[{"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-20":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},1531727,1990,"Chapter 20 : Do You Really Have to See Blood? (5)","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-20",20,"\u003Cp>Chapter 20: Do You Really Have to See Blood? (5)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lieutenant General Walter, judging that there wasn’t enough alcohol, ended up bringing out even the liquor he had personally stashed away and began downing it enthusiastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He really did have an endless amount to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I only sipped moderately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last thing I wanted was for my withdrawal symptoms to worsen again due to reckless drinking, so I didn’t forget to keep hydrating in between.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, thanks to Walter—who, once thoroughly drunk, began pouring out every little story that came to his mind—I was able to roughly piece together what had happened between us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I also learned just how much of a bastard Eugene Carter had been during his academy days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ll need to take some of it with a grain of salt, though….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conversation, which seemed like it would go on forever, finally came to an end around midnight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I stood up, saying it was too late, Walter raised a finger and said he had one last thing to tell me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me give you a warning. Don’t trust the Bernhard bastards too much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s pretty random. What’s that supposed to mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t go into details. I’ve got my own circumstances.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Circumstances, huh….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could already make a few guesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walter emptied the remaining liquor, then grimaced as he exhaled a long “Khh—.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Anyway, just be careful. The Chairwoman isn’t the type to openly take sides.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He might say okay now, but later pretend he never agreed and change his tune completely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t really the type to go that far—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—but I didn’t bother saying that aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I left Room 304, staggering a little as I headed outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moonlight streamed softly through the wide glass window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the pleasant buzz of alcohol and the cool air, it was the perfect night for a quiet walk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I carefully descended the stairs, the front lobby came into view. Beyond it, I could see the reflection of the library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I was absentmindedly looking in that direction, a familiar face appeared before long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long blue hair, bright black eyes, a short black cape symbolizing the Mage Tower, and several books precariously held in her left hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…At this point, isn’t she basically a resident ghost?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Rubia Magnus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She moved her wand, slowly closed the large door, and then infused it with mana to lock it securely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stood there, quietly watching her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t until three minutes later that she finally noticed me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoa—Eugene?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve been running into each other quite a lot lately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, even in the game, she—along with Francia—was one of the heroines whose movements were easiest to track.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Library, classroom, private room, dormitory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She rarely ever strayed from those four locations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, there were heroines whose whereabouts were almost impossible to guess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edel Ribenia, in particular, was one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubia dashed up to me in an instant and came to a stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A natural smile formed on her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heading home now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I found an interesting book. I got so caught up reading that I lost track of time, hehe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re heading back, let’s go together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying that, I started walking ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the way Rubia moved behind me, I could sense a bit of hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Are the cadets doing all right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much hesitation, the words barely came out, as if forced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, they’re fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my answer, she lowered her head, looking guilty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I had spoken out more strongly back then, the artifact wouldn’t have been misused like that….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s all over now, so you don’t need to worry too much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard there were injuries, though.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In sparring, injuries are inevitable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But still….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It won’t unfold like that next time anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after that, Rubia continued to look dejected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we left the Mage Studies Hall and walked toward Building G, I was sorting through what I should say to her when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of a sudden, my steps came to a halt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eugene?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the blatant sense of hostility, I turned my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far away, I could faintly see red energy flickering. The source was the rooftop of Building E—two of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, my ability window began to blink rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Animal Instinct (S)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quickly perceives and reacts to specific situations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>※ The more frequently the user experiences a situation, the higher the rank rises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the five unique abilities possessed by Eugene Carter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Animal Instinct was rooted in the human body’s primal physiology—something rarely classified as an actual ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some of those who had been exposed frequently to special situations had developed senses so sharply that they treated them as possessed abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an ability most war heroes like me, Eugene Carter, had, and among the heroines, Karen Rosefield fell into that category.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an inquisitor who had walked through countless hells, her ability was an astonishing EX rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Putting that aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…They don’t seem intent on hiding themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether they were underestimating the target or overconfident in their skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my mutter, Rubia’s expression also hardened as if she had picked up on something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The murderous intent was so dense it showed even from a distance; there wasn’t so much as a shadow of anyone nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, that was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two rookie assassins who couldn’t even hide their presence were aiming for my neck — that was what I could assume.