A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 12

After getting a refreshing haircut and shave, I feel incredibly invigorated.

With the bangs that used to curtain my eyes gone, my field of vision feels much wider. Adaptation is truly frightening.

“Could it really be that guy? Didn’t they call him a barbarian?”

“Just a moment ago, his hair was long, and his beard was scruffy.”

“He looks decent enough. He seems to be around our age, doesn’t he?”

I realized just how important appearance is. The proportion of people casually throwing rude remarks has significantly decreased.

It seems like rumors spread during that short time. It was a good decision to tidy up my appearance first.

“Professor, we’re here.”

“Hmm? Ah, right. The haircut is······”

After returning to the administrative building and reporting to Marlboro, he stared blankly at my face.

Soon after, he let out a sigh for some unknown reason and spoke with a slightly baffled tone.

“It’s surprising, if anything. Your face is younger than I thought. Judging by your features, you seem to be from the East, and your skin and eyes······ hmm.”

Marlboro stared into my eyes and let out a low hum.

Then, turning his gaze to Luna, he quietly opened his mouth, occasionally glancing at me.

“This guy is human, right? I trust you know what red eyes signify.”

“I’ll say he is.”

“Phew······ Fine. I’ve informed the other professors and the Headmaster. A decision regarding his treatment will be made soon.”

“Where will Sivar stay in the meantime?”

The most important question came up. It’s all well and good that I made it here, but where will I stay?

According to the setting, the United Academy assigns individual dormitories. Male and female students stay in separate dormitory buildings.

This means I can’t stay in Luna or Ellie’s dormitory. This is absolutely impossible, no matter how much I insist.

“The best option is to enroll him as an Academy student, but······”

“Sivar can’t speak or read. Sivar?”

“Damn?”

When I responded as if asking why she was calling me, Luna gave a look that said, “See?”

Marlboro’s expression grew even more complicated. Enrolling in the Academy is practically impossible.

If I could read, I would have written something. Since even that isn’t an option, there’s no solution.

Can’t I just express that I understand speech? Even if I wanted to, I have no ties to this world.

I have to act as wild as possible to evoke some sympathy. After all, even Ellie fell for it.

“What were you thinking, bringing someone like this? Even the Tatar Tribe would shake their heads.”

“There were some circumstances······”

“Fine. Until his treatment is decided, he’ll probably stay with one of the male professors. Though it’s uncertain if he’ll behave.”

“Don’t worry about that. He listens well.”

“He can’t understand speech, but he listens well? What does that even mean?”

At Marlboro’s rebuttal, Luna looked at me with a conflicted expression.

I can’t speak, but that doesn’t mean I can’t understand. Luna responded accordingly.

“If you use gestures, he kind of gets the gist. It’s like he can sense intent and emotions?”

“Hmm······ Having lived in the wilderness, he must have developed something. I mean, even monsters can speak human language, so what’s stranger than that?”

After that, Marlboro got up to wash me. Apparently, he planned to clean me up in his dormitory.

Considering I bathed in stream water daily, I wondered if it was even necessary. My body isn’t that dirty.

For the sake of the future, I decided to comply, but it still annoyed me to be treated as excessively filthy.

“Haaa······”

Until I immersed myself in a bathtub filled with warm water, that is.

I let out a pleased sound as the hot water enveloped my entire body.

It feels like my body is melting. I couldn’t even imagine using warm water in the forest.

My mind feels hazy, and my sharpened senses seem to dull. I feel like staying here forever.

“Feels good, huh? By the way, those scars are impressive. Hmm······”

Marlboro muttered softly as he looked at me. He seemed to be lost in thought, staring at the scars on my body.

Come to think of it, this guy has a good personality. I remember hearing he was praised as a great professor even in Soul World.

It’s not that the other professors have bad personalities, but they say he gives generous rewards.

‘I think there’s an event related to his son.’

I can’t recall it now. The warm water has scattered all my senses.

“Hey! Get out! How long are you going to stay in there? It’s been over an hour!”

“Damn (No).”

“Get out! You brat! Your skin’s going to wrinkle! I have work to do!”

Marlboro was so desperate to pull me out that he struggled with all his might.

Of course, my strength was greater than his, so I didn’t budge.

