A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 45

Unfortunately, I didn’t receive any money. Neither Gloria nor Chronos had any on hand.

Perhaps because of that, they emphasized that they would pay me later and that they would never break their promise. It seemed they were worried I might spread their secret.

I didn’t want to lose such excellent patrons either, so I pretended to understand and let it slide. They’ll probably give it to me on the day of Autonomous Training.

“Student Luna. Do you know how Student Sivar spends money?”

“I wouldn’t know. He’s never bought anything himself until now.”

“Hmm… Then, Student Luna, please take charge of the money. While it’s unlikely at the Academy, someone might try to take advantage of Student Sivar. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yes.”

However, it was decided that the money would not be given directly to me but distributed through Luna.

I wanted to protest, but Gloria’s reasoning was entirely valid. Insisting on my way here would just come across as childish whining.

Of course, if Luna embezzles the money or prevents me from buying what I want, I’ll have to stand my ground. After all, it’s my money.

“Then, we’ll be off. When do you two plan to come see me again?”

“The Academy has Autonomous Training every Wednesday, so we’ll probably visit then. We’ll make sure to coordinate so as not to arouse suspicion.”

“··· ···”

At the mention of “coordinate,” Luna’s face gradually turned red. It seemed she was recalling the kiss the two had shared earlier.

If she’s already reacting like this, it’s going to be tough. From now on, I’ll have to witness all sorts of lovey-dovey moments in real time, even if it’s not a kiss.

“······Goodbye. We’ll be going now.”

“Take care. And make sure to keep the secret, no matter what.”

“I’ll be counting on you from now on.”

Leaving behind their different forms of farewells, Luna and I exited the forest.

Just before stepping out of the forest, I turned my head toward where Gloria and Chronos were.

Sha-sak-

As soon as I looked back, they quickly untangled their arms, which had been affectionately linked. Their expressions feigned innocence, as if nothing had happened.

Once we’re gone, they’ll probably start with a simple sparring session and then move on to “physical conversation.” Of course, I have no intention of watching.

‘In the game, this area naturally turned into a training ground.’

Besides, it’s almost time for class to start. Diligent Luna would never skip class.

“Sivar.”

“?”

As we were nearly out of the forest, Luna called out to me. I looked at her with a puzzled expression.

She had a face full of things she wanted to say. So much, in fact, that she seemed unsure where to begin.

Well, considering everything that had happened in such a short time, it was understandable. I could sympathize.

“Earlier, you asked those two for money, right? It’s a good thing they’re kind, but you shouldn’t do that with others. Got it?”

“Okay.”

“And it’s fine to use the money they gave you to buy candy. Just don’t spend it recklessly, okay?”

That much was easy. It seemed she was worried I might develop strange financial habits.

I thought she’d follow Rod’s instructions to the letter, but it seemed she wasn’t that rigid.

“Okay.”

“And······”

Luna started to say something else but stopped. Then, she stared intently at my face.

Normally, people look at the eyes when they look at someone’s face, but Luna’s gaze was strange. It was lower than my eyes.

At the same time, her pale cheeks began to flush slightly. Her skin was so fair that even a slight blush was noticeable.

Eventually, she started moving her gaze up and down repeatedly before stammering out her next words.

“Ah, what those two did earlier—don’t imitate that recklessly. Especially not with a girl. Got it?”

“Oh.”

So that’s what she meant. She really is pure in this regard.

I nodded as if I understood and asked,

“A kiss?”

“Y-Yes. T-That······”

“A peck?”

“··· ···”

At my blunt phrasing, Luna’s face turned as red as a ripe tomato.

She really has no immunity to things like this.

*****

After returning from investigating Gloria and Chronos’s Secret Romance, I headed straight to the training ground.

Last week, the afternoons were filled with Autonomous Training due to sparring, but starting today, classes would resume.

The classes weren’t much—just professors sharing various tips and tricks. Magic was included in the curriculum as well.

“You’re a bit late, aren’t you?”

“······Something came up.”

Luna and I barely made it to class on time. Kara was already waiting for us, fully changed into her training attire.

Most afternoon classes involved practical exercises, so it didn’t matter whether one changed like Kara or not.

As a result, many students had changed into training attire, but there were also quite a few who stubbornly stuck to their school uniforms.

‘That woman really stands out.’

For example, someone like Grace. Though she’s a mage, I know she insists on wearing her school uniform from start to finish.

She’s so proud of herself that she claims clothes only serve to obscure her. Honestly, with her face, anything she wears would exude elegance.

“It seems everyone’s here. Let’s begin the class now.”

Yeonhwa, with her graceful appearance resembling an East Asian beauty and a beauty mark under her left eye, clapped her hands to start the class.

She was one of the people I met when I first came to the Academy.

“Today, we’ll be learning about various types of First Aid. You’ll face many practical combat situations in the future, and with that comes a high likelihood of sustaining numerous injuries.”

Professor Yeonhwa, hailing from the Hwan Empire, was skilled in combat, but her specialty was Medical Arts.

