A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

Propagation (4)

***

What kind of person does Chaos want? I couldn’t understand at all.

I could somewhat understand Jane. Her brain transcended the era, making her seem like an eccentric.

Moreover, she was so ignorant of the ways of the world that she seemed foolish. Her standards were just too high.

But Grace is different. Even though she harbors a bit of childlike innocence, she’s far from chaotic.

I had no idea what Chaos saw in her to choose her.

“I was chosen by Lord Chaos? For what reason?”

“Wait, can you really determine that with Ragnarok?”

She hadn’t been chosen by Chaos but could still hold onto Ragnarok.

It might be because she’s a devotee of Gulak, but it’s hard to fully trust that.

“It’s hard to be a blind follower, but you can trust it. Especially since I’m the one holding it, the probability is close to 100.”

“…”

Her words implied: ‘I’m a Holy Warrior, so what’s the problem?’

Kara understood and didn’t argue further, though she still seemed skeptical. She eventually spoke again.

“Then why not Luna? Why hasn’t Luna been chosen by Lord Chaos? Her mouth is pure chaos.”

“?

Luna looked puzzled at Kara’s question. She seemingly had no idea of the impact of her words.

Indeed, considering her mouth alone, it wouldn’t be surprising if Chaos favored her.

But since that’s not the case, there must be another reason. And it’s Grace we’re talking about.

“Student Luna.”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever had a firm goal in life?”

“…?”

Luna flinched at the question and thought deeply. She had a very serious expression.

But even after thinking, she couldn’t seem to find a good answer and gave a bitter smile.

“No. Now that I think about it, I’ve never had a goal.”

“As I mentioned before, Lord Chaos wants someone who can prove themselves. Someone who can say ‘Yes!’ when the world says ‘No!’ But it has to be a pure desire.”

A pure desire. I compared Jane and Rize.

Rize had built her body with the belief of what a true clergyman should be, and Jane needed no further explanation.

Maybe Grace’s ‘childlike innocence’ attracted Chaos. It’s hard to find something as pure as that.

‘Then what about me?’

Surely, it’s not because I’m desperately trying to break this world’s story that he considers it pure.

Moreover, I was busy cursing the gods while in the forest, with my faith dropping steadily.

In true chaotic fashion, the criteria were vague and too ambiguous. There weren’t enough examples yet.

“If Student Luna finds a true goal, Lord Chaos might take an interest. So please work on that.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good. Then, Sister Grace?”

“Yes?”

Rize called Grace and smiled warmly.

“If you have time, could we talk separately?”

“Can Mr. Sivar come too? He’s my guard.”

I didn’t mind. It was the same with Jane, and I might be able to help Grace.

Rize seemed to think the same and nodded, readily agreeing.

“That’s fine. But you need to reveal your goal for me to help you…”

“Then let’s talk just the two of us!”

“Huh?”

Grace hurriedly interrupted, her face slightly reddening at the mention of revealing her goal.

It seemed she found it hard to disclose her inner childlike innocence.

I’d feel the same. Grace is a noble with an elegant demeanor.

It’s like a grown adult sleeping with a big teddy bear.

“Understood. Will you be eating separately?”

“Talking while eating isn’t a bad idea.”

Grace glanced at me, as if asking for help or permission.

I chose the latter, believing she didn’t need my help. With Rize around, no harm would come to her.

Soon, the two headed off for their private conversation, leaving Ragnarok with me.

“Every time the Holy Warrior is around, it feels like a storm has passed.”

“Indeed.”

I couldn’t agree more with Kara’s assessment. Rize brings chaos wherever she goes.

I looked at the departing figures of the two and then turned my gaze to Ragnarok.

It’s hard to believe that you can confirm Chaos’s favor with this.

Even if it carries the will of Chaos, Ragnarok is fundamentally Gulak’s sacred relic.

‘So why not Luna?’

Maybe she’s already marked by another god. I casually extended Ragnarok to Luna.

Zap!

“Ack!”

The moment it touched her recently hardened arm, sparks flew. Luna jumped in surprise.

It seems it’s not her time yet. I wish Luna would also be chosen by Chaos; it would save me some trouble.

“What are you doing?”

Luna looked at me in disbelief, rubbing her arm which seemed to tingle.

I scratched my head with the hammer part of the axe and answered bluntly.

“Just a joke.”

“Hey.”

She looked exasperated. It was indeed partly because her reactions were amusing.

Few people react as vividly as she does. It’s satisfying to tease her, befitting a protagonist’s role.

“Let’s go eat. I’ll take Ragnarok to the dorm later. No one’s going to steal it anyway.”

“Okay.”

