[{"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-115":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},1531772,1990,"Chapter 115 : No Surrender (1)","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-115",115,"\u003Cp>Chapter 115: No Surrender (1)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michelle’s resolute attitude, coupled with my heartfelt appeal, had shifted the atmosphere in the room quite a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though there were still no voices of agreement, the sounds of opposition had sharply diminished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, Michelle began to calmly lay out the operation plan step by step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who had missed their chance to leave sat in silence, merely glancing around nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I quietly observed the scene, Clina suddenly asked a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>― Is it all right for them to know even the details of the plan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Yeah.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>― They could leak the information to those Dellowell bastards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That’s what I want them to do.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>― …Hm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If we can’t completely filter out the traitors anyway, it’s better to spread false information and create some variables.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way back to Karbenna, I had already gone over this with Michelle to a certain extent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both of us were well aware that this place was crawling with insiders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean we should alter the figures when we announce them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The number of troops the Special Task Force agreed to support was around 200.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition, they had promised to supply various military provisions and four secret Artifacts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If converted to rough numbers, it was enough supplies for a thousand soldiers to hold out for about a week to ten days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including Karbenna’s support and Mallet’s own supplies, the Magic Tower could sustain a siege for at least half a month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’d be troublesome if an informant found out about that.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why I had suggested shortening the duration—to three days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With that, wouldn’t the enemy get a bit complacent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, whether there’s support or not, they’ll always be fighting at full power. That’s what Dellowell fanatics are.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wasn’t talking about Dellowell, but Bernhardt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One might say it was too early to be preparing for a fight against Bernhardt when we hadn’t even started the battle with Dellowell yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, no.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it came to them, nothing could be overlooked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While we would be occupied with Dellowell, they’d surely be moving to secure their own positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, we needed to do everything we could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These behind-the-scenes maneuvers, seemingly trivial as they might be, could very well alter the course of the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For now, let’s make the announcement and watch how things unfold. It’ll help us identify the insiders too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Fine. Let’s do that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the plans shared with the relevant parties, the only truth was the number of troops to be dispatched to Mallet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll conscript a total of 100 people, combining instructors and cadet candidates. We’ll prioritize volunteers first, then select based on the overall evaluation ranking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some looked as though they were ready to protest at any moment, thinking she intended to drag in underage cadet candidates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Michelle spoke over them firmly, refusing even to hear their objections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Karbenna’s official statement will be given at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Volunteers must visit the Training Support Office before then to complete the necessary paperwork.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Instructors in charge of each class, please make sure to inform your groups. Assistants, gather the lists through the Cadet Affairs Office.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing her words, Michelle added one last line with a gentle smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, I wish you all good fortune.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An hour had passed since the discussion at the main hall ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eugene Carter gathered the cadets of his assigned class, 2nd-year, Class 3, in the dormitory lobby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s the situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The students stood silently, unable to utter a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Any questions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some hesitation, a few cautiously raised their hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“State your name and number.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Trainee No.10, Eight! Um… will there be any kind of special benefit for volunteers…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. Anyone hoping to join the Imperial Special Task Force or get a position under Duel’s Magic Tower in the future, speak up. I’ll write a recommendation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anything else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“N-no, sir! Thank you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once one student broke the silence, the rest began raising their hands one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flood of questions continued for over thirty minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Any more?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Eugene finally finished answering everyone’s questions, Cadet Candidate No.12, Francia Brida, raised her hand at the very end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She asked the one question no one else dared to voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…There’s a chance we could die, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was something that needed to be acknowledged eventually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eugene’s answer was brutally honest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, it’s our instructors’ duty to make sure that doesn’t happen, so don’t worry too much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia looked up into her instructor’s eyes and carefully asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then… what about you, Instructor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are the chances that you might die?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the tremor in her eyes, Eugene gently patted her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks for worrying about me, Cadet Candidate Francia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it’s all right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At the very least, right now—I’ve got no plans on dying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right now…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So just focus on keeping yourself safe. Understood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No answer came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eugene didn’t seem to mind and continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As I’ve said before, no one will force you to fight. The choice is entirely yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But remember this one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sometimes, standing and fighting can be the best choice there is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Eugene briskly left the dormitory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His steps were far swifter than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he was gone, the lobby instantly erupted into chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Holy shit, I can’t believe we’re really going up against Dellowell!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, Eight! What are you gonna do now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What do you think? I’m obviously running.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Then why’d you even ask earlier?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t even ask a question now? Who the hell would risk their life just for a damn recommendation letter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, my family would be a hundred percent against it too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re even giving attendance credit, so I might as well rest at home for a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’ll last at least a week anyway, maybe I should just take a trip somewhere?