[{"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-87":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},1531694,1990,"Chapter 87 : Edel Ribenia (1)","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-87",87,"\u003Cp>Chapter 87: Edel Ribenia (1)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A weapon shop whose spire couldn’t even be seen from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can think of one place that fits that description….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A note delivered by no one other than Lea, ending with the words “your greatest puzzle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, it made sense to assume it was from Edel Ribenia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, I couldn’t help but remain cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Would the original Eugene Carter even know that place existed?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that Edel had chosen that location first was already surprising enough to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard to believe that a man as careless as Eugene would’ve known the whereabouts of a weapon shop among the hundreds scattered throughout the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After memorizing every single word written on the note, I burned it under the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s not without risk… but it’s one I’ll have to take.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite all the things I’d accomplished recently, I was still, at best, an instructor of Karbenna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone like me would hardly get another chance to meet Edel alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since there was no chance our paths would ever truly diverge, the sooner we made contact, the better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once that decision was made, I realized that the table before me was already filled with dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Since it’s decided, I might as well eat.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no telling what might happen later tonight, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the next thirty minutes, I indulged myself in the Imperial Court’s finest cuisine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The long, long day had finally passed its midpoint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the long and turbulent summit finally came to an end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the banquet hall of the Imperial Palace, where the royal family had gathered early the previous morning, the four direct members of the Ribenia bloodline assembled once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Edel was the last to step into the hall, Abel and Rachel, who had been waiting, both turned their gazes sharply toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel was the first to sigh in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gagging his mouth, my ass. That Eugene Carter or whatever his name is — his tongue might as well have wheels. What the hell was that supposed to be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, Abel spoke, letting his killing intent spill freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you gain from all this, huh? What profit could you possibly have made from this farce?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edel’s answer was firm — too firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Surely you didn’t think I’d take either of your sides?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said I’d make a decision after the summit — not that I’d choose between you two.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their faces twisted further, consumed by anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve gone insane, Edel Ribenia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think running one summit means the whole world’s yours? Don’t make me laugh. The moment this luncheon ends, every noble with a complaint will raise objections. Then we’ll have a perfect reason to take a step back. Too bad for you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And how many in the Assembly do you think will stand by your side, huh? You won’t even get to propose a bill, let alone pass one!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brilliant job, really. You already had a terrible reputation among the nobles for pandering to the commoners…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what’s your plan now? You’ve just made an enemy out of the entire Bernhardt faction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly! You’re completely screwed. You should’ve known your place, you arrogant fool.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t tell me you’re still deluded enough to think those beloved citizens of yours will support your position?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As if. If anything, they’d sooner bring down the Imperial Court itself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’d just chosen one of us and clung to our side, you could’ve at least saved your seat. What a pathetic miscalculation. Tsk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At times like these, the two siblings were in perfect sync.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the pair rained down their insults, Edel simply shook her head in disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is exactly why I can’t choose either of you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All you ever think about is how to benefit yourselves — how to preserve your positions. That’s your grand ambition in life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You dare…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abel, his rage surging to the tip of his head, drew his sword and lunged at her. Alix flinched and shrank back in alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edel drew the longsword at her waist and parried it effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Rachel raised her wand next, Edel drew her own with her free hand and deflected the gust of magic that followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the span of mere seconds, she had subdued both siblings, glaring coldly at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, but neither of you will ever beat me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The man I’ve chosen is aiming for something far higher than either of you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…A man? Don’t tell me… Eugene Carter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha! You mean that washed-up soldier with no status or fortune?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after being subdued, Abel arrogantly lifted his chin and barked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he’s aiming higher than me, the Crown Prince, what, does he plan to become Emperor? That fallen noble bastard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a goal far more magnificent than being Emperor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So let’s all do our best, shall we? No one knows what awaits us at the end of this journey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that final remark, Edel left the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tremor of excitement coursed through her body, so intense she couldn’t even feel the hunger rising from within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This time… could it really be possible?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No — she couldn’t jump to conclusions yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many variables had threatened her life up until now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no reason to believe this time would be any different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Even so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no doubt that a chance like this would never come again. So she grit her teeth once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was still so much to prepare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step by step, carefully, flawlessly — not a single second of error allowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then someday, perhaps she could reach it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ending known as “peace for all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, Edel Ribenia took a heavy step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night was slowly drawing near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I left the banquet hall with a full stomach, strangely, no one stopped me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced around and couldn’t help but murmur in mild admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I honestly thought they’d rush me immediately, but this is unexpected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michel answered casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“People tend not to mess with lunatics.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, you did destroy Halenber during the Hokhma incident, humiliated Bernhardt, poked the Imperial Army with the academy’s on-site report, and even crossed the Monastic Order. I wouldn’t want to talk to you either,” Lea added with a sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That drew laughter from all sides — even Frederick let out a quiet chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We returned to the lodging around 6 p.m., the afternoon fading toward evening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re staying until the end of the day, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right, Sir Eugene.