A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 18

To tell you an amazing fact, not even a single day has passed yet.

Meeting Luna and Ellie in the forest, arriving at the Academy, and sparring with Elvin—

It all happened in just one day. Sometimes, I wondered if I was dreaming.

‘When was the last time I felt like this?’

An unusually long day. It reminds me of the time I first fell into the forest and went through all kinds of hell.

Maybe that’s why. Or perhaps it was because the new bed felt uncomfortable. I just couldn’t fall asleep.

Even when I stayed in the forest, I slept in a half-conscious state, but today, I couldn’t sleep at all.

I couldn’t quite grasp the reality of having escaped the forest, nor was I sure if I was entering the story.

‘Direct intervention would be difficult, wouldn’t it?’

Lying on the bed Rod had prepared for me, I stared blankly at the ceiling.

Enrollment is practically impossible. Who knows when I’ll even be able to wake up the script, and I need to fix my speech impairment first.

Even if I fix the speech impairment, I wonder if I can properly speak. So, it’s better not to consider enrollment.

If that’s the case, entering the story will be difficult. But while entry is impossible, ‘intervention’ is still possible.

‘If there’s an event that stands out right after enrollment······’

It’s sparring. A sparring match where the freshmen go head-to-head in a specially designed training ground.

I don’t remember it well, but I know the sparring happens relatively quickly.

That’s probably when the main characters will start to stand out.

Among them, the Princess of Tatars, Kara, will draw attention.

‘Will Luna win?’

Sparring is one of the subtly important events.

It’s deeply connected to the Academy’s ‘Points’ system, and rankings can change because of it.

During this process, Luna will inevitably spar with Kara. Kara will probably be the one to initiate it.

From what I’ve heard, Luna entered as the top student, so she must have piqued interest from the start.

‘And she’ll draw attention while she’s at it.’

If she achieves good results in the sparring, not only will her Points increase, but her honor will rise as well.

Not only that, but her stats might also permanently increase. The result of her sparring with Kara will be crucial for this.

‘But I wonder if they’ll really increase.’

So far, every time I ‘survived,’ my stats permanently increased. My faith dropped every time I cursed at the gods.

Based on this, it seems that stats can increase when certain conditions are met. I need to work on confirming this.

‘I know there are hidden achievements scattered everywhere.’

From breaking the magic circles set up in advance by demons to minor achievements, they exist.

What I vaguely remember is climbing the tallest building in the Academy—the Memorial Tower.

The Memorial Tower stands tall in the center of the Academy, making it visible from anywhere.

From what I recall, it was established as a founding commemoration and to prevent the invasion of demons.

In the game, climbing to the top increased stats, but I’m not sure if that’s the case in reality.

‘The question is how much they’ll increase.’

Currently, all my stats, except for luck and faith, exceed 140. My stamina is close to 150.

Even if I clear an achievement, the increase will likely be negligible. It’s a measure to prevent exploits in multiple playthroughs.

Still, from 140 onward, even a single point is precious, so it can’t be ignored. It’s better to clear every achievement possible.

‘Should I climb the Memorial Tower right now······ No.’

I feel like going outside and climbing the spire. But the chances of getting caught by Rod are very high.

He must have anticipated that I would sneak out because he took precautions. For starters, he hung a bell on the door.

If I open the door, the bell will ring, and Rod will immediately come to check.

You might ask why I don’t just remove the bell, but I can’t do that either. He installed it outside.

‘I’m tired anyway.’

Physically, I’m not tired. But mentally, it’s been an exhausting day with so many things happening.

It seems better to just close my eyes and sleep. Wandering around too late at night would also be a nuisance.

Oh, of course, it’s out of consideration for the guards who work hard ‘late at night.’

“W-Who is that?! Why is that person climbing up there?”

“If they fall, it’s going to be a disaster······!”

“Professor! Call the professors quickly!”

I never said I wouldn’t do it in the ‘morning.’

While touring the Academy with Rod and familiarizing myself with the layout, I seized the opportunity to start climbing the Memorial Tower.

Whether or not classes officially start today, there were quite a few people coming and going nearby.

