[{"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-43":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},1531750,1990,"Chapter 43 : You Guys Were Even More Trash Than I Thought? (6)","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-43",43,"\u003Cp>Chapter 43: You Guys Were Even More Trash Than I Thought? (6)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>March 11th, Friday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walter and I spent the entire afternoon busy preparing for the advance team’s departure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hard labor mostly fell to the teaching assistants and senior cadets, but if we didn’t personally double-check everything, the training couldn’t proceed as scheduled — so we were just as swamped as everyone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Make sure the shock absorption is solid! Those are expensive supplies!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walter mainly handled the inventory check of the teaching materials and artifacts we were bringing along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing my briefing with the coachmen leading the main convoy, I checked the condition of the combat rations that the quartermasters had brought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first things that caught my eye were the rock-hard loaves and dried meat, all twisted up and stiff as stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just imagining how those would be prepared for eating made me dizzy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…I should eat a proper dinner tonight.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need to go that far for the sake of historical accuracy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I placed an additional order asking for more generous portions of spices, then headed off to inspect the weapons that would be distributed to the cadets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took another four hours before all the checks were finally complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, the advance team departs exactly at 22:00.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment we dismissed the team, I grabbed Walter and dragged him to eat first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I piled up bread and meat soup like a mountain and shoved it into my mouth without even savoring it. Watching me, Walter gave a look of disgust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, is someone chasing you or something? Slow down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…My appetite’s been increasing lately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of the curse that had wrecked my body, I’d been forcing myself through daily strength and endurance training just to get back into shape — and it left me constantly hungry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On top of that, I’d been steadily improving my stats through Mana Devour and various artifacts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to my prime, my abilities were still nowhere near enough, but considering how much I’d recovered in less than a month, it was still an achievement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Personally, I thought I deserved some applause for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walter, who’d been selectively eating only the meat, wiped his mouth with a napkin and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But why’d you decide to bring Professor Magnus along? She doesn’t seem like she’ll be any help in training.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Belfor said he’d assign four officers from the Special Task Force, I’d spent a while thinking about who to bring from Karbenna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walter Clark was a fixed choice, of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only because of his Special Task Force background — his support-type magical abilities were especially useful in crisis situations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next person I chose was Rubia Magnus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the surface, the only thing notable about her was being an elite from Duel, but even now — before her power had fully bloomed — her long-range wide-area magic was among the best in Karbenna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This’ll be a good chance to test her aptitude too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chewing on my bread, I answered casually,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s a delegate from the Magic Tower too. No need to worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re a magician yourself — you should know what kind of status a delegate from the Tower holds, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yeah, I do. But won’t she get herself marked for this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marked for what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For getting on the bad side of the pro-Bernhardt faction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you stop bringing up that damn faction talk already? It’s getting old.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stood up with my empty plate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walter followed right behind me, adding a few more words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure, you and I are used to this kind of thing since we’re both from the Special Task Force, but Magnus or Tomlin might not think the same way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Later on, both of them will be glad they chose this side.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What’s that supposed to mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll see. Anyway, I’ll catch up with you in a bit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We split up as we left the cafeteria.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walter said he’d grab a quick nap and headed for the dormitory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for me, I found myself unconsciously walking toward the first floor of the Mage Studies Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, Rubia was tucked away in a corner, deeply absorbed in reading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her serious expression peeked out between the towering stacks of books surrounding her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when I came right up to her, she didn’t flinch — she simply turned the page quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you already done with your preparations?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ah, Eugene.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, she’d be startled enough to fall backward, but she responded calmly this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I packed everything except for the books I’ll read during the trip.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, she still had to bring books, huh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A headache started to throb faintly in my forehead, but I ignored it and continued speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I appreciate you accepting the request on such short notice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s your request, Eugene. Of course I’d agree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard this will be your first time going out on field duty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s something I’d have to do eventually anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the main characters, Rubia was one of the gentlest and kindest by nature — but if someone asked whether that made her a pushover, I would answer with a firm no.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was someone who could clearly say no when something wasn’t right, and when it came to acting against her own convictions, there was no one more steadfast than her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weak and the naïve were entirely different things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time she helped me up, and the time she accompanied me to the Beast Habitat Zone — I could see those as gestures of gratitude for the incident at the Faculty Office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the assassination attempt, she’d been caught up in it herself, so that was understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, the situation was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I recalled the moment, three days ago, when I first mentioned the field training to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So, we’re planning to conduct a field exercise for the Beast Extermination Training, and I’m looking for someone to assist us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me! I’ll do it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I haven’t even explained the details yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You need me, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well… I suppose that’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll take that as a yes. Please make sure my name’s on the list, okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I even officially asked her, she had already accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before even hearing the details of the field exercise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Honestly, she doesn’t need to be this cooperative with me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that something about Eugene Carter’s past — the part I didn’t know — was influencing her behavior?