[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero":3,"chapter-i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-11":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","I Became the Academy’s War Hero",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1531718,1990,"Chapter 11 : The Successor of the Sword Saint (1)","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-11",11,"\u003Cp>Chapter 11: The Successor of the Sword Saint (1)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gulp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a word, Francia swallowed hard, trying to read Eugene’s intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she struggled to keep a poker face, she was just as nervous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was something she had blurted out in a moment of impulse—nothing more than a gamble with nothing to lose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Special training, huh….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether he understood her feelings or not, Eugene Carter simply brushed his lips with a cold expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a suffocating silence passed,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The reason?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have a sparring match scheduled for tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With who, that little brat from Halenber?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eugene tilted his head, seemingly surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t need special training to deal with that fool. Isn’t there another reason behind this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eric isn’t an easy opponent. Maybe for you, Instructor, but for me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With your current state, defeating him shouldn’t be difficult.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’m not so sure. Even if I win, it’ll be by a narrow margin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What matters is the victory itself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eugene placed both hands on the desk and spoke slyly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The results are all that matter. You should know that’s the spirit of Karbenna.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter who one had been in the past or what great achievements one had made, everything was judged solely by one’s current ability and strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the spirit of Karbenna, and by extension, the spirit of the Ribenia Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just winning isn’t enough for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia couldn’t agree with that notion at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The past didn’t matter, and only present gains were important?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what about those who were destroyed because of that very past?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would avenge them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To say that revenge only breeds more revenge and that hatred must be cut off—was that it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the ruins reduced to ashes, she had vowed only one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To survive—no matter what—and drive a dagger into the hearts of all who had brought her family to ruin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For that, she first had to secure status and power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was far too weak to stand alone against those who had crushed her entire house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After enduring contempt and humiliation, desperately searching for a way out, she had ironically arrived at Karbenna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karbenna the very symbol of the Empire’s creed that “the past is meaningless” was the only place that had given her a chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why Francia chose to comply with the system rather than rebel against it for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she had to follow their ways, she could never abandon her vengeance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she couldn’t agree or accept it as long as she could draw closer to her goal, that was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just winning isn’t enough, huh….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did he interpret that determined gaze?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eugene’s lips slowly curled upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a sign that he had begun to take a real interest in this matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eugene rose slowly and turned his head toward the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come to the training ground behind Building E by 21:30 tonight. Tell the warden I called you personally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, understood!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Instructor!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saluting, Francia left Eugene Carter’s private office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her brisk steps carried a strong sense of conviction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commotion from the morning incident had died down by afternoon, as everyone returned to their routines as if nothing had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second-year recommended courses, Understanding of Magic Systems II and History of Magical Beasts, both ended early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karbenna’s curriculum emphasized recommended subjects up to the third year, but that was ultimately optional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Usually, about thirty percent of cadets chose electives according to their preferences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, it was rare for instructors to conduct full lectures right after orientation,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>so cadets often enjoyed some leisure time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the 2nd-year, Class 3 cadets who had rolled in the dirt that morning during training were resting in their private rooms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there were exceptions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia, for instance, despite having special training that night,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>was already heading toward the training ground again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And elsewhere there was another exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whew….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting at his desk in his private room, Eric Halenber took a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept swallowing nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fist-sized green crystal orb pulsed repeatedly with blue light, indifferent to its owner’s anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the Tebrel Orb, a rare artifact—so rare, in fact, that fewer than a hundred existed in the Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the dozens of communication-type orbs, it was the only one capable of real-time conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not knowing what sensitive matters might come up, Eric had Billy and Philip wait outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a worried expression, he stared at the orb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The call was from his father Jeff Halenber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They exchanged messages once a month, but those were merely routine check-ins related to “that matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, they barely spoke once every six months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even then, the entire conversation consisted of one-sided scolding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For his father to contact him again less than a week after their last call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s obvious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He already knew without needing to hear it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His father intended to question him about the recent incident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karbenna had many eyes connected to the outside world, most of them controlled by pro-Bernhardt factions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how secretly something was hidden, it leaked within two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And sensational news like this would spread even faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whew….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, he wanted to argue “Is this really such a big deal?” but Eric didn’t even bother hoping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His father wasn’t the kind of man to listen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hesitating for a long moment, he finally infused a trace of mana into the orb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, the orb’s glow turned violet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A low, icy voice rang out from within the crystal sphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re late, Eric.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I apologize, Father.