[{"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-58":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},1531665,1990,"Chapter 58 : You Dare to Command Me? (3)","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-58",58,"\u003Cp>Chapter 58: You Dare to Command Me? (3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahahahahahaha!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shrill, metallic laugh rang out, so loud and grating that we all instinctively covered our ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring our reaction completely, Clina continued to sneer until her gaze sharpened like a blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re telling me to become your subordinate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in her tone, I could feel her anger crackling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed a moment to think.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had already decided on the answer to her second question, but in front of someone like her, even the choice of words mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘After all, she was once a queen revered for her nobility.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, after about thirty seconds of silence, I finally replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll be the one to serve you. I offer my mana, and you bestow your grace upon me. Isn’t that the perfect master–servant relationship?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed pleased with the answer, her expression softening slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You do have a silver tongue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t deny that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must know what seclusion within the Mana Heart entails… meaning that the act of retreat itself must benefit you in some way….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Muttering to herself, Clina suddenly stepped closer and grabbed both of my shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eugene!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind me, Rubia almost cast an offensive spell, but I managed to stop her with a quick gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then the answer’s simple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, black cross-shaped pupils bloomed within Clina’s crimson eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed hard, forcing myself to maintain a poker face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…So she’s going to see right through me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High-ranking evil spirits all possessed several kinds of Magic Eyes by default.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one she was using now was the Magic Eye of Clairvoyance—which meant she could see right through to the Mana Heart inside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would have already discerned my intentions for making that proposal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the clairvoyance ended, Clina’s face took on a strangely intrigued expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… So that’s how it is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, without warning, she grabbed me by the collar and lifted me high into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you thought to deceive me with that slippery tongue of yours, then you’re a fool indeed, human. Did you truly think I wouldn’t see through such petty schemes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was all part of the plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I subtly glanced behind me again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because of what I’d said earlier, Rubia and Meriel seemed to be holding their positions, waiting for my signal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though, judging by the way Rubia’s jaw was clenched, her patience was at its breaking point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, Gustav was smiling with visible amusement—so much so that he was starting to irritate me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Anyway.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was about time to provoke her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting her cold, condescending gaze, I bared my teeth in a faint, cutting grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your vision’s gotten pretty narrow, hasn’t it? Must be age catching up to you, huh, old maid Clina?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Do you think taunting me will change anything? You can’t even persuade me, and yet you think this is wise?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When someone’s blinded by their own greed and can’t see the bigger picture, what’s the point in reasoning with them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even high-ranking evil spirits tended to lose their temper when provoked this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was exactly what I was aiming for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The bigger picture, huh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, Clina released my collar, lowering me gently to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Impressive patience.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, she had ruled over those temperamental Banshees for more than three hundred years—patience was the least she’d have.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed to ponder for a few seconds before her eyes flashed again, locking on to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What exactly is your intent in saying that to me? You can’t possibly mean to lecture me about the treatment of evil spirits…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the uncertain look on her face, I said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s exactly what I mean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded as I spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d given her information and provoked her enough—it was time to move on to the real negotiation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s time we joined forces—to drive out our common enemy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Clina White—the former Queen of the Banshees and one of the mere eleven High-Rank Evil Spirits in existence—it was the first encounter with the unknown in sixty years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Alike, and yet so different from that brat Aleph.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she was aging now, she still remembered how eccentric and inscrutable Aleph Abdiel had been in his youth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that was only possible because he was a transcendental being who had mastered every defensive technique against all mental-type magic. Even so, Aleph had been a strange human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evil spirits and humans were like oil and water. Trying to force them to mix was folly—keeping one’s distance was the only sensible choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And anyone could keep their distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Aleph was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had gradually closed that distance, yet never once crossed the line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even once, in thirty long years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For that reason, she had acknowledged him as her sole understanding companion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she had believed, without question, that she would never meet another like him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until the day a frail young man, calling himself Eugene Carter, appeared before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aleph had been a mystery because his thoughts were unknowable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this man—he showed everything openly, yet she still couldn’t tell what he was thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a way, he was even stranger than Aleph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Could all of this just be a bluff?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No. Impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would’ve seen through it by now if that were the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A body weakened by an incurable curse, barely able to sustain a Mana Heart, couldn’t possibly resist her Magic Eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one thing was clear—he wasn’t lying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant… everything he said had been his genuine truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…A human of this era, sincerely seeking coexistence with evil spirits?