You might wonder why someone specializing in Medical Arts is teaching a Combat Role instead of a Non-Combat Role. But it makes sense.

Think of it as similar to the military teaching CPR and other First Aid techniques.

In terms of roles, she’d be akin to a Medical Officer. Never underestimate her skills.

“There are various types of injuries: hemorrhages, bruises, fractures, frostbite, electric shocks, poisoning, and so on. Among these, the injury you must be most cautious of is hemorrhage. I assume no one here is unfamiliar with what hemorrhage means?”

“There are people who seem like they wouldn’t bleed a drop even if stabbed, though.”

Someone jokingly said that. Turning my head, I saw Antonio chuckling.

The students either chuckled softly or let out small laughs at the joke. Even Yeonhwa found it amusing enough to let out a small laugh.

For the record, the joke wasn’t aimed at me but likely at another professor—Serah, who had been with Yeonhwa before.

Serah’s naturally cold and aloof personality made such remarks inevitable.

‘It’s probably a joke they can make because she’s not here.’

If Serah, who doesn’t take jokes lightly, had heard it, she would’ve dragged Antonio off for sparring, embarrassing him in front of everyone.

Two weeks ago, I wasn’t around to witness it, but Antonio likely endured such humiliation. At least, that’s what I recall.

“I don’t know who you’re referring to, but I’ll let it slide. Anyway, while hemorrhages can sometimes stop naturally, beyond a certain point, they won’t stop on their own. In such cases, surgery is usually required for a full recovery.”

The human body is both resilient and fragile. Some survive near-fatal injuries, while others die from seemingly minor wounds.

Hemorrhages are no different. They can occur in various situations and should never be ignored.

I still vividly remember the time I was bitten by a wolf and started hemorrhaging when I first fell into the forest.

‘It doesn’t bother me now, though.’

Fortunately, my current self regenerates so quickly that First Aid is practically unnecessary.

Even in near-death situations, a splash of potion revives me like a cockroach. The fact that even broken teeth grow back is just a bonus.

Therefore, what I want to learn is how to provide First Aid to others. The problem is that my red mana is incredibly volatile.

I don’t know what side effects it might cause, so I can’t even attempt First Aid. First, I need to understand the nature of my red mana in detail.

“However, surgery isn’t possible during combat. In other words, you must master the ability to stop hemorrhages on your own, even in the midst of battle.”

“Does that mean we’ll have to use mana?”

A student raised their hand and asked. It was Grace.

Yeonhwa nodded in response to Grace’s question.

“Of course. In urgent situations, you might not even be able to use a potion, so you’ll have to rely on mana.”

“Hmm. I don’t quite understand. Doesn’t using mana consume a lot of stamina? Wouldn’t that just create a vicious cycle?”

Grace crossed her arms and countered, seemingly unconvinced. Her tone and appearance might suggest otherwise, but she was genuinely curious.

Yeonhwa, being someone who focuses on the essence of questions rather than the attitude of the asker, responded kindly.

“You’re right. It might seem like a vicious cycle at first glance. However, if you leave a hemorrhage untreated, the lack of blood in your body will lead to various aftereffects. The most common of these is dizziness. What comes after dizziness?”

“Hmm······ I’m not sure.”

“You die.”

“··· ···”

Grace flinched at the mention of death, her expression startled. The other students reacted similarly.

In the suddenly quiet atmosphere, Yeonhwa spoke with a smile on her face.

“Humans can live without mana. But without blood in their bodies, they die. It’s a simple truth.”

In games, when hemorrhaging occurs, the rate at which health decreases accelerates significantly. This can be mitigated with first aid.

Of course, if that happens, mana will be drained rapidly instead. The use of mana often leads to severe stamina depletion.

To be precise, it should be considered “stamina” rather than “health.” Due to system limitations, games likely lumped it all under health.

As Yeonhwa said, it’s far better to tire out quickly than to die from a lack of blood.

In other words, it’s about choosing the lesser evil to increase survival chances.

“The most dangerous scenario is when an artery is severed. In such cases, immediate first aid is essential. Otherwise, you’ll lose consciousness in ten seconds and become a cold corpse.”

Her smiling face contrasted sharply with the grim content of her explanation. Still, every word was valuable and instructive.

I once nearly died when Porori bit my neck. If I hadn’t pressed on my neck back then, I surely would’ve died.

Regardless of anything else, I remain extremely cautious about vital points. No matter how strong I am, if my neck is severed, I’ll die.

“Today, we’ll practice using mana to compress blood vessels. Take a look here, will you?”

Yeonhwa rolled up her sleeve, revealing her slender arm to the students. Despite its delicate appearance, it exuded undeniable strength.

“Mana tends to flow along blood vessels. So, if you focus mana on a specific area······”

Thud-

A small protrusion appeared in the middle of Yeonhwa’s arm. Rather than growing, it seemed to bulge outward.

She had used mana to press on one of her veins, causing it to pop out. Normally, this would require the use of another hand.

