A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 11

What is the biggest difference between the wilderness and civilization? It’s conversation.

In the wilderness, conversation hardly works, so survival of the fittest applies directly, whereas civilization is different.

Instead, when faced with difficult challenges, you can resolve them through dialogue rather than physical strength. Physical strength is always the last resort.

However, there are occasional cases where people deliberately act rudely to provoke violence and tarnish someone’s image.

As someone once said, civilized people are ruder than barbarians. That’s because civilized people don’t get their heads split open for being rude.

“What’s with that guy? Is he a pervert?”

“Was someone like that at the Academy? Why haven’t they kicked him out yet?”

“Wait a second. Isn’t that woman the top student among the new entrants? What’s going on?”

“Look at the squirrel. It’s so cute.”

Behold. As soon as I entered the Academy, all sorts of rude remarks reached my ears.

Far from being moved by the contact with civilization, I only felt the urge to split their heads open.

Of course, given how I looked, it couldn’t be helped. I was wrapped in nothing but a rag, so anyone would find it strange.

Even barbarians would at least dress properly. Though their clothing might be more revealing, they wouldn’t dress like me.

“…Let’s just buy some clothes quickly. Just throw a robe on him.”

“Yeah, we probably should.”

In the end, Luna and Ellie, unable to overcome their embarrassment, dressed me in clothes.

The “clothes” were nothing more than the cheapest robe they could find. Thanks to that, the stares from people around me lessened, if only slightly.

Still, my hair and beard were so overgrown that they practically covered my face, so I continued to attract attention. Even hermits don’t grow them out like this.

‘So this really is the Academy.’

Following behind them, I looked around the Academy. United Academy, where promising talents from all over the world gather.

It’s the main stage of the Soul World and plays a crucial role even in the late stages. It’s a place steeped in the traces of civilization that I had longed for.

As the world’s top educational institution, its infrastructure is excellent. It has everything from basic general stores to spaces where non-combat roles can practice.

It’s hard to believe this is a world inside a game. Who in their right mind would think of this place as a game?

As I followed the group, I noticed something particularly bothersome and came to an abrupt stop.

“… …”

“Huh? Sivar, why aren’t you following…?”

Ellie stopped mid-question and turned her head to follow my gaze. Luna, who was walking ahead, also turned back.

She, too, turned her gaze to where I was looking. There stood a tall “bell tower.”

“It’s the Church of Lord Gaia. Maybe it caught your eye because it’s built so tall?”

Ellie tilted her head as she spoke. As I mentioned before, gods exist in this world.

-The Goddess of Life, Gaia.

-The God of Chaos, Chaos.

-The God of Destruction, Gulak.

These three gods exist and are actual siblings. They’re the kind of siblings who constantly bicker and torment each other.

Among them, the God of Chaos has no fixed gender. Just like the name suggests, Chaos has no defined gender.

“Come to think of it, Ratatoskr uses lightning too, doesn’t he? Lightning is the ability of Lord Gulak, right?”

“Usually, yes. He’s also the god that barbarians primarily worship.”

“Luna, don’t call them barbarians. Say Tatar Tribe instead. This is the Academy, after all.”

“Sorry, that was a slip of the tongue.”

The three gods each have distinct abilities, as their names suggest.

Gaia mainly has abilities related to healing, while Gulak’s abilities include lightning and various offensive powers.

Chaos is the most ambiguous and complicated. That’s because Chaos is extremely unpredictable.

Sometimes it grants healing abilities, and other times it grants offensive abilities. Especially, it often seems to mess with people on purpose.

Chaos tends to pursue “fun” to an extreme degree, so users often call it the “Lottery God.”

However, if you meet the conditions, it can provide the greatest potential for growth. The problem is that even veteran players find it hard to figure out.

‘I really want to curse them out.’

To me, they’re all the same. Whether it’s Life, Chaos, or Destruction, they’re the bastards who dropped me into this place.

Otherwise, there’s no way to explain it. It’s not like the Demon King worshipped by demons would have summoned me.

Living in the forest has left my faith practically nonexistent, almost in the negatives.

‘Is there a stone around here?’

I should at least throw a stone at the bell tower as a greeting. I started looking around the ground.

Even though the distance was quite far, with my throwing skills, I could easily hit it.

“Let’s go. We can visit the church later.”

“Alright. Sivar?”

Unfortunately, I had to postpone it. Clicking my tongue inwardly, I followed behind them.

Two female students, one wildling, and a giant squirrel. This combination naturally drew attention.

That didn’t change even when we entered a building that seemed to be an administrative institution.

Everyone wore expressions that seemed to say, “What is this?”

“We’re here to report, Professor.”

“…I could see you from a distance, and it looks like there’s a lot to report.”

This world has the concept of weekends, and the United Academy is no exception.

In other words, there are professors on duty over the weekend. This is also reflected in the Soul World.

