[{"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-14":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},1531721,1990,"Chapter 14 : The Successor of the Sword Saint (4)","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-14",14,"\u003Cp>Chapter 14: The Successor of the Sword Saint (4)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at the envelope I had received from Frederick for a moment before slipping it into the inner pocket of my jacket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I have a guess about what it might be…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wouldn’t be too late to confirm it after seeing the result of this sparring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I resumed walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s second-year duels were all scheduled to be held at the Fourth Training Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instructor in charge was Glenn Schneider from the Training Support Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creaaak—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I slid open the wooden door, a chorus of shouts and battle cries filled the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previous cadets’ match hadn’t yet concluded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wide, horseshoe-shaped spectator stands were filled with a considerable number of people—most of them second-year cadets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few of them, upon making eye contact with me, hurriedly saluted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I returned the salute half-heartedly and descended the stairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Normally, people go to watch the higher-year matches, don’t they?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was more to see and more to learn there, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The front row closest to the duel stage—seats encircled by a low barrier—was where two cadets were currently clashing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I sat quietly, surveying the surroundings and the arena, I could feel gazes from every direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now I understood why the crowd had gathered here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nodding inwardly, I spent the remaining ten minutes identifying the notable individuals among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The match ended not long after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cadet on the right was declared the winner by decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the supervising instructor had the authority to decide the outcome, if a participant raised an objection or if too many in the audience voiced disagreement, the instructor was obliged to clearly explain the reasoning behind his judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, matches intense enough to warrant such disputes were quite rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the field was cleared, Instructor Glenn called out the next names.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next—Francia Brida. Eric Halenber. Step onto the stage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time to see, with my own eyes, the results of the special training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Instructor Glenn was giving a brief explanation of the rules, chatter spread throughout the audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some cadets said they had only come because it was a match between students of their year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But most were there because of what had happened the previous day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a rare chance to witness a duel between two people who had both been personally trained by Eugene Carter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But really, how much could they have changed in just one day?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly why we need to watch and see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was Eugene Carter truly a legend, even as an educator?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their curiosity could be summed up in that one question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, without having fully proven his capabilities, Instructor Carter was already gaining considerable popularity among the cadets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he were to prove himself as an instructor too, every cadet in Karbenna would fight tooth and nail to attend his classes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The greatest enemy of modern soldiers was the beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to defeat beasts, what mattered most was individual strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a military academy, Karbenna naturally followed that philosophy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For that reason, the second-year cadets’ interest in this duel was exceptionally high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, there was no better stage than a sparring match to test one’s personal skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Francia and Eric stepped onto the stage, the noise from the stands grew even louder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They don’t look all that different, appearance-wise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, Eric’s always a trickster by default. The question is, what kind of scheme did he cook up this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The real question’s Francia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A candidate who had fought her once before tilted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I wonder if she’s managed to break that stubbornness of hers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing the perfunctory item inspection, Instructor Glenn sent the two cadets to their designated spots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You probably know this already, but I’ll go over the rules as a formality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The duel would last a maximum of twenty-five minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If neither side yielded before then, the instructor in charge would determine the winner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If either cadet lost consciousness or suffered an injury equivalent to it, the instructor had the authority to forcibly end the match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Outside of those situations, the duel will not be stopped.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finishing his explanation, Glenn glanced impassively between the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Any questions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“None, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Cadets, take your stance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two simultaneously drew their swords from their belts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a signal that all preparations were complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glenn raised his right hand high, then brought it down with a sharp declaration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then from this moment—the duel begins!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waaah—Waaah—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time the cheers from the stands reached my ears, Eric had already shifted his sword to a diagonal grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia’s strategy had always been “strike first, win first”—the mindset that whoever seized the initiative would control the match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Not a bad way of thinking.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as you didn’t consider stamina, that is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eric’s approach was simple: endure the opponent’s offensive with solid defense, then counterattack once their stamina was spent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the entirety of his battle plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If she hasn’t prepared anything new, then I’ve no reason to reveal my hand either.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, he waited for Francia to rush him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But contrary to his expectations, she didn’t take even a single step forward from her starting position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Instructor Carter given her some sort of advice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something like: Don’t waste your energy early—start with a probing exchange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, that’s fine by me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At their current skill levels, forcing a surrender from each other was impossible. It would inevitably come down to a judge’s decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To throw away chances to score points of her own accord—how generous of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eric smirked broadly, pointing his sword straight at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he focused on the sensations in his feet—and dashed forward with all his might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I know exactly what your current limits are…!