[{"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-5":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},1531712,1990,"Chapter 5 : That’s Not What I Want (2)","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-5",5,"\u003Cp>Chapter 5: That’s Not What I Want (2)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michel’s eyes flashed sharply as she glared at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s fine to get straight to the point, but…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn’t this a bit too fast?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thought crossed my mind, but my confusion didn’t last long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked straight into Michel’s eyes and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of answer do you want from me, Madam Chairwoman?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Michel lightly touched the corner of her lips as if intrigued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Interesting, you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She folded her arms and glared at me again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go on then, tell me what it is I want from you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, she wouldn’t let me off easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Alright, what should I do?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I give her the answer she wants, or should I try to probe her a little more?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I openly side with her, it’ll become troublesome later when dealing with the Imperial Princess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But siding with the Imperial Family also isn’t an option — Bernhardt’s influence here in Karbenna can’t be ignored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘For now, I’ll just leave some room for interpretation.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hardened my expression and narrowed my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you want to use me to keep the Imperial Family in check?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michel placed both hands on the desk and continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Weren’t you expecting that from the start, Colonel Eugene Carter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t entirely wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The original Eugene probably would have agreed enthusiastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arrogant as he was, Eugene Carter had once been called the Empire’s future and had even received the Medal of Honor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he’d suffered irreparable damage and had a rotten personality, shouldn’t a soldier who’d contributed that much be given at least some respect?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the Special Task Force had coldly thrown him away — because they no longer needed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being worked to the bone on the battlefield, that was how he was treated when he returned. It would’ve been stranger if he hadn’t felt betrayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, he’d drowned himself in alcohol and drugs, choosing the path of self-destruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was obvious that neither the Imperial Family nor the Task Force would treat him any better, so only one path remained open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone in this world who didn’t know the truth about my possession would have thought the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That Eugene Carter had come to Karbenna to take revenge on the Imperial Family and the Task Force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman in front of me, Michel Bernhardt, surely thought the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately for her—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That’s not what I want.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After choosing my words carefully, I answered firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wouldn’t it be Bernhardt, not me, who benefits from restraining the Imperial Family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michel looked surprised, clearly not expecting that to come out of my mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s a bit unexpected. Considering what the Imperial Family did to you, I thought you’d be full of resentment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, I resent them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But would that change anything? My lost power won’t return, nor will the honor I was stripped of.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook my head weakly, letting my hands fall to my sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I intend to live only caring about my own well-being.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stepped back, Michel’s expression slowly hardened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap, tap-tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She rapped her fingers against the desk in a familiar rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me what you want, Carter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Michel offered the carrot before the stick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I put on an innocent look and replied playfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What I want? Didn’t I just say it? To live peacefully and mind my own comfort.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If your goal was a quiet life, there’d be no reason to step foot into this Demon Realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had a point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I stayed silent as if pricked by the remark, the Chairwoman smiled faintly and extended her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she made a new proposal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you cooperate with us… we’ll return the power and honor you so desperately wanted back—along with wealth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To some, that would be an offer impossible to refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since this came from Bernhardt herself, it wasn’t a proposal—it was a threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man before her surely understood that all too well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even those not from the Empire knew of the Bernhardt family’s influence and notorious reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the fact that Bernhardt’s third daughter currently held the reins of Karbenna only made the situation clearer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if there were ulterior motives involved, refusing this demand would be anything but wise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was common sense — something even a seven-year-old child from the neighborhood would know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having delivered her decisive line, Michel looked at Eugene with confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Eugene’s response was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry, but…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He carefully placed both hands over hers and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have no intention of becoming Bernhardt’s puppet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he let go, leaned on his cane, and stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s unfortunate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was an answer Michel had never expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought someone like you would become a great asset to us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m only sorry I couldn’t meet your expectations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You may go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excuse me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eugene gave a polite nod and slowly walked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to open the door, Michel suddenly called out, as if remembering something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come to the special training hall this evening.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The… training hall?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s a welcoming event for new instructors. Be there by seven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his expression was puzzled, Eugene didn’t ask further questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he left the Chairwoman’s Office—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It hadn’t been more than a few minutes when another knock sounded from outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Oliver, Madam Chairwoman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man who entered was the middle-aged aide who had been standing outside earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bernhardt’s longtime servant — Oliver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He strode briskly to the desk and immediately asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How was he? Colonel Carter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michel leaned back in her chair and asked casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He refused.