[{"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-68":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},1531675,1990,"Chapter 68 : Assembly (1)","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-68",68,"\u003Cp>Chapter 68: Assembly (1)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer I received from Eugene Carter was so straightforward that it momentarily made me feel refreshed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michel habitually tapped the desk as she remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t as if she had never had loyal subordinates of her own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, they too had families and people they loved. As time passed, her faithful aides either hid themselves away, betrayed her, or disappeared altogether.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time she reached adulthood, Michel was convinced she was completely alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why Carter’s proposal now sounded perfectly rational to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not for Michel Bernhardt herself, nor for her personal goals… but for the shared cause of rebuilding the family—a coalition based solely on mutual benefit, each side using the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But then… why?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did it feel like there was no sincerity at all behind his words earlier?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is it that he can’t say it, or that he simply won’t?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, it didn’t change the fact that she no longer had any choices left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So instead of answering, Michel slowly rose from her seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, what needed to be done had already been decided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Follow me, Carter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We headed toward the private chamber located in the very back of the spacious Chairwoman’s office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Didn’t think she’d actually let me this far in.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was true that I had played a part in saving her life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it had been Walter who led the treatment, and Frederick who had done most of the damage control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, for her to lead me into her private chamber….\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A gesture of sincerity on her part… or perhaps a mark of ownership.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No turning back once you’ve entered—an unspoken warning that escape from her grasp was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, that was fine by me. It was what I’d wanted, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once inside the room, Michel first locked the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the meantime, I brought up the one thing that had been bothering me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s just one thing I’d like to ask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, I can’t believe someone like you nearly lost your life to such a sloppy trick.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What exactly did the enemy do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good question.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of replying, she walked over to the display cabinet in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the top shelf were several small vials, each no larger than two joints of a finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she ran her eyes over the rows of glass bottles filled with colored liquids, she finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Magic Eye of Sharos, a top-tier ocular magic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did she just say…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With this eye, poisons don’t affect me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Which means.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If neither assassins nor poison can touch me, then you can probably guess what the enemy’s only remaining option was, can’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eye of Sharos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the highest-ranking “Perceptive Magic Eyes.” Those who possessed it could see poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although toxicity was defined by dosage, the Eye of Sharos classified it by color—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the closer to white, the safer the amount; the closer to black, the more fatal, and utterly forbidden to ingest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The poisons she had stored here must all be of the deadliest kind—potent enough to kill even in minute doses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone like Michel possessing a Magic Eye.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main characters of MAGA each had at least one core principle guiding their actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia Brida—revenge and perseverance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubia Magnus—theory and curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edel Ribenia—salvation and insight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karen Rosefield—discipline and faith.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And finally, Michel Bernhardt—vigilance and suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter the path of growth they chose, those traits never changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michel had been born steeped in vigilance and distrust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without a Magic Eye, she could have neutralized most assassination attempts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with the Eye of Sharos as well, no matter how powerful her enemies were, there was nothing they could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And yet, someone managed to push that Michel to the brink of death….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By process of elimination, there could only be one explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That only made it harder to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was I missing something?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would that person try to kill you? That person is your—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s far enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Michel’s sharp interruption, I instantly shut my mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Focus only on our matter. I’ll take care of my own problems.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since your curiosity’s more or less satisfied, let’s drop the subject there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s get to the real issue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She reached beneath a small wooden table, past the cabinet lined with poisons, and pulled out a small wooden box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After disabling the layered locking spells on it with her wand, she unlocked the silver clasp with a key she had kept on her person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the box were four items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took out the largest, thickest stack of papers among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t tell me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Hockma Distribution Ledger. Records of distribution from February to April, Year 41.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of the cover was the name and seal of the supervisor in charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「1441.02~04 C―3 Distribution Log | Class-1 Confidential\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Supervising Officer | Chloe Bernhardt」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After quickly skimming through its contents, I couldn’t help but let out a laugh of disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…And she thought she could deny everything with this kind of evidence lying around?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again, that idiot probably didn’t even realize the ledger had been stolen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I am curious how she managed to steal it, though.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michel wasn’t known for forgery or manipulation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it had been the work of an ally she’d cooperated with at the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After flipping through to the last page and memorizing its contents, I handed the ledger back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You should reveal this evidence yourself at the decisive moment, Chairwoman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The decisive moment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, I almost forgot to mention it. Actually…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I briefly explained the public hearing that Eric Halenber and I were planning—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the outline of the trade dealings within Karbenna, the physical proof, the people involved, and the witnesses we’d secured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michel’s expression stayed mostly calm as she listened, though her brows furrowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I had a rough idea of what was going on, but I didn’t expect things to have gone this far off the rails. Interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Are you sure it’s all right to make this public?