I Became the Academy’s War Hero

Chapter 5: That’s Not What I Want (2)

Michel’s eyes flashed sharply as she glared at me.

‘It’s fine to get straight to the point, but…’

Isn’t this a bit too fast?

That thought crossed my mind, but my confusion didn’t last long.

I looked straight into Michel’s eyes and spoke.

“What kind of answer do you want from me, Madam Chairwoman?”

At that, Michel lightly touched the corner of her lips as if intrigued.

“…Interesting, you.”

She folded her arms and glared at me again.

“Go on then, tell me what it is I want from you.”

As expected, she wouldn’t let me off easy.

‘…Alright, what should I do?’

Should I give her the answer she wants, or should I try to probe her a little more?

If I openly side with her, it’ll become troublesome later when dealing with the Imperial Princess.

But siding with the Imperial Family also isn’t an option — Bernhardt’s influence here in Karbenna can’t be ignored.

‘For now, I’ll just leave some room for interpretation.’

I hardened my expression and narrowed my eyes.

“Don’t you want to use me to keep the Imperial Family in check?”

“Correct.”

Michel placed both hands on the desk and continued.

“Weren’t you expecting that from the start, Colonel Eugene Carter?”

“……”

She wasn’t entirely wrong.

The original Eugene probably would have agreed enthusiastically.

Arrogant as he was, Eugene Carter had once been called the Empire’s future and had even received the Medal of Honor.

Even if he’d suffered irreparable damage and had a rotten personality, shouldn’t a soldier who’d contributed that much be given at least some respect?

Yet the Special Task Force had coldly thrown him away — because they no longer needed him.

After being worked to the bone on the battlefield, that was how he was treated when he returned. It would’ve been stranger if he hadn’t felt betrayed.

In the end, he’d drowned himself in alcohol and drugs, choosing the path of self-destruction.

It was obvious that neither the Imperial Family nor the Task Force would treat him any better, so only one path remained open.

Anyone in this world who didn’t know the truth about my possession would have thought the same.

That Eugene Carter had come to Karbenna to take revenge on the Imperial Family and the Task Force.

The woman in front of me, Michel Bernhardt, surely thought the same.

Unfortunately for her—

‘That’s not what I want.’

After choosing my words carefully, I answered firmly.

“Wouldn’t it be Bernhardt, not me, who benefits from restraining the Imperial Family?”

Michel looked surprised, clearly not expecting that to come out of my mouth.

“…That’s a bit unexpected. Considering what the Imperial Family did to you, I thought you’d be full of resentment.”

“Of course, I resent them.”

“Then why…?”

“But would that change anything? My lost power won’t return, nor will the honor I was stripped of.”

I shook my head weakly, letting my hands fall to my sides.

“I intend to live only caring about my own well-being.”

As I stepped back, Michel’s expression slowly hardened.

Tap, tap-tap.

She rapped her fingers against the desk in a familiar rhythm.

“Tell me what you want, Carter.”

This time, Michel offered the carrot before the stick.

I put on an innocent look and replied playfully.

“What I want? Didn’t I just say it? To live peacefully and mind my own comfort.”

“If your goal was a quiet life, there’d be no reason to step foot into this Demon Realm.”

“……”

She had a point.

When I stayed silent as if pricked by the remark, the Chairwoman smiled faintly and extended her hand.

Then she made a new proposal.

“If you cooperate with us… we’ll return the power and honor you so desperately wanted back—along with wealth.”

To some, that would be an offer impossible to refuse.

Since this came from Bernhardt herself, it wasn’t a proposal—it was a threat.

The man before her surely understood that all too well.

Even those not from the Empire knew of the Bernhardt family’s influence and notorious reputation.

And the fact that Bernhardt’s third daughter currently held the reins of Karbenna only made the situation clearer.

Even if there were ulterior motives involved, refusing this demand would be anything but wise.

It was common sense — something even a seven-year-old child from the neighborhood would know.

Having delivered her decisive line, Michel looked at Eugene with confidence.

And Eugene’s response was—

“I’m sorry, but…”

He carefully placed both hands over hers and shook his head.

“I have no intention of becoming Bernhardt’s puppet.”

Then he let go, leaned on his cane, and stood.

“…That’s unfortunate.”

That was an answer Michel had never expected.

“I thought someone like you would become a great asset to us.”

“I’m only sorry I couldn’t meet your expectations.”

“You may go.”

“Excuse me.”

Eugene gave a polite nod and slowly walked out.

Just as he was about to open the door, Michel suddenly called out, as if remembering something.

“Ah, wait.”

“Yes?”

“Come to the special training hall this evening.”

“The… training hall?”

“There’s a welcoming event for new instructors. Be there by seven.”

“…Understood.”

Though his expression was puzzled, Eugene didn’t ask further questions.

After he left the Chairwoman’s Office—

It hadn’t been more than a few minutes when another knock sounded from outside.