“Did you see that? This is the self-hemostasis technique you’ll learn today. It’s not hard to learn, but applying it is challenging, so practice consistently.”

The self-hemostasis technique is relatively easy to learn. However, bleeding doesn’t always occur on the arm.

That’s why applying it is difficult. You need to identify the bleeding area and use mana to stop the hemorrhage there.

“Ah. Just to be clear, don’t even think about intentionally making yourself bleed. Your body is precious, alright?”

With those words, the practice session began. Just as Yeonhwa demonstrated, the goal was to make veins protrude on the arm.

“Am I doing this right?”

“I don’t know. I can’t quite get the hang of it.”

“What exactly are we supposed to do?”

However, once the practice started, everyone seemed to struggle. That was only natural since it was their first time learning this.

Once you get the hang of it, the hemostasis technique is relatively simple. The hardest part is getting a feel for it.

“If you master first aid, you gain regeneration, right?”

Regeneration, an ability I had nearly maxed out. It could only be obtained by mastering all the first aid techniques Yeonhwa taught.

I acquired it literally “to survive.” Fighting Porori or hunting often left me with an injury set.

Each time, I fought desperately, prioritizing stamina preservation, even if it meant exhausting my mana.

The result is what I am now. So, I just sat still and did nothing.

“Ugh······ Kara.”

“Yeah?”

“Aren’t you going to do it?”

“I already know how to do that.”

Kara, who had far more practical experience than the other students, had long since mastered first aid.

I believe Hector taught her that as well. When it comes to combat, there’s always something to learn.

“Sivar, aren’t you going to try?”

As I sat idly, Yeonhwa approached me.

It seemed strange to her that I, unlike Kara, wasn’t doing anything.

Still seated, I simply raised my head to meet Yeonhwa’s gaze. Her Eastern-style clothing added an air of mystery.

“No, I’m not.”

Regardless, there was no need for me to do it.

“Hmm? Oh, I did say I’d explain, didn’t I?”

Yeonhwa was momentarily flustered by my response but soon nodded in understanding.

News about me is regularly reported to Godin, who then informs the professors.

Godin is one of those people who always explains things objectively, so he’s reliable.

“Why aren’t you participating? If you’re not diligent, the professor may deduct points at their discretion.”

“Uh······ Professor?”

“Yes?”

As Yeonhwa was issuing her warning, Luna called out to her. Luna looked rather troubled.

She glanced at me briefly before turning back to Yeonhwa and speaking.

“Sivar doesn’t need to learn first aid. His basic regenerative power is exceptionally high.”

“What do you mean? Exceptionally high regenerative power?”

Yeonhwa’s voice carried a hint of disbelief. It was likely a concept difficult for her to grasp.

Luna also seemed unsure how to explain it. Doing so would require delving into complex circumstances.

It might even necessitate explaining the situations that led to my severe injuries, which could raise further suspicions.

To address this, I lightly tapped Yeonhwa’s arm. She turned her gaze back to me.

Swoosh-

I first showed her my hand. It was covered in small scars and calluses.

Yeonhwa tilted her head in confusion as I displayed my hand.

If words couldn’t explain it, I’d show her through actions.

I slowly brought my hand—specifically my wrist—up to my mouth.

Chomp!

Then, I bit down hard on my wrist.

Crunch!

Like a beast, I tore into it, ripping out a chunk of flesh.

“What, what, what are you doing······! What on earth are you doing?!”

Blood gushed from my wrist like a broken faucet. Yeonhwa was horrified by the sight.

The students, who had been focused on their practice, turned their attention to the commotion caused by Yeonhwa’s scream.

“W-What’s that? Why is he doing that?”

“Shouldn’t we call a doctor or a cleric?”

Seeing the blood pouring from my wrist like a waterfall, they, too, were shocked.

Meanwhile, Yeonhwa, flustered, reached out to administer first aid.

Thud-

“What are you doing?! Let go of your hand!”

But my hand was already covering my wrist before she could act. Yeonhwa grew furious and tried to pull my hand away.

Of course, there was no way her strength could overpower mine. Last time, it took three people to barely restrain me.

I decided this was enough and slowly removed my blood-soaked hand from my wrist.

“What the······ huh?”

Yeonhwa stared blankly at my wrist. It was no wonder—my wound had completely healed.

That didn’t mean I wasn’t injured. My wrist and the hand that had covered it were still drenched in blood.

However, in that brief moment, the wound had fully regenerated. This level of injury didn’t even count as a wound for me.

With everyone staring at me, I raised both hands and said expressionlessly.

“Ta-da.”

“Ta-da?! You nearly gave me a heart attack!”

Kara immediately scolded me.

“And was that really necessary? You could’ve just scratched yourself with your nail!”

“Ah.”

That’s an option, isn’t it? Am I an idiot?

As I lamented my delayed realization, Kara pointed to the blood-soaked floor and said.

“You’re cleaning all this up today. If you don’t, I’ll make you regret it. Got it?”

“··· ···”

“Answer me.”

“Okay.”

What’s the best way to clean up blood? I have no idea.