I’m Just an Ordinary Academy Student

26 – Adapting Student

“…Therefore, during this period, the empire’s more sophisticated system is established… um.”

The professor, deeply engrossed in the lecture, suddenly stops speaking.

Then, clenching his fist, he begins to stare intently at where the students are seated.

“…?”

“?

Even the students who were taking notes while listening to the lecture realize that something is amiss.

Soon, they turn their gaze in the direction the professor is looking.

“Mm-mm….”

With his head propped up, they discover a fellow student sleeping in a rather uncomfortable posture.

“There he goes again.”

“Hey hey, wake him up.”

Responding to the students’ urgency, another student nearby quickly wakes up the dozing one.

“Hey.”

Startled, the awakened student hastily acts nonchalant.

However, it was already after all eyes in the lecture hall were focused on him.

“Is it because of lack of sleep, or is it something else due to studying?”

“I, I apologize!”

“If you feel sleepy, don’t just sit there; stand at the back and listen to the lecture. That’s the minimum courtesy for a professor here.”

“I apologize!”

The professor, clicking his tongue and wetting his lips, once again focuses on the lecture.

“Again. In the early days of the empire’s foundation, there were numerous wars, big and small, incomparable to the present. The current Emperor, Constantinus II, expanded the territory to an extent that is beyond comparison. And the system he personally created at that time is none other than the Order of Honor.”

The highest honor bestowed upon those who showed heroic deeds on the fiercely contested battlefield.

As it was a system personally created by the Emperor, it has been strictly observed to this day.

Back then, just seeing the recipient of the Order of Honor was enough to feel moved, and people would even salute them.

Though not as much as in the past, even now, a recipient of the Order of Honor is undoubtedly a remarkable person!

“….”

“….”

Suddenly, the students turn their heads somewhere else during the professor’s passionate lecture.

One by one, then ten, in an instant, the entire classroom turns their attention.

Where the students are looking, there is a male student who was muttering and taking notes.

“…Well. Why.”

Clearly, he’s a senior who returned to school less than a month ago, and in that short time, he has displayed an extraordinary presence—a storm named the returning student.

“Student Kal.”

“Yes, professor.”

“If you’ve finished your notes, is it okay to erase them here?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

The returning student is currently in the midst of adapting to academy life.

*

This is driving me crazy. Seriously, it’s driving me crazy. Was note-taking always this difficult?

Maybe I stayed in the military for too long. My head and hands have definitely stiffened.

Otherwise, how could writing down the lecture content from the chalkboard be this difficult?

Oh, professor! You shouldn’t erase that! I haven’t finished writing it all yet!

“Damn… really, the aftereffects of the military service are too severe.”

Even the most talented person becomes an ordinary human after two years in the military, they said.

In that aspect, I, who was originally an ordinary human, have become anything but ordinary…!

“Hey, Riley.”

“Yes, senior. You called?”

“That… the notes I took a while ago. Can you show them to me?”

“The notes? Of course! Anytime!”

Hehe. Thanks, junior! I really appreciate it!

Fortunately, in my past life, there were those who restrained even such things.

Those cowardly trash who pushed aside competitors like this just to get better scores!

“Thanks, Riley. Seriously, thank you.”

“Oh, come on. What’s the big deal? If a Medal of Honor recipient asks, who in their right mind would refuse?”

“….”

When you say that, it feels like, ‘If you don’t help me, I won’t let it slide.’ Can’t you phrase it a bit more refined? No, don’t even mention the Medal of Honor!

Just say you wanted to help a returning student!

When I returned to the academy, I thought it would be fine as long as I wasn’t the idiot who enlisted right after getting discharged.

Unpopular returning student, not wanting to be too friendly senior. That seemed manageable.

But the reality is…

“Um, senior. By the way, did you really use a greatsword on the train because you thought bullets were a waste? Some knight keeps criticizing your marksmanship, but honestly, it doesn’t make sense for a Medal of Honor recipient to be bad at shooting. You even had remarkable achievements in the war!”

“…Yeah. It doesn’t make sense.”

Becoming a returning student with the title of ‘a crazy combatant with a Medal of Honor on his chest, a greatsword in one hand, an elf’s head in the other, and a pistol on the waist’ is quite something.

Now, if you add elf slayer or terrorist slaughterer to the mix… Oh well. People might mistake me for a villain. Huh? On the level of a mass murderer!

“A war hero wielding a greatsword instead of a gun because hostages were in danger. Wow… it sounds really cool.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

If you’ve experienced military life even a bit, you wouldn’t say such things.

Now, I really don’t know. Is it better to be an unpopular returning student, not wanting to be too friendly senior? Or is it better to be a returning student with a story, even if it means getting tired and entangled here and there?

Too much attention can make a person addicted unknowingly.

People inevitably demand attention, but that doesn’t mean I’m an attention seeker.

I just wanted to spend my time at the academy like everyone else, but what a mess this has become.

And the sadder part is, it seems like this is not the end, but just the beginning.

