[{"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-62":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},1531669,1990,"Chapter 62 : Preparations for the Summit (3)","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-62",62,"\u003Cp>Chapter 62: Preparations for the Summit (3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I left the chairwoman's office and was on my way back to the General Affairs Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prepared to kill….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frederick kept turning Michel's words over in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once a steel-blooded soldier, and at another time a fearsome devil instructor, he had reigned with terrifying power — but he, too, had grown older.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to Eugene Carter at the height of his power, of course he would be no match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that was only true of Eugene in his prime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn't the current Eugene Carter a completely different person?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was true that the man had achieved quite a lot in a short time after his return, but that was a separate matter from combat ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been shining more as a staff officer and administrator than as a frontline fighter; his physical condition was still likely close to the worst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what? I had to be prepared to kill if I wanted a good fight?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had that man recovered his physical capabilities that much? In such a short time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…No, that was impossible.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as the incurable curse remained plainly in place, there was no way he could return to his prime by any means.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how adept the Magic Tower was with magic, they wouldn't have the capability to cure an incurable curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Or did he think I would go easy on him?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, Frederick had considered holding back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Showing their full strength to a youngster who hadn't even recovered half of his former best would only turn into bullying a weakling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if he had raised his physical abilities by some unimaginably strange means that Frederick didn't know about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if the chairwoman had known that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Then, there was no need to decline.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frederick clenched both fists and smiled with self-satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blue gleam of mana shone vividly from his whole body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clatter, clatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the carriage entering the Bernhardt estate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a regular leave after six months, yet the servant Oliver had trembled with anxiety throughout the trip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I hoped it was nothing serious… but that probably wasn't likely.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He already knew the truth well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mistress, Chloe Bernhardt, never summoned her attendants for trivial reasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant the fact that the assassination attempt had failed had been discovered. There was no other reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…But who on earth?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were more than three hundred servants assigned to Karbenna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, the spies planted by the Bernhardts numbered around twenty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Working mostly on odd jobs and as guides, they collected information while moving about Karbenna and sent it to the Bernhardts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that way, the Bernhardts planted eyes and ears throughout the Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Bernhardt intelligence bureau compiled and passed it on, the main family figures would discuss the matter and take action — that was how the Bernhardt house operated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, not every piece of information went to the intelligence bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oliver absolutely did not want his clumsy judgment — which had botched things — to be known.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The negligence was clear; once it became known, he couldn't avoid responsibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a retainer of Chloe Bernhardt. His life and death were at her discretion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she had never shown mercy to any subordinate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the mansion drew near, Oliver's anxiety intensified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swallowed and fell into thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Would running away now help?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No — that would only make things worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would change nothing, and would only further provoke her wrath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had family, all of whom were subordinate to the Bernhardts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What good would it do to escape alone and survive? In return he would lose his entire family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, at least, it had to end with my life alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the best he could do in this situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oliver resolved silently to that and climbed the mansion steps alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he reached Chloe's private room, the younger attendant who had escorted him had tears in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My, my, this fellow. If someone saw him, they'd think he were going to die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha, but….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don't worry and focus on your duty. I'll speak well of you and you'll come out fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pretended not to see the long-time colleagues' gazes and stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This one time, he prayed she would show mercy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oliver, master,” he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened the creaking door as carefully as possible and went inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several glasses and bottles were irregularly scattered on the table; she had already drunk quite a few.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly half of them lay shattered on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Chloe tipped a glass, the wine inside trickled down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After pouring out the contents, she crossed her legs and said, “You know there's nothing more to say, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point there were no options left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Oliver went silently to the floor full of glass shards, knelt, and then pressed his face to the floor and cried out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't care that dirty dust and fragments dug into his skin; he bowed his head earnestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My life may be disposed of as you wish! But please spare my wife and children…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let out a snort as if the sight of him inflicting pain on himself amused her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you bargaining with me now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“N-no, of course not! I was simply….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh no.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this a mistake too?