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, there’s nothing for us to do if we go back to Karbenna right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hearing that from a training maniac is honestly scary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Michel’s lead, the seven of us decided to rest for one more night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a particularly strange decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Imperial Court’s regulations stated that lodging would be provided until the day of the closing ceremony, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We spent the day freely, congratulating each other on our victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I stayed quietly in my room — it was just that the others kept coming and going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, around 7 p.m., Lea Bronte came to see me alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock knock―\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Instructor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s open.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak―\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She opened the door just slightly, poking her head inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um… could we step outside for a moment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We went out of the lodging, slipped into a narrow alley, and found a quiet spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once she confirmed there was no tail, Lea stretched with a satisfied sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah― I can finally breathe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing my silence, she tilted her head, curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you always this quiet, or just when you’re around me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s not that I choose who to talk to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are people I find easier to talk with. You’re not one of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. Do you think that’ll make me sulk or something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pretending to be offended, Lea quickly dropped the act and gazed up at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As of today, I’ll be returning to the Imperial Court.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…As expected, it was about that matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought about telling the two juniors, but I figured it’d be better if only you knew.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They probably have a rough idea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh, really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After all, during the summit, the only one who openly sided with us was her. They’d already know you have some connection to the Imperial Court — so it’s obvious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh, if I’d known that, I would’ve said this back in the room!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She scratched her head in frustration, then locked eyes with mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the kind of honest talk one could only have at the very end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, at first… I resented her. I know it must sound strange to resent someone who was trying to help me, but…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I get it. To her, it must’ve felt like I took away the spot that was meant to be your first and last.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lea’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow… How does someone like you even understand that feeling?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve had a similar experience once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, in-game was a part I had to hide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gave a hollow laugh, staring into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Looking back, I don’t even know why I was so fired up. Her happiness was my happiness, and her goal was my goal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did I see in that lonely smile?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I realized it, I began to speak — words of advice, unbidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no result without process.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everything you’ve gone through — it all led to this result.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smile crossed my lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, you can be proud of yourself, Lea Bronte.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because thanks to you, your master achieved the best outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lea’s expression bloomed like a flower in full blossom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes, I will.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the brightest smile I’d ever seen from her, she bowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satisfied, I nodded and walked away without looking back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would probably part ways with many more people in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even so, I decided not to say goodbye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, we’d meet again eventually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I turned through the winding alleys, the wide main road greeted me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked up at the sky, watching the lines of carriages go by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the faint moonlight above, the spire of the Imperial Palace shone brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was heading back to District 5 — the place I’d visited a few days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My watch read 8:50 p.m.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…This should be it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slubis Weapon Shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of the peculiar layout of the nearby buildings, only the very top of the spire could be seen from here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a place that appeared often in the game — usually used for secret conversations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for good reason: most of the surrounding buildings were abandoned, and as mentioned before, this area was the largest slum in the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was almost no chance of a passerby overhearing us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spent some time inspecting the tightly shut door of the shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exactly as the clock struck nine—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you really found your way here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar voice came from the corner of the alley, as if it had been waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So, she’s still not ready to show her face yet.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Understandable — she probably wasn’t sure if we were being followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I responded in kind, keeping some distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you know about this place?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An old classmate from my Special Task Force days once introduced me. You?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, a similar reason. One of my maids was interested in this kind of thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A light exchange of probes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t jump straight to the main topic — instead, she brought up something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, how did you track down the insiders?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pure coincidence. One of the cadets in my class this year… got tangled up in some messy affairs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tangled up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two cadets in the same class were archrivals. I tried to resolve that — and that’s when I found out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s what that clash was for? The regular spar on March 2nd?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Francia Brida awakened her Aura Blade then, didn’t she? Honestly, I was surprised. I thought it was still too early for that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why does she know all that in such detail?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did Lea Bronte tell her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was she tracking Eric’s movements and happened to witness their duel — and reported the whole thing afterward?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No. That duel had nothing to do with Hokhma.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant there would’ve been no reason to report it — and even if she did, it would’ve been in the briefest possible form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eric dueled a classmate and lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was seriously injured and hospitalized. That would’ve been all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way she’d mention Francia on top of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, maybe she’d pieced it together naturally based on those earlier events…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I stood there silently, her voice drifted toward me as if answering my thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re wondering how I know so much, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She slowly turned the corner and stepped into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there she was — Edel Ribenia, in the flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking exactly like Lea Bronte.\u003C\u002Fp>",2171,"2026-06-06T06:11:51.334Z",1,"novelbin.me","d3ba3c7f27126ece8fcf2b6934f1de76d094fb7c4c2fa4427ceaa26f0e10c648","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-88","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-86",163,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-cover.jpg"]