‘It doesn’t matter anyway.’

I could hear the noisy commotion below, but I ignored it and climbed the Memorial Tower with my bare hands.

The Memorial Tower generally resembled a ‘clock tower.’ In other words, there’s a clock at the very top.

How do I know that? Because I’m almost there. There’s not much left to reach the top.

‘It’s pretty high.’

The Memorial Tower is made of special materials, making it impossible to use mana upon physical contact.

This means you have to climb it with your bare body. If your stats are low, you’ll fall midway and die.

Not only is it tall, but there are hardly any parts to grab onto. I’m climbing purely with grip strength.

In the game, you had to meet certain stat requirements to climb it, so this is true to the game’s mechanics.

I paused briefly to catch my breath before finally reaching the top.

“Wow.”

The height is absurdly high, and the view is magnificent. There’s no better spectacle than this.

It feels like I could reach out and grab the clouds. Of course, that’s not actually possible, but that’s how high it is.

‘Nothing’s happening.’

Even after reaching the top, nothing changed. It seems reality is indeed different from the game.

In multiple playthroughs, clearing achievements didn’t raise stats either. I should think of this as something different.

It’s disappointing, but the scenery is so beautiful that I can let it go. I sat at the top for a while, looking around.

The top wasn’t pointed but had enough space to sit.

‘During the Academy attack part, the demons neutralize the spire first, don’t they?’

Swish!

“Huh?”

While swinging my legs and thinking, I suddenly heard a cutting sound right above my head.

I looked up, and within a circular frame, I saw ‘the ground.’ To reiterate, the ground.

Normally, I should be seeing the sky, but why am I seeing the ground? And what is that circle?

Thud!

“What?”

Before I could finish my thoughts—

A hand shot out from the circular frame and grabbed my collar roughly. Then, it yanked me with great force.

The speed was so fast, and there wasn’t enough room to move my body, so I couldn’t even resist.

Crash!

Before passing through the circular frame, I felt like I was being pulled upward.

But after passing through, gravity took over, and I tumbled to the ground.

‘What the hell is going on?’

I blinked, struggling to grasp the situation.

“Haha. You caused this kind of trouble while I looked away for just a moment.”

Then, a voice—familiar to the point of being ingrained in my memory—reached my ears.

I turned my head toward the source of the voice.

Rod was smiling kindly. If you only looked at his smile, he seemed as benevolent as a saint.

But if you looked at the sword in his hand, you’d know his kindness was far from genuine.

Swoosh—

Meanwhile, the circular frame I had presumably emerged from slowly shrank until it disappeared entirely.

The sword in his hand, the fact that I ended up here—there was only one conclusion to draw.

Rod had used his sword to connect space to space and drag me out. He had wielded magic with just a sword.

‘If he’s using that, his addiction level must not be too severe yet.’

You can gauge Rod’s addiction level based on the techniques he uses.

To use that technique, he needs to be able to utilize 80% of his full power without issue.

During the Academy Collapse, his addiction worsened to the point where he could only use 50% of his ability.

“I’ll give you candy, so follow me quietly.”

While I was assessing Rod’s addiction state, he handed me a piece of candy. Judging by the color, it seemed to be roasted rice flavor.

I popped the candy he handed me into my mouth and chewed. It was surprisingly tasty.

Rod began walking, and I trailed closely behind him.

The location of the Memorial Tower was the Academy Plaza, but now we were right in front of the building.

It seemed he had deliberately brought me all the way here to avoid drawing unnecessary attention before pulling me down.

‘The people in front of the Memorial Tower are······’

Turning my head toward the Spire, I saw people gathered and murmuring.

Judging by their behavior, they still seemed to think I was at the top.

But they’ll disperse soon enough. After all, they have classes to attend.

“Hmm.”

Before I knew it, Rod had reached the building and turned around to check if I was following him properly.

I was simply chewing on the candy. Satisfied, Rod opened the door and went inside.

“Welcome······ Oh my, Headmaster?”

As soon as we entered, a woman sitting at the desk recognized Rod and spoke to him.

Rod greeted her briefly and stated his purpose.