“Huff, huff. How is he this strong? And those eye colors—what is this guy? I heard he hunted a Manki in an instant, and it must be true?”

Marlboro realized my strength was beyond his imagination and reacted in disbelief.

Regardless, I enjoyed the bath for a long time. I never thought a haircut and a bath could feel this refreshing.

I would have loved to stay here forever, but I couldn’t. Reluctantly, I pouted and got out of the tub under Marlboro’s repeated urging.

“Good grief. How is it that you listen less than my own son?”

“Damn (What)?”

“I said listen, you brat. Didn’t you say he kind of understands speech?”

Marlboro grumbled as he scrubbed my hair. He must be busy as a professor, but he really is kind.

At least, I don’t want to act out against someone as kind as Marlboro. If it were someone with a nasty personality, that’d be a different story.

Scrub, scrub, scrub—

Marlboro diligently washed my hair. Maybe because he has a son, his touch was rough yet controlled.

Then, a bar of soap lying on the floor caught my eye. Was this the source of the fragrant smell?

As I grabbed the soap and brought it to my nose, Marlboro urgently spoke from behind.

“Hey, hey. That’s not for eating. Put it down. In the Hwan Empire, they call it jiji? Jiji, jiji.”

Does this guy think I lack intelligence?

Well, I suppose it’s understandable. I put the soap down at Marlboro’s gesture.

“Are you hungry? Having lived in the wilderness, you must like meat.”

“Damn (Yes).”

“You like it? Go with Luna later. I don’t have any money.”

Who’s he trying to fool? Would a commoner student have no money, or would a professor?

He chuckled as if it were a joke. He seems likely to buy me a meal soon.

He really is a kind person. When the event involving his son happens, I’ll definitely help out.

“Here. Clothes. Wear these. No, you’ve put them on backward. That’s not how you wear them.”

After finishing the bath, I clumsily put on the clothes Marlboro handed me.

Having only worn a rag until now, wearing proper clothes felt strange.

I couldn’t even figure out which way was forward or find the holes. Above all, it felt suffocating.

Seeing me frown and struggle in discomfort, Marlboro burst into laughter.

“If you want to live as a person, you have to wear clothes. Even if it’s uncomfortable, bear with it.”

“Damn (It’s suffocating).”

“I said bear with it. Should I give you a snack every time you put on clothes?”

It’s not that bad. It’s just that I’ve lived without wearing clothes for so long that it feels uncomfortable, but I do have common sense.

After some effort, I managed to put on a white T-shirt and brown pants, followed by slippers.

Thanks to this, I shed a bit of my wildling image, but it won’t be long before it resurfaces. I’m still more accustomed to the wilderness.

Whoosh!

For example, kicking off the slippers and sending them flying. It’s fun after such a long time.

“He’s already learning things like this. He shouldn’t be, though. At least he’s calm.”

Learning? I’ve always done this when I was bored.

I played carefully, mindful of the possibility of hitting someone. It seems Marlboro has already given up.

Thus, after dressing properly, I returned to the administrative building. As soon as I arrived, familiar faces came into view.

“L-Luna. Could that person be Sivar?”

“Yeah. Hard to believe, but it’s true.”

“Why is he handsome?”

“You shouldn’t be asking me that.”

It was Ellie and Porori standing beside her. Ellie looked at my face with an extremely flustered expression.

Meanwhile, Porori had a somewhat sulky look, and I heard he had gone to get a rabies vaccine.

Not a raccoon, but a rabies vaccine. It’s both funny and sad somehow.

“Damn, does it hurt?”

When I asked if it hurt.

“Squeak, screw off.”

That was the only response I got. This little rat even throws a fit when I’m worried about him.

“Is that man the survivor they brought back from the Forest of Chaos?”

At that moment, an unfamiliar voice reached my ears. When I turned my head, I saw an unfamiliar face.

Neatly groomed blue hair with asymmetrically cut bangs. Eyes as cold as ice, exuding a frosty blue hue.

A beauty with an overall chilly aura was staring at me with an indifferent expression, as if observing me.

Her unusually pale skin stood out compared to others. It was almost as pale as mine.

“Your eyes… are red. Could it be that you’re a monster disguised as a human?”

Her words were as blunt as her appearance suggested. However, there was no malice in her tone.