“By the way, using this to determine Chaos’s favor is kind of funny. Should we test it on Ellie? She’s quite something too.”

I’m not sure what she means by ‘quite something,’ but I doubt it.

Unlike Jane and Grace, Ellie has no clear goals. This is certain.

In the Soul World, she provided balance-breaking potions but didn’t significantly impact the story.

‘Though the difference with and without her is huge.’

If anything, she indirectly affects the roots, not the main plot.

The story requires various items, with potions being the top priority.

Having someone supply all necessary items is a great convenience for users. This remains true even with a lot of money.

Rare potions have limited sources, but Ellie can produce them with just some herbs.

‘Maybe Chaos dislikes her for dying so easily.’

As mentioned repeatedly, Ellie frequently dies, included in the death squad.

Don’t send her out alone, especially in forests or mountains.

The most frustrating part is she sometimes dies by falling down stairs.

For now, she’s safe at the academy, but once she leaves, I’ll always have to worry about her.

“Sivar!”

“Hmm?”

Speak of the devil. On the way to the cafeteria, I heard a familiar voice.

It was Ellie, waving her hand and running towards us with a bright smile.

She must have come out for lunch and spotted us by chance.

Given our distinctive group, it wasn’t hard to find us.

“Ellie. Here to eat?”

“Yeah. You guys too?”

“Yeah.”

Ellie looked around and then tilted her head, noticing something missing.

“Where’s Grace? Weren’t you eating with her?”

“The Holy Warrior took her. They had something to discuss.”

“Really? Can I join you guys then?”

“Do as you please.”

We often walked around together, so it wasn’t hard for her to join.

Ellie thanked Kara for permission and naturally stuck by my side.

With Kara in the center, Luna and I were flanking her, so Ellie didn’t have to squeeze in.

Tap—

“Huh? Why did you bring that? Planning to head to the forest after eating?”

“Well, you see… huh?”

Kara started to explain but then was taken aback. Understandably so.

Ellie was casually touching Ragnarok as if it was the most natural thing.

So natural that even I didn’t notice. She just touched it, and I let her.

“Wait, you can touch that?”

“What do you mean? Wasn’t it always possible to touch?”

“…”

Does she not know Ragnarok’s effect? Ellie genuinely seemed unaware as she moved it to Luna’s arm.

Zap!

“Ouch!”

Strange. The sparks flew just fine.

Ignoring Luna’s pained cries, I moved Ragnarok back to Ellie.

But Ragnarok didn’t react at all when it touched Ellie.

This left only one possible reason.

‘What’s the criteria?’

Ellie had been chosen by Chaos too. I don’t know why.

Most importantly…

“Why… why does Lord Chaos hate me…?”

Why hasn’t Luna, the protagonist, been chosen by Chaos?

I pondered the baffling criteria and came up with one hypothesis.

‘Does he just choose on a whim?’

That was the only explanation. But I still didn’t understand why he didn’t favor Luna.

She might occasionally say the wrong thing, but she’s hardworking.

Moreover, she’s striving to thwart the demons’ schemes.

‘I give up.’

Let’s just eat. I’ll let Ellie know she’s been chosen by Chaos soon.

As I tried to focus on my meal instead of Ragnarok, a message appeared.

[Faith is increasing!]

First time I’ve seen faith increase while eating.

Well, I had seen faith increase while doing nothing before.

‘I don’t get the criteria for faith increasing either.’

Might as well give up.

******

Around the same time.

“So, Lord Chaos is supporting me? So I can achieve my goal?”

“Of course. I’m here to represent that will. I’ll help you with all my heart.”

“Thank you! Really, thank you! I was apprehensive because it’s the God of Chaos, but it was all a misconception!”

Grace had fully converted to the faith. Just like with Jane.

Initially, she had doubts, but Rize’s eloquent persuasion won her over.

Particularly, she shattered Grace’s inner desire, her ‘childlike innocence,’ which played a decisive role.

But Rize didn’t mock her and instead fervently supported her. This was the key to Grace’s conversion.

“Don’t rush. Brother Sivar is just now adapting to civilization. Teaching him noble etiquette too soon might make him resist.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Then I should hurry the marriage. We can teach etiquette gradually.”

“Won’t your family object?”

Rize asked cautiously, almost as if testing.

Before the incident, Grace might have been tied to her family. But not now.

“My family? Let them eat dirt.”

Not a typical noble, especially not a duke’s daughter, would say that.

Grace scoffed and spoke haughtily.

“A dream breaks not because of reality but because of limits. I must surpass my family to truly achieve my dream. Right?”

“Hmm. Hmm.”

Rize nodded in great satisfaction.

“Very admirable.”

End of Chapter

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