[{"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-8":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},1531715,1990,"Chapter 8 : If You Want to Resort to Force (3)","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-8",8,"\u003Cp>Chapter 8: If You Want to Resort to Force (3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I was wondering who would try to stop me… but this is unexpected.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought it would be either the Cadet Commander or the beast trainer nearby, or maybe Frederick—who still held a grudge against me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at Michel and tried putting all my strength into my restrained hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I expected, they didn’t budge an inch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Impressive.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some might say it was just a common remote spell, but as a seasoned veteran of MAGA, I could tell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might look simple at a glance, but this was far from easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a distance of at least a hundred meters, she had precisely and swiftly bound only my wrists, nothing else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless one had an exceptionally advanced ability to control mana, such a feat was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, she had done it without even blinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s got talent too good to be wasted as just a staff officer, even on a second look.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, assigning him as a combatant would be difficult since his area of specialization was too specific.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that there was any need to worry about that now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as I relaxed my hands, Michel withdrew her wand and released the spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That should be enough, Colonel Carter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From behind, she slowly walked down until she reached the front of the spectator seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wouldn’t you agree, Cadet Commander?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cadet Commander beside her glanced back and forth between Michel and me before nodding, looking dissatisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I already knew what that meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough? What do you mean by that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tilted my head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, so what you’re saying is… you were testing me, Cadet Commander?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rather than a test…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So this so-called welcoming ceremony was really a test in disguise. How childish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My tone dripped with sarcasm, and the irritated Cadet Commander snapped back, glaring at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What, can’t we test you? You wouldn’t want an unqualified man entering Karbenna either, would you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then you should’ve asked for my consent to test me in the first place. There was no need to trick me with something called a ‘welcoming ceremony,’ was there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that I’d actually been fooled, anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could argue back, I continued, cutting him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, I suppose it was a kind of initiation, huh? You probably wanted to see the washed-up veteran from the Special Task Force flounder against a low-rank beast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“H-Hey, Carter—no, Instructor Carter! That wasn’t my intent at all…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring the flustered Cadet Commander trying to save face, I looked around the stands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I joined Karbenna as an instructor to teach practical tactics. Not as a combatant. I trust you understand that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My words—bordering on admonishment—were followed by an uncomfortable silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the gazes fixed on me, a few clearly carried hostility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironically, the one who looked the most relieved was my old rival, Frederick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a faint sigh, I lowered my head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A short gesture of respect toward Michel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If there’s nothing more to discuss, I’ll take my leave now, Chairwoman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Eugene Carter left the scene, Michel Bernhardt rose from her seat with a light smile and exited as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other professors, seeing this, also stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a relief we avoided the worst-case scenario, but I’d appreciate not being dragged into things like this again. Well then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-Wait a moment, Nigel!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trainer, Nigel, left immediately after his beast regained consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubia Magnus sat for a while with a moved expression, then, realizing no one else was left, hurriedly rushed outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left alone on stage, the Cadet Commander clenched his teeth in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you, didn’t I? Don’t underestimate that Carter fellow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frederick, who had somehow come down to the stage, spoke calmly. The Cadet Commander rubbed his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I admit it. I was short-sighted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is only the beginning, Director.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…He still hadn’t learned his lesson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frederick almost said that but decided to stay silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even for him, Eugene Carter’s performance had been astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If things kept progressing like this, perhaps he’d get to see that man reform Karbenna sooner than expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Frederick simply nodded and turned away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll be looking forward to it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smile spread across his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six days had passed since the welcoming ceremony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current date was February 28th, one day before the start of the semester.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early in the morning, I was heading toward the Beast Habitat Zone with Rubia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m indebted to you again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh no, not at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could have complained at least once, but instead, she remained cheerful the entire time we walked—over two kilometers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She’s surprisingly sturdy, come to think of it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could occasionally feel her gaze on me, but I deliberately ignored it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fascinating, though.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know, the stereotypes. About beasts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assuming my silence meant interest, she continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean, it’s one thing for scholars like me, but I didn’t expect the Empire’s legendary war hero to take interest in classifying beast species.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you’ve hunted as many as I have, you tend to notice certain things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, the conversation paused for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the distance, a forest thick with spruce trees came into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not all beasts were harmful to humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The definition of a beast referred merely to a creature imbued with mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as it didn’t pose a major threat to humans, there was no need to stir unnecessary trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The existence of the ‘Beast Habitat Zone’ within Karbenna followed the same reasoning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, without understanding a beast’s nature, subjugating it was difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Data collected from relatively low-risk beasts was used to combat more dangerous ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the modern principle of beast extermination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At least, until the Apocalypse began in earnest.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A long, fence-like iron gate blocked the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From its surface upward, I could sense a faint flow of mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that, several spell formulas came to mind instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Touch it and you’ll trigger both an alarm and an electric discharge. A common setup.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling Eugene Carter’s memories, we headed toward a small control booth to the right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A neatly dressed man holding documents stepped outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Instructor Eugene Carter, Professor Rubia Magnus, correct?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From the time of entry, you’ll have a hundred and fifty minutes—so, it’ll close again at ten a.m. Please keep that in mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced at my watch and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the man went back inside and pressed a few switches, the mana enveloping the gate dissipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a loud metallic sound, the gate swung open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an excited look, Rubia grabbed my arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go, Eugene!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please, don’t pull so hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empire categorized beasts into three classes: Safe, Caution, and Dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Area 23, located between Building G and Building H, was a Beast Habitat Zone where only Safe-class beasts appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I should tread carefully for now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I had been quite lucky during the welcoming ceremony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My opponent had been a trained beast, and I’d already known the perfect strategy for the Benamaur Red Wolf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If things had gone wrong, I was prepared to use my trump card—the Magic Eye of Intimidation—and in the end, I had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s not something I can recklessly use again.