I Became the Academy’s War Hero Chapter 67 : Three Hands (4)

Chapter 67: Three Hands (4)

That sa morning, inside the 4th-year, Class 2 dormitory.

Lea Bronte sat formally in front of her personal desk, in a posture that had long beco familiar to her.

Before her, the Tebrel Orb flickered intermittently in response to the voice on the other side.

“By tomorrow, your long dispatch will finally be over. You’ve worked hard.”

From the other end ca continuous words of praise, acknowledging her efforts.

And Lea’s reply was always the sa.

“…Not at all, I didn’t really do anything.”

“Don’t say that.”

“……”

She kept hesitating, unable to decide how to bring herself to speak.

The more she looked back, the more she couldn’t shake the thought that this mission had been far too great for soone like her.

Investigating the current state of Karbenna from multiple angles, and periodically sending reports.

Uncovering the status of Hockma addiction within Karbenna and collecting evidence that would aid her Master.

She had done her utmost to fulfill these duties, and the results had been excellent.

The only thing was—she hadn’t been the one at the center of it all in the end.

‘…So what does it matter?’

What mattered most to her was her Master’s happiness.

Seeing the one who had saved her be saved in turn—that was the entirety of her life.

So even if the one who achieved that wasn’t Lea Bronte, it shouldn’t make any difference.

Yet no matter how many tis she repeated this to herself, the lump pressed deep in her chest showed no sign of loosening.

After much hesitation, she finally forced the words out.

“…I’m only sorry I couldn’t be of more help.”

At that, silence followed from her Master’s side.

Lea, feeling uneasy, began to ramble things she didn’t even an.

“But things are going well now, aren’t they? My part ends here, but you’ll have new allies by your side soon… This ti, you’re closer than ever to the goal you told about, right? So then…”

So then, isn’t that enough?

She tried to push the words out, but her voice wouldn’t co.

Her eyes only burned hotter with the swelling emotion.

Then, at that mont—

“Lea.”

At the familiar voice calling her na, she clenched her teeth and swallowed her tears.

“No matter what anyone says, you’re my greatest ally, Lea.”

“……”

“Eugene Carter, Michel Bernhardt, Francia Brida. They’ll all be of great help to .”

But—

“In the end, they’re all just ans to bring to my purpose.”

What truly mattered was the heart.

Once that collapsed, nothing else would remain.

Edel Ribenia spoke with heartfelt sincerity.

“The one who supported my heart when it was about to break was you alone.”

“……”

“So now, stop worrying and rest, Lea. You’ve earned that right.”

Those words from her Master were like a trigger to Lea Bronte.

Sniff, sniff.

The tears that began to flow didn’t stop, falling drop after drop until every bit of pent-up emotion had been released.

By the ti her tear ducts had run dry, with her face a ss of tears and mucus—

Edel spoke again.

“Now then… your final mission.”

Eugene Carter, Michel Bernhardt, Rubia Magnus, Francia Brida.

“Return safely with these four.”

“……”

“Can you do that?”

“…Yes, Master.”

Lea bowed deeply, lowering her head to the floor in the full gesture of a servant’s respect.

After finishing my talk with Frederick, I shoved food into my mouth first thing.

‘The Magic Tower’s diet was way too healthy.’

Even when I ate with that bastard Gustav, the at was always placed only on my plate—and that happened just once.

Flock, being one of the Empire’s major border regions with its rugged terrain, wasn’t exactly blessed with a steady food supply.

And since the Magic Tower’s mages styled themselves as ascetics, lavish als didn’t suit their way of life anyway.

By comparison, Karbenna, which received full support from the Imperial Court and nurous noble families, naturally served far more luxurious fare.

As I chewed through the piles of at on my plate, I glanced around.

It was the academy cafeteria, filled with a mix of teachers and students.

My keenly developed hearing caught every trivial conversation passing between them.

Among those, what particularly caught my attention was a conversation between two upperclassn.

“Hey, do you think that rumor’s true?”

“You an that servant suicide case?”

“Yeah.”

“…It must be. Everything points to it, and there were quite a few witnesses.”

“Why would they do that, though? If they worked for the Bernhardts, it’s not like the pay was bad.”

“Co on, you really think it was a suicide? More like they were made to commit suicide!”

“What do you an by that?”

“Ugh… Forget it. Can’t even talk properly with you.”

“Aw, don’t be like that, tell !”

“No, seriously… Think about it logically. Why would a servant who’s been through everything at the strict Bernhardt household suddenly kill themselves? They must’ve been ordered to do it from above.”

“Wow… that’s crazy.”

“So people are saying it’s part of a political strategy.”

“…A ssage to Chairman Michel Bernhardt?”

“Yeah. Sothing like—‘We can dispose of even the servants you care about, so don’t overstep your bounds.’”

“…Guess we’re lucky we weren’t born in the Bernhardt family.”

“Yeah, right. I’d still love to be born as one of their direct bloodline, just once, and live in luxury.”

The two continued their heated talk, completely oblivious to how many ears were around them.

‘As expected of Karbenna. Rumors spread faster here than anywhere else in the Academy.’

There were so distortions mixed in, but the core of it was unchanged.