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How the hell did idiots like these get into Karbenna?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I recalled the conversation I’d had with Walter earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Surely Michel wouldn’t have switched sides in that short a time.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even granting, a hundred times over, that she really intended to watch me, she wouldn’t choose an extreme option like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were plenty of less troublesome ways to bind my hands and feet than assassination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Walter had warned me to be careful of the Bernhard lot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Members of Bernhardt other than Michel were after my neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking back to Walter’s remark about having his own circumstances, it was likely the enemy collaborator was someone from Karbenna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can already narrow down the candidates a bit….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, it wasn’t like there were only one or two people in Karbenna sympathetic to Bernhardt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, listing candidates was the best I could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I watched the two assassins, who were still waiting in ambush, with caution and asked quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Is there any decent weapon in the Mage Studies Hall?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubia lowered her voice in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we search the storeroom we’ll find something quickly. Most are replicas, though….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’ll do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keeping my gaze upward, I continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A replica of Lukezax. That should work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lukezax….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t need me to explain, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubia nodded slightly while keeping her eyes fixed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I’m not sure if any are left. Even though I’m very interested in artifacts, I don’t know the exact inventory….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If there aren’t any, just bring me any sword.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I held out my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll hold them off here. Lend me your wand for a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubia looked slightly surprised for an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You had a magical education too, Eugene?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had once been called the Empire’s future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to mages from the Mage Tower like Rubia, I was pathetic, but I could certainly hold my own against beginners of that level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, despite being a has-been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I maintained a firm smile, she hesitated a moment and handed me her wand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Wait just a bit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she sprinted full-out toward the Mage Studies Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I immediately looked up and shouted loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cut it out and come down now, will you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…There are too many unclear things, and that worries me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jack Brown, the assassin given the assignment, remained unable to shake his doubts even up to the moment of the operation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the conversation he’d had with the retainer Oliver during last night’s briefing, he frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The target is that famous Eugene Carter. He’s a has-been, but he did tremendous things for the Empire.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s only true of the past, though.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought our role was to eliminate those who posed a threat to Bernhardt. How could someone who was so devoted to the Empire become a threat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Listen, Jack. Judgment isn’t the tool’s job. The tool only executes orders, isn’t that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You and I are in the same position. If told to die, we die; if told to kill, we kill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. That’s quite unpleasant to hear, coming from those treated even below the retainer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That doesn’t mean we intend to leave Bernhardt, does it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Of course not. What could we do if we left Bernhardt? Forget what I said earlier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But are they even human we can handle? Mightn’t it be better to hire assassins of a higher class than us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry about that. We’ll have the place drugged beforehand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, we can only trust you. We’ll carry out the operation as briefed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be careful not to expose your identities, Jack. If you get discovered, I’ll have no choice but to eliminate you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d cloaked the area using soundproofing and illusion magic to cover everything. A choice to prevent any possible witnesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They planned to dispose of the bodies using artifacts, leaving almost no trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both the weapons used and the clothing worn during the mission would be immediately burned after securing safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if traces remained, the chance of identity exposure was practically zero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If anyone gets caught it’d be the weird one. At this level, that’s normal.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the more people involved, the more variables and the greater the risk of discovery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Jack and his top subordinate waited in a two-man team at the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were about an hour late, but Eugene Carter left the Mage Studies Hall as scheduled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was, he hadn’t come out alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What do we do, boss?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time was short.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Decisions had to be quick and decisive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jack Brown drew his razor-sharp dagger and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill them both.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging glances with his subordinate, they simultaneously hid their bodies completely with stealth magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they cleared the Plaza of Glory, they would dive in a square and aim for the heart and neck at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t an enemy camp; in such a situation, he couldn’t block both vital points simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if by some miracle he managed to defend, then they’d just use poisoned needles and magic to make openings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They kept timing their move, but the target suddenly didn’t move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she paused and murmured something, and the female of the two bolted toward the Mage Studies Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s running away! What do we do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, that’s actually good. Our target is….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A taunting voice came from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cut it out and come down now, will you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eugene Carter standing on the ground was looking up at the rooftop of Building E where they were standing.\u003C\u002Fp>",1826,"2026-06-06T06:11:51.613Z",1,"novelbin.me","87bce036a2158853a30615751640e8540e53af9bcb918dff1cb42d14f42629d4","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-21","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-19",163,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-cover.jpg"]