5
Chapter 5
When Healing Type Awakened awaken, their mana is imbued with the power of healing.
Simply placing their mana on a wound can heal it.
From minor scratches to fractures, almost any injury can be treated as long as there is enough mana.
On the battlefield, the value of a Healing Type Awakened was higher than any combat class.
That is, provided they knew how to handle their mana properly.
"There's a patient here!!!!"
Enoch burst into the infirmary, kicking the door open. He was completely out of breath. Edelyn barely managed to keep up behind him.
He tossed Benny onto the nearest bed.
"Huff, huff, huff... whew. Please... take a look at my boy."
As he caught his breath and looked around, he saw an old man sitting in a rocking chair, staring intently at them.
With snow-white hair and deep wrinkles, it was hard to tell exactly how old he was.
"Ho ho ho. Where does it hurt, young man?"
The old man stood up as if to examine the patient.
—Slipped!
"My... my back!!!"
Enoch was momentarily speechless.
Isn't that old man the actual patient? Is he really the infirmary teacher?
"May I ask your name and title?"
"Heave-ho! Ah! I am Oswin. I am the person in charge of the infirmary. Ho ho ho."
He's a teacher? This guy who has to clutch his back just to stand up?
'Doesn't the Academy hire new teachers? How can an old man in this condition look after the whole Academy?'
"Now, what brings this student here?"
Oswin carefully examined Benny's swollen hand. His movements were surprisingly skillful.
"I think he broke a bone in his hand during class."
"But why did you carry him? He could have just walked."
Are you kidding me!!!!!!!!!!!
I did it because I was worried and wanted to get here fast!!!!!
'Forget it! I'm not letting you treat him!!!'
Enoch gritted his teeth and tried to calm himself.
"By... any chance, are there any other teachers in the infirmary?"
"Hmm. Healing Type students help out for their practical training."
That was the most welcome news he had heard all day.
Students seemed far more reliable than an old man who looked like he'd forgotten what a healing formula even was.
"Then please call those students."
"Eh? I can do it myself!"
Oswin rolled up his sleeves as if to show he was capable. Blue veins stood out on his pale forearm like earthworms.
'Stop! Will you take responsibility if something happens to my student?!!'
Thinking this, Enoch quickly grabbed Oswin's hand before it could reach Benny.
"I'll... gi-give you a l-lesson..."
His pronunciation was slurred because he was clenching his teeth.
"Ahem. If you insist. Let's see... who... is... on duty today?"
The male Healing Type student on duty today emitted mana towards Benny's hand.
Benny shivered, unable to keep his hand still as if it were ticklish.
'Something's weird... why isn't he using Heal?'
Why treat a wound that could be fixed instantly with a single Heal spell like that? Emitting raw mana is inefficient and takes way too long.
"By the way, what's your name?"
In response to Enoch's question, the student answered in a soft, gentle voice without stopping the treatment.
"I'm Yuan."
Having heard the name, Enoch got straight to the point, maintaining a professional demeanor.
"I'm Enoch, in charge of F Class. But tell me, haven't you learned any Healing Formulae?"
"Huh? What's a Healing Formula?"
Yuan looked at Enoch with a confused expression.
'What on earth is he talking about? Every Healing Type is supposed to learn that.'
"You don't know Heal? Heal!"
"What in the world is a 'Heal'? Ho ho ho."
At Oswin's comment, Enoch's eyes widened like an Orc's and his mouth fell open like a mimic.
"Whaaaaaaat???"
There were no Healing Formulae at this time? Wait... the person who created them...
It was the Saintess. So the Saintess is twelve right now? And living in the slums?
'I'm going to lose it. My to-do list just got longer.'
Edelyn quietly approached and tugged on his robe.
"Teacher, what is 'Heal'?"
'How should I explain this? Should I tell her a Saintess develops the technique in the future?'
But he was mindful of Teacher Oswin and Yuan standing right next to them.
'Let's just gloss over this for now.'
"Ah... I'll tell you later. Later. Benny is the priority right now."
"I'm actually doing okay, though?"
'Shut up!! I can't just give away my knowledge to anyone!'
"Anyway, Benny, focus on recovering here. Tomorrow is a holiday, so I'll see you next class."
Enoch hurried out of the infirmary to avoid any further questioning. As soon as the door closed, he let out a long sigh in the hallway.
"Your teacher is certainly a busy man. Ho ho ho."
"It's okay! It's all for our sake!"
Edelyn nodded slightly at Benny's energetic response.
"He must be a ve~ry good teacher."
Oswin narrowed his eyes slightly in the direction Enoch had disappeared. Behind his laughing face, his eyes glinted silently.
#
'Should I save the Saintess first?'
He also needed to save Benny's teacher and find materials for magic tools... Ah, and he'd need money for that.
'I searched the whole laboratory, but there were only five silver coins.'
Where on earth did I spend all my money back then!!!
Frustration wouldn't change the situation. Enoch packed a few simple things and left the laboratory.
'I should head to the Gate Hall first.'
The Academy's Gate Hall.
Gates, which are a form of space magic, connect the capitals and major cities of each nation. Space magic is rare, and currently, only one person is capable of achieving this.
'That old hag... she really is something.'
Upon entering the Gate Hall, several Gates were open in the vast space. A small plaque with the name of the country was attached above each one.