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could that really… be possible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if to drive that question deeper, Eugene took another step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll be direct. Make me the bridgehead for a united front between humans and evil spirits, Clina.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was such a bold, reckless proposal that it actually drew a small smile to her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…And what do you gain from that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Peace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that utterly natural reply, she clapped—not in mockery, but in genuine admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone was crazy enough to say such a thing with that much confidence, then it was only natural for curiosity to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you insist that much… very well. I’ll play along with your little game.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll first have to prove your worth. Show me, through your power, whether you are truly fit to serve as Clina White’s subordinate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Simple enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Eugene assume a ready battle stance with a satisfied look, Clina inwardly shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Those four won’t be nearly enough.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now then, what kind of method will you resort to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Will you increase your numbers? Or make use of the Magic Tower’s internal systems? Perhaps an Artifact?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s see exactly how you intend to convince me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the answer he gave next completely shattered her expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-What?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak, creak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clatter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the ground, stained white bones began rising in droves—skeletal soldiers, one after another, charging straight toward Clina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud! Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A horde of skeletons had suddenly appeared, forming a battle line, while two mages in the rear unleashed a barrage of long-range spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clina fended off every explosion while simultaneously repelling the skeletons’ relentless advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skeletons summoned through necromancy did not fall easily. Even if shattered to pieces, the fragments reassembled, reforming into warriors once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I merely acted as the conduit, supplying mana to them. The actual combat was left to them—and to my soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, that didn’t make my role insignificant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Strategy and tactics are both parts of war, after all.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as one could strike the opponent’s blind spot, there was no need to choose one means over another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The decision was both rational and efficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Skeleton soldiers summoned by a human… how is that even…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clina, bewildered by the scene, tried to push her undead kin back, but the skeletal soldiers didn’t even flinch. They simply continued to press forward—unyielding, endless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how many she broke, they regenerated infinitely, scratching and denting even her sturdy, ethereal body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of answering her question, I pulled a small leather-bound book from my breast pocket—smaller than the size of my palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an item I had obtained during the assassination attempt some time ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thick cover bore the marks of a skull and beast’s teeth, and the inside was filled with erratic, illegible script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grimoire Oste, also known as The Book of Bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among grimoires, it was a lower-class Artifact, its abilities quite simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It summoned skeletal soldiers and allowed the user to command them freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using mana to summon skeletons—on the surface, that was all there was to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But if that were truly all, there’d be no reason for them to be this shocked.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most crucial principle was this—most humans couldn’t use grimoires at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To borrow the terminology from within the MAGA:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those with corrupted bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those with tainted minds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who have committed unforgivable sins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who have betrayed divine law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A person had to meet at least one of those four conditions to wield a grimoire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my case, my Mana Heart had been permanently tainted by an incurable curse—thus fulfilling the first condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even meeting the requirement wasn’t enough. To truly use a grimoire, one had to take another step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was… mental contamination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though temporary, it drastically heightened the risk of developing new status abnormalities—or worsening existing ones—while the grimoire was in use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For someone like me, whose body was already ravaged by countless withdrawal symptoms, it was tantamount to suicide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, it was a gamble worth taking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because right now, standing beside me, was none other than Rubia Magnus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since when…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring the stunned Meriel, Rubia had her wand fixed squarely on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warm light emanating from it was unmistakable—Holy Magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Divine Immunity, a spell that negated demerits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially against dark magic, it could essentially erase all demerits altogether.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an active skill, effective only while cast, but due to its versatility, it was among the most frequently used Holy spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gave Rubia a faint smile as she looked at me with that complicated expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you, didn’t I? You don’t have to hide it anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced briefly at Meriel and Gustav before fixing her gaze back on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I get expelled from Karbenna for this, you’ll take responsibility. Understood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That won’t happen, but sure, why not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then don’t mind if I do!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With newfound resolve, Rubia raised her staff with her other hand and aimed it straight at the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the radiant barrage of Spears rained down from all directions, I turned my eyes toward Clina once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weapons held by the skeletal soldiers had already been imbued with yet another layer of Holy Magic.\u003C\u002Fp>",1798,"2026-06-06T06:11:51.334Z",1,"novelbin.me","5d0a24cb3eb28ac11378304d8f91e0b70d04d8ffefe8163b38b63a317c684ada","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-59","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-57",163,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-cover.jpg"]