NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21
TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 21
“Attention, everyone. Starting today, we will have a special guest joining us. Classes will proceed as usual, so keep that in mind.”
The professor, Marlboro, entered shortly after the class began, likely because he had just arrived.
Naturally, the conversation with Kara was cut off, and Elvin, who had arrived with Marlboro, moved to the seat behind Luna.
The only space that could accommodate more than two people was next to Kara, though there were a few scattered empty seats.
“··· ···”
As Elvin walked, his gaze shifted from me to Luna, and finally to Kara.
Elvin then made an expression that was hard to describe. He seemed genuinely conflicted.
It was probably bewildering, given the peculiar combination of a Wildling, a Top Student, and a Barbarian.
“Did you inform the professor properly?”
Luna, seated between Kara and me, turned around and asked Elvin.
Elvin looked slightly flustered but nodded in response.
“Uh······ Yeah, I did. The Headmaster must have sent out a notice, so all the professors should be aware.”
“I see. Thank you for your effort.”
“You’ve had it harder······ Never mind.”
Luna, caught between a Barbarian and a Wildling, seemed to make Elvin realize her situation, so he said no more.
It appeared he understood that saying anything further would only come across as teasing.
“Let me start with some news. As some of you may know, a sparring session is scheduled for a week from now. It will take place in the Special Sparring Arena, not the General Sparring Arena.”
Marlboro began explaining the upcoming schedule. It was about the sparring session set for a week later.
While it might seem like an ordinary sparring session, the Academy’s unique characteristics made it different.
‘The Point System.’
United Academy operates a Point System similar to academic credits.
By achieving good results in various trials and events, including the upcoming sparring session, students can increase their Points.
Conversely, committing misconduct or crimes will cause Points, along with one’s honor, to plummet.
Through this system, students can earn rewards of varying scales based on their performance. Most rewards are material in nature.
However, for commoners, these rewards are extraordinarily significant.
For nobles, it’s not bad either, as it provides honor, which is more precious than life to them.
‘If the effort is evident, the increase is greater.’
To prevent extreme disparities, there’s also a fair evaluation method.
That method is growth potential. It’s not uncommon for students who initially seem mediocre to find a breakthrough in their development.
When that happens, their performance naturally improves, and professors start paying attention to them.
‘Even if someone tries to exploit this, they’re quickly caught.’
The so-called “hidden talent” strategy doesn’t work. After all, the Headmaster is a Monster Sword Saint—how could it?
Many veteran players have tried to use loopholes during multiple playthroughs, but they were all caught by the Headmaster.
Naturally, their Points dropped drastically, leaving them in despair.
Still, it’s not entirely bad, as it gives them a chance to learn swordsmanship from the Headmaster.
“Participation in the sparring session is not mandatory. However, there will be many spectators, and rewards will be given based on the Points earned, so keep that in mind.”
“Professor, does participating in more sparring sessions mean earning more Points?”
“Each person can participate in up to three sparring matches. The closer the ranks of the participants, the more Points they can earn.”
The subsequent explanation matched what I remembered.
If a high-ranking student spars with a low-ranking student, the lower-ranked student earns more Points regardless of the outcome.
Conversely, if a high-ranking student challenges someone with a significantly lower rank, they’ll earn virtually no Points.
“Lastly, there’s the matter of Challenge Designation. Any participant has the right to designate someone for a sparring match. The designated student can decline without any Point deduction.”
However, they’ll likely gain a reputation as a coward.
In the game, this is represented by a decrease in the “Honor” stat.
A drop in Honor results in various disadvantages, and if it falls below a certain threshold, it turns into “Infamy.”
With Infamy, character dialogue changes, and it becomes extremely difficult to gain cooperation from NPCs.
“If more than three students simultaneously designate the same person, the designated student gets the right to choose. If the designated student then designates another student and that student accepts, priority is given to them.”
“Why is it so complicated?”
Kara grumbled at the unexpectedly complex rules.
She probably thought she was muttering quietly, but I heard her clearly.
There were additional rules to ensure fairness, but I wasn’t particularly interested.
‘I might not even participate anyway.’
