Entering the Game with a Cheat Physique

Chapter 37: A Get-Well Visit

Chapter 37: A Get-Well Visit

I passed out and when I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital room.

Lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, the temple healers came rushing in, making a fuss.

─Wow. How are you already healed?

─Are you even human?

─I’ve never seen anyone heal this fast.

They poked and prodded my body, checking my condition.

All the while muttering things like, ‘There’s no way someone can heal this fast’ and other such things.

Curious, I pressed them for details, and they told me the story.

─It was an injury that should have kept you bedridden until the end of the semester.

It seems the injury Apollo left me with was no joke.

They said they had expected me to only barely be able to function by the time the first semester ended.

They were even worried about potential aftereffects.

Thinking back, I have to admit my state during the duel was pretty wretched.

There was so much blood and flesh torn off back then, I figured there would be some repercussions.

‘And the end of the semester, no less.’

If I’d woken up then, I wouldn’t have been able to stop the end of Act 1, which would have meant the destruction of the academy.

Absolutely cannot let that happen. Hmm.

Anyway, to the question of how I healed so fast, I just replied that my body was naturally sturdy.

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【Ultimate Body】

※ Adamantine Body : The world’s backup.

Hardens the body, and automatically recovers fatigue during sleep/meals.

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‘Because I have this.’

The Adamantine Body’s effect is automatic HP recovery.

Just by sleeping, I recover, so it’s no wonder they were so surprised.

After one round of that fuss, I focused on treatment while lying in the hospital bed.

Crunch, crunch.

Day after day, I just munched on the fruit the healers offered.

—Visits are piling up. Many people want to see you.

The healers said as much, which made me quite curious.

They say starting today, they’ll be coming one by one, but who exactly would come?

‘Was I such a social butterfly?’

To even have visitors, I can’t think of anyone specific who’d come.

…But as if my worries were in vain.

The door opened quietly, and seeing the figure the healers were practically trembling to usher in, I let my thoughts fade.

“Hello?”

“Yes. Your Highness.”

A woman with a beaming, bright smile.

Princess Helene had come to see me.

…No need to ask the reason.

It must be because of her fated person.

I sighed inwardly and did my best to be respectful from my bed.

“I’ve missed you so much, and not being able to see you was hard~. Is it the same for you, Herak?”

“Of course, it is.”

That was a lie. Am I crazy to say that?

Helene, satisfied with my answer, nodded repeatedly.

Then, she sat on the chair next to the bed and started chattering away.

“Mr. Herak, you’re quite popular~. How can so many people want to visit you?”

“Is that so?”

I guess I have better luck with people than I thought. Me.

“Yes~. You’re so popular, there was a whole line of ladies~. You’re such a blessed man, really?”

“……”

No, please don’t say that with such a bright smile. It’s scary.

I clear my throat and try to deflect.

“It’s probably just a fleeting connection. I’m not very interested in women.”

“Gasp! That’s a bit of a problematic statement~.”

“……”

“Hehe, just kidding~. So, shall we talk about something else?”

Seeing my sulky face, Helene immediately changed the topic.

She began telling me about what happened while I was bedridden.

“First off, Mr. Apollo got expelled~. He left without even a moment’s notice. They really don’t give any slack here~.”

“That’s the weight of a duel of honor.”

“Right~. I was already annoyed that he injured Mr. Herak, so it’s for the best. I’m even thinking of putting a little pressure on the Simon Marquis family since I spoke to the Imperial Palace~.”

“……”

Too bad, Simon Marquis family.

Blame yourselves for getting on the wrong side of the princess…

“Oh, and Mr. Herak’s heroic feat has been written up in the news, and it’s all over the Academy.”

“Huh? Is it really something worthy of an article?”

“Of course~. It’s not every day that the last-ranked student beats the top one. It’s only natural~.”

Helene pulled out a newspaper from her things.

The article, likely written by the Olympia newspaper club, was full of various things.

‘The Princess said he’s her man,’ ‘The last-ranked student beating the top student is unprecedented in Olympia’s history,’ ‘Princess Helene herself witnessed it’…

Most of it praised my accomplishments, and Helene’s name was everywhere.

I was honestly dumbfounded.

“The princess is mentioned quite a lot.”

“Ah, I made a little ‘request’ to Ruby~. She’s so diligent, she really listens to what I say~.”

“……”

I recall Ruby’s face before the duel.

That guy, head buried on the table, muttering about the Princess.

Yeah, he’s definitely met his match.

‘You picked the wrong fight.’

Serves you right, you b*stard.

Then, while flipping through the newspaper, I found an interesting page.

The headline read: ‘Monster Festival’ Imminent.

“It’s not long now.”

“Yes. It’ll probably start around the time Herak-ssi gets discharged~.”

“Hmm…”

I glance at Helene.

Her cute little face is free of any worry.

That’s Helene’s strength, but things won’t be so easy later on.

‘You’re a target for the bosses.’

In the first act, and the second.

So, I should probably start sticking by Helene’s side.

“Princess.”

“Yeees~?”

“Will you join me on the last day of the festival?”

“Oh my!”

Helene’s eyes widen.

As if she never expected me to make such a proposal, she covers her mouth with her hand and exclaims,

“Is this a date proposal?!”

“It’s not.”

“To think Herak-ssi would ask first… As a lady, I can’t refuse. I accept.”

