[{"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-118":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},1531775,1990,"Chapter 118 : No Surrender (4)","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-118",118,"\u003Cp>Chapter 118: No Surrender (4)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pillar Sparring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a wooden pillar set between them, one side focused solely on offense, the other on defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The defender had to cast magic only after the attacker used theirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ranged must respond with ranged, melee with melee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging blows three times, they would switch positions and repeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a good test for gauging offensive and defensive capabilities, reaction speed, and close\u002Franged aptitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flag Destroyer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Team A had to destroy the flag placed at the edge of Team B’s area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Team B had to protect both their flag and their members at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Team A was forbidden from using ranged magic, while Team B could, if necessary, move some of their members to the front line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The exercise lasted fifteen minutes; if the flag was destroyed before time was up, the time was recorded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After recording, the teams swapped roles and ran the test again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an ideal test to assess teamwork, as well as tank, damage, and support aptitude among participants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One-on-One Duel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After categorizing participants according to their positions based on Tests 1 and 2, we then evaluated the level of those specially selected for individual combat through one-on-one duels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I, Belfor, and Frederick faced the melee fighters, while Michel, Dale, and Walter took on the ranged ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone was deemed to have outstanding individual prowess, they were to be actively recommended as core combat personnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After two hours of testing, we completed the first two trials and selected six individuals with notable specialty combat skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, Francia and Rubia were among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who had finished all the tests sat almost sprawled out in the resting area behind us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I watched the selected fighters in front, Frederick nudged me from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The disciple’s test should be handled by the master, Carter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, the instructor in charge ought to do it, Carter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walter chimed in, unhelpfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The term “disciple” was a bit awkward, but I didn’t mind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a word, I signaled to her with my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Responding immediately, Francia spun her body around sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as we reached the circular central arena, we began with light stretching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rolling my shoulders back to loosen them, I asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How’s your condition?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Couldn’t be better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then there’s no need to hold back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I drew Lukezax from my side and took a stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must’ve been itching to fight after holding back for so long. You can go all out now, Cadet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A peculiar gleam began to spread across Francia’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…If that’s your command, Instructor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tests we’d done earlier weren’t useless, but after all, they were only tests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you put your life on the line without knowing your opponent’s full strength, anything could happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, it was only natural to want to see just how far your limits could go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if reading my mind, Francia drew the sword from her waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheath clattered to the floor with a sharp sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade shimmered faintly, its edge glinting with subdued brilliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I watched the dense mana gather at the sword’s tip, I smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright then—let’s dance with blades.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, it was time to see each other’s true strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he had come to Karbenna, everything had changed so rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Imperial Summit had led to Halenber’s downfall, and Eric, unable to stay in Karbenna any longer, had departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her vengeance was still incomplete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—she wasn’t even sure if she could ever see it through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At times, she thought she might never find the ones who destroyed her family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the fall of the Brida family had been nothing more than a natural elimination—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and she was simply searching for someone to blame because she couldn’t accept that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever such thoughts surfaced, she immersed herself in training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until she became someone irreplaceable— she chose to bury that burning desire for revenge deep in her heart and forget it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That, Francia believed, was the best she could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time was no different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, part of her wanted to protect the mentor who had become her milestone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But beyond that, she wanted to test herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just how far had she come?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This duel was the perfect opportunity to find out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Francia tightened her grip on the sword and planted strength in her legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, her mentor’s eyes grew sharper with intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vast aura of mana enveloping Eugene’s body was incomparable to their previous two bouts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had no solid proof, but in that instant, she was already certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s… regained his strength.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that was the case—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then there was no reason not to fight with all she had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwaaang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an explosive sound, Francia lunged straight ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As her sword came down, she thrust at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was nothing like the wooden sword she’d used in training— the speed and cutting power were on another level entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Failing to block both attacks at once would mean a fatal wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her opponent was Eugene Carter. Any hesitation would only expose an opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she attacked with the intent to kill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was why— she barely managed to notice it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eugene’s hands gripping the sword began to shimmer like a mirage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tiiing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash erupted between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kh—?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia, who had charged at Eugene like a bolt, was blown back nearly twenty meters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eugene, holding his stance from the counter, lightly lowered his blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing? Get back in here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp tingling sensation ran through her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she looked down, she saw a scrape near the base of her right thumb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gritting her teeth, she adjusted her grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Just once more.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she would know for sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kicking off the ground, Francia leapt high— this time, launching her assault from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneous thrusts emerging from different sword paths within the same attacking stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her targets were my left shoulder and right flank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What met her as she lunged forward with a short shout was a solid barrier wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kuht?