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know why I called?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Haa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the sigh from the other end came through clearly via the artifact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sure I told you don’t draw unnecessary attention.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, you did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And yet you picked a fight with that Eugene Carter on the very first day?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Father! I was merely voicing a rightful protest against an unfair..!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. I don’t want to hear your excuses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His son’s desperate cry was mercilessly cut off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeff asked in a tone filled with disdain,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What, did you actually believe that idiot Albert’s nonsense?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. Let’s say, for argument’s sake, that you did believe him. You’re just as much a fool as that bastard, after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the continued verbal assault, Eric’s body shrank smaller and smaller.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must’ve heard about that mess he caused at the Academic Office. And what happened later at the welcoming ceremony.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you still made such a foolish choice after hearing all that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You dared glare and talk back to a man even ‘Ironblood’ Frederick himself couldn’t handle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“T-That’s absolutely not true, Father! It was Billy—that bastard started it! The rumors got twisted!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as Eric pleaded, deep down, he already knew all too well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It no longer mattered whether the rumors were true or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A Halenber student picked a fight with Eugene Carter and got utterly crushed.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was all people wanted to hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…No, enough. Talking to you is a waste of breath. I should’ve decided this last year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve no desire to give another chance to a fool who keeps dragging the Halenber name through the mud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several weary sighs, Jeff spoke again, his voice low and firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You will voluntarily withdraw at the end of the first semester.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-Withdraw?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Return to Levinel once the handover is complete.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, Father! I still—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that cold final remark, his father severed the connection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the mana from one side completely faded, the orb’s flickering gradually ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the conversation ended, Eric slumped forward onto his desk and muttered repeatedly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This doesn’t make sense….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expelled? Just for arguing with an instructor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what about all the sacrifices I’ve made until now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are they all meaningless?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can’t let that happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There must be a way to make up for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would take at least ten days before the replacement arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before then, I just have to restore the Halenber name no matter what it takes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That same evening, 21:30, at the training ground near Building E.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right on the dot, Francia Brida arrived at the site.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had gotten there fifteen minutes earlier and was in the middle of warming up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vena Ribenia!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always, her salute was sharp and precise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need for that. Did you at least get some rest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, right. Not a chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was clearly lying without even a flicker of emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Or maybe she truly believes that.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That this kind of training doesn’t even count as training that she had basically rested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her keep that poker face, I smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s start with a light skill test.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pointed at the barrel beside me where I’d prepared the wooden swords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grab one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She quickly pulled out a medium-length practice sword from the barrel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gave my sword a few light swings through the air, then raised it diagonally toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, come at me. Think of this as a real battle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia slowly nodded and gripped her sword with both hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, the aura surrounding her completely changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, all my senses sharpened to the extreme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could even feel the sweat trickling down my jawline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed hard and widened my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I lose focus, it’ll be over in one strike.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia Brida\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sole successor of Illusion Swordsmanship, a style lost for 140 years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without her talent fully awakened, her swordsmanship was already at least A-rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she reached her full potential, she would become a human weapon a woman who could tear through a thousand beasts with a single sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for me Eugene Carter, the academy’s fastest fallen instructor my winning odds against her were maybe fifty-fifty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That is, if I were just Eugene Carter.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I silently observed her stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The distance between us: eight meters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her blade lowered slowly from above, her right knee sliding forward as her body leaned diagonally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thrusting stance one that could shift into offense at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the epitome of textbook form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But using that perfect form as a feint that’s the essence of Illusion Swordsmanship.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only sword style that could both thrust and slash at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the foundation and the mastery of Illusion Swordsmanship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finishing her preparation, Francia steadied her breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then… here I come!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the signal for engagement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before her words had even finished, I swung my sword in a sharp, downward 60-degree slash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she charged in like lightning, two trails flashed across the air simultaneously…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One thrust aimed at my shoulder,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and another upward slash targeting my ribs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The thrust is the real one.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Block the thrust!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…My mind shouted, but my sword had already moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An instant passed an eternity within a heartbeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As our figures overlapped, our wooden swords collided with a dull, cracking sound and flew through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I slowly lifted my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between the dim lamplight, the crescent moon shone clear and bright.\u003C\u002Fp>",1852,"2026-06-06T06:11:51.613Z",1,"novelbin.me","2a257f82bc3951cdabe1c17e79e685f03607926084111608ed2123e9dda6cfbb","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-12","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-10",163,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-cover.jpg"]