Outwardly, it was a suicide case, but in truth, it was nothing less than a warning aid at Michel.

‘If the rumor’s spread this far, there’s no hiding it during the summit.’

Of course, whether it would be openly discussed was another matter entirely.

I picked up two trays and handed them to a servant who was busily moving around nearby.

Just as I turned to leave, I ca across a familiar face.

“…Instructor.”

It was Francia Brida.

“Did your training go well?”

"Yes."

She scratched her cheek with a sigh.

"Honestly, I wanted to receive it directly from you, Instructor. That’s a bit of a sha."

"There won’t be anything like that next ti."

"…Yes, I’ll look forward to it."

It seed like she had sothing more she wanted to say.

I crossed my arms and asked quietly.

"Anything else you’d like to say?"

"…Ah, no. Nothing."

"Good."

Just as I was about to continue on my way—

"Um, Instructor!"

Francia’s voice called out once more.

"…Hm?"

Uncharacteristically, she had her hands clasped politely in front of her.

A bright, clear smile filled her face as she said,

"I’m really glad you’re safe."

Only—

Her firm tone was as characteristically hers as ever.

After a short rest following lunch, I headed to the Chairwoman’s office around two in the afternoon.

‘We both need so ti to organize our thoughts.’

All throughout the walk, one question filled my mind.

"How… did she manage to do it?"

It was a question that had lingered with ever since I left the Magic Tower for Karbenna, and one that still hadn’t been answered.

‘How did anyone get close enough to nearly kill Michel Bernhardt?’

A direct seat in the Bernhardt Family wasn’t sothing gained by blood alone.

A position so coveted ant it was one that anyone could target.

They had to live every day under the shadow of death.

Especially those whose position within the direct line was weaker.

Michel was one of those in the worst situation among them.

The number of people who had wanted her dead reached into the hundreds, and actual assassination attempts had easily exceeded a hundred.

Yet not one of those countless threats had managed to take her life.

Her instincts and crisis response, trained from childhood, were so sharp that even across all of MAGA, she had no equal. And yet—she’d been driven to the brink of death?

‘I doubt soone like Oliver could’ve pulled sothing like that off…’

Then was it Chloe?

If it was her, she could’ve managed to get hold of so colorless, odorless poison sohow.

But would the ever-cautious Michel have drunk tea without any suspicion?

At the very least, she would’ve told the servant, “You drink first.”

‘…In the end, I’ll have to hear it directly from her.’

Whether she’d tell the truth or not, though, was uncertain.

When I arrived in front of the Chairwoman’s office, there were more than five servants standing by.

The tallest of them approached and saluted.

"What is your business here?"

"I was summoned by the Chairwoman."

"May we perform a brief inspection?"

"Go ahead."

After a ticulous inspection, the servant retrieved the wand from my coat and handed it back behind him, bowing politely.

"We’ll keep this in storage for now. The Chairwoman ordered that no object that could serve as a weapon be brought in."

"Naturally."

When the inspector nodded, another servant knocked on the door.

"Colonel Eugene Carter has arrived by your summons, Chairwoman! May he enter?"

Yes.

A curt answer ca from inside.

At that, the five servants each drew their wands and unlocked the barrier magic sealing the door.

Creeeak―

Without hesitation, I opened the door and stepped inside.

The mont I crossed the threshold, the door swiftly shut behind again.

Michel sat in her usual seat.

The only difference was that she wasn’t buried in paperwork—she was staring straight at .

With a faint smile, she spoke first.

"Did your trip to the Magic Tower go well, Colonel Carter?"

"Yes. I also brought new information."

"…That the technology exchange with Duel Mallet has been resud, I suppose."

"…Yes."

So sharp—it almost sent chills down my spine.

Whether she noticed my thoughts or not, Michel tapped the table lightly before fixing her gaze on again.

"Why are you helping ?"

"……."

"You said you had no intention of becoming a Bernhardt puppet, yet you’re active in pushing for Karbenna’s reform. You said you’d live quietly, only caring about your own safety, yet you take on life-threatening missions without hesitation."

"……."

"It’s not for the Empire, not for Karbenna, and not for the Bernhardts. The one who gains the most from this… is you."

Taking my silence as agreent, she continued.

"Do you think we’re the sa? You, the eldest son of the lowly Baron Family of Parcel—one that’s on the brink of collapse—and I, the third daughter of the Empire’s strongest ducal house, the Bernhardts?"

That, I couldn’t agree with.

I dropped my poker face and t her gaze squarely.

"I’ve never once thought we were the sa, Michel."

"…Then why?"

"Because I want to use you."

"Use… ?"

"So, you should do the sa—use . Just as you’ve done so far, and continue to do so."

"…And after all that, what will you have left?"

That was a difficult question.

Honestly, I wanted to bare my true thoughts completely—but that would only invite deeper questioning.

So, for now, I’d leave it at that.

"As you know, my family is on the verge of ruin. Even if I wanted to attach myself to soone powerful now, I’ve got nothing to offer."

"So… you’re planning to attach yourself to instead?"

"I’m saying we should form a mutual front. After all, neither of us has anything left to lose, do we?"

"……."

This ti, it was Michel who fell silent.