I try to convince myself, “It won’t happen. It won’t happen.” But I know it will. Probably.

Why is it that sad premonitions are never wrong? There’s even a really sad song lyric that goes, “Two people there. Enough with the small talk. Focus on the lecture.”

“Yes! Sorry!”

In the midst of it, my damn body reflexively responds as if in the military again.

It’s been well over two months since I was discharged. I thought I had left the military life behind.

I thought there might be a hint of civilian life, even if the smell of military rations lingers.

But here I am, still Sergeant Karl Adelheit of the Imperial Army…!

“…Afterward, the Empire experienced rapid growth and faced intense conflicts with neighboring kingdoms. The most significant conflict arose with the elves, particularly concerning the Great Forest, sparking border disputes between the Empire and the elves.”

Unlike my past life, here, borders aren’t just walls from start to finish, with barbed wire and all strategies operating 24/7. So, borders are natural obstacles, like rivers, lakes, or mountains. Among these natural barriers, there was a massive forest called the Great Forest in the southern part of the Empire.

The problem arose right here. The border, divided based on the Great Forest, was perceived entirely differently by the Empire and the elves. The Empire wanted the southern part of the Great Forest as the border, while the elves wanted the northern part. In other words, both sides wanted to claim the Great Forest as their territory. This led to chaos, with each side accusing the other of crossing the border.

It’s not like you can draw a clear line and say, ‘If you cross, you die,’ especially in a situation involving the Great Forest.

As time passed, instead of resolving, the conflict intensified.

“During this period, the first Great Forest battle marked the beginning of a long-standing conflict between the Empire and the elves. Subsequently, as the Empire achieved continuous victories, the elves experienced internal divisions between the hawks led by Luzence and the doves led by Haysence, advocating for a decisive battle with the Empire and peace with the Empire, respectively.”

The next repertoire is the same. Luzence provokes, the Empire reacts. Then Haysence tries to stop them, only to be outplayed by Luzence.

Oh, by the way, it hasn’t been more than 30 years since Haysence took control.

Until then, he was losing to the hawks every day, both in words and in strength.

It was only after the 8th Great Forest War, which I participated in before the Luzence War, that the situation changed.

Despite the elves generally looking down on humans, and Haysence facing several crises due to lack of early support.

Normally, conflicts between groups exhaust themselves, and resentment starts building up on the side that can no longer fight.

And Luzence’s elves were decisively defeated by our Empire in the 7th Great Forest War.

A highly trained knight is undoubtedly a formidable force.

A spellcaster without casting interruptions is a disaster in itself.

Being called a gun doesn’t make one invincible. That’s because the guns of this era aren’t automatic rifles.

However, undoubtedly, the advantages outweighed the disadvantages. It was enough to be an opportunity for a reversal.

And this is the result. The Empire and Heinz soared, while in contrast, Lusence plummeted.

‘Then, they somehow came up with the idea of causing terror to sow discord between the Empire and Heinz. Anyway, damn cunning bastards. You have to acknowledge their audacity.’

“As it became increasingly difficult for Lusence to achieve victory against the Empire, they recently changed their tactics. They planned to divert public opinion about elves among the Empire’s citizens by engaging in acts of terrorism against them. I remember there was an incident that almost happened this time.”

…It’s starting again. Huh? It’s starting again.

As soon as the bastards mention terrorism, my juniors all look at me again.

Especially Riley, right next to me, is practically shouting ‘Bravo’ with his eyes.

“To the hero of the Empire who prevented such incidents, let’s give a round of applause for a moment.”

At the professor’s words, the juniors applaud enthusiastically. The classroom might just collapse.

Um, but. Professor. If you’re already doing this, how about some extra credit instead of applause?

If that’s not possible, then at least slow down during the chalkboard writing… It’s overwhelming to keep up with the returning student….

*

“Karl!”

After finishing the lecture, Selena runs up from the front.

Seeing her receiving greetings from juniors, it seems something is going on.

“Karl, I’m really sorry, but are you available tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? When?”

“Late afternoon, or maybe even evening.”

“That should work. But why?”

“My brother really wants to see you.”

Ah. That perhaps… she’s talking about the person I rescued by chance.

“Is it okay to go?”

“Well, Karl, it’s your situation, but I hope you can. My brother really thinks he owes you a lot. Please.”

At Selena’s words, I unconsciously scratched the back of my head.

While others boast about doing great things, I feel embarrassed, to say the least.

Just because I did something crazy to save my squad members, things turned out like this.

Every time they pin a medal or call me a hero, it just makes me more uncomfortable.

“…Alright. I’ll see him once.”

“Oh! Thank you! Thank you, Karl! Really, thank you!”

However, the reason I couldn’t refuse is because I, too, understand that feeling.

I want to convey my gratitude, but there is no recipient, so I understand the sorry feeling inside.

“Those bastards. What’s the rush to go first? Can’t even say thank you for saving us.”

William, Thomas, Martin, Frederick, and the other squad members.

They were damn bastards. Damn impressive kids.