hand, my guilt would only worsen. It’s better to prevent it in advance.

“We’ve gathered most of it, and now for the tribute… No, let’s place this on the altar first and think about it. It’s almost noon anyway.”

Kara roughly organized everything and looked up at the sky as she spoke. I followed her gaze and looked up as well.

The sun wasn’t yet at its zenith, so it wasn’t noon. Noon is the golden time for rituals.

“I have some preparations to make, so I’ll head back first.”

“Understood. By when should we gather at the altar?”

“Before noon… Wait, are you planning to visit the altar too, Saintess?”

Kara asked in surprise. It was only natural to be shocked that someone like the Saintess would visit the altar.

Moreover, Rize is a Follower of Chaos. Even if Chaos pursues disorder, this seems to cross a line.

“Yes. I bear responsibility too, so I intend to help.”

“Hmm… May I ask how you plan to help? I’ve never heard of a Follower of Chaos assisting in a ritual for Lord Gulak. Even Sivar only performed the ritual, so this is quite different.”

“It’s nothing special. I simply intend to offer my sincerest apology.”

I already feel uneasy. Hearing those words in her Authority Form makes it impossible to predict what she’ll do.

Still, her intention to help is genuine. Kara seemed to sense this as well and let it slide without much concern.

“Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter. If even Sivar performed the ritual, the Saintess will be even more appreciated.”

“Thank you. I’m sure Lord Gulak will be pleased. Lord Chaos too, for that matter.”

Far from being pleased, it felt like they were out to make me cry.

Controlling my emotions was already hard enough, and the bombardment of faith was just too much.

It loosened the fuse, causing my emotions to explode. With all the nagging, how could I possibly hold back?

“Anyway, I’ll head out first. Luna, are you coming too?”

“I’ll go. I don’t have anything else to do anyway.”

While I was grumbling internally, Luna answered.

From Luna’s perspective, she really had nothing else to do, hence her response.

However, the fact that her former mentor, Rize, was right beside her changed the meaning of her words.

“Hmm. It seems you’ve already recovered. Very well. We’ll resume training after the ritual.”

“Ah, no, wait. That’s not what I meant…”

No matter how you look at it, our Luna always manages to get herself into trouble with her words.

Even when there’s no misunderstanding, her mouth always seems to invite unnecessary hardship.

In the end, Luna sulked as another training session was scheduled for her, but it wasn’t my problem, so I let it go.

After Kara collected the broken remnants and left, the situation was temporarily resolved.

The only thing left was to head to the altar at noon. Lunch would have to wait until after that.

‘But do we really have to perform rituals for an entire year?’

I’m willing to do whatever it takes to restore Ragnarok.

Hector entrusted the axe to me to protect Kara. Even though I caused an accident along the way, it’s a weapon I must return to him someday.

‘Should I try using monsters from the Forest of Chaos? If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have sold the Blade Fang.’

The situation made me sigh involuntarily. I just hope we can restore it as soon as possible.

It’s only my wish, but with Rize offering to help, it might just work out.

With these complex feelings, we all returned to my dormitory.

“Sivar!”

“?”

A familiar voice called out my name. A warm and cheerful voice.

Turning my head, I saw Ellie running toward us from a distance.

Her expression was one of genuine joy, and her chest movement stirred the melancholy in my heart. I couldn’t focus on anything else.

“Where are you coming from… Wait, did you cry?”

Ellie greeted me briefly, then widened her eyes as she looked at my face.

It seemed the tear stains were still visible. I turned my head away and answered timidly.

“No, I didn’t cry.”

“Liar. Your pale skin makes the marks stand out.”

Damn this skin of mine. My ghostly pale complexion had given me away.

“Ellie, let me explain. Here’s what happened…”

Luna stepped in to explain. She gave a brief summary of what had happened.

Ellie listened attentively with her characteristic bright-eyed expression until she heard about the weapon being destroyed, at which point she looked slightly surprised.

Then, she looked at my face with concern, grabbed it with both hands, and asked. She held on so tightly that my lips puckered out like a fish.

“You’re not hurt, are you? What if that face of yours gets scarred?”

“I’m not hurt.”

“Even if you’re not hurt, you cried. Kara Unnie comforted you.”

As expected, she never disappoints. She even revealed unnecessary details.

Just as I was about to glare at Luna, Ellie, sensing something odd, opened her mouth.

“What do you mean? Kara Unnie comforted you?”

“Exactly what I said. Sivar was on the verge of tears, so she hugged him and told him it was okay.”

“…Really?”

Why is her response half a beat late? Her expressionless face makes me unnecessarily anxious.

But as if to prove my worries were unfounded, Ellie smiled brightly and spoke as if it didn’t matter.

“It’s fine as long as it’s Kara Unnie. By the way, I can hug you right now too. Want a hug?”

With those words, Ellie spread her arms wide. Her boundless warmth unfolded right before my eyes.

Like someone enchanted by a fox, I approached her and quietly let myself be embraced. A different kind of comfort from Kara enveloped my entire body.

“As expected, Sivar is such a child. You must really like being hugged.”

“…I’m not a child.”

“Oh, really? Then why did you cry?”

“…”

Unable to come up with a proper answer, I firmly shut my mouth. Right now, I just wanted to savor this comfort.

After being embraced for quite a while, we returned to the main topic. First was Ellie’s decision.

“Can I come along too? Since Ratatoskr also worships Lord Gulak, I think it’d be good to visit at least once.”

“It’ll be tough. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

“Of course I am. Believe it or not, I’ve conquered every mountain near my home.”

In truth, Ellie surprisingly has strong stamina.

While not on par with superhumans like Luna or Kara, she’s exceptional among ordinary people.