Still, thanks to her, I realized what red eyes signify. Red eyes are a characteristic of berserk monsters.

Occasionally, you can see monsters with red eyes, and when they enter berserk mode, their eyes glow and they become even more ferocious.

Just as I was realizing this, someone other than Marlboro scolded her.

“Isn’t that a bit too blunt? I heard he can understand to some extent.”

Her features were elegant and close to those of an East Asian, with short black hair and black eyes.

Lastly, a beauty with a mole under her left eye that exuded a subtle charm. Her unique attire also confirmed that she was from the Hwan Empire.

The Hwan Empire is a region inspired by Eastern Fantasy, similar to martial arts but not entirely the same.

It’s also known as a nature-friendly and mystical country.

In fact, they demonstrate various abilities, such as deflecting lightning or altering wind direction.

“I only said what I saw. Since he lived in the wild, it wouldn’t be strange if he had berserk tendencies.”

“Serah, that’s the problem. Can’t you phrase things a bit more tactfully?”

“I find it unnecessary. Your Hwan Empire is the one that speaks in circles.”

Judging by how they bicker even in this situation, it’s clear they’re both close yet distant. Both are well-known characters.

The beauty with the cold demeanor is named Serah, as you’ve heard, and the typical East Asian beauty is known as Yeonhwa.

I don’t know their full names. I can’t even remember my own name properly right now, so full names are a luxury.

‘But wasn’t there supposed to be one more person… or not?’

My memory is hazy. One of the professors who played a significant role in the Soul World’s branching paths.

While I blinked and watched Serah and Yeonhwa argue.

Tap-

I felt the sensation of someone placing a hand on my shoulder. I hadn’t even sensed their presence.

It seemed I had let my guard down, having reached the noisy civilization so different from the wilderness.

Startled, I instinctively reacted according to the ‘Wild Instinct’ I had honed in the wilderness.

-Roar!

Letting out a beast-like roar, I immediately turned around. At the same time, I swung my hand like a predator slashing with its claws.

The person behind me also seemed startled and quickly withdrew their hand, stepping back. But my hand hooked onto their clothing like a claw.

The person appeared to be trying to escape urgently, but their clothes were already caught in my grip. Without hesitation, I pulled them toward me.

Thud!

“Ahhh!”

In less than a second, the person who had approached me from behind was thrown to the ground. Their clothes tore with a ripping sound.

Having subdued them, the only thing left was to deliver a follow-up blow. My instincts, deeply ingrained from the wilderness, far outweighed my reason.

If things continued like this, I would have stomped on them to finish it. However, there were ‘people’ around me.

“Grab him! Don’t let him go!”

“What kind of strength…!”

“Hurry, pull him off!”

In that brief moment, the professors each grabbed my arms and waist to restrain me. Despite the urgency, they handled the situation appropriately.

Even they seemed to struggle to contain my strength, as I could feel their desperate efforts.

But this was enough. The person who had fallen to the ground had been pulled to safety by Luna.

Bang!

With the professors’ desperate restraint, I stomped down belatedly. The ground shook slightly from the sheer destructive power.

Despite my unstable posture, spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the floor. If it had hit properly, it would have been a fatal blow.

My foot moved before my reason returned, leaving me unable to stop it. My instincts were simply too strong to control.

“Grrr…”

“A-Are you okay?”

“Uh… yeah, I’m fine. But…”

I growled like a beast, glaring at the person who had approached me from behind.

Squinting eyes and silver hair with a grayish tint, as if unsure whether his eyes were open or closed.

The man, exuding an aura of ‘I’m suspicious,’ pointed a trembling finger at me.

“W-What was that just now? That beast-like sound…”

“… …”

Seeing the person who had approached me, I immediately let down my guard. All the heightened senses I had were released.

Even so, the professors holding onto me didn’t let go. Judging by their expressions, they seemed extremely tense.

‘What’s this? Was this person here too?’

A man who, at a glance, radiated an air of suspicion.

“He… he’s definitely human.”

“But his eyes are red like a monster’s. You saw it too, didn’t you?”

“…Couldn’t it be the professor’s fault for approaching without any presence?”

“I was just trying to greet him…”

Contrary to his appearance, he’s someone referred to as a ‘Push-Over’ or ‘Saint’ among Soul World users.