A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

The day of Porori, no, Ratatoskr, who returned to the forest, is very simple.

Gathering acorns to offer to the heavens or driving out intruders from the forest.

Among these, the one thing he is putting the most effort into is finding a mate.

The mating season hasn't arrived yet, but it will return before long.

On top of that, he was worried because of the terrible accident that happened last time. He feared a similar accident might happen again.

'I must make sure a lightning bolt doesn't go off even if I get excited.'

Otherwise, reproduction, the most important thing for a living being, would be impossible.

The inability to reproduce means not being able to have offspring. It renders the purpose of existence as a living being null.

To avoid this, Ratatoskr put in effort after effort to ensure that no matter how emotional he became, lightning would not strike.

'By the way, be wary of the one with no color?'

Ratatoskr, who was collecting acorns, recalled a particular warning.

It wasn't from Sivar but from an old human, Rod, who had spoken seriously. It couldn't be dismissed lightly.

If it had been Sivar, he might have brushed it off. But since Rod was the one to bring it up, he couldn't ignore it.

While Sivar could aim for mutual destruction, Rod couldn't. No matter what he did, he couldn't win.

'It'll probably take a long time to become like that human, right?'

Probably so. It was suspected that he'd lived a long time, even among humans.

Ratatoskr picked up a fallen acorn off the ground and returned home.

It's closer to a storage place for acorns than a home. Even now, it's piled high with acorns.

Since it's summer, it's only natural for acorns to grow in abundance. Just the ones that fell to the ground were this many.

Growl-

'I'm hungry. I should eat something.'

An unexpected hunger struck, and Ratatoskr felt the need to hunt.

A pile of acorns and various seeds was stacked right in front of him, but he immediately turned away.

These are for winter storage and emergency rations, not something to eat daily.

On top of that, there were some to be offered to the heavens, so it was better to hunt directly if possible.

'What should I hunt today?'

Ratatoskr descended from the tree and set out to hunt.

Given his size, he needed to hunt something relatively large.

Especially since receiving the blessing from the heavens, he'd been frequently hungry. It couldn't be helped.

Maybe because of that. Usually, he satisfied his hunger with fruits, but recently, hunting had become essential.

Of course, he didn't hunt indiscriminately. As a manager of the forest, he exercised restraint in his own way.

Of course, predators that came in from outside were an exception. Preventing them was part of his job.

'For now, I should wander around.'

Ratatoskr began to roam the area in preparation for the hunt.

"... ..."

He was completely unaware that someone was secretly following him from behind.

No matter how careless Ratatoskr appeared, he was sensitive to presences.

Nevertheless, he acted as if he didn't notice at all, leisurely wandering around.

Smack!

"Yelp!"

Before long, Ratatoskr hunted a stray wild dog.

He didn't know where the bone it carried came from, but since it blatantly marked its territory, he subdued it lightly with a tail whip.

The tail whip hit its skull directly. There was no way a frail wild dog could endure such a strike.

"Now, let's see......"

Looking at the neatly killed wild dog, Ratatoskr licked his lips. Meat is always delicious.

Being a beast by nature, the thought of roasting it over fire didn't occur to him. His sense of taste wasn't developed in the first place.

Did he originally avoid eating meat? That's a thing of the past now.

Of course, it was limited to beasts; he didn't eat anything that walked on two legs.

At last, Ratatoskr was about to dig into the wild dog's plump abdomen.

Swoosh-

'Huh? What's this?'

Suddenly, it grew dark around him. As Ratatoskr sensed something unusual, he blinked his eyes.

No, it wasn't that it had grown dark. A shadow had fallen. It meant someone had approached him from behind.

Startled by the shadow covering his entire body, Ratatoskr quickly turned around.

He had let his guard down as he was just about to start his meal.

Ssssshhh!

What came into Ratatoskr's view next was the tip of a sharply honed dagger.

"What......!"

A body covered entirely in black and white.

******

After being struck by Rod's pressure point attack, swordsmanship training followed.

Although learning swordsmanship felt meaningless since everything eventually became weaponry skills, he still learned it.

It was, after all, a technique taught by none other than the Sword Saint himself. Each word he spoke was invaluable.

"We'll end it here for today. Your skills improve day by day."

"Thank you. It's all thanks to you, Rod."

"Haha. You've even learned to give flattering compliments now."

At my sincere words, Rod smiled contentedly. I wasn't just saying it; I truly meant it with 100% honesty.

Every technique I learned from Rod was filled with substance.

From the basics of gripping properly to footwork. He taught me each aspect in detail.

'Even my weaponry skill mastery is steadily increasing.'

When I first obtained the weaponry skill, its mastery level was D.