I was still in my Adaptation Period. Naturally, as I wasn’t an official student, I didn’t have a rank.
There was no reason for me to designate anyone, nor for anyone to designate me.
Sitting next to Rod and just watching the fights didn’t seem like a bad idea.
After all, the final rewards weren’t particularly useful to me, and my stats wouldn’t increase either.
“Does anyone have any questions?”
Swoosh—
To everyone’s surprise, Kara raised her hand.
She still had her chin resting on her hand, wearing a blunt expression.
“Yes, what’s your question?”
“From what I’ve heard, it seems like the higher-ranked students are at a disadvantage. Isn’t that right? Or, am I wrong?”
Kara, out of habit, started speaking informally but quickly switched to formal speech.
She wasn’t the type to be outright rude and use informal speech recklessly.
She usually maintained a minimum level of respect when addressing elders.
But the moment someone insulted her as a Barbarian, she’d revert to informal speech.
Since Marlboro wasn’t the type to do that, she would likely continue using formal speech with him.
“That’s not the case. When higher-ranked students spar, the Points they earn depend on the outcome.”
“So, they absolutely have to win?”
“That’s part of it, but there’s also the option of leaving a strong impression on the spectators.”
Sparring is one of the critical turning points in a player’s growth.
Depending on how one performs and the Points earned, sponsors and masters may vary.
Luna, in particular, carried the title of “Top Student,” so she was likely attracting a lot of attention.
Of course, there was no obligation to choose anyone. One could proceed alone or select a nurturing method that didn’t suit their disposition.
Ultimately, it was just a recommendation, and the choice was entirely up to the individual. I wondered who would choose Luna.
‘Since she’s a knight, there are plenty of options.’
While she was technically a knight now, it was closer to an apprenticeship.
To become a true knight, she would need much more training.
‘Honestly, I’d like to learn some techniques too······’
Currently, I was absurdly strong physically but completely lacking in other areas.
My victory against Elvin in our sparring match was purely due to overwhelming physical stats.
In that sense, I wanted to make a significant impact in the sparring session, but I was still in my Adaptation Period.
Without any Points or ranking, it was uncertain whether I could even participate.
“Professor, may I ask one more question?”
“Questions are always welcome. What’s your question?”
While I was lamenting, Kara raised her hand again and made a request.
She then glanced at me briefly before asking a question that was clearly loaded with intent.
“Can someone in their Adaptation Period also be designated for a sparring match?”
“······What?”
Marlboro’s expression stiffened at Kara’s question, and Luna looked at her in shock.
It wasn’t just them; the other students were equally surprised.
“Are you seriously planning to challenge that Wildling to a sparring match?”
“What on earth are you thinking? It won’t be helpful at all.”
“Her combative nature never changes, does it?”
Kara was already one of the most talked-about individuals. Now that I was involved, it was impossible not to draw attention.
A Barbarian challenging a Wildling to a sparring match. It was a bizarre yet oddly fitting combination.
‘This is unexpected.’
Honestly, I was just as taken aback.
She should have been focused on Luna, but now, out of nowhere, I was dragged into the situation.
Judging by the circumstances, she must have developed some curiosity about me after watching my sparring match with Elvin.
“Silence!”
As the lecture room grew chaotic, Marlboro silenced it with a mana-infused shout.
In the now-quiet atmosphere, he alternated his gaze between Kara and me.
His expression was quite complex, suggesting he was deeply troubled.
“I think I understand why you’re asking that question, but I’ll answer first. It’s possible.”
“I knew it.”
Kara grinned widely at the affirmative response.
Her face already showed how much she was looking forward to it.
“But as I just said, the approval must come from the one receiving the request. I see this as the key issue.”
“You heard that, right?”
“··· ···”
Kara looked at me and grinned slyly. I simply stared at her with my lips tightly sealed.
Any excuse that I didn’t know what sparring was would be useless. After all, I had already experienced a sparring match with Elvin once.
Fortunately, Kara seemed to misunderstand on her own and shrugged as if it didn’t matter.
“Judging by your expression, it seems you don’t understand. Can you explain it to him?”