The male professor sitting at the desk, handling the weekend duty, had a complex expression as he looked at our group.

Well, it’s only natural. They went to the forest and came back with a wildling, not to mention a squirrel the size of a large dog.

“First, let’s ask about that… no, that person. I’ve never seen anyone like him during my tenure. Who is he?”

The professor, with a sport haircut and a beard that gave him a stern impression, pointed at me and asked.

This was Marlboro Redca, a professor infamous among newbies as the “Tutorial Boss.”

His name, reminiscent of cigarettes, might be amusing, but he’s a nightmare for beginners.

No matter what you do, you can’t kill him. Even if you hit him with everything you’ve got, most of the time, he’ll one-shot you.

Even if you don’t get hit once and deplete his stamina, it’s meaningless.

He’ll just say, “Well done!” and forcibly end the game.

The developers deliberately made him unbeatable, but they also prepared for the rare case where someone might defeat him.

‘If you defeat him, you’re supposed to get a bonus stat.’

But that would only apply to the protagonist, Luna, not me.

I wonder if Luna managed to pass. I’m a bit curious about that.

“You might not believe this, but he’s a survivor from the Forest of Chaos. What happened was…”

Luna explained in detail what had happened so far.

From how Ellie almost died to how I smashed Manki’s skull.

However, she didn’t mention the fight, perhaps to hide the fact that Porori is a spirit beast.

Instead, she only explained that I had saved Ellie, who was injured and dying, with a potion.

“You do know that wild animals are unsanitary and carry many germs, right?”

“We plan to give him a rabies vaccine and dewormer.”

“Then that’s fine. The problem is that person, Sivar…”

Marlboro stroked his chin with a troubled expression. Then, all eyes focused on me.

I was just sitting idly in the chair, trying to emphasize that I wasn’t harmful.

“Sivar may look like that, but he’s kind. He listens to us well, too.”

Ellie’s defense, if you could call it that, almost made me laugh. What am I, a dog?

But Marlboro stared at me intently and voiced a negative opinion.

“I don’t know. At first glance, he does look like a survivor, but I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

Luna asked, puzzled by Marlboro’s certainty. Her confusion was evident on her face.

What Marlboro said next was slightly shocking to everyone.

“The Academy isn’t entirely irresponsible. Every five years, we enter the forest to create a special compass. During that process, we sometimes find traces of survivors. But even five years ago, there was no trace of that person. There haven’t been any missing person reports either.”

“Then…”

“He either entered through an entirely different entrance or just dropped in out of nowhere. It’s one of the two. In any case, I don’t think he’s from the Academy.”

I didn’t even know such a backstory existed. I had been so focused on survival that I’d forgotten most minor details.

Still, it seemed to be quite a shock to the group, especially Luna, whose sky-blue eyes widened significantly.

Ellie, on the other hand, seemed to think, “Is that so?” and nothing more, but Luna’s reaction was particularly strong.

Judging by her expression, it seemed like she had some inkling about something. Since I couldn’t speak, I just kept my mouth shut.

“Judging by his black hair and beard, he seems to be from the East, but his pale skin makes him look more like a Westerner… Anyway, without knowing his name, it’ll be hard to identify him.”

“Then what should we do? Surely you’re not planning to throw him out again······”

“Ha······ A barbarian who can neither speak nor read······ No, a wildling······ This is an unprecedented situation for the Academy······”

Perhaps because it was a difficult decision to make, Professor Marlboro rubbed his face with both hands. It’s true that I am a troublesome case.

Letting me in as I am could lead to unforeseen incidents at the Academy, but sending me back is also problematic.

A barbarian who can at least communicate would be much easier to deal with. At the very least, they are human, not beasts.

I’d love to emphasize that I’m harmless, but it seems pointless.

I guess I’ll have to trust the proverb that says staying quiet is halfway to success.

“This matter isn’t something I can decide alone. I’ll need to discuss it with the other professors and even the Headmaster. It’s not a problem that can be resolved in a short time.”

“Then what should we do with Sivar until then?”

“First, get some bathwater ready and give him a rough haircut. We’ll wash him afterward. As for that pig, like I said earlier, take it to the infirmary. We don’t want to risk rabies.”

“Kaaang?”

Porori, sitting next to me, bristled at being called a pig. He squinted one eye as if to ask, “Are you picking a fight?”

Professor Marlboro widened his eyes in surprise at the reaction.

“W-What? Could it be that he understood what I said?”

“N-No, it’s just because you called him a pig! Anyway, I’ll do as you said.”

“Uh······ Alright. Come back after you finish the haircut. I’ll handle the washing myself.”

“Thank you.”

I can wash myself, though. And I’m not that dirty.

Even without soap, I’ve been washing in the stream every day. Otherwise, I’d get so filthy there’d be no fixing it.