Now, however, it had risen to B, thanks to Rod's guidance and knowledge transfer.

'By the way, why is he so kind to only me?'

A sudden thought crossed my mind. Rod tended to be unusually lenient with me.

Sometimes, when I caused an incident or played a prank, he would scold me strictly, but that was it.

Considering all the trouble I'd caused, I should have been expelled long ago.

Yet Rod always stood by me until the end. He even became a shield for me himself.

"Rod."

"Yes? Why did you call me?"

"Hmm......"

I wanted to ask, but when the moment came, the words wouldn't come out.

It might just be my imagination, and more than anything, it's embarrassing. Saying it out loud feels awkward.

Still, the fact that he was showing me favor made me want to do something for him.

"Do you need anything?"

"Need anything?"

"Yes. Something you'd like to eat, or maybe something you want to have."

Instead of asking directly, I decided to grant him a wish.

However, from Rod's perspective, this abruptness was just as puzzling. Rod asked with a curious expression.

"All of a sudden? Why?"

"Because it feels like I'm only taking from you."

"Only taking? Hahaha!"

When I spoke honestly, Rod began to laugh heartily.

From my perspective, his reaction was incomprehensible. I had no idea what part of it was amusing.

"Really...... You're just as unpredictable as before. Still, I like this positive growth."

"... ..."

"I don't need anything, so take care of others instead."

"Really?"

"If you feel so bad, just call me grandfather."

Is that okay? I blinked at the mention of the term grandfather.

Even in the Soul World, no one called Rod 'grandfather.' This included the players.

Due to his immense authority and reputation, it's almost impossible to lower his Affection score.

Moreover, having suffered any way during the Academy's collapse makes befriending him nearly impossible.

"It's awkward to call me by name every time. Grandfather is better, isn't it?"

"......Grandfather?"

"Yeah. That's right."

"Grandfather, I'm hungry. Please give me some food."

"You little rascal. Go eat outside!"

Naturally, Rod scolded me as he joked around playfully.

While it might sound like scolding, he was clearly just teasing.

I also chuckled at his harsh tone and began walking away. I intended to return to the Forest anyway.

Rumble......!

At that moment, I heard a faint rumble in my ears. It was the sound of thunder.

Though it came from afar, I'd been through so many thunder encounters that I could distinguish it easily.

And thunder rarely strikes on a clear day unless Gulak's power has been used.

"......Thunder from the Forest? Could it be Ratatoskr?"

"... ..."

It must be Porori. Not only was the direction the Forest, but there were only a few believers of Gulak.

That's the issue. There are very few strong enough to use thunder like Porori.

And even before training, I had already warned about the Demon. Could it really be a coincidence?

An ominous feeling crept over me. I immediately spoke to Rod.

"I'll go."

"Alright. Be careful."

With Rod's permission, I dashed off like lightning.

If it really is Porori, there's a high chance a dangerous Predator has invaded the Forest.

Even just in case, I should check once. Besides, there were already signs of a Demon, so I need to prepare.

'Rod won't come.'

Rod likely knows this too. That's probably why he didn't step in himself.

If it really was a Demon attack, it would expose Rod's health condition, doubling the challenge.

I ran swiftly in the direction of the sound. I hoped it was just paranoia, but if it wasn't, it would be troublesome.

'It doesn't seem like it was a surprise attack.'

If it had been a surprise attack, Porori would've died silently. Even Porori couldn't help that.

As I've said before, detecting a Demon by its presence is nearly impossible unless one has a special skill.

Moreover, that skill can only be used by those of at least a navy-blue level. It's an ability to detect existence itself, not just presence.

Ordinary people see what's ahead with their eyes, but those of at least a navy-blue level can "see" as if looking down from the sky.

Thud!

While running, I summoned Ragnarok. By the way, I keep Ragnarok on the windowsill for easy access anytime, anywhere.

By now, Grace must've also felt something was off. I grasped a weapon in each hand and kept moving my legs.

How far did I run? I arrived at the source of the sound.

And......

"Urgh! Grrk!"

"This beastly brat...... How annoying, using such abilities."

I could see someone, covered in black and white, gripping Porori by the neck. They seemed to have slammed him to the ground to subdue him.

Additionally, seeing them absorb a bluish aura from Porori, it seemed they were draining his life force.

The moment I saw that scene, I didn't hesitate and hurled Ragnarok violently.

Whoosh!

"Hm?"

Hearing the sound, the black-and-white Demon jumped back in surprise. Naturally, Porori was also freed.

To block the Demon from charging, I approached Porori. Fortunately, I wasn't too late, and his exterior seemed intact.

"Are you alright?"