It was a familiar sight. And there was a familiar face, too.
"Teacher Rianna?"
"...Teacher Enoch."
Rianna, the first person he had encountered after his regression, was engrossed in some documents.
"I have some business to attend to."
"Yes. I imagine so."
She looked back down at the papers with an air of indifference. Then, as if remembering something, she looked up.
"Oh. By the way, you didn't call me by my name this time?"
Her tone was purely professional. It wasn't a compliment or a jab, just a simple observation. That actually made him feel more apologetic.
"About that... I was truly sorry."
Rianna gazed at Enoch for a moment. Her expression didn't change in the slightest.
"Apology accepted."
Then, back to the documents.
That was it. It wasn't that she had forgiven him or let it slide. She had simply acknowledged the apology.
Not knowing what else to say, Enoch asked a generic question.
"What brings you here, Teacher Rianna?"
She tucked the documents under her arm and stepped closer, whispering lowly in his ear.
"Haven't you heard the news?"
A faint scent of herbs wafted past his nose.
"What? What news?"
"I heard that a member of the royalty from the Mabil Kingdom is transferring in."
"Transferring?"
'Strange. If my memory is correct, there were no transfer students at this time. Is something changing?'
Rianna stepped back and crossed her arms, looking slightly annoyed.
"From what I've heard, they were sick to death of our 'Orc,' but suddenly changed their mind on the final day."
It seems the staff calls the Vice-Principal an Orc.
"So I've been tasked with guiding them and handling the transfer procedures. Thanks to that, I've had to give up my holiday."
"That sounds like a lot of hard work."
"It's the same for everyone. You're in charge of F Class, after all."
As soon as she finished speaking, she opened the documents again. It was a clear signal that the conversation was over.
Rianna was still the same. She said what needed to be said, kept the rest to herself, and handled professional matters strictly.
She had been like that before his regression as well. She never mixed personal emotions with her work.
In some ways, that made things even more uncomfortable.
"Haha. Still, my students are following along well, so I'm not worried. I'll be heading out now."
"Yes."
A short response. She didn't even wave.
Enoch entered the Gate leading to the Elysia Empire. A light enveloped him and then vanished.
Only after confirming that the Gate had closed did Rianna finally look away from her documents.
"...I've become quite talkative."
It was a mutter to himself. There was no one to answer. Rianna looked back down at her documents.
A light flared from the awaited Gate, and two women appeared.
Rianna immediately bowed in respect.
"It is an honor to meet you, Her Royal Highness Princess Vivianne de Mabil, the Second Princess of the Mabil Kingdom. I am Rianna, the C Class teacher in charge of your guidance for today."
The princess approached without hesitation and grasped Rianna's hands firmly in both of hers.
A faint lavender scent brushed against her nose.
"The pleasure is mine. I look forward to your help today, Teacher Rianna."
The princess's radiant smile was right before her eyes. Rianna's heart melted instantly.
'Staying like this for the rest of my life might not be so bad.'
Before she knew it, she was gripping the princess's hands even tighter.
"Ahem."
Rianna snapped back to her senses at the maid's cough. She quickly cleared her throat and began the tour.
"Right this way, then."
The princess was smiling on the surface, but she was actually scanning the area busily.
She swept over the Gate Hall, checked the hallways, and quickly observed every person they passed.
'The person in the red robe is here!!'
That figure from behind was still vivid in her mind. She didn't know the name or the face, yet it was strangely unforgettable.
The lavender scent drifted quietly along the hallway.
#
The Elysia Empire.
It was a nation formed by the Elysia Kingdom, which had expanded its size by absorbing neighboring countries under the banner of human supremacy. The territory had grown, but the interior was steadily rotting.
Discrimination against demi-humans, the gap between rich and poor, corruption, the criminal underworld, and the reckless issuance of indulgences. It was spiraling toward total ruin.
'Even during the Demon Realm invasion, the country was on the verge of collapse from within rather than by the monsters.'
The smell was different the moment he stepped out of the Gate. The oily scent of the market, the smell of sweat, the sound of frying food, and the voices of haggling were all intertwined.
Enoch headed straight for the market upon exiting the Gate.
This was because children from the slums often came to the market to find food, whether through begging or stealing.
'I'll just look around the market for now.'
"Hey! You! Can you even cut a Goblin's neck with that blunt blade? Check out this longsword! One stroke with a whetstone and it'll split a rock in two!"
He wondered if he should buy that as a gift for Benny; the boy would probably lose his mind with excitement.
"Come on, pick one! Pick one! A luck charm left by the Dragon of the East, only five silver coins today!! Buy this, and the Goddess of Luck might just smile upon you!"
It was obviously a scam and far too expensive—it cost as much as his entire net worth.
He looked around, but the alleyway children were nowhere to be seen.
'Is it too late?'
The market streetlights flickered on one by one, and the merchants began packing up.
Left with no choice, Enoch rented a room at an inn near the market. He took a hunk of bread the landlady offered, mentioning it was included in the meal, and lay down on the bed.
Thump.
"I've already spent two silver coins today. Even with the meal, isn't this a complete rip-off?"
The ceiling was old and covered in fine cracks.
'I should head to the slums at the crack of dawn tomorrow.'
Enoch fell into a deep sleep.