Of course, there’s no way to explain that to them. I guess I’ll just clean myself when the time comes.

“I’ll take Sivar with me. Ellie, you take Ratatoskr to the infirmary.”

“Got it.”

“Oh, and if you can find another dewormer, get one for Sivar too.”

I don’t think I’m free of parasites either. I’ve eaten too many things raw.

Still, considering I have the ‘Digestion’ trait, there’s a chance I don’t have any. If I did, I probably wouldn’t have been able to fully digest what I ate.

“Sivar. Follow me. Got it?”

“··· ···”

Just before leaving, Luna pointed to herself with her finger, emphasizing her words.

She must be worried I’d follow Ellie instead. Coincidentally, Ellie was walking toward the infirmary with Ratatoskr.

When I glanced in their direction, Luna hastily repeated herself in a slightly urgent tone.

“No, look at me, Sivar. Not Ellie.”

“··· ···”

“You have to follow me. Got it? Do you understand?”

“I used to do the same thing with my son.”

Marlboro, observing in real-time, chuckled and made a joke. Luna shot him a sharp glare as a bonus.

Not wanting to stir up trouble, I nodded to show I understood.

Luna looked relieved and then stepped outside the administrative building.

“We’re heading to the barbershop, not the hair salon······ This way.”

For reference, the United Academy has separate facilities for hair salons and barbershops.

Both can handle simple cuts, but the difference lies in beard care.

Hair salons can do complex hairstyles but struggle with beard grooming, while barbershops are the opposite.

Even though the protagonist’s model was fixed, hairstyles could be changed, and NPCs could also change theirs if you built enough affinity.

‘I don’t want to shave my beard······’

I’ll just cut it cleanly. Since people are watching, it’s better to look neat, even if it’s a bit disappointing.

Before long, we arrived at the barbershop. It looked very similar to a Western barbershop.

It had a retro, British vibe to it—or so I think. I’m not sure if that’s accurate.

“Welcome······ What can I do for you?”

The barbershop employee flinched as soon as he saw me. However, he quickly regained his composure and put on a businesslike smile.

Since it’s the Academy, people of various races come here for shaves and grooming. But I must be the first wildling they’ve seen.

Luna glanced at the male employee, whose sides were neatly trimmed, and placed her order.

“As you can see, clean him up. Shave off all the beard and trim the hair to a reasonable length.”

“Understood. Please have a seat here.”

“Sivar. Sit over there.”

Following Luna’s gesture toward the chair, I complied without resistance. The employee, maintaining professionalism, didn’t ask any questions.

Sitting in a chair softer than the previous one felt strange. So this is what “plush” feels like.

“Sivar. Just in case, I’m telling you—if scissors or a razor come near your face, stay still. Got it?”

“··· ···”

“······Never mind. If something happens, I’ll just deal with it. Would it help if I held your hand?”

Saying so, Luna grabbed my hand. As a swordswoman, her palms were rough with calluses.

Still, it was the first time I’d held someone’s hand. And it wasn’t a man’s, but a woman’s.

Just as a long-forgotten emotion began to stir, the employee interrupted.

“Excuse me, but what should we do about the robe? Will you keep it on?”

“Oh. Yes. There are some circumstances. I’ll be discarding it anyway, so just leave it as is.”

“Understood. I’ll roughly trim the hair first, then proceed with the shave.”

It’s time to say goodbye to the hair and beard I’ve grown for years.

As the barber raised the scissors to my head, my body tensed involuntarily.

Living in the wilderness for so long had made instinct override reason. No wonder Luna was worried.

It was at that moment I realized how terrifying ‘instinct’ could be.

“Ah! Ah! Sivar! Relax! Relax!”

As I tensed up, I accidentally squeezed Luna’s hand. I thought I was being gentle, but apparently not.

Hearing her shout, I quickly loosened my grip. Luna massaged her aching hand before grabbing mine again.

“Don’t worry. That person won’t hurt you. Got it?”

I feel oddly like a puppy. I guess I should try to relax, as she says.

“······Are you sure it’s okay?”

The employee asked in a slightly uneasy voice from the side.

When I turned to look at him, he had a cautious expression.

“It’s fine. Please proceed.”

“Understood.”

Spritz! Spritz!

The employee sprayed water onto my unkempt hair with a spray bottle. I almost shook my head vigorously but managed to hold back.

Then, he neatly combed my hair and spoke in a slightly surprised tone.

“Huh? Sir, has this person’s hair ever been burned?”

“What?”

“The top is really soft, but the bottom is dry and brittle. This usually doesn’t happen unless it’s been burned.”

Sharp observation. It wasn’t fire, but lightning that singed it to a crisp.

Luna hesitated for a moment before giving an awkward smile.

The smile, laden with unspoken meaning, stopped the employee from asking further questions.

Snip—

Goodbye, my once-familiar hair.

