Education (1)
Let me share one surprising fact: not even a day had passed yet. Meeting Luna and Ellie in the forest, arriving at the academy, dueling Elvin—it had all happened in a single day. Sometimes I wondered if I was dreaming.
When was the last time I felt like this?
It was an unusually long day. Just like when I'd first fallen into the forest and suffered through all sorts of hardships. Maybe that's why. Or perhaps the new bed was uncomfortable. Either way, sleep wouldn't come.
Even back in the forest, I'd slept with half my senses alert. But tonight, sleep evaded me entirely. It still didn't feel real that I'd escaped the forest, or that I'd entered the story.
Direct intervention might be tough.
I lay on the bed Lord had prepared for me, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Enrollment was practically impossible. Who knew when I'd learn to read, and I had to fix my language issues first. Even if I overcame the speech impediment, could I really hold proper conversations? Better not count on enrolling.
If that was the case, entering the story directly would be hard. But while entry was impossible, intervention was still feasible.
If there's a standout event right after enrollment...
The duel. In a specially built arena, new students would spar freely against each other. I didn't remember the exact timing, but it was soon. Major characters would shine there, especially Tatar's princess, Kara, drawing all eyes.
I wonder if Luna will win?
The duel was a subtly crucial event. Tied deeply to the academy's point system, it could shift rankings. Luna would inevitably face Kara—probably with Kara challenging first. I'd heard Luna entered as top student, so she'd caught attention early.
It'd draw eyes my way too.
A strong showing meant points, honor, and even permanent stat boosts. It hinged on the Kara matchup.
Though I'm not sure it'll actually raise them.
So far, my stats had risen permanently through survival. Faith dropped every time I cursed at gods, though. Specific conditions might trigger stat gains. Time to test it.
There are hidden achievements scattered around, right?
From smashing demon-planted magic circles to minor feats. One I recalled: climbing the academy's tallest building, the memorial tower. It loomed centrally, visible everywhere. Built to commemorate founding and repel demon invasions, or so I remembered. In-game, summiting boosted stats—unsure in reality.
How much would it raise, though?
Excluding Luck and Faith, my stats were all over 140. Stamina neared 150. Achievements might yield mere scraps now, to prevent multi-run exploits. Still, from 140 up, every point mattered. Clear all achievements.
The memorial tower now... No.
I wanted to sneak out and climb, but Lord would notice. He'd anticipated it and taken measures. A bell on the door—opening it would ring, alerting him. Removing it? Impossible; it was outside.
Tired anyway.
Physically fine, but mentally drained from the day's chaos. Better close eyes and sleep. Wandering late was suspicious too.
Of course, I felt bad for the night guards grinding away late.
"Wh-what's that guy doing?! Why's he climbing up there?"
"He'll fall and get seriously hurt...!"
"Professors! Call the professors quick!"
I never said I wouldn't do it in the morning.
While touring the academy with Lord to memorize paths, I'd seized the chance to scale the memorial tower. Classes started today or not, plenty of people milled about.
Who cares?
Ignoring the noisy crowd below, I climbed barehanded. The tower resembled a clock tower overall—a clock at the top. I knew because I'd nearly reached it. Summit close.
Pretty high.
Built of special materials blocking mana on contact—pure physical climb. Low stats meant mid-climb fatal fall. Few handholds; grip strength alone propelled me. Game required certain stats—realistic, then.
I paused midway to catch breath, then summited.
"Whoa."
The insane height yielded breathtaking views. Spectacular. Clouds seemed graspable—though not really, emphasizing the altitude.
Nothing happened.
No changes upon reaching top. Game and reality differed. Multi-runs didn't boost stats post-clear anyway. Disappointing, but the scenery compensated.
I sat awhile, scanning surroundings. The flat top allowed seating.
During the academy raid, demons neutralize this tower first, right?
Snap!
"Huh?"
Legs swinging idly mid-thought, a slicing sound rang right above my head. Looking up, a circular ring revealed... ground. Ground, where sky should be. What was this ring?
Thud!
"Eh?"
Before processing, a hand burst from the circle, roughly grabbing my collar. It yanked hard. Speed left no room to resist in tight space.
Crash!
Passing through felt upward; post-passage, gravity tumbled me across ground.
What the hell just happened?
Blinking to assess, a familiar voice entered my ears.
"Heh heh. Turning such mischief the moment I look away."
I lifted head toward the voice. Lord smiled kindly—Buddhist-saint-like. But his drawn sword shattered the benevolence.
Whoosh—the presumed exit circle shrank, vanishing.
Sword in hand, my relocation—one conclusion: Lord linked spaces with his blade, pulling me through. Magic via sword.
Not heavily addicted if he can use that.
His techniques gauged addiction. This needed 80% power intact. During academy collapse, addiction limited him to 50%.
"Here's candy—follow quietly."
As I gauged his state, he offered candy—nurungji flavor, by color. I popped it in, chewing. Tasty.