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a highly useful ability when facing one or two low-rank beasts, but its effectiveness faded considerably against multiple opponents. The mana consumption was also significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as a ten-year veteran of MAGA, there were still things I didn’t know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had trained my stamina, strength, and agility every day without fail, but beasts were a different matter altogether.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a body I wasn’t yet fully accustomed to, I couldn’t predict what variables might arise when facing one directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was one of the reasons I brought Rubia along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her combat sense was notably lacking, but even so, she possessed far superior aptitude for large-scale engagements compared to me in my current state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we walked along the winding forest trail, Rubia’s eyes couldn’t seem to stay fixed on one place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her bright, clear eyes and innocent smile glowed even more beautifully in the sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I paused for a moment to give her time to observe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t seem to come here often, do you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Examining small herbs sprouting between the trees, Rubia replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My subjects are purely theoretical, so I rarely get to do fieldwork… and I’m a bit conscious of how the other professors might see it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I suppose that makes sense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professors of Beast Ecology or Herbology might wonder why she was so interested in something outside her field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that was Rubia Magnus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman who took as her motto, ‘There’s no such thing as meaningless learning.’—something that might sound corny to some, but not to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, as if suddenly remembering, she turned toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh dear, listen to me rambling. You said you were looking for something, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I handed her an old, crumpled piece of paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment she saw the circular shape drawn on one side, Rubia flinched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t this an Ironstone Snail?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. That’s what we’re looking for.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression immediately turned uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’ll be difficult. Their roaming range is too wide, and they’re small in size.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I figured as much, which was why I’d prepared something in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took out a small leather pouch carefully tied and kept in my inner pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Would this help?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the pouch gleamed a rough-textured, reddish iron ore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beasts of Caution grade and higher were generally hostile to living beings—especially humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some could detect humans even from five kilometers away and attack without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In such cases, there was no need to go looking for them—they would come for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was the opposite case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Safe-class beasts were rarely hostile toward humans, and even when they were, it was so subtle that one could hardly notice. Which made them much harder to find.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, we had to rely on other means to lure them in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Zeppelin Red Iron Ore” I had brought was precisely that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where did you get something so rare…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I asked an old colleague for help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To think that my old acquaintance Belfor had a side job as a collector of rare minerals—what a small world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, saves me money, so I can’t complain.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I had tried to buy it properly, it would’ve cost at least a gold coin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mana-infused ore soon began to emit a red glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After I finished channeling mana into it and placed it gently on the ground, a faint red dust began to rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All we have to do now is wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I led Rubia about twenty meters back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thankfully, the wait wasn’t long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubia pointed ahead and whispered excitedly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eugene! Over there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A snail the size of a pebble was waddling toward the red iron ore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its shell looked like a round rock reinforced with steel plating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The shiny surface—that’s made of red iron, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When hiding inside its shell, it looked like an ordinary stone. But the Ironstone Snail also utilized metallic refraction to enhance its camouflage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since these creatures lived their entire lives consuming the red iron components they were born with, opportunities to replenish them were rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For beasts whose survival instinct outweighed their hostility toward humans, this was an irresistible lure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, within twenty minutes, over a hundred Ironstone Snails had gathered near the ore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t think there’d be this many Ironstone Snails in this forest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced at Rubia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you restrain them for a bit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You mean, keep them from scattering?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Five minutes is enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubbing her lips thoughtfully, Rubia seemed to make up her mind and drew her wand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Paralyze Field.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A magic circle appeared on the ground, pulsing in a deeper crimson hue than the one surrounding the ore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, I dashed right up to the edge of the circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snails outside the circle scattered in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining ones—at least eighty—were still within range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That should be enough.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, I activated Mana Devour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Iron Body – D\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hardens the user’s body to be as durable as steel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…D-rank, huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering the beasts I absorbed were among the weakest of their kind, it wasn’t entirely surprising—but I couldn’t say I was satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At least, not with the rank.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, the Iron Body skill would be more than enough to intimidate the cadets and could also prove useful when training people like Francia or Rubia later on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Against beasts… I’ll need to reach C-rank at least.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond that point, they’d start seeing right through me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I was checking the skill, Rubia tidied up the area and retrieved the red iron ore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here it is, Eugene.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ore had shrunk to about half its original size.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I bowed my head slightly in thanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope I haven’t dragged you away from your class preparations too much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, no, not at all…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She waved her hands shyly, then her eyes suddenly brightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, what exactly were you trying to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! Don’t tell me—it’s to gather reference data for that new beast classification system the Empire’s been developing, right?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, she jumped to her own conclusions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… You could say that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t entirely wrong, so I went along with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubia muttered something under her breath, then made a small exclamation as if she had confirmed a theory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I knew it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knew what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Did I say something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feigning innocence, she casually hooked her arm around mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s hurry, Eugene! We don’t have much time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We still have more than thirty minutes left…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, any protest was pointless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She never listens in times like this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Matching her pace, I started mentally organizing tomorrow’s plans one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>",2306,"2026-06-06T06:11:51.613Z",1,"novelbin.me","84e891c2542f21e99868e5fec7c7d1f78611e868e90ef098e45c32e434c24cab","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-9","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-7",163,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-cover.jpg"]