A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 129

What could be confirmed through the divine punishment just now was one thing: Gulak cherishes Kara deeply.

It’s clear from the lightning strike that while admiring her from afar might be acceptable, approaching her any further is strictly forbidden.

In some ways, he could be considered an even greater fool than Hector. His love for the shamaness overflows.

‘But how can anyone resist after seeing that…?’

However, unfairness is still unfairness. Kara’s current appearance was more than enough to ignite a man’s heart.

It was fortunate that I suppressed my desires as much as I could; otherwise, blood might have rushed to my lower body.

‘Thank goodness everyone here except me is female.’

I stared blankly at Kara’s back as she placed the remnants on the altar.

Even just her silhouette hinted at magnificence, but the real beginning would come when she started dancing.

If she were to dance, her clothes would flutter gracefully, and especially her lower garment would sway freely.

If that happened, the fire kindled in my chest would blaze even more intensely than before. Truly, it’s a relief.

‘Wait a minute. When the dancer performs, the flames burn brighter—could that be the reason?’

In the ritual dedicated to Lord Gulak, the dancer’s performance is an essential process.

If the dancer’s movements please him, the flames on the altar grow fiercer, and the ritual becomes more fervent.

Of course, reaching that stage usually takes a long time. That’s why dancers conducting rituals are generally very strong in stamina.

‘It makes sense, considering they said effort and sincerity are what matter…’

I don’t know. How could a mere mortal comprehend the will of a god?

Since Kara is a dancer cherished by Gulak, it’s easier to think of it as her being adorned more beautifully.

Moreover, those harboring impure thoughts, like I did when struck by lightning, will also face divine punishment.

“Everything is ready. Let’s ask Lord Gulak first.”

“Is it time to bow now?”

“Yes. You’ll be doing it in that form, right?”

“As a saintess, I need the proper mindset, so I plan to do it in this form.”

It seemed all preparations were complete. Listening to their conversation, I quietly approached Kara’s side.

When I came near, she gave a small smile and then turned her gaze to the altar. I followed her line of sight.

On the altar were the shattered Usk Axe and the remnants of Ragnarok, broken by Rize.

However, no tribute was visible. Upon closer inspection, something seemed to be sprinkled over the remains.

“What’s that?”

“It’s oil made from the Star Cluster Palm. A rare oil found only in the Tatars.”

The name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t quite recall it.

While I tilted my head in confusion, Rize, standing to Kara’s left, opened her mouth.

“The Star Cluster Palm is known to be extremely valuable. It’s used in cosmetics and as a spice. Moreover, since it’s cultivated only in the Tatars, its worth is exceptional.”

“That’s right. My father even uses it as a diplomatic item.”

Given the era, oil—especially cooking oil—was extraordinarily valuable.

Rather than being used for cooking, it was generally treated as a spice.

The fact that such a high-priced oil was applied here meant they were going all out.

“I don’t know if this will prompt a response from Lord Gulak, but we have to try.”

“He will surely respond.”

While Kara spoke with concern, Rize was brimming with confidence.

For some reason, it felt as though she was determined to elicit a response, even by force.

“Then I’ll start bowing. Sivar, join me.”

“Alright.”

I wondered if it was really necessary for me to participate. After all, he’s a god who openly shows his dislike for me.

However, for Kara’s sake, the restoration of Ragnarok was essential. With a grumble in my heart, I moved my body.

Whoosh!

As soon as I prostrated myself, I heard the sound of flames rising from the altar.

When I lifted my head, as expected, flames were surging from the altar. Perhaps due to the oil, the fire was larger than anticipated.

“It seems Lord Gulak is in a positive mood.”

“R-Really? He responded quite quickly. I thought he’d be angry since we broke the weapon he bestowed upon us.”

Unlike the calm Rize, Kara seemed quite flustered.

It was understandable. Last time, simply receiving a response had been the end goal, making it relatively easy.

But now, they sought the restoration of Ragnarok, meaning they were asking for his blessing once again.

Even though Gulak favored Kara greatly, this was a matter that could have upset him, so they expected it to take longer.

“What should we do next?”

“The saintess and Sivar should step back for a moment. From now on, it’s my turn to act.”