“··· ···”
At Kara’s request, Luna looked at me. Her expression was as complicated as it could get.
After pondering for a while, she clearly expressed her refusal to Kara.
“I’m sorry, but I think that’s going to be difficult.”
“Why?”
“Because if we’re not careful, Sivar might start thinking of violence too lightly.”
It was a fairly reasonable explanation. Currently, Luna and the others saw me as a blank slate.
A white paper that could easily be colored in any way. It meant I could easily stray down the wrong path.
But did she know? That I had long been steeped in violence.
In the wilderness, violence wasn’t a mere tool but a necessity for survival. While I wasn’t human, killing itself had become second nature to me.
Perhaps Kara knew this too, as she rebutted with an incredulous tone.
“You know that’s a strange thing to say, right? Do you think violence is only when a person punches another person?”
“Sparring is different from violence used for survival. Sivar needs to recognize that violence is a tool, not a necessity.”
“Then that’s all the more reason to spar. If you just say no without offering direction, it’ll only make him more rebellious.”
The relentless battle between spear and shield continued. It was an intriguing debate that naturally drew my attention.
“Enough! Let’s end the debate here! This is still class time!”
“Ugh······”
“··· ···”
However, the argument didn’t last long due to Marlboro’s intervention.
Both Luna and Kara stepped back, their dissatisfaction evident.
Judging by their expressions, neither seemed to have given up. They’d probably resume their fight during the break.
“The period to decide sparring partners starts today. Also, starting today, afternoon classes will be replaced with autonomous training. I hope you’ll all train diligently until then.”
With that, Marlboro officially began the lesson. The subject he taught was Basic Combat.
It might seem odd for an academy that gathered the world’s talents to have a class on Basic Combat.
However, its practicality was its greatest merit. Experience was something money couldn’t buy.
“In any kind of combat, always be cautious of your footing. If nothing else, make sure your shoes are well-suited. You wouldn’t want to slip and fall embarrassingly.”
Tips like that were examples. They were also useful in actual gameplay.
Other equipment was similar, but shoes especially boosted agility and evasion rate significantly.
Moreover, they even enhanced ‘movement,’ which could be considered the most basic of basic techniques.
‘Not that it matters to me since I always go barefoot.’
I had already grown accustomed to being barefoot. It was far better than wearing clumsy shoes.
Even now, though I was wearing shoes, to be honest, they felt uncomfortable. So I discreetly kicked them off without Luna noticing.
The same went for socks. Fortunately, Luna seemed too focused on the class to notice.
“Remember, no matter what martial techniques you’ve learned or what skills you’ve honed, you must first train your movement. And······”
Marlboro’s Basic Combat class continued for quite a while.
The more I listened to the lesson, the more it reminded me of the text I had seen in the game.
Was that why? Or was it because it was such an ordinary theory class?
Sitting still and just listening to theory made the class end before I knew it.
“That’s it for today’s theory. Does anyone have any questions?”
“··· ···”
“If not, we’ll end here.”
With those words, Marlboro left the room. At the same time, the lecture room grew noisy.
The next class would probably be Godin’s Magic Studies. I’d heard he was excellent at explaining things.
“Hey, hey. Top student.”
“Please call me Luna. And no, you can’t.”
“How do you know what I was going to say?”
“You’re obviously going to request a sparring match with Sivar, aren’t you?”
Luna and Kara’s unfinished argument continued. Did she really want to spar with me that badly?
As for me, I didn’t care whether the sparring happened or not. In times like this, staying quiet was the best course of action.
“Then what do I have to do to get your permission?”
“No matter what you propose, I won’t allow it.”
“You’re surprisingly stubborn, aren’t you?”
“Sometimes, you need to be stubborn.”
Just like before, their voices grew louder, and the atmosphere became heated. Neither side was willing to back down.
Perhaps because they were both highly regarded, the other students’ attention was focused on them.
They pretended not to notice, but I could see it all. Watching a fire from across the river was always the most entertaining.
‘This is boring.’
Even Elvin, seated at the back, was just watching the argument unfold, trying to stay out of it.
It was obvious he was pretending not to notice to avoid getting involved.
