I’m Just an Ordinary Academy Student

44 – Ah! Hero! Ah! Carbonated Water!

The festival was over. There was a slightly strange incident on the first day, but it passed smoothly.

The academy once again began to squeeze the passion for learning from the students as the Ivory Tower of the Empire.

“Midterm exams are just around the corner. Are you all looking forward to this, students?”

Students who saw a devil in the professor’s laughing face clenched their teeth.

Discussing exams right after the festival is a bit too much.

There are still two weeks left, so why use the expression ‘just around the corner’?

As the students of the academy left the joy of the festival and returned to their studies.

Self-proclaimed ordinary returning student Carl found himself in a difficult situation due to the expected incident.

“Senior, what happened on the first day?”

“That? It’s just that the booth was a mess inside.”

“Did Senior Carl climb on top and block with his fist…?”

“Oh, come on. I’m not that violent, junior.”

“Is it true that Senior tried to attack someone?”

“What the hell. That’s nonsense… Well. Junior, do you want to die?”

The last part sounded seriously threatening, but it wasn’t entirely untrue.

In fact, the act of climbing on top looked very much like an attempt to attack.

There was no talk about it during the festival, so he thought it had passed without incident.

He thought Shurifen, Wilhelm, Alexander, and Joah covered for him in time.

But it was a mistake. It was just because of the festival that it seemed that way.

There were more important things than mumbling about uncertain events.

However, as the festival came to an end and they returned to their daily lives, the events that had occurred began to slowly spread.

Thanks to this, the most uneasy department at the moment was not the Special Forces, but rather the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

“If the kingdom and Hyzens make an issue out of this, it will be exhausting!”

They had long anticipated what the Ruzens would be up to.

They even knew that they would target students from the empire rather than imperial officials.

Yet, the empire took no action, instead opting to wait.

Ultimately, taking advantage of this opportunity, they succeeded in eliminating the leaders of the Ruzen group.

However, with the unfortunate revelation of the operation, there was an increased likelihood that they would get closer to the truth.

If this happened, the empire could face criticism for using officials from other countries for its own benefit.

In reality, they didn’t really care about the criticism; it was something that always happened.

What the Imperial Foreign Affairs Ministry was concerned about was the possibility that the pro-imperial factions of the two kingdoms might falter due to this incident.

If the hardliners gained influence, the carefully cultivated relationships could be distorted.

As a result, the relevant ministers hastily convened, and the following decision was reached.

– The Ruzens instigated the incident to create a rift between the empire and the two kingdoms, as well as Hyzens. –

– The Imperial Special Forces were too preoccupied with preparing an operation to ‘coincidentally’ eliminate the Ruzens’ leadership to pay attention to that aspect. –

– It could have been a major disaster, but a person who ‘coincidentally’ saved foreign officials emerged. –

– That person was none other than the decorated hero, Karl Adelheit! –

If Karl had not intervened, there would have been a catastrophe.

One might wonder why things kept escalating when he just wanted to quietly resume his academic life as a returning student.

Honestly, even the war-oriented ministers couldn’t hide a sense of gratitude towards Karl.

But from the ministers’ perspective, the problem was that there were no better alternatives.

Unless it was Karl. Unless it was the decorated hero who not only prevented terrorism but also the tragedy at the academy.

He, a returning student at the academy, simultaneously a seasoned soldier who survived on the front lines, was a two-digit number in the long history of the empire’s decorated heroes.

It was not a problem at all that such a person, enjoying the festival, ‘coincidentally’ intervened.

He thwarted the train terror and the tragedy at the academy. Since then, he decisively influenced the future direction of imperial diplomacy not once, but twice.

But if Karl wasn’t hailed as a hero, then who could be chosen?

The discussion about overlapping decorations suddenly gained momentum.

If only they could cover up this incident with overlapping decorations, it would be a very welcome development.

“How about emphasizing that our empire did its best for the kingdoms and the Hizenst side through Student Karl?”

“It seems like a suitable narrative. Going so far as to decisively stand for foreign students, even an ordinary student. Just doing this will make the position of our empire so firm that it cannot be shaken.”

“Well… isn’t it a bit too much?”

“He’s already a recipient of the Medal of Honor. It’s just adding more honor to someone already prestigious. It won’t cause any problems or harm to Student Karl.”

Even bestowing the Medal of Honor once would eternally inscribe that name in the history of the empire.

But duplicate honors? That has never happened before. And it was considered impossible in the future.

Yet Karl Adelheit achieved it. Unprecedented. Perhaps it could be the first and last time.

Such opinions made even the Minister of War, ‘Is that so?’ and had no choice but to be convinced.

And the one who put an end to the ministers’ opinions appeared and spoke.

