I’m Just an Ordinary Academy Student

8 – Not That Kind of Hero

Honor medal. The greatest honor one can receive as someone who served in the military.

For over 200 years since the founding of the empire, there have been less than 100 recipients of the honor.

Moreover, more than half of them were received by family members instead of the actual individuals.

Because they were already resting in the deep underground with their comrades.

Receiving the honor medal while alive could be considered an extremely difficult task.

No. It goes beyond being difficult; it’s more accurate to say it’s in the realm of impossibility.

Yet, someone who received the honor medal emerged from the academy.

Officers who emerged from the war castle provided detailed guidance, emphasizing exemplary conduct.

It would be strange if tales about the protagonist didn’t circulate in situations like this.

The problem was that, as usual, rumors were mostly unbelievable.

“Well, you know the senior from the 19th cohort who returned to school this time. That senior cut off the ears of an elf during the Rosenz War…”

“He didn’t just cut the throat; he carried the ears around and hung them like ornaments?”

“How insane must his exploits be to receive an honor medal in his twenties?”

“Could he have single-handedly defeated an enemy force of divisional scale?”

“He might have assassinated key figures while operating in the rear! Or extracted internal information!”

Becoming a monster or, rather, a killing machine from an ordinary academy returnee happened in the blink of an eye.

*

“Hey, isn’t that Senior Karl!”

“How remarkable is the major you’ve established?! Please tell us!”

“Did you really fly through the air and shoot guns at elves?!”

You crazy people. Please stop. That never happened. What an extraordinary feat!

And I’m not some Gundam, how could I shoot guns in mid-air!

Who’s spreading such insane rumors? Are there spies from the War Castle Information Bureau here too?

“Congratulations on receiving the Medal of Honor, Senior Karl!”

“Oh, th―”

“But, by the way. Were you really called a death envoy by the elves?”

“….”

I’d be genuinely grateful if you just offered congratulations. Junior. Death envoy? I don’t have such a grotesque nickname.

Instead, my comrades often called me an idiot. It’s just one letter of difference, but the gap is enormous.

If my fellow soldiers saw this situation, they probably would’ve held onto their stomachs and rolled on the floor.

Being called a death envoy instead of an idiot. Damn bastards. Suddenly, I miss them again.

“Senior!”

“Senior Karl!”

“Hey, Karl!”

“For f**k’s sake! Cut it out!”

Just a short while ago, I was living almost like a ghost, and now I’m bombarded with all kinds of attention.

The problem is that the interest is leaning toward the rather unpleasant ‘military memories’ from my perspective.

The person didn’t want to mention it, but they kept getting dragged into it.

As expected, excess is harmful! I would have preferred indifference! Damn it!

I don’t know if I’m a person of interest, but I didn’t want such attention!

I just wanted to live quietly, like an ordinary student!

“I heard the news, Karl. Truly remarkable. At that age, and even earning a medal of honor.”

“Thank you, professor.”

“Karl, right? If you have time, would you like to have lunch together? I’d like to hear some stories about you from my students who attend my lectures if you have an interesting topic.”

“Oh, it’s an honor. What would you like to know?”

Ah, of course, in front of professors, you have to express gratitude right away.

A medal of honor is impressive, but that’s one thing, and the academy is the academy.

These are the people who will be responsible for my precious grades in the future. I have to score well in times like this.

If I’m lucky, they might at least give me one point? … No? Oh well.

Anyway, my evaluation changed a bit after people from the war zone came.

From a strange 19th-year student who enlisted and returned to an elven judge, not a war hero.

Even if I say I’ve never judged elves, they don’t believe me. They even said I was modest?

“Damn humans… it’s not because I’m modest, but because there was no reason to be modest…”

Honestly, I was secretly hoping for the title of war hero, but they won’t give it to me even if I die.

Damn it! What’s this about being an elven judge! It’s so lame! Childish! Call me a war hero too!

Why am I not like those novel protagonists, an unknown forgotten war hero! Why!

Kyaah! I’ll make you regret this! Ruin me! Regret! Ruin! Obsession!

“Oh, our elven executioner has arrived.”

“…Even Markus senior is saying this? And I’m not an executioner, I’m a judge. A judge! And not even a judge!”

“Whatever, it’s the same thing. Actually, it’s pretty much the same, right?”

No, it’s not the same at all! It’s completely different! If you’re going to call me, at least call me something normal!

Executioner, really! If someone hears that, they’ll think I’m the one who skins people’s heads!