Lord stepped off; I trailed like a duckling. Tower in academy plaza; now before a building. He'd pulled me here to avoid attention.
People at the tower base...
Glancing, crowd buzzed, assuming I lingered atop. They'd disperse soon for classes.
"Hm."
At the building, Lord checked if I followed. I just chewed candy. Reassured, he entered.
"Welcome... Oh, President?"
A desk woman greeted Lord upon entry. He nodded lightly, stating purpose.
"I'd like this one's health checked."
"This one...?"
Her gaze shifted to me as I realized: hospital. Comprehensive, blending nations' styles. Seemed ordinary, but featured Hwan Empire acupuncture and herbology. West for surgery, East for internal—simple.
"That...?"
"The one you think. Lived in forest—worried."
"Understood. One moment."
She stepped out to report. Lord and I sat waiting. Another candy, lest I wander. Getting sick of it, but ate.
"Hope no issues, but unlikely."
Lord muttered watching me. I wondered too. Dewormed, but otherwise clueless. Could be worse than parasites. Please, nothing.
"Really lived in forest?"
"So it seems."
"Hm. Amazing. Basal metabolism sky-high aside, no issues. Speech? Consistent talk fixes it. Kids are like that."
Perfectly healthy. Advanced science enabled thorough checks—all clear. Impressively sanitary for forest life. But high metabolism needed diet control. Food bill would skyrocket. Students ate cheap—enrollment reason now.
"Just eat well?"
"Yes. Body healthy—no minor ailments either."
"Hmm."
Lord stroked chin, eyeing me wondrously. Surprised myself. I'd eaten raw wild stuff surviving Chaos Forest. Illness expected—yet healthy proved atypical body.
"Got it. Healthy's best. Since on topic, like to see Dan Ui-won."
"She requested anyway."
Doctor handed herb jar. I eyed contents—Lord's constant tea additive. The herb gnawing his body.
Dan Ui-won: Hwan Empire internist, demon pawn. His chief physician poisoning him.
How to warn him?
Lord wouldn't suspect—academy-prescribed. Technically herb, but turns toxic in water—hard to detect.
"Cough better lately?"
"Much improved. Age limits it."
"Good. I'll inform Dan Ui-won."
Mid-pondering intervention, checkup ended. Lord rose; I followed. Exiting, glanced at herb-giving doctor—chart-scribbling, oblivious.
Must learn speech fast.
Can't keep "shibal"-ing. Story easing demanded it. Pondering smooth progression, mental diagnosis came.
"Intelligence normal. Just severely lacking sociality from upbringing."
Facts hurt.
Sivar's full health check concluded. Results simple: body peak healthy. Senses far superior to average. Mentally, social deficits but intelligence age-appropriate—no issues. Normal person, essentially.
Forest life made him hypersensitive, inevitably. Scars proved it—even Lord winced. No startling unless building sociality, emphasized. Else, unpredictable antics.
"High comprehension eases language. Avoid stressing nerves."
"Thanks. Anything else?"
"Detailed needs speech..."
Psychiatrist glanced aside. Sivar chewed fresh candy, eyeing us. Pale skin, crimson eyes unsettling despite Eastern look. Docile now, but ticking bomb.
"Gradual. Normal sans sensitivity."
"Got it. No meds?"
"None. Moderate candy—bad habits possible."
"Noted."
Thus ended Sivar's checkup. Lord exited with him. Students greeted Lord or eyed Sivar oddly. Outside, class-ended students roamed—lunchtime.
Meals in main hall or plaza.
Sociality...
Lord checked Sivar followed—candy worked. Humans social animals; instinctual. Solitary survival hard. To Sivar, society alien, repulsive—unneeded. Might return to forest unwanted.
Much to teach.
High comprehension sped literacy. Adaptation questionable. Dilemma: enroll post-sociality, or for it?
Raising a kid unplanned.
Lord chuckled absurdly when—
Swish—tiny sound hit his ears. Sivar picking stone. Curious fist-sized rock. Sivar stared somewhere, posed: left hand back with stone, right arm forward, right leg stepped.
Threw.
"Wait—!"
Bang!
Pre-stop, stone flew—faster than duel javelin. Direct hit devastating. Lord eyed trajectory, hand to sword—space slice nullifies speed.
Thankfully, not at people.
Clang!
Clear bell toll echoed. Lord gawked at impact: tall bell tower—not memorial height, but lofty, bell-topped. Religious symbol.
From afar, Sivar rang it with throw.
"Why's the bell ringing?"
"Beats me."
Students puzzled, stared. Bells tolled on schedule—unless glitch. Pedestrians halted, gazing.
"Shiiiibal!"
"......"
Ringer joyfully raised arms. Lord facepalmed at second antics today. Lightning-worthy deed. Even fearless him feared divine wrath.
Tricky...
Common sense injection mandatory, at least.