“Are you going to dance?”

“Yes.”

Finally, I would get to witness Kara’s beautiful dance movements. Honestly, I was quite excited.

Even in the Soul World, Kara’s dance was rarely seen. The same was true during the Tatar storyline.

There were only a few occasions when she would perform, such as during rituals or banquets.

Moreover, she had never worn such a bold outfit before. This was truly a moment to look forward to.

Rumble—

No. Can’t I at least look forward to it? Why the sudden warning?

While I grumbled internally at the noise rumbling from the sky,

Rize, who also seemed to have heard the thunder just now, looked up at the sky before turning to Kara.

“How long do you have to dance?”

“The basic rule is to dance until dark clouds gather in the sky. After that, whether lightning strikes or rain falls will determine if it’s positive or negative.”

Originally, Ragnarok was an axe used for rituals. However, during one such ritual, lightning struck, transforming it into Ragnarok.

At that time, Hector had been holding it. Yet, the lightning struck precisely on the axe.

Therefore, if lightning strikes the altar, it can be interpreted as a sign of approval.

“In my opinion, if lightning strikes the remnants, there’s a high chance Ragnarok can be restored. Since it’s a weapon directly blessed by Lord Gulak, only he can repair it.”

“That’s accurate. But are you aware of how arduous the process will be?”

“It’s fine. Even if it takes days, I plan to persevere. Even if it rains, I’ll keep going.”

It reminded me of an Indian-style rain ritual. Their determination to do whatever it took to restore Ragnarok was palpable.

However, their sincerity seemed somewhat lacking. To receive a blessing directly, far more preparation was needed than this.

There was no music to elevate the atmosphere, nor were there enough people. I wasn’t sure if this would suffice.

“Besides, even if it rains, it’s fine. If there’s only thunder without lightning, it means it’s insufficient. In that case, we’ll need to prepare thoroughly and try again later.”

“Hmm. Does insufficient mean a lack of divine power?”

“Usually, yes.”

“Understood. Leave that to me.”

Kara looked puzzled at the suggestion to leave the lack of divine power to Rize. Her reaction showed she couldn’t quite grasp it.

Still, Rize wasn’t someone who would make empty promises, so it should be fine to trust her.

Even if she committed eccentric acts like me, the results were always good. Except for breaking Ragnarok.

“I know how to play the drum. Should I play it for you?”

“Ah, no. That’s alright.”

Kara barely managed to stop Rize from playing the drum and stepped toward the altar.

Rize and I retreated to where Luna and Ellie were.

Lingering around in the back wouldn’t help at all, so it was better to stay far away for now.

“Sivar, what do you think of Kara Unnie?”

As soon as we stepped back, Ellie asked. Her question was filled with curiosity.

I glanced at Ellie before turning to Kara, who was lightly warming up. No matter how I looked, she was nothing short of stunning.

“She’s beautiful.”

“How beautiful?”

“Extremely.”

I didn’t see any reason to lie. So I answered honestly.

Ellie nodded as if she expected my response and spoke in agreement.

“She really is beautiful. I want to try wearing something like that too.”

In the Soul World, you have skins as remarkable as Kara’s. Whatever you wear, you exude overwhelming presence.

I wanted to say those words, but I held them back. With her figure, Ellie would look good in anything she wore.

Flutter—

While we were talking, Kara’s dance movements began. The wing-like fabric attached to each of her hands fluttered beautifully.

There was no ceremonial music, nor anyone assisting her, creating a quiet atmosphere, but it somehow suited the moment perfectly.

It was reminiscent of a small butterfly fluttering through a tranquil forest.

‘Even though the floor is hard stone, she moves so gracefully.’

Her movements were as smooth as those of a professional dancer. And she was even barefoot.

I had heard that she learned to dance by following her late mother. Just from this dance, I could tell how much effort she had put into it.

Flutter—

As Kara spun around, the lower part of her outfit flared like wings, exposing most of her sensitive areas.

Thankfully, she was wearing underwear. If she hadn’t been, I would have flinched. I watched her dance movements intently.