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, a trip? Where to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard there are a bunch of new concert halls in Niprel lately….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before they knew it, the topic had shifted from volunteering to recommending travel destinations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her classmates chatter even more excitedly than before, Francia quietly turned and headed outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Class representative Chloe followed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait a moment, Miss Francia!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe brushed her lips nervously, then asked carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was wondering… if you were planning to take part in this battle too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia was caught off guard—it was a question she hadn’t expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Does that mean you are too, Miss Chloe?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two stepped out of the dormitory and continued their conversation for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Honestly, I’m surprised. I thought you had no interest in this sort of thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Interest…? No, I don’t, even now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe glanced around the empty corridor and gave a bitter smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But still, someone has to do it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They sure don’t seem to think that way,” Francia said, glancing back toward the dormitory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s not exactly a normal reaction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the cadets of the Empire’s only Imperial Academy behaved so thoughtlessly—it would make any of the higher-ups sigh in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet ironically, that was the state of the Ribenia Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Karbenna, said to gather the best elites of the nation, was like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who should truly feel the crisis weren’t students like them, but the adults who ruled the country.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even those adults had split into factions, chasing nothing but their own interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Instead of waiting for someone else to act and collapsing together, I decided to step forward first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think the same, don’t you, Miss Francia? That’s why you’re stepping up like this… right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t nod, even though she fully understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because that wasn’t the real reason she had decided to join this fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two parted ways right after leaving Building G.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One headed toward the Cadet Affairs Office, the other toward the Training Grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the while, Francia was sorting through her own feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The biggest reason she had refused Eric’s offer and stayed in Karbenna—was, in the end, Eugene Carter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she had followed Eric and joined the Resistance, she would naturally have grown distant from her instructor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they were both from fallen noble families, he wouldn’t take the same stance as she did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their reputations were different, their achievements worlds apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her reluctance to be separated from her instructor was part of it, but more than that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the first time they met until now… every step he had shown her kept her here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of him, she had learned the truth behind a friend’s unjust resentment, and who the real enemy was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had shown her, through his own actions, choices she had been too bound by fear to see—and led her to a new path of awakening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, for the first and last time, she had met a teacher she could truly rely on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thought alone was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which was precisely why—she could never let him die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia knew full well how powerful Dellowell was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even so, giving up without even trying wasn’t something found in Francia Brida’s dictionary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she were to stand before the death of someone precious after doing nothing at all—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew she would never forgive herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking for a while, she spotted a familiar silhouette at the entrance to the training grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia stopped in her tracks and murmured softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Professor Rubia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There stood—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a while, Miss Francia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another potential ally, Rubia Magnus, greeting her with a faint, melancholic smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t inside the familiar library, but a private meeting at the training grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two faced each other, each leaning against a wooden pillar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the first time we’ve met since the summit, isn’t it, Miss Francia?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve decided to join the battle, haven’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia replied with a faint nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubia gazed quietly for a moment, then looked up toward the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The truth is… I came because there’s something I wanted to ask you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She scratched her cheek nervously and continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you remember the time you saved Cadet Eric Halenber?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I could never forget.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve been curious—how did you feel back then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How I felt…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since she’d never properly recalled that moment before, Francia closed her eyes and traced back through her memories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few minutes, she slowly opened them again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I was scared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Scared that Cadet Eric would die?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That too, but… it was scarier to accept that I had done nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I denied it. I told myself that if I didn’t save him now, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, I saw it—like a flash of light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the vision of someone saving Eric.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All I wanted was to recreate that sight exactly as it was.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as you saw, it was a complete success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia recounted the event plainly, without emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to Rubia, it was impossible not to notice—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The faint tremor escaping between her trembling lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So as a teacher, Rubia bowed her head deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m truly sorry—for placing such a heavy burden on young students like you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, shameless as it may be, I have to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please fight with us, Miss Francia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The resolve burning in the woman’s eyes was so much like her own that just looking at her rekindled Francia’s spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her decision had already been made, but even so, she took a step forward and spoke briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was all that needed to be said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a while, the two exchanged silent gazes, solidifying their determination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun that had hung high above was now slowly sinking beyond the horizon.\u003C\u002Fp>",1944,"2026-06-06T06:11:51.613Z",1,"novelbin.me","7b27a25542f87a73f8276b683c84fbba14f85d9068cfd12f856326a1de7a4d66","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-116","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-114",163,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-cover.jpg"]