A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 145

The final exam proceeded without any major issues. Each team operated in what could be considered a textbook manner.

First, they scouted the surroundings to fill out their maps and secured supplies from occupied territories close to the main base.

After obtaining supplies, they made thorough preparations and began capturing castles. It was exactly two days since the exam had started.

“Retreat, retreat! Fall back!”

“Abandon the castle and run! We can’t win like this!”

And the first team to capture a castle was none other than Kara’s team.

In terms of balance, the teams were roughly equal, but only roughly—Kara’s team held the advantage.

Although Sivar was treated as an ultimate and strategic weapon, Kara was also a significant powerhouse when examined closely.

During the Tatar Tribal Alliance, she had joined Hector on the frontlines, and her combat experience was second to none.

Even though the Academy gathered talents from all over the world, first-years were still green. They inevitably lacked both strategy and tactics.

Even if they managed to draft excellent strategies and tactics, failing to execute them properly rendered them meaningless. Kara exploited this point effectively.

“The castle is certainly serving its purpose. Place archers here and bring some water as well.”

“What do you need water for?”

“In case someone tries to climb up later, we’ll pour it on them. Honestly, I’d prefer to pour boiling water, but we can’t do that, can we?”

Even after capturing the castle, Kara’s command continued seamlessly. Antonio didn’t even need to come up with a separate plan.

The students had no complaints about her orders. They were completely captivated by the display of her physical strength just moments ago.

Moreover, her impressive charisma left no room for dissent. Thanks to this, things progressed relatively smoothly.

“About three people should be enough to stand guard on the castle wall… We’ll also need to organize a night watch.”

“We need night watches not just for the castle but also for the occupied territory behind us. We’re severely understaffed, aren’t we?”

“Ha. This is why defending isn’t always advantageous.”

The size of the castle was somewhat moderate. It was too small to be called a proper fortification but too large to be considered a mere outpost.

Even with this, they had a significant advantage, but the problem was manpower. Protecting two occupied territories simultaneously posed many challenges.

“In about three days, everyone will be so exhausted that they’ll collapse. Naturally, combat effectiveness will drop.”

“Is there no way around it?”

“The only option is to sleep in the morning. We’ll have to hole up in the castle no matter what.”

Due to the lack of manpower, the team that captured the castle had no choice but to focus solely on it. Their strategy became severely limited.

Sleep is essential for humans. No desire can surpass the need for sleep.

Kara understood this fact more deeply than anyone else. She had once nearly died from sleep deprivation.

At the time, with spears and blades flying around her, she had struggled to stay awake amidst the chaos. If it hadn’t been for Hector, she would’ve died long ago.

‘On top of that, they’ll definitely try to find Sivar.’

With the castle already captured, the opposing team didn’t have many options. They would either search for siege weapons or go after Sivar.

It was an obvious strategy, but the problem was that even knowing it, they couldn’t stop it. As mentioned earlier, they were severely understaffed.

If they went after Sivar and got ambushed, it would be disastrous. The castle wouldn’t be the only issue; the occupied territories responsible for supplies were also a concern.

‘Even if we defend the castle well, it’s meaningless without supplies. At least we have a communicator, which is a relief…’

Kara pulled a small orb out of her pocket. It was a communicator from the occupied territory in charge of supplies.

In any war, communication is crucial. Understanding what’s happening is essential for planning the next steps.

In the distant past, before communicators existed, messengers were used, which took far too much time. Even the Tatars used messengers before establishing their nation.

Chi-chi-chik—

Coincidentally, as soon as she pulled out the communication orb, a message came through. Kara brought the orb to her ear as soon as she heard the sound.

The invention of communicators was relatively recent. Although they were invented in Santia, there were still many shortcomings.

Still, that didn’t matter. Kara focused intently on the sounds coming through the communicator.

[Ah. Ah, can you hear me?]

“Yes, I can hear you clearly.”

[The enemy reconnaissance team has started moving. Two teams of four each.]

At last, the enemy had begun to move. They were likely searching for siege weapons or trying to locate Sivar.

This meant it was time for her side to act as well. Kara nodded and relayed all the information to Antonio.

“There are only two options. Either we stay put and strengthen our defenses or send out our own reconnaissance team.”

“The first option is the safest, but it’s meaningless if Sivar shows up. We’ll have to send out a reconnaissance team too.”

“But even if we find Sivar, it’s still a problem. What kind of deal can we offer him? We don’t have anything worthwhile to propose.”

“Sigh. That’s the issue.”

Kara let out a sigh. As Antonio pointed out, there was nothing to entice Sivar.

Gloria had previously advised her not to give up, but now that the situation was upon her, it seemed hopeless.

Using personal connections to bring him over felt awkward. Kara had no idea what she could offer.

‘…Do I really have to do it like Ellie?’

That was the only idea that came to mind. Luna’s unnecessary comments kept resurfacing in her thoughts.

Sivar would probably be satisfied with that condition. Of course, she’d have to deal with the rumors that would follow.

‘I don’t care. Sivar is the issue.’

She didn’t care what rumors spread about her. She was already treated as a barbarian—what difference would worse treatment make?

The problem was Sivar. There were already countless rumors about him, and now there’d be even more?