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe watched Oliver, whose complexion grew rapidly darker, and finally nodded as if unable to help it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Excuse me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will spare you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the unbelievable words, Oliver lifted his head briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wicked smile curved at the corner of Chloe's lips as she looked down at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Instead, you know the conditions, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The merciful mistress will graciously spare your family, but you must fulfill your part at least once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My part…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words, she slowly rose and moved toward the tea cabinet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Number one: kill Eugene Carter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took out a jewelry box from the deepest part of the tea cabinet and set it on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Number two, kill Michel Bernhardt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I opened the lid, there was a small gem inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, choose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A teal gem that would be a lethal poison to someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were many things to prepare before sending Walter back to Karbenna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um, are you really okay if I take all of this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We're only borrowing it for a short while. You know that, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt Meriel's piercing gaze from behind, so I quickly signaled Walter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He, as if nothing had happened, put on a showy smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I’m borrowing them. I’ll return them soon, so don’t worry, haha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walter happily packed herbs, potion bottles, and mana stones full of various magics neatly into the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed at the sight and averted my eyes for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubia and Eric were returning together just then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eric collapsed on the floor before they even reached the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, Rubia — who had been the mainstay of training — had only beads of sweat on her brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a performance that made it impossible to believe she had been unconscious from injury not long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…We did proceed without holding back like Eugene said, but was it too brutal for the second-years?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It probably was.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I didn’t much care. The person involved had wanted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Did she change her mind again in that time?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of the before-and-after, the fact she had been beaten badly by Francia hadn’t changed; she might have concluded this wouldn’t do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, with Eric as he was now, any change in him wouldn’t be a negative for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled satisfactorily at Eric, then began to urge Walter, who was lagging behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, if you’ve packed enough, you should get going.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Oh, okay, just let me grab this last thing….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get moving!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I kept snapping at him, Walter, unable to stand it any longer, snappily got his bag together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going! Whoever saw us would think we were from the Magic Tower, really!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were whining about losing your precious weekend not long ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sending Walter off with his grumbling, I thanked Meriel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for your cooperation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…With Gustav cooperating too, I couldn’t very well refuse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I still felt like he was taking too much, but….\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, what do you plan to use this junk for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at the leather sacks stacked outside the storage and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sacks contained all kinds of artifacts, irregularly packed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re all useless junk as far as I can tell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That all depends on how you use them. There’s no such thing as a useless item in this world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tower dwellers would treat artifacts strewn across the Tower as commonplace, but to me they were all raw gems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting the right user, a low-grade artifact could be transformed into a high-grade one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘For now, I needed to assign them to Karbenna.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t store all this by myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was too early to actively use them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I decided to package this as a token of friendship Mallet would be sending to Karbenna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After supporting Eric to his feet, we moved toward the outer wall of the storage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While quick-witted Rubia and Meriel began lifting the artifacts up together—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know why I called you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked Eric casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Was it to protect my person?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct. Did Walter tell you on the way here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, he didn’t… but it’s obvious. It’s probably for the same reason you’re not leaving this place, Instructor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He really was someone who understood words well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reformed Eric Halenber was quite useful to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would be best to keep him under my command if possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…but he had to make the decision himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise he would certainly have regrets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I briefly recounted what had happened during the trip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the whole story, Eric’s expression showed a bit of bewilderment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I find some parts rather odd.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t the Bernhardt response rather hasty and extreme for people of their standing? Even if the Instructor were a washed-up veteran who had lost all his prime strength….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A prickling sensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…even if he was being misunderstood as that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Eric avert his gaze subtly, I snorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the Bernhardts had truly been after me, they wouldn’t have contacted me in such a stupid way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much do you know about Chloe Bernhardt?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the name Chloe came out, his expression darkened far more than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’ve never met her personally, but my father always despised her. He said she was the most troublesome of the Bernhardt direct line I’d ever dealt with.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She apparently had a notorious reputation even within friendly Bernhardt factions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then persuasion might be easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I crossed my arms and got to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the Hokhma incident is made public at the summit, which target would be hit first?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quickly grasping my intent, Eric opened his mouth at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That would be the Halenber family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But that would be a huge loss even for them. The amount they earn from Hokhma distribution would exceed our imagination.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you saying the Bernhardts would defend our house?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On the contrary. They would begin searching for a family to replace you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, the moment this incident was publicized—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Halenber’s chance of recovery would become zero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you telling this to me, a member of the Halenber family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Eric’s natural question, I answered obliquely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If a tail is going to be cut off anyway, might as well have it bite the body hard once. Right?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1937,"2026-06-06T06:11:51.334Z",1,"novelbin.me","5c13ab32a0825de4092e060c0345108e48f6cdd9a97c776430c54741a665f679","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-63","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-61",163,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-cover.jpg"]