“This is Oliver, Madam Chairwoman.”

“Yes.”

The man who entered was the middle-aged aide who had been standing outside earlier.

Bernhardt’s longtime servant — Oliver.

He strode briskly to the desk and immediately asked,

“How was he? Colonel Carter.”

Michel leaned back in her chair and asked casually.

“He refused.”

“…Pardon?”

“I thought he was a fool with nothing but talent, but I guess that wasn’t the case.”

There was even a trace of relief in her voice.

Oliver crossed his arms and tilted his head.

“What do you plan to do after that?”

“What can I do—watch.”

“You two know our intentions now. He’ll surely try to contact the Imperial Family.”

“Let him.”

“…For future trouble, it might be better to eliminate him, Madam Chairwoman.”

“Leave him be.”

“We’re in Karbenna after all. An assassination could easily be covered up…”

At that moment—

Crunch!

Oliver’s mouth twisted like a pretzel.

He clutched his face in pain and rolled on the floor as Michel looked down at him expressionlessly.

Her once-bright green eyes dulled as her ability activated.

She closed her eyes softly and sank into thought; ideas linked one after another.

“Even a washed-up man has pride; he may not like being treated like a puppet….”

Something about it didn’t sit right.

‘I can’t believe he was holed up for six years on drugs.’

How on earth had he come back to reality?

Had he gone through some life-altering event?

“…I should check.”

It was nearly impossible that the Imperial Family hadn’t interfered.

Even if Eugene himself hadn’t noticed, they surely left a trail.

We needed to find out what they wanted from Eugene Carter so we could eliminate any possible variables.

About three minutes passed.

“Ku… kuu… Mi, Michel—!”

Oliver crawled on the floor, thrashing desperately.

He was near asphyxiation.

“Oh, I forgot to release it.”

She snapped her fingers and the magic binding the servant was undone.

Tears, snot, and drool streaking down his face, Oliver gulped air while Michel snorted derisively.

“I wish you knew your place, Oliver. If you came as a watcher, then just watch—why keep sticking your nose in?”

“……”

Michel rose and pointed to the filthy floor.

“Clean this up properly and wait outside. Make sure nobody comes in for the next hour.”

Saying only that, she headed into the inner private room.

Bang!

When the door slammed loudly, Oliver slowly got to his feet.

He took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face, then quickly inspected the marble floor.

Still, his gaze stayed fixed on the private room.

When he finished tidying, he took a sign from a utility closet and left the Chairwoman’s office.

After hanging the sign on the main door and casting a sealing spell, Oliver pressed the lapel of his coat.

A mana-responsive transmitter stuck there activated.

“Madam Chairwoman Michel appears to have noticed our infiltration. I beg you to issue further directives.”

…Vena Bernhardt.

Leaving a short call sign, Oliver snapped off his badge and carelessly tossed it away.

He glanced around, then hurried off to the left.

***

Only after I had safely connected with the two heroines and completed the entry procedures at Building G did my morning schedule finally end.

My lodging in Karbenna was room G-403; the rooms beside it were vacant.

13:10.

I dragged my stumbling body to the bed and collapsed face-down.

Thud—

“My lower-body strength is worse than my upper body, damn it.”

I could cover for lacking physical ability with mana, but I couldn’t even use that properly yet, which was maddening.

But quitting just because the conditions were unfavorable was for newbies.

Only by producing results under the worst conditions and highest difficulty could one call oneself seasoned.

I checked the newly updated schedule after arriving in Karbenna.

[Regular Schedule Status: Physical Training (1/200), Academic Research (0/100), Mock Battle (0/80), Faculty Meeting (0/120), First-Half Classes (0/?), Second-Half Classes (0/?)]

“The curriculum will update the class content once finalized….”

My gaze slid slowly downward.

[Irregular Schedule Status: Orientation (0/2), Imperial Delegation Meeting (0/1)]

There were just over two weeks left until the Imperial Delegation Meeting.

That needed preparation, but it wasn’t urgent to the point of panic.

By elimination, the remaining keyword was “Orientation.”

My lips twitched into a smile the moment I read it.

‘Time to teach those arrogant elites some manners.’

I’d assert dominance right from the start.

I propped myself on my cane and stood.

“By the way, what’s this ‘new instructor welcome’ thing?”

I’d never heard of such a thing in Karbenna.

I was certain it wouldn’t be normal.

That faint smile Michel had shown at the end hadn’t helped my confidence either.

“…Looks like they want to throw an extravagant initiation party for a washed-up ex-Special Task Force member.”

Judging from the personalities and positions, it probably wasn’t something she herself had pushed.

Frederick Lake could be a candidate given our earlier argument, but he wasn’t the type to pull such a petty stunt.

Whoever organized it was none of my concern.

“If they want a show of skill, then I’ll give them a blade dance.”

I muttered with a smile full of determination, then immediately dropped into a squat.