“More importantly, it’s impressive. You didn’t do much in the war, right?”

“I didn’t. Really.”

“Stop bullshitting. If you didn’t do anything, why did you receive a medal of honor? Isn’t the Imperial War Academy a place for kids to play war games? Don’t lie, be honest. What the hell did you do?”

“Damn it. I’m not being humble; I really didn’t do anything.”

Marcus senior, who was nodding at my answer, speaks.

“Then, the rumor about the Elf Slayer.”

“No, come on! I’m not a Slayer! And that itself is a misunderstanding!”

Frustrated, I explained to my senior the most plausible reason.

The story of going alone into the enemy encirclement and bringing back squad members.

And then, the moment when luck was truly on my side, and others were brought back too.

Yeah, I was just lucky. I didn’t fight courageously like others.

It wasn’t a crucial moment that determined the course of the war, and there weren’t any important figures among those we rescued.

…Oh, Selena’s brother was there, I think. Luckily, he was saved.

“Anyway! Do you understand now? I’m not someone who indiscriminately slaughters!”

“…Yeah.”

“Do you think I became some war machine just because I received a medal of honor?”

“Hey, you. Knife.”

“Why?”

Getting annoyed at what other nonsense he might say.

“….”

The expression on my senior’s face looking at me is quite mocking.

That expression, yeah. It’s what I used to make when someone enlisted.

“Are you really insane?”

“If you keep saying that, the juniors will get hurt. Just report it as verbal abuse…”

“Do it, do it! You crazy person! What? You went in alone and saved hundreds? Wasn’t that a big deal?! Huh? Doing something that others couldn’t and wouldn’t even think of doing, all by yourself!”

“No, it was really just luck! I didn’t fight bravely, didn’t kill many elves! I didn’t have a decisive impact on the battle, did I?”

I just wanted to save my squad members.

After seeing those bastards for over two years, to the point of not wanting to see them dead on the battlefield.

Ugly bastards without even the scalp, how much more like beggars could they look.

Faces covered in mud as if smeared, but they had to smile. They had to be alive to be worth something.

That’s all. I didn’t embark on the journey to hell for the sake of a medal.

*

The sudden arrival of the graduation project. Thanks to it, Selena had to stay up for several nights.

After barely winning the battle against the project and catching up on the sleep that was pushed aside, at a time when she regained composure.

‘Weird…? What’s going on?’

The academy is strangely noisy. People gather and buzz around, busy with their own affairs.

At first, I thought someone was confessing to someone else. Or maybe a couple had broken up, or someone was starting a new relationship.

“[Leni.]”

It wasn’t until I received a sudden call from my older brother.

“Oppa? What’s going on all of a sudden?”

“[Did you hear the news? I just found out and called you right away.]”

“News?”

She had been busy with assignments for the past few nights and catching up on lost sleep. She replied that she didn’t know anything about what had happened or the current situation.

Then, on the other end of the line, Selena’s brother let out a sigh.

“[Do you remember what I told you last time, Leni?]”

“Uh… Is it about the soldier you and your comrades rescued?”

“[Yes. The unknown hero. We’ve finally found out who he is.]”

“Really?! That’s great news! Who is it?”

Someone who saved numerous lives, including her own brother. Even if he was just an ordinary soldier, she felt the need to express her gratitude in person.

As Selena smiled, waiting for the next words.

“[…Oh, Leni, it seems you still don’t know anything.]”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“[Don’t you know that there’s an honorary medal ceremony at your academy next week?]”

An honorary medal? Could it be that he’s talking about the ‘honorary medal’?

The most prestigious recognition given only to the greatest heroes. A symbol of sacrifice that earns respect from all in the empire.

“Really? W-Why would they hold such a ceremony at the academy?”

“[Because the medal recipient is a student at the academy. The one who saved my life.]”

“A student at the academy? Who could…?”

Before he could finish his sentence, a sudden realization flashed in Selena’s mind.

The person she had recently sat down with for tea. Even before that, someone with whom she had an awkward and uncomfortable relationship.

‘Karl?’

And right after that, a survivor from the other side of the communication link opens his mouth.

[ Karl Adelheit. Yes, that was definitely the name. ]

“Ah…”

Well, what’s the big deal then? Karl insists that his enlistment is absolutely not my fault.

But among the reasons, there must be my clear rejection of his confession.

And he saved my older brother in the midst of that gruesome battlefield?

“Unbelievable….”

Karl. Just how much do you…!