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sent out a gust of wind, pushing Francia several meters away, and murmured softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Illusion Swordsmanship, Second Form — Barrier Blade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her waver, I gave her a look that said it was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if to say—You can use it, so why can’t I?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll explain later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I signaled repeatedly with my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meaning was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Don’t tell me you’re ending it like this?’ — That’s probably what she thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia shook her head and clenched her teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what if Instructor could use Illusion Swordsmanship?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t what mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To face the powerful enemies that would appear ahead, I would eventually need something beyond just Illusion Swordsmanship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And right now, I had one more certain method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why should I hesitate?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As crimson aura began to rise from Francia’s blade, a faint smile curved my lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s how it should be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aura tightly enveloped her sword, bursting with dazzling light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The murmuring among the spectators grew louder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The successor of Illusion Swordsmanship. The heir of the Sword Saint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, fully manifesting one of its proofs—her Aura Blade—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia Brida spoke briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This time… I’ll truly cut you down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aura Blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A technique that condenses the densest crimson mana into the shape of a blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You could make a blood-red edge sprout from a guardless sword, or envelop an existing sword in aura to multiply its overall performance severalfold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Barrier Blade’s defensive power was proportional to the user’s mana, but its durability had clear limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given Francia’s current strength, she could probably slice through the barrier I’d deployed in a single strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It needs to have that much power—otherwise, she’ll never be able to land a blow on Karen.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I wasn’t standing idly by either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was right to applaud my student’s growth, but she still had a long way to go before surpassing her teacher…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept my gaze fixed on Francia’s footwork, carefully gauging the timing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There wouldn’t be any option but a frontal assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this were normal Illusion Swordsmanship, she might have launched a more varied offensive as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the nature of Aura Blade required gathering and compressing a large amount of mana at once, so the possible sword paths were limited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And against someone like Eugene Carter, half-hearted focus wouldn’t be enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, the only choice left to her was the stance she was most familiar with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That means her power will be at its peak.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had two ways to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were strategies I’d succeeded with over twenty times in the game, so I was confident—but this was the first time I was trying them in real combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One way or another, neither of us could help feeling tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The suffocating silence—so heavy it could stop one’s breath—was broken by Francia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her sword lunged forward, faster than before, but in a trajectory I knew all too well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And my response—was surprisingly simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I poured one-tenth of my usable mana into Mana Armor and deployed it directly in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwooooom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dust flared up from the impact, then quickly settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screech, screech!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No aura gleamed between the two clashing blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Mana Armor I had spread wide in front finished its duty and scattered, a pleasant aftertaste brushed the tip of my nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia’s expression, after her second ultimate attack had been effortlessly blocked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>was far more shaken than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing the loss of fighting spirit from the hesitation at her sword tip, I withdrew Lukezax and gave a short reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The test ends here. You did well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We stepped aside to make room for the next test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia lingered for a moment, then glanced at me and asked quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could you… explain it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, she couldn’t accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That I had mastered Illusion Swordsmanship, and that her fully condensed Aura Blade strike had dispersed so helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former was difficult for me to explain, but the latter—was possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I extended Mana Armor over only my right hand as I spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Aura Blade’s cutting mechanism isn’t like a knife—it’s more like a saw, Cadet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tiny, densely packed mana blades rotate rapidly across the surface,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>which makes it look like aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It can slice through thick armor or wooden blocks instantly, but it can’t cut soft fabrics or slippery beast hide as easily as you’d think.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Francia examined the Mana Armor—layered in hundreds of thin films— she brushed her lips as if she’d realized something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then this time as well…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. The same principle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Aura Blade—of course, it was an incredible skill and an impressive accomplishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter how overwhelming an ability may seem, nothing is invincible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it’s difficult to use, has a short duration, demands an immense price, or has a clear countermeasure—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least in the world I know, perfect invincibility doesn’t exist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That applied not only to me, but to Karen Rosefield as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, this much is more than enough, Francia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Instructor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I answered her with a satisfied smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There won’t be many strong enough to stand in your way now. Especially not in the upcoming battle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt sorry to send a heroine who must be protected onto the battlefield, but it was better to take a calculated risk for a certain return than to hesitate and face a bigger disaster later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If all you do is shrink back thinking things won’t work, you’ll never find a way forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep your condition in check. Get plenty of rest the day before, especially.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she nodded silently, I gave a faint smile in return and stepped away again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the stage, the second Special Combatant, Rubia, was stretching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the one facing her—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was none other than Michel Bernhardt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re ready, shall we begin?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1982,"2026-06-06T06:11:51.613Z",1,"novelbin.me","48de9ee17ad392a51342bf93d57b9195114e6d8c3031b93a7551b6728b927fab","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-119","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-117",163,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-cover.jpg"]