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A successor of Illusion Swordsmanship. Certainly, it was an impressive feat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Francia still could only use that technique offensively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she shifted to defense, she effectively sealed away her Illusion Swordsmanship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant the advantage was his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If their level of mastery wasn’t far apart, the one with better combat sense would surely prevail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And there’s one more reason I’m confident…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just before their blades clashed, Eric’s eyes gleamed brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The condensed mana that had been circling around his heart burst out, spreading through his entire body at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Enchant Magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWA-A-A-AANG!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dust erupted from the impact, completely clouding the view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The murmuring from the audience grew louder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So Halenber’s specialty finally shows itself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enchant Magic, or Imbuing Magic—used mainly to grant elemental properties or to enhance physical ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its strength lay in its lasting effects, though it lacked destructive power in exchange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He must’ve dumped everything into strength for just a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using that very drawback to his advantage—that was Eric Halenber’s core strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Too fast to dodge, and if she blocked it, her bones would’ve shattered.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He should’ve just done things his usual way. His offense wasn’t bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like he was following specific orders. But if this is the result…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While most of the audience was predicting Eric’s victory by decision—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint sigh escaped from a cadet sitting directly opposite Eugene Carter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was a girl with striking, deep-blue eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What kind of monster did that man create overnight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the dust cleared and the silhouettes of the two became visible, the cadets were left speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia stood tall, looking down at Eric, who lay collapsed on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What just happened?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his dazed confusion, all Eric Halenber could do was steady his breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff… huff…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had gathered all his physical strength through Enchant Magic and unleashed the eighth stance of the Imperial Swordsmanship—the most powerful downward strike in the style.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword was a specially crafted practice blade for dueling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its durability exceeded that of most real swords—tough enough to serve as a blunt weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the sudden burst of acceleration, timing a dodge would’ve been nearly impossible. Naturally, he thought she’d choose to block instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she somehow managed to evade by luck, he’d planned to immediately drop his sword and strike at her vitals with his bare hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confident in his plan, Eric had charged forward, aiming to smash through Francia’s left shoulder guard exactly as intended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or so he thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he realized it, a translucent barrier appeared out of nowhere, nullifying his strike entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything after that was a blur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he came to, he found himself crawling on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the situation sank in, confusion gradually gave way to fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what enraged him most—was Francia’s reaction afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’re just going to stand there and not finish it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eric staggered to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do I look that easy to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his taunting question, Francia simply smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just thought it’d be a waste to end it so soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So that’s what she picked up from Instructor Carter—arrogance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll make sure you regret missing your chance for the rest of your life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Eric pulled out a wand and an artifact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chill spread from the arena all the way to the stands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stage was already covered by a layer of frost magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a field spell—one that slowed movement and weakened resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eric counteracted it using the Talisman of Anti-Magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, though only one of them was under the curse’s influence, Eric’s sword still couldn’t reach Francia at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tiiing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each time he thrust, she deflected it effortlessly. When he swung, she met it with perfect strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes using a fist grip, sometimes a saber grip, even switching to reverse grip when the situation demanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He enhanced his mobility with Enchant Magic, darting to strike from her blind spot—but she extended her sword without even looking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next came Shadow Shackles—an artifact that restrained an opponent’s shadow, limiting their movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had aimed for Francia’s right arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even with one arm glued to her side, she parried his attack as if nothing had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if to say, I’ve always fought with one arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that unbelievable display of swordsmanship, Eric rubbed his forehead in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…You’re telling me someone can change this much in just one day?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of training did she go through?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the next ten minutes, Eric’s relentless assault continued, but Francia didn’t allow a single clean hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, the cadets had watched in skepticism, but as the fight dragged on, everyone became completely absorbed in the duel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff… huff…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breathing heavily, Eric stepped back with a troubled look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up to this point, the situation was the exact opposite of their previous duel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one who had launched a furious offensive was now the one exhausted—a cruel irony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eric clenched his teeth, glaring at Francia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘My attack count is way higher, but she’s landing all the effective hits.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this dragged into a long battle, stamina would decide it—and against that training fanatic, there was no way to win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know what method Eugene Carter had come up with, but the current Francia had gained a level of adaptability she never had before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it went to a judge’s decision, regardless of process, his defeat was certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to end it with one decisive strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Then I’ve got no choice but to use it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eric pulled out the final artifact he had carefully kept hidden in his uniform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gray, mana-infused monocle began to emit an eerie light.\u003C\u002Fp>",1912,"2026-06-06T06:11:51.613Z",1,"novelbin.me","6ec9f7e2d344220a5d1d75a1af51c7a928cd7fbc2c8831002030ee87c33bcc29","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-15","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-13",163,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-cover.jpg"]