"No...... I can't muster any strength in my body......"

That's understandable since his life force was absorbed. Moreover, his body bore significant wounds.

He must've been surprised and allowed the attack. Releasing the thunder was likely a desperate move.

With Porori's regeneration ability, his life wasn't in danger, but he wouldn't be useful in the fight. It wasn't mana; his life force had been drained.

"You......"

At that moment, a man's voice reached my ears. I turned to face the ambusher.

In one hand, he held a dagger. His face was hidden with a mask, and he wore a necklace made of bones around his neck.

Even the bone necklace was black-and-white, but his glowing blue eyes stood out vividly.

The color was the same as the Demon I encountered at Unity Village last time. But in terms of strength, this one was far superior.

'Why is this guy loitering in the Forest?'

This guy is usually dispatched as a 'Hunter' for reconnaissance. And only as a last resort at that.

Until then, they send underlings, and when all else fails, they send this guy as a final option.

But seeing him dispatched from the start meant something had gone awry.

'Or has the scouting party already infiltrated? That doesn't seem right either.'

Despite my complicated thoughts, my body was already moving.

Whatever the case, it's better to deal with the Hunter in advance. They specialize in assassination, making them a nuisance.

As soon as I launched an attack, the Hunter shifted into battle mode. Being weak in direct combat, they'd be relatively easy to handle.

[Into the darkness......]

The problem is that damn stealth. While the language was unfamiliar, I could clearly understand it.

At the same time, the Hunter's body began to vanish gradually. Like a chameleon, it seemed to blend into the surroundings.

Coupled with a Demon's innate feature of being undetectable by presence and superior stealth ability, this combination is incredibly difficult to counter.

'If only I had paint or something......'

Since I didn't have that, I planned to use an alternative strategy.

Right before the Hunter disappeared completely, I placed the Bloodstained Greatsword on the ground.

I then used Ragnarok's blade to cut my wrist. The deep cut caused blood to gush out like a fountain.

It would heal quickly through regeneration anyway, but my target was the Demon. I swung my arm, letting the blood spray toward the Demon.

Splat!

The sticky, bright red blood splattered everywhere in the air. Not the air, but the invisible body of the hidden Demon.

The Demon's body might be black-and-white, but it couldn't render my blood black-and-white. This was exactly what I aimed for.

"A clever one, aren't you?"

The Hunter seemed caught off guard. His voice carried a faint admiration, though it wasn't exactly a compliment.

Understandably so—who else would cut their own wrist just to splash blood on an opponent? Before my wrist even healed, I charged.

With a considerable amount of blood marking him, his stealth was useless. Now, all I had to do was decapitate him.

'Killing him will be difficult.'

But that doesn't matter. Driving the Hunter away achieves my goal.

The Hunter also seemed to decide further chaos wasn't necessary and acted swiftly.

[Rise.]

Bang!

With his words, a pitch-black smoke screen erupted. The smoke was strong, like tear gas.

Even as I grimaced, I hurled an axe blindly. I hoped it hit, but unfortunately, it embedded itself in a tree.

'He runs away too fast.'

Though anticlimactic, I found it suspicious. The situation ended without a proper fight.

I looked around just in case, but nothing seemed different. The Demon had indeed fled.

In the Soul World, they typically flee only after losing a significant amount of health.

'Was he injured while fighting Porori?'

That's highly likely. Otherwise, this wouldn't have ended like this.

With the situation resolved, I turned my gaze to Porori, who was lying on the ground. He looked dazed, his life force drained.

"It's over. Get up."

"Ugh...... Why am I so dizzy? This has never happened before."

Porori shook his head weakly. Having his life force absorbed for the first time must have been quite an ordeal.

Over time, it will get better, but it will take a while. For reference, in the Soul World, the maximum stamina decreases.

So even if you drink a potion, your absolute stamina decreases, making it less effective. Stability is the best.

"What the hell is that guy? It's a good thing you told me; otherwise, I would have been completely caught off guard."

"Why did you lose?"

"Because of that damn stealth just now. I couldn't see or sense a thing, it was driving me crazy."

Well, Porori can't get blood on himself like I can, so he must have struggled.

But releasing lightning would consume too much mana. Hunters are an irritating bunch in many ways.

That's why there are various strategies. Like just now, I somehow stained him with color or tied his feet.

Moreover, as assassins, they are weak in a direct confrontation. You have to lure them into a direct fight to counter them.

"Let's go back for now. Eat some herbs there."

"Got it. But what if he comes back? I won't even be able to sleep properly."

"Hmm......"

That's another problem. Porori's concern is quite reasonable.

Originally, he wouldn't have had to worry about this while staying deep within the Forest of Chaos.

