Enlightenment (1)

What is the most important thing in building a civilization? Personally, I think it's 'culture' that binds people together. Most civilizations arose with the advent of agriculture and communal living, but having plenty to eat and a good life isn't the end of it.

Among those elements, 'law' symbolizes morality and ethics—it's a kind of good, and a powerful deterrent. Without law, civilization would have crumbled long ago. Humans are animals that grew by relentlessly chasing their desires. If those desires were expressed freely, civilization would have collapsed.

Laws also differ from country to country, which is why the unique laws of each nation often seem incomprehensible. Why am I saying all this? Even a nation can't ignore the laws of this world. Especially when it comes to 'violence', which most civilized societies use.

"What's all this commotion...!"

"Ah. He's here."

It was Friday, exam week, but people were still around. Plus, with the door wide open, there was no way the noise wouldn't carry.

The expression on the arriving professor's face was unforgettable. He was desperately trying to assess the situation.

Delphoi was out cold, foaming at the mouth with all his teeth knocked out. Grace lay quietly on the sofa, catching her breath. And I was pressing her hand, giving her acupressure.

He probably couldn't make heads or tails of it. But one thing was clear: I'd beaten Delphoi half to death. That fact alone meant I had to be taken in.

If you commit a crime at the academy, you're punished according to your home country's laws. But I'm a wild man with no background at all. Violence is clear-cut, but since laws vary by nation, no one knew what to do with me.

In fact, Matra and Granada have different laws. Granada is lenient on violence with broad self-defense allowances, while Matra is famous for its strict legalism.

So I was stuck in the dorm all weekend, unable to go out. It was a problem stemming from having no proper 'background'.

"Delphoi's charges have been confirmed. Attempted rape and drug misuse—he's looking at life in prison."

But it wasn't like there was no one responsible. Lize, who lived with me, had stepped up as the guarantor.

Things got noisy for a while when she took responsibility, but I was the eye of the storm—calm no matter how it spun.

"The Berche Duke's family also requested to handle Delphoi's punishment themselves. Ariril handed him over quickly. There shouldn't be any issues."

"Nom nom nom."

"Oh, and by the way, Ariril is famous as a magic kingdom. It wouldn't be bad to visit someday."

I listened to Lize's explanations while my hands kept busy. A spread of food she'd prepared sat before me. Stuck unable to do anything over the weekend, she'd handled all the meals. Her skills were top-notch, so I was mostly satisfied.

"Nom nom. What about me?"

I wasn't totally disinterested. I didn't care what happened to Delphoi, but I was curious about my own fate. Getting off as self-defense would be ideal. But given Delphoi's condition, some said I'd gone too far.

His teeth were all shattered—he wouldn't cast magic or even speak properly, and he'd never function as a man again. Fitting for an attempted rapist, but busybodies and malcontents existed.

Plus, word had spread that I came from the wild, highlighting my dangerousness.

"Brother Sivar needn't worry. Lord and I will defend you personally. Above all, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Berche Duke's family won't let it slide."

"Got it."

"The trial... well, you might not know, but it won't go that far. With Delphoi's guilt confirmed, they'll let it pass for the academy's honor."

Honor aside, me being the self-defender was huge. They couldn't nitpick without backlash.

Throw me in jail via trial? Then the Berche Duke's family and others would complain. Do nothing, and who knows what bomb I'd drop next.

Lize stepping up as guarantor smoothed it all out. No one could object to the saint of Chaos.

"You did well. Chaos will surely be pleased. He approves of necessary evils against injustice."

Sure enough, a message said my faith had risen. I'd just ignored it while acupressuring Grace's hand.

Hearing Chaos mentioned from Lize's lips, I looked up briefly to check my current faith.

After midterms, it was 34. Now 40—a rise of 6. It usually ticked up gradually, but rescuing Grace must've pleased him greatly.

'But what do I do with faith?'

Nice to have it rise, but no real use came to mind. Lightning had merged fine with my red mana. What would this faith ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠grant me? Language variety was nice, but I wondered about the rest.

'I'll find out eventually.'

Right now, my situation and Grace's condition mattered more. I wanted to visit her, but she needed rest. Plus, the Berche Duke's family had her under strict guard now.

It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠almost became locking the barn after losing the cow, but we'd prevented it.