“It would be good to summon him to the palace. That way, both kingdoms and Hizenst will realize how crucial Student Karl’s role was in this matter. Furthermore, we will learn how our empire thinks about and deals with foreign students from other countries.”

The Imperial Crown Prince, Lufreheit Ragnar. He began to take the forefront.

*

While the Special Forces were hunting down hidden rebels domestically, Eloise faithfully carried out her mission.

Advising them, sometimes going out to the field with them to relieve stress.

And the most important task, transporting some of the Rosenz leaders to the Hizenst side.

“Now, can I finally take a break? We won’t stir up trouble here anymore, will we?”

For almost a month, she worked tirelessly day and night without a single day off.

It wasn’t a joke anymore. She really needed to rest now. Her face was pale, and she felt exhausted.

Her smooth and resilient skin had lost its luster. If she worked any longer, she might really die!

If the higher-ups have any conscience, they won’t exploit themselves any longer.

Kanf is Rosenz, not Hizenst. As an elegant and considerate elf, he surely won’t do that!

[ I will assign the next mission. ]

“Ah, damn. Give me a break!”

It was only natural that Eloise’s mouth spat out curses as soon as she heard those words.

“Are you kidding me now?! I worked my ass off for a whole month! The total sleep time in a month might be just two days! Look! Dark circles under my eyes!”

Grabbing a squirrel, Eloise brought it close to her face.

[ It shows, Eloise. So, clean up your face. ]

“I can’t say that when it shows! Just sitting and giving orders, you don’t know the field is dying, do you?!”

[ Some of the Rosenz leaders we transported are missing, close to the chief. Investigate them to accurately understand what happened. ]

“Why should I investigate when it’s clear that those imperial guys did something.”

[It’s unexpected. Certainty is preferable.]

Sigh—

Eloise, exhaling heavily, nervously scratched her head.

It’s irritating when there’s no room for error. Just as she said, nothing is better than certainty.

Moreover, it’s a matter of great importance that could have twisted the relationship with the Empire.

“But this is crossing the line. They clearly said they would give us a break.”

Her insides bubbled with frustration. It’s too different from what was agreed upon initially.

She took up the position of a commander, reassured that rest and time off were guaranteed.

If the terms of the contract keep changing like this, it’s only natural for her to be angry.

And naturally, this anger and irritation were squarely borne by the Rosen’s captives.

“Crack! Clang! S-Save me! Save me!”

“Shut your mouth. You won’t die. Don’t worry.”

Among the things introduced from the Empire into Elven society is something called ‘carbonated water.’

Initially, some questioned why they would spend money to buy and drink such water, but they soon became captivated by its taste.

There was nothing else that could replace the refreshing sensation that came upon drinking it.

Ordinary elves began to drink it like water, captivated by the new beverage.

In the meantime, some individuals discovered new possibilities for this carbonated water.

“Come on, drink it all in one go.”

“Gah! Clang! Clang!”

Eloise called it a method to obtain desired information through “a slight stimulation.”

And, to put it plainly, it’s just continuously pouring carbonated water into the nostrils.

It wasn’t a torture method involving scraping off flesh or breaking bones. Just pouring a little water.

Thanks to that, there were hardly any messy moments that could be problematic.

Yet, it was enough to instill a fear of potential death.

“How is it? Clears your nasal passages, right?”

“Kah! Clink! Gah!”

“Let’s make it easy for you. I want to go rest. If I add up all the time I’ve slept in over a month of work, it might barely reach two days. I’ve only slept an hour a day.”

The answer Eloise sought from the captives was simple.

What happened that day? Is your leader really dead?

If it’s confirmed that he’s dead, how did such a crucial figure end up falling so carelessly?

“Hak! Clink! Wait, just a moment! I need to tell you! Please!”

It’s a question about the deceased. A query about the already crumbled Lusence.

Judging that insisting any further would be futile, he quickly continued speaking.

“He died! Yes, it was then! Just as our Lusence was about to launch a massive counterattack. In that moment when we tightened the encircling net we had set up everywhere, intending to annihilate the isolated Imperial forces in one breath! Sudden! A bullet flew in and pierced his heart!”

“Is that really all?”

“Yes, yes! He died on the spot. There was no time to even attempt healing!”

Listening silently, Eloise gently tugged at his hair.

Then, leaning back, she started pouring soda into the glass again.

“Hak! Clink! Kheuk!”

“Is there anything else you want to say?”

“I, I’ve said everything! Please! Hak! Kuk!”

This time, Eloise poured carbonated water generously, including juice and salt.

Perhaps due to fatigue, her pupils were sluggish. It was quite eerie.

“Kyah! I don’t know anymore! Kuk! That’s how he died. I really don’t know anything else! Kheuk! Kuk!”