To the point where she even surpasses Grace, a mage, in stamina. It’s no wonder she maintains her figure since even her fat seems to concentrate in her chest.

“When did Kara Unnie say we should arrive?”

“We should get there before noon. The Saint will also be visiting.”

“Then, until then, should we play a card game at Sivar’s dormitory? There’s nothing else to do anyway.”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

There’s nothing better than a card game to kill time. At that moment, even Rize agreed.

Soon, we all flocked to my dormitory and started a card game. The rules were simple enough for me to follow.

“Luna.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re really bad at this.”

“…Hey. Let’s reshuffle. Let’s reshuffle and play again!”

But Luna was genuinely terrible at it.

Her expressions gave everything away, making her an easy opponent.

******

After wrapping up our card game during the break, we ascended the altar just in time for our appointment.

Ellie, true to her word, followed us without any trouble. She even gathered herbs along the way.

Rize climbed the stairs in her Saint Form rather than her Authority Form. She’d likely switch back to her Authority Form upon reaching the altar.

“Kara Unnie must’ve arrived ahead of us, right?”

“Probably? She did say she’d wait for us there.”

“What kind of preparations could she be making that she couldn’t come with us?”

Like Ellie, I was curious. Based on when we parted ways, there was about an hour left until noon.

That should’ve been enough time to prepare together, so it was strange that she went ahead.

And that curiosity was resolved as soon as we reached the altar at the summit.

“You’re early. You could’ve taken your time.”

“Oh…”

As soon as we arrived at the altar, Kara greeted us warmly. But I couldn’t treat her as I usually did.

The others, except for Rize, were no different. Everyone was left speechless as they stared at Kara.

“Is that the traditional attire of the Tatars? A dancer’s outfit?”

“Yes. This matter requires sincerity, so I dressed accordingly.”

A white outfit that accentuated her bronzed skin, framed with golden ornaments.

However, it barely covered the essentials, making it harder to find areas that weren’t exposed.

Thanks to that, Kara’s toned abs and figure were clearly visible. Even the lower part of her outfit fluttered with every movement.

A single spin would likely reveal her sturdy thighs and embarrassing areas entirely. It was a sight that thoroughly stimulated a man’s desires.

“I-Is that really the traditional attire of the Tatars?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Isn’t it too revealing? It looks like it’s just a few scraps of cloth…”

So much so that even Ellie openly criticized it. Luna, meanwhile, was zoning out beside her.

But Kara, as if this were a common occurrence, shrugged it off nonchalantly.

“I know. But the Tatars’ weather is so hot that we have no choice. You’ll understand naturally if you ever visit our country.”

“So does every woman in Tatar wear that?”

“No. This is only worn by dancers. Still, most people prefer clothing that allows for good ventilation.”

As explained before, the Tatars are a nation inspired by Ancient Egypt.

Perhaps that’s why they’re very open about exposure. The weather leaves them no choice.

Of course, their bronzed skin shows how well they’ve adapted to the climate, allowing them to wear such clothing.

Foreigners, however, would get sunburned under the intense sunlight if they wore similar attire. That’s why most of them wear clothes that cover their bodies.

“By the way, not all dancers are the same. Do you see this ring on my middle finger? If a dancer wears this, it means they’re performing rituals.”

Flutter—

As Kara said this, she waved her arms. Though it seemed like a casual motion, the green fabric moved beautifully.

The green cloth complemented Kara’s green eyes, and the circlet on her head suited her perfectly.

“Beautiful.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Beautiful.”

“…You’re something else. Saying things you don’t mean.”

Kara smiled shyly at my sincere compliment. It wasn’t flattery; she was genuinely so beautiful that I couldn’t find the words to say anything else.

Even in Soul World, Kara’s dancer skin wasn’t this revealing.

The top covered her chest, and the bottom was in the form of pants.

It seems there’s a distinction between banquet dancer outfits and ritual dancer outfits.

“Anyway, I’ll begin the ritual now. The tribute is ready, so we just need to hear the response.”

“Understood.”

“Sivar, come with me. If we pray together, Lord Gulak might give us a better answer.”

Kara extended her hand to me as she invited me. Her radiant smile was breathtaking.

Instead of replying, I took her hand. Kara responded with her signature refreshing smile.

She then led me toward the altar, pulling me along. This gave me a clear view of her exposed back.

Her muscles, honed through countless training sessions, were impressive, but her figure was truly a work of art. From her slightly broad shoulders to her gradually narrowing waistline…

And finally, her wide pelvis below her waist left nowhere for my eyes to rest. But there was one part that drew my attention the most.

“How is that even possible…”

Her hips swayed with every step she took. The thin fabric made their shape all the more evident.

I wanted to look elsewhere, but I couldn’t. She was still holding my hand.

Rumble—

That’s just an excuse. Her back was so mesmerizing that my gaze naturally gravitated toward it.

As thunder rumbled in the sky, I hurriedly corrected myself, though I felt a bit wronged.

Any man would understand. Kara’s current appearance was enough to awaken desires even in a saint.

That’s just how men are. Even with a girlfriend or wife by their side, they can’t help but glance at a passing beauty.

“Wait a minute. Did the thunder just rumble to make me admit it?”

No way.

A perverted god who enjoys dressing his beloved shamaness in such outfits wouldn’t—

Rumble!

Damn, he exists.

Still, I’ll respect your preferences. After all, it’s understandable for a man.

“And I can’t deny that I’m enjoying the view up close…”

Crash!!

The moment I thought that, lightning struck right above my head. Thankfully, Kara wasn’t harmed since she was holding my hand.

“W-What? Why is Lord Gulak…”

“······Cough.”

God being hypocritical too? Unbelievable.