A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

Chapter 115:

Chapter 115:

Marking Territory (1)

***

The academy decided to store the Usk carcass.

Due to the existence of the Forest of Chaos, they have a large freezer dedicated to maintaining the freshness of materials.

However, dismantling and processing are mandatory, so the butchers gathered to handle it. Interestingly, there were even non-combatant students involved.

Since the Usk is such a rare monster, it’s perfect for research and practical use. Thanks to that, things became more convenient.

“I haven’t seen an Usk in a while... Anyway, I’ll do my best. Who’s the owner of the captured Usk?”

“Me. I mean, it’s me.”

“Please provide your name here. Since it’s a top-grade material, you must personally come and collect it with this paper. No substitutes.”

I didn’e is difficult.

Moreover, butchers in this world are highly respected due to the existence of monsters. It’s a crucial job.

While one could kill a monster and butcher it immediately, it’s better to leave it to experts whenever possible.

The academy even has a specialized major in butchering for non-combatants, which says it all.

Since butchers are closely related to ‘blades,’ the profession naturally becomes specialized.

“Since it’s a baby, it won’t take long. If everything goes well, it should be ready by lunchtime. Will you be able to pick it up then?”

“Yes.”

“Got it. I’ll be putting in some serious effort today.”

The butcher smiled broadly, perhaps because it was an unexpected windfall. We agreed on the payment separately.

Once Kara auctions off the materials, the money will come rolling in. Until then, I’ll enjoy cooking.

As the academy bustled with the Usk situation, a familiar voice called out to me.

“Sivar?”

“Yes?”

I turned to see Godin looking at me.

It was Godin. As soon as I turned my head, he spoke.

“The Principal has summoned you. Luna and Ellie as well.”

“Me too?”

“Yes.”

Luna, who had been lingering beside me, also received the summons. She opened her eyes wide in surprise.

If it were just me, she might not have minded, but being summoned herself must have been unsettling.

Still, she had no intention of refusing Rod’s summons. Besides, there was nothing else to do.

The Usk butchering would be done by lunchtime, so we could enjoy a delicious dinner afterward.

“It’s probably about what happened today. Let’s go.”

“Alright... Godin, wasn’t Kara called too?”

“No, just the two of you.”

For some reason, Kara wasn’t summoned. Perhaps only the students who entered the Forest of Chaos were called.

Before moving, I asked Grace for permission. I felt bad about frequently leaving her side as her escort.

“It’s the Principal’s summons, so it’s unavoidable. But you have to tell me what he said, okay?”

“Alright.”

Grace subtly asked for information, showing her cleverness. Given her reliability, it was fine.

We headed to the Principal’s office. On the way, Luna kept glancing at the Usk.

She seemed to have something to say about the Usk.

“Luna.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Do you have something to say?”

I asked directly. Since the Usk belonged to me, she could ask without hesitation.

Luna hesitated, looking torn about whether to speak up.

“Sivar?”

“Yes.”

“It might be shameless of me to ask, but...”

After some hesitation, Luna finally spoke up. She looked at the Usk and then gave an awkward smile.

She continued, seemingly embarrassed.

“The blade tusk you gave to Kara...”

“Yes.”

“If there’s any left, could I have a little bit?”

So this is what she meant by shameless. I thought.

Seeing me give the blade tusk to Kara must have made her want it too. It was a cute request.

If it were someone else, it might have seemed greedy. But Luna’s desire was different.

“Why do you want the blade tusk? To make a weapon?”

“Yes.”

“You have a good weapon from your village, don’t you? Did it break?”

Ellie questioned Luna’s request for the blade tusk.

Ellie was right—Luna currently had a high-quality sword, useful until mid-story.

“It’s not that... I just want to have one. Honestly, it looked really cool.”

“So you want to make one because the material is cool?”

“Embarrassingly, yes. It’s hard to get such materials elsewhere.”