The barber snipped off the hair at the back of my head. The nape of my neck suddenly felt bare.

Snip—Snip—Snip—

Starting from the back, he trimmed all around, finally tidying up the curtain-like bangs at the front.

Thanks to that, my previously hidden eyes were now exposed. Without a mirror or a lake, I hadn’t been able to check my face until now.

Luna, looking at my reflection in the mirror, murmured softly.

“······Your eyes are red.”

It’s still hard to assess my appearance because of the beard. But at least my eyes were clear to see.

A deep crimson color, so intense it felt threatening just to look at. The same shade as the Red Mana I use.

In the Soul World, there are only a few who possess crimson eyes. As far as I know, it requires a special ‘ability.’

‘Could it have been the Red Mana?’

I can’t remember anymore. As I’ve said repeatedly, I recall the major storylines but have forgotten most of the smaller details.

Like Ellie’s example, it seems like I only remember things when the situation arises. This much should be enough.

Scrape- Scrape- Scrape-

After tidying up my bangs, I also trimmed the scruffy beard. First, I roughly cut it with scissors.

Whirrr-

Then I shaved it off with clippers. You might wonder, what are clippers doing in a fantasy world?

Magic—specifically, the power of Magical Engineering. After all, this is a world where even ‘guns’ exist.

However, guns are only comparable to bows; they’re not the King of All Diseases. There are plenty of superhumans who can deflect bullets.

“Now, I’ll recline the chair.”

Finally, the attendant tilted the chair back for the shave. I blinked while holding Luna’s hand.

Thanks to reclining, I ended up locking eyes with Luna. Her blue, glowing pupils held a trace of thought.

It seems like she’s lost in thought after seeing the color of my eyes. For now, it’s probably best to let her think.

Swipe- Swipe- Swipe-

After lathering my chin with foam, the razor cleaned it up neatly. For some reason, it felt incredibly refreshing.

‘But what should I do about lodging after I’m done washing up?’

That worry suddenly crossed my mind.

******

While Sivar closed his eyes and enjoyed the shave, Luna was deep in thought. His red eyes, which she had just seen moments ago.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that people with red eyes are almost nonexistent. Even the Tatar Tribe, despised as barbarians, only have red hair.

‘In the book, it clearly said only berserk monsters have them.’

The world is filled with various monsters, and among them are those with the Berserk Trait.

Unlike ordinary monsters, these go on a rampage when cornered. When the Berserk Trait activates, they become several times stronger.

That’s why the only options are to deal with them swiftly before the Berserk Trait triggers or wait until they exhaust themselves.

‘Could Sivar have it too?’

She had never heard of a person exhibiting the Berserk Trait.

Of course, it’s possible for someone to be born with naturally red eyes. But since he grew up in the Wilderness, it was hard to make an easy judgment.

‘Judging by his skill in hunting Manki, it’s unlikely he’ll go berserk, but still…’

She felt uneasy. If Sivar truly entered a Berserk State, what would happen then?

Would he rampage like a monster, or would he cling to the last threads of reason and endure?

“It’s all done, sir.”

While she was lost in thought, the haircut was finished. Luna raised her head at the attendant’s words.

Before she even realized they had been holding hands the entire time, she found herself staring blankly at Sivar’s face.

“How is it, sir?”

“… …”

Sivar, looking much cleaner than before, rubbed his chin with his hand. His expression was full of refreshment.

Meanwhile, Luna slowly scanned his now-tidy appearance.

The first thought that came to her mind was this:

‘H-he’s handsome?’

So handsome it was almost disconcerting.

At United Academy, handsome men and beautiful women are so common they’re practically everywhere.

Yet, even among them, Sivar stood out. Not even his roughly cut hair could hide his looks.

His sharp nose and defined jawline were the most striking features. Lastly, his large eyes gave off an air of innocence.

There wasn’t a single flaw in his appearance. It was hard to reconcile that someone with such looks had lived in the Wilderness.

“Damn.”

Regardless of her thoughts, Sivar examined himself in the mirror.

While it was a bit of a shame to lose the beard, the sense of refreshment was indescribable.

He also gained a much more handsome appearance in the process. Since he hadn’t had the chance to look in a mirror before, he hadn’t realized his face looked like this.

His body was covered in scars, but his face had somehow been protected, boasting smooth, unblemished skin.

If he ever got hit in the face, it would be disastrous, so he had to avoid it. It wasn’t about vanity; it was a practical concern.

“… …”

But why wasn’t she letting go of his hand until the very end? Sivar looked at Luna, who wore a blank expression.

She seemed to realize it belatedly, snapping out of her daze with a startled gasp. She hurriedly let go of his hand, her flustered movements making her seem truly panicked.

“Ahem. Ahem, how much does it cost?”

She avoided his gaze, her face flushed, and tried to change the subject.