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the original game, Eugene Carter was such a minor extra that even Eric Halenber had more presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even I, the most seasoned veteran of the MAGA world, could summarize his entire character in a line or two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that was only from the player’s perspective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In reality, ever since I’d possessed this body, I’d been constantly recalling what kind of achievements Eugene Carter had made and what sort of past he’d had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, there were still plenty of blank spots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when I filled in those gaps completely could I truly say I’d become Eugene Carter in every sense of the word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I was lost in thought, I shifted my gaze slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubia was quietly staring in my direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, nothing. Hehe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her smiling so brightly made me smile back without realizing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly hid the grin and picked up one of the books she had brought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, the two of us sat in silence, immersed in our reading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every now and then, I tried to recall any possible connection between Eugene Carter and Rubia Magnus, but unfortunately, came up with nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At exactly 22:00, the advance team for the course “Great Beast Tactical Training” departed from Karbenna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were two carriages: one carrying three people, and the other loaded with various supplies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since some of the cargo was fragile, the carriages moved at a steady, moderate pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The route left the Imperial Route No. 11 and entered the operation zone via Benamaur Route 211.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Members assigned to reconnaissance and surveillance duties were scattered throughout the area, each carrying transmitters to report their status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the Karbenna surveillance team. No additional advance unit spotted yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No additional movement from the Special Task Force either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Target just entered Route 211. Estimated eighty minutes until arrival at the operation zone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benamaur border region. A forest roughly twelve kilometers from C–1997.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Abattoir’s top three elites had finished their preparations and gathered together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them, four men were bound hand and foot inside a pit, struggling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their mouths had been gagged with cloth to silence their incessant screaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 2nd Seat, Maledic, looked toward the pit and asked the others,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The drugs?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, the 4th Seat, Evelin, took out a small iron box from her robes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t inject it until we get the signal. If they go berserk, cleaning it up will be a nightmare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, we’re not idiots, you know? You sure love bossing people around just because you’re the 2nd Seat now, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maledic exuded killing intent toward Evelin, who had just picked a fight outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Want to see if it’s skill or luck that got me this seat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere was growing more and more tense until the 5th Seat, Vicious, quickly stepped between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop, stop! If you want to fight, do it after the mission. Unless you’re dying to get tortured by the boss later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the mention of torture, both of them flinched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vicious sighed, glancing at the mines buried all throughout the forest path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forbidden magic — shunned by all, solely because its potential for abuse was too great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The members of Abattoir came from all walks of life, from nobles to slaves, but they all had one thing in common:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were outcasts who had fallen behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After planting the mana-charged mines properly, Vicious smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No matter how many times I see it, it’s satisfying. Watching those oh-so-proud imperial elites fall helplessly to us outcasts.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s see how the great War Hero responds this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten minutes, thirty, an hour passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tedious wait in the forest was finally coming to an end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the final surveillance team! The target has just entered the Benamaur forest from Route 211!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three assassins, upon hearing the report, simultaneously cast concealment spells and hid themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each drew their weapon of choice and leapt up into the trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, two carriages came into view, accompanied by the sound of hooves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘One minute left.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forty seconds, thirty, twenty, ten…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Vicious counted down silently, he snapped his fingers the moment the first carriage entered the minefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWA-A-A-AANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deafening explosion erupted, and the shockwave swept out in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearby trees shook violently under the blast’s gale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The front carriage was completely obliterated by the pressure of the mana bomb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its frame shattered apart, scattering debris across the ground; the coachman and three horses died instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the second carriage, it sustained even greater damage when the panicked horses bolted in terror from the explosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the dust could even settle, the three assassins rushed toward the carriage carrying the target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tree branches had pierced through the shattered windows, making it impossible to see inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vicious stepped forward first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRASH!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The window exploded outward, and a slash came slicing through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>",1894,"2026-06-06T06:11:51.613Z",1,"novelbin.me","b8809482915b609f0913f80583051faf24842cfd799a9daef0e99d1e0479dc02","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-44","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-42",163,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-cover.jpg"]