While he might not care much, people would undoubtedly cast strange looks his way.

Especially since maternal affection was deeply tied to the castle, it could lead to prejudices.

‘Or maybe things would change if they knew he saved Grace?’

Her head began to ache. She was at a loss for what conditions to propose.

But simply worrying about it wouldn’t solve anything. Kara decided to take action first.

She needed to gather the scattered siege weapons and locate Sivar’s position, just like the opposing team.

“Where’s the paper and pen? I think I need to draft a contract.”

“Have you decided on the terms? Just so you know, securing food supplies will require taking over the enemy’s occupied territory.”

“If Sivar joins us, it’ll be doable. We can offer them the entire occupied territory.”

“Ah, that’s an option. Got it.”

In the end, everything revolved around Sivar. Kara received the paper and pen from Antonio and began drafting the contract.

She started with the basics and left space for the most critical conditions.

‘I’ll decide after seeing what they propose.’

To do so, she had no choice but to step forward herself. Kara began preparing little by little.

She instructed the team monitoring the enemy reconnaissance unit to keep reporting and planned to move alone if possible.

The castle could be defended without her, and moving alone would reduce the risk of being tracked.

‘It would’ve been nice to have a camel.’

As she prepared, Kara lamented the lack of a means of transportation.

In other countries, horses were the primary mode of transport, but for the Tatars, it was camels due to the desert.

Of course, as students advanced through the grades, they’d eventually be provided with transportation, so for now, she had to endure.

“Then hold the fort well. I’ll be back before sunset.”

“Got it. Let us know if you see any siege weapons on the way. We’ll retrieve them.”

With that, Kara stepped outside the castle. She planned to start by slowly surveying the outskirts.

Marlboro had hinted that better weapons could be found in the outer areas. Based on that, Sivar was also likely to be there.

“Hmm…”

How long had she been walking? Kara paused and glanced back.

There was no one behind her, but she could sense it. Someone was following her.

She had a rough idea of who it was but chose not to confront them. She planned to catch them off guard later.

‘If they have a map, that would be perfect.’

It didn’t matter what the opposing team did. As long as she brought Sivar, it would be over.

As she continued toward the outer areas, something caught Kara’s eye.

‘Why is there a forest?’

It was a forest—a dense one at that.

It would’ve been one thing if it were just the entrance, but the forest seemed deliberately designed to hide something.

Before reaching the forest, the area was nothing but plains dotted with occasional rocks. It was suspicious, to say the least.

‘Could it be here? No, that’s unlikely.’

Just as she was entertaining such doubts—

[I’m coming for you~]

A strange sound echoed from within the forest. Someone had shouted loudly.

Kara flinched at the sound and tilted her head. The voice was familiar—too familiar.

However, the tone was unusually cheerful, almost as if they were singing.

‘Sivar singing? No way.’

Kara, doubting herself, stepped into the forest. The deeper she went, the louder the voice became.

Following the voice, she came upon a truly extraordinary sight.

“Your eyes, they captivate me~”

“··· ···”

“Hold me close, so I can feel you completely.”

It was Sivar. Sivar was dancing and singing.

Unable to believe her eyes, Kara rubbed them repeatedly.

Just to be sure, she even cleaned out her ears, but there was no denying it. The person dancing happily over there was indeed Sivar.

Wearing headphones, he held a sword in one hand and a wooden block in the other. It seemed he had been carving out of boredom.

‘······That’s not even the common language, is it?’

While Kara stood there dumbfounded, Sivar continued humming his song without pause.

The wooden block he had been carving had now taken the shape of a weapon, resembling Ragnarok at a glance.

“Come closer to me~”

“··· ···”

It was so overwhelming that she felt she couldn’t approach. Just as Kara was debating whether or not to go to him—

“I, uh······”

At that moment, Sivar turned his head, and their eyes met. An oppressive silence immediately descended.

Had there ever been a moment this awkward? It was as if someone had caught him indulging in a private hobby.

Even Sivar, seemingly unprepared for this, froze in place like a statue.

“Pfft, hahaha!”

A burst of laughter echoed from somewhere. It seemed someone who had been tailing them had witnessed the scene as well.

The laughter sounded familiar, but Kara decided to let it slide. Resolving the situation came first.

“······Ahem.”

Kara cleared her throat as she looked at Sivar, who seemed to have died on the spot from embarrassment.

She was just as embarrassed, but there were things that needed to be said.

“So······ you sing pretty well. Who taught you?”

It was a question meant to break the awkwardness. However, it had the opposite effect.

“··· ···”

Shff- Shff-

Sivar, still frozen in place, moved only his feet.

Strangely, his knees moved forward while his body faced backward. At a glance, it looked like some kind of new footwork.

Maintaining that state, Sivar retreated all the way to his house. And then······

Click-

He quietly, almost timidly, closed the door.

‘······Cute.’

Kara let out a small chuckle.

******

‘Damn.’

[Faith Increases!]

‘Stop it. I feel like I’m going to cry.’

[Faith Increases!]

[Faith Increases!]

‘I said stop, please!!’

[Faith Increases!]

[Faith Increases!]

[Faith Increases!]

“Aaaahhh!!”