"Grace?"

Still, curiosity won out. Even in Soul World, she suffered trauma for a while.

It stopped at attempted, but her purity had nearly been defiled. Even simple touches would make her sensitive from now on.

"As I said, Grace is resting. It might be a while before Brother Sivar can visit."

"Hm..."

"No need to worry too much. Without Brother Sivar, Grace would've been in grave danger..."

Knock knock—

Before Lize could finish, someone knocked on the dorm door, cutting our talk.

We both turned toward it. Academy guards stood outside my dorm. Until cleared, I was half-confined. Lize's protection let me step out, at least.

"One moment."

Sensing something off, Lize rose and headed to the door. I watched her back, hands still moving. The food was too good to stop.

"Who is it?"

Surprisingly, it was someone dispatched from the Berche Duke's family. Probably here to give thanks.

Lize slowly opened the door, facing the visitor.

"Pardon the intrusion, Saint. May I come in briefly?"

"Yes. Please enter."

Judging it fine, Lize allowed entry. As she stepped aside, the visitor came in.

The voice hinted, but it was a man. One strikingly like Grace. Tallish, sturdy build. Noble handsome features as a bonus.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Arthus Aria del Berche, eldest son of the Berche Duke's family."

A name that screamed something rotten, your father.

I stared blankly at him as he greeted politely. Looked like Grace's big brother. The sharp eyes and purple hair gave it away.

"You're Sivar... right? Quite the unique background."

"Yeah."

I nodded at Arthus's question, still not rising, just chewing.

Arthus stared at my face intently, like he was scouting me.

"May I sit for a moment?"

I nodded permission since it didn't matter. As Arthus sat, Lize took the seat beside me. His expression turned a bit odd.

No wonder—a saint and Kwonseong casually sitting like that would look strange. I was used to it, though.

"First, thank you for saving my sister from danger. On behalf of the Berche Duke's family, and personally as well."

"Yeah."

"You may have heard: Delphoi, whom you stopped, will be transferred to our family. There'll be a trial, but... it seems you've already delivered heavenly punishment."

Delphoi's fate didn't matter. What bugged me was how he addressed me. Arthus called me 'you, sir'—honorifically. From a duke's family, no less. He'd have no issue looking down, so was it Lize's presence or something else?

"'You, sir'?"

I asked what he meant by it. But I overlooked something.

"Ah, is 'you, sir' unfamiliar? It's a respectful term for the other party."

That I was treated as a wild man. Arthus kindly explained.

I nearly snorted but let it slide. No point prying.

"This incident ties deeply to our family's honor. Thus, you won't face any repercussions. That's why I've come."

"Yeah."

"And furthermore..."

Arthus droned on with boring details. No trial for me, compensation coming, etc. I let it go in one ear and out the other.

If compensating, just give cash. Not totally dissatisfied, though. Normally, they'd drag it to trial, questioning why I went to Delphoi's lab first. Looked suspicious to outsiders.

Covering that let me regain freedom sooner.

"Finally, I have a proposal—or rather, a request."

"Request?"

"Yes. We planned to assign Grace a guard, but she flatly refused."

Vaguely remembered. Post-incident, Grace lost confidence, her character shifting. The bold demeanor vanished, leading to social anxiety—pitiful all around. Time restored her, but the sympathy lingered.

"In our dilemma, Grace made a request. She wants you as her guard knight."

"Huh?"

What was this? Did this happen in Soul World? Memory fuzzy, and his visit was questionable too.

As I blinked in confusion, Arthus elaborated.

"I know you're busy, but for Grace's psychological stability..."

"Got it."

"Pardon?"

"I'll do it. Guard."

Whatever, I'd guard her. But one thing to ask.

Guards stuck close always, but was that feasible? I was a student. Could a student guard? Even same class, we'd separate sometimes. Proper guarding would fail.

"How?"

I summed it up in one question to Arthus. Guarding might score me cakes from Grace.

But I overlooked something again.

That I was the clueless wild man.

"Uh... shall I explain what a guard does first?"

"..."

"A guard literally protects the subject. So you'd stay by Grace's side..."

Shouldn't have asked. I regretted it.

'But why pick ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me specifically as guard?'

What changed her? A bit curious.

What the hell is 'nim' supposed to mean?