It's a variable that arose when Porori moved to the forest outskirts. If we're not careful, the hunter's stats could increase dramatically.

"Let's think about it slowly. Grandpa will help."

"Sigh. Got it."

Thus, the situation was settled for now.

'This is completely different from what I knew......'

I couldn't help but feel uneasy.

*****

"I apologize. I failed to achieve the objective."

The black-and-white assassin, the hunter, knelt on one knee and begged for forgiveness.

Judging from the tone of voice and the slightly closed eyes, it seemed he was genuinely remorseful.

"Well. It's okay. So, what's the reason for the failure?"

Another demon sat in a chair in front of the hunter, leisurely reading a book.

His slicked-back hair and sharp, snake-like eyes gave him an overall handsome and striking appearance.

However, like the hunter, his entire body was black and white. Above all, his eyes stood out the most.

They were a deep navy color, much darker than the hunter's blue eyes.

"The surprise attack succeeded, but an entirely unexpected human intervened."

"A human?"

"Yes."

"That's unfortunate. If luck had been on your side, you could have absorbed that creature and dealt with the variables as well."

The navy-colored demon spoke in a voice filled with genuine regret.

The hunter also bowed his head, seemingly apologetic.

"So, did you find out anything else? Why was the creature that should have been inside found outside?"

"It seems someone brought it out. They were summoning the creature with a whistle."

"Wow. Taming that foul-tempered squirrel? Whoever it is, they're impressive."

The navy-colored demon chuckled. It was a laugh of disbelief.

He then closed his book and turned to face the hunter. The hunter remained kneeling on one knee.

"This will only heighten their caution. That guy needs to be dealt with to lure out the monsters inside."

"If you give me another chance, I will carry it out again."

"No. Forget it. Unless he's a fool, he'll raise his guard to the maximum. You didn't check the magic circle or the Sword Saint's condition, did you?"

"No."

"We'll have to scrap that too. Since you said humans were involved, it's likely the Academy has already been informed."

"About that human......"

The hunter trailed off, offering his opinion. The navy-colored demon also showed his curiosity.

It was rare for the hunter to voice his thoughts. He was usually nothing more than a loyal servant to his mission.

The hunter opened his mouth, recalling the human he met today, Sivar.

"He seemed a bit strange."

"Strange? In what way?"

"He gave off an otherworldly feeling."

"Are you saying he's one of us?"

The navy-colored demon asked, puzzled. A sense of otherworldliness usually implied kinship.

But the hunter shook his head vigorously and continued speaking.

"Not a kin, but closer to Chaos. Like the Saintess, for example."

"......There's another one like that?"

The navy-colored demon scowled deeply, his displeasure evident on his face.

Referring to Rize as 'that kind of thing' showed just how much she got under his skin.

She was a natural enemy to demons, infamous even among them.

"Yes. But strangely, I couldn't sense his presence clearly. It felt lifeless, like us......"

"... ..."

"Yet, he still had color. A Chaos that lacked life yet possessed color, in a different sense, was alien."

"What did he look like?"

The demon's voice dropped low. It was a tone suggesting he realized the gravity of the situation.

The hunter, also sensing the seriousness, began describing the human he had just encountered—Sivar.

"First, his skin was pale to the point of looking sickly white, and his eyes glowed red. His appearance was that of an ordinary human male."

"And?"

"His regeneration ability was almost on par with ours."

"What's your basis for saying he's lifeless?"

"The sword he carried. That sword definitely absorbed life force."

The more the hunter revealed, the more the navy-colored demon's expression hardened. He seemed to know something.

Then, the navy-colored demon fell silent for a while. The hunter waited until his thoughts were complete.

"......What was the color of his mana? What was its color?"

"I couldn't confirm that far."

"When you're ready, investigate that guy again. Find out the exact color of his mana."

"Understood."

"You may leave."

At the navy-colored demon's command, the hunter bowed his head and disappeared. Left alone, the navy-colored demon pondered for a while.

He then turned his head toward a solitary crystal orb placed nearby.

Buzz—

When tapped a few times, the crystal orb began to glow. Soon, a voice emanated from it.

[What's the matter, darling?]

A voice so enchanting it could seduce just by hearing it, a mix of sweetness and allure.

Ignoring the voice entirely, the navy-colored demon spoke directly.

"I'll need to adjust the plan slightly. I might need your help."

[Hmm? I don't mind helping, but what's the adjustment?]

"I'll report to the higher-ups as well. The foundation remains the same—bringing down the Academy."

[Then what's changing?]

"Not changing, but adding. The additional operation is......"

In a cold, firm voice, the navy-colored demon declared the plan.

"Reclamation."