“That’s not it.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it?”

…Listen to what I’m saying.

*

After Helene left, as the days trickled by…

There was a day when I abruptly felt out of sync.

‘What is it?’

Something’s different.

A sensation unlike my body has ever felt.

It’s as if whatever was protecting me up until now has vanished…

I tilt my head, touching my skin here and there.

The magical barrier seems to still be there, so what’s the problem?

‘It’s been like this since after the duel.’

It wasn’t like this before the duel, so something definitely happened around the day of the duel.

I don’t know what it is, though.

Is it a big problem right now? No, not really.

But…

‘I feel uneasy.’

My senses are screaming.

They’re saying that if I keep going like this, it’s dangerous.

Just as I was sinking into thought, trying to figure out how to deal with it,

*Click*, the door opened, and unfamiliar faces walked in.

A 4th-year student with noble looks, with an elegant aura.

A 3rd-year student with a disheveled appearance, radiating a down-to-earth vibe.

I remembered who they were as soon as I saw them.

‘Natalia and Seris.’

The top students of the 3rd and 4th year magic departments had come to visit.

…Wait, why?

“Greetings. Victor of the duel.”

Natalia and Seris sat down together on the chair next to my bed.

Natalia greeted me with a very aristocratic gesture.

And Seris, yawning, gave a casual wave.

“What brings you here?”

“Do you know who we are?”

“If even the top students in your own department don’t know, they’re not qualified.”

“Hah. You’re quite the talker.”

Natalia chuckled, clasping her hands together.

Her deep, knowing eyes turned towards me.

“Do you know? About the changes that have come to you because of your duel victory.”

“I wouldn’t say so.”

“The whole world’s mages are watching you.”

Natalia’s gaze didn’t feel like it was on me.

It was like she was looking at the world beyond me.

“Founder of a new school of magic, Battle Mage, and a victory over the top student of the Knight department in your year… There isn’t a mage who wouldn’t be focused on your actions.”

“What’s the point of telling me this?”

“I’m making you an offer.”

A bewitching smile.

She spoke to me.

An offer that no ordinary mage could refuse.

“In exchange for receiving the patronage of our Roxburgh family, wouldn’t you be willing to lend us that power?”

“……”

“It’s not a bad offer. You have no backing, and pioneers are bound to face resistance.”

‘So that’s what it is.’

I understood Natalia’s proposal and closed my eyes.

I had predicted it when I agreed to the duel with Apollon, but it seems that a scout has finally come.

Yeah, if I were just an ordinary mage, I would’ve accepted it gladly.

An attractive offer, difficult to even receive once.

However.

“I refuse.”

“Why?”

“I still need to focus on my Academy life for now.”

Herak Leonhardt dies if he leaves the Academy.

First, I need to stick to Olympia, and also pay attention to the story.

I don’t have time to be considering sponsorship.

“Besides, if the Roxburg family is even paying attention to me, I’ll get even better terms if I’m scouted again later.”

“Hmm.”

Natalia didn’t deny my words.

She chuckled and praised me.

“Indeed, you didn’t win top of the class by just looking good. You’ve got a pretty sharp mind.”

“Is that the same reason for you too, Senior Cerise?”

“Yeah.”

Natalia nudges Cerise’s side.

Cerise, who had been yawning and tuning out, finally spoke about the main topic.

“Same reason as her. They told me to go make an offer for you to be taught at the Magic Tower.”

“That’s a strange way to put it. You don’t seem very keen on it, Senior Cerise.”

“I’m not particularly interested… and I don’t care what those Magic Tower riffraff say.”

Cerise said, rubbing her eyes.

True to her character, being not particularly fond of the Magic Tower’s ecosystem, she didn’t seem too eager to scout me.

“Anyway, that’s our business here. Since you refused, it’s pointless now.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Whatever, it’s fine.”

Natalia and Cerise stand up from their seats.

They straighten their clothes, getting ready to leave.

“The ‘Monster Festival’ is coming up soon, right? Have fun.”

“Aren’t you seniors going?”

“The 3rd and 4th years are busy at the end of the semester. They’re all leaving the academy for field trips. The instructors are all going on vacation too, so it’ll be easier to relax.”

…Guess it’ll have to be just the 1st and 2nd years for the Finale.

Looks like it’ll be tough.

“By the way, is that ‘Monsties’ group coming because of that magic stone? Now that its effects are used up, it’s about time we replaced it.”

“You mean the magic stone at the Central Tower?”

“Yeah.”

The magic stone that increases the mana density of all of Olympia.

That stone has finally stopped working.

It really feels like the Finale is upon us.

“Guess it’s about time we headed out. Let’s go, Seris.”

“Yes.”

Natalia and Seris turn their backs.

They’re about to leave the sickroom like that, when.

They suddenly turn their heads back towards me.

“Next time we meet, it’ll be at the Head meeting. Look forward to it.”

“Huh?”

“Why are you looking so surprised?”

Natalia lets out a soft snort.

She just uttered the words that precisely describe my current worth.

“You’re the next Head. Herac.”

“……”

“You even beat the Head of the Knight Department. It’d be weirder if you *weren’t* Head.”

Well then, see you, she says, finishing her sentence, and then they leave.

Alone in the sickbed, I just stare blankly at the ceiling, thinking.

“……Huh.”

……When did I get this far ahead…?