“I’d like to have this friend’s health examined.”

“This friend······”

At Rod’s words, the woman’s gaze turned toward me. Meanwhile, I figured out where we were.

This was a hospital—a General Hospital blending the characteristics of various nations.

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary hospital, but it wasn’t.

The Hwan Empire’s acupuncture and herbology coexisted here.

To put it simply, surgery followed a Western style, while internal medicine adhered to Eastern practices.

“Could it be······”

“Yes, it’s someone you know. Having lived in the forest, I was a bit concerned.”

“Understood. Please wait a moment.”

The woman stepped away briefly to make a report. Rod and I sat quietly on nearby chairs to wait.

Perhaps worried I might wander off, he handed me another piece of candy. I was starting to get tired of it, but I ate it anyway.

“I hope there’s nothing wrong, but that’s unlikely.”

While we waited, Rod muttered as he looked at me.

I was just as curious about my health. Though I had taken a dewormer, I knew nothing else.

There might be something worse than parasites. I sincerely hoped there wouldn’t be.

“Is it true you lived in the forest?”

“That’s what I’ve heard.”

“Hmm. Fascinating. Aside from an extremely high basal metabolic rate, there are no significant issues. As for language, regular conversation should help improve it. Children are like that, aren’t they?”

I was remarkably healthy.

Perhaps due to the presence of a nation with advanced science, they conducted various tests, but ultimately, there were no issues.

For someone who lived in the forest, there were no hygiene-related diseases. However, my basal metabolic rate was so high that dietary adjustments were necessary.

Food expenses would be insane. I heard student meal prices were cheaper, so now I had a reason to enroll.

“So, as long as he eats well, he’ll be fine?”

“Yes. Physically, I can only say he’s healthy. Not even minor illnesses are present.”

“Hmm.”

Rod stroked his chin, looking at me with a curious gaze. I, too, found my health surprising.

I had survived the Forest of Chaos by eating all kinds of raw things. It wouldn’t have been strange to fall ill.

Yet, seeing how healthy I was, it seemed my body was far from ordinary.

“Understood. Health is the most important thing. Since we’re on the topic, I’d like to meet the Medical Practitioner.”

“As it happens, the Medical Practitioner requested it as well.”

The doctor said this and handed Rod a bottle containing herbs.

I stared blankly at the herbs inside the bottle.

Those were the same herbs Rod always added when brewing tea. The herbs slowly eating away at his body.

The Medical Practitioner mentioned by the doctor was an internal medicine specialist from the Hwan Empire and also a pawn of a demon.

That man, practically Rod’s attending physician, was harming his health.

‘Is there no way to let him know?’

Rod wouldn’t even suspect it was poison. Since it was prescribed by the Academy, it was only natural.

Strictly speaking, it was indeed an herb. But the moment it dissolved in water, it became a toxic herb, making it hard to identify.

“Has your coughing improved recently?”

“It’s been better lately. But at my age, there are limits.”

“That’s a relief. I’ll inform the Medical Practitioner as well.”

While I was racking my brain on how to stop this, the examination ended. Rod stood up, and I quietly followed suit.

Just before stepping out the door, I glanced at the doctor who had handed Rod the herbs.

The doctor, seemingly unaware of my gaze, was scribbling something on a chart.

‘I need to learn the language as quickly as possible.’

I couldn’t keep swearing endlessly. To lower the story’s difficulty, I had no choice.

While pondering how to progress the story more smoothly, the mental health diagnosis came in.

“His intelligence appears normal. However, due to his upbringing, his social skills are severely lacking.”

It was a fact, but it still annoyed me.

*****

Sivar’s comprehensive health check was finally complete. The results were incredibly straightforward.

Physically, he was the picture of health. His senses were significantly more developed than those of the average person.

Mentally, while his social skills were lacking, his intelligence itself was fine. It matched his age.

In conclusion, he was normal. However, having lived in the wilderness, his heightened sensitivity was inevitable.

The evidence of this was Sivar’s body. Seeing the scars etched across it, even Rod frowned.