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if I told you not to, you’d still go through with it, wouldn’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, that’s true….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She leaned against the table, letting out a faint sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rotten flesh has to be cut away. There’ll be bleeding, but if that’s the only way to survive… then all we can do is struggle through it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…There’ll be room for leniency, I think. That’s what the Technology Exchange Agreement was for, after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Chairwoman of Karbenna, even if it hadn’t been intentional, the sin of having turned a blind eye to the Hockma Incident was heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But by now, Hockma had spread not only within Karbenna but across the entire Empire. Karbenna couldn’t be treated as an exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we drew sympathy through Eric’s and the witnesses’ honest confessions, and steered the focus toward the root issue—the distribution of Hockma—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then perhaps half of the arrows of criticism aimed at Michel could be deflected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And more importantly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Edel learned that I was siding with Michel, she would have no choice but to lend her support to this side as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncrossing my arms, I continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll make sure you’re not demoted, no matter what.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Karbenna’s restoration can’t happen without you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something in her expression changed at those words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michel met my eyes squarely, then grasped my right arm firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…If I had to choose someone to stand with, then…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was the faintest hint of a smile on her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I like you too, Carter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That smile was both unlike her and yet so quintessentially her, that I couldn’t help but steel my resolve once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mind must always remain calm and still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When distractions creep in, the sword loses its edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you can’t do it right, it’s better not to start at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t forget, Francia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The greatest weapon I ever forged—was you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thick wooden training pillar split cleanly, as if it were made of tofu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia took a deep breath, staring quietly at the mystic light glimmering along the edge of her sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade that extended straight from the hilt was woven from the fabric of mana itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword that had shredded the pillar to pieces faded into dust not long after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching that sight in silence, she sank deep into thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tomorrow was the day of the Summit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was where many things would begin to change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fate of the Halenber Family, who had played a part in the downfall of the Brida Family, would be decided there as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t exactly satisfying—but it was, at least, a liberating end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then why…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did she feel so uneasy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because once Halenber fell, that man’s situation would become uncertain as well?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what of it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever happened to him had nothing to do with her—honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or was she, at this point, trying to feel pity for him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just two weeks ago, she had been burning with the will to kill him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew the hidden truth now, but that didn’t erase the sins Halenber had committed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Francia personally, and for the safety of the Empire, they were a family that deserved annihilation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether he intended it or not, Eric had benefited from their protection and privileges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as a whistleblower, escaping punishment would be difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Francia, who had been consumed by vengeance and focused only on training, knew full well of Hockma’s infamy—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and what awaited those involved in it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A minimum of five years in prison—and in severe cases, execution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, execution was too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wouldn’t let him meet such a miserable end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once her mind was set, there was no reason to hesitate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia sheathed her sword and swiftly turned toward the exit of the training grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there, right before her eyes, stood Lea Bronte.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you were here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I’d gone by the dorm first, we might’ve missed each other.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her breathing was rough as she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Were you looking for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I’ll explain the reason later—no time right now, so I’ll get straight to the point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lea extended her right hand and got to the heart of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want you to come to the Imperial Palace with me, Francia Brida.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia froze. She understood perfectly well what those words meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The Imperial Summit? Me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t you curious what’s going to happen to Eric Halenber?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know you might never see him again, right? Are you really fine with that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words pierced right through her heart, and Francia instinctively shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll take that as a yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lea gave a small grin and grabbed Francia’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Francia followed without protest, only asking cautiously after a while,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um… how did you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m good at picking up on things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly running, the two of them soon arrived before the office of their supervising instructor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar name was written on the plaque.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Practical Combat Instructor No.3 – Eugene Carter」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knocked on the door together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock knock―\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Lea Bronte. I’m here with Cadet Francia Brida. May we come in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And before getting an answer, Lea turned the knob and opened the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak―\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry for barging in. There’s something we wanted to re—uh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both girls froze the moment they stepped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because, instead of sitting at his desk preparing for the Summit as they expected, Eugene was standing on his hands against the left wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What took you so long?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, kids these days really didn’t know the value of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still upside down, he bent one arm and began doing push-ups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After about thirty reps alternating arms, he flipped through the air and landed gracefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hoo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letting out a short breath, Eugene gestured toward the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First thing’s first—why don’t you close the door?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1994,"2026-06-06T06:11:51.334Z",1,"novelbin.me","387316f0269c9aec3b3c2a670371877dd6211acf45d780f3362e0212fb26c241","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-69","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-67",163,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-cover.jpg"]