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Pardon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought he was a fool with nothing but talent, but I guess that wasn’t the case.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was even a trace of relief in her voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oliver crossed his arms and tilted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you plan to do after that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What can I do—watch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You two know our intentions now. He’ll surely try to contact the Imperial Family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…For future trouble, it might be better to eliminate him, Madam Chairwoman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leave him be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re in Karbenna after all. An assassination could easily be covered up…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oliver’s mouth twisted like a pretzel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clutched his face in pain and rolled on the floor as Michel looked down at him expressionlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her once-bright green eyes dulled as her ability activated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She closed her eyes softly and sank into thought; ideas linked one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even a washed-up man has pride; he may not like being treated like a puppet….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something about it didn’t sit right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can’t believe he was holed up for six years on drugs.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How on earth had he come back to reality?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he gone through some life-altering event?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I should check.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was nearly impossible that the Imperial Family hadn’t interfered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Eugene himself hadn’t noticed, they surely left a trail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We needed to find out what they wanted from Eugene Carter so we could eliminate any possible variables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About three minutes passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ku… kuu… Mi, Michel—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oliver crawled on the floor, thrashing desperately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was near asphyxiation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I forgot to release it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She snapped her fingers and the magic binding the servant was undone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tears, snot, and drool streaking down his face, Oliver gulped air while Michel snorted derisively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wish you knew your place, Oliver. If you came as a watcher, then just watch—why keep sticking your nose in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michel rose and pointed to the filthy floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clean this up properly and wait outside. Make sure nobody comes in for the next hour.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying only that, she headed into the inner private room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the door slammed loudly, Oliver slowly got to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face, then quickly inspected the marble floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, his gaze stayed fixed on the private room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he finished tidying, he took a sign from a utility closet and left the Chairwoman’s office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hanging the sign on the main door and casting a sealing spell, Oliver pressed the lapel of his coat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mana-responsive transmitter stuck there activated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Madam Chairwoman Michel appears to have noticed our infiltration. I beg you to issue further directives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Vena Bernhardt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving a short call sign, Oliver snapped off his badge and carelessly tossed it away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced around, then hurried off to the left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after I had safely connected with the two heroines and completed the entry procedures at Building G did my morning schedule finally end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My lodging in Karbenna was room G-403; the rooms beside it were vacant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>13:10.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I dragged my stumbling body to the bed and collapsed face-down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lower-body strength is worse than my upper body, damn it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could cover for lacking physical ability with mana, but I couldn’t even use that properly yet, which was maddening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But quitting just because the conditions were unfavorable was for newbies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by producing results under the worst conditions and highest difficulty could one call oneself seasoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I checked the newly updated schedule after arriving in Karbenna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Regular Schedule Status: Physical Training (1\u002F200), Academic Research (0\u002F100), Mock Battle (0\u002F80), Faculty Meeting (0\u002F120), First-Half Classes (0\u002F?), Second-Half Classes (0\u002F?)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The curriculum will update the class content once finalized….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My gaze slid slowly downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Irregular Schedule Status: Orientation (0\u002F2), Imperial Delegation Meeting (0\u002F1)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were just over two weeks left until the Imperial Delegation Meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That needed preparation, but it wasn’t urgent to the point of panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By elimination, the remaining keyword was “Orientation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My lips twitched into a smile the moment I read it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Time to teach those arrogant elites some manners.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d assert dominance right from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I propped myself on my cane and stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, what’s this ‘new instructor welcome’ thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d never heard of such a thing in Karbenna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was certain it wouldn’t be normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That faint smile Michel had shown at the end hadn’t helped my confidence either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Looks like they want to throw an extravagant initiation party for a washed-up ex-Special Task Force member.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging from the personalities and positions, it probably wasn’t something she herself had pushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frederick Lake could be a candidate given our earlier argument, but he wasn’t the type to pull such a petty stunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever organized it was none of my concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If they want a show of skill, then I’ll give them a blade dance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I muttered with a smile full of determination, then immediately dropped into a squat.\u003C\u002Fp>",1764,"2026-06-06T06:11:51.613Z",1,"novelbin.me","339bc8d371c572f26e4d8204c9a682308828e603df001861b411c7b810806a17","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-6","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-4",163,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-cover.jpg"]