For once, even Gulak didn’t strike me down with lightning. Perhaps he was focused as well, or maybe he let it slide because of the atmosphere.

“······Huh?”

“The clouds······”

How long had I been staring blankly? The sky seemed to grow darker and soon began filling with dark clouds.

It couldn’t have been a long time, yet the clouds gathered in an instant. It really seemed like Gulak cared deeply for Kara.

Even so, Kara’s dance did not stop. She was drenched in sweat but maintained her focus until the very end.

Rumble—

A faint thunder echoed in the sky, and the flames on the altar blazed even more fiercely.

However, the decisive ‘lightning’ did not strike. It was as if this alone wasn’t enough.

Just as I wondered if the devotion was insufficient, someone completely unexpected stepped forward.

Bang!

“L-Lady Saint?”

“Where are you going······”

“To do what must be done.”

It was Rize. She advanced toward the altar, not in her Saint Form, but in her Authority Form.

Kara, still dancing, noticed Rize approaching but did nothing to stop her. She seemed to trust her.

At last, Rize passed Kara and looked up at the sky. The flames on the altar flared even more violently.

“I address the God of the Sky.”

Rize spoke in a calm voice. Even then, Kara did not stop.

“I have broken your blessing. With my power, I ask you to bestow it once more.”

Saying this, Rize spread her arms wide. At the same time, an indigo radiant aura began to shine brightly from her.

The indigo aura was undoubtedly mana, but it also exuded an indescribable energy.

“All of this is!”

At last, Rize struck a pose and shouted.

“The Will of Chaos!!”

At the same time, she invoked the name of the God of Chaos, Chaos, whom she served.

“Grant your blessing as He wills!!”

She gathered all her energy and thrust her fist toward the sky.

Boom!!

As her fist struck, an indigo pillar of light shot high into the sky. It was similar to Space Destruction, yet different.

Space Destruction literally tears apart space, but this was······

“T-The sky······”

“The sky······ has split······?”

“··· ···”

The indigo energy Rize unleashed had, quite literally, split the sky apart.

It was reminiscent of a scene from a certain pirate manga, where an immense force split the sky in two.

Even this alone was an astonishing ‘miracle,’ but it wasn’t over yet.

Rumble!

A deeply ominous thunder echoed.

Crash!!

From the split sky, a massive lightning bolt struck down.

It was stronger, more intense, and more destructive than any lightning I had ever seen.

The lightning struck the altar precisely. According to Kara, it was a positive response from Gulak.

As the lightning struck the altar, Kara finally stopped dancing and stared blankly. At some point, her entire body had been drenched in sweat.

Crackle!!

The lightning didn’t strike just once. It poured down as if someone had turned on a faucet, raining lightning bolts relentlessly.

When would I ever witness such a bizarre phenomenon again? I stood there, dumbfounded, watching in silence.

Crackle!

Finally, the downpour of lightning ceased. The sky, which had been split in two, returned to its original state.

Even then, another strange phenomenon unfolded as dark clouds crept in between the once-split sky.

It was as if the clouds were voluntarily coming together to mend the sky.

Thanks to this, the sky, once filled with dark clouds, cleared up in an instant.

It was as if nothing had happened, the sky now an endless, serene blue.

“Is it over······?”

“W-Who knows?”

As Ellie and Luna exchanged their thoughts, I hurried toward the altar.

Instinctively, I knew the ritual had concluded. All that remained was to confirm the results.

Before that, I should thank Rize for her efforts. Having used up all her strength, Rize had reverted from her Authority Form to her Saint Form.

“Rize. Are you······”

I was about to ask if Rize was okay, but I stopped mid-sentence. Because······

“It’s been a while since I used all my strength, so I’m a bit tired.”

Rize’s appearance had changed—drastically so.

It wasn’t just me; Kara, standing nearby, noticed it as well.

“L-Lady Saint? That······”

“Hmm? Ah, are you talking about my chest? I told you before, didn’t I?”

Rize’s once-voluptuous chest had completely disappeared. To the point where it seemed even smaller than Luna’s.

However, Rize didn’t seem to mind our shock and smiled softly as she spoke.

“My divine power is entirely concentrated in my ‘body’.”

So that’s what she meant.