I was considering stepping outside when it happened.
“Excuse me.”
“?”
A graceful voice pierced my ears. Not just me, but even the two arguing turned their heads.
I had noticed someone approaching, but I hadn’t expected them to speak.
“If you keep arguing like this, it seems like you won’t reach a conclusion.”
“You are······”
Luna recognized the person who had interrupted. Naturally, Kara followed her gaze.
Straight-cut bangs, long purple hair, and matching purple eyes.
Objectively, she was quite beautiful, but her sharp eyes gave her a somewhat intimidating impression.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Grace Aria del Berche. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Princess of Tatars.”
“······Just call me Kara.”
Kara, who had been curt, softened slightly in response to the other’s polite demeanor.
Meanwhile, the woman who introduced herself as Grace smiled faintly and looked at me.
Her purple eyes were filled with curiosity and anticipation. I met her gaze.
‘Ah. So it’s her.’
The one who would suffer at Delphoi’s hands. The moment I saw her face, I remembered clearly.
If nothing was done, the woman before me was destined to suffer humiliation at Delphoi’s hands.
Afterward, she would drop out due to the psychological trauma and disappear from the story.
From what was occasionally mentioned, it seemed her family had practically abandoned her.
As a noble, it was only natural after such disgrace.
Delphoi exploited this fact to try and silence her, but Godin eventually found out.
‘How pitiful.’
She was someone who would fall victim to a scumbag, regardless of whether it escalated into an international conflict.
Did my emotions show on my face? Grace stammered slightly, looking a bit flustered.
“W-What is with that pitiful expression?”
“Sivar? Can you come here for a moment?”
Oh no. At Luna’s call, I quickly returned to a neutral expression.
Luna tilted her head as she looked at my face, then asked Grace with a curious tone.
“Did Sivar do something wrong?”
“Huh? That…”
Grace checked my expression again in response to Luna’s question. I maintained as blank a face as possible.
Grace hesitated for a moment before speaking in a reluctant voice.
“I-I must have been mistaken. Anyway, let’s get back to the main topic. You two are arguing over sparring with this Sivar, correct?”
“Yeah. She just won’t give her permission. She acts like she’s the boss or something.”
“Not the boss, the guardian.”
The conversation seemed on the verge of turning into another argument.
Grace watched the two of them and smiled faintly.
It was a beautiful smile, though it felt somewhat artificial.
Then, as if she had a good idea, she clapped her hands together and spoke.
“If that’s the case, why don’t the two of you spar? It’s simple and straightforward.”
“…Us?”
Luna asked back, slightly flustered. Kara also raised an eyebrow in reaction.
“Yes. This is the United Academy. When conflicts arise, resolving them through sparring is the easiest and most convenient method, isn’t it?”
“…”
Luna didn’t respond. She only glanced at me from time to time.
But silence is as good as agreement. Grace shifted her gaze from Luna to Kara.
Kara stared at Grace intently before shrugging her shoulders and replying in a breezy tone.
“I don’t mind. As long as I can get her approval, I don’t care what you’re plotting. Plus, it’ll be nice to spar with her.”
“Oh my. Do you think I’m plotting something? I’m just curious about your skills, that’s all.”
“Sure you are. So, are you going to do it?”
With Kara joining in, Luna’s face showed deeper signs of hesitation.
I waited silently for her decision. If this were a game, it would be an event related to ‘honor.’
As I mentioned earlier, honor is extremely important in human relationships. It’s no wonder she’s conflicted.
What choice will Luna make? Whatever it is, the future will change.
“…Alright. I accept.”
After some time, Luna’s tightly shut lips finally opened.
The nuance was one of reluctant acceptance.
“If I win the sparring match, the sparring with Sivar will be off the table.”
“Fine. Not that I plan on losing.”
Twitch—
Though she said it in passing, Kara’s words pricked at Luna’s pride. Luna’s lower eyelid twitched in response.
Grace also seemed intrigued, as if she had a feeling this would turn out to be more interesting than expected.
“…You’re quite confident.”
“Have you ever had any real combat experience?”
“I’ve hunted monsters and sparred with my master.”
“Then I’ll win.”