Thus, it was concluded that as long as he wasn’t startled, there wouldn’t be any major issues.

However, they emphasized that his social skills absolutely needed to be developed.

Otherwise, there was no telling when he might cause trouble again.

“Given his high level of comprehension, learning the language shouldn’t be difficult. Just be careful not to provoke him.”

“Thank you. Is there anything else?”

“For more detailed examinations, he’ll need to be able to communicate······”

The psychiatrist glanced to the side.

At some point, Sivar, chewing on candy again, was staring in this direction.

Outwardly, he seemed like someone from the Hwan Empire, but his pale skin and vivid red eyes gave off an unsettling vibe.

For now, the candy kept him calm, but he was like a time bomb that could go off at any moment.

“It’s best to take things step by step. Aside from his heightened sensitivity, he’s essentially normal.”

“Understood. Is there any medication to prescribe?”

“No. But please don’t overdo it with the candy. It could lead to bad habits.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

With that, Sivar’s comprehensive health check was concluded. Rod stepped outside the building with Sivar.

Occasionally, students entering the hospital greeted Rod or gave Sivar curious looks.

Once outside, they saw students roaming the streets after finishing their classes.

Checking the time roughly, it was exactly lunchtime. Meals could be had not only in the Main Building but also in the plaza.

‘Social skills······’

Rod glanced back to see if Sivar was following him properly. Thanks to the candy, he was.

There’s a saying that humans are social animals. Building a society is instinctual for humans.

Humans who fail to form a society struggle to survive. Yet Sivar had survived and lived alone.

To him, social skills were not just unfamiliar—they might even evoke rejection.

He didn’t feel the need for them. If things didn’t work out, he might return to the forest.

‘There’s a lot to teach.’

Given his high comprehension, learning to read wouldn’t be difficult.

But that aside, whether he would adapt well remained a question. Rod found himself troubled by this.

Should he enroll Sivar after cultivating social skills, or should he enroll him to help develop them?

‘Am I really supposed to educate a child, something I never even imagined in my life?’

Rod let out a faint chuckle at the absurdity of the thought.

Swoosh—

It was a very faint sound, but Rod’s sharp ears caught it clearly. It was the sound of Sivar picking something up.

Turning around at the sound, Rod saw Sivar holding a stone in his hand.

As Rod wondered why Sivar was picking up a stone the size of a fist, Sivar fixed his gaze somewhere and assumed a stance.

With the stone gripped in his left hand pulled back, he stretched his right arm forward.

Then, extending his right leg forward, he threw the stone with all his might.

“Wait······!”

Bang!

Before Rod could stop him, the stone left Sivar’s hand. It flew at a speed far faster than the throwing spear he had demonstrated during sparring.

If that throw hit someone directly, it would cause serious harm to anyone. Rod urgently looked in the direction the stone was flying.

He even placed his hand on his sword, prepared to cut down the stone mid-air if necessary. No matter how fast it was, it would be meaningless if he could slice through the space it occupied.

Fortunately, and to Rod’s immense relief, the stone wasn’t flying toward a person. But then, where was it heading?

Clang!

Suddenly, a clear and resonant bell sound echoed through the air. Rod stared in disbelief at the place where the stone had landed.

It was a fairly tall tower, not as high as the Memorial Tower, but still significant. At its very top hung a bell.

A bell tower symbolizing religion. Despite the great distance, Sivar had hit the bell with his throw.

“Why is the bell ringing?”

“Who knows.”

The unexpected sound of the bell left the students puzzled as they turned to look toward the bell tower.

Normally, the bell only rang at set times. Unless something was wrong, that was the rule.

Naturally, most passersby stopped in their tracks to stare at the bell tower.

“Damn it!”

“··· ···”

Meanwhile, the very person responsible for ringing the bell raised both arms in triumph, celebrating his feat.

Rod covered his face with one hand, exasperated at Sivar’s second eccentric act of the day.

It was the kind of act that could bring down lightning upon him, leaving no room for excuses. Even someone as fearless as him would tremble at the Wrath of God.

‘This is troublesome······’

At the very least, it seemed imperative to instill some common sense into him.