But with both Porori and me gone, the competition for the food chain inside intensified, pushing defeated monsters to the outskirts.

in.

Besides the Usk, there were also Ogres from the north. One of them got split in half by the Usk.

“As you know, the Forest of Chaos is connected to all environments except the desert. This makes it easy for external creatures to enter.”

“Weren’t there few external creatures before?”

“The outskirts and the interior were almost cut off. But now, the boundary is blurred, letting external creatures in.”

As I said before, the deep parts of the Forest of Chaos and the outskirts had clear boundaries. External creatures showed no interest in the outskirts.

Creatures that accidentally entered the interior were unusually strong, likely drawn by mana.

But now, the boundary between the interior and outskirts is blurred, allowing external monsters to come in.

“If this continues, it could threaten not just the outskirts but the academy itself. We’re watching for now, but the situation could escalate.”

“The academy would be in danger.”

Rod nodded at Luna’s pointed remark. That was the key issue.

If the outskirts became like the interior, it would be disastrous. Imagine creatures like Usks everywhere.

Not just students, but even professors would be helpless. Rod could help, but he couldn’t be everywhere at once.

“No matter how strong humans are, they’re powerless against formidable nature. We need to act now to ensure the academy’s safety.”

“So you’re asking Sivar and Ratatoskr to...”

“To create ‘territories’ in the outskirts of the Forest of Chaos.”

Rod’s plan became clear. If the boundary is collapsing, we need to rebuild it. It’s simple yet effective.

Porori and I once divided the interior of the Forest of Chaos between us. Naturally, we marked our territories regularly.

‘Any intruders were eaten.’

In the wild, invading territory is a life-or-death ‘challenge.’ Success means taking the territory; failure means death.

When I was weak, I hid from Porori. As I grew stronger, I started marking my territory.

If other predators marked territory, I smashed their heads with my stone axe, and Porori broke their chests with his steel fist.

This repeated until we eventually divided the territory.

“Creating territories will make the outskirts safer and clarify the boundary. Any intruders can be eliminated. What do you think?”

“I’ll do it.”

I agreed readily, as it was an urgent issue. Porori would likely agree too.

This would reduce the influx of external monsters. We would handle defeated monsters ourselves.

Rod seemed pleased with my decisive answer. He must have been troubled by this issue.

“Thank you. Is there anything you need? I’ll provide any support you require.”

“Food, please.”

“Ha ha. You’re the same as ever.”

Rod laughed heartily, taking my request as a joke.

But eating more would help mark the territory effectively. This might make you curious.

“So, Sivar. How will you mark the territory? Do you have a method?”

Ellie asked at the right moment. Rod and Luna looked curious too.

Despite their attention, I calmly answered.

“Poop and pee.”

“...What?”

Humans mark their territory with borders, but animals do it differently.

They rub against trees to leave scent or fur, or they leave excrement. There are various methods.

The most definite method is to leave excrement. I often used this to mark my territory.

“It’s a clear mark. No one can come.”

“T-That’s effective, I guess.”

“Most animals use that method.”

They seemed taken aback by my answer. It was an unexpected method, after all.

Except for Luna, who seemed deep in thought after the initial shock.

“Sivar.”

“Yes.”

“So, the thing I stepped on...”

After thinking, she asked. She seemed to recall stepping on a territory mark.

I pretended not to know back then, but... yes, it was my mark. She was just unlucky.

“What?”

So, I played dumb.

Luna explained in more detail.

“When we first met, I stepped on something. Was that your mark?”

Yes, it was my mark. You were just very unlucky.

Those words almost slipped out, but I held back. I felt too guilty to tell her the truth.

“I don’t know.”

I decided to take this secret to my grave. Otherwise, I’d feel so guilty I’d grant any request.

Fortunately, Luna didn’t ask further. But she looked uneasy, not fully convinced.

‘I should give her a blade tusk sword later.’

It was the first debt of my heart.

End of Chapte