The moment Kara realized Luna lacked practical combat experience, she became certain of her victory.
Naturally, Luna took it as a provocation and frowned. But Kara was always objective.
‘Unless it’s a multiple playthrough, there’s no way Luna can beat Kara.’
Kara serves to remind users of the importance of technique.
Unless there was an absurd difference in specs, defeating her was nearly impossible.
Her combat skills, honed through real battles from the past to the present, would shine even in the final stages of the story.
‘Assuming she’s not an enemy, of course.’
In any case, a major event was set in motion. The top student and the Barbarian Princess.
Their sparring match would undoubtedly draw the attention of many. Honestly, I was curious too.
While I had a rough idea of Kara’s abilities, I didn’t know about Luna’s. As the top student, her skills piqued my interest.
“Then, both of you, do your best.”
“You’re not joining in?”
“I’m a mage, so I don’t particularly enjoy sparring.”
Though it seemed like she was subtly dodging, Grace wasn’t suited for sparring.
She was the type to shine when backed by a strong frontline. She invested in firepower and precision, which made her casting time longer.
“I hope you both have a good match.”
Before leaving, Grace made eye contact with me.
Her sharp gaze, different from Kara’s, gave her a strong impression of mockery despite her beauty.
However, she wasn’t mocking me at all; she was simply looking at me with interest.
Grace then smiled faintly, turned around, and returned to her seat.
‘That expression causes a lot of misunderstandings.’
I quietly watched her retreating figure, her long purple hair flowing behind her.
It was likely that her impression had also drawn Delphoi’s ire. With his arrogant personality, he would have wanted to put her in her place somehow.
But Grace, despite her cunning demeanor, was an ordinary student at heart.
Her behavior stemmed from the strict education she received from her family.
Moreover, she had a small sense of ‘innocence,’ which gave her a surprisingly cute side.
“I expected this to happen, but it still ended up this way.”
“…”
After Grace stepped back, Kara spoke with a relieved expression.
Unlike Kara, who had achieved her goal, Luna looked uncomfortable.
She had already been uneasy, and Grace’s maneuver had only added to her frustration.
The funny thing was that none of this had anything to do with me. If Luna won, everything would be nullified.
“…Kara.”
“Just call me Kara. Anyway, what is it?”
“Regardless of the outcome, it’s fine if Sivar spars with you.”
For some reason, Luna suddenly changed her mind. Kara looked surprised.
Sharing Kara’s sentiment, I also turned to Luna. She had a resolute expression on her face.
“Even if I win the sparring match, you’ll find a way to spar with Sivar anyway. Am I wrong?”
“You know me well.”
“In preparation for that, let me say this: Whatever happens, don’t provoke Sivar’s temper.”
“Hmm?”
At Luna’s strange warning, Kara let out a curious hum and looked at me.
I could roughly guess why Luna said that. She must have seen my fight with Porori from afar.
But Kara had no idea. Instead, her face showed even more curiosity after Luna’s warning.
“Now I’m even more curious. What happens if I provoke his temper?”
“The Princess’s life will be in danger.”
“…”
Was it a blow to her pride? Kara’s fierce yet refreshing smile disappeared.
She must have instinctively realized that this wasn’t an empty threat.
‘Not that I’d actually kill her.’
I couldn’t help but feel awkward. I’d killed countless times before, but I had never committed murder.
Still, I could kill if necessary. For example, someone like Delphoi.
After all, humans are just another form of life, and some are worse than beasts.
Even when surviving in the forest, I hunted out of necessity, not recklessly.
“…I see.”
Kara, who had been deep in thought with her smile gone, quietly opened her mouth.
It wasn’t her usual breezy smile, but a faint curl of her lips.
She stared at me intently before speaking with a tone that hinted at intrigue.
“You don’t look like it just from your face.”
“··· ···”
“Well. We’ll find out during the sparring.”
It seems she’s determined to get under my skin. I don’t know how she plans to do it, though.
Luna glanced at Kara once before speaking in a calm voice.
“I clearly warned you. And Sivar.”
“?”
“